ON ENDANGERED SALSA DANCING
Dear Council Members (and aspiring Mayoral candidates),
I trust that you have reviewed the article (“The Last Dance?”) that appeared in the October 28 – November 3, 2026, edition of the Santa Cruz Good Times. The discussion centered on how, or whether, a long-standing tradition of salsa dancing on the Wharf will be able to continue. In the article, discussion of the “City’s” concerns and actions centered completely on what various staff persons on the City payroll had to say. The City employees mentioned are referred to as “city officials.” City employees are not, actually, “city officials.” Our elected Council Members, and the Mayor, are!
Having been a locally elected official for twenty years, as a member of the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors, I am sensitive to who is actually “in charge” of our public agencies. I am sensitive to the question of who is actually supposed to act for and represent “the City.” The matter discussed in the article should be the subject of Council review, investigation, discussion, and decision. PLEASE (one or more of you) take immediate action to bring this matter before the City Council, and then make the decision by a vote of the Council, after the completion of whatever investigation or research into the issues the Council deems necessary, carried out as the Council provides. Take charge, in other words. That is what voters and residents want – and deserve.
For the record, I personally urge a decision by the Council that will allow the long-term continuance of “Salsa-by-the-Sea,” year-round, at a minimal cost to participants. Whatever the Council’s ultimate decision, though, this matter should clearly be decided by the elected Members of the City Council, and the Council, not the staff, should take charge of all aspects of how this matter will be investigated and ultimately decided.
As our current president might say, “Thank you for your attention to this matter.”
Gary Patton | Santa Cruz
ON DOLORES HUERTA
California has lost a giant today. I was fortunate to know Dolores and work alongside her over the years. She was courageous and understood that progress doesn’t happen on its own. You have to organize, stand up for what you believe in, and bring people together to make change happen. That’s exactly what she did throughout her life, and she inspired countless others to do the same.
My heart goes out to her family, her friends, and the many people whose lives she touched. She made an extraordinary difference in California, and we will miss her deeply.”
John Laird | Santa Cruz
Senator John Laird represents the 17th Senate District, which includes all of Santa Cruz, San Benito, and Monterey counties, and a majority of San Luis Obispo County.
HELP LOCAL FAMILIES
Thanks to generous neighbors like you, more than 600 local families experienced the joy of the holidays last year through the Volunteer Center’s Adopt-a-Family program. Together, our community made sure children unwrapped gifts that brought joy, parents felt the comfort of community support, and families across the county shared in the true spirit of the season.
This year, the need has grown dramatically. More than 2,000 local children and teens are on the Adopt-a-Family wish list (and more on our waitlist). Each one is hopeful for a little holiday magic: a family meal, a cozy blanket, a favorite toy, or a simple sign that someone cares.
With your support, those wishes can be fulfilled. Your kindness turns hope into moments of joy and reminds families they are not alone.
ad**********@***************er.org
Christina Thurston | Director of Volunteer Engagement
