Letters to the Editor

Don't send the same letter to this site that you've sent elsewhere, it's no fun to read the same thing in more than one place. I won't be able to print them all and will probably edit them if necessary.

Note: these letters are displayed with the newest one on top, so if you want to read them in order you'll need to start at the bottom.

email: bruce@brattononline.com,

or write: Bratton Online
82 Blackburn St Suite 216,
Santa Cruz, California 95060

From: Bill Malone
To: billmalone@pacbell.net
Sent: Monday, October 25, 2004 11:25 AM
Subject: PDC Meeting and Progressive Coalition Doorhanger

Well...only about a week to go !!!

PDC Meeting:

Our PDC meeting is Thursday Oct 28th. Since it is just a few days before the election, the EBoard thought it appropriate to have “working” meeting. We will meet at Democratic Headquarters (740 Front St #155 Santa Cruz) at 7:30 to do some campaign work--mainly phone calls to help Kerry and Peg Pinard. I urge you get out and help out with this last minute effort. These races are too close for comfort and your efforts may make the difference in our favor.

Doorhanger—Progressive Coalition

Again this election, the PDC is working with the Progressive Coalition of Santa Cruz County in putting out a local Progressive Voter Guide—AKA: "THE Doorhanger". The Coalition consists of PDC, SCAN, SEIU 415, Central Labor Council, GLBT Alliance and CUPE. Through group democratic processes and negotiation we have determined who and what recommendations to put on the doorhanger.

By the way, only the P.C. doorhanger will carry the PDC's endorsements on Santa Cruz City Council: Coonerty, Reilly and Porter as well as No on J and Stone for Supervisor. And, of course, Democratic Party candidates and recommendations.

The Progressive Coalition is a very grass-roots effort. We need help for two tasks: the labeling the doorhangers and the actual delivery of the doorhangers.

Labeling: Chat and work.

The labeling task consists of sitting at tables, putting labels on the doorhangers and grouping them by addresses within precincts. It is a great opportunity to socialize with fellow local progressives. The labeling will be done on Saturday and Sunday Oct 30 and 31 from 10 AM – 4 PM at SUIU Union Hall 517 Mission St, Santa Cruz. It would be great if you can help for a couple of hours or more.

Delivery: Good exercise.

The delivery task is walking the streets of a precinct and hanging the doorhanger at addresses printed on the doorhanger. Typically, a precinct takes two people about two hours. The delivery will be done from four places in the county: Santa Cruz city, Aptos, Live Oak, and Watsonville—I'll let you know the locations soon. The delivery will be done from all locations on Monday afternoon starting at 4 PM. Delivery will also be done in Santa Cruz at 5 AM Tuesday morning.

WE NEED VOLUNTEERS! We plan on doing 30,000 doorhangers!! As I said: this is a progressive-community, grass-roots effort. It doesn't work unless we ALL help. I know some folks can't do the walking but everyone can stick labels on the doorhangers.

Phone me 420-1133 or reply-email me with what times you can help with either the labeling or the delivery, or both!!

Thanks. We are all in this together.

Bill Malone

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Gary A. Patton, October 21st, 2004

From: Gary Patton
To: Bruce Bratton
Sent: Thursday, October 21, 2004 7:52 AM
Subject: Stem Cell

Dear Bruce:

I don't know anything about what Alexander Gaugine is saying about stem cell research, but for what it's worth, I'm voting against Proposition 71. I simply don't believe that it is responsible for the people of the state to borrow more money at a time when the Governor and the Legislature refuse to raise taxes to cover our structural deficit. From schools to local government, we're cutting back on our historic commitments because of a state fiscal crisis. That fiscal crisis is based on our unwillingness to pay for what we're spending. New borrowing, in this situation, increasing the stress on our budget, seems irresponsible to me. Further, the beneficiaries of the research that would be paid for by state borrowing might, ultimately, be the community at large, but the most immediate beneficiaries would be the private corporations that would market whatever new cures are developed through the stem cell research paid for with the proceeds of our borrowed money. I think that we should be looking to private capital to finance for profit medical research. We seem to have decided that the "market" should be our solution to most of life's problems, an approach I don't endorse, but if that's the approach we're taking, then let those who stand to make the big bucks put up the money to do the research.

Clearly, this is another view! With no reference, whatsoever, to all the "moralistic" arguments that, frankly, aren't to the point on Proposition 71, at least in my opinion.

Gary A. Patton From: "Katherine Minott"
To: bruce@brattononline.com
Subject: Earthquake survival

TIPS FOR EARTHQUAKE SURVIVAL

[download printable pdf]

(Summarized from an article by Douglas F. Copp in American Survival Guide (July 2000) monitored for the Global Ideas Bank by Roger Knights. Doug Copp is Rescue Chief of the American Rescue Team International and has formulated tips for surviving an earthquake - the result of experiences in 60 countries and two years' work as the United Nations expert in Disaster Mitigation).

Triangles of life

In 1996, Copp made a film to prove his survival methodology. He recreated a model school and home, filling them with 20 mannequins. He collapsed the buildings with half the mannequins in 'duck and cover' position and the others in what Copp calls the triangle of life' position.

When buildings collapse, the weight of the ceilings falling upon the objects or furniture inside somewhat crushes them, but the height of the object that remains acts as a kind of roofbeam to the space or void next to it, which will tend to end up with a sloping roof over it. This space for survival Copp terms the triangle of life. The larger and stronger the object, the less it will compact. The less it compacts, the larger the void next to it will be. Such triangles are the most common shape to be found in a collapsed building.

When Copp and his crew re-entered the simulated earthquake scenario after the blast, they calculated that there would have been zero percent survival for the mannequins in 'duck and cover' position as against 100 per cent survival for those hiding in the triangles beside solid objects.

Copp is categorical about the importance of this technique: "Everyone who simply ducks and covers when buildings collapse is crushed to death - every time without exception."

Move next to a solid object.

Position yourself next to a sofa, a car or another large bulky object that may compress slightly but will still leave a safe void next to it. A large safe would be ideal.

If you are in bed, roll off. If you find yourself in bed when an earthquake occurs, simply roll off it and you will find yourself in the safe void that exists around the bed.

Assume the fetal position.

Putting yourself into the fetal position, as cats, dogs and children naturally tend to do, will enable you to survive in a smaller void. This is a natural survival instinct.

Avoid stairs.

Never go to the stairs as this is the first part of a building to be damaged. Even if they are not destroyed by the earthquake, they may well collapse with the weight of panicking people attempting to flee down them.

Avoid the bottom floor.

The higher you are in a building the less weight will be crushing down upon you and the safer you will be. The bottom floors have the combined weight of an entire building pressing upon them and the objects inside. Top floors meanwhile have less weight above them and are not usually collapsed in earthquakes.

Avoid doorways.

In Copp's experience of crawling into 875 collapsed buildings, everyone who tries to shelter under doorways is killed. If the door frame falls forwards or backwards the ceiling will drop from above; if the door frame falls sideways you will be cut in half by the doorway. Though most authorities have now stopped publishing instructional pictures of people sheltering under doorways, the message has not yet got through and many people's first attempt at survival is to stand in these vulnerable spots.

Lie beside, not inside, your car.

If rubble falls from above, most cars will leave a void three feet high immediately beside them.

Move to near the outer walls of buildings or outside them.

The further inside you are from a building's outer perimeter, the greater the probability that your escape route will be blocked - or the route for a rescuer to reach you will be blocked.

It is rare for the ground outside buildings to open up and so the safest place to be in an earthquake is outside.

Create safe islands in public buildings.

Unfolded paper does not compress and stacks of paper can make excellent triangles of life. Copp observed how boxes of newspapers could hold up whole buildings and now recommends that schools and other public buildings construct simple wood frames around piles of paper and put these in strategic positions. Rather than schoolchildren lying down under their desks and waiting to be killed, they can instead shelter in the voids by these safe islands.

The American Rescue Team International, PO Box 489, Alameda, CA 94501, USA (tel & fax +1 510 523 5493; e-mail: amerrescue@aol.com or americanrescueteam@msn.com; web: www.amerrescue.org). Their website has broadcasts from the inside of collapsed buildings. The 'triangle of life' concept is copyright (c) ARTI and is used with the permission of Doug Copp, Rescue Chief.

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Christopher Krohn, September 6th, 2004

Untold Stories from RNC 2004 in NYC

NEW YORK There are many stories to tell at this convention. The known storylines inside Madison Square Garden (MSG) are familiar Republican themes that are repeated over and over: the recycled compassionate conservatism, John Kerry's misrepresenting his war record, the war on terror, George Bush is the only candidate who can protect you, and of course, Bush will cut your taxes even more. The recognizable mainstream news storylines from outside the convention are about ever-tighting security around MSG, the large Sunday afternoon half-million strong anti-Bush protest through Manhattan, and customer-starved small businesses in and around what has become known as the convention's Green Zone. But, there have been perhaps, a dozen or so stories that are either being covered inadequately or not at all.

The under-reported stories of RNC 2004 occurring on the inside include the numerous demonstrators—up to 30 in all—who have broken through the intense MSG security lines and gotten onto the convention floor to make protest statements, the relentless pursuit of the Missouri delegation by members of ACT-UP and other activists, the now infamous and short-lived band-aid over a purple heart stickers representing John Kerry's not really earned medals that were passed out and worn by an estimated 250 Republican delegates, and finally the glaring absence of any fresh Bush—read Republican—ideas on really moving the country forward.

Outside MSG the untold narratives are legion. First, the ubiquitous, forceful, costly and massive presence of police in the New York City streets surrounding MSG may be seen, when history is written, more as an occupying force that had put democracy on hold in order to save the Republican convention. Next, the daily large-scale street protests—nothing like the half-million, but significant by Bay Area standards—often received little or no coverage. The wretched conditions which exist at the Pier 57 detention center, an old oil-stained former bus maintenance facility set up by police to hold and process those arrested during this convention week is another story not often told. And finally, a story which has received scant exposure was the absolute outrage by average New Yorkers towards the Republicans' attempts of co-opting the 9/11 terrorist tragedy for political gain.

Three out of four nights of the convention severe breaches in security by anti-bush people were realized according to secret service members. At one point on day three of the convention secret service personnel were accusing Republican delegates of being lax in handing out passes into MSG. The first two nights saw several patches of empty seats inside the Garden and Republicans sought to fill up the seats even if it meant handing out tickets to non-delegates who never underwent the usual security background checks. In fact on Tuesday night, Code Pink's Medea Benjamin, the recipient of one of these passes, unfurled a banner that read, "Be Pro-life, Stop Killing in Iraq." She did it during Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's prime-time speech. In face, Schwarzenegger, Vice President Dick Cheney, New York Governor George Pataki, and White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card all had there speeches interrupted by protesters. And yes, even President Bush's speech was interrupted by one very determined Code Pink heckler, June Brashares.

In an interview, Code Pink's Benjamin said, "The great under-reported story of this convention is June Brashares getting in without any credentials at all. She just walked onto one of the hotel shuttle buses and told security that she simply lost her credential." Contrast all of this with the relative few street protests at the Democratic convention in Boston, and only once was there a floor protest, by Benjamin herself, and you have a portrait of an extremely polarized America. By mid-week New York City's Police Chief was even chastising the Republicans for being lax about security.

The Missouri delegation was targeted by protesters from the very beginning. The state of Missouri has recently passed a "Defense of Marriage Act," and the delegates definitely bore the brunt of protester's ire for the passage of this measure. Whether it was at their hotel (Westin), or the restaurants or clubs they frequented, and even while attending a Broadway show, the Missourians were confronted again and again. They were beseeched in the form of picket lines, kiss-in's, chants, and in your face cat-calls. The GLBT community and their supporters clearly made it an uneasy convention for the Show-me stators.

And what about the band-aid over the purple heart incident? "A little O-wee," is how former Nixon Administration operative and now conservative radio commentator, G. Gordon Liddy put it to this reporter when asked about the mocking of John Kerry's purple hearts by some Republican delegates. Democratic National Chair, Terry McAuliffe, earlier in the day was incensed about this gesture of wearing band-aids over purple hearts to signify that Kerry sustained only light war wounds. McAuliffe said, "It was disgraceful and disgusting. There were 250 of these [band-aids] handed out and that doesn't happen without the top leadership directing it." While no formal apologies were issued by the RNC, few Republicans spoken to agreed with this type of action.

Finally, from the inside, the most startling revelation coming from the mouth of President Bush during his prime time acceptance speech was that there were no new policy ideas, only recycled ones. Beyond the revamped compassionate conservative sloganeering—"government should help people improve their lives, not try to run their lives," Bush read off a state of the union-type litany of "new" program ideas, but without identifying the legislative hurdles or economic impacts each would have. Overhauling Social Security and Medicare, tax relief, health savings accounts, reining in federal spending, reshaping immigration law, "simplify the federal tax code," and of course, the 9/11 tragedy and protecting the United States from terrorists—"we have fought the terrorists across the earth[.]" These are all Republican topics from the past. There is nothing here akin to the bold agenda the President's aids, in the days leading up to the speech, Reporters were promised he would divulge.

Outside the convention the untold stories were even more numerous. Whether it was the 60 protesters who marched all the way from Boston to NYC after the close of the Democratic convention, or the literal good cop-bad cop split personalities on the part of some New York police units during the dozen mass protest gatherings here, or singer-songwriter Steve Earle's relentless personal campaign "to turn up the vibe and get people out to vote" in exorcising "W" from the Whitehouse, and not to mention, the previous Sunday a half-million marched down 7th Avenue. Although much has been written about this latter event, given its proper context—largest convention protest march in history—much more could be said. But I chose four other underreported stories.

First, the cops. Every police officer, traffic cop, and police cadet was mobilized. They were supported by hundreds more—FBI, Secret Service, National Guard, New York State Troopers. All days off were cancelled. This massive security apparatus totaled almost 40,000. The area around Madison Square Garden became known as the "Green Zone," as the US security zone in Baghdad is called. While police were generally friendly when approached by reporters, none would willingly go on record, and many times in tense situations the media were treated like the protesters, with even some arrests of journalists made by accident. Only in Guatemala City during the 1980's dictatorship of Efrain Rios Montt has this reporter felt so closely watched, had his credentials checked so often. Walls of bicycle and motorcycle cops, waves of helmeted riot police, dozens of plainclothes police were constantly hovering, always trying to be one step ahead of the next protest event, even when there wasn't one. This situation created an almost permanent sense of foreboding, fear, and confusion. Was it the police strategy from the beginning? Probably. But also, away from the Green Zone of MSG, police were almost always hanging out in small groups usually trying desperately to while away their 12-hour shifts.

Secondly, since it would be difficult to top the gigantic march of Sunday, so many of the smaller marches were lightly covered by the more than 15,000 media people holed up in MSG waiting for the Republicans. On Monday there were two marches. The first, a permitted one, saw more than 5000 marching towards MSG. The second, the "Poor People's March," was a non-permitted demonstration which police allowed, had close to 10,000 marchers. On Tuesday, the day planned by the A-31 coalition as being a day of "direct action," saw more than 1200 people arrested. The largest number of arrests that day—over 200—came during a non-permitted, War Resisters League procession of a few hundred. The arrests took place when confusion and miscommunication on the part of police and protesters alike had police wrapping orange plastic mesh around the a large group at the front of the march which started off from "ground zero." It had been headed towards MSG but never made it. Many non-protesters were arrested including a 15 and 16-year old on their way to a movie theatre in the same area, and a building maintenance worker who was putting out the garbage.

Also on Tuesday, large protests took place at Fox News Headquarters where a "Shut Up-athon" targeting Bill O'Reilly attracted about 2000. Near the same time a demonstration organized in the East Meadow in Central Park by the National Organization of Women (NOW) drew more than 10,000. On Wednesday a massive labor rally was held. More than 25,000 union members and their supporters were jammed into seven blocks along 8th Avenue from 23rd to 30th Streets. The following day, the night of President Bush's acceptance speech, saw two large rallies. A candlelight vigil at Union Square attracted more than 5000, and a raucous, closely-watched by police rally of close to 10,000 took place within four blocks of MSG. Overall, given the number of demonstrators and the number of security people, the vast majority of gatherings were peaceful, well-organized and offered useful outlets for ordinary New Yorkers, hardened protesters, and others in-between, to vent their frustration and outright anger with the Bush Administration.

The most underreported story of this convention is most likely the jail conditions and the time it took before those arrested in street demonstrations were allowed to contact their lawyers and see a judge. In fact, last Friday it got so bad that Judge John Cataldo of the New York State Supreme Court in Manhattan demanded that the city process all demonstrators immediately. When that had not happened by 6pm that day he held the city in contempt and ordered a fine of $1000 for each person still held. Many were finally released late Friday, some after having spent more than 60 hours in detention, this in violation of their Constitutional rights. Bill Dobbs, Media Coordinator for the group United for Peace and Justice which organized many of the protests and also assisted in legal help, said that as of Saturday afternoon, "The vast bulk of detainees had gotten out of jail and that it looks like [these long detentions] were politically motivated by the city." Dobbs went on to say, "In the same way Bush used a preemptive strike against Iraq, the New York Police Department used a preemptive strike against protesters. The Mayor and police department went too far," Dobbs said. Lots of different lawyers are involved from groups like the National Lawyers Guild and the Center for Constitutional Rights according to Dobbs, and that they will be back in a New York courtroom this Wednesday.

Finally, the last under-reported story of this convention is perhaps how not-Republican New York City is. Average New Yorkers came out to many protests, people who had never even been to one before. Those not protesting often supported protesters. There are stories of restaurant bills paid anonymously, taxi rides given free of charge, and spontaneous bursts of applause throughout Manhattan for anti-Bush protesters. It is doubtful Bush will be back here even to campaign before November 2nd, given that New York is Kerry country, nor is it likely that the RNC will be convening in this city anytime in the near future.

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Dan Haifley, September 6th, 2004

Bruce:

Here's some of the wacky particulars of my Hurricane-laced experience in Cuba.

In only 11 days, I:

• helped organize and was best man at the wedding of two of my great friends - Tatiana and Ivan - try organizing food, dress, drivers, and beer amid power outages and government shortages of the promised allottment of cake and beer for each married couple.
• gave up my seat on a Havana to Santiago flight (2 hours) to a Cuban woman with her two young girls, who was going to be bumped for a German Tourist with a beer belly and a prime spot in Cuba's tourist economy. The woman cried and thanked me but, shit, it's her country, she had a ride waiting at Santiago to take her home to Guantanamo, and it's probably likely that she had little money and no hope of getting home otherwise. I waived the refund and bought a later flight to Holguin, and did a two hour taxi ride at 80 MPH from Holguin to Santiago through a thunderstorm. This taxi driver passed more cows, tractors and truckloads of people while avoiding potholes than I've ever seen. Guantanemera on steroids.
• once in Santiago, did more work with La Universidad de Oriente, which sponsors a sister program to O'Neill Sea Odyssey....and after teaching the principal sponsor, Professor Lily Gomez, to play chess, she handily beat me! That is now the grist of much laughter and gossip in Santiago De Cuba's Reparte Fomento.
• did the Hurricane. Those last three days were supposed to be my days to chill with my newlywed friends (they both had August vacations) but instead it was more trekking around and watching how Cuba does disasters. How do they do it? Pretty well.

My trip back was the grim face of customs. Oh, well.

Dan Haifley

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Thomas Leavitt, August 13th, 2004

From: "Thomas Leavitt" thomas@thomasleavitt.org
To: bruce@brattononline.com
Sent: Friday, August 13, 2004 8:47 PM
Subject: City Council race comments.

"Let's see who takes stands on Home Depot or Orchard Supply or any retail development in the Lipton/Wrigley area on the West Side, that'll be fun."

My bet? None of them will. Certainly none of the incumbents have been particularly vigorous in their opposition to the various projects that have popped up on the radar. I don't see how that would fit Ryan's position as the darling of the business community. I'd be surprised if Tony took that tack, given the lack of volubility on the topic from him previous to date.

What'll happen is that, after the election, a bunch of development projects will be rammed through. This will lead to mass community outrage, and a throw the bastards out revolution two years down the line that will unfortunately be too late to change anything.

Regards, Thomas Leavitt

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Phil Reader, July 10th, 2004

From: "Phil Reader"
To: photo@brattononline.com
Sent: Saturday, July 10, 2004 12:47 AM
Subject: Cannery
Bruce,

Just read your July 8 edition of Brattononline. And I wish to thank you and Eric at Covello & Covello for the great photo of the Seabright Cannery.

I remember the place well as I worked there during the canning seasons from 1958 to 1963 until Uncle Sam called me forth to be the best I could be!! We put up Pears and Green Beans - millions and millions of the damned things. Because we were members of the Teamster's Union, the pay was great for a Live Oak boy.

During the pear season, they put me to doing every kind of job on the line, from dumping lug-boxes of pears on the belt, depalletizing the empties, "hot-grabbing" the freshly cooked cans, labeling them, stacking cases in the warehouse and, for one great season, driving the forklift. I did much the same when we processed green beans, except when I worked my way up to the Shelly Bean room, where I fed pinto beans into a hopper to mix in with the green beans and magically create the "Shelly Bean." A Stokley-Van Camp speciality. Just below the Shelly Bean room was a lab where the syrup for the pears was mixed and tested. It was here that I first met Bob Lissner, who was slumming at Stokley's when school was out of session.

Bruce, you shouldn't have much problem finding ex-employees of the cannery. It was the largest seasonal employer in Santa Cruz at the time. I always felt sorry for the women who worked on the line trimming and slicing the fruit and vegetables. It was fast and tedious work and they had to stand on a concrete floor all shift.

John Woods was the manager, but who I remember best were the "Floor Ladies" who handled the crews of female line workers. They were usually loud and boisterous Italian women who could crack the whip. One was a Castagnola and another was named "Minnie," who was a kind mother confessor to the girls on the line.

I have fond memories of my fellow workers, some were braceros up from Mexico, others were black head of households who came here during the war with the 54th Coastal Artillery, but most were working-class women bringing home a second income.

The history of the place is pretty straight forward. It was started in 1914 as the Santa Cruz Fruit and Olive Canning Company. Apples, olives and "Kentucky Wonder" string beans made up a large portion of the out out during the early years. In 1921, the facility was enlarged and the line of products expanded. The company re-organized and produced a general line of fruits and vegetables that were grown locally. One popular product was Santa Cruz brand spinach. Another was the popular Bartlett which was distributed across the United States and Europe. In 1930, the number of employees reached 175. In 1940, the company leased the Union Ice Plant on Chestnut Street and began processing spinach and brussel sprouts and during that decade the number of employees reached 400. Following the war, the cannery came under the control of the Stokley-Van Camp Company, although the line of products remained about the same. During the 1950s and 1960s the payroll reached 600 and was unionized. In 1971, Stokley sold out to Pacific Coast Producers, a newly organized co-op of growers, processing only beans and pears. By the time the cannery closed it doors in 1989, only the pear line remained.

Keep the photos coming.

Phil Reader

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Marie Rohrer, July 5th, 2004

From: Marie Rohrer
To: bruce@brattononline.com
Subject: Glenn Lovell

Hi Bruce,

One thing I've learned from reading the SJ Mercury over the years is that if their entertainment critics pan a movie or live performance, I love it. So when Lovell likes something, I pass. I have been to sneak previews where the movie was given an ovation at the end by those in attendance and the next day the press crucify's it. Go figure.

By the way, the Santa Cruz Hotel kitchen staff.... I've asked everyone I can think of, who is still around, and no one knows who the others are besides Rico.

I really enjoy your collumn. I was born & raised here and just recently moved back. It's great to see these old photos of people & places that I remember from my childhood. Keep it going.

Marie Rohrer

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Lynn Woolhouse, June 24th, 2004

From: Lynn Woolhouse
To: bruce@brattononline.com
Subject: teachers in picture

Keep the photos coming!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The picture is probably from the beginning of the school year & it looks like it's all of the teachers in the Santa Cruz City Schools. Here goes with the ones I can figure out:

Row 1: white haired man in the middle: Coin Knotts - SCHS

Row 2: Very blonde lady in middle: Doris Maddock - 3rd gr at B-40 elem Very tall smiling man directly behind her: John Evans - Mission Hill vice principal & later SCHS 3 to his left in casual jacket: Dean Ross -shop at MH 4 to Dean's left (1st one with his back to the wall): Ed Taylor - music MH

Bottom left corner (large lady): Pearl Watson - Gault & later Bay View

Behind John Evans there's a guy with a plaid shirt. Don't know him but right above his head is Erma Wells -English MH. To her left is Alma Bellera - art also MH. 2 to Alma's left is Hilda Van - Spanish MH

Row 5: 1st man on left (no necktie): Ivan Buckner - SCHS (I'm pretty sure)

The only ones that I know for sure are still alive are Ed Taylor & my dad .

My dad, Howard Miguel is in the back next to Norman Walters, but I don't think anyone else could recognize them. Mr. Walters was my choir & orchestra teacher at SCHS. My dad taught at MH from '40 - '56 & B-40 elem from '57 - '72.

When I was growing up there would be a big party for all the city teachers & their families every year at Kennolyn Camp which was run by Max & Marion Caldwell. The camp was named for their kids Ken & Carolyn. Max had been the principal at Laurel Elem (now Louden/London Nelson Center.) The parties were great fun with horse riding & a big barbeque followed by community singing led by Max.

Lynn Woolhouse (spotter of Phil Reader in the newsboys photo)

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Jozseph Schultz, June 7th, 2004

To: bruce@brattononline.com
From: Jozseph Schultz
Sent: Monday, June 07, 2004
Subject: Letter to the Editor
Hi Bruce,

Nice page you got there....
You might enjoy this blog I stumbled upon. Troy in 15 minutes. I hope it appeals to your sense of humor. Gives the whole flavor of a film in trendy speak. I didn't see Troy, but this encapsulation makes me either really want to see it or not want to see it very strongly. No, I don't understand that sentence either.

J Jozseph Schultz
India Joze

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Steve Bankhead, June 5th, 2004

To: bruce@brattononline.com
From: Steve Bankhead
Sent: Saturday, June 05, 2004
Subject: Letter to the Editor

Dear Bruce,

If readers are waiting to write on new controversies, I'll offer a few potential bones of contention and debate:

• Global warming is actually the result of additional body heat from from an increasingly obese human population.
• We never really invaded Iraq. All those news scenes are actually filmed in an Arizona movie lot by a Halliburton crew to justify their reconstruction invoices.
• President Bush had the Paris airport terminal bombed in retaliation for the Cannes Festival honoring Michael Moore.
• Colin Powell and John McCain will form their own presidential ticket and sweep to victory with the campaign slogan "We're not Bush or Kerry!"

If anyone cares to take an opposing view on any of those claims, I am fully prepared to back them up with cooked statistics and baseless opinions from anonymous sources.

Steve Bankhead Watsonville

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Phil Reader, April 16, 2004

To: "Bratton Online"
From: "Phil Reader"
Subject: Photo - Column April 15th, 2004

Bruce,
Just finished your April 15th column and was attracted by the photo titled "SANTA CRUZ SENTINEL CARRIERS 1956." As I was a carrier in the Live Oak area at the time, I was able to locate myself and a couple of friends in the group shot.

I am located on the extreme left near the center of the photo. I am wearing a light colored Hawaiian style shirt tucked under my belt with my sleeves rolled up. I am one of the few who is not on a bike. As it was to far too ride into town from L.O.

Ben Knight, my classmate and boyhood friend is standing third from MY left wearing a white T-shirt and glasses. (Ben was actually Benjamin Knight the IV. His ancestors owned the Opera house and were the Judge, DA and the Doctor.) He later worked for the Southern Pacific and passed away while still quite young.

I recognize a number of guys from my area, but most of those photographed were from "downtown." and, of course, it was taboo for us to hang out with them.

Phil Reader.

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Bev Vogel, April 16, 2004

To: 'photo@brattononline.com'
From: Bev Vogel
Subject: Photo of the Carnegie Library

Bruce:

I was looking at the photos you posted on line of city hall and the library around 1940. You mentioned the building that was torn down to make room for the new Santa Cruz Sentinel building. That building was the First United Methodist church. My mom and dad were married there in 1946 and my mom served as church secretary for a few years when I was growing up. I spent a good part of my youth, approximately 12 years, attending this church at that location. When the church property was bought by the Sentinel, the church bought the property at 250 California Street and built their new church at that site.

Anyway, I love the picture. It brought back lots of memories.

Bev Vogel

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Paul Rogers, April 17th, 2004

To: bruce@brattononline.com
From: Paul Rogers
Subject: UN and Cuba

Hi Bruce,

One other thing I forgot to mention: The United Nations Commission on Human Rights yesterday passed a resolution calling on the government of Cuba to relax its crackdown on journalists. France, Sweden, Germany, Mexico and Japan were among the countries that voted to pass it. Here's the language of the resolution.

It says that Cuba "should refrain from adopting measures which could jeopardize the fundamental rights, the freedom of expression and the right to due process of its citizens, and, in that regard, deplored the events which occurred last year in Cuba involving verdicts against certain political dissidents and journalists, as reported internationally; expressed the hope that the Government of Cuba would continue its efforts to boost religious freedom and would initiate measures designed to facilitate the transition towards the establishment of a fruitful dialogue with all schools of thought and organized political groups in Cuban society, notwithstanding the delicate international environment, with the aim of fostering the all-round development of democratic institutions and civil liberties; and urged the Government of Cuba, within the context of the full exercise of its sovereignty, to cooperate with the Personal Representative of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on the situation in Cuba by facilitating the discharge of her mandate."

The measure, sponsored by Honduras, passed by a vote of 22-21.

Take a look at the countries that voted for it, and those who voted against it.

In favor (22): Armenia, Australia, Austria, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Dominican Republic, France, Germany, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Peru, Republic of Korea, Sweden, United Kingdom and United States.

Against (21): Bahrain, Burkina Faso, China, Congo, Cuba, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Togo, Ukraine and Zimbabwe.

The UN press release is at: www.unhchr.ch/huricane/huricane.nsf/view01/D45BB29E34B83CFEC1256E780026FC94?opendocument

Best,
Paul

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Paul Rogers, April 10th, 2004

To: Nancy Abbey
From: Paul Rogers
Subject: Re: Cuba

That's fine by me. I'm tired of debating it too. It's just troubling for me that you, who are obviously intelligent and articulate, and come from a family nationally famous for its writing, would have some conditions under which you think putting writers in jail is OK. Freedom of speech doesn't infringe on other freedoms and rights. It expands and strengthens them. And that holds true for everyone, worldwide, whether they are in China, Santa Cruz, Salt Lake City, Leningrad, or Cuba. Any government threatened so threatened by ideas that it jails journalists for what they write is a government that oppresses its people. I think you'd be hard-pressed to find many progressive groups or leaders who believe that some censorship is a good thing.

Have a nice weekend,
Paul

---

Nancy Abbey, April 8th, 2004

To: Paul Rogers
From: Nancy Abbey
Subject: Re: Cuba

I guess it boils down to this, Paul. You want me to see this as a black and white, right and wrong issue - period!!! I want you to see the complexities involved!!!

I'm laying it to rest.

n

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Paul Rogers, April 8th, 2004

To: Nancy Abbey
From: Paul Rogers
Subject: Re: Cuba

Nancy,

My view is quite straightforward. It is never acceptable for any government to jail a writer for the content of his or her work. Period. I don't care if it is done by the Apartheid-era South Africa, China, Cuba, Saudi Arabia or the United States. It is always wrong. And because Amnesty International, the UN Human Rights Commission, the Committee to Protect Journalists, Human Rights Watch and the other organizations who have spoken out on the issue document their findings carefully and are not representing any government or advocating any position -- other than the furtherance of the freedom to speak, write, assemble, and worship -- they carry far more credibility, in my view, than the government they are challenging which has locked up writers.

You know far more about Cuba than me. You have studied the issues there longer, and I respect that. But I sense in your frustration and opposition to the US blockade an inability to objectively look at the failings of the Cuban government as well. And in this case, there really is no defense. The right to eat and to health care and earn a living also are all important, as you point out, but they are not mutually exlusive with the right to free expression. Governments that are supported by the people and best represent their interests are not threatened by the marketplace of ideas. They are made stronger by internal criticism. Many of the worst excesses in American history have been curbed by courageous writers and journalists -- think Ida Tarbell, Lincoln Steffens, Norman Mailer, Woodward and Bernstein, Mother Jones magazine, Molly Ivins, etc -- and the same is true of Cuba.

Having writers point to the failings of a society encourages debate and change. If they write something inaccurate, the marketplace of ideas in a free society corrects it. As Madison believed, the best remedy for a bad idea is not censorship, but a good idea.

Best,
Paul

---

Nancy Abbey, April 6th, 2004

From: Nancy Abbey
To: Paul Rogers
Subject: Re: Cuba

Paul - Yes, I have read these reports. And I have read Amnesty reports about all countries in the Western Hemisphere - which provides some context for evaluation. But how do you know that those reports are "the facts" on the jailing of dissidents? Have you read any of the observations of people like Lucius Walker, Wayne Smith, Saul Landau on the subject? Even Noam Chomsky has changed his tune now that he knows more of the complexity of the issue. And if I didn't cite those before, it was because I assumed that you were widely read on the subject.

I would also suggest the report by the Cuban government, but I'm sure you would dismiss those even though Cuba is one of the most transparent governments in the Western Hemisphere. And I would never be so naive as to believe any report or article was "the facts".

What bothers me most about all the focus on the so-called dissidents of Cuba, is the narrowness of the argument - "it's just wrong" - and the selectivity - "let's not talk about the Cuban Five, the jailing of human rights workers and "disappearances" in Mexico, extrajudicial executions in Bolivia, etc." No, these are journalists (amateur, but they were paid to write, so they must be journalists.) So real journalists write about them and the public learns that Cuba is the worst of all kinds of repressive countries. And this has resulted in support for a tightening of the blockade on the people of Cuba.

And as for closed minds, you haven't exactly acknowledged the complexity of the situation.

n

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Paul Rogers, April 5th, 2004

From: Paul Rogers
To: Nancy Abbey
Subject: Re: Cuba

Nancy,

Did you read the Committe to Protect Journalists' report? Did you read the Amnesty International letter? Did you read the Human Rights Watch statement?

I'm happy to engage people and discuss ideas. I do it all day long, at the newspaper where I work, on PBS and KUSP shows I have done, and at UC Santa Cruz, where I teach journalism. That give and take is one of the joys of a free society. What is tiresome is when people simply repeat, rote, their politics without looking at any of the surrounding facts. It's tiresome when Jerry Falwell does it. And it's tiresome when people on the Left do it.

I showed you clear, documented, in-depth proof from progressive organizations that Castro has cracked down on freedom of the press. Unless you think the UN, Amnesty International, and the others I mentioned are all part of some kind of plot, you have presented nothing to counter it. No reports from independent organizations. No news stories. Just rhetoric. That's disappointing.

Give those reports that I cited a read. They won't bite.

Best,
paul

---

Judi G., March 21st, 2004

From: Judi G.
To: bruce@brattononline.com
Sent: Sunday, March 21, 2004 3:54 PM
Subject: Fighting big boxes

Hello Bruce, I've just signed up to receive the Home Town Advantage Bulletin online, which is published by the New Rules Project that tracks efforts to curb chain store proliferation; if you're not familiar with these folks, do a Yahoo search and see how other communities are fighting the WalMarts, etc. I had mentioned to Mike Rotkin in an email that the owners of Home Depot are big Bush supporters but his answer was along the lines of "We can't tell people where to shop or not shop." (a similar response from some council members at the time to the attempt to keep Borders out of town). I guess I'll try to come to the Monday meeting (as well as the Tuesday City Council meeting regarding the Manson project on High/Cardiff). I don't agree with all your views but I will read your online column with interest. (and I DO love horses!)

Judi G.

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Dan Haifley, March 16th, 2004

From: Dan Haifley
To: bruce@brattononline.com
Sent: Tuesday, March 16, 2004 4:15 PM
Subject: Paul, Nancy and Cuba

Bruce:

May I jump in? I'll be making my fourth trip, to assist and do research relative to two environmental stewardship programs in Santiago de Cuba and Holguin, in August. Jerry Kay and John Sandidge are there now donating 100 field microscopes to these two groups, one affiliated with La Universidad de Oriente in Santiago, and one called Proyecto ECOARTE in Holguin.

I do not view my licensed trips as supporting any particular ideology, I do see them as developing people-to-people ties on questions of environmental education. ECOARTE has a highly developed youth environmental stewardship program in Moa, in the province of Holguin, the site of the Che Guevara nickel plant. They have taken it upon themselves to mitigate environmental damage by working to restore much of that area, which by all reports is in very bad shape. We have alot to learn from how well developed the ECOARTE model is for community service.

I attended a conference in May 2003 in Santiago on environmental issues, and let me tell you, Cubans are not shy about expressing their views. They argue their divergent views with passion. In my years of community work I've not seen anything quite like it. Of course, what do you expect when an engineer gets up to give a counter-point to a presentation by a student on environmental issues raised by coastal hotel developments in Holguin?

There are journalists in jail, and it is terrible. I complained to folks in Havana and Santiago about it (the last rash of jailings occurred before my May 03 trip) . Cubans on the street will tell also speak to you against it, but they do not feel much can be done. In my view, people-to-people exchanges cannot hurt, and they may help.

Dan Haifley, Executive Director
O'Neill Sea Odyssey

---

Nancy Abbey, March 10th, 2004

From: Nancy Abbey
U.S.- Cuba Sister City Association
Alliance of Guyma Cuba and Santa Cruz County
To: Bruce Bratton
Sent: Thursday, March 11, 2004 2:12 PM
Subject: Re: Fw: Cuba

Well, he obviously believes that the "journalists" were really that. A few may have been - the majority were journalists du jour. And all of them were paid by the US to write articles for publication abroad that supported the blockade, were highly critical of the Cuban government and advocated its demise in one way or another. It is analogous to Paul Rogers - or, more accurately, a friend of his who doesn't write for a living - being paid by Al Queda to write anti-Bush pieces and promote religious jihad against us.

The US is the enemy of Cuba. We have invaded, supported and trained anti-Cuba terrorists, poured millions of dollars into the Miami "exile" community for activities designed to bring down the Cuban government, and imposed a blockade that creates enormous hardships for such a small country. Now the Bush government is tightening the screws, talks of (and funds) "regime change" and "transition to democracy" in Cuba, and sends a diplomat to the US Interest Section who provokes dissidents. How much more provocation can a country take before it defends itself?

As a journalist, he, of course, sees freedom of speech no matter what, as the greatest of human rights. In Cuba, as in other poor countries, there are other rights of primary importance - freedom from hunger (not much food in Cuba, but no-one goes hungry), the right to an education (Cuba is fast becoming the best educated country in the Western Hemisphere), the right to medical care (need I extoll their medical care?), the right to housing (as Castro has pointed out proudly, there are no homeless children in Cuba.) Yes, there's not much food, they lack many medicines, and the housing is dilapidated. But traveling in Cuba, one is always impressed by the priorities of the country - where they put the little money they have to work with. And all these human rights fulfilled without the help of a free press! Ted Koppel eat your words.

How much of the deprivation is due to the blockade and how much is due to mistakes by the government is debatable, but they are trying - really trying - to bring up the standard of living for everyone without fostering the huge disparity in wealth that is too evident in other third world countries.

If people don't consider how Cuba sees the threat to its integrity, safety and sovereignty, the suppression of the press is totally un-justifiable. But if one looks at the role of the press in overthrowing Allende (with the help of AT&T and the CIA) and the coup against Chavez (with the support of the US government), it's questionable whether a free press is a force for good or a force that can be easily co-opted to destroy a government of the people.

So, as long as we live in a country where the press is owned by a few big corporations and reporters are easily seduced by the government line, I don't think we should throw stones at Cuba. Besides, would he like to compare the jailing of the so-called dissidents to the jailing of the Cuban Five? Has he ever written about the Cuban Five? It's one of those stories that the US press had chosen to ignore.

Nancy Abbey

---

Paul Rogers, March 10th, 2004

Paul Rogers
Resources and Environment Writer
San Jose Mercury News

March 10, 2004

Hi Bruce,

You ran a piece on your website last week about Cuba. Its authors complained about the Bush administration's ''incitement, mischaracterization, and slander against the Cuban People, their Government, their Economy.''

Fair enough. I thought you might find this interesting, and perhaps worth noting on your website.

The Cuban government jailed more journalists last year than any nation in the world, except China, according to a new study out by the non-profit Committee to Project Journalists (www.cpj.org).

I'm sure as a fellow journalist, you agree with me that without a free press, few other human rights are guaranteed or protected. The study, whose preface was written by Ted Koppel, contains the following passages about Castro's crackdown on freedom of the press in 2003:

"Unlike previous years, when Cuban authorities were mostly content to merely harass and threaten independent journalists and their families, in 2003, authorities launched an all-out assault against the opposition and the independent press. Officials jailed 29 journalists-about one-third of the island's independent press-and sentenced them to lengthy prison terms.

Those who continue to work face systematic police harassment and threats. The detention of political dissidents and journalists-who are often accused of being "counterrevolutionaries" at the service of the United States-began on March 18, during the first week of the Iraq war, and continued for three days. Police raided and searched the journalists' homes, confiscating books, typewriters, research materials, cameras, computers, printers, and fax machines.

The journalists were taken to the headquarters of the State Security Department (DSE)-the political police-across the island. Their summary trials were held on April 3 and 4 behind closed doors, after which the courts declared that the cases were ready for sentencing. Many journalists did not have access to their lawyers before the trials. In several cases, the lawyers representing the journalists only had a few hours to prepare their defenses.

Some journalists were tried under Article 91 of the Penal Code, which imposes lengthy prison sentences or death for those who act against "the independence or the territorial integrity of the State." Other journalists were prosecuted for violating Law 88 for the Protection of Cuba's National Independence and Economy, which mandates up to 20 years in prison for anyone who commits acts "aimed at subverting the internal order of the Nation and destroying its political, economic, and social system."

On April 7, courts across the island announced prison sentences for the journalists ranging from 14 to 27 years. They remained imprisoned in jails administered by the DSE until April 24, when most were sent to prisons located hundreds of miles from their homes. In June, the People's Supreme Tribunal, Cuba's highest court, dismissed the appeals for annulment (recursos de casación), which the journalists filed in April, thus upholding their convictions.

The imprisoned journalists, who are being held in maximum-security facilities and are handcuffed any time they leave their cells, have denounced their unsanitary prison conditions, inadequate medical care, solitary confinement, and lack of access to the press and television. They have also complained of receiving foul-smelling and rotten food.

To demand better conditions, some imprisoned journalists went on hunger strikes several times during 2003. After learning about the hunger strikes, other jailed journalists joined them in solidarity. Because prison authorities refused to allow outside contact with the strikers or to disclose information about them, their families were unable to check on their health."

The full report is available at http://www.cpj.org/attacks03/pages03/attacks03index.html

Hope all is well with you,
Paul Rogers

---

Nancy Abbey, March 4th, 2004

For Immediate Release:
Office of Necessary Information and Rebuttals
SF Bay Area Cuba Alliance
March 3, 2004

Rebuttal to: Proclamation by the President of the United States of America on Expanding the Regulation of the Anchorage and Movement of Vessels Into Cuban Territorial Waters,

A Modest Proclamation

Expanding the Right of Americans to Travel to Cuba, the Duty to Combat Lies and Ignorance Perpetrated by Our Own Government, and the Need to Practice the Holy Skill of Carpentry.

PROCLAMATION: By the duty vested in we the people of the United States of America to defend our Constitutional Democracy against all enemies, foreign and domestic, and

WHEREAS, most current key US policymakers, policy-deciders and general holder-of-power have never been to Cuba themselves, and have, since JANUARY 2001 been making such false statements about the sovereign neighbor-nation of Cuba as to BAFFLE the hundreds of thousands of Americans who actually HAVE been there;

WHEREAS, as is being proven daily in one said other sovereign nation called Iraq, that the current government of the United States of America cannot be trusted to FAITHFULLY INFORM the American People as to the nature of a foreign government, nor its people, nor to any danger or terrorizing threat said Foreign Human Beings might pose to we American Human Beings;

WHEREAS, such falsities and perhaps INABILITY by the current US administration to even KNOW the TRUTH, let alone SPEAK it to their fellow Americans, relegate and subjugate said fellow Americans to the tragic and impotence-causing bondage of following a Naked Emperor into FEAR AND LOATHING of other countries, and that countrys Human Beings, who also raise Families, and Buildings, and Vegetables and Farm Animals within the borders of those countries;

WHEREAS, the promotion and insistence by the current US administration of such SHEEPISH behavior in the American people is ANATHEMA to our historic and undeniable BRAVERY (with acknowledged reverence to the horror and moral cowardliness of the genocide perpetrated upon the Native American population) and to our quest for personal FREEDOM (with acknowledged reverence to the horror of the kidnapping, enslavement and DENIAL of freedom to millions from the Native African population);

WHEREAS, the promotion also, by the current US administration, of such WOLFISH behavior in the American people toward other countries, and by unwitting extension to said countries resident Human Beings, has DWARFED and perhaps ECLIPSED the general Kind Nature, Friendliness, and Sense of Optimism and Fairness of we American Human Beings;

WHEREAS, the irony cannot be escaped that the American People, with more Friends than any in the World, is dangerously and injuriously represented in its foreign policy by an American government with more Enemies than any in the World;

WHEREAS, Human Beings, once they meet other Human Beings, generally do not want to kill them, or even boss them around anymore for that matter;

WHEREAS, the American People, almost all of whom have at least graduated from the 9th grade and therefore are presumably educated enough to understand the above-mentioned Principle of Human Engagement;

WHEREAS, it was actually in Kindergarten, was it not, where we were supposed to have learned Everything We Needed to Know;

NOW, THEREFORE, We, the American People (including, but not limited to, American Kindergarteners), by the Duty vested in US to uphold, defend and UNDERSTAND our Constitutional Democracy, and to provide INFORMED consent to our governing representatives, ESPECIALLY when they have gone off the proverbial DEEP END on a foreign policy issue, make and issue the following Decree, that

IT SHALL BE RESOLVED,

ONE, that the current head of the current U.S. administration, one said George W. Bush, now currently occupying the residence on 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in the stateless city of Washington D.C., shall CEASE AND DESIST from all incitement, mischaracterization, and slander against the Cuban People, their Government, their Economy and their Family, Social and Global Values, and furthermore,

TWO, that said U.S. administration and its Chief Administrator, NOT ONLY end all harassment techniques, and misuse of U.S. Taxpayer (i.e., Public, Collective) Monies to prosecute and persecute the tens of thousands of Curious, Peace-Seeking, and by NATURE Fair-Playing American Human Beings who travel- and who WILL CONTINUE TO TRAVEL-to Cuba to meet other Human Beings, but THAT ALSO key members of said U.S. administration FOLLOW THE LEAD of the American People, including but not limited to Businesspeople and Lawmakers, and actually TRAVEL TO CUBA THEMSELVES, and finally

THREE, that any and all Americans, who not only WISH their country, and all of humanity, WELL, but who also wish to WORK to make it SO, recognizing that PERHAPS, to paraphrase the Great Poet, there are more things in Heaven and Earth than are dreamt of, or as of yet manifested, in U.S. Philosophy, seek out those followers of the Great Profession of Skilled Carpentry and Boat-Making to fashion whatever seafaring VESSEL they can devise, be it a boat, a canoe, catamaran or RAFTand TRAVEL TO CUBA across the Straits of Florida, the Gulf of Mexico, or the Yucatan Channel, in order to MEET and KNOW and SHARE with their fellow Cuban: Teachers, Health Care Workers, Students, Municipal Officials, Engineers, Scientists, Social Workers, Community Activists, Mothers, Fathers, Teenagers, Schoolchildren, Grandparents, Writers, Musicians, Farmers and Gardeners, Painters and PoetsFor you will find much more of a Mirror in the Cuban People than a Wall with such Encounter, and more Strength in than Fear of, the answers-and questions-such Encounter brings to you.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have hereunto set our hands, minds, hearts and hammers, this First of March, in the year of Everyones Lord, as they may so choose, or not, to define said entity, two thousand four, also the year two hundred and twenty-eighth of the Independence of the United States of America, one nation of many on this round, ultimately equalizing Planet Earth.

Rachel Bruhnke, Environmental Engineer
Founding Member, SF Bay Area Cuba Alliance

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John Vasconcellos, February 22, 2004

From: State Senator John Vasconcellos
Date: February 22, 2004 12:06:46PM PST
To: Bratton Online.com
Subject: I whole-heartedly endorse Ted Lempert

I've known Ted since he was in high school, he's proven himself to be a legislator of the utmost integrity- (as a result of my immediate personal experience, I cannot say the same for his opponent, in fact the opposite.)

Integrity is always the #1 over-riding issue-especially in these dark times of political cynicism and machinations.

The people of Santa Cruz will always be served by Ted Lempert-in the very same ways they have chosen wisely and been well served by Fred Keeley, Sam Farr, Bruce McPherson and Henry Mello!

Ted will especially help fill my shoes in the crucial areas of ethics and education - and the also emptying shoes of my colleague Byron Sher, on the environment.

In fact, I am accompanying Ted into Santa Cruz tomorrow evening (February 23) when he appears before an important progressive group (SCAN) there.

John Vasconcellos,
California State Senate
Dem. San Jose District 13

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Paul Elerick, February 19, 2004

Hi Bruce:

An absolutely wonderful column. Thanks for taking the lead in exposing the sham/scam of Lowe's and Home Depot. Capitola is flat broke, in gridlock and still never saw a box store development they didn't like. GO BRUCE!

Paul Elerick

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Lee Quarnstrom, February 5, 2004

Actually, most consumer groups give Lowe's a much higher rating than Home Depot when it comes to being customer-friendly. I've noticed down here, where I live within two miles of both a Lowe's and a Home Depot, that the clerks are much more knowledgeable at Lowe's than a HD and that there are many more clerks around to help. I've read several stories in the plethora of newspapers and magazines that I get indicating that Home Depot has been losing customers to Lowe's and is trying to emulate Lowe's orientation toward local residents instead of local building contractors, who have been Home Depot's bread and butter. I think the Home Depot up there was squelched because of neighborhood traffic concerns as much as anything else; I don't know what the traffic implications would be out by the Wrigley plant but given a choice of he two, I'd certainly prefer to shop at Lowe's.

Of course, I'd really rather shop at a good smalltown local hardware store but there aren't many left, are there? There are, however, a few down here, old-timers, that still make a good living by being convenient, having good parking and having helpful old coots like Orchard Supply used to have before Sears Roebuck bought it and chopped the staff. More than anything, I think Santa Cruz council members should consider traffic implications of a new Lowe's store.

Of course, Bruce, down here hardly anyone questions any building or development proposal; most are welcomed with open arms, at least by the politicians. But there seems to be a nascent environmental movement trying to preserve what little wild and op-en lands are left in Orange County. They could use a Gary Patton to get them organized, though.

How are you? It sounds like life in Santa Cruz continues apace. I wish that popcorn wagon would have been downtown when I was working there.

Lee Q

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Assemblyman John Laird, January 21, 2004

Bruce -- As always, I enjoy reading your column and particularly enjoyed this week's picture. Having read both your e-mail after the caucus and the general repeat of it in this column, I wanted to give you a piece of feedback. I know the story was the caucus, and the fact that Sam and I spoke there was very secondary to the main story.

But my remarks were designed to tell people that we're in a struggle for the future of California and that they can and must participate if we're going to have a good outcome. The future of higher ed, health care and K-12 education in California depends on choices we make -- and that they must inform themselves and organize on those choices. I tried to give a concrete example of how this choice will effect the future of UC and the ability of anybody who's not wealthy to access it, and the ability of there to be something valuable there if they can access it. This is very different from me speaking on "how bad things are in Sacramento". It was how bad things could be ten years from now due to decisions made now, decisions that they can play a role in. Things ARE bad in Sacramento, but that's not the message I was trying to get across. I was trying to inspire people to action at a key crossroads in our state's history.

John Laird

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Barbara Rose Shuler, October 3, 2003

Hi Bruce,

I thought you might be interested in my review of Hamlet. I was so annoyed by what Brainin did with the words she didn't cut from the text that I didn't bother writing about the cutting issue. By the way, in my view cut Shakespeare, when done well, can sometimes make a more satisfying audience piece. For instance, it doesn't bother me in the least to have all the Christopher Sly stuff cut from Taming of the Shrew, nor does it bother me when obscure passages that don't advance the story are cut. Nor does it bother me to take the four hours of Hamlet and carefully trim it to a shorter play. I wouldn't have wanted Brainin to mount the whole text last summer. Ay me!

One thing her Hamlet did was to inspire me to clear a couple of days to watch film Hamlets. I started with Olivier and should have left it there. What a beautiful job he does with that role! Anyway, I suspect Brainin did Hamlet for the wrong reasons and with insufficient time to invest in making it work, even had she ditched the irrelevant “relevancies” of the 911 concept.

So glad to have you coming my way on the web. It's like a little Christmas morning rush to have your column drop into view.

Barbara Rose Shuler
Drama Critic Monterey Herald

Hamlet

Shakespeare Santa Cruz' interim artistic director Risa Brainin had a philosophical epiphany about Hamlet's revenge and the post-911 era. She points to America's confrontation with revenge since the falling of the Twin Towers. Hamlet's struggle is our struggle, she says. Like Hamlet we too must come to terms with betrayal and find ways to put things right in our lives in the wake of the tragedy.

Nowadays, directors at Shakespeare Festivals explain their choices with much talk of relevancy. But Hamlet is a timeless classic masterpiece. Of course, it is relevant. That's its job. So it was not surprising when the comparisons to 911 vanished like the morning dew as the story of the glum Dane played through its famous scenes and acts in the Festival Glenn.

Thoughts turned instead to wondering why equity actor Ryan Artzberger wasn't delivering a more satisfying performance as Hamlet. When the Player King in a production of this drama brings more charisma and authority to his role than its Hamlet, you know something is amiss in Denmark.

Brainin staged the SSC Hamlet in a non-specific modern period on a visually compelling set designed by Nayna Ramey with sliding glass partitions, giving the palace the look of an inscrutable puzzle box. The glass structure also resembled King Claudius' mind: brittle, labyrinthine and shifty. Oddly enough, King Claudius himself--played with treacherous grit by Theodore Swetz--resembled Colonel Sanders minus the bow tie and glasses.

Much use was made of cloth panels that would fall from the top of the structure from time to time to define scene areas. Ophelia even pulled down four long blue swaths of cloth in her dramatic final scene and ran into the woods with a river of fabric flying behind her.

It's often hard to know from the outside why a performance isn't working since the audience isn't privy to details about the rehearsal process, the director-actor dynamics or the struggles and methods of the actor. Hamlet truly is a fiercely challenging role to undertake. Nevertheless, actors (and directors) head to it like moths to the flame and many crisp themselves in front of an audience. Occasionally, Artzberger struck a true chord in his performance but not sufficient to give the production its necessary center of gravity.

What happened with Artzberger? At first appealing in his woodsy jeans, jacket, and leather traveling pouch, a warm contrast to Castle whites of Claudius' court, he quickly began to appear disconnected from the psychological realities of his character. Whole sections of text were tossed off as if the actor hadn't thought much about what Hamlet was actually saying and feeling. The most famous speech of dramatic literature, “To be or not to be…” had all the punch of a bland recitation in a college English class.

In his faux mad scene, Artzberger wanders on stage chewing his sweater like an autistic grownup. While a novel gesture, it came across like a willy-nilly one-off instead of an integral part of Hamlet's descent into the murky depths of revenge.

We want to see Hamlet's huge struggle revealed by the acting. We want to see the prince's intelligence, his depth and natural goodness, his confusion and the visceral intensity of his dilemma. We especially want powerful and authentic psychological continuity, which must come from inside the actor. Ay, there's the rub! Sadly, this actor has apparently not plumbed his own depths and human condition sufficiently to draw forth a convincing Hamlet.

What then of Ophelia, Gertrude and other key characters in the play? While Jacqueline van Bennen delivered a quiveringly poignant mad scene as Ophelia, her interactions with Artzbreger lacked fire and the spice of relationship. Judith's Roberts performance of Gertrude, the Queen and Hamlet's mother, came across more like a Washington cocktail hostess with a drinking problem, than a women plunged into a nightmare of conflict between her new husband and her son.

Rhonnie Washington as Polonuis, the hapless minister to the King, gave a fine enough performance but it happened without much support from other actors. Gabriel Ortiz made a strong and engaging Horatio. Jonathan Brody charms as the First Gravedigger and Swetz doubles as the Ghost of King Hamlet, oddly outfitted with a German pith helmet. Carl Cofield appears as a brooding Laertes, son of Polonius and Ophelia's brother. He and Artzberger execute with finesse the gripping sword choreography of the final scene.

John Preston fills the stage with his presence as the Player King such that one wistfully wishes Brainin had cast this actor as Hamlet and Artzberger as the Player. Furthermore, the friendship between Hamlet and the Player King is portrayed with a sweet genuineness that curiously manages to be a high point of the drama.

Devon Painter's choices as costumer seemed a bit dubious. The whites of the court and the rustic browns of Hamlet's people worked alright as a concept but the garments themselves time-jumped distractingly. Tom Mardikes' sound design gave the play a rock soundscape with a strong beat.

The Festival Glenn makes an ideal setting for Hamlet. If you can overlook the weaknesses in this production, you might enjoy hearing the immortal words of Shakespeare in this magical summer setting.

---

Elizabeth Rosseter, August 7, 2003

Hurrah, you're back!!

Your disapperance from Metro Santa Cruz was noted with some befuddlement, and I waited ... and waited... and waited... then, after long months without my Bratton fix, I decided to google you this morning. (Yes, it's a verb now. Or so claims my friend. Whose friend, in turn, claims it is, and whose friend, also in turn, claimed it is... so on.) I'm very glad to see you have your own website now. :) Your column was the primary reason why I picked up a copy of the Metro weekly. No longer am I a reader of the Metro, obviously...

I'll always remember what you wrote about Lou Harrison's death, who I had known and admired for a few years as someone with whom I could converse in my native language (ASL), and now that I think about it, I think that's the last column of yours I remember reading in the Metro. I think we need to start giving out bumper stickers that say, "Be like Lou." Whenever I start getting discouraged or frustrated with humanity in general (or with myself, as is more typical), I say that to myself as a reminder about how to approach the world (and myself, of course). It triggers a paradigm shift, and somehow the world becomes that much more bearable as a result.

Anyway, I'm now a subscriber and am contemplating buying an ad, even though I don't have any business to endorse, just for the sake of supporting your website. I'm thrilled to see that you're still around. Keep on writing.

Elizabeth Rosseter

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