EDITOR’S NOTE
Reading over the playlists that Jennifer Otter Bickerdike created for locals in Wallace Baine’s cover story this week, I loved that she included “I Still Believe” by Tim Capello. If you didn’t waste countless hours listening to the Lost Boys soundtrack in 1987 like my friends and I did, you might think you don’t know it, but of course you do! It’s the sexy shirtless sax guy song from the movie! Oh Tim Capello, where art thou?
The point is, Bickerdike’s Santa Cruz cred is legit. Like her, I also got a lot of my music education scouring the shelves of Santa Cruz record stores, and when I could sense the tone of awe in her mention of Cymbaline Records, I could tell she is a kindred spirit. It’s no wonder that the incredible music culture of Santa Cruz in the ’80s and ’90s would produce the woman who would write a book called Why Vinyl Matters.
To go along with the Record Store Day theme (Bickerdike was the official host of RSD in the U.K.), I’ve also written a short guide for those who will be celebrating at local record stores this Saturday—hopefully it will help you get your hands on the rare release you’re looking for. Happy hunting!
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Read the latest letters to the editor here.
From Storming to Performing
Jacob Pierce’s GT article Cringe Movement (GT, 3/6) about the local council skirmish makes for painful reading, but once again, I am grateful to Pierce for shedding light on local controversies. I think there are kernels of truth in every quotation from the various sources he included.
In a previous life, I trained cross-functional corporate teams in process improvement. One of our key slides showed the stages any new team goes through: Forming, Storming, Norming, and Performing. Looks like our new council team has jumped right into Storming.
We are all sick of the blame game, and come to think of it, even “forgiveness” can be another way of saying who is right and who is wrong. It’s more important for everybody to look at their own part in the situation, asking: what did I do to cause problems, and how can I make amends by doing it differently? This is how to transition to the Norming stage.
Before the January election, the Climate Action Network drafted and encouraged the previous council to pass a Climate Emergency Mobilization Resolution. We are now hoping to work with the council—and the city staff—to re-prioritize its policies, budget, and projects to bring about the necessary reduction in carbon emissions. The new “norm” needs to include everyone focusing on the emergency facing us. If we don’t take care of our runaway climate (with its storms, floods, fires, and sea-level risings) many, many more of us are going to be homeless.
I’m glad the article ended with council members saying they are willing to move forward. Let’s move on to Performing. We have important work to get done.
Dana Bagshaw
Santa Cruz
IN THIS TOGETHER
The local homeless debacle reflects a lack of vision and leadership on the part or our elected leaders.
This is not the society we want our grandkids to grow up in. Calcutta in Central Coast California? We can do better.
It won’t disappear if you ignore it. One idea: locate a homeless center at the former location of ToysRUs.
Good Central location. Near hospitals. Easy access to downtown via Soquel or freeway, car/bus/bicycle. Maybe provide free shuttle service to public services.
Plenty of parking for RVs. If we provide a place where people can sleep in their RVs, they won’t need to conflict with the needs of residential neighborhoods.
Plenty of room for tents on asphalt instead of in rat-infested mud (Camp Ross? This is not Burma!).
Easily fenced for security.
Existing commercial buildings can be converted to provide both support services and housing.
If we as a society can provide a reasonable and safe place for people to sleep (Wake up, “Camp Ross” is neither), we will be doing a service to all residents of Santa Cruz.
Expensive? Of course. But, lacking a bold vision, we continue to kick the can down the road while conditions continue to deteriorate for all residents of Santa Cruz County.
The U.S. Census Bureau says there are 105,586 housing units in Santa Cruz County.
A property tax of one dollar a day on each of those units would generate $38 million a year, plus whatever commercial property tax might add.
Focus on the goal; addressing the problem of homelessness, a problem that increasingly negatively affects all of us. Like it or not, we are all in this together.
Paul Lawton
Ben Lomond
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GOOD IDEA
The county of Santa Cruz is inviting members of the public to a series of open houses to review draft strategies in connection with the county’s first-ever strategic plan. County officials are laying out a detailed roadmap for implementing goals. Starting Thursday night, April 11, there will be five planning and outreach events, in locations from Santa Cruz to Watsonville. Spanish translation will be available, and all ages are welcome. For more information, visit sccvision.us.
GOOD WORK
Volunteers with Santa Cruz County Greenway picked up 412 pounds of trash from the coastal rail corridor this past weekend, executive director Manu Koenig reports. On Saturday, April 6, Greenway cleaned up the portion of the corridor just east of the San Lorenzo River truss bridge, where a path improvement is under construction. The collected garbage included used syringes, broken bottles and bedding. Greenway favors removing the train tracks and building a wide bike-and-pedestrian trail, instead of planning for a rail-with-trail approach.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“Record stores can’t save your life. But they can give you a better one.”
-Nick Hornby
Thanks for reminding me of that song! I also love Cry Little Sister by G Tom Mac. That one expresses the angst taking place in the move. (That movie was my first Extra job).
“I still believe” is actually originally by a local Santa Cruz band called “The Call”. Check out the original if you liked the cover…It’s good to give press to the local SC music scene!!!