Plus Letters to Good Times
Sustainability Now
Hand Over the Money, Honey
Dollar Dazed
Last week we read that several parking lots in Santa Cruz will suddenly be affecting your pocketbook—come March 1, it’s going to cost. Judging by all the comments we received online about last week’s “Pay to Park” story (see Letters), it seems, not surprisingly, that the news didn’t go over too well. Well, on some level, I suppose it makes sense. The City is always looking for ways to boost revenue. But, for some, it’s a bit headscratching. For as inventive and creative as Santa Cruz considers itself to be, I’d be curious to know what other ideas may have floated around City Council chambers. Were there any? And bless the councilmembers. I cannot think of a worse fate than to sit there and maneuver oneself through the often painstaking tasks of sifting through agendas and dilemmas and, of course, all of Santa Cruz’s more colorful personalities. (Or, not so colorful.) Oh. the patience it must require. Still, I wonder if the folks on the council are really having fun? Do they greet the day feeling invigorated and excited? Are they thrilled to serve? Does their excitement spill out into the community, creating a fascinating ripple effect of enthusiasm? Questions—I am forever asking them. (And no, I didn’t just write this after watching an episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show.) Well, I suppose we could ask these same questions of oursevles. Are we happy, excited and thrilled to be planted right where we are? Not a bad thing to ask actually.
In other news, GT’s Damon Orion experienced thrills of another kind. And after reading this week’s cover story, we wouldn’t blame some of you for parking yourself at home and exploring other rich landscapes available to you in Santa Cruz.
More soon …
Greg Archer | Editor
Letters to Good Times Editor
Dollar Dazed
Regarding “Pay to Park” (GT 2/18), I can’t believe the City of Santa Cruz! Really. Really? Three lots? Three parking lots that we must now pay to park in? Really? Really?
Ken Johnson
Santa Cruz
Hand Over the Money, Honey
It seems like it was a matter of time—Santa Cruz enforcing payment in some of its parking lots. The city of Redwood City has a similar setup, where people visiting the town have to use payment stations, just so they can park downtown and shop. I just wonder if, in the long run, Santa Cruz is really going to benefit from all this? With the way the city has been handling things—and not handling things—I would be surprised if this new thing they’re doing is going to make a difference at all? The town is bankrupt. So is the state. I’m not sure what the answer would be, but I think imposing such measures is pretty lame. Getting around downtown and working through all various pitfalls is tough enough. Now, we have to pay for it.
Janice Thompson
Santa Cruz
Sustainability Now
Regarding GT’s “Commute Solutions” article, and special stories (GT 2/4), I was inspired by much of what I read there. This area has so much rich beauty and I think it is inspiring that many locals have banded together to create a number of options, other than using the dreaded car. Personally, I am a fan of Bike-to-Work Week. I participate in that a lot and I highly recommend others do, too, especially if you live near downtown Santa Cruz, and work there, too.
Karl Lawson
Santa Cruz
