Opinion June 14, 2017

Read the latest letters to the editor here.

Flow On

Thank you for the excellent article on the Ebb and Flow Festival and the San Lorenzo River (GT, 5/31). Articles like this are part of what we need in order to transform the wonderful positive energy of the festival into genuine stewardship for the river. I am imagining a future where ideas like “businesses turning around to face the river” are carried out in a way that reflect our community’s understanding and deep caring for the sensitive habitats that grace the center of our town.

Michael Levy | Santa Cruz

Adults Only

Re: Zone Defense (GT, 5/31): Excellent article by Jacob Pierce. How refreshing to read about both sides of the housing story. I hope that the YIMBYs and NIMBYs can find common ground. Santa Cruz really needs housing, and neighborhoods deserve to maintain their integrity. All parties must respectfully listen to points of view other than their own, refrain from anger and name-calling, and work toward a compromise that will benefit all concerned. I sincerely hope that this issue will not be exploited for political gain by anyone. Time will tell us whether the dialogue degenerates into an emotional brawl or whether there are any “adults in the room.”

Robert deFreitas | Santa Cruz

Zero Reasons

Re: Two-part series on future housing plans for the city of Santa Cruz: Good news! If you want to live in a place with increased density, five- and six-plus story buildings blocking sunlight and dwarfing trees, doubled traffic, and parking challenges reaching deep into residential neighborhoods, you can! It’s called moving somewhere else. Fantastic urban metropolises already exist, and I see zero reasons why we have to become one to accommodate the endless stream of people trying to move here with and without jobs or money.

Veronica Garrett | Santa Cruz

Slipped Away

Re: “The Untold Story of Pete the Poet”: I am so saddened to hear about Pete. He was my teacher, my basketball coach, my confidant and my friend when I was 15. He was a very special person to me. So shy, smart and unassuming. He even babysat once or twice for my siblings and me the year my parents went out of town. After my freshman year in high school, my family moved away and we wrote letters during my first year away. I still have them. How kind he was to find the time and energy to do that. Then he moved on to other things, and I looked him up every few years when I was back in the Bay Area, but never managed to locate him. He seemed to just sort of slip away, despite the number of people who would have liked to be in contact with him. That may have been part of it—just all too much.

I had no idea about these other talents of his—poetry and music—and I’m so amazed to hear, and read, about this other Pete. He’ll always be 28 to me, patient, understanding, a bit dark, so handsome and so kind. I am glad to have finally found him now, and wish I’d had the opportunity to be friends as adults and enjoy these other talents of his. I miss him and would give anything to read more poetry of his. Thanks for sharing these lines, Steve.

Margaret Farmer Pringle | London, UK

Correction

In last week’s cover story (“Sea Changer,” GT, 6/7) misreported the name of former O’Neill CEO Dennis Judson. We regret the error.

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ROLL PLAY
Last year, the Screaming Hand exhibition at the Museum of Art and History brought skate art to the world of painters and portraits. Now at the Tannery Arts Center, Arts Council Santa Cruz County is doing the opposite—with visual artists from all backgrounds putting masterpieces on skateboards. The 23 decks are on display at Radius Gallery through July 7, when they’ll be raffled off to benefit the council, which is also hosting a “meet the artists” event from 4 to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, June 14 at the gallery.