Plus Letters To the Editor
Stocks are up and economic outlooks look brighter to some people. For others, brows are still furrowed. One writer explores whether the United States is really moving forward or whether it has stalled when it comes to growth—of all kinds. Turn to page 12 and read Ted Rall’s compelling essay. Send us your thoughts to le*****@gt******.com .
Elsewhere in this week’s issue—and no doubt related—take note of our News story, which explores how the political climate in Washington, specifically the sequester, will affect Santa Cruz. On March 1, $1.2 billion in federal funding cuts went into effect. As Dan Woo writes: “Those cuts amount to 5 percent of federal contributions to all domestic programs and 7.8 percent of Department of Defense funds.” Turn to page 6 for the full report.
On the lighter side: The Beat Generation gets its just rewards this week with the opening of On The Road at The Nick. But first, moviegoers may want to venture over to the theater for a special Q&A with locals Jami Cassady Ratto and John Allen Cassady, who will discuss their father, Neal Cassady and the legacy of his influence on the Beat Generation. Turn to this week’s Film Guide (page 36) for information about the film and the Q&A.
On another, and, perhaps, very thrilling note, you may be intrigued with our latest contest. The sky’s the limit, as they say, and, in this case, it literally is. Turn to page 42 and find out how you can win an envigorating helicopter tour with Specialized Helicopters over the Bay and a jaunt to Talbott Vineyards for a wine tasting and more. Spring has sprung—and so has the fun. Good luck.
What’s left? The new episode of GTv (8 p.m. Wednesdays on Channel 27) features singing sensation Sista Monica. Check it out, or watch the full epiosde on our YouTube page.
Thanks for reading. Have a great week.
More soon …
Greg Archer | Editor-in-Chief
The Rights of Animals
Thank you for covering the chronic, very disturbing animal abuse happening under our noses at Santa Cruz Biotechnology (GT 3/14). And thank you Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) for giving a voice to these lost souls, hidden and suffering in our midst. Animal protections are lost without aggressive enforcement.
As a species, we humans are cruel, calloused and shameful. Enforcement and strengthening of the anemic animal protection laws are the only hope for other species. We do things to other life forms we would consider horrific abominations if turned on us. [How exactly are our experiments on animals different than, say, Mengele’s on imprisoned and tortured Jews? And in the process we’re often cutting our own throats, e.g., aspirin is toxic to most small animals used in testing, but thalidomide’s just peachy for them. Have we lost all sense of decency and fair play? To my mind we humans are nowhere near as smart as we think we are.
My donation, broke as I am, will be on its way to the ALDF. Its Bay Area founder is a brilliant attorney, Joyce Tischler, who helped Santa Cruz County and the SPCA in 1986 with her pro bono testimony and legal brief in support of a sweeping County animal protection ordinance. It included a then-controversial ban on the barbaric steel-jaw leghold trap, its use being fiercely defended by State Fish and Game.
All animal protections and all civil rights have been hard-won and are only effective when aggressively enforced, and abuse reported. We must demand a more humane environment for ourselves and all life forms. Santa Cruz Biotechnology cannot operate here without major, immediate and ongoing reforms. All forms of abuse are abhorrent and unacceptable. Thank you, Animal Legal Defense Fund, and Good Times, for giving the only voice to these lost souls, hidden and suffering in our midst.
Judy Cassada
Santa Cruz
A BRIGHT HOPE This rainbow over the Monterey Bay looks out at The Hook surf spot in the Pleasure Point area. photo/Danny Keith
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Still Buzzing and All That
Kudos to the organizers of the South West Regional Barista Competition, which took place at the Top of the Ritt in Downtown Santa Cruz last weekend. True, there were no local winners, but it was a kick to once again have Santa Cruz host this dynamic competition. (And the area should host more stellar events like this one.) As for the winners: Eden-Marie Abramowicz of L.A.’s Intelligentsia Coffee nabbed first place, by a point. Charles Babinski of L.A.’s G&B Coffee received second place.
Clinton Makes Headlines
Gay Pride is a few months away but Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is joining a growing number of politicos showing support for LGBT rights. Clinton announced earlier this week her support for gay marriage in an online video released by the Human Rights Campaign. In the six-minute video, she notes that gays and lesbians are “full and equal citizens and deserve the rights of citizenship. That includes marriage.” No word yet on whether Hil will appear on a float during parade festivities in June. Stay tuned …
“The moment you give up your principles, and your values, you are dead, your culture is dead, your civilization is dead. Period.”
—Oriana Fallci.
Online Comments
On ‘What We Lost With La Bahia’ …
I have very fond memories of La Bahia, back in the ’70s it was actually a resident hotel with maid service, continental breakfast, etc. My parents took the family there for a week at a time every other summer to spend at the boardwalk. It is an incredible building, probably in need of repair, but I would be very sad to hear it had been destroyed. I would love for it to be restored to its glory and re-opened as a suites/extended-stay hotel, but making it a convention center or a restaurant is probably not such a great idea.
—Nick Stefanisko
On ‘A Broken Systen’ …
Yeah, what letter writer Drew Lewis said. Add to this that a transient who allegedly took flowers from a sidewalk memorial to the slain police officers was tossed in jail with a higher bail than that for the allegedly drunken sexual harasser who shot them. Arguments for Measure H in 2010 (votescount.com/nov10/h.pdf):
“The City Council has pledged that Measure H revenues will fight crime and gangs plaguing our community… YES—Measure H is about public safety. This measure pays for eight new police officers to patrol our neighborhoods and downtown…” But the City never followed through.
—Bruce Holloway
