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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WIDENING HIGHWAY 1. The Regional Transportation Commission keeps right on widening is spite of people's votes and facts proving that widening highways doesn't make traffic go faster. What's really needed is a complete and full EIR. There never has been a significant EIR showing the real impact on traffic or the community around the highway. What's happened to the idea of metered lanes, Their High Occupancy Vehicle lane still means widening, can't that money be spread somewhere else besides Construction corporations?
THREE CHEERS FOR EMILY REILLY. Emily's pushing for setting down in black and white in terms of determining what true Community Benefits would be before a new development is improved should be improved, discussed and adopted. We need to be better informed on topics like what will extra police, school rooms, fire protection, garbage and refuse costs be....for example at the 2120 Delaware development. Has anyone ever seen a utilities cost sheet on that development? I'll bet not.
BUY LOCALLY OWNED. Supervisor Neal Coonerty gave a very realistic appeal to the crowd at the Independent Book Store film screening last Monday night, at Bookshop Santa Cruz. He said simply that unless we all make the conscious decision to shop locally at locally owned stores this very holiday season there's going to be trouble. He said specifically that the stores on Pacific Avenue really need our support with our dollars if we want to see Pacific Avenue continue as we know it. He then went on to say that the Border's entire chain of book stores is in trouble and we can expect announcement of bankruptcy in the near future.
NO ON 8??? Keith Olbermann says it all for me and I hope you too... check out his 6:30 spot on You Tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVUecPhQPqY . And thanks to Kady Lyons of KZSC's Altered States for alerting me to it.
HOW SOUTH COUNTY VOTED ON OBAMA AND PROP 8.
Luis Alejo was kind enough to send out a list of how South County voted on those enormously important outcomes he emailed....
Here is the Watsonville votes for Barack Obama (based on the 11/14/08 numbers) and Proposition 8:
City of Watsonville - VOTED 79% FOR OBAMA (voting turnout was 76%)
District 1 - 89 PERCENT FOR OBAMA (Vote turnout was 67%)
District 2 - 86 PERCENT FOR OBAMA (Vote turnout was 70%)
District 3 - 81 PERCENT FOR OBAMA (Vote turnout was 73%)
District 4 - 79 PERCENT FOR OBAMA (Vote turnout was 76%)
District 5 - 81 PERCENT FOR OBAMA (Vote turnout was 75%)
District 6 - 76 PERCENT FOR OBAMA (Vote turnout was 67%)
District 7 - 75 PERCENT FOR OBAMA (Vote turnout was 79%)
Supervisorial District 4 - 77 PERCENT FOR OBAMA (Vote turnout was 82%)
COUNTYWIDE: 77.15 PERCENT FOR OBAMA
PROPOSITION 8 (majority voted No on 8! although it was close)
SUPERVISORIAL DISTRICT 4: 50.2% NO / 49.8% YES
COUNTYWIDE 71.26% NO / 28.74% YES
Districts where majority voted NO
District 1 - 320 to 310
District 2 - 379 to 260
District 4 - 1559 to 1477
District 5 - 1069 to 1001
District where majority voted YES
District 3 - 913 to 904
District 7 - 1329 to 1319
PLASMA ARC INCINERATOR GETS FIRED. Luis Alejo also happily stated, "Check out the news articles hitting the papers November 14, from the Watsonville and Santa Cruz County newspapers! We organized to put an end to this proposed trash incinerator at the Buena Vista landfill (next to the Buena Vista Migrant Labor Camp, Roundtree Detention Center and Pajaro Valley High School). This will protect the health and air quality for the people of the Pajaro Valley. Si se puede!!!"...LUIS ALEJO Pajaro Valley Coalition for Environmental Justice, and newly elected Watsonville City Council member District 2.
ASSEMBLYMAN LAIRD TO SPEAK TO PEOPLE'S DEMOCRATIC CLUB.
John will be speaking to the PDC this Thursday November 20 at 7p.m.at LONDON Nelson Center. Click here for details on his talk and to read a special note from president-elect Barack Obama.
Inner Light Ministries. For those who don't know about Inner Light Ministries, and have a need to connect with your neighbors and friends on Sunday morning, check out this church. Sharon and I are irregular attendees at Inner Light for the past year or so. Founding Minister Reverend Deborah Johnson makes it work. And on the Sunday after Barack Obama's election, did it ever! After over 800 Inner Light parishioners finished singing along with the musical inspiration of guest singer Sistah Monica, Reverend Deborah gave the congregation the go-ahead to "let it all out for President-Elect Barack Obama". The standing ovation, shouts, and just plain screams of elation went on for several minutes, followed by chants of "Yes We Can!" Those minutes were right up there with Barack Obama's acceptance speech as something I'll never forget. Later, there wasn't a dry eye in the house when Reverend Deborah later shared how it felt for her, a gay, African-American woman, to watch the passage of Proposition 8, and what this mean-spirited Proposition meant to her and her family. Yes, Inner Light on the Sunday after Barack Obama was elected to be our next president was the place to be. We had the good fortune of meeting Reverend Deborah walking at Seacliff Beach on the next day, and got to thank her for Sunday's experience. Her comment on Sunday's service: "Wasn't that something!" These services are re-broadcast on Community TV Channel 27 the following Saturday at 4:00 PM and Sunday morning at 8:00 A.M., and are also available on CD at Inner Light.
More wild fires in Southern CA. 2008 has to be remembered as the year of the wildfire. Homes around Santa Barbara are burning by the hundreds, all (or most) are ultra upscale homes built in semi-remote areas. Sooner or later we have to ask why building permits are issued in areas that do not have self-contained fire protection, like local fire departments, and fire hydrants on each street that is developed. It's sad to see people loose their homes, for sure. But is that why we're bailing out insurance companies? To pay to rebuild houses where they never should have been built in the first place? We need to take a close look at what's being approved here in Santa Cruz County, and what has already been built. Any weekend drive in rural Aptos will show you how vulnerable our neighbors are to similar firestorms that are wiping out homes in the Santa Barbara hills.
The law also provides that no elected official can vote on a project where that vote could financially benefit a contributor of more than $250, if a favorable vote would benefit the contributor more than it would any other member of the public. David Dilworth from HOPE (Helping Our Peninsula's Environment) tells us that in the recent election, all Pacific Grove council candidates acceded to the law, even though there may be some question about whether the rules could be legally attacked.
There may be some question about whether this and laws similar to it are desirable or enforceable. The important question is whether our city or any city wants to (continue to?) run the risk that financial interests can affect elections. Wiley Willie Brown was alleged to have said that if an elected official can't take money from a lobbyist and then vote against that lobbyist's interests, the official has no business being elected. Perhaps so, but perhaps also many officials should not be where they are. The fiddler undoubtedly does call the tune all too often, and it's possible that this could happen even in Santa Cruz.
Quite possibly there will be a local effort to adapt measures in Santa Cruz similar to the ones in Pacific Grove, whether done by way of ordinance or by way of campaign agreements. No one wants to preclude individuals who may be developers, unions, or members of other organizations (LOBA, Downtown Business Association) from making campaign contributions. But to prohibit the organizations themselves from making contributions seems sensible enough. And it seems appropriate that individuals who would stand to gain financially by a favorable vote should be precluded from attempting to influence the vote. At least, that would be a start and at the very least the public could require that anyone who would financially benefit should disclose that possible benefit when contributing or when making an appearance before a City official.
It certainly would be interesting to start a community dialogue on these and similar issues. But I wonder if there is sufficient community interest.
PATTON'S PROGRAM. Mr. Patton informs us as to the Monterey County Bd. Of Supes and new changes to the Board that involve the environment...and hope! He adds some new a bout Jerry Brown's advice re global warming. Gary includes a letter to The California ARB and about AB32's effects. He tells us of Bonny Doon and their appeal to LAFCO and how there'll be a re-hearing. There is a meeting December 9th (he says save the date) about a new hotel possibly going up in Seacliff.
EAGAN'S DEEP COVER. Tim's political cartoons are always on target this week's is precisely right on soooooo.....scroll down to watch, and think about the elephants future.
LANDAU'S PROGRES. Saul's piece is titled Response to Poverty and Empire: Denial. He talks about the unmentionable USA class "the poor" read it here
SHAKESPEARE SANTA CRUZ NEWS & SCOOP!!! Summer of 2009 is looking very exciting...it isn't really official yet but they'll be doing Midsummer Night's Dream, Julius Caesar, Lion in Winter and a new one titled "Shipwrecked" by Pulitzer winner Donald Margulies.
SANTA CRUZ SWINGS. Just in case you missed the sneak preview of this documentary by Ken Koenig of the history of Jazz in Santa Cruz you have another chance and this is advance warning because The Nick was sold out last May when it premiered. Lisa Jensen said "...a treat for local jazz aficionados.". I reviewed it, "...Santa Cruz Swings makes an exciting film out of a long overlooked and underappreciated art form in our community...highly recommended." There'll be a special screening at KUUMBWA JAZZ CENTER ,THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, Doors opens and Dinner begins at 6 pm The film begins at 7 pm. It will be shown on a big screen with professional sound and projection equipment. Member tickets are available through The Kuumbwa Jazz Center at 831-427-2227. Tickets for non-members are available at:
Logos Books and Records 1117 Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz 831-427-5100
Kuumbwa Jazz Center by phone at 1-866-55TICKETS.
http://www.kuumbwajazz.org/concerts/121108.htm
SYNECDOCHE, NEW YORK. If you can imagine (and know the names of the cast that contains) Philip Seymour Hoffman, Dianne Wiest, Emily Watson, Samantha Morton, Catherine Keener, Hope Davis and Jennifer Jason Leigh all directed by screenwriter Charlie Kaufman you'll love every second of this mind boggling film. It's about life, death, relationships, careers, love, and in an interesting review Roger Ebert says we should see it three times, I'll probably do just that. I liked it, but couldn't grasp all of it the first time around.
BOY IN STRIPED PAJAMAS. A heart filled saga of the Nazi holocaust from the Nazi point of view. Unfortunately that's not a joke! It doesn't trivialize the Holocaust like Roberto Benigni's smarmy Life is Beautiful did, but it's hammy, heavy, heart-wringing plot is almost as tacky. One of the two 8 year old boys in the plot is named Shmuel, and they make a big joke of his name which is funny for us here in Santa Cruz. Vera Farmiga who's from New Jersey plays the German wife of David Thewlis who plays the Nazi camp Kommander of Auschwitz and they both act with English accents which is strange, to say the least. The ending is so cornball you wouldn't believe me even if I did reveal it.
QUANTUM SOLACE. It all depends on how you like your James Bond. I'll bet no one has read the Bond books since Kennedy died so it's whether you like the super suave I- love- my- job- type Sean Connery model or the uptight, angry, inner driven, cruel Daniel Craig. I like Connery and I didn't care much at all for Quantum Solace. It's the same old pasting together of action sequences with a teen age type plot. Be courageous, avoid the crowds, and rent it instead.
SPAM NAMES. These fake spam name people must be holding back and getting ready for the Holidays. There's Manner Shatz, Melva Yazzie, Tokutoku Max, Alene Apolonia, Eloy Guy, and that's about it!
UNIVERSITY GRAPEVINE. Since I'm on vacation for two weeks we'll be re-playing the most often requested recent Grapevines. On November 20 KZSC 88.1 FM from 4-5 p.m.you can tune into Frank Bardacke talking about Watsonville Politics along with Gary Patton former Santa Cruz County Supervisor and now general counsel for The Planning And Conservation league. Then on Thanksgiving (Nov. 27) you can hear author and activist Tom Hayden with our newly elected Assemblyman Bill Monning. They talk about Sacramento politics. On the second half I interview Jeff Martin our also newly elected Port Commissioner for the Santa Cruz Yacht Harbor.
QUOTES." My reputation grows with every failure", George Bernard Shaw. "One of the first and most important things for a critic to learn is how to sleep undetected at the theatre", William Archer. "An actress is someone with no ability who sits around waiting to go on alimony", Jackie Stallone. "Scratch an actor-and you'll find an actress", Dorothy Parker. "Happy Thanksgiving", Bruce Bratton.
Deep Cover
Bruce critiques films every Friday on KZSC-FM (88.1) on The Bushwhacker Breakfast Club at 8am.
It's free! Click here.
Teaser paragraph.
What an Election!....local results still not known!!!...Secrets of South County voting...Sentinel's sore losing...About PRT...Romance, a good play...Rocknrolla is flawed, crazed but worth seeing...Hot Damn String Band to play annual Bookshop party...see any Elixir of Love opera now.
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TRUMAN BEATING DEWEY, JFK BEATING NIXON, AND NOW THIS!!! Paul Elerick (in his Input section) sums up much of my reactions to last week's elections. Tears and unbelievable dreams realized... it was and is wonderful. I spent most of election night at Katherine Beiers' home, and we all missed the old traditional nights of the community gathering in the County Building basement to share late breaking results. After dozens or more like hundreds of your email links to absolutely profound, funny, introspective and weird sites came in I decided that you folks got most of them too so I'll refrain from including any (or many) links here.
The Same Sex Marriage voting results once again woke us up to the fact that we live in a special location and there's a very different world out there. As Tom Graves Deputy Santa Cruz City Clerk says, "it's not time for just being sad, it's time for being angry and turning that anger into hard work and taking every legal means necessary to right that wrong".
COUNTING SANTA CRUZ CITY COUNCIL VOTES. Don Webber did some calculating this Tuesday morning (11/11) and came up with some wisdom regarding the possible outcome of our next City Council...Don writes,
"Mail-in Ballots.
Voters in the city of Santa Cruz cast 12,921 mail-in ballots in the November 4 election. As of Friday, November 7, nearly 4,300 of these city mail-in ballots remain to be counted. Each of the 4,300 uncounted mail-in represent up to as many as four votes each in the election for city council. That means potentially 17,200 mail-in votes may be added to the ten city council candidates (4,300 x 4 = 17,200). Since roughly 3 out of 4 votes goes to the top five candidates, nearly 13,000 votes may be added to the top five city council candidates (17,200 x 75% = 12,900). Reducing for under votes, i.e. ballots that contain less than four votes for city council, perhaps there may be as many as 10,000 mail-in votes yet to be allocated to the top five candidates.
Provisional Ballots.
In addition to the mail-in ballots, there are nearly 4,800 "provisional" ballots countywide. How many of these are city voters and how many will ultimately be converted as "good" is an open question. Clearly some portion of these ballots will add to the total votes to be allocated to the top five candidates.
Conclusion.
Fewer than 300 votes currently separate the city council candidates in third, fourth, and fifth place, and I assume that there are approximately 10,000 votes yet to be allocated to the top five candidates, Since third and fourth place finishers will be seated on the council, but fifth place will not, the stakes are high. Out of an estimated 10,000 votes remaining to be allocated among the top five candidates, might there be a swing of 300 that affects the outcome among the third, fourth, and fifth positions? I would stay tuned".
SENTINEL LEOPOLD' S UNION MONEY VERSUS DANNER'S DEVELOPERS BIG BUCKS. I agree that we sure need a daily paper but when the Sentinel gets as downright dirty and opinionated as it continues to be with such slanted "coverage" as it has been with the Leopold vs. Danner campaign and its continual pushing for widening of Highway 1 it'll earn and deserve another office move...to North Boulder Creek. To somehow pretend it is a newspaper and still claim that Betty Danner's campaign money from developers is clean while John Leopold's contributions from labor unions is tainted is as stupid as it is unfair. Danner's developers money comes from, and goes back into their profits from selling and developing land. Those local developers are folks such as boyfriend Louis Rittenhouse, Barry Swenson, Charlie Canfield, and Bruce Woolpert. On the other hand, Union money comes from the 2000. pockets of the workers and goes back into our economy. Both Leopold and Danner were interviewed by the Union and Leopold won their endorsement.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST. David Dilworth of www.1HOPE.com just happened to mention on University Grapevine last Thursday that Pacific Grove has a law that Dilworth and HOPE worked on that awed and shocked me. It's the law in Pacific Grove that if any business (non- person) gives money to your campaign (like for City Council) than you can not vote on any issue involving that business. Think about that. Think about The Boardwalk, The developers Barry Swenson, George Ow, Craig French, no city council person who took their campaign money could vote on any of their developments....staggering. http://www.1hope.org/cfrpg.htm
YOU VOTED NO FOR CLEAN ENERGY? There was a lot of unbelievable voting on Tuesday Nov.4. To see so many Californians fall for PG&E's billion dollar campaign in stopping clean energy by voting NO on Prop. 7 was sad. I'm sure PG&E thanks you, but I don't. Here's a statement from Kelly Rivas of the YES on prop. 7 campaign. "It is with great regret and unfortunate expectations that I write to tell you we have lost the noble battle of passing Proposition 7. I want to thank each and every one of you for your support and efforts to get this through. Please see the attached media release for the official statement of our campaign. I can assure you the efforts will continue on a state and national level. It is extremely important to continue pushing our leaders for a solution to the myriad of problems we face regarding energy. With a new President committed to change on the horizon, we must work even harder to ensure we are a part of making that change not only happen, but be successful. Best wishes, Kelly. The Official statement reads:
For Immediate Release: Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Contact: Steve Hopcraft (916) 457-5546; steve@hopcraft.com
Statement of Proponents
Californians for Solar and Clean Energy
Proposition 7's loss is truly a missed opportunity that began with 700,000 Californians signing a petition to make it possible for 17 million Californians to have the chance to enact bold and visionary renewable energy policy.
Proposition 7 would have made California the world headquarters of the green economy and energy technology. However, the vote on Prop. 7 marks a giant step forward in the fight for clean energy, and that fight will continue.
Our organization has grown throughout this campaign, and we believe in the principles and tenets of Proposition 7 now more than ever. Therefore, as an organization we will regroup in the New Year to move this public debate forward at the state and national levels. We are encouraged by President-elect Obama's commitment to energy independence. We look forward to assisting President-elect Obama's Administration in passing federal laws that will set renewable portfolio standards by 2025 for our entire nation, and for the federal government's own electricity purchases.
We will continue to lead the fight for renewable power at the state level, and to hold California state government accountable to the strong desire of Californians for faster movement towards clean energy for our electric and other needs. We will organize Prop. 7's millions of supporters to press for faster progress towards more renewable energy and energy independence.
Many worked on Proposition 7, but we want to thank the over 700,000 Californians who petitioned to put the Solar and Clean Energy Act on the ballot. You made Proposition 7 possible.
We want to thank the millions of California voters who voted Yes on 7. You voted to enact historic solutions to global warming and energy independence. Decades from now historians will marvel at your courage and vision, much as historians marvel at the courage and vision of previous generations of Californians who built the California Water Project, the bridges across San Francisco Bay, and California's college and university system. Today, you stand in good company.
We want to especially thank Peter Sperling, truly an environmental philanthropist and activist, for his generosity and leadership, and Dr. John Sperling, an outstanding educator and public policy advocate, for his inspiration and vision.
SPECIAL CONGRATULATIONS. Big congratulations to top vote getters Bud Winslow, Susan True, Sandra Nichols, Luis Alejo, Bruce Daniels, Tom La Hue and Jeffrey Martin.
Barack Obama did it! We have a President-elect that has already made history, and will continue to do just that. Not since 1960 when John Kennedy was elected have we been so turned on to national politics. The campaign, the nomination speech, the debates and finally the win and the acceptance speech on November 4th will stick with us forever.
The only major disappointment we had on November 4th was the passage of Proposition 8. If it was indeed the Mormons who fed the campaign to pass this measure, they should be ashamed of themselves. If any group should understand being victims of injustice, persecution and bigotry, it should be the Mormons. If the anti-gay marriage people think this is over, they're mistaken. Next time, however, somebody needs to help San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom with his public statements. I thought his "Like it or not ....." played a major role in the Yes on 8's TV campaign. Nobody likes to be told they have to "like it or not" about anything. It's a good way to make undecided voters make up their minds not based on fairness.
Those local close elections – who says your vote doesn't count?
As of today, there are local elections still too close to call, especially in Capitola where 35 votes separate the top three finishers running for city council. The two top finishers after all the absentee and provisional ballots are counted will win. I'm rooting for Dennis Norton to stay on top, as he's been a strong supporter of alternative transportation in the county. The same closeness can be said for Santa Cruz City Council race where 4,795 absentee votes still separate the third, fourth and fifth place finisher for the third and fourth open seat on the council as late as Wednesday morning! Will it still be Katherine Beiers who has a 200 plus vote lead, and either David Terrazas or incumbent Tony Madrigal?
Important elections overlooked by the Sentinel.
Is it because South County is even farther away from Scotts Valley and San Jose than it was when our daily newspaper was printed in Santa Cruz? Neither Soquel Creek Water District nor Pajaro Valley Unified School District elections made the Sentinel's recommendation list. We mid-county voters are happy that Bruce Daniels and Tom LaHue were returned to SCWD's Board of Directors, and that Sandra Nichols and Karen Osmundson were returned to PVUSD' Board of Trustees.
Note also that Bruce Woolpert's Committee for Good School Governance failed to unseat Osmundson and Nichols, electing only one of their candidates to PVUSD's Board of Trustees.
However, based on today's unofficial results of the November 4th election, the Sentinel did pretty well with their recommendations matching up to these results. Not sure if this should be viewed as good or bad, this time I think it's mostly good. We'll know exactly when the final provisional and absentee ballots are counted.
EVERY VOTE COUNTS IN WATSONVILLE CITY COUNCIL RACE.
The typical cliché phrase in political campaigns is that every vote counts. But the old adage certainly has big meaning in the pending Watsonville city council race between incumbent and Hartnell College administrator Manuel Bersamin and former real estate agent Gabriel Gonzalez. As the countdown continues, Gonzalez is ahead by only 18 votes. Nearly 95 percent of Gonzalez's money came from airport pilots whereas Bersamin was being backed by labor unions, local Democrats and community members. Some say the pilots were trying to buy an election. The money appears to have paid off for them, but there could be about 100-150 votes still out there and the race could easily flip with such a small margin between the candidates. Watsonville City Clerk Beatriz Flores said that the final numbers will not be released until the last day, December 2. The swearing in of new or reelected council members is planned for the December 4th city council meeting. The results could have big meaning since the city council is currently split 4-3, leaning progressive. A Gonzalez win could mean a conservative, anti-growth majority. The outcome will also decide who will be the next Watsonville mayor and vice-mayor, which will also be voted on by the new council at the December 4th meeting. There is a lot at stake and the numbers are being watched closely in South County.
ALEJO MAINTAINS BIG LEAD IN DISTRICT #2 RACE. Local attorney and community organizer Luis Alejo won big on election night with 78 percent of the votes. Some additional votes were updated by the County Elections office last Friday, and he still enjoys a healthy 77 percent of the vote. The Watsonville pilots also gave big money to Alejo' s opponent Joe Ortiz, a retired carpenter, whose campaign was funded 90 percent by them. Current Councilmember Dale Skillicorn, a staunch Republican and former member of the County Republican Central Committee, was also behind Ortiz's campaign and was active in trying to take down Alejo's signs without much success by trying to persuade local businesses to remove them. But none of them did. Alejo credits a strong grassroots campaign, his history of hard work and community activism, and his work as a legal aid lawyer in the district for the high level of support he received from voters and local businesses.
UNDERDOG EMILIO MARTINEZ ENDS UP ON TOP IN DISTRICT #6 RACE. The most talked about campaign in town is certainly the major upset that private investigator and former planning commissioner Emilo Martinez gave incumbent and hospital administrator Edward Din. Martinez is winning so far by a 7 percent margin, and ran a campaign he fully funded himself. Emilio worked hard walking door-to-door in a changing district that has historically been one of the most conservative. Din was being backed by the local Republican establishment including Judy Doering Nielson and Dale Skillicorn, among others. Din's wife, Darlene Din, has also worked as a consultant for the Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau and was able to get some major support behind her husband. Bad blood emerged between the two former friends when Martinez decided he was going to run against Din. Din immediately removed Martinez as his planning commissioner and later installed John "Skip" Mays, the husband of former, controversial Pajaro Valley Unified Superintendent Mary Ann Mays. Mays has only attended one planning commission meeting. Now that Martinez has won, Mays may have one of the shortest terms as a planning commissioner in Watsonville history.
MARTINEZ HAD PROWLERS AROUND HIS HOME DURING THE CAMPAIGN. The Register-Pajaronian broke the news story that Emilio Martinez called the police at nearly 3:41am one morning just a few days before election day after seeing a prowler outside his home at that time. See: http://www.register-pajaronian.com/fe_view_article.php?story_id=6070&page_id=76&heading=. Martinez told the Pajaronian that it was the third time he had seen a prowler around his house, but ignored the first two times. It took a third time for him to finally call law enforcement authorities. No one was caught and it is still unknown who was behind the prowling. But other incidents have also come to light after the election. Apparently, Martinez's vehicle tires were also slashed one day, but Martinez chose not to report it. Some folks were also trying to have Martinez's daughter fired from her campaign staff position for Republican Senator Abel Maldonado, but Maldonado refused to give to their demands. Just goes to show the extremity of tensions in this particular race.
QUESTIONABLE EXPENSES BY ORTIZ CAMPAIGN. Campaign disclosure forms are reviewed every election season. But what caught some attention were some interesting expenditures by Watsonville City Council Candidate Joe Ortiz. What about a $300 dinner bill at Applebees, a $267 dinner bill at Imura's Japanese Restaurant, a car rental bill at Hertz for $273, or a $111 bill from Freedom Meat's for a good-sized barbecue? But what tops it all was a $953 bill from Costco. What did he buy? What were the dinners or car rental for? His disclosure forms claim they were for fundraising events, but he raised only $938 on his own outside the 3 big checks from the pilots. Total for these expenses alone was $1904 or nearly 25 percent of the total money he raised. Such spending may partly explain why he received such a low level of support from the voters.
GONZALEZ MISLEADING FLYER UPSETS ASSEMBLYWOMAN CABALLERO. During every campaign season, dirty tricks are often used by candidates. But this year's dirty trick award goes to Watsonville City Council candidate Gabriel Gonzalez whose campaign used the image and name of popular Assemblywoman Anna Caballero (D-Salinas) on his last day flyer to create an appearance that Caballero endorsed his campaign. In fact, Assemblywoman Caballero never endorsed him nor did she give him permission to use her name or photo on his flyer. What happened is that Gonzalez had taken a photo with Caballero at a recent dinner hosted by the Watsonville Regional Airport Promotion (WRAP), where Caballero spoke. However, the photo was later placed on Gonzalez's last day flyer asking voters to support Caballero and him. When the flyer was brought to Caballero's attention, she was furious and said that she never endorsed him or gave him permission to use her photo. She said that she now knew better to take photos with candidates before an election. But the dirty tricks did not stop there. Gonzalez also created a last day door hanger stating "Vote Democrat" with the images and names of Democratic Presidential Candidate Barack Obama, Assemblywoman Caballero, Gonzalez, and Pajaro Valley Trustee Area 3 school board candidate Geri Simmons (who was being primarily backed by Republican and Graniterock CEO Bruce Woolpert). However, Gonzalez received no endorsements by any Democratic Clubs, the Democratic Central Committee, or Caballero. In fact, Gonzalez was being backed by Republicans Judy Doering Nielson (former Watsonville mayor) and current Councilman Dale Skillicorn, and has never been involved with local Democratic efforts in Watsonville. Gonzalez also did absolutely no work on the Barack Obama campaign, but he found it perfectly fine to include the popular Obama name and photo on his door hanger for his own selfish political purposes. If this were the Keith Olbermann's show, Gonzalez would be on the top of the "Worst Persons" list.
A PRT system has completed test runs at London's Heathrow airport and tests are under way for a PRT line in Uppsala, Sweden . The new city of Masdar has commissioned a PRT system which would include about 1500 stations---and trips to and from each of these stations would be non-stop. Santa Cruz is one of the cities in the U.S. that is actively considering PRT. The City Council recently has invited interested vendors to submit statements of qualification and interest in constructing and operating a PRT system which, initially at least, would operate between downtown and the University. Over the past few years, a local PRT support group has been pushing for just this, and their efforts are finally being felt. Councilmember Ed Porter has been and is the spearhead for the entire effort.
PRT is "out of the box" thinking. Public support and business support are indispensable for any major project, and PRT is certainly that. It could revolutionize transportation in the City, become a major tourist attraction, and aid business. Working in tandem with other public transportation methodologies, it could substantially reduce street congestion. The new City Council is committed to green growth, growth which does not damage the ambiance of the City and which reduces global warming. Financing, of course, is a major consideration, but PRT proponents are cautiously hopeful that even in this economic climate, funding can be obtained. The issue is whether the residents of the City will rise to the challenge.
DOWNTOWN PLAZA AND THE MAUSOLEUM. Rolf Pot emails to say, "I was one of the folks who supported you and the plan to have a plaza downtown where now the new Rittenhouse building stands. The contrast could not have been greater with what we had envisioned and the pretentious monstrosity that now sits there. The mall is firmly sealed off, if you know what I mean. Goodbye afternoon sun! The entry way of this new structure is so out of proportion and ill fitting. . Another example of the kind of development that 'could have been'. Much like the Gateway Plaza design and in particular the North Pacific Ave side of the new development there. Yikes!!! Keep up the good work! Rolf Pot, Santa Cruz.
PATTON'S PROGRAM. Gary gives advice to the Citizens of Salinas, he talks about the law of supply and demand, and details just what the last elections could mean. San Luis Obispo is dealing with a request to operate an asphalt recycling plant and explains concepts of Global warming. He closes by advising us of a workshop Dec 2 on developing and planning lower Pacific Avenue.
LANDAU'S PROGRES. Saul Landau with some help from Woody Guthrie tells about the "New president faces Economic Disaster". Read on and see how Saul tells us that Manteca, California is the "Garage Sale capitol of the United States" and the huge number of foreclosures he saw there.
EAGAN'S DEEP COVER. Mr. Tim Eagan actually thanks George W. Bush in his own special way!!! Scroll downwards.
WATERS WEIGHS IN AGAIN. Taking a more leisurely occasional approach to her column Christina states..."Finally, a definitive up-date on the opening of Oswald, a few delicious bites of my trip to Italy and a reminder to check out my story on Richard Alfaro's new Grüner Veltliner grapevines, in the Nov. 5th issue of Metro Santa Cruz.
Meanwhile - go out and dine at your favorite restaurant. Life's too short to give in to mere economics.Salut!" unquote. http://christinawaters.com
ELIXIRS OF LOVES. I saw both The San Jose Opera and the San Francisco Opera companies productions of Donizetti's L'Elisir d'Amore last weekend. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity to compare versions of the same opera, even though both versions moved the action from Italy to the Santa Clara Valley 1900, and The Napa Valley 1914. Stupidly, the San Francisco Opera version changed the ending to announce the beginning of WWI which was a shocking unnecessary downer. SF's Ramon Vargas was a better Nemorino than SJ's Alexander Boyer but Vargas is a long time pro and that could be expected. SJ's Khori Dastoor sang a better Adina than SF's international star Inva Mula from Albania. Sj's Silas Elash made a better Dr. Dulcamara than Alessandro Corbelli, and so on. All in all it's just about the lightest, silliest most fun opera in the world's opera repertoire go see either one, you'll have a good time. www.operasj.org or www.sfopera.com
DAVID MAMETS ROMANCE. David Mamet isn't known for his comedies and Romance is about as nutty a comedy as you can get. Because Mamet tells his actors not to act and has them recite lines in what's known as Mametspeak it isn't easy to produce a Mamet comedy or critique one. The Digg Theatre production now at the Actors' Theatre in downtown Santa Cruz is full of laughs and they do a good job. Mamet's Jewish and fills the play with anti-Jew jokes, and then he throws in lots of profanity, plenty of gay material and all in a setting of an American court room which is the butt of even more satire, comedy, and zingers. You gotta love Mamet and if you do, go see Romance between now and November 13, 14,15,20,21, and 22nd at 8pm or Sunday, Nov. 16 @3pm. Call 425-3367 for tickets.
BOOKSHOP BIRTHDAY PARTY. This Friday night will be Bookshop Santa Cruz's 42nd Birthday and more than that it'll be the biggest book sale of the year. Friday night is for Reader's Club members only so they get first grab at the best books...hint!!! You can join the Club that night. The sale goes all day long from 9am to 11pm Friday night. The sale runs all day Friday and all day Saturday. Friday night there's not only cake, cookies and ice cream but our band The Hot Damn String Band will play from 7:30-9:30. We've been playing at the Bookshop parties for something like 25 years. The band includes Jim Reynolds guitar and vocals, Annie Steinhart fiddle, Dave Magram on banjo, Michelle Turner string Bass, Todd Kimball on mandolin and yours truly on washboard (and hump-backed Zayante phone). Its great fun and the best string band music you've ever heard in a Bookstore.
ROLE MODELS. There are a bunch of laughs in this film but they are all based on bad vibes. Paul Rudd is a depressed loser and Seann William Scott is his nutso feel good buddy. Lots of profanity some nudity and Elizabeth Banks is in this movie too. Wait and Rent it. Elizabeth Banks by the way, is in three movies now on our local screens. And she's good in all of them!
SOUL MEN. Samuel L Jackson and Bernie Mac sing dance and mug their way through this faux history of their old soul singing days. Not much good music, and only mildly amusing. Don't even rent it unless it's like a dollar night.
ROCKNROLLA. Guy Richie (former Madonna-type relationship) has made some interesting movies. Snatch, Lock stock and Barrel etc. this one isn't as easy to follow as those were but its got style, great photography, editing, acting...it's just that the plot is hard to follow and the dialects don't make it any easier, but it's definitely worth seeing.
NEW MUSIC IN SAN FRANCISCO. Phil Collins director of Santa Cruz's New Music Works reports in with... "I would like to alert you to the upcoming performance of my frog requiem, "Requies Ranarum" this coming Saturday night, Nov. 15, 8pm (7:15 composers talk) at the S.F. Conservatory of Music. It will be performed by the Conservatory's New Music Ensemble, conducted by Nicole Paiement, and presented as part of the Blueprint Festival. It's a rare sounding, indeed, and the first time for this piece to be performed by a group other than New Music Works. The preparations are boding very well, and I am happy with the extensive revising that I enacted last year. The link below leads to concert info and links to buy tickets.I hope that you can make it." http://www.sfcm.edu/calendar/calendar.aspx?performanceID=2463
SPAM NAMES, REDUX. Bruce Van Allen bounding back from all his work on the well run Bill Monning campaign for State assembly sends in this, "Finally had some time after the election to send you these SPAM names. These are mostly from about two years ago, when the SPAM fashion was to compose sender names from dictionary words, rather than names: Multiplicity Berger, Arraign Impatience, Punctuated Indeterminate, Statehood Loveable, Hello Neglectfully, Shepherdesses Sententious, Whistling Spoonful, and Interrogatory Unsnapped. Best, - Bruce Van Allen.
SPAM NAMES TRADITIONAL. Mohammed Valencia, Newton Nieves, Hung Terrell, Gauthier Maximus, Britt Bjorn, Fitz Hyacinthe, Biff Goliath, Marva Ouellette, Bink Laurinda, Milagros Maurer, Bertie Dove, Felizio Lily and Kristin Pagan (get it?) Kristin Pagan?) never mind. How about Bat Dongming? I just got that one this very am.
UNIVERSITY GRAPEVINE. I host this radio interview program on KZSC 88.1 FM every Thursday from 4-5 p.m. Being in Hawaii for the next two weeks means we play "the best of" or the most requested recent programs. On Thursday Nov. 20 we'll repeat the interviews with Frank Bardacke, author, expert and veteran on Watsonville politics and Gary Patton, former County Supervisor and general counsel for The Planning and Conservation League, talking about politics in Sacramento. On Thursday November 27 we'll replay the program with author and politician Tom Hayden and our next California State Assemblyman Bill Monning. On the same program, newly elected Santa Cruz Port Commissioner Jeff Martin tells us many unknown issues involving our yacht harbor.
QUOTES. "Love is when two people who care for each other get confused", Bob Schneider. "Standing on a street corner waiting for no one is power", Gregory Corso. "You'll rest when you are dead", Luis Bunuel.
Deep Cover
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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INFORMED ELECTORATE? How often we hear that tired old quote about what we need is an "informed electorate". And here we are now just reading, weeping and celebrating the results of an election that should have proved once and for all time that it is impossible to become an "informed electorate". How many issues, how many candidates, for how many offices, both national and local did any of us feel truly informed? The more you try to get the truth, real facts, genuine positions from any group or candidate or institution... the more confusing it became. Secret money, phoney organizations, fake sponsors, and while it's true that not enough people care enough to become informed those who do care enough can't wade through the lies, deceit, to learn enough to be really convinced their vote was on target.
A DAY OR TWO LATE... AS USUAL. BrattonOnline is finished on Mondays, (like this week it's Monday Nov. 3rd) then it doesn't get online until later in the week usually Wednesday or even Thursday. So please realize that election results won't be discussed until next week. Besides that I'm going on a 2 week vacation to Hawaii (Kauai & Maui) from November 18-December 2nd . So there'll be a break two weeks from now.
A PLAZA DOWNTOWN ? I'm not getting involved with this again but take a look at this article telling how Escondido, California is thinking about how great a plaza in their downtown would work. Read how it would be funded, read what the local merchant's reactions are then think back about ten years and remember how our City Council vetoed a very similar idea 7-0 in spite of 3,000 signatures favoring such a plaza.
GOODBYE ELSIE BELTRAM. I first met Elsie back in 1971 or 72when she and husband Bill Beltram owned the Greenwood Lodge in the Soquel Hills. We held numerous Democratic parties and fund raisers there. Elsie was as much fun to be with as she was a force to reckon with Bill Malone wrote a fine tribute in the latest People's Democratic Club newsletter he said, "Elsie Beltram passed away last week. She was 89.
She was a People's Democratic Club member and, for decades, very involved in local Democratic Party activities and other local community activities. She and her husband Bill were honored as Democrats of the Year in 1997. She was one of the leaders (maybe the leader) in gathering the food for the annual Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners at the Veterans Hall. Always an impressive effort and accomplishment.
She was a strong willed, opinionated individual who also had a creative, clever sense of humor. She kept charging ahead with her activities in spite of her failing eyesight and hearing. That just seemed to make her more impressive and more delightful. My memories of her always bring a smile to my face". Everybody misses her already.
Here's to the Smothers Brothers! The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour was the 1960's version of Saturday Night Live, only better. We stumbled over the Netflix DVD's of their third (and last) season on CBS.back in 1969. Included is the program that was never televised by CBS, the whole program being censored. It brought back memories of where we were in 1969, with the Viet Nam war, casualties and bodies bags on TV, President Johnson calling it quits and Nixon coming on. Thirty-nine years ago, and it seems like yesterday, but the shows came across as fresh and sassy as they were in '69. What a great lineup of talent the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour gave us. There were singers, guest comedians, and of course Tom and Dick Smothers. The most poignant film clip was when Tom Smothers read a personal note from Lyndon Johnson, congratulating them on their season, even though LBJ was a frequent target of their satire. There may be TV shows out there as the same caliber but I don't know where. Now if we can get the owners of the Laugh-In TV shows of the same era to let Netflix distribute them".
One thing this does demonstrate was the appalling lack of public participation in this proposal. This lack of public participation ha been demonstrated in other public meetings, such as the lower Pacific Avenue discussions. CALTRANS did publicize the event adequately; public indifference---or is it the silent majority?---was obvious. Some people may feel CALTRANS is going to do what it wants regardless of public opposition---but if this were so, then CALTRANS needn't have staged the event. Public approval is their goal. Given the opportunity and the invitation, why the indifference? CALTRANS policies will not be affected by the expression of concern if it's only by a very few people.
The major issue, I think, is the extent to which we want to continue to accommodate the private automobile. We may eventually see some statistics or numbers, but I doubt that many cars come off Morrissey and exit Soquel going south, or vice versa going north. So this is probably another part of a piece-meal widening of Highway 1. Perhaps this is what the public wants, but we certainly don't know that.
Why don't the powers that be, and this includes the cons as well as the pros, find out what the public wants? Why not have a referendum with the sole question being whether the public is in favor of widening the highway. If that vote is positive, then issues of financing can commence to be addressed. This would for the first time allow the public a clear vote on the basic issue. Environmental issues could be raised; alternate proposals to ameliorate traffic problems could be discussed. The growth impact of widening could be considered. We would need origin/destination studies and growth projections in order to be properly informed. Would CALTRANS and the RTC want this approach? Would the Campaign for Sensible Transportation and the City of Santa Cruz want it?
PATTON'S PROGRAM. Gary Patton talks about the business backed slate running for Santa Cruz City Council. He talks about Republicans and de-regulation. Then he mentions state propositions but don't pay any attention to his remarks on those. There are plans to build an airplane museum and a 150 room hotel in Monterey County and developer Don Chapin is involved. Gary closes with a discussion of Gavilan Community College and development plans using the school expansion.
EAGAN'S DEEP COVER. Tim takes on the dissection of that mystery group known as the Great Undecided voters....scroll down.
LANDAU'S PROGRES . Saul Landau a film maker as well as author rips into Oliver stone's "W." in his weekly Progreso column. He says the film lacks a lot of stuff like depth, more politics, and has flawed development of Oedipal themes. Read it all here . He concludes by saying, "Tragedy, maybe. Comedy? Some will laugh at a moral schlomozel making schlemiels of the rest of us. (A schlomozel spills his soup. The schlemeil gets it in his lap.)
BORIS GODUNOV. You have to admire a guy like Mussorgsky. Anyone who could go through life with a first name like Modest has got to do something great for his country even if it's Russia. He wrote Pictures at an Exhibition to make up for it. Then he wrote A Night on Bald Mountain but his opera Boris Godunov is what's playing at The San Francisco Opera right now and it isn't very thrilling, exciting, innovating, or beautiful either. It's a history- type opera about bad times in Russian history circa 1590's. This version of the opera uses Mussorgsky's original scoring which isn't as musical as the more often performed version Rimsky- Korsakov wrote. Wait and enjoy some future production that uses the Korsakov scoring.
ELIXIRS OF LOVES. It happens too often that neighboring Opera Companies stage the same operas in the same season but this year The San Francisco Opera and The Opera San Jose both are presenting Donizetti's "The Elixir of Love" the very same month.
San Francisco Opera is setting it in the Napa Valley circa 1915.The Opera San Jose is setting it in the Santa Clara Valley also in the early 20th century. It's an excellent opera to see if you are new to opera. A little silly but fine "sing able" music. Go to www.operasj.org or to www.sfopera.com for dates, prices, seats and scenarios.
CHANGELING . I've never been a fan of right wing Republican developer Clint Eastwood's directing. His films are like 1940's Hollywood B movies. Two dimensional, no imagination, plodding, and his actors all become near-robots. Changeling has a good story (partially true) Angelina Jolie does as best she can with such heavy handed directing but because Eastwood hits you in the head with each simple minded scene you end up feeling that you've watched some sort of educational film for sixth graders. BUT it's worth seeing, just pretend you're simple.
ZACK AND MIRI MAKE A PORNO . This sure isn't a porno film, it isn't a great comedy either but there are some laughs and some nudity, so it isn't a complete loss. You won't like yourself for laughing and Elizabeth Banks steals the film. She was better as Laura Bush in "W". Wait and rent this flick.
THE PRICE OF PLEASURE . Media Watch is presenting an evening titled The Price of Pleasure: Pornography, Sexuality and Relationships". It's a film about what porno reveals about the world we live in. It'll be shown Wednesday, November 12, at 7:30 at the Quaker Friends Meeting House,225 Rooney Street, next to the Morrissey Street exit off the freeway. Call Media Watch 423-6355 for info.
PAPERBACK DREAMS, FILM & PANEL. Monday November 10 at 7:30 Bookshop Santa Cruz is co hosting with Capitola Book Café a screening of an excellent documentary Paperback Dreams at The Bookshop Santa Cruz. It's a documentary about the closing of Cody's Book Store in Berkeley and the ongoing struggle to keep Kepler's Book Store in Palo Alto operating. The screening will be followed by a panel discussion on the role of independent booksellers and independent businesses in the community. Panel members will include the filmmakers themselves, Neal Coonerty (former owner of Bookshop Santa Cruz), Wendy Mayer-Lochtefeld (one of Capitola Book Cafe's owners), and Peter Beckman (head of Think Local First Santa Cruz County). Yours truly will be moderating this discussion and believe me there are some ponderable issues in this film that need discussing. See you there.
SPAM NAMES . It must be election pressure because there's more this week than usual, but just as nutty... as usual. Margarita Trinity, Ishere Sow, Karlik Symult, Anastasia Cho, Aida Trotter, Ladonna Sajup, Brandi Bruno, Chev Festus, Giovanni Lung, Clay Tran, Chroterm Malachi, Hari Bent, Dirk Denish, Faustino Pate, Ewort Tchen, Eziechiele Santisuk, Alfy Dina, Hilly Kiat, Corissa Bliss, Ivy Sapp, Arty Norma, Decimus Maximus, Fanny Tachett, Waldo Vang and Egon Nena
UNIVERSITY GRAPEVINE . Every Thursday 4-5 p.m. I host University Grapevine at KZSC 88.1 fm. This Thursday Westi Haughey from Cruzio, The Internet Store will be talking about their 10th Annual Small Business Fair (Nov. 13th 4:30-7:30). In the second half hour David Dilworth will talk about 6 Rascal California Energy Companies and how we can get our $40 Billion Back.
QUOTES . "Inhumanity has a great future", Paul Valery. "We are anthill men upon an anthill world", Ray Bradbury. "It is not necessary to say YES to life. No one is there to listen; no one is interested in your words", John Brockman. "I'm only the Pope, what can I do?", Pope John XXIII.
Deep Cover
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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