Santa Cruz Good Times

Saturday
May 25th
Text size
  • Increase font size
  • Default font size
  • Decrease font size

From The Editor

Wednesday, 27 February 2013 10:43 Greg Archer Columns - Editors Note
 E-mail

Greg 12Plus Letters to the Editor

This is not the original Editor's Note I wrote for publication this week, which went to press early Tuesday afternoon. That note found me pondering the state of our culture after watching a frenzied Academy Awards telecast that, to me, was void of class. Except for when the women appeared, many of which—Barbra Streisand, Jennifer Hudson, Adele, Norah Jones—reminded us, that in an attention-hungry culture, less is more, grace is good and dignity still exists. (It's interesting to note that we rarely get reminded of that whenever we see a Bruce Willis or Arnold Schwarzenegger movie. Even the cast of The Avengers didn't evoke that, try as they might, when they hit the Oscar stage Sunday.)

Which brings us to the issue at hand: Once again Santa Cruz has been riddled if not rattled by violence. This week the city mourns the deaths of Detective Sgt. Loran "Butch" Baker—a 28-year-veteran on the force—and Detective Elizabeth Butler, who has been on the force for 10 years. They are the first officers in the history of the city to be killed in the line of duty. Late Tuesday evening, during a press conference, police Chief Kevin Vogel said, "Our department is in mourning. This is a horrific day."

If you are reading this then, chances are, you already know what unfolded on the afternoon of Tuesday, Feb. 26. A deadly confrontation took place at 3 p.m. at a house on the 800 block of North Branciforte Avenue in Santa Cruz. Baker and Butler were investigating (in plain clothes) a possible domestic violence. The suspect—I will go by way of Anderson Cooper and, for now, refrain from mentioning his name here—shot the officers. They were later found dead outside of the house. What happened next smacks of something you might find in the movies. Santa Cruz police set up a perimeter and, working with other agencies, secured the North Branciforte Avenue area, which is highly residential with a middle school down the block. They found the suspect nearby on Doyle Street (near Whole Foods) about a half-hour later. Gunshots ensued—many of them. The suspect was shot dead.

I have a friend and a colleague that lives on Doyle Street. She was at the police station until 12:30 a.m. that night giving a report. Apparently, she and several others with her in her apartment heard gunshots outside. She called 911. Not long after, my friend opened the door and began to carefully investigate. She encountered police who immediately told her to get back inside and lock the doors. She did. A moment later, she spotted a man running down the walkway. His dead body was still covered with a tarp on the driveway when she returned from the police station late that night.

Many citizens were affected deeply by the murder of Shannon Collins in May of 2012. Since I have been in Santa Cruz, I would say that that one incident profoundly affected the community. Santa Cruz rallied together, hoping to raise the level of awareness about local violence; hoping to heal. Just this last month, an odd string of increased crime once again found Santa Cruz, including a recent break-in where the homeowners actually fought back with the thief.

In the coming days and weeks, many of us will hear: "We must do something about violence and crime in Santa Cruz. Enough!"

I am not a lawmaker. I am not on the city council. And many readers aren't either. But I can use what is in front of me today to make some positive difference. Today, writing this is what I can do. Tomorrow, perhaps something else. We do not live in a bubble. If we are to be a real community, if we are to stand together and explore options and solutions (and even healing) we must use what we have in front of us today to do just that so that, collectively, we galvanize our broader vision of Santa Cruz … and not just settle for what we have, but to push for what we need.  

I found it absolutely mesmerizing to hear the acceptance speech of Argo screenwriter Chris Terrio, who took home an Oscar for his work on the film. He dedicated the award to Tony Mendez, the CIA agent who was the inspiration behind the film. In his acceptance speech, Terrio said that "Tony, using nothing but his creativity and his intelligence, got six people out of a very bad situation … I want to dedicate this him, and the people all over the world who use creativity and intelligence to solve problems non-violently."

Santa Cruz is a creative community. No doubt it strives for something similar. In the coming weeks, as city leaders connect more with locals within the community, we may see how some of that unfolds. In the meantime, rather than blindly saying, "the police aren't doing enough"—if this week doesn't change your opinion even slightly, then … it may be best to a) honor those who serve the community and b) work together with them. For now—for today—many good thoughts are being sent to the families of Baker and Butler.

Continue to send us your letters and we will keep this conversation in motion.

Be well. Be safe. Onward …

GREG ARCHER,
EDITOR

editor letters



A Meatless Earth Day?
Again, I demand that all meat-cooking, meat-eating and meat consumption at the annual Earth Day Festival in Santa Cruz, California be immediately terminated. Meat-eating is not an appropriate venue for an Earth Day Festival.

Vegan/vegetarianism is a central core pillar of Earth Day or any other green/environmental festival celebrated anywhere in the U.S. or throughout the world. Earth Day represents the traditional promotion of alternative, green, sustainable and ecologically appropriate values and means of living. The promulgation and consumption of a meat-based diet (however "natural") is completely antithetical to this theme. In fact, nearly 20 percent of all greenhouse gases responsible for global warming come from livestock. Read “Diet for a Hot Planet” by Anna Lappe. It’s time to feed people, not livestock! Over half of the people on our planet are malnourished because of our overconsumptive meat-based diet here in America.    

Allowing so-called "natural food" establishments and others to cook, sell and consume meat at our annual Earth Day Festival makes a complete hypocritical mockery of what an Earth Day celebration traditionally represents in our society. Willingly, or per force, this rich, arrogant, decadent, overconsumptive meat-eating and SUV, gas-guzzling lifestyle will be decisively terminated in the very near future—of this fact there is absolutely no question. Best to make the transition softly and voluntarily and learn to build an ecologically based green community here locally first so as to ease the transition.

I personally have identified "meat-eating" as the central/core problem and impediment in our culture that is preventing us from evolving into a truly environmentally sustainable and survivable green society. In fact, I have written a chapter on the issue in my online book, “Saving The Planet.”

So, let’s end the meat-eating at our annual Earth Day Festival, it does not belong here. Because this has been an ongoing conflict with this city and its organizers over the years, I again publically call for your firing and dismissal as coordinators of our annual Earth Day Festival here in Santa Cruz. It’s time the City of Santa Cruz hire a team that is both competent and in tune with the real green/eco-values of our beautiful community.

Steve Jones
Santa Cruz

editor notePhoto Contest

Bold Boardwalk Fun  There is no shortage of inventive photo ops in and around the area’s iconic amusement park. photo/Amber Rose Stoddard. Submit photos to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Include information about the photo (location, etc.) and your name within the body of the email. Photos may be cropped to fit. Winners will be notified via email.





editor goodwork




Foundation Makes an Impact
The Santa Cruz Education Foundation, which works to ensure that each of the 7,000 students at its 10 campuses—from kindergarten through high school— receive outstanding educational experiences, recently reminded us of its longstanding collaboration with Shadowbrook Restaurant. Save the date:  When you dine at the Shadowbook on Tuesday, March 12 (5-10 p.m.), the SCEFoundation will receive 30 percent from the bill. Mention SCEF. Learn more at theeddy.sceducation.org.

editor goodidea




Behold: The Santa Cruz Music Festival
Local groovers and otherwise hip cats have merged their talents to create the first-ever Santa Cruz Music Festival (SCMF 2013). The undertaking takes place, in part with GT, on July 20, 2013. The one-day fun-filled festival is expected to feature a variety of music acts, comedy, spoken word performances, and other fodder at various venues in Downtown Santa Cruz. For more information and tickets, visit santacruzmusicfestival.com. Have a “Good Idea?” Send them to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

editor quoteeditor qow




“I don't find thin girls attractive; be happy and healthy. I've never had a problem with the way I look. I'd rather have lunch with my friends than go to a gym.”
—Adele





Online Comments
On ‘Abbott Sqaure’ ...
By definition a public space belongs to everyone, not just business-friendly shoppers. Local leaders seem to want a sanitized version of the American public square. However, public spaces are meant for the community, everyone, to gather in and to utilize.
Public spaces germinated the antiwar, free speech, civil rights, women's rights, disability rights, and now poverty rights movements. It seems like civic leader wants to privatize all the public commons, making them subservient to business interests.
—John Colby

We are interested in creating a thriving space for everyone in Abbott Square. We are talking with the Homeless Services Center, the Community Counseling Center, and many others to develop a plan that makes the square a source of creativity, activity, and inspiration for diverse members of our community. I wish this article had focused on the incredible creative ideas for Abbott Square—from children, police, activists, artists—and the potential they speak to for all of us.
We are working hard to make this process as open as possible. If you or anyone wants to participate, please call me.
—Nina Simon,
Executive Director, MAH

editor policy








Comments (3)Add Comment
Vigorous debate on public safety needed
written by John Colby, March 02, 2013
Vigorous debate of public issues is fundamental to democracy dating back to our Athenian roots. We must not abdicate problem solving to civic leaders. Consensus must come after lively public debate. The tragedy of 9/11 inhibited public debate about Iraq, leading to a disastrous war. These tragic deaths should not be misused by politicians nor cause critics to abdicate their civic duties.
...
written by Andrea Kroninger, February 28, 2013
Thanks for your eloquent words. In the past few years, maybe more, working in and living in the Santa Cruz community I've gone through a myriad of feelings and reactions with the increase in violence and criminal activity in our area. I'm alternately, horrified, fearful, empowered and apathetic.

Let's make this a town that makes news for supporting our community, comes up with solutions for battling the heinous activities we've been besieged with and rises above the adversity

Together we are stronger and can make a change. Let's urge the powers that be to do the same.
...
written by Jessica Wolf, February 28, 2013
Thank you Greg Archer for the thoughtfulness of your response here to the recent violence in Santa Cruz. We are indeed a creative community, and your suggestion that we move forward toward building collective solutions (and toward healing) with a focus on non-violence is important and appreciated.

Write comment
smaller | bigger

busy
< Prev   Next >
 

Share this on your social networks

Bookmark and Share

Share this

Bookmark and Share

  • Search

    •  

    Free Angela

    Political activist and UC Santa Cruz Professor Emerita Angela Davis commands the spotlight in a riveting new documentary. PLUS:  UCSC’s Bettina Aptheker opens up about the political upheavals of the ’60s and ’70s—and today. Angela Davis is not a human being who can be easily summed up in several sentences or paragraphs—books maybe, but, even then, capturing the political activist, scholar and author in the most comprehensive light is downright complex. That’s because Davis is an undeniably unique political creature, one who should be seen and heard to be fully absorbed and downloaded. Which is what makes Free Angela and All Political Prisoners, the new documentary about Davis and the turbulent political upheavals she faced during the late-1960s and ’70s, so inviting. In it, filmmaker Shola Lynch marks the 40th anniversary of Davis’ acquittal on charges of murder, kidnapping and conspiracy with a historical vérité style of filmmaking to illuminate a side of Davis few may have seen (or can recall), and captures the events that thrust the woman into one of the most fascinating orbits of notoriety and political intrigue of the 20th century.

     

    No Big Surprises

    The highly anticipated draft Environmental Impact Report for desal is finally out. Will it change anything? When scwd2, the group pursuing the proposed joint desalination plant for the Santa Cruz Water Department and Soquel Creek Water District, set up a booth at the Santa Cruz Earth Day festival in 2012, its reception was less than warm. Signature gathering for Measure P, the “right to vote” on desal ballot measure, was in full swing, as were tensions over the controversial project, which would produce up to 2.5 million gallons per day of desalinated water and cost an estimated $100 million. What were representatives of an energy-intensive desal plant doing among the recycling and conservation booths? That was the attitude Melanie Mow Schumacher, public outreach coordinator for scwd2 (pronounced “squid squared”), remembers sensing.

     

    The Maya-Ixil Move Forward

    Local nonprofit works to educate and create opportunity for indigenous communities in Guatemala In an isolated region of the Guatemala mountains called Ixil, the indigenous Maya population was devastated by a civil war between the government and leftist guerrilla factions that spanned 1960 to 1996. During that 36-year war, the Guatemalan military eradicated entire Mayan communities. In what amounted to genocide, soldiers burned Mayan farmlands and homes, raped and tortured the people, and scattered families. By the end of the war, 200,000 Mayans had been killed, 7,000 of whom were Maya-Ixil.

     

    Public Thinking

    Watsonville teens host TEDx event Santa Cruz County is no stranger to the TED brand. TED—which stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design—talks have come to the area through independently organized events 10 times since 2011. This month, the gathering returns to the county with a new twist, thanks to the Watsonville Youth City Council. TEDxYouth@Watsonville, which will take place Sunday, May 19 at the Henry J. Mello Center for the Performing Arts in Watsonville, will feature only speakers younger than 19 years old and will traverse topics from racial stereotypes and renewable energy to traditional Mexican dance.

     

    Transoceana

    Danny Moriarty’s musical influences have been known to impact his life beyond his local rock band, Transoceana. “I went through two periods,” confesses the singer, guitarist and songwriter. “I borrowed Bono’s mullet look from the ’80s for a while, and then I dressed like I was from the ’70s and had big hair like Jimmy Page.” Bono and Page are also symbolic of Transoceana’s evolution as a band during their three years together.

     

    Cruzin’ for Inspiration

    Former resident pays homage to Santa Cruz with locally shot thesis film When he left Santa Cruz for the University of Southern California’s graduate film program in 2010, Christopher Guerrero had completed the film major at UC Santa Cruz in 2008 and worked on campus in the film and digital media department. It wasn’t until he headed south, that Guerrero began to reminisce about the coastal town. “It was really really hard when I moved to L.A., to acclimate and find friends,” he says, adding that—counter to the philosophical, conversational culture of Santa Cruz—he found nowhere in his new town where he could simply sit and talk about life with someone. “I didn’t really realize why I love [Santa Cruz] so much until it was gone.”

     

    Beck to the Future

    In celebration of Beck’s solo acoustic show at The Rio, GT explores Song Reader, the alternative rock icon’s most ambitious interactive art piece yet. Here’s an odd little paradox of the digital revolution: The more sophisticated our technology gets, the more our musical milieu begins to resemble that of a bygone era, when song ideas were passed around from musician to musician, perpetually taking on new twists. Dozens of different YouTube users might try their hand at setting somebody’s rant about cats or double rainbows to music, or you might hear the Belgian musician Gotye turning the many and varied covers of his song “Somebody That I Used to Know” into a virtual orchestra (see below).

     

    Growing Berries Without Bromide

    Researchers test a new alternative to a controversial chemical The scarecrows perched in Santa Cruz strawberry fields do little to scare away the birds, much less the insects and fungi harbored in the soil. Everything likes to eat strawberries, which makes growing them a risky business. This predicament led UC Santa Cruz professor Carol Shennan to take an unconventional approach to pest management. Nine years ago, the fatal plant disease Verticillium wilt was wiping out strawberry plants at the university farm. Chemicals hardly phase the pathogen, and Shennan saw little improvement with crop rotation, which is typically used to treat infested fields. A visiting plant pathologist from the Netherlands recommended a little-known organic technique called anaerobic soil disinfestation, and, with so few other options, Shennan decided to give it a try. 

     

    Uniting All That Has Been Separated

     

    Legal Battles Drag On

    More than a year after the 75 River St. occupation, four defendants remain embroiled in ongoing case  More than a year and a half since a group occupied the former Wells Fargo building on River Street in an act of protest, felony charges linger on for four of the original defendants and a trial may be imminent. Gabriella Ripley-Phipps, Brent Adams, Cameron Laurendeau and Franklin Alcantara were scheduled to begin trial May 13 in connection with the late 2011 protest. That trial now has been pushed back to September due to scheduling conflicts. The four face a felony charge of vandalism and a misdemeanor for trespassing.
    GTemail_tileTomorow's GTW Today.
    Sign up for Tomorrow's Good Times Today
    Upcoming arts & events

    Latest Comments

     

    The Pleasure of Süda

    Süda is a happening place. As my friend Jan and I were enjoying dinner, every table in the restaurant filled up and nearly all the outdoor seating was occupied as well. Located in the Pleasure Point area, Süda is a magnet for just about everybody hanging out in that neck of the woods.

     

    The Power of Conversation

    Local author Cecile Andrews emphasizes importance of community engagement in newest book Cecile Andrews, author of the new book “Living Room Revolution: A Handbook for Conversation, Community and the Common Good,” probably wouldn’t get along too well with Larry David’s character from HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm, known for hiding his face and avoiding communication with anyone he runs into on the street. Andrews is a longstanding part-time Santa Cruz (part-time Seattle) resident who says something that’s struck her about this town over the years is people's willingness to participate in a practice she’s dubbed the “Stop and Chat”—which is exactly what it sounds like.

     

    What do you know about Monsanto?

    Santa Cruz | Self Employed  

     

    Best of Santa Cruz County

    The 2013 Santa Cruz County Readers' Poll and Critics’ Picks It’s our biggest issue of the year, and in it, your votes—more than 6,500 of them—determined the winners of The Best of Santa Cruz County Readers’ Poll. New to the long list of local restaurants, shops and other notables that captured your interest: Best Beer Selection, Best Locally Owned Business, Best Customer Service and Best Marijuana Dispensary. In the meantime, many readers were ever so chatty online about potential new categories. Some of the suggestions that stood out: Best Teen Program and Best Web Design/Designer. But what about: Dog Park, Church, Hotel, Local Farm, Therapist (I second that!) or Sports Bar—not to be confused with Bra. Our favorite suggestion: Best Act of Kindness—one reader noted Café Gratitude and the free meals it offered to the Santa Cruz Police Department in the aftermath of recent crimes. Perhaps some of these can be woven into next year’s ballot, so stay tuned. In the meantime, enjoy the following pages and take note of our Critics’ Picks, too, beginning on page 91. A big thanks for voting—and for reading—and an even bigger congratulations to all of the winners. Enjoy.  -Greg Archer, EditorBest of Santa Cruz County Readers’ Poll INDEX | Shops | Food & Drink | Arts & Entertainment | Health & Fitness | Professionals | The Rest |

     

    Poetic Cellars

    Poetic Cellars makes the most romantic wines. With a verse or two of beautiful poetry on every label, mostly poems of love and romance, this is the perfect wine to open up over dinner with your sweetheart. I particularly love winemaker Katy Lovell’s Syrah ($28) with its voluptuous velvety textures and dark fruit flavors.

     

    The Gypsy

    French-born jazz vocalist Cyrille Aimée lives for musical freedom and improvisation Cyrille Aimée is a musical gypsy. Her sound incorporates elements of Latin American, American, Brazilian and other styles of jazz, she has recorded albums as a duet with Diego Figueiredo, she currently performs with the Surreal (same pronunciation as her first name) Band, and she is working on a new album with yet another band. As it happens, Aimée can actually blame gypsies for her love of jazz. “I grew up in Samois-sur-Seine, which is a little town in France where Django Reinhardt used to live,” she says. “Every year they have the Django Festival in his honor, and so gypsies from all parts of Europe come and honor him and play guitar. I started hanging out with the gypsies and became obsessed with their music, their way of living, their freedom. What drew me to jazz music was the freedom of it, all the improvisation, and the fact that it’s a style of music that is constantly changing.”

     

    May Day in the Alps

    When my daughter returns to Santa Cruz from her new home in Los Angeles, she comments on how quiet it is here. It was even more so during a trip to Ben Lomond, when we set out for a sample of her second favorite macaroni and cheese. Sitting at the front of the Tyrolean Inn restaurant, the green tarp with plastic windows kept out the chill as well as the noise of an occasional passing car. A new draft beer celebrating the German spring, Maibok ($6) was refreshing, served in a hefty glass stein, but specialty cocktails are unique as well.

     

    Exposed

    David Cay Johnston’s new book explains how big companies rob us blind In his late teens David Cay Johnston started to ask questions. “Why do we have these guys in uniforms with guns driving around in cars all day?” “Why is the Santa Cruz County Courthouse being built in such an unusual shape?” He wrote an article, while still living in his hometown of Santa Cruz, proving that the off-kilter courthouse building, which officials had promised would save money, actually cost more than a conventional building.

     

    What are you a total sucker for?

    A cold beer after a long bike ride, gossip, and fighting over politics. Kyle McKinley Santa Cruz | Lecturer