Plus Letters to Good Times
The elections are Nov. 2. Vote. In our ongoing election coverage, this week be sure to turn to News and learn more about the Santa Cruz City Council candidates, and others. It doesn’t stop there, though—we have more exclusive election coverage online, specifically a guide to candidates for the following offices at: 14th and 17th congressional districts, 27th and 28th state assembly districts, fourth district county supervisor, and Watsonville and Capitola city council candidates. Visit goodtimessantacruz.com today and learn more. Check back online after Tuesday for more post-election coverage. Onward …
In between mulling over political candidates, eat. And to discover what foods and wines captured our interest this fall, peruse our seasonal Food & Wine issue. Turning heads at the moment: Cheryl Marquez of Tortilla Flats and Brad Briske at Main Street Garden & Cafe. They’re two local culinary gems we spotlight this week (page 18), along with several wineries and our hot list for pizzas, deals for under $11 and desserts. If you walk away from this issue without a clue where to find something good to savor, well, read it again. Enjoy.
Elsewhere, funny guys Cheech and Chong hit Santa Cruz and writer Damon Orion has an exclusive interview with the comedic duo whose films and live shows always generate laughs.
Beyond that, as we move into November, we also move into a season when we’re reminded about the importance of giving back. You may have already noticed several Second Harvest Food Bank food barrels around town. Find out more about what the food bank has in store this season, in terms of making sure hunger is combatted, at thefoodbank.org. Also, take note of local hero Danny Keith’s amazing drive to wipe out at hunger grindouthunger.org.
One last thing—and just in time for Halloween—Scriptease presents ST R.I.P., its very last show on Oct. 30 at the Pacific Cultural Center in Santa Cruz. See scripteaseimprov.com for more details. R.I.P. Scriptease.
More next time. See you at the voting booth—and the dinner table.
Greg Archer | Editor-in-Chief
Measuring H
I appreciate Elizabeth Limbach’s research and writing about Measure H. I don’t agree with Ms. Mathews that “the whole community is up in arms about public safety.” There are many of us who are more concerned about a quality of life that includes education and health rather than more police and all the expense that goes with that. We will have less need of more law enforcement if we focus on quality of life for all. We need to fund access to pools, Adult Education and libraries which provide positive learning activities for the whole community. Measure H seems to be about funding law enforcement, which is just treating symptoms not the causes of problems. Shouldn’t the public safety departments learn to be more efficient with reductions just as most all of us are having to do?
N. Wilson
Santa Cruz
Measuring Homelessness
Regarding the articles on homelessness, right-wing-owned Sentinel’s railing against homeless persons in Santa Cruz County is a disgraceful power-grab appealing to those seeking exclusivity and gentrification of one of the most beautiful spots on Earth only for themselves and others similarly well-heeled. The sinister secret is most right-wing so-called charities like New Life Center are run by crooks who abuse the vulnerable and needy while offering nothing independently viable for them, only the privilege to slave away as part of their organ. Those who’ve escaped have done so despite, not with or because of, institutional help. I should know, I’ve been homeless for the past year (working my tail off as a volunteer at The Homeless Services Center in the process) and seen and heard stories from persons thoroughly screwed over by everybody’s favorite “charities,” not just a few bad apples but a revolving door of draconian punishments and meagre opportunity brokered by moralist self-righteous pandering to the worst prejudices of the community whitewashed as patronizing heroism. Those who see through it all are the true majority, but rarely care to tangle with the nasty side of homeless entitlement which indeed runs rampant, leaving only those with an agenda, or crooks, to do the actual dirty work of implementing the community’s generally good intentions. Please, if you care about homelessness and Santa Cruz, inquire at The Homeless Services Center via vo********@sc*******.org or drop by 9 a.m. to noon and 1-5 p.m. Monday through Friday and ask for Volunteer Program Coordinator Megan Carlson (herself an unpaid volunteer).
N. Avilla
Best of The Online Comments
On GIs: ‘In School and War’
Very interesting and engaging article. This supports my perspective that most liberals are open-minded when it comes to respecting the choices of individuals.
Sally Montiano
I attended UCSC from 1975-1979, graduating in 1979 and immediately going off to Navy Officers Candidate School. While I was at UCSC, there were a fair number of Vietnam Vets attending on their GI Bill benefits. Most of them were quiet family men who lived in married students apartments and other than being a little bit older (late 20s instead of late teens) they were pretty much indistinguishable from other students. In fact, it was due in part to my exposure to some of these guys that I contacted the recruiting office in Santa Cruz (later San Jose for officer programs) and eventually signed up. The Navy was a great four years of my life, one that has shaped me just as much as the preceding 4 years of undergraduate education at UCSC.
Robert Valente
On ‘Kathy Griffin’
Well, if you were one of the lucky folks to see her show (Oct. 18) then you would have loved the entertainment. Kathy was solid and making fun over everyone who deserved it, and a whole lot more. She added in some Santa Cruz specific humor and shared her disgust with Meg Whitman. Overall the crowd loved it and it was a good time had by all. Bravo Kathy!
Lawrence R
