Plus Letters To The EDITOR
We’re coming up on just six weeks until the November election and with so much change in the air, maybe it’s best to check in and see where our internal compass is pointing on all matters political—and beyond. My Polish mother and aunt always came up with a great suggestion: Trust your gut feeling.
That could come in handy during this election cycle, especially on a national level. But don’t rule out what’s happening locally. For that, you may want to tune in to GT in the coming weeks for updates on what to look for on the Nov. 6 ballot. In the meantime, take note of Measures L, M, N, O, P, Q, R. More details on all of these to follow, but already generating buzz is Measure P, the Santa Cruz Desalination Measure, which would ensure that the City of Santa Cruz “does not approve or fund a desalination project without voter approval.” There’s more to learn about this so stay tuned, but in the meantime, feel free to peruse all the information found on votescount.com, too. You can also catch up on some of the desalination fodder on our website. We have a number of articles there reporting on the matter, particularly “A Salty Vote,” which ran in February of this year, and also “The Desal Divide,” which ran last November. Stay tuned …
On to this week’s issue, which delves into another community matter, specifically Community Television of Santa Cruz. In her compelling report, Entertainment Editor Jenna Brogan uncovers some of the recent challenges that the local entity is facing and looks ahead at what the future might hold.
Meanwhile, over in News, you may find some interest in Patrick Dwire’s report on a new local proposal that the City of Santa Cruz is spearheading, which would funnel about $5 million toward an online pitstop for business permitting.
Enjoy the rest of the issue, and as we head foward into what looks like a fall season that could be full of even more change, keep the faith. And by all means, don’t be afraid to have a sense of humor.
It helps. Onward ..
Greg Archer | Editor-in-Chief
Letters to the Editor
Art and Politics Unite
I find Andrew Purchin’s comments about art, art in public, the nuances of art, and art as a valid response/participation (GT 8/30) to be incredibly inspiring and challenging. Today, I will own my Self-as-Artist and commit to a creative process. Thank you, Andrew.
Eileen Cavalier
Santa Cruz
Freddy Alnas Story Inspires
I came across Geoffrey Dunn’s story on Freddy Alnas (GT 8/23) while trying to find out who Sgt. Godofredo L. Alnas was. I have a WW Il–captured, Japanese flag that was signed by him and many others in his squadron (Air Force’s 46th Fighting Squadron) while on Iwo Jima in 1945. A wonderful story and thank you for allowing me to learn more about the individual that went to war for our country.
Patrick Wilson
Petersburg, Alaska
Online Comments
On ‘Freddy Alnas’ …
Thank so much for this wonderful article! Walking into work one morning I glanced at the cover of the Good Times, and my heart lurched … the cover looked like my grandparents! My grandfather was Pinoy and my grandmother was of Spanish and Navajo descent. My grandfather lived and worked a very similar rotation between Santa Cruz and the Alaskan canneries … thank you so much for reminding me of his journey.
Lina
Wonderful feature, I look forward to reading the book! I actually looked in Logos for it until I realized that it was not published yet. Thank you for sharing your memories of Freddy with us and shedding light on Santa Cruz/California’s history, though it may not be a pretty one. It was good to read a cover story about a community of people of color too, thanks Good Times.
L. Leong, August 30, 2012
On ‘Money in Politics’ …
Interesting blend of new candidates. I wish their backgrounds would be explored more deeply than one to two marketing blurbs. I sense agendas that are not about our city. Maybe that’s the norm in a council race.
Voter Beware
On ‘A Question of Choice’ …
Charters receive a few hundred dollars less per student. They do not provide services of district schools like transportation, meals, comprehensive special ed, mental health support, counseling, enrichment, etc. that add several thousand dollars per student. Charters are exempt from many of the state and federal regulations required of district schools.
Want a fair comparison? Fund them the same, with the same requirements.
Even more fair: Give Beacon a neighborhood school in the Pajaro Valley and require them to serve the same students required of the district. Then let’s talk.
Sal
On ‘The Fate of Organics’ …
Organic farming really needs to be promoted in a big way if we want to curb down the cases of diseases like cancer and others caused by fertilizers and pesticides used in growing food conventionally.
supraorganics.com.
Clarification
The photo used in the recent article spotlighting Santa Cruz Whale Watching was taken by Tanis Gomez.
