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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ICONIC COOPER HOUSE. Here are some more interactions about our beloved Cooper House. Note how after all these years no one ever talks about how and why the owners tore it down so soon after the earthquake? As us old-timers know all too well it was seismically re-fitted before the earthquake by professional contractor Michael Bates and suffered very little damage. As I recall the City actually gave permission to tear it down....why??? Please advise.
Betty Wicklund long ago Cooper House store owner adds, "Yes, Cooperhouse did open in 1971..The Wilderness Store (Camping and outdoor stuff) opened first and I opened second (The Purple Turtle)..I remember celebrating when we did our first $100 sale and took everyone out to dinner....Everything was under construction and people kind of randomly wandered in not really knowing what was happening...We dusted hourly, since there wasn't a lot of people or sales for quite awhile...Since owner Max Walden was helping all of us to open and knew that we were all struggling, he didn't take a set rent amount. He got copies of our sales receipts and we paid 10% of sales before taxes...it was great in the beginning, but got a little pricey later...of course being the businessman that he was, he had counted on that...I has a grand time being a part of all that...Love your column...Betty Wicklund Gladfelder
Joel of Boulder Creek emails to say..."What a great Cooper House photo. I don't know exactly when it was taken but I do remember having champagne brunch in that spot, maybe early 80s, 82 or 83. The picture sure brought back memories". Yep.
OWNING ODWALLA. Email from Jeannine (Bonnie) Bonstelle Bassett Co-founder of Odwalla...You know we (Greg Steltenpohl , Gerry Percy and I ) began the company September 13th , 1980.. at 615 Seabright Ave.. Kitty corner from what once was known as Luther's.. A great place at one time..
There was a big yellow 3 apt complex house...Greg and I rented a studio downstairs .way back when and we started juicing in the kitchen.. there is a shed in the back yard that we moved into for a while and then onto Mansfield Way off 17th Ave for 3 years before moving into the Davenport building...
It was quite a journey of blood, sweat and tears .. And lots of love with an incredible community of dedicated HUMANS...! ... As we said.. The Juice was for Humans!
And we whole heartedly dedicated our spirits to the endeavor.....and do hope that we contributed something to the whole...Sending my best, Jeannine (Bonnie) Bonstelle Bassett http://www.jeanninebonstelle.com check it out, great visuals!!
GANG FLIGHTS. Here's an interesting (name withheld on request) email to BrattonOnline..."It seems that practically every day I read in the Sentinel about some accident victim (or more often gang-related stabbing or shooting victim) being flown to a "regional trauma center" for medical treatment. I would like someone to inform the public about this. 1) What treatment is available there that is not available on this side of the hill, i.e. Dominican or Watsonville ER? 2) How much does each trip cost? 3) Where does the money come from? I'm tired of paying for gang members' medical care. (Please don't print my name)" and I didn't. This person has emailed Supervisor Coonerty's office about this, no reply yet.
CULTURAL COUNCIL RUMOR. People who buzz around the county are talking about director Alberto Rafols leaving our Santa Cruz Cultural Council. I can't get an official response yet and guesses are he's either got a better offer or got tired of pleading for patrons. Please advise if you know anything. Last word is that he leaves at the end of August!!!
USA BLOCKADE OF CUBA CRUMBLING. Here's a press release from Pastors for Peace...
CARAVAN TO CUBA CROSSED INTO MEXICO WITH 100 TONS OF AID BOUND FOR CUBA
 Pastor Lucius Walker of Pastors for Peace and New Jersey talking with Raul Castro, President of Cuba in Holquin at the 50th anniversary of the shelling of the Macado Barracks in Santiago that started the Revolution. |
MY COUNTRY ROAD VIDEO. Watch this clever and heartfelt parody of the folk song My Country Road ...you could get a little teary but what the hell?
MOVING OBJECTS WITH YOUR MIND. Here's a party stopper the NY Times article titled "Researchers Train Minds to Move Matter"....and it's no joke!!!
State Assembly puts a halt to oil drilling off California's coast This good news came from Bill Magavern, Director, Sierra Club California. Even the Sentinel's editorial staff commended the Democrats on this one. We should all be grateful for what the Dems did here.
"Today (Friday, July 24th), the State Assembly convincingly rejected an oil company's bid to open new offshore oil drilling off the Santa Barbara Coast. The vote was 28 in favor, 43 opposed, with 8 not voting. Assembly Democrats pulled together to protect the coast. The No votes came from 42 Democrats, along with Republican Audra Strickland. The aye votes came from 26 Republicans, along with Democrat Charles Calderon and non-affiliated Juan Arambula. Those not voting were Democrats Bass, Block, Davis, Hall, Hernandez and Solorio, along with Republicans Fletcher and Harkey. The bill, AB 23 (DeVore), had cleared the Senate earlier in the day with the bare minimum of 21 votes. Sierra Club California worked the hallways of the Capitol in the hours leading up to the vote, joined by our allies: California League of Conservation Voters, Planning and Conservation League, and Coalition for Clean Air. Many others helped from further away, and we thank everyone who made phone calls or sent emails, letters and faxes. Please send along thank-you messages to your legislators who voted to safeguard the coast. The proponents of drilling, including Gov.Schwarzenegger, will be back to try again, so we must not let down our guard. But we have reason to celebrate a big win today."
Town Hall Meeting with Assemblyman Bill Monning
It seems to be an endless list of issues that require our speaking out for. Thousands of Californians did just that when Gov. Schwarzenegger and his followers tried to close our State Parks, and again when it looked like the oil companies were going to win again. There will be more of these issues to fight. High on this list of issues is the restoration of funds for public transit. Here's a chance to let our assemblyman know how you feel about losing transit funding.
Restoring Cuts to Metro Transit
Town Hall Meeting with Assemblyman Bill Monning
Thursday, July 30 7:00pm London Nelson Center
301 Center St., Santa Cruz
In February the governor demanded, and the legislature enacted a complete cutoff of funds for local transit districts. This puts California last among the 50 states in support for transit. What this means for Metro is a 73% cut to its capital budget. That's money used to replace buses. If these cuts are not restored, Metro will eventually have to cut its routes. The town hall meeting is to rally support for tax reforms that will make the tax system more fair and raise revenues for needed state programs such as transit.
For more information: http://sensibletransportation.org/transit
My Thoughts expressed perfectly by a friend:
My friend, Julie Engell from Monterey shared her feelings about the state of our state budget, the phone calls we all were asked to make, etc etc. Julie nails it.
"What I've been trying to point out to our decision makers is that we spend huge sums of money to purportedly solve our problems, while simultaneously spending huge sums of money worsening those same problems. The result is we spend huge sums making no progress whatsoever. All you have to do is look at some of the most expensive projects we fund – infrastructure – for clear examples of this. We spend billions expanding roads so that we can continue to sprawl and need more roads. We make state grant monies available for local water projects without any requirement that local governments stop approving development that lacks a sustainable water supply. We spend billions funding the CDF, but fail to require that we quit expanding the wildland-urban interface. In the meantime, our schools are circling the toilet; healthcare is a shambles; our most vulnerable citizens are now even more vulnerable; our state credit rating is in the basement; we subsidize the most expensive sources of energy and water; and we allow a few ideologues to gut environmental protections because somehow they seem to have convinced everyone that they're a luxury we can't afford -- even when they worsen the state budget or have no impact on the state budget at all!
I am distressed that even the best of our Assembly Members have been unwilling or unable to articulate these points, which can only lead me to conclude that this "fix" is merely a political Band-Aid, and a dirty one at best."
Julie Engell
SEARLE'S SALVO. (Reed Searle is a retired attorney, active in Santa Cruz Residents for Responsible Planning (SCRP), the Community Water Coalition (CWC), The Tidelands Alliance," and he is a member of CCSTTF. (Cynthia's Citizens Silly Tax Task Farce), and he's a longtime community watchdog). Why didn't the Conference and Visitor Council (CVC) suffer a reduction in its budget allocation from the City? Why is it the only department or "pocket" that did not take a hit? The budgeted amount, $400,000 is a sizable amount---enough to help the police, fire or parks budget. There are several reasons why a reduction was appropriate. First is equity and morale. When there is a crisis, everyone should join in the sacrifice. When some people or group is treated specially, discontent and a sense of unfairness damage morale.
The second arises from the unstated (and quite probably, false) assumption that any reduction in the CVC budget will reduce productivity. City Manager Dick Wilson said he hopes (and I believe expects) that reductions in other departments will not adversely affect productivity. If that's true of police, fire and parks services, why not of the CVC?
The third requires a look at some numbers. The survey in 2001 showed tourism brought $75 M into the local economy. Of this, the City received $2.6 M in various taxes. This is a gross figure and does not include city costs related to tourism. Police, fire, water and parks services are among the "overhead" related to tourism. I have not seen any attempt to quantify these costs. I do see letters in the Sentinel almost daily complaining about how tourism is hurt by conditions on the mall and arguing that we should spend more on police, or that we should spend more to keep our beaches clean.
In any case, after taxes, the tourist serving businesses received $72.4M. Of course, there are costs. But surely with this gross income, businesses could afford to contribute to promotion. And indeed they do. Google "Santa Cruz Hotels" or "Santa Cruz Attractions" and see websites such as Expedia or Yahoo as well as sites for a number of hotels and attractions ---all paid for by businesses that stand to benefit. Why should the CVC be differently funded? I do not denigrate the CVC. It performs a vital service. But the City does not subsidize other businesses that bring money into the City. Why should it subsidize the tourist industry? It may be that these are some of the reasons that Councilmember Katherine Beiers thought the CVC allocation at least should be discussed. Wouldn't a discussion be appropriate?
PATTON'S PROGRAM. PATTON'S PROGRAM. (Gary Patton is "Of Counsel" to the Santa Cruz law firm of Wittwer & Parkin, which specializes in land use and environmental law. The opinions expressed are Mr. Patton's.) Here's what Gary wrote about Inclusionary law...it's his Friday broadcast. " When I taught environmental law, I emphasized that there are three different "kinds" of law, associated with the three different branches of our government. "Statutory" laws are adopted by legislative bodies at the federal, state, or local level. Then, there are "administrative" or "regulatory" laws, adopted by the executive branch. Finally, the courts also create "law," by deciding what statutory and regulatory laws actually mean, when there is a dispute about that; or if there is a claim that a statutory or regulatory law is unconstitutional; or if there is an assertion that the statutory or regulatory enactments of a lower level of government do not properly follow the laws enacted by a higher level of government. In the transcript of today's Land Use Report, I have placed a link to a recent Court of Appeal decision that holds that many local laws establishing inclusionary housing requirements for rental units are not in fact legal, because they are inconsistent with a state law intended to benefit landlords. If you care about affordable housing, this decision is worth reading. It's the Palmer/Sixth Street Properties case, coming out of Los Angeles. As a former local official, I'm sorry to find that the courts have taken away an opportunity for local governments to provide more affordable housing opportunities. It's time to ask our state legislators to correct this problem. Check out his programs on San Luis Obispo, Castroville, Carmel Valley and water problems everywhere.
LANDAU'S PROGRES. (Saul Landau is an award winning author and film maker, and an authority on Latin American Issues). Read Saul's piece on Honduras and term limits' effect on the people..
EAGAN'S DEEP COVER. By now you know to scroll down a few pages to read Santa Cruz's finest political and subconscious cartoonist. Tim fractures all of us with his view on Health Plans.
WATERS WEIGHS IN. Christina says, "You'll be able to read my review in this Wednesday's Santa Cruz Weekly, but I want to make sure you get tickets now for A Midsummer Night's Dream. It's fantastic in every way. Crisp, sparkling, and very funny — it will restore your faith in the magic of make-believe. Go to www.shakespearesantacruz.org then... go to http://christinawaters.com
ORPHAN. This is a grand old-timey scary movie. As per usual it has even more plot holes than our city council and that's a lot. Orphan uses every movie trick ever invented to scare the beejeezus out of you and... it works. Think Bad Seed meets Rosemary's Baby or Ryan Coonerty meets Louis Rittenhouse. Like the usual recommendation," don't go on the roller coaster IF you don't like roller coasters"....an acquired taste, but fun. p. s. I love roller coasters especially the Giant Dipper.
SHRINK. Kevin Spacey is at his acting best as a shrink with problems. Someone said this film is like the back-story to Entourage. It's hip LA/Beverly Hills society stuff. The problem is that the plot is so poorly strung together, you can lose interest. But Kevin Spacey fans have to see it. p.s. I watch Entourage every week.
HUMPDAY. This is a relatively simple story of two long time male buddies discussing and relating to their sex identities. It reminded me of "Dinner with Andre" re the conversational style. I liked it a lot and was impressed with the acting and low key-ness of the way it works out. You might not like it very much, be advised.
GEOFF MORTEN CEREMONIES. From Jenny Morten...a Memorial to celebrate the life of Geoff Morten will take place on Saturday August 8th at 2pm at Florido Lawn (behind the Library) in La Selva Beach. Please pass on this date to anyone who knew Geoff and would like to join me in sharing this occasion.
BARBARA VOGL SITE AND SERVICE. Here is the memorial web site for Barbara Vogl (Alice Davis's sister). Barbara's memorial service will be held Aug 29, 1:45pm, at Inner Light Ministries, 5630 Soquel Drive, Soquel http://www.sympathytree.com/celebratingbarbara
RUTH HUNTER UPDATE. Activist, writer Ruth Hunter was about to celebrate another of her very many birthdays two weeks ago, but she fell....here's the last word I received, "As most of you have read or heard, Ruth fell and broke her hip Thursday morning July 16th . She had hip replacement surgery around 5 PM the same day. 24 hours after the surgery, she was up for a brief moment. But, she has lots of restrictions of movement. She will be transferred to rehab and Ruth's daughter hopes that once Ruth is in there we will visit Ruth often to keep her energized during the retraining. She expects Ruth to be in rehab for several weeks'. That's Dominican Rehab on Frederick.
GEOFF MORTEN CEREMONIES. From Jenny Morten...a Memorial to celebrate the life of Geoff Morten will take place on Saturday August 8th at 2pm at Florido Lawn (behind the Library) in La Selva Beach. Please pass on this date to anyone who knew Geoff and would like to join me in sharing this occasion.
LIME AND LIME KILNS IN CALIFORNIA HISTORY CONFERENCE. This summer Mountain Parks Foundation is co-sponsoring the first-ever Conference on Lime and Lime Kilns in California History. The conference will be held August 8th and 9th at UCSC. It promises to be a fun and educational event with lectures, exhibits, demonstrations, and a field trip. Saturday & Sunday, August 8-9, 2009 at UCSC See here for a full conference description and schedule. The manufacturing of lime was one of Santa Cruz County's most important industries of the late 1800s. Local limestone was converted into lime by heating it in large kilns, some of which are still standing at Wilder Ranch, Fall Creek, Pogonip, and UCSC. The lime was then used to make mortar, plaster, whitewash, and other products. This industry had a profound effect on both the human history and natural resources of Santa Cruz County. This is a unique, one-time-only chance to hear speakers from around California tell about the history of the lime industry, with emphasis on Santa Cruz County. Jeannie Kegebein hopes you will attend". BrattonNote," It's also the absolute busiest cultural weekend of the entire year in Santa Cruz
UNIVERSITY GRAPEVINE. UNIVERSITY GRAPEVINE. Each and every Tuesday from 7:30-8:30 p.m. I host University Grapevine on KZSC 88.1 fm. or on your computer at WWW.KZSC.ORG. This Tuesday (July 28th ) my guests will be Roger Emanuels who will talk about The Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music and Dr. Michael Shorenstein will discuss cholesterol management, nutrition, high blood pressure, diabetes, and that kind of thing. On August 4th Audrey Stanley will discuss Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream and Julius Caesar for obvious reasons. After Audrey, UCSC Professor of Anthropology Adrienne Zihlman will bring us up to date on her recent work on human evolution. Jim Bierman will talk about his play The School For Fiancées on August 11th. and Thomas Hickenbottom will talk about his brand new book on Santa Cruz Surfing History. Nutritionist Cin Martino returns August 18th to say more about eating well. Later on and TBA will be Supervisor Mark Stone about County Politics and probably swimming, and sometime after that Assemblyman Bill Monning and Congressman Sam Farr will reveal what's new in the State and Nation's Capitols and other wide ranging but apt topics and appropriate topics.
QUOTES. Radio-activity will make me Emperor of the Universe, of all the planets, of all Creation!", Ming The Merciless. "When you have a problem with swine you've got to call in the pigs", S.I. Hayakawa former president of San Francisco State College. "America, how can I write a holy litany in your silly mood?", Allen Ginsberg.
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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COOPER HOUSE HISTORICAL PHOTO. In response to my asking for info on when that Cooper House photo (BrattonOnline July 13-19) was taken Dorene Blake emailed to say, "Now that I think about it, it was more like 1972. I left in 1974 Max Walden bought the old court house in 1971 or 72 I think. I know that because I brought him to SC to look at it the first time. I feel pretty sure your picture was taken sometime before the shops moved in. My shop there opened in 1974. By that time the tables were out front and I think maybe the downstairs bar was getting ready to open, Anyway that's my best guess. Cheers, Dorene. "
ABOUT MR. COOPER. Stan Stevens and I got to talking about Cooper Street as we sat at the Octagon-Lulu Carpenters on that very same street last week he said, "I was thinking of the general surroundings and how significant they are to our history. I thought of one of the Branciforte land owners, William Franklin Cooper, and what the scene must have been like in his day. His biography reveals that he was "our" first Mayor of Santa Cruz. No wonder Cooper street was named for him and his family (descendants from Fennimore Cooper).Here's some data from: Santa Cruz Surf Dec. 6, 1894, 4:2
WILLIAM F. COOPER. William F. Cooper, one of the prominent pioneers of this
county, and the first Mayor of the City of Santa Cruz, passed away this morning after an illness of several weeks. Mr. Cooper was born in Pennsylvania, on the border of Maryland, and was one of four brothers who caught the California fever at its first breaking out. They arrived in this county in the early fifties and engaged in merchandising, two of them in Watsonville, and two, John L. and William F., in Santa Cruz. The merchant from abroad found a ready sale for his wares among the Spanish residents and the new emigrants, and the rush was so great that the Coopers had to keep their store doors locked while they unpacked and marked their first invoice of goods. For nearly thirty years the store of the Coopers was a land-mark on the corner of Front and Cooper streets, occupying the site of the new erected Leonard block. In early days Mr. Cooper took an active interest in politics and public affairs, and when the city government of Santa Cruz was organized in 1876 he was chosen as the first Mayor of the city. He afterwards held the office of Postmaster for four years under appointment of President Arthur. The Coopers formed strong attachments among the early inhabitants and the Spanish and Indian population placed in them an unlimited confidence that was never betrayed. Their generosity toward the poor was practically unbounded, and they followed in their lives the Biblical definition of a neighbor with rare perfection. William F. was the last of the four brothers. His wife survives him, and a family of three sons, Frank P., William A., Harry C., and one daughter, Mrs. H. B. Phillips". Stan Stevens is Librarian Emeritus Coordinator, Hihn-Younger Archive, University Library Special Collections & Secretary-Treasurer, UCSC Emeriti Group University of California at Santa Cruz and Chairman, History Publications Committee Museum of Art & History @ the McPherson Center. That's why he knows so much.
STAFF OF LIFE GOING ON WITH NEW MARKET. I ran into Richard Josephson co-owner of the Staff of Life Market in the obvious place last week. I asked him if they really were going to open a New and Bigger Staff...he said definitely and it was just made formal the week before. He confirmed that the same designer who did Whole Foods and New Leaf will be designing the Staff O.L. too. He promised they wouldn't all look like the same photo-wood faux floors, sterile-cool stainless steel counters, chrome-marble muck...we'll see
Found: $76,264 to help Santa Cruz City budget shortfall
According to the Sentinel article Sunday July 19th , $76,264 is scheduled to be doled out by the city of Santa Cruz to California Rural Legal Assistance. This is the same non-profit that sued the county for not taking all the high-density housing that the State Department of Housing and Community Development jammed down our throats. CRLA won the lawsuit, we paid the price in rezoning 30 acres in the unincorporated part of the county, and unknown number of dollars fighting and losing the lawsuit. Here's what CRLA's website has to say about themselves: "CRLA was founded in 1966 as a nonprofit legal services program. Our mission is to strive for economic justice and human rights on behalf of California's rural poor." Why Santa Cruz City residents should be funding this organization needs to be explained. With services being cut to local residents, recreation facilities shuttered, city workers hours cut,etc etc, why contribute to an organization that could afford to sue our county? How can the City Council justify paying $76,264 to support "California's rural poor", when urban Santa Cruz has so many financial needs unmet.
Hawaii vacation report
I always marvel at Hawaii's political structure. They have a conservative governor (Linda Lingle) who has the same politics as our own Governor Arnold. But the difference between Hawaii's legislature and our own is monumental. Lingle had 37 of her vetoes overriden this year. The most significan override was the card-check measure that became law last week, that allows workers to be recognized as a union when a majority sign union cards.
Regular visits to Hawaii makes it seem like you haven't been away at all, or at least not very long. The TV sportscasters always give a local twist, making sure all players from Hawaii are identified whenever they make the news. Did anybody on the mainland know that Oakland A's catcher Curt Suzuki was from Maui? One of our favorite stops is Jamisons at Oahu's North Shore village of Hali'ewa where we met the nicest couple also visiting on vacation... they were from Santa Cruz, and live by the yacht harbor.
We got to know the staff at Honolulu's Hard Rock Café, dining there 4 or 5 nights. Great food, reasonable prices, and super service. Our last night in, the manager surprised our party with free pupus, free desserts, and led the house in singing "Happy Anniversary" to us. Hard Rock is moving to new quarters in January, near Kalakaua and Beach Walk, closer to the action. We'll be there.
Henry Servin, the rail program manager for San Jose, spoke at the Santa Cruz PRT meeting last week. He is pushing ahead with throttles full on--and expects to see the PRT system in operation in 4 years. They've already done an EIR, they have $4m for all necessary preparation and design and that work is in progress. San Jose has concluded that PRT is the most cost efficient, practical way to fulfill that part of their Green Vision Goals which requires a substantial reduction in CO2 emissions and reduces auto usage. PRT, which they call "Automated Transit Network", is on the way.
It's also being considered in Fresno, San Rafael, Oakland, Alameda and other places in California and the U.S. It's being installed at London Heathrow airport, Uppsala, Sweden and Masdar, U.A.E. It's being considered in Santa Cruz too, but our notoriously "progressive" community is notoriously "reactionary" when it comes to changing the status quo. The budget crunch has helped delay serious consideration of PRT at the local level. This revolutionary transportation methodology will come here---the only issue is whether it will come only after complete and total gridlock makes it impossible to move from downtown to the University. Or if we will plan ahead. I'd rather be positive! Given the necessary time line, we should be doing NOW what San Jose is doing now.
Our City is committed, as is San Jose, to reducing carbon emissions. We take small steps now and then; San Jose is taking a giant step".
PATTON'S PROGRAM. (Gary Patton is "Of Counsel" to the Santa Cruz law firm of Wittwer & Parkin, which specializes in land use and environmental law. The opinions expressed are Mr. Patton's.) Gary reports on a San Lorenzo River item on the Public Works Commission docket for tonight. He teaches and preaches to us about "Lot Lines" in San Ardo and why we should care. He says we should let Bill Monning know how we feel about the next Coastal Commission appointment immediately. Then he tells more about Marina and a Land Use Decision.
End Run Attempt to De-list San Vicente Creek Foiled
The good news is that San Vicente Creek remains 303(d) listed. In a stealth move, Redwood Empire Sawmills (Michael Duffy, RPF) submitted an eleventh-hour request to the Water Board to remove Davenport's San Vicente Creek from the impaired list. San Vicente Creek was added to the 303(d) list for sediment impairment in 2006 after Sierra Club members submitted data and testified showing excessive sediment levels during winter months, most likely caused by upstream logging activities. Davenport residents who get their drinking water from the creek have been forced to boil water during the winter, when rainfall runoff carries sediment from logging roads and creates turbid conditions too extreme for the county's treatment system. Sediment may also get deposited over gravels used by salmon for spawning. In fact, a DFG report showed heavy embedded ness of such gravels in San Vicente Creek.
The period for submission of new 303(d) listing and delisting requests to the Water Board for this round closed in February 2007. Yet Redwood Empire submitted their request just ten days before the July 10 hearing in Watsonville. Apparently staff felt obliged to process the request and recommended delisting based on 1400 data points which included many months of no rainfall, giving a false impression that all is well in the watershed.
Several members of the public, including Sierra Clubbers, objected to the total breach of public process. We were only informed of the recommendation the morning of the hearing. No data was available for our review and the staff report was also unavailable. In addition, the Water Board website was down so we had no access to any information other than what we were told by staff. Fortunately, three of the five board members present voted against the delisting recommendation recognizing that the public 45-day required review period had been violated. (Yes, that means that two of the five saw no problem with the total lack of public process!)
EAGAN'S DEEP COVER. Tim takes the white glove off and looks at our major obsession....scroll down a few pages.
LANDAU'S PROGRES. (Saul Landau is an award winning author and film maker, and an authority on Latin American Issues) Read here how Saul relates to Madoff's victims ie," Funny how few Members of Congress even hesitate before voting $800 billion for a war system -- excuse me, defense, that doesn't defend us -- and hopeless far away wars. The wretched of our country, however, don't merit even much newspaper sympathy -- compared to those swindled by the iniquitous Madoff. Saul Landau won Chile's Bernardo O'Higgins award for human rights. He is an Institute for Policy Studies fellow whose films on DVD are available. ( roundworldproductions@gmail.com
WATERS WEIGHS IN. Check out http://christinawaters.com for Christina's views, rants, panting, praises and perusing about local stuff.
DEMOCRATIC PARTY NEWS. Click here and read about Barbara Boxer coming to Santa Cruz and about the new Democrat website at www.cruzdemocrats.org for instance you can read a Republican claim that "their party now holds majorities on the Scotts Valley City Council and the Capitola City Council. Their stated goals are to take back the most important offices in Santa Cruz County, control the majorities on more city councils, and increase their numbers on all elected and appointed offices throughout Santa Cruz County".
MONSTERS AND ALIENS. I didn't see it, but astute observer Jennifer B. Boulanger saw it en route to Maui. She wanted us to know of the subtle dialogue that went something like, "Well if the world is warming wouldn't that be a Convenient Truth". Then she noted that a general's name was General Monger (as in war monger)
HURT LOCKER. The title comes from a poem by Iraq war veteran Brian Turner and you can watch him recite it on You Tube. This is the best war film I've seen in years...or maybe ever!!! I saw it twice in two days just to be able to separate the film making from the incredible psychological impact that director Kathryn Bigelow creates. The tension is almost more than an audience can take right from the start of the film. It's about a bomb detonating squad in Baghdad in 2004. It's not a documentary and is so far above any Hollywood film on war that you will leave the theatre in a very different frame of mind than when you entered. It's actually a pro soldier film and what's odd is that the US Military refused to help the filming in any way. However the army, marines, and navy gave huge support and your tax money to help film the latest Transformers movie. You might want to think about that.
BRUNO. There are moments, just moments in this film that are funny and if Sasha Baron Cohen was smarter he could have made this into an even classic comedy. But as it is it's shameful, forced, embarrassing, and crude and has all been done decades ago by Candid Camera...avoid it at any cost.
HARRY POTTER THE SIXTH. I read the first book and saw all the first five films and still can't remember the muggles from the malfoys, or hagrids from slughorns, or snapes from dumbledores and that makes it hard to get involved. With the actors who started out being ten years old now being almost all in their twenties more than a little charm has flown out the window. So if you haven't read all the books don't go, until you do...read all the books. Or watch all the first five films first, and then go.
500 DAYS OF SUMMER. This film was shot in the all new downtown LA in case you wonder. A place where young people walk to work, watch great park fountains, live in lofts, and no Disney Hall or Olvera Street, Union Station or Pershing Square, just the familiar Bradbury Building is in it. So are Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-levitt and they are cute, quirky and are good actors too, so go see it, you'll like it and so will any tourist visitors you want to amuse for a few hours.
PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED MOVIES. Moon is excellent, Whatever Works is tired and old Woody Allen material, Tetro is too complex but good, Unmistaken Child is for Buddhists only, Cheri is wonderful and Food Inc is a must see. Public Enemies is about average, The Proposal is a Sandra Bullock type comedy, Up is brilliant BUT only when you see it in 3D, which you can't in this county.
UNIVERSITY GRAPEVINE. UNIVERSITY GRAPEVINE. Each and every Tuesday from 7:30-8:30 p.m. I host University Grapevine on KZSC 88.1 fm. or on your computer at WWW.KZSC.ORG. This Tuesday (July 21st ) my guests will be Sally Morgan, Frank Perry and Damon Adlao discussing the upcoming Lime Kiln Conference at UCSC and poet, writer, teacher Roz Spafford will tell us what's new in poetry. On July 28th Roger Emanuels will talk about The Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music and Dr. Michael Shorenstein will discuss cholesterol management, nutrition, high blood pressure, diabetes, and that kind of thing. On August 4th Audrey Stanley will discuss Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream and Julius Caesar for obvious reasons. After Audrey, UCSC Professor of Anthropology Adrienne Zihlman will bring us up to date on her recent work on human evolution. Jim Bierman will talk about his play The School For Fiancées on August 11th. Nutritionist Cin Martino returns August 18th to say more about eating well. Later on and TBA will be Supervisor Mark Stone about County Politics and swimming, and sometime after that Assemblyman Bill Monning and Congressman Sam Farr will reveal what's new in the State and Nation's Capitols and other wide ranging but apt topics and appropriate topics.
QUOTES. "Don't be shocked when I say I was in prison. You're still in prison. That's what America means---prison". Malcolm X." There is no escape—either into rural communes or existential mysticism---from this dynamic of world confrontation", Tom Hayden. "Don't get the idea that I'm one of those god damn radicals. Don't get the idea that I'm knocking the American system", Al Capone.
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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14TH ANNUAL SILENT FILM FESTIVAL. Sitting for over 32 hours in San Francisco's Castro Theatre last weekend over Friday, Saturday and Sunday July 10-12) to watch Silent films was as always a very exciting adventure. Hearing film restoration experts from all over the world talk about new discoveries and techniques was almost as revealing as seeing the 12 major film presentations. There's an interesting and totally coincidental Santa Cruz part of the Silent Film Festival that is just now unraveling. Stephen Salmons who with wife Melissa Chittick thought up and created the festival was from Santa Cruz. Rick Hildreth who does all the music sourcing and writing for the intermission productions was with Good Times here for many years, and Jeremy O'Neal is the head of Marketing and fund raising is also from here. I say this every year but there is just no other way to see silent films properly other than at the Castro. Proper projection equipment, exact proportioned screen, mighty Wurlitzer organ and film stars like Douglas Fairbanks Sr., Lillian Gish, Lupe Velez, John Gilbert, W.C. Fields and dozens more make for as memorable as weekend as it sounds. It would take a book to tell you about my conversations with Leonard Maltin, restorers, authors, fans, experts...plan on it next year.
CITY FUNDING FOR THE CVC. The debate continues as to why the City should use our hard won tax money to fund businesses as they do the County Conference and Visitors Council. Don Webber political activist and observer, has been writing about this problem in some emails...here are excerpts from his emails to think about. It is sadly typical of our factionalized discourse that the Sentinel and the Chamber choose to cast this proposed funding reduction in terms of one group versus another (business vs. non-profit organizations) rather than as an opportunity to share the sacrifice implicit in reducing general fund expenses generally.
While it is true that the tourist businesses generate a return to the general fund, it does not follow that the City should necessarily fund what is essentially an advertising effort to increase tourism. After all, the primary beneficiaries of the promotion of tourism are the tourist businesses themselves, not the general fund.
Why shouldn't those businesses bear the cost of their own advertising effort?
Why is promotion of one business sector (even one as important as tourism) a function of the City's general fund?
Why do tourist businesses enjoy a special claim for a refund on the taxes they pay?
In the present fiscal crisis, with basic government services being curtailed, tourism promotion is a luxury the City general fund can't afford; that cost should be borne mainly by the businesses themselves, not the taxpayers. In the last analysis, the Chamber and the tourist business associations will continue to promote Santa Cruz as a destination, the tourists will continue to visit, and the City will continue to collect business taxes. All that will continue to happen whether promotion is funded solely by business or jointly by business and local government.
But why the government should foot 70% of that bill is beyond me, especially in times like these. Nobody wants to stand up to business interests and developers (and their email brigades), but that's not a good basis for making policy.
Does anyone really believe that tourism to Santa Cruz would collapse if the City discontinued its CVC funding? I don't think so. Businesses would grumble as usual about the government being "unfriendly," but if the CVC operations are a necessary and reasonable business expense, businesses will find a way to finance them. Again, it is the businesses themselves that stand to gain the most from promotion.(end of Webber's email).
ODWALLA FOLLOW UP. I asked last week if we should stop drinking Odwalla Juices now that Coca Cola bought them out. So last Tuesday by accident I met Jeannine Bonstelle who used to be Bonny Bassett one of the three co-founders of Odwalla. By the way and off the subject...Jeannine sang last week at The Museum of Art & History's Plein Air Affaire. Anyway Jeannie/Bonny said that for her the drinking Odwalla decision is a nearly moral one and that she still drinks the Odwalla Superfood.
WEB BUGS. This was amazing and terrible news I actually got from UCSC Chancellor Mark Yudoff's newsletter and some link or other go here http://www.knowprivacy.org/web_bugs.html
To read about these web bugs that are set into invisible locations on our favorite and scour our own computer for personal information. Such big time sites as Huffington Post, Google.com, aol.com, Photobucket.com have hundreds on each page. Shocking!!!
CLEAN UP SANTA CRUZ. Wouldn't you think that Lenz Arts would take their own left over paint and re-do at least the outside of that decrepit building? Then there's Mitchell Properties at 120 Mission and Center what a plain building....doesn't need paint but needs some landscaping or art or something...both these places are sore spots at our busiest intersections. Let's wake up our business community.
I WONDER. Do athletes get Intellectuals Foot? They should. And if so, S. Kelly of Old Soquel asks do they say "my feet's smart??"
FIREWORKS ON THE 7TH!!! Almost everybody missed the fireworks that the UCSC Fire Department presented on Tuesday July 7 around 8:45 p.m. You'd think that the fire department would know better than to ignite fireworks even if it was on their own driveway at the UC SC Firehouse. They are completely surrounded by all kinds of trees and brush. Boys will be boys and all that but IF the UCSC Fire team spent any time or especially money trying to keep the campus safe, and prevent any summer students from going firecracker crazy....then how come they get to do their own fireworks? Anybody care??
CELL PHONES, PART 2. Phil Kaplan of Cabrilho College emailed me to say that he's gone through over 1,100 cell phones and that I could have my choice of four of his last Verizons. Here's what Phil wrote..."I collect the cell phones from my students which help fund projects by the Orangutan Conservancy. The Orangutan is in serious trouble with nearly their entire habitat severely endangered. Over 1100 cell phones have been turned in by my students which are then used for such things as crises intervention programs or recycled if the phone is not usable. The collection of old cell phones is part of a bigger program of getting my students involved in community-based activities such as beach and river cleanups through Save Our Shores, habitat restoration in the State Parks, collecting energy bar wrappers for Second Harvest Food Bank, volunteering at Grey Bears and participating in volleyball tournaments that help raise funds for Native Animal Rescue of Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz SPCA and the Spinal Cord Society. Over $38,000 has been raised for these 3 organizations in the last 8 years. As part of earning a grade in my physical education classes, students are required to participate in one of these activities" Here's Phil's website so you see all the stuff he's doing for the community www.cabrillo.edu/~pkaplan
After Phil and I met, Ren Curry emailed to say that he didn't have any extra cell phones to give me but," here is something to consider for your next one: I tape a return address label on my cell phone and add my home phone number in case I lose it. It's no guarantee, but it increases the chances you'll get it back". That does seem like a common sense idea why doesn't everyone put their names on their phones? Is there a reason?? So keep those Verizon cell phones coming....with chargers if possible. I'll make sure that Phil gets them all...minus one.
SOTOMAYOR ON THE HOT SEAT THIS WEEK
FOR HIGH COURT SEAT.
2nd Circuit Federal Court of Appeals Judge Sonia Sotomayor will go through the historic and grueling confirmation process for the United States Supreme Court seat this week starting on Monday, July 13. She has a remarkable story from growing up in the projects in the Bronx by a single mother, to graduating from Princeton University, and eventually being appointed to the federal bench by President George W. Bush. Sotomayor is expected to win her confirmation to become the first Latina Supreme Court Justice ever (and only the third woman to ever serve), but you can expect Republican legislators to grill her about numerous pressing legal issues, including states' rights, affirmative action, detention of "enemy combatants," and her 2001 speech at a Boalt School of Law symposium at UC Berkeley. However, Republicans could further damage and alienate Latino voters if they are perceived as simply exploiting and politicizing the confirmation hearing to attack Sotomayor or trying to derail her confirmation. Watch the historic confirmation hearings on C-SPAN.
OPEN SPACE AND PARK DISTRICT BILL, SB 211,
GETS THROUGH ASSEMBLY & LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEES,
BUT STILL FACES OBSTACLES AHEAD.
Senate Bill 211 authored by Senator Joe Simitian and Assembly members Bill Monning and Anna Caballero, and sponsored by the Santa Cruz County Land Trust, got through the Assembly Local Government Committee last week with a 5-2 vote, but could still face challenges ahead. The City of Watsonville opposed the bill, but the city was able to negotiate some critical amendments, including protecting Watsonville Measure U lands that were approved in 2002 by 60 percent of the voters. But the city is still working on obtaining fairer representation on the advisory committee that will be made up of several stakeholders in the county, and that it why the city maintained their opposition to the bill. However, other organizations are now threatening to oppose the bill due to the amendments negotiated by the City of Watsonville, including the California Council of Land Trusts, the Bay Area Open Space Council, Mid-Peninsula Regional Open Space District, and the Sempervirens Funds. These groups are claiming that the excluding of Measure U lands could set a bad precedent. Meanwhile, the California Farm Bureau Federation and the Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau have also come out in opposition of the bill, but for different reasons, including concerns about a future tax to pay for the special district, the lack of fairer representation on the governing body and advisory committee, and not enough time to work through concerns with different stakeholders. The bill now heads for a vote on the Assembly floor in August. To see the latest analysis of the bill by the Assembly Local Government Committee, click here.
WATSONVILLE STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL TAKING PLACE IN DOWNTOWN AGAIN ON AUGUST 1-2.
After having a fallout with its former hired promoter, the City of Watsonville is moving ahead with having their 15th Annual Watsonville Strawberry Festival back in its original location in the downtown area. They have already lined up some very popular Mexican bands, including Los Originales de San Juan and Banda Pelillos, which alone will draw thousands due to their popularity in the Latino community. To add some Santana music to the line up, Caravanserai, will be playing as will No Respect, the Sledge Grits Band, and Almost Chaos. The event is free and there will be a carnival for children, a beer garden, strawberry eating and packing contests, and numerous food booths. For more information or to have a booth at the event, : see the website here!
CLUE (Coalition to Limit University Expansion) fought for and obtained an agreement to submit the extension of sphere of influence (required in order to extend water) question to the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) That requires an Environmental Impact Report. We who are accused of wanting to scuttle, want only what the agreement requires, a thorough and complete EIR and an impartial hearing with LAFCO. That's what the agreement contemplates; that's what the City says it wants; that's what the University agreed to. We don't believe that anyone wants to extend water service if that is environmentally unacceptable or if it may result in unreasonable rationing or cost to existing city residents and water users.
There are objections to the extension of water service and indeed to the University expansion. The major issue is whether our water shortage is severe enough to preclude extending water service. Devoting about half of our remaining capacity to the University (assuming the Water Department is correct) during a drought may be unwise---both because the proposed expansion is predicated on successful installation of a desalination plant and because expansion limits new water service to other kinds of growth. The environmental aspects of desal are not yet clear---and some people believe that there should be no extension until and unless the hurdles of desal (including energy consumption, pollution and cost) are overcome. Others believe the proposed expansion intrudes on pristine (and limited) undeveloped land and represents a de facto intrusion of development outside the green belt. Some believe that congestion effects of growth have not been adequately mitigated. Those who raise these and similar questions should not be tarred with allegations of attempted scuttling.
The University is an essential and indispensable part of our community. It is a large part of what we as a City are. University growth could benefit the City in many ways---more and different kinds of jobs, outside money coming into the community, more income to the City, population growth---BUT it all adversely affects housing costs. Obviously, growth of any sort imposes costs. Growth in North Campus won't take any more land off the tax rolls. It is for all these and other reasons that most progressives, far from trying to scuttle the agreement, want to be sure that the agreement is implemented. The agreement surely has lots of warts, but the intent is clear. The issues are complex and technical. But it is more than simply inaccurate to assert that we who want to enforce the agreement are in fact trying to scuttle it.
PATTON'S PROGRAM. (Gary Patton is "Of Counsel" to the Santa Cruz law firm of Wittwer & Parkin, which specializes in land use and environmental law. The opinions expressed are Mr. Patton's.) Gary talks about Water problems in Monterey county and how California America Water (CAL-AM) wants to build a $250 Million dollar De-salination plant. He talks for three days about Sensible Transportation and transition Santa Cruz and how e can NOT build our way out of traffic jams by widening Highway One
EAGAN'S DEEP COVER. Tim takes a deep look inside and uncovers the eternal connection...see the secret by scrolling down a few pages.
LANDAU'S PROGRES (Saul Landau is an award winning author and film maker, and an authority on Latin American Issues) Saul went beyond Aromas and Corralitos and landed in The Amazon, read what he found here
WATERS WEIGHS IN. Check out http://christinawaters.com for some only-in-Santa Cruz ranting about lowering standards of art, food, and almost everything
on the planet. In other words, a typical week for Christina.
TETRO. Francis Ford Coppola directed this and there's a musical saw player actually seen and heard in it for maybe 4-6 seconds. This saw thing could catch on. The film is one intense intra-family biography and it sure feels like it's the Coppola family. Dad was a conductor, there's an angry brother, and a sister who looks like Talia Shire. Vincent Gallo does his best work ever in this film and it's intense, well directed only a little confusing but so is the family. Go see it. Tetro's short for Tetrocini the conductor.
ADORATION. One of Atom Egoyan's complex attempts to say something meaningful in a film. This is about cultures, terrorism, love and it's confusing but intriguing. There's also a scene with a luthier and you know what they're like. Not an easy film to like....but if you've liked any of Egoyan's films you'll like this one.
UNMISTAKEN CHILD. As previously mentioned, this is a film for mostly Buddhists. The Dalai Lama is in it about as long as the musical saw Player in Tetro. It's a documentary about the problems involved in finding a new Spiritual leader.
SURVEILLANCE. Bill Pullman and Julia Ormond star in this twisted and failed attempt by David Lynch's daughter to make movies like her dad did especially with Blue Velvet. Wait and rent it!!
PUBLIC ENEMIES. See it if only because Johnny Depp is in it. Does anybody remember that Johnny Depp's brother used to own a second hand bookstore out by the O'mei Restaurant on the west side which I've been boycotting for nearly 20 years.(political reasons)
SADNESS DEPARTMENT. I learned very late that Ustad Ali Akbar Khan died a few weeks ago. I never met him but have many of his great recordings. He was a master Sarod player and worked closely with Ravi Shankar back in the late 50's and 60's. Activist, mother, grandmother Barbara Vogl died last Wednesday July 8th from a brain aneurism at age 84. Barbara was interested and involved with the human process, brainwork, chaos and thinking as a science. I knew her more as a brave defender of people's rights, saving the environment and fighting developers. Plus she had a great sense of humor. Actor and painter/artist Geoff Morton died last Thursday July 9th... He graced our stages with some excellent acting and was a fine artist. He studied at the Royal College of Art in London; his works are in collections all over the world and in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. On the other hand there are so many jerks and bad people...why don't they ever die??
UNIVERSITY GRAPEVINE. Each and every Tuesday from 7:30-8:30 p.m. I host University Grapevine on KZSC 88.1 fm. or on your computer at WWW.KZSC.ORG. This Tuesday (July 14th ) my guests will be Rick Longinotti telling about the evils of desalination or desalinization or desalinization and Retired UCSC Professor Bill Friedland discussing agro business and the evils of corporate farming. July 21st will feature Sally Morgan, Frank Perry and Damon Adlao discussing the upcoming Lime Kiln Conference at UCSC. July 28th Roger Emanuels will talk about The Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music and Dr. Michael Shorenstein will discuss cholesterol management, nutrition, high blood pressure, diabetes, and that kind of thing. Assemblyman Bill Monning will be my guest on August 4th and after Bill UCSC Professor of anthropology Adrienne Zihlman will bring us up to date on her recent work on human evolution. Later on and TBA will be Supervisor Mark Stone about County Politics, and after that Congressman Sam Farr will reveal what's new in the Nation's Capitol and other wide ranging but apt topics and appropriate topics..
QUOTES. "An Economist's guess is as good as anybody else's", Will Rogers. "Making a speech on economics is a bit like pissing down your leg. It seems hot to you but never to anyone else", Lyndon B. Johnson. "I'd like to be rich enough so I could throw the soap away after the letters are worn off", Andy Rooney.
Deep Cover
Bruce critiques films every Friday on KZSC-FM (88.1) on The Bushwhacker Breakfast Club at 8am.
It's free! Click here.
|
CORPORATION CREATION. I'm sure it's dawned on everybody else but at what point does buy local or think local lose any meaning? Do we stop buying Odwalla when Coca Cola buys them out? When Starbucks went into franchising did Seattle stop buying local? Border's Books and Peet's Coffee started out Thinking Local too. Do we stop going to Eric's Delis now that they became a franchise? And with Lulu Carpenters Coffees now in two downtown locations...one up in Scotts Valley...now at Capitola BookCafe and about to open another outlet in 41st's Whole Foods, is that still "locally owned" or is it some evil type corporation? To get really far afield, what about the billion dollar Netflix locally owned by Santa Cruz resident Reed Hastings. Newman's Own is locally owned and operated too!! The first correct answers get unimaginable winnings!!!
CITY COUNCIL RACE. David Terrazas and his wife were just leaving Lulu's Octagon so I asked him if was running for Santa Cruz City Council next year, he said he was pretty sure he would. I should have asked him if his positions on any issues differed in any way from Ryan Coonerty's but I didn't. I will next time.
TOURISM PROPOSAL. Since times are tough and Cynthia's Citizens Silly Tax Farce hasn't reported in lately...how about this? Take back the hundreds of thousands of hard to get dollars Cynthia and the Council gave to the CVC for just one year. Count the change in the number of tourists that come here...see if it makes any difference at all, then with all that proof close down the CVC forever.
CITY HALL HARKINGS. The buzz has been growing over the last 15 years that the Santa Cruz City Council is too busy (or maybe lacks the commitment, or willingness) to do their own work. They rely far too much on Dick Wilson and the City Staff to handle their business. There isn't now on the council one person who would dream of offending or going against anything Wilson says. Tragic. We didn't elect him, he writes his own tickets, and it's time to demand some accountability.
HELP! help! CELLPHONE Help! I lost my Verizon Cell phone and they want to charge me $200 to replace it. 1. If you have an old Verizon Cell phone you don't need let me know asap....it'll be put to good use, and don't think someone else will respond, you do it and I'll owe you one!!! 2. If you found a Black Verizon LG model VX5500 in like a movie theatre or some place like that last Friday, (maybe Saturday) get in touch. When you flip the lid the onscreen message scrolls "Grandpa's phone". HELP! help! (yes, it's been de-activated).
GOODBYE BILL BURTCH. Bill Burtch died Sunday night. Here's what I wrote about him on April 4, 2007.... Bill Burtch, an 80 years plus social activist, worked for many years as the Santa Clara County Bureau Chief in charge of adoptions. In 1984, after travels to Costa Rica and Nicaragua, Bill became involved with Bert and Lois Muhly and the Coalition for Nicaragua carrying material aid to Central America. In subsequent years Bill drove loads of aid to Nicaragua, El Salvador and Cuba. He drove in the very first Pastors for Peace Caravans to Cuba and in the second caravan that became notorious for the U.S. Customs seizing of their "little yellow school bus" destined for donation to Cuba. Since that time Bill has driven humanitarian trips too numerous to count. Santa Cruz and especially Garfield Park will miss him. Years ago Santa Cruz declared May 25th as Bill Burtch Day.
Mobile Home Rent Control attacked again!
When Santa Cruz lost their battle over rent control with the Chicago-based owners of De Anza Mobile Home Park, everybody knew the true consequences of this. Namely, the Mobile Home Park Owners and like-minded landlords would rear their selfish heads again soon. Recently, they did just that, with the passage of Assembly Bill 761 on June 25th. This bill essentially strips mobile home owners of the equity in their homes, because rent control will not exist when mobile home ownership changes... if this bill makes it through the state senate and is signed by the governor.
What makes this so hard to take is that it passed, 42-27, in a state assembly that is totally controlled by the Democrats. And the Dems that wanted this passed really rubbed it in, having AB 761 sponsored by Democratic Assembly member Calderon. The final straw was when Assembly Speaker Karen Bass switched her vote from abstention on June 22nd to a yes vote for AB761 on June 25th.
We can be proud of our Assembly member Bill Monning's consistent NO votes on this ill-conceived bill that takes another step at knocking out more affordable housing in the County. With the state mandating affordable housing as the State Department of Housing and Community Development has done, it makes you wonder why AB 761 got those two votes needed to pass. And what about the Speaker of the Assembly, Democratic Assembly member Bass throwing in with the Mobile Home Park Owners?
An excellent article on this subject is in the current July 1st Mid-County Post. http://www.mcpost.com/article.php?id=2037 The next stop on the way to this stinker becoming law is the state senate. It's a good time to write or call our State Senator Joe Simitian and ask him to vote in opposition to AB 761.
Court Rejects State Raids on Transit Funding – Hooray! In another setback for our state government, the Third District Court of Appeals in Sacramento ruled that annual raids on public transit funding are in violation of state law. While making life a bit tougher for the state folks, it means our local transit district will get back the funds that were taken when state funding for transit capital improvements was reduced to zero for the next five years. An excellent article published by the California Transit Association reveals all that has happened on this issue.
No Elerick's Input the next two weeks – Aloha! Sharon and I are looking forward to two weeks at our favorite vacation spot, the New Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel on Oahu. This trip is extra special, we'll be celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary, catching up on family happenings with my brother and his family who live there, and enjoying those toasty warm days and beautiful sunsets.
Someone, no guesses allowed, labeled me a member of CCSTTF. (Cynthia's Citizens Silly Tax Task Farce). That's a rather disparaging description of a group that has, as yet, done nothing but hold two informational meetings and one public forum. The correct name of the group is "City Finances Task Force". I am a member of it. I hope the group continues to meet and tries to reach consensus on revenue producing proposals. At the very least, people in the group have been able to speak, and have had adequate opportunity to express views. That is a hell of a lot more than can be said for the routine manner in which (largely) staff supported proposals are swept through the Council. If the task force is to be more than a farce, it will need to and I think will involve participation from all facets of the community, and it must certainly grow to include the progressive element. The Mayor has indicated that an expansion of the group will probably be accepted. Still, will any recommendations of the group be subject to a veto by staff? If indeed the task force does nothing more than that and then fades away, the label may be appropriate.
The assignment of the group is to formulate suggestions for longer range solutions to the City's tax bind. One could call it a "structural" bind since it seems to be with us constantly. The Council has already vivisected the budget to the bone (without anesthetic), so the task force will concern itself with proposals to increase tax revenues. That could mean growth or it could mean new taxes/fees or increases in existing ones. This may well be the major disagreement that develops within the task force. In any case, the job is significant; whether, how and where to allow city growth is surely our major longer term problem. Our second major problem is the extent to which tax revenue can reasonably be increased.
The group was indeed hand-picked by the Mayor, but that alone doesn't make it silly or a farce, so far. It is top heavy with developers and "business leaders", into which categories I most certainly do not fit. But it also has people like Greg Larson, our former Planning Director, and he is certainly environmentally conscious. I must confess that as I looked around the room, I saw only one, maybe two, other progressives. My impression so far is that the members are sincerely interested in doing what they think is best for the City. Of course they may be convinced that what benefits they get economically is also best for the City. That syndrome is not unknown. Many progressives may feel that any action that preserves what they already have is best for the City, and that syndrome is not unknown either. I probably fit into the latter category---I don't want to see the ambiance of the City further damaged. I am not able or willing to pre-judge the extent to which these predispositions will affect ideas. My future Searle's Salvo's will comment on any progress of the task force. (End of Searle's Salvo)
PATTON'S PROGRAM. (Gary Patton is "Of Counsel" to the Santa Cruz law firm of Wittwer & Parkin, which specializes in land use and environmental law. The opinions expressed by Mr. Patton are Mr. Patton's.) Mr. Patton discusses Big Box Stores and how they destroy downtowns and Monterey is working on that. He tells about Santa Cruz water problems and how Monterey and Carmel also have water problems. Then he gives good reasons why we should go to Marina Thursday night to learn about the Brown Act. He closes by telling about acidity in water and the effect on oysters.
LANDAU'S PROGRES (Saul Landau is an award winning author and film maker, and an authority on Latin American Issues. Read his piece this week titled, "New Car Habit Can Cure hard Times" he nails new car buyers and just makes you wonder...
EAGANS' DEEP COVER. Scroll down an easy few pages and see how Tim looks at behavioral problems, like apologizing!!!
WATERS WEIGHS IN. The Solstice is now a pleasant memory, and I look back at the sensational Westside block party at Kelly's et al, and share my latest cheap white wine discovery. All at http://christinawaters.com Adieu to longtime Santa Cruz foodie Dan Dickmeyer, who has retired to an island off the coast of British Columbia" (End of Waters Weighs In and Dickmeyer can take his stupid Eucalyptus trees with him!!)
C U in CUBA!!! The Brown Berets are hosting a send off and bus painting party for the Pastors for Peace Caravan this Thursday, July 9 at their Bicycle Shak, 555 Main Street, Watsonville. Starting at 4pm, you can help paint the bus or enjoy a Cuba filmiest. At 8 pm, there will be a presentation, Q&A, and potluck. Now let me tell you this I've met these Berets and they are the most sincere hard working folks I've ever met who want to learn about CUBA. Talk about making a difference?? These Berets will do it...and then some. Here are three reasons you should go this Thursday:
1. This is your opportunity to meet the Caravanistas who will challenge the ban on travel to Cuba this year. They will carry the tools and medical supplies we've donated across the border in defiance of the blockade of Cuba by our government.
2. You can send a message of friendship to the Cuban people by adding your artistic touch to the painting of the bus. And it's a very big bus, with a lighthouse on it.
3. You can learn more about the Brown Berets, the Bicycle Shak, and what they're doing to educate and empower youth in their community. If you need more info 831 465 8272.
SENSIBLE TRANSPORTATION. Peter Scott, interim committee chair of S.T. (SensTra) emails to say..."This is a heads up note to let you know that the next (third) meeting of our "Committee to Support Metro" (interim working name) will be held on Wednesday, July 15 at 7:00 pm Louden (LONDON) Nelson Community Center 301 Center Street Santa Cruz. The agenda will likely include (a) Introductions (b) Planning for the scheduled Town Hall meeting on July 30 with Assembly member Bill Monning, (c) Adopting a mission statement and goals, (d) Choosing a name for the group,(e) Discussion of next steps, and (f) Setting a time for the next meeting. Rick Longinotti has agreed to chair the meeting. Please consider attending this meeting. All are invited. A summary of the notes from our previous meetings (June 2 and June 23) are posted on http://www.sensibletransportation.org/transit/supportmetro/. For those of you who might have missed seeing Les White's informative slide show, it is posted at
http://www.sensibletransportation.org/slides/metroslideshow/.
These meetings are sponsored by the Campaign for Sensible Transportation. Please consider supporting the Campaign by visiting http://sensibletransportation.org/ and clicking on the "support the campaign" tab. We also encourage you to post comments on our blog page: http://sensibletransportation.org/blog/ .
HOSTETTER'S HOT STUFF. Folks - Several new things on the musical horizon, some imminent. Please have a look here: http://www.lutherie.net/live.music.html Sangati always has something going. Kuumbwa, Yoshi's, Boomeria. Things seem to keep happening. We approve. ph
SURVEILLANCE. Just because the director Jennifer Lynch is David Lynch's daughter sure doesn't mean that this film is any Blue Velvet. If you go in spite of my warning....see if you can't stop imagining Dean Stockwell and Dennis Hopper in this film. It's a slasher, full of blood, a few laughs, purposely weird and certainly no unique story telling. You'll probably think about Isabella Rosellini in stead of Julia Ormond. Rent this one too from a locally owned Video Store.
PUBLIC ENEMIES. The Santa Cruz connection to John Dillinger is that Jim Brown world famed designer of Wind Rider Trimarans used to live on Swanton Road. Around some wonderful campfires and Ghiretti Brothers wine Jim would tell the story of his dad in Chicago and how he was part of the police group who tracked Dillinger down that night as he left the theatre. Johnny Depp does a fine job of acting, and like so many audience members and critics alike... we say, "it's a very, very good movie but it's not a great movie". If you're short of cash right now, wait and rent it.
MOON. Remember in Stanley Kubrick' s "2001" how there was a working station on the moon...well Moon is like part 2 of that story. Instead of HAL the talking computer there's Kevin Spacey's voice coming out of Gerty the new HAL. An old friend Conn Pederson who worked with Doug Trumbull and Stanley Kubrick on 2001 used to tell me how Arthur Clarke, Kubrick, Conn and others tried to come up with the scariest thing imaginable to greet anyone opening a door on some distant planet...this film centers on that idea, I loved the film AND the dull parts were just part of the plot.
SILENT FILM FESTIVAL (re-reminder) The San Francisco Silent Film Festival has been happening for 14 years now and it is fabulous, fun and even educational. I've covered at least the last ten years and it's as much fun as it is educational. It's always at the famed Castro Theatre in S.F. and there's always live music accompanying the films. Russian, French and Chinese silents, Lillian Gish, Josef Von Sternberg, W.C. Fields, silent Disney cartoons, Douglas Fairbanks, Lupe Velez and tons more stars and stuff will happen this year. Go online to www.silentfilm.org to get details it runs Friday night July 10-Sunday night July 12. I'll save you a seat, if I can.
UNIVERSITY GRAPEVINE. Each and every Tuesday from 7:30-8:30 p.m. I host University Grapevine on KZSC 88.1 fm. or on your computer at WWW.KZSC.ORG. This Tuesday (July 7th) my guests will be ... Cynthia Martino Certified Nutritional Therapist all about eating meat, no soy, fat is good, and your attitude, will be on so will Susan Hillhouse and Paul Figueroa from MAH talking about their annual Plein Aire Extravaganza and other attractions at the Museum of Art & History. Later on like July 14th we'll have Rick Longinotti telling about the evils of desalination or desalinization or desalinization. Later will be Supervisor Mark Stone about County Politics, and after that Assemblyman Bill Monning on August 4th and after that Congressman Sam Farr and other wide ranging but apt topics and appropriate topics..
QUOTES. "Men have an unusual talent for making a bore out of everything they touch",Yoko Ono. "It is time for the electric chair to give birth to an electric couch. Thus enabling the entire family to go together",Ted Jones. "Go, go, go said the bird: human kind cannot bear very much reality", T.S.Eliot
Deep Cover
Bruce critiques films every Friday on KZSC-FM (88.1) on The Bushwhacker Breakfast Club at 8am.
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