Letters to the Editor

The Editor’s Desk

August 18, 2026

From Danny Wright’s Gravity Water systems to Santa Cruz-born Goodles, Brad Kava considers the local innovators finding smarter ways to work with energy, water and food—and asks why we aren’t doing more of it already.

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Letters to the Editor

Letters

Christina Waters’ review of Sarah Hennies’ The Grain House continues to stir strong reactions, with readers defending both the critic’s right to challenge the work and the composer’s experimental vision.

Letters

This week’s letters debate artistic freedom and Christina Waters’ scathing Cabrillo Festival review, while one longtime resident pushes back against criticism of Santa Cruz’s older generation.

The Editor’s Desk

Good Times editor Brad Kava weighs UCSC’s controversial parking hikes, questions about campus transparency and why honest criticism—even a scathing review—is essential to credible journalism.

The Editor’s Desk

Brad Kava reflects on the Grateful Dead’s thriving Santa Cruz legacy, a revealing look at who votes locally and why younger voices need more political power.

Letters

Readers debate aging in place, housing costs, generational change and who can still afford to call Santa Cruz home.

The Editor’s Desk

With Brad Kava away, Good Times welcomes DNA to the editor’s chair for a reflection on volunteer firefighters, community service and turning concern into action.

Letters

Readers weigh in on battery energy storage, controversial trail maintenance at DeLaveaga Park and the difficulty of finding doctors who accept Medicare.

LETTERS

Readers weigh in on excessive amplified music at Santa Cruz beaches and praise recent reporting on the health and safety risks of cannabis vape pens.

The Editor’s Desk

Editor Brad Kava celebrates the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music, Santa Cruz Shakespeare, previews this week’s coverage and makes the case for embracing Santa Cruz’s adventurous side.

The Editor’s Desk

Brad Kava reflects on Shakespeare’s enduring warnings about power and madness, celebrates Santa Cruz Shakespeare and highlights community efforts in Seabright.

Letters

Readers respond to Santa Cruz’s aging population, Felton Fire funding, a missing La Selva Beach corgi and the identity of the Cayuga Stage.

Letters

Readers weigh in on a revived Westside restaurant favorite, the new director of the 418 Project, Santa Cruz Guitar’s 50th anniversary and Rio del Mar public access.