Opinion October 12, 2016

Read the latest letters to the editor here.

Not In Bernie’s Name

A small group of activists have claimed the name “Santa Cruz for Bernie” and are using the local Bernie email list. This does not equate with an endorsement by Bernie or by the thousands of local Bernie supporters.  

This group’s “platform” does not represent the views of most of us who supported Bernie, as we were not even included in their process.

So, when you see Bernie’s name on the campaign literature for “the brand new city council,” remember it’s just smoke and mirrors. They represent a small group.

Many local Bernie supporters are actively working for candidates who truly embrace his integrity and vision and who don’t resort to deceptive strategies to obtain votes.  

The use of Bernie’s name by a small group to advance their agenda is unethical and disrespectful to Sen. Sanders.

Linda Proctor, RN, CNM (retired)

Santa Cruz

No on Retro

Your [Local Talk] question of 8/24—how to make Santa Cruz  great again—deserved more than a one-line answer. All of them were wrong. I’ve lived in two Santa Cruzes—the ’60s, and now the Teenies. In the older Santa Cruz, the motto and mood seemed to echo a ubiquitous guru poster: “Be Here Now.” And by and large, people were. Now, people are wanting to be “there then”; to recreate it, with a little Silicon Valley thrown in. People walk the streets with gadgets, walk out of school talking on iPhones rather than face-to-face with each other, longing for a recreation of the good old days of groovy Santa Cruz, trying to “be there then.” It won’t work. Santa Cruz was great because it did not try to be. People were just “here.” The old slogan still works: “be here now.”  The “being” and the “here” are what are important. And the “now” will tell you what to be.

Tony Phillips

Aptos

Where’s the Fire?

I have the honor of working with special needs students at the Post Secondary School in Aptos. Every day, the students walk to Cabrillo College to attend their classes. Lately, I have been appalled by the drivers who speed down Soquel as if they are rushing to put out a fire.

Just in case the community has forgotten that schools are back in session, I would like to remind and implore everyone to drive as if your child was attending school there.

I would also like to suggest that Santa Cruz County install more radar speed detectors along Soquel.

The speeding cars with these newly arrived students is a disaster waiting to happen.

Anne-Marie Deborah Morton

Santa Cruz

Online Comments

Re: Santa Cruz’s 150th

Really enjoyed your article on Santa Cruz history. I belong to the Santa Cruz Parlor No. 26, Native Daughter of the West. Our Parlor was established March 17, 1888 and we are still a very active group. Our seal was created by Charles M. Madeira, an artist “who tried to depict the great beauty … of California.” This was probably done in late 1888, and I have tried to find out information on this artist. Do you know anything about him, or where I could get information?

I am the quasi-historian of our Parlor.

— Jeanne Thompson

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EASTERN INFLUENCE
For years, much of the influence in Santa Cruz has been focused on the Westside—at least on the City Council, with so many of its members living there. So, in an effort to have politicians speak to their needs, Eastsiders have now organized the first-ever East of the River City Council Candidate Forum. It will be from 5 to 7 p.m on Friday, Oct. 14. at Santa Cruz Community Church on Roxas Street.