I suppose there’s nothing wrong with tossing yourself a little nod of approval every now and then. That seems to be the case this week as the City of Santa Cruz gears up for its official Proclamation Day. For those of you who have attended events where a proclamation from the city’s mayor was in order, you already know much of the script features one word repeatedly—whereas.Â
Keeping that in mind, GT’s ever-humorous scribe Kim Luke explores the deeper meaning of proclamations, offers insights—and oh, so much wit—into the upcoming P-day. She even guides us toward entering a contest to write our very own proclamation. Whereas Ms. Luke is clever and snappy with her words, and wheras we at GT like to keep our many fingers on the passionate pulse of Santa Cruz, and whereas this issue will feature more whereases than any other issue during the entire year … we invite you to turn to page 12 and … have at it.
Â
Elsewhere … while it may not have the official sizzle of a bona fide event filled with a gaggle of whereases (or is it a proclamation of whereases, it’s hard to keep track?), the buzz continues to grow on Grind Out Hunger, launched by Danny Keith. The local has suddenly captured the attention of reality TV show producers interested in spotlighting Grind Out Hunger in a new outing. Learn more about all that at grindouthunger.org, or on its Facebook page. It’s just another indication that as we keep venturing forth into the future, and as modern media stops at nothing in its quest to reach all corners of pop culture, Santa Cruz itself continues to capture the spotlight—from James Durbin and Chris Rene to Restaurant Impossible and now, Grind Out Hunger. Stay tuned for more updates.
In the meantime, what’s on your agenda this week? What are youÂ
committed to “grinding out?” Ponder on it … and enjoy the issue.
Â
Â
Greg Archer | Editor-in-ChiefÂ
Letters to the Editor
Â
I am all for banning the plastic bag. I have been using my own bags for years anyway. When I do happen to get plastic bags I use them to crochet diaper bag for young new mothers. They last for years. I make sure they do not end up some place where they could hurt the environment. Short of plastic bags I use bread bags and also make braided crocheted rugs from them. Very colorful.Â
Â
I grew up around Capitola and Santa Cruz. Although I am no longer a California resident, (sure wish I were) I dearly love Capitola.  I know full well the beach area has change drastically as I have a friend who sends me pictures every so often. Please keep up the great work with the banning of these awful bags. Too much damage has been done by them already. Not everyone has the time to crochet or be creative other ways with the bags. Most people just don’t care one way or another what happens to the bag after their groceries are home.Â
Thank you for all your hard work. I am sorry I cannot be there to help withÂ
the struggle.
Cindy McCaffrey
Santa Cruz
Â
Regarding “Hatching a Lawsuit” (GT 3/22), push back and push hard. Don’t let this slip out of the public eye view. While we are lucky to have a choice to eat free range meat or not at all, there are many places where that isn’t the case. We need to set a precedent and not let this be swept under the rug. Otherwise animals continue to suffer.
R. Faith
Santa Cruz
Best Online Comments
Â
Quit complaining you hippies. If you boycott California chicken soon you will have imported Chinese chicken with lots of chemicals and lack of taste and quality.
—I Love California Chicken
It’s sad that livestock or animal operations in Santa Cruz would be able to get away with this level of cruelty. As for the other comment, I hardly find it to be a “hippie” thing to be against cruelty and torture to animals or, in that case, to be in support of utilizing the laws in place to prevent it. If by “quit complaining” you mean “get over it and be OK with blatantly cruel and illegal practices,” you are one complacent, disempowered cog in the industrial machine, my friend.
—Think for Ourselves
Â
“Quit complaining?” Someone has to complain because the ducks and chicks can’t. If you don’t want to, fine, but we should support (or at least not chastise) the people who do, because someone has got to do it. Animals don’t deserve this treatment, yet it’s the industry norm.
—Quit complaining?
Â
Time to make a choice. Don’t eat meat. Eat free-range, cruelty-free meat … or eat crap! YOU are what you eat!
—Don’t Accept it Anymore
Â
On ‘Foreclosures’ …
Excellent article. The speculation then subsequent crashing of our system has hurt America’s most valued assets, home and family. We must take back our children’s future from the 1 percent. For those who have not woken up or do not understand, think of a home being crashed in value by the same men who told the American people they could re-finance their most valued asset. Instead, so many saw their home value fall so far below the bank-estimated value that they ended up losing it. “Underwater” would be more accurately described as purposefully flooded. The banks even sometimes “give away” the foreclosed homes for further government rewards after they have stolen them—FOR PR! Wake up. Thanks, Good Times. Let’s work so we can have them again.
—Denica De Foy
Â
