Opinion October 26, 2016

Read the latest letters to the editor here.

CARRYING ON A VISION

Santa Cruz for Bernie is a democratically run organization with 2,000 members whose volunteer energy over the past year achieved a victory for Bernie Sanders in Santa Cruz County in the June primary election. If anyone can claim to be carrying on Bernie’s political vision here, we can. Now we’ve moved on to down-ballot elections as Bernie asked us to do. The current leadership of our group was elected by nearly unanimous acclamation at our August meeting attended by 250 members. Our group subsequently endorsed Drew Glover, Sandy Brown, Chris Krohn and Steve Schnaar as the Santa Cruz City Council candidates who we believe will best further the people-centered politics that Bernie advocated.

I point out these facts to dispel the suggestion in Linda Proctor’s letter of Oct. 12 that a small group of activists has hijacked our organization’s democratic process and mission. We apologize for our communication error in failing to notify Ms. Proctor that we considered her a member based on her activism for Bernie, and we would have welcomed her participation in our deliberations.

Jeffrey Smedberg | Founder, Santa Cruz for Bernie

Santa Cruz

No Sanders Platform for Santa Cruz

There is no “Sanders platform” (GT, 10/6). Bernie has not endorsed any candidate in the Santa Cruz City Council election. A small group of the senator’s supporters control the local email list that was formed for the primary election, and this faction continues to imply that Bernie is behind the Krohn slate. Such deception dishonors Bernie by falsely implying his support. I voted for Bernie in the primary, as did most of my friends. For city council, I strongly support J.M. Brown, Cynthia Mathews, Robert Singleton and Martine Watkins, who will ensure the wellbeing of all our neighborhoods.

MICHAEL FREINBERG | ACME Building Consultants | Santa Cruz

Measure D and Climate Change

Measure D, the transportation tax, has been falsely represented as helping to greatly reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Transportation accounts for half of the county’s GHG emissions. The Santa Cruz Regional Transportation Plan, of which Measure D is a part, achieves only a pathetic 3 percent decrease from 2005 GHG levels by 2035.

On Sept. 8, Governor Brown signed into law SB32, which requires the state to reduce GHG emissions to 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030. Our county’s 3 percent decrease won’t even get us back to 1990 transportation GHG levels.

Many people think that climate change is too big for them to make any personal positive impact. But if enough concerned citizens vote no on D, we can tell the politicians we want a better plan with greater greenhouse gas reductions and a real positive impact. Visit skyhighway.com/~rjs to read a full analysis of Measure D GHG claims.

Richard Stover

Santa Cruz

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VOTER GUIDE
We’re told it’s our civic duty to vote, but who’s willing to step up and make that easy for the poor or disabled? This year, Community Bridges will offer free door-to-door transportation for all community members to their polling place, courtesy of its Lift Line program. Four years ago, 54 percent of eligible voters cast their ballot, even though 84 percent were registered. People can also still sign up to vote by mail. For more information, visit votescount.com. To schedule with Lift Line, call 831-688-9663.