Bruce Bratton hosts University Grapevine, linking local and campus issues, every Tuesday 7:30-8:30 p.m. on KZSC 88.1 fm.
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THE FUTURE OF SANTA CRUZ or Tony Madrigal's Economic Summit's Vision Statement. At last the ever changing groups of people meeting at the Madrigal Prosperity Summit are realizing there are some deep and profoundly different interpretations on what prosperity for the city of Santa Cruz means. We are learning that so far there's not much agreement on what a healthy and sustainable economy is for Santa Cruz either. On one side there's the "bring in more tourists", "open every box store or business possible", "all jobs are equal" point of view, and on the other side are people who see Environmental Integrity, Social Justice, Economic Prosperity and a Livable City as goals. Those of course were the battling cries over the Coast Hotel Conference Center. Beyond that, most meeting participants disagree on how to achieve those goals. The point being is that for a first time these widely differing points of view held by very involved citizens (not elected officials, except for the Fitzmaurice-Porter-Madrigal trio) are finally being talked about. At least they should be talked about either at these meetings OR more likely these points will be worked on by the entire community that attends the Economic Summit, to probably be held in January.
These goals aren't easy to write down but Reed Searle wrote in his "Goals Of Economic Development" "should we have further economic development? How much, of what kind, and where?" Searle then went on to say, "We should not simply assume that any further development will improve either the economic health of the City or of its residents, and is it worth the human cost?" Folks who believe that Home Depots, Wal Marts, conference centers and growth in general should be asked every time they go for growth..."where has this worked?" "What success of any kind has any shopping mall or plaza in the entire United States brought to the cities they're located in? "
Reed Searle goes on to say in his "memo" "There are limits to growth", "what is economic health?". Click here to look over Reed Searle's entire 3 page memo. There are so many pressures, so many points of view and even though we all say we want what's best for Santa Cruz we haven't yet even figured out what best means. Hopefully these can be dealt with, and answered through the Madrigal Economic Summit.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR. It is wonderful to receive so much response to BrattonOnline.com. It is easily 10 times as much as is ever received from newspaper columns. Don't stop, I'll print almost every one eventually. Read what Thomas Leavitt has to say about La Bahia, taxes and development...he's irked!!! Phyllis Cordoza emails us to gossip about music, Santa Barbara traffic, and Lemoore California. (Lemoore is near Rossi, Remnoy, and Gerford in Kings County between Coalinga and Hanford, I found out only after a few readers' corrections). Cece Pinheiro has to leave Santa Cruz Community Television, which is too bad. I reprinted her farewell to her friends letter here. The redoubtable Gunilla Leavitt emailed to say The Sashmill's attempt to make an artist live work space like the proposed Tannery development didn't work, read all about that here.
THEY'RE TAKING THE BUS TO CUBA. There's a bus going to Cuba it's 31 feet long, holds 41 passengers, it has wheelchair access, and comes with two wheelchairs! The campaign to raise the money to buy this bus from the Petaluma School district was bought through the generosity of many groups and people. The Cuba Study Group, Three Americas and the Live Oak Grange are the orgs making up the committee that ran the campaign. This will be one of 14 caravans starting from 14 different cities across the U.S. The bus will be in Watsonville 7/8 at the Farmer's Market from 3-7pm - then on the Pacific Garden mall Saturday7/9 near Church Street from 11am-3pm and Sunday 7/10 near Abbott Square from 11am-3pm. There will be a little ceremony at Abbott Square at 1pm. The Caravan will be leaving bright and early on Monday. They need bus painters - not professional artistes - but just people who can handle a paint brush. They'll be "decorating the bus"? Maybe painting a "banner" on the bus? Creating a bus mural? Please call 465-8272 if you want to do some art and have some fun on the bus to CUBA.
NO NAMES PLEASE. Have you noticed any unusual behavior lately in those politically-minded neighbors of yours? Maybe a bit more active? Writing more letters? Serving on more committees? Watch and see how many end up running for Santa Cruz City Council. This 2006 race will be a no holds barred free for all.
YES ON MEASURE X. Here's a response from Bruce Van Allen re Santa Cruz INDYMEDIA's blog. Indymedia takes no political sides; they allow anything to go on their website. In this case some poorly informed writer wrote a piece saying no on measure x that could have been written by any Jarvis-Gann supporter. Van Allen responded:
"Dear Friends,
I can't let this disinformation go by. Measure X is NOT an increase in anyone's taxes or rates. It substitutes a tax for an existing fee that was on the books before the passage of a right-wing-sponsored state ballot measure that requires votes on what it defines as taxes. I am amazed that the original poster is perpetuating the lies that our local conservatives are telling about this situation. Measure X also has nothing to do with proposed water/sewer rate increases. The original poster's comments about City staff also leave me wondering-- this sounds like more right-wing anti-government-ism, not progressive politics. Here Van Allen quotes Santa Cruz Indymedia
"On 6/15/05 Santa Cruz Indymedia volunteers wrote:
>NO ON X - SANTA CRUZ UTILITY TAX HITS POOR PEOPLE
>In a vote-by-mail election set for August, 2005, Santa Cruz residents
>will be asked to approve another utility tax. Of all the things to
>tax, essentials are the worst possible choice. Whether you're rich or
>poor, you still have to flush the toilet."
Please vote YES on X if you want Santa Cruz to have a chance to (I lost the last part of the sentence, but you know what he means. BB) Bruce Van Allen (former Mayor, City Of Santa Cruz)
THE PERFECT MAN. Hillary Duff is in this and so is Heather Locklear, and that should give you enough warning about this film. This is not about finding a perfect man, but is about mean, self-centered people, trying to be funny. Don't go.
SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAVELING PANTS. This is one half cut above the typical Hollywood air-brained-blonde-teen-age-girl films (see above, actually, don't see above). Like many films, this plot has to do with some article that's used to link various people and stories together. They've used items like gold earrings, and coaches before. This is mostly lame, but watchable.
MY SUMMER OF LOVE. Way above the teen age girl films, this one is good. Yorkshire, England and how two mostly unloved teen age girls fall into a summer love. Well acted, excellently filmed...go see it.
BEWITCHED. This film stars Nicole Kidman who is absolutely perfect in any film she does. It's directed by Nora Ephron who went to the same high school as Angelina Jolie and directed Silkwood, Sleepless in Seattle and You've Got Mail. So the writing and directing is fine. The film is lighter than air, and should be enjoyed as a very light comedy. It's not a remake of Bewitched the old TV series, it's about Hollywood making a remake of Bewitched. Will Ferrell is far from my list of likable film stars. He does an ok job in this, but has only one shtick and he is getting very tiring.
GEORGE ROMERO'S LAND OF THE DEAD. Add Dennis Hopper and John Leguizamo to Romero's world of the living dead and you've got an entire new depth and future films to look forward to. Living walking flesh-eating zombies may not be everyone's dish but Romero out did himself with this new film. Romero purposely takes on George Bush and the present world view of the USA and Hopper says he was doing his best Rumsfeld interpretation, so see this.... if you like walking dead films.
SAVING FACE. Somebody was trying hard to make more money on the "cute, quaint, minority group daughter must get married" franchise. This time it's New York Cities' Chinese community that gets made fun of, and I don't like any of these films.
BROTHERS. The best film of the year. This film is nearly a pure Greek tragedy. It's a Danish film about two brothers and what jail and war do to them. It has family and fun and room to breathe but it also gets to those dark hidden areas of humans where only rare dramatic attempts succeed in reaching. This film is honest, unrelenting, and brilliantly directed. Please see it. See it quick too, because I don't think it got much publicity.
SAN FRANCISCO OPERAS SUMMER SEASON. One way to give your visiting friends an unforgettable treat is to take them or at least send them to the San Francisco Opera. Ticket prices start at $25 and there are cheaper standing room tickets too. Then after or before the opera go across the street to the S.F. City Hall and check out the San Francisco museum. Golden Gate Bridge, Cable Cars, they've got it all in there and there aren't many tourists, because nobody knows about it. The real hit of the three Summer operas staged by the world famed San Francisco Opera is Tchaikovsky's The Queen Of Spades. It's been restaged and set in some psychological zone that's more like Ingmar Bergman, or David Hockney. Beautiful music (he wrote Nutcracker and Swan Lake, for goodness sakes). You won't get many chances ever to see Bizet's The Pearl Fishers. Bizet stole some musical ideas from Wagner and uses them well in this dashing production. Santa Cruzans may remember famed artist and graphics diva Zandra Rhodes. She designed the hell out of the costumes and the set for Pearl Fishers, her flash, splash, Carmen Miranda style stuff adds a lot to this opera. Mozart wrote his first opera at the ripe age of 11 and was 33 when he wrote Cosi Fan Tutti. This is exactly the same production and cast that opened the SF Opera season last year and it really works well. Frederica von Stade sings and acts the sly and funny Despina and this production does remind you that Mozart was working on some deep messages even in Cosi Fan Tutti. Go to the opera, any of these are great starting places, go to the opera website www.sfopera.com and get tickets quickly, and read the plots. But remember that they all have supertitles. There are only 3 performances of Queen of Spades, 5 of Cosi, and four of Pearl Fishers left.
FRESH FARMERS MARKET TIPS. Nesh Dhillon says the Blueberries are done for, fresh basil's really good, French "fillet" beans (whatever they are) are a good buy, flowers are at their peak, and organic corn on the cob is juicy. Nesh says don't mind the worms in the corn, (1) that proves the corn is organic and (2) if you put the worms in a jar they turn into giant yellow butterflies, or corn flies as the farmers call them. I bought some field grown Heirloom tomatoes last Wednesday. They call them Heirlooms because they are not hybridized and are a very old variety of tomatoes. The biggest tip is to go to their website www.santacruzfarmersmarket.org and get all the data on locations of the three Farmer's Markets that belong to the SCCFM. That's Sunday: Live Oak 10-2, Wednesday: Downtown Santa Cruz 2:30-6 and Thursday: Capitola 2:30-6:30. I think there are Farmer's Markets at Cabrilho College on Saturday, and another someday in Felton, but I couldn't find up to date times on any website.
QUOTES. "Biologically speaking, if something bites you, it is more likely to be female." -Desmond Morris. "When I die, I'm going to leave my body to science fiction." -Steven Wright. "To err is human, but to really foul things up you need a computer. -Paul Ehrlich. And really think about this one "I knew immediately when I had reached the North Pole, because in one step the north wind became a south wind." -Robert Perry.
Bruce critiques films every Friday on KZSC-FM (88.1) on The Bushwhacker Breakfast Club at 8am.
It's free! Click here.
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EXTRA!! EXTRA!! BRATTON ONLINE NOW IN PAPER EDITION. Ever since starting this online column two years ago (June 16, 2003 to be exact) folks, friends, and the merely curious, have asked me why not make the column available for people who don't do computers. So, by depending on the kindness of friends, hard copy prints of each column, starting with this one, will be for sale at good friend Wormy's Coffee Cart in front of Logos Books, 1117 Pacific Avenue in Downtown Santa Cruz. Good friends Gunilla and Thomas Leavitt of Godmomasforge.com will deliver a very limited number of copies to Wormy's Coffee Cart each Tuesday. So tell your non-computer friends they can see the good old historic photos, read about civic happenings, determine which movies are really, really worth seeing and read what other folks are arguing about by getting a hard copy version of BrattonOnline every Tuesday.
THEY PASSED THE SALZ!!!!! Constant or even casual readers know I had, and still have, many concerns about the artistic and cultural success of The Tannery project. But it's over, and I certainly hope these plans fulfill even a tenth of the dreams those members of our artistic community are praying for. Maybe we should make a pledge for all supporters (and you know who you are) and the opposition, to meet on site five years to the day after its official grand opening. We could have an appraisal discussion and the winners get to wear "I told you so" t-shirts. I can't stop thinking about between 210 and 430 residents plus 475 patrons attending the three theatres all looking for a parking place in the 400 space parking lot. And again, where will the kids play? And who exactly will be moving the parked cars out of the floodable area when an eminent flood warning flashes down the San Lorenzo River? But goodness knows our cultural community, or at least the ones who don't make a living from their art want this, so let's hope for the best. Or as they say, "full scheme ahead!"
ONLINE COLUMN STATISTICS. These electronic miracle machines keep track of everything. For example, I wanted to know who and where people were reading this column and found out that I had 1 reader in Mali, 5176 in Australia, 1 in Latvia, 3501 in Israel, 120 in Portugal where Joao Rodrigues Cabrilho (his real name) comes from, 37 in Sri Lanka, 132 in Poland, and so forth. There were a total of 27,753 visits to this site since January of 2005, and that seems pretty good. Do keep reading, better yet, as I keep nudging, subscribe for free, see the box in the upper right hand corner. That way, you'll get weekly emails as soon as the new column is posted, and somehow this website gets better listings in the ether community. Thank you very much.
THE LA BAHIA PROJECT. One item I didn't mention last week that Barry Swenson's man Jesse Nickell talked about at that SCRP presentation was that the La Bahia will not be a time share development. I asked San Jose Mercury's Ken McLaughlin, a decent sort of guy, what Jesse did say about investing in La Bahia. Ken says from what he understood, "Individual owners can invest in units-but they can't stay longer than 30 days at a time, 45 days for the whole year". Ken said that was the arrangement Swenson and Charlie Canfield had with their old deal on the La Bahia two years ago. I don't quite get what this investment deal means, and I do wonder about just which management company will be operating the La Bahia, seems like that could make a big difference.
SHAKESPEARE SECRETS REVEALED. Don Young, former literature teacher at Cabrilho College, and Jeff Towle who teaches Shakespeare there now, are convening their very popular Shakespeare Club on Saturday July 2nd. The club meets every Saturday (July 2, 9, 16, 23) for four weeks from 10 am-noon at the Aptos Library 7695 Soquel Drive. We will be studying Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra (The Pelican paperback edition), it's all free. The play is about the clash between Rome and Egypt and as usual, Towle and Young take opposite sides and everybody gets involved. It's good fun so call 662-0302 for more information.
THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY. If you go to the website for the organization that produced and sponsored the 40 page booklet "Redevelopment: The Unknown Government", which is www.redevelopment.com, you'll find out there's a conference on Redevelopment Abuse at the Park Plaza Hotel in Oakland Saturday, October 22 from 8am to 5 pm. It's sponsored by the Municipal Officials for Redevelopment Reform (MORR) and Californians United for Redevelopment Education (CURE). It sounds like everybody in Santa Cruz - especially the City Council - should charter a bus and go on up there. There's much to be learned about the machinations of Redevelopment Agencies. Other cities are learning that "legally, a redevelopment agency is an entirely separate government authority, with its own revenue, budget, staff and expanded powers to issue debt and condemn private property" (quoted from the booklet). The booklet also asks "What could we do with the restored property taxes currently diverted to redevelopment schemes? What could we do with the additional $1.9 billion per year (in 2001)?" Read the booklet online and learn what can happen when the Redevelopment Agency claims some property is a blight. The Redevelopment Agency in Lancaster, CA declared a city park as blighted then paved over 19 acres, cut 100 trees and put up a Costco. There's much more to study about Redevelopment Agencies and the law firms that are specializing in redevelopment plans.
MONTEREY MAYHEM. Jerry Hoffman, ace promoter of 12 Sport Productions, just confirmed last minute changes to the Saturday, July 2 Battle Of The Unbeatens. Heavy weight George Garcia of Soledad faces Eddie Neal of LaMore, California in the main bout. Undefeated woman flyweight Carina Moreno of Watsonville goes toe to toe with Julie Rubalcava; and Israel Sandoval is matched against Enrique Gutierrez of Santa Rosa. Middleweights Jesse Curry of San Jose battles Guadalupe Acosta of San Francisco and welterweight James Cook of San Francisco will deal with Eddy Costa of Van Nuys. Ringside seats are gone, but Jerry says that there are some $60 reserved tables and a few $40 seats left and there will be tickets at the door. The new auditorium seats 1500 and it's at the Monterey Conference Center. Check out the video action and get more info at www.12sportsonline.com Doors open at 6:30 1st bout begins at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, July 2. BUT call 831 688-1604 ASAP for tickets.
DEEP THROAT'S SANTA CRUZ CONNECTION. By now everybody knows that Mark Felt, who was second in command of the FBI, was Woodward's and Bernstein's source for what resulted in Nixon's Watergate exposure, and his resignation. Many also know that it was Felt's daughter Joan Felt who convinced Dad to tell the world that he was "Deep Throat". What hardly anyone knows, is that Joan Felt lived at 1000 Alba Road up between Ben Lomond and Brookdale, back in 1971 and local artist Ray Gwyn Smith (my source for this) lived there too and was a friend of Joan's. 1000 Alba was not a commune but an experiment in group living, Ray says. Joan moved to Alba from L.A. and had her first baby while at 1000 Alba. She named him Ludi after Magister Ludi. Joan drove a baby blue VW Beetle while the rest of the hippies, including Raven Laing, had VW vans. Everybody knew that Joan's dad was an FBI guy and tried to persuade her to disown him; she didn't and continued to love and support him. Joan urged Dad Mark to move in with her and her kids in Santa Rosa and, figuring there'd be money in it that they both needed, convinced Dad to reveal that he was indeed Deep Throat. After Ray Gwyn Smith and Ralph Abrams moved out of 1000 Alba, Gregory Bateson moved in. Later on Peter and Diana Troxell and family lived there during the Oganookie years. Go to the Variety article on Mark Felt and Watergate to bone up on this part of our past. http://www.mindfully.org/Reform/2005/Deep-Throat-Felt30may05.htm
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR. Absolutely amazing letters this week, and some from recent weeks, are included here. Be sure to click on letters to the editor in the upper margin and read where Brendon Constans of the Santa Cruz Community Credit Union corrects me in saying it's Industrial Workers of The World that Tom Scribner was entrenched in, not International Workers of The World. Read also where Cedar Geiger formerly of Common Grounds Coffee House, makes some great suggestions about our City Finances. Ed Penniman takes another view of the Tannery Project, and Susan Drake inquires about live-work spaces. Fred Geiger does some original thinking on the local use of real estate taxes. Once you calm down, read what Paul and Leslie Cocking wrote to Brattononline.Com and the city council, they want to know how come the City doesn't eminent domain Louie Rittenhouse's property instead of Ron Lau's. And that's a very popular question that gets zero answer from seedy council members. Ice Cream expert Ted Benhari of the Rural Bonny Doon Association says he likes the Santa Cruz Redevelopment Agency, and maybe that's why he lives in Bonny Doon? Read it all right here.
HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE. If you liked, or deeply appreciated, Steamboy, Spirited Away or Princess Mononoke, you'll love Howl's Moving Castle. These Japanese animated films are masterpieces. They are to Pixar films' Toy Story or Shrek style or Disney's' Lion King type animation as oil is to water. So far the Japanese animated films have all had complex plots, stupefying dimensional quality, brilliant art work and detailing of scenes that are far beyond any American attempts. See Howl's Moving Castle, it's from a children's book.
APRES VOUS. I had to leave about 40 minutes after this film started. From what I gathered reading a bunch of other critics, I left at the right time. It was a clever and funny film that far but apparently fell apart immediately after. Daniel Auteuil is a fine and funny actor and does a great job as a too good a Samaritan. Go see the first 40 minutes, after that you're on your own.
BATMAN BEGINS. At last they got it right, this is a fine exciting superhero film, and Christian Bale, who lost so much weight for his role in The Machinist, has it all back and in the right places. If you are still doubtful, remember that Morgan Freeman, the world's greatest actor, is in this film and Michael Caine plays Bruce Wayne's butler Alfred with aplomb and gusto. No Joker type enemy yet, just a jowly Soprano style mobster, but don't miss this film, especially if you just like to be entertained.
SILENTS PLEASE. Stephen Salmons, director of the San Francisco Silent Film Festival phoned a few minutes ago to tell me about a great hit at this year's festival (July 8-10 at the Castro). Stephen says if you enjoyed Station Agent be sure to see The Sideshow (1928). It stars Billy Rhodes, one of the MGM Munchkins (he was the Barrister), and he also was in The Court Jester with Danny Kaye. Stephen says Billy is a great actor, and Sideshow has some memorable scenes dealing with Billy's being a small person. Call 415-675-4821 or go to www.silentfilm.org for details.
PEOPLE'S DEMOCRATIC CLUB MEETS AGAIN. Sandy Silver of the Women's International league for Peace and Freedom, Deborah Hill of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and Pat Matejcek of The Sierra Club will all be part of a forum/symposium this Thursday night at the monthly meeting of The People's Democratic Club of Santa Cruz County. Each of them will talk about their group, how they got started, their local origins, and their purposes and goals. There are literally hundreds of political groups in this county, should they try merging? The PDC is to be commended for bringing more awareness to our very rich local political activities. PDC meeting is at 7:30 pm., forum starts at 8pm. At the LONDON Nelson Community Center. Phone 420-1133 for information.
MOVING AND STORAGE/CRASH, BURN, and DIE DANCE COMPANY. This wildly innovative dance group has created some of the County's best performance events. They're doing a one weekend only, July 1-3 event at the Actor's Theatre (where India Joze used to be). July 1 and 2 will be at 8pm, July 3 will be at 7pm. They'll be performing Stockpile Waltz 2005, music by Philip Collins, Therese Adams is directing and choreography is by Leslie Swaha. Those Santa Cruz names alone should guarantee greatness. The show will also premiere two shorter works: one visual arts/performance piece by Dag Weiser and another called Bad Dreams and Sumo Wrestling, performed by Saki. Their press release says: "Topping off the performances is the rarely performed black comedy, 524 South Trinity, a movement theatre by Adams". The all star cast includes Sara Wilbourne, Betty Steinmetz, Caitlin Deck, Christopher Albrecht, Fabricio Olsson, Gianna Colavin-Bridges, Karyn Adams, the mother/daughter team Laura and Sara Benevento, Sean Hular and Saki. Lighting designer Ronn Reinberg is coming all the way from Idaho to illuminate this great weekend. Buy your tickets now, they will go fast. (Brattonnote: not only is Ronn Reinberg a certified wizard at lighting, but he's also an attorney just don't tell him where you heard this.) Advance Tickets: Santa Cruz Civic Box Office, 307 Church Street, or by phone at (831) 420-5260. For additional information call 429-2249.
QUOTES. "Don't get excited about a tax cut. It's like a mugger giving you back fare for a taxi." -Arnold Glasow. "There was a time when a fool and his money were soon parted, but now it happens to everybody." -Adlai Stevenson. "Blessed are the young, for they shall inherit the national debt." -Herbert Hoover. "Any organization is like a septic tank. The really big chunks always rise to the top." -John Imhoff.
Bruce critiques films every Friday on KZSC-FM (88.1) on The Bushwhacker Breakfast Club at 8am.
It's free! Click here.
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THE TANNERY. The Tannery Project turned nasty and mean when some misguided miscreants printed up fliers urging a boycott of Annieglass store and products. This was, we assume, a reaction to Anne Morhauser, owner of Annieglass, coming out against the Tannery Project in the Santa Cruz Sentinel. Anne has the same worries many of us do. She said the project is in the wrong location; it tries to be too many things for too many needs and is doomed to failure. Anne's a professional, and when she says that other similar artists live-work space projects are in trouble, she knows what she's saying. But an unsigned boycott letter against a business and person who has done so much for our arts community? That doesn't say much for the so-called artists' community. I've said before the promoters big selling point is save and preserve the Tannery buildings and yet after all these years the Tannery has never been listed on any historical building preservation list...how come??? I mentioned that the real pitch isn't art or preservation; it's a federally funded affordable housing project for 300-400 people. Like Wilder Dairy Ranch, the Tannery should be bought by the State Parks and turned into an interpretative center. There is no other tannery on our coast. Why is there no mention of the Metro Center right on the other side (North) of the proposed housing site? No mention of the bus noise or the pollution. The flood dangers, the terrible environment to bring up children in, all unanswered, all not dealt with in this E.I.R. I hope, but seriously doubt, that the artists responsible for those boycott fliers apologize.
HOWARD DEAN SPEAKS FOR ME...YOU TOO?? Bill Malone of the People's Democratic Club sent this message "This is a petition to those Democrats who have recently chastised Howard Dean as not speaking for them. He certainly speaks for me! Take a look at this website and add your name: http://www.petitiononline.com/Dean/petition.html
RAYTEK CORPORATION. Rumors, just rumors about Raytek either closing down its world headquarters on Shaffer Road, or maybe just letting most of the workforce go. Anybody else hear about this? Did you see that new book title, "The Last Job In America" is that grim, or what? Are there any more manufacturing jobs in Santa Cruz?
MADRIGAL ECONOMIC PROSPERITY SUMMIT MEETINGS. I've attended most of these meetings so far just to see and probably support wherever they may lead. So far it's been almost decided to have maybe three or four evening working sessions before the one-day summit. The Summit may take place in December and the early evening meetings on nights in October and November. There have been numerous issues to be decided; one is how to pay for the Summit/conference. The Santa Cruz Jaycees are supporting it, the Santa Cruz Chamber of Commerce's Economic Development Council supports it too, and Todd Prindle says he'll be asking Republican business owners for support. There's usually between 15 and 20 people present and many people come just once and don't show up again. There's not a lot of agreement on what Prosperity means, and there's no agreement on how or where the summit will be held, but it is fascinating to see how this thing develops. Ed Porter and Tim Fitzmaurice and Tony Madrigal, of course, attend each meeting. It does have enormous potential; I'll keep you informed.
CRUZIN' CUBA FILM SERIES. This film series just gets more and more people every time they have a screening. This week the Cuba Study Group is showing The Greening Of Cuba and Buscando el Camino. They are documentaries about how resourceful and ingenious the Cuban people have had to become to deal with their 1990 economic disaster. The Greening Of Cuba tells how Cuba stopped depending on foreign pesticides and work toward sustainable organic agriculture. Buscando el Camino does NOT mean Kissing the Camel as you probably thought, it means Finding A Way and it deals with how a small rural community handles social problems . The films will be on Thursday night (June 16 at 7 p.m. at The Live Oak Grange 1900 17th Avenue near Capitola Road. Call 465-8272.
LA BAHIA PRESENTATION. Jesse Nickell of Barry Swenson Builders hosted a meeting in the Civics' ABC room to tell the Charlie Canfield/Barry Swenson plans for the La Bahia. Jesse said there was pressure from the City Staff to make this a conference center and he stressed that the La Bahia will not be a conference center. He said matter of factly that conference centers don't make money, hotel rooms do. There were many SCRP members at the meeting and contrary to what you might imagine there was a lot of support for the La Bahia project!! They'll have to tear down the old plaster/stucco structure. It never was a hotel by the way. Nickell was asked about the union aspect of the La Bahia and said Swenson never does full union projects either in constructing or in maintaining. It was strongly urged that the year round jobs be 100 % union, but I don't think that'll happen given the Boardwalk's union history. Most folks were dead set against the seven story height and said 5 were enough. Santa Barbara has a two-story height limit, by the way. Besides that, I'll bet Swenson really only wanted 5 stories but threw 7 in just so they could seem to compromise. If you remember correctly there wasn't much opposition to Swenson Canfields plot for La Bahia back in 2002 and that design was not only passed on by the City Council, but it was lousy, and ugly. This plan is much better. So Union issues, a five-story limit and a plea to create a scale model and not use the same Coast Hotel type dishonest birds-eyewash-view from some science fiction angle, but do images from human street levels. The only thing I'm not clear on is that Nickell said the La Bahia would not be a time-share but it would have some deal like that for people to invest in. I'll let you know when I find out more. It was nice of Barry Swenson Developers to bring the plan to people before having the seedy council attempt to shove it down our throats, but Swenson has done that before with plans. And it's a logical process.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR. Go to Letters to the Editor section and read where Ed Penniman, former president of the Santa Cruz Art League, suggests better things for the City to do than The Tannery Project. Click away and see where Thomas Leavitt says "In any case, this is a long-winded way of demonstrating just one small way that the Redevelopment Agency's primary purpose is to justify its continued existence, and it will pretty much say or do anything, no matter how self-contradictory, to do so." Then click on Jean Brocklebank's letter which says re the Santa Barbara gridlock and the famed L.A. 405 "Folks here, sitting for 3 miles in bumper to bumper are such whiney weinies". Jean goes on to say about Redevelopment: "As for Re-development, the County seems to be a different critter from your City RDA. Here we are pleased with the process." Fred Geiger's letter to the editor says the Redevelopment Agency issue will go on a future SCRP agenda. He also has a lot to report on the motorcycle noise issue. Oops, just this minute got an email from Dan Selling, he reports in with links to actual California laws regulating noise levels, read those laws. Big, big thanks to everybody who takes the time to write, the feedback is absolutely golden.
FARMERS MARKET. Market Manager Nesh Dhillon clues us in with late breaking news for the Downtown Farmers Market this week and says....this is the last week for blueberries, and asparagus has about two more weeks, still no garden tomatoes just hothouse and hydroponic ones. The beauteous proteus flowers from Astone being a winter crop, only have about two more weeks to go. They are handpicked and are native to South Africa. Kathleen Seavers from Cadillac Mountain Flowers has retired, and that's why you haven't seen her lately.
PANETTA'S STUDENT SURVEY. The Santa Cruz Sentinel ran a piece last Monday about Leon and Sylvia Panetta's Panetta Institute for Public Policy's recent survey of American college students. The standout results, and you can check these out at www.panettainstitute.org, were 1) 90% of the college students say they are not interested in serving in the military (so guess who will serve?) 2) 79% say that television is their major source of information (where does that leave newspapers?) and 70% say they rely on the internet and news web sites (that figures). 3) 60% are in favor of same sex marriage. 4) 58% believe abortion should be legal. Maybe there's hope yet???
LORDS OF DOGTOWN. If you saw the skateboard documentary, you don't need to see this Hollywood version, and I mean Hollywood. Even trying to capture the rivalry, the competition, and the importance of money and fame these kids created isn't very flattering or interesting. Rent the original Dogtown and Z-Boys documentary and see the real thing.
MR. AND MRS. SMITH. There's no denying that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie (Maximilian Schell's god daughter, as you remember) are super fun to watch in this nearly perfect summer movie. It's sort of a high tech version of Prizzi's Honor. That is two hit persons (assassins) who are a married couple, with contracts on each other This is exactly the film for people "who just go to be entertained". Jolie is much more of an actress than we give her credit for, and I wish somebody would give her a real acting job. But do see this film on the big screen; I saw it at the Scotts Valley 6 Cinema.
BEST SEATS AROUND. Scotts Valley 6 Cinemas (auditoriums 5 & 6) and all the 41st Avenue Cinemas have the greatest theatre seats in the County. They are reclining, wide aisles, lots of knee room, and a pleasure to watch films from. It'll be interesting to see if Regal Cinemas, the largest theatre chain in the U.S., improves their theatres since taking over the Cinema 9 and Riverfront.
HIGH TENSION. Most films fall into categories; Science fiction, romance etc. This is in the Chain Saw Gore category. If you believe everything you see onscreen is real, DO NOT SEE THIS FILM. If you want to see another well-made exciting attempt to create a scary bloody film this is a must. I liked it.
LAYER CAKE. This is in the British mob-killing-cocaine-dealers-double-crossing category. It's hard to understand the Brit's accents quite often in this film, but the action is great, the plot gets a bit confusing, but all in all it's exciting and you won't lose interest.
SAN FRANCISCO'S 10TH ANNUAL SILENT FILM FESTIVAL. This is one of my favorite annual traditions and I've been attending the Silent Film Festival since 1999. The Festival was created by former Santa Cruzan and former Rio Theatre usher Stephen Salmons. As I've said many times I like Silent films every bit as much as talkies and they are a very different art form. The Festival is held every year in the Grand and glorious Castro Theatre and it is the perfect place for it. It's expended from it's original one day event to three days this year opening on Friday July 8th at 8 p.m. with Harold Lloyd in For Heaven's Sake (1926). All films have live accompaniment, many are on the Mighty Wurlitzer, and that organ can and does shake the rafters. Saturday's films begin at 11am and the big hit, The Big Parade starring John Gilbert starts at 7:45.Sunday's another full day featuring Lillian Gish in The Scarlet Letter at 4 p.m. Details, ticket info, are all online at www.silentfilm.org. I'll meet you there but I can't save seats because it'll probably sell out, it usually does.
QUOTES. "The illegal we do immediately. The unconstitutional takes a little longer." -Henry Kissinger. "The Voters have spoken-the bastards." -Richard Nixon. "Walter Mondale has all the charisma of a speed bump." -Will Durst. "The more you read about politics, the more you have got to admit that each party is worse than the other." -Will Rogers.
Bruce critiques films every Friday on KZSC-FM (88.1) on The Bushwhacker Breakfast Club at 8am.
It's free! Click here.
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THE SECRET REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY. Notice the word "blight" popping up lately? Right now it's being used by the Santa Cruz Redevelopment Agency to begin eminent domain proceedings in order to take over Ron Lau's bargain basement property on Pacific Avenue next to Lulu Carpenter's. No matter where you're at with the development of Ron's property we need to learn more about the Redevelopment Agency and how it works. How does it gets its money? What public services suffer because the R. Agency usurps their funding? Who controls the Agency? Who decides which areas are "blighted"? What the city of Santa Cruz needs, like so many California cities have found out, are some public talks or education workshops with some well informed politicians invited in from other areas who have successfully stopped their Redevelopment Agencies from taking over complete control as City Councils sit helplessly watching or even encouraging agency dealings because they don't realize why and how to stop these self-perpetuating and often misguided cabal. There's a publication called, "Redevelopment: The Unknown Government. What It Is. What Can Be Done". It's a report to the People of California and dated July 2001. It's published by the Municipal Officials for Redevelopment Reform (MORR). Go to www.redevelopment.com or www.missionviejoca.org. Members of Grand Juries, City Council members, Trustees of Community Colleges, Land Use Consultants all worked hard to correct the deviling details of what happens to cities where Redevelopment Agencies take too much control. Did you know that "out of California's 475 cities, 367 have created Redevelopment Agencies? WE need to become better informed. Redevelopment Agencies gain power when and where the voters don't understand just how money hungry R. Agencies are. For example, Redevelopment Agencies currently consume nearly 10% of all property taxes statewide, that was $1.9 billion in 2000. It has a total indebtedness of over 47 billion. There is no evidence that R.Agencies have ever eliminated blight, or promote economic development, which is their major claim. Redevelopment is a state-authorized layer of government without federal funds, rules or requirements. More later naturally, but here's a place where we can begin to take care of our public money. They make copies free for all City Council members, let's hope our magnificent seven take advantage of this.
LA OPERA'S DER ROSENKAVALIER. Richard Strauss wrote this comic opera, and actor Maximillian Schell (who is Angelina Jolie's godfather) directed it. Schell won an Oscar for Judgment at Nuremberg and also starred in Man in The Glass Booth. All that show biz background is applicable here because this production is nothing if not visual, AND excellently acted, as well as being nicely sung. Chorus costumes ranged from a nine foot tall version of Abel Gance's Napoleon, two guys from Matrix, and the set design by Gottfried Helnwein was equally visual and challenging and very good. Schell, Helnwein, and Kurt Rydl (who sang Baron Ochs) and the opera itself all are from Vienna, which is just interesting and probably helped make this the deep spectacle it turned out to be. It was my first visit to the Los Angeles Opera, and contrary to friends opinions the LA Opera performs in The Dorothy Chandler Pavilion not in the new Disney Hall which was built only for symphonic performances not fully staged productions.
UCSC'S DON GIOVANNI. UCSC's Music Department, the UCSC Singers and the UCSC Orchestra have never done a better opera. I went to opening night and was honestly amazed by several things. The most obvious was the new red full stage and black proscenium curtains. It makes the already beautiful Music Center Recital Hall even more functional. The next amazing thing in chronological order, was the UCSC Orchestra as conducted by Nicole Paiement. These darned students were playing Mozart's arguably finest opera music for goodness sakes, not some Friml, or Beatles sing a-longs. Mozart was all of 31 years old when Don Giovanni premiered, only a little bit older than these UC students. Brian Staufenbiel was the artistic and stage director and everything about this performance worked beautifully. Usually you wouldn't expect college students to sing opera AND do it well, but this opening night cast had some absolutely marvelous singers, who definitely should go on to professional careers.
PACIFIC AVENUE MOTORCYCLE NOISE & JOHN LAIRD & LETTER TO THE EDITOR. I got this email earlier in the week. "Hi Bruce, In an April 10 Metro article, and a follow up April 30, 2004 online article (pasted below) you mention the possibility of a new law to enforce loud motorcycles. Do you know of any updates or if there is anyone working on that issue that I could contact? Thanks, Kevin Kilpatrick"
HERE'S THE ITEM "(April 30, 2004) -ONE LAST ITEM. After the Town Hall meeting I asked Howard Skerry, S.C. Police Chief, about the loud noises from motorcycles downtown. He said the same thing that Chief Belcher used to say. There are too many legal problems in enforcing the existing laws against motorcycle noise. At present they need special audio testing machines and two officers to run the tests. What Chief Skerry is doing is, he's contacting Assemblyman John Laird to make a change in the laws back to the old and simpler rules that can be enforced. We can rest assured that John Laird will get this legislation passed. It'll be simpler and more cost effective and we'll have a better atmosphere downtown".
That was then, this is now...so I emailed Assemblyman John Laird "John, I just got this email today, and wondered if there's any follow up, or changes, or hope for the noise (motorcycles) downtown? Thanks, Bruce Bratton"
JOHN LAIRD REPLIED...
"Bruce -- The city never asked. Ed Porter brought it up at a Council legislative breakfast, but at the time other council members made it clear it wasn't in their package. Hope you're doing well. I'm in the middle of budget hell". -John. So offhand I'd say once again, it's our City Council who lack the guts to enforce the noise ordinance. It's a shame that other cities who don't even try to become as green and environmental as we think we are, have dealt with the Wild Ones and established strict sound re-enforcement laws.
THE BUSHWHACKERS RADIO SHOW...TWO-YEAR ANNIVERSARY. For two years now I've had the great fun reviewing films and joining Dan Ornery Orange and Sleepy John Sandidge on their KZSC fm Friday am program The Bushwhackers Show. They have the advantage, because they get up earlier and drink coffee before I can even try to catch up. I also give away 2 passes to the Nickelodeon/Del Mar and free video rentals to the superlative Cedar Street Video store IF you can answer the movie question of the week. Which reminds me, apropos of nothing my daughter and I just saw Sylvester Stallone at Mickey Fines Pharmacy on Beverly Drive. He was probably buying some knockout drops, and he looked a little rocky... get it? But do tune in on Friday mornings at 8am 88.1 fm. It's been a staggering two years.
SANTA BARBARA HAS SIX LANES OF FREEWAY, SO??? Each time I drive to LA going south on Hwy 1 I have to wonder about all the years it took Santa Barbara to add more lanes to try to make their Highway 1 freeway faster. Obviously it didn't work, I averaged approximately four miles an hour going south for almost 1/2 hour. What do all their pro-widening prophets say now to their more sensible neighbors who opposed the widening? It's the same story in Santa Cruz. Our highway 1 freeway wouldn't be any faster, and we would have spent all that money on nothing.
EMPIRE FALLS FAILS. Even what was probably the best cast ever assembled for a television drama didn't save this senior version of Our Town from lacking luster, or tension, or the ability from involving the viewers. Don't even think about Lars Von Trier's film Dogville which soars above this HBO production. Paul Newman, Ed Harris, Aidan Quinn, Joanne Woodward, and Philip Seymour Hoffman are the big stars, but then there's Theresa Russell, Robin Wright Penn, and Dennis Farina. Farina in a bit part adds almost as much as the biggies. Empire Falls, like Santa Cruz, is next to a river and the river was once the heart of the city. The city is being destroyed and rebuilt at the same time because industry and jobs are gone. This story is about one of the town's influential families like our Rittenhouses, (except for Louie). It'll probably be shown on HBO many times, so watch it, or rent it when it hits the DVD racks, because it is a joy to watch all these pros in action, but not much if anything, will stay with you after it's over.
QUOTES. Being in LA it only seems appropriate for all of us to memorize these two gems "What was the use of my having come from Oakland it was not natural to have come from there yes write about it if I like or anything if I like but not there, there is no there there" -Gertrude Stein. Now the following is the longest quote I've ever done, but I found it online, and it's something historical we should memorize (or forget...whatever!) "The Senator says the territory of California is three times greater than the average extent of the new States of the Union. Well, Sir, suppose it is. We all know that it has more than three times as many mountains, inaccessible and rocky hills, and sandy wastes, as are possessed by any State of the Union. But how much is there of useful land? how much that may be made to contribute to the support of man and of society? These ought to be the questions. Well, with respect to that, I am sure that everybody has become satisfied that, although California may have a very great sea-board, and a large city or two, yet that the agricultural products of the whole surface now are not, and never will be, equal to one half part of those of the State of Illinois; no, nor yet a fourth, or perhaps a tenth part." -Senator DANIEL WEBSTER, remarks in the Senate on admitting California into the Union, June 27, 1850).
Bruce critiques films every Friday on KZSC-FM (88.1) on The Bushwhacker Breakfast Club at 8am.
It's free! Click here.
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