.Opinion: Oct. 28, 2020

Read the latest letters to the editor here.

Nasty Politics

My message is not about dissenting political opinions. It’s just that I have witnessed disturbing occurrences in the months since the supervisorial campaign for District 1 moved into full swing.

In front of my friend and his neighbor’s houses are “Reelect John Leopold” yard signs. A couple of folks campaigning for Manu were walking by the houses. What is very strange and a bit unnerving is these precinct walkers began taking photos of the yard signs, of the houses, and writing down addresses. Why would they do that? I’ll bet you are asking yourself the same question.

Then I saw the anti-Semitic cartoons on the Trails Now (PAC) website. Geez, really? Offensive politics are never worth the potential outcome. But they do reveal the character of the politician, even if still brand new in the political arena and in our community.

I understand some don’t like the train. But one thing is not everything. It is not social justice, homelessness, environmental awareness, addressing racial inequality, promoting education, smart on crime, funding our parks, groundwater sustainability, support for HIV/AIDS and cannabis medicine long before it was fashionable, which are just a few of the accomplishments that define the social consciousness and methodical work of John Leopold.

I can attest to the measure of consistently proven gains for our community, steeped in social and environmental justice that date back throughout John’s career. In the mid ’90s, as the newly appointed Director of Santa Cruz AIDS Project, John walked a critical line, fighting for a class of sick and dying people who wore the banner of blame, because they harbored a deadly virus. Many of these folks were LGBTQIA and already driving the medical marijuana revolution.

It was a very different time. Too many WAMM/SCAP members were dying. They needed much help as well as access to cannabis. They were fierce; they could not be bought; they would only be served and through that experience, they taught us. But at the time, these were very marginalized politics. John unfailingly, dependably listened to the people that he served, just as he does now. He gave us a room at SCAP to meet, give away medical marijuana and plan for a political transformation. Just like he listened to our heroic firefighters when they appealed for fair wages and benefits 2018. And aren’t we glad that he did?

It is important to me that my candidate embraces ethics, behavior that is worthy of the position held. This is something that I have not witnessed in the effort of Manu’s campaign and the untrue rhetoric being touted about John. It’s fine to be sorry, if you are sorry. But is that enough? When people play nasty, those they play with are just as responsible. Manu may have plenty of money behind him, but it doesn’t buy equity or integrity. Just media, TV and billboards. 

This behavior is most disconcerting. A type of political conduct that’s unbefitting, and that we aren’t used to in Santa Cruz. All the while, John Leopold refuses to stoop low, to succumb to negativity about others. I wish that were true of Manu’s campaign. But it hasn’t been as of yet. Is this sadly the new politic that Santa Cruz will embrace? I hope not. Let’s tout this message: Be kind. 

Valerie Leveroni Corral | Co-Founder and CEO WAMM Phytotherapies

 

New Ideas

I know Manu Koenig. He is a person of integrity. He’s intelligent, compassionate and has empathy for all people. There is not a prejudiced bone in his body.

Manu has the tools to be an outstanding supervisor, the most important of which is to learn and act quickly and decisively. Anyone who has sat on a successful board, be it a nonprofit, business or governmental board, knows that there are huge benefits in bringing forth new ideas. Manu will listen, but more importantly, he will question why we keep following the same slow, old policies that don’t work. He will seek out solutions to county problems by looking at successes in other localities, both nationally and worldwide, then work to make needed changes in our county.

I am voting for Manu Koenig because he represents the future of Santa Cruz County. He has run a clean campaign, focusing on the issues of homelessness, housing, transportation and post-fire safety and rebuilding. Let’s get him elected. Vote Manu!

Buzz Anderson | Santa Cruz

Things were looking a little otherworldly in this photograph of Highway 1, but no aliens showed themselves. Maybe next Halloween! Photograph by Sandy Settrini.

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SAFE SPACES

Sociologist Forrest Stuart, who graduated from UCSC with a bachelor’s degree in sociology, just won a MacArthur “Genius” grant for his work challenging assumptions about the forces that shape urban poverty and violence. Stuart, an associate professor at Stanford, has written two books, including Ballad of the Bullet: Gangs, Drill Music, and the Power of Online Infamy, which came out this year. It looks at how poor urban youth in Chicago use social media to profit from portrayals of gang violence.