Page 184 | Good Times

Grand Jury Raises Questions About Who Gets Affordable Homes

Local News

-

July 17, 2024

Grand Jury Raises Questions About Who Gets Affordable Homes

A report raises questions about whether the City of Santa Cruz is properly tracking who lives in “inclusionary units”—those set aside as affordable housing—within the city to make sure preference is given to Santa Cruz residents.

The timing is uncomfortable for the city as thousands of market-rate units have been approved and the supply of inclusionary units is set to expand. The City of Santa Cruz mandates that private developers set aside 20% of a project’s homes at “affordable rents.”

But nobody knows who is living in these units, according to the report done by the Santa Cruz County Civil Grand Jury, a non-subpoenaing group of citizens tasked with investigating local government.

This is a problem because there is an official, on-the-books locals preference for these homes. Under Santa Cruz municipal code, the priority for inclusionary housing is given to Santa Cruz residents and workers living here for more than one year.

“The city keeps no records, does no tracking, gathers no data, and has no evidence to determine if preference is being given to local residents and local workers when renting Inclusionary Housing units,” according to the report.

Meanwhile, Santa Cruz is the most expensive rental market in the nation for a two-bedroom apartment when adjusted to average income, according to the 2024 Out of Reach report.

There are currently 240 below-market rate inclusionary units in the city: 147 rentals and 93 owned-apartments. This is set to expand tremendously in the years to come if funding doesn’t dry up, according to the report. More than 600 inclusionary/affordable units are proposed in future development projects.

“Affordable” is a nebulous and general term. The amount one pays to rent or buy these homes is set by the “average median income” and the degree to which one makes more or less than that. The categories are “extremely-low,””very-low,” “low” (all below average) or “moderate” income.

Moderate income is defined by the state of California as 80%-120% of the average median income of the area. In recent years, the median income in Santa Cruz County has risen to around $92,950. This means someone making up to $111,550 could be eligible for affordable housing, according to the report.

Does “Moderate Income” Count as Affordable?

There is also confusion about whether the city’s ordinance covers “moderate incomes” for inclusionary housing. At stake is whether the city is obeying its own laws.

“The city has conflicting and contradictory policies on whether Inclusionary Housing applies to low, very low and extremely low income earners only, or whether moderate income earners are also eligible. The city cannot state what percentage of the city’s affordable housing is occupied by income-verified UCSC students,” the report says.

The report cites a line from the 2018 update to Measure O, the local ordinance enshrining inclusionary units, which reads, “All affordable units shall be rented or sold to extremely-low, very-low, or low income households.” However, on the city’s website it says that inclusionary units are available to “moderate income households.”

In practice the city seems to count “moderate income” as affordable, the report says. A 120-apartment building proposed at 831 Almar Ave. has nine “moderate income” units as part of its affordability requirement.

This might have more to do with the new pro-housing state regime than the city.

It should come as no surprise to readers of Good Times that all roads lead back to density bonus law, AB 1287. This is the 100% density bonus law which in this case also allows “moderate income housing” to be used as part of the base density before the building is supersized, according to a longtime local planner.

The answer to whether “moderate income” is affordable is more confusing because the city’s code defines “affordable housing units” and “inclusionary housing units” as two separate things.

“Affordable housing” is a more general term that the city’s inclusionary ordinance falls under. While “inclusionary housing” is strictly the city’s 20%, “affordable housing” applies to projects with state money or 100% affordable projects such as Pacific Station and Cedar Street Housing.

Since at least 2007, “affordable housing” has been an umbrella term that includes “moderate income housing” as defined in the city’s code but is not limited to it, according to Director of Planning Lee Butler.

So while inclusionary housing does not include “moderate income housing” definitionally, it is a type of “affordable housing” which does.

Recommendations

The report had three recommendations. First, the City of Santa Cruz should create “an ongoing-system to track” who is living in inclusionary units; second, the city should explain if “moderate income” counts for the inclusionary requirement. Also the jury recommends that the city keep track of the number of UCSC students living in inclusionary units for use in negotiations.

In response, the city said that the Economic Development and Housing Departments are preparing responses to the grand jury report for September.

Chubbs Knows Chicken

Foodie File

Andrew Steingrube

-

July 17, 2024

1

As a child, Casey Long aspired to be a chef and own her own restaurant. She made that a reality in 2021 when she and her two co-founders, Gabe and Trent, opened Chubbs Chicken Sandwiches. After studying psychology at UCSB and not knowing what to do next, Long moved to Santa Cruz eight years ago to be with her partner, himself a former fried chicken entrepreneur who encouraged her and helped the business get off the ground. Long says she, Gabe and Trent all knew fried chicken and also had good food connections in town.

Out of a “lovely hole in the wall,” they offer take-out and on-site dining on a shared patio in a building with a modern indie café feel. The menu is focused: fried chicken sandwiches, chicken tenders and Southern-style sides. The sandwiches headline, with standard and Nashville-style hot options, choice of bun, fixings and type of mayo. The vegetarian fried oyster mushroom is another favorite, and the sides are French fries, potato salad, mac-n-cheese, mashed potatoes and a mayo-based coleslaw with bright notes of vinegar. Everything on the menu is either already gluten-free, or can be made so.

To what do you attribute your success?

CASEY LONG: The community, for sure. We were mentioned in a popular local food Facebook page, promoted by a prominent local food journalist, and have had positive, organic word-of-mouth rave reviews. We try to be extremely consistent with our product, and since it’s only myself and my two business partners doing everything, we are able to do that.

How have you and your partners perfected the recipes?

Due to us being in a communal kitchen and not having to design a space, we were able to really focus on menu testing. We were lucky in that our bun maker was also using the same space, so we got to research and develop with her. And in the month prior to opening, we hunkered down and tested variations on everything we serve—the chicken, sides and sauces—to ensure each item was delicious individually as well as in harmony with each other.

Summer hours Wed.-Sat. 5-9pm; 766 Chestnut St., Santa Cruz; 831-600-6813; chubbschickensandwiches.com.

Dream Creams

Dining Reviews

Mark C. Anderson

-

July 17, 2024

0

You might look at this page and see a food and drink column, which would be fair, but incomplete.

It can also be a travel digest, a sports spotlight and—as much as anything else—a space to tell stories about heartfelt folks making greater Santa Cruz a more flavorful place.

One of those individuals is a foodie I met at Homeless Garden Project’s annual Summer Sustain Supper, which is coming up July 20 (homelessgardenproject.org), starring chef Reylon Agustin, culinary director at Big Sur’s incredible Post Ranch Inn, and UCSC Environmental Studies professor and Union of Concerned Scientists chair Anne Kapuscinski cooking and keynoting, respectively.

After we met, Pam Gharibians turned me onto some inspired taste revelations like Wild Roots’ sandwich bar and KC Cruz BBQ ribs. She also alerted me to the cool stuff her Felton-based, all-female Be Rooted Botanicals team is doing in the sphere of medicinal herbs, CBD in particular, with the mission of “highlight[ing] the healing power of plants for the benefit of people and our planet.”

Along the way BRB donates monthly to several Santa Cruz nonprofits, among them HGP and Nourishing Generations, which coaches kids on cooking healthy food (check out nourishinggenerations.org).

The BRB lineup is lengthy, and includes Good Night Magnesium for stress-and-sleep issues, Feel It Heal for skin repair, Love Lotion Highway 9 for amorous endeavors, and best-selling Molly’s Cream for top-shelf topical pain relief.

“We’re grateful that we get to make beautiful organic products that help people feel better every day,” Gharibians says.

Uplifting stuff, literally and figuratively.

More at berootedbotanicals.com.

SOUR POWER

Speaking of the Homeless Garden Project, here’s the unofficial report from the Hops ’N Barley beer festival this weekend, which directed proceeds to HGP. The people- and dog-watching was epic, starring T-shirts like “I wonder if beer thinks about me too” and “It’s a bad day to be a beer” and at least one canine in a backpack. The food and music amplified the celebratory mood—props to H&H Seafood for bringing the A+ oysters and Garcia’s for the tasty fish tacos—but the most compelling element of the affair was the strong roster of sour beer options. A few of the best included A Prick in My Razz blonde sour from Hop Dogma, Tropic Desert kettle sour from Other Brother, a Yuzu kettle sour from Gilman Brewing, and Strawberry Passion Fruit Snack session sour from Fruition Brewing—who, BTW, celebrates its fifth anniversary with collaborations, guest beers, vinyl spinning and a five-partner pop-up noon Saturday, July 27, at the taphouse (918 E. Lake Ave., Watsonville).

NOSH NOTES

As it celebrates a solid quarter century of downtown dining, Chocolate (1522 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz) has reintroduced lunch service noon-4pm Tuesday-Sunday after four years without it. Reasonably priced highlights to consider include chicken pie, warm artichoke-Dutch gouda dipping pots, spiced salmon and black bean skillets, Greek salads, and fresh fettuccine, all for around $15. chocolatesantacruz.com. …The Le Creuset Shop-in-Shop at Toque Blanche (1527 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz) celebrated its grand opening last week, mytoque.com…Costco is increasing its annual membership fees for the first time since 2017—by $5—but holding firm on its $1.50 hot dog and soda, thank Goddess…In other big box retail news, Target is no longer accepting checks, which feels like a turning point…Take it away, Dwight D. Eisenhower: “Some people wanted champagne and caviar when they should have had beer and hot dogs.”

Contact High

Stage

Christina Waters

-

July 17, 2024

0

Powered by Lin-Manuel Miranda’s music and lyrics, In the Heights opened on Broadway in 2008, winning four Tony Awards. Seven years later Miranda won the Pulitzer Prize for Hamilton. The rest is history.

The current Cabrillo Stage production of In the Heights unleashes enough energy to light up Manhattan, with the action opening in the tenements of Washington Heights, long a landing place for newcomers from Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.

Miranda delivers an unbeatable storyline—eager, hard-working immigrants celebrating family and the ache of young love, while reaching for a better life—and the Cabrillo Stage players supply the high-wattage energy.

The show delivers a contact high, thanks to the sizzling choreography, head-spinning rap delivery and incredible performances that rock Cabrillo’s Crocker Theater for two-and-a-half hours.

First off, major kudos to Music Director Michael J. McGushin, who leads his ace band through the irresistible rhythms of the Caribbean and Latin America. Terrific horns!

Heights is a gem of collaboration, from the slick dance moves choreographed by Chris “Boogy” Marcos to the righteous hip hop direction of RJ Wayne. Pumped up with seamless design and tech, there’s not an inch of flab on this Broadway-quality production. Fast as lightning, every word and song bristles with Miranda’s genius.

In true Broadway musical style, everybody on the stage has their moment, their musical confession, a solo that moves the story forward and reveals the depth of yearning for future success—the chicas who hang out and gossip at Daniela’s salon; Sonny and Usnavi, who run the neighborhood bodega; the Rosarios, who own the taxi dispatch service; and the front stoop of Abuela Claudia, where the young ones pour out their hearts.

In the Heights is above all a celebration of heritage, and some of the tightest, hottest numbers are devoted to memories of home.

It’s a hot afternoon in July when Nina Rosario (Sofia Rosas) returns from college in California, afraid to tell her parents that she has lost her scholarship. Sparks begin to fly as Nina meets her dad’s employee Benny (Trevor Miller).

Meanwhile Vanessa (Karriyma Pekary) is frantic to make the rent on her apartment, and the bodega guys fantasize about making money.

One thing leads to another and Nina’s parents find out about her college disaster, Usnavi and Vanessa connect, someone in the hood wins the lottery, and suddenly the power goes out. What a terrific excuse for throwing a DIY party—Carnaval del Barrio—that shows off more throbbing music and rising hormones.

Threaded throughout the plot—O’Henry meets West Side Story—are delicious moments of song and dance with clusters of women, the badass hip hop of the guys, and some aching solos and duets in which the past is remembered and the future blossoms.

The opening-weekend audience couldn’t get enough of Ivan Dario Vielma’s Piragua Guy, gracefully shimmying his push-cart throughout the neighborhood. What a voice! Graced with a wicked laugh and stadium-sized vocals is Melissa Martinez as salonista Daniela. The outrageous rap moves of Michael Navarro as Sonny.

The incandescent presence of Lori Rivera as Sonny’s beloved Abuela. As Vanessa, Karriyma Pekary simply can do it all. Terrific acting, timing, singing. And the perfection of Sofia Rosas’ vocals, especially in her opening number, “Breathe,” had me and half the audience in tears. Hers is a rare voice paired with heartbreaking beauty.

But the soul of In the Heights belongs to Edie Flores as Usnavi. The role of the Heights mover and shaker could have been made for Flores’ compelling abilities. Stunning rap, stunning smile, flat out dazzling performance.

Heights runs on extraordinary focus, music and moves, and Miranda’s cagey slant rhymes: “plastic cups” and “packed the cups” or “Hudson” and “floats in”—and on and on. Delicious writing. Another triumph for Cabrillo Stage, fueled by the smart direction of Estrella Esparza-Johnson.

You’ll be pushed to keep up with its racing lyrics and high-decibel delivery. Hang on for an unforgettable ride.

In the Heights runs through Aug. 4 at Cabrillo Crocker Theater, 6500 Soquel Dr., Aptos, 831-479-6154. cabrillostage.com.

Music as Memoir

Music

Sean Rusev

-

July 17, 2024

3

By Sean Rusev

Musician David Bazan, aka Pedro the Lion, is not a Santa Cruz local. Now 48, he lived here during eighth grade. Yet his recall is formidable: the enchilada sauce with the #8 at El Toro Bravo he had with his grandparents after church; surfing at Sewers.

For Bazan, Santa Cruz occupies a monolithic space in his mind: “The water and the clouds, the geography and the geology, that whole cycle of the shifting fog and then it burns off, it just felt like something was going on.”

He spoke reverently of our fair city the day after Fourth of July, on break from a tour supporting Santa Cruz—the latest in his current five-album musical memoir project—that will bring him to town this week.

Autobiography is often a balance between guarded confession and relitigation—what to share vs. what to withhold vs. why you lived the way you lived. Some things are best left under shallow topsoil, exhumed when enough time has gone by for you to understand, or for another person to understand you.

Bazan sees his memoir project—beginning with his other monoliths, Phoenix (2019) and Havasu (2022), now Santa Cruz and likely Paradise next—as something closer to therapy. “I could write three albums about each of these places easily. There’s no way to get to it all within the format that I’m working in.”

This format sprung from “a very low place,” the “longing, discomfort, bewilderment” of coming home in Phoenix while on tour in 2016, but he decided to drill down into the raw crude of his unprocessed memories to ask himself: Why did he feel this way? In the span of minutes, his self-exploratory plan bloomed from a discrete journaling exercise to a book to not just one record, but a range. He professes to cook up ambitious dream projects all the time, “but that one felt like it was going to stick, and it did.”

His primary interest is to convey sights and sensations from a child’s POV, the reverberations of places rather than interactions with people. The kid in him remembers Phoenix by “the size of the streets, how long the yellow lights are because the intersections are these massive things.” His “domain was the middle of the day” for playing in the harsh desert, but it “didn’t feel like there was much company in the climate, and in the terrain.”

Not so in Santa Cruz. “It was just pretty magic from the beginning. It felt like company.”

You can feel him aching for company throughout his new record. Even when he finds connection, it’s fleeting, because his Christian vagabond parents keep decamping to parts unknown for jobs uncertain. His main friend seems to be his headphones (fitting since he has also released music under that moniker), a Narnian wardrobe to escape unwelcoming classmates and visit worlds his folks or fellow flock forbade him to witness, but also where he could hear the first material peers wrote and recorded, and experience the ecstatic rush of creation long before the world did.

Pedro the Lion has been dogged by the slowcore descriptor since inception, but besides the funereal opener “It’ll All Work Out,” the mood and groove of Santa Cruz keeps pace with the mantra in the album closer, “Only Yesterday”: Grief is energy. It continues the full-band sheen of its predecessors, the bass here sometimes encircled by synth to plumb impossible octave depths. Bazan’s twin talents of baritone and falsetto have never been more masterful, exploding on aptly named “Little Help” into Beatles-esque harmonies when he’s poked right in his third eye by the White Album.

When I tell him I’m jealous that single “Modesto” gives that city such a barn-burner to its name, he chuckles proudly.

Why not name the record after that? Bazan wanted the listener’s experience to mirror his own.

“I had the expectation ‘We’re going to Santa Cruz.’ That was the headline. This is what’s next and this is where we’re gonna be.”

He already had family in Hollister, San Juan Bautista and Monterey, so he was convinced that proximity would drive their tent stakes deeper than usual. Instead, it was just a brief stop, and Santa Cruz follows his personal highway from ages 13-21, from dish pit drudgery to first love transcendence, and all the detours in between.

This is not his first concept record rodeo, even if it’s his first execution at this scale. “The Whole EP, the very first thing I did, Winners Never Quit, Control, are records that have links narratively between songs.” Records that have links between each other is another matter.

Was Sufjan Stevens’ promise to write an album for each of the 50 states a template? (Never mind that the whole thing was later revealed to be a brilliant PR fib.)

Shortening his name affectionately, Bazan said, “I knew Suf had made those couple of records [Michigan and Illinois], but this felt a little different, ’cause the point was very much a self-healing narrative work, which may have been what drove him for those—I don’t know. For me to reveal the masking I was doing all that time, it felt like a major challenge the way the My Struggle book series [by Karl Ove Knausgaard] kind of felt, even though I wasn’t going to go into that much depth.”

Bazan had no childhood diaries to draw from, but he did dust off old yearbooks. From those he might build exposition from “a dozen different little moments, and some had a sting to them.”

“One of the first memories that came to mind to process was from the song ‘Quietest Friend’ on Phoenix, in the fifth-grade lunchroom, me letting down a buddy for not sticking up for them when everybody was making fun of them. Anytime I think we go back and sit with those feelings, we heal them a little bit. And if we express them, write them down, or read them back later, there’s like a re-parenting that can happen.”

He’s a fairly stern parent on that song, but there’s a soft bear hug in store for his inner child on the title track of Santa Cruz as he endures his first day of school after transfering.

Long intimidated by our city’s legendary “patina of cool,” he sings of making the cardinal mistake of wearing “the stupidest backpack.” He hits that “s” hard, stretching its sibilance the way we might admonish ourselves in a mirror. He “loved it in Phoenix at the mall with my Grandma,” but this is back before the immediacy of the internet flattened American regional fashion trends, and his “neon green acid wash” affair stood out here.

The chorus experiences Santa Cruz in elemental terms, basking in our “magnetic vibrations,” but Bazan doesn’t want the potency of that culture clash line to get lost. Adults have the nasty tendency to “minimize a moment like that for the rest of your life,” but Bazan seeks to break the loop, instead “dramatizing [it] in honor of the experience of that kid. This is a big deal, and you’re not stupid for thinking this is important.”

Pedro the Lion will perform songs from Santa Cruz and his other releases at 8pm July 22, Felton Music Hall, 6275 Hwy. 9, Felton, Ages 21+, $34.50/adv, $39/door. (831) 704-7113. feltonmusichall.com.

Street Talk

Street Talk

John Koenig

-

July 16, 2024

0

Can we bring our divided country together?

I feel like there’s no immediate way—or even a feasible way—to do that. People at my school argue over minutiae and tiny little differences of opinion. Honestly, when the country unites, it’s because of some sort of terrible hardship. In that case it’s not necessarily a good thing.

— Zion Silveyra, 20, Computer Engineering Student, UCSC

A lot of economic and social factors are causing everyone to be so polarized. I feel like global tensions are super high now, contributing to U.S. tension, and it’s hard to change that. UCSC is pretty left-leaning, so I’d say there’s more arguments between left-leaning people than right vs left.

— Tori Cooper, 20, Computer Science Student, UCSC

I wish I had hope, but I feel people are too far down their rabbit holes and their news bubble and you can’t pull them out. I have friends that are not like-minded and we just don’t talk about it. We play tennis and have a book club and we’ve agreed not to talk about it. It was bad when we did.

— Marisa Oriaku (right), 59, Chemist

In the next election in 2028, I believe that both the Democratic and Republican parties should strive to find candidates that people can have faith in. This one’s done, I think, this close to the election, I don’t see how they can replace Biden and have any prayer of winning. He’s done a good job but it’s not his fault that he’s an old man. This thing with Trump will simply make his supporters more fervent.

— Steve Edlen, 72, IT Consultant

People have to really listen to other people, across the board. Everybody’s completely polarized and there’s no give. Even though I’m not a Trump supporter, I got slammed for saying I could understand why some people would vote for him. It used to be that you got a balanced picture, but now people source out the news and the opinions they want to agree with.

— Jeanne Samuels, 63, IT Consultant

I think it’s too late. The author Robert Heinlein lived here in Bonny Doon. He commented on the hallmarks of the degradation of a culture, and I see so much of it here. Having studied how democracies fail, I’m surprised we’re still going. I don’t see good times ahead for America. The government is too far divorced from the realities of the nation.

— Joyful Heart, 60, Writer/Musician

Bubbly Journey

Vine & Dine

Josie Cowden

-

July 16, 2024

0

My husband and I drove to New Mexico to visit friends a couple of years ago. We were delighted to try some of this state’s wines, of which there are many, including VARA.

Based in Albuquerque, VARA produces a huge variety of wines, including a delicious Brut Rosado “método tradicional” sparkling wine ($27), produced and bottled in New Mexico.

A delightful pink-hued color, this tongue-tingling bubbly is filled with the nuances of a French sparkler. With its abundance of tiny bubbles and aromas of raspberries, wild strawberries, hibiscus flowers and earthy green tea notes, it showcases complex flavors and comes with a fresh and crisp mouthfeel.

If you’re headed to the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta (Oct. 5-13), then stop at VARA’s centrally based tasting room to try their wines. And while there, try the VARA Silverhead Zero Dosage, made by Laurent Gruet in the méthode champenoise style—a bone-dry sparkling wine with bright acidity that is perfect for summer; and the VARA 2023 New Mexican Rosé made from 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Refosco.

VARA Wines, 315 Alameda Blvd, NE, Albuquerque, NM 87113, 508-898-6280. varawines.com.

Farm-to-Table Special

The next farm-to-table dinner at Chaminade is 6pm Friday, July 19 featuring Byington Winery. See the resort’s special offer for an overnight stay as well. Visit chaminade.com for info.

Flight at Home

ONX Wines is still doing a brisk business by mailing out tasting kits, as they did in the height of the Covid pandemic. A box of four fab mail-out wines is an opportunity to try a tasting flight without leaving the house. Try these: Indie Rosé. Field Day, Reckoning and Brash.

ONX Wines Tasting Room & Winery, 2910 Limestone Way, Paso Robles. 805-434-5607. onxwine.com onxwine.com.

Paths to Health

Wellness

Elizabeth Borelli

-

July 16, 2024

0

In Santa Cruz sempervirens are everywhere, thanks to a century-old land trust. Latin for “always living,” Sequoia sempervirens is the perfect name for the massive and mystical evergreens known as coast redwoods.

Over the past 124 years, the Santa Cruz-based Sempervirens Fund has worked to protect 36,000 critical acres of Santa Cruz Mountains redwoods, including the six square miles that make up the heart of Big Basin Redwoods State Park.

But a steward’s work is never done, especially in the age of shrinking state budgets and growing pressure from developers. So last month the fund launched the Trails Prescription Program, also known as Trails Rx.

Countless studies have shown that spending time outdoors not only improves physical health but also mental well-being, explains Dr. Suzanne Bartlett Hackenmiller, Sempervirens Fund’s wellness advisor. “From reducing stress levels to boosting immune function, the benefits of nature on health are undeniable. I’m excited to be involved in a program that has the potential to change lives and promote lasting wellness.”

Beyond promoting health and wellness, Trails Rx is designed to increase visitation to the region’s state parks by featuring easy-rated trails at accessible park destinations. The program also highlights the need for accessibility, emphasizing the importance of equitable access to parks and trails.

Trails Rx is aligned with regional ParksRx programs and features five destinations now ready to explore: Atkinson Bluff Trail, Año Nuevo State Park; Redwood Loop Trail, Big Basin Redwoods State Park; Six Bridges Trail, Butano State Park; Castle Rock Waterfall Trail, Castle Rock State Park; and Redwood Grove Loop Trail, Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park.

Hackenmiller says she modeled Trails Rx after a pilot program launched successfully at the Hartman Reserve Nature Center in Iowa. She looks forward to raising awareness for this one by reaching out to local Santa Cruz clinicians.

Ultimately the goal is to give practitioners the ability to prescribe a trail to match wellness goals, whether based on calories burned or, as Hackenmiller prefers, total metabolic benefit, a more accurate standard of measuring energy expended. Promoting the mental health benefits of time spent in the redwoods is an innovative measure to bring research-backed practices to a new audience.

In easy-to-follow fashion, trails are marked with what Hackenmiller calls “invitations,” where visitors can stop and take a seat on a bench placed to provide destination-specific guided experiences.

One might prompt visitors to sit and gaze at a waterfall, a magnificent tree or rock formation. Another might be to close their eyes, listen to the signs of nature, notice sounds immediately nearby and then shift to sounds further away in a guided mindfulness exercise. Each is specific to the individual trails in the program.

Hackenmiller, also an author of The Outdoor Adventurer’s Guide to Forest Bathing, compares these mindful moments with the practice known as forest bathing. She says, “Forest bathing is all about getting in nature, slowing down, taking it in through the senses. It’s not a hike for physical fitness; it’s not a nature identification walk. It really is just for the purpose of being in nature.”

The Sempervirens Fund considers this part of a new model of weaving together public parks, private land and sustainably managed forests into a healthy redwood ecosystem. The organization is always looking for ways to entice people to enjoy and explore these amazing and endangered trees.

Beyond the environmental benefits, redwoods offer a deep source of spiritual and physical healing. Walking among these ancient trees, one can’t help but feel a deep connection to nature and the past.

Protecting this ecosystem is not just about preserving trees; it’s about safeguarding our health, our history and our future. Redwoods remind us that everything is relational. Nothing occurs independently or separately from everything else; our realities are the result of a complex web of interactions.

Their strong, silent presence has been shown to reduce stress, lower blood pressure and improve overall mental health, offering a natural sanctuary from the craziness of life.

For details, visit sempervirens.org/trails-rx.

Inside or Out

Cannabis

Dan Mitchell

-

July 16, 2024

0

Researching cannabis has always been a major challenge, mainly due to the decades of prohibition that made financing hard to come by and often placed onerous restrictions on scientists (when it wasn’t exposing them to criminal liability).

Conditions have improved greatly in recent years as state after state has legalized weed for adult use, but there’s still a long way to go before pot gets as much scientific scrutiny as it deserves.

That’s even more true for research aimed at understanding the environmental impacts of weed. Most studies examine the health effects, both positive and negative, while, according to a new study, not even 1% of published research is focused on environmental factors.

The study got a bit of attention last week for its conclusion that growing pot indoors can emit 50 times more greenhouse gasses than outdoor cultivation does. (That “can” is doing a lot of work, it should be noted: the differences often vary wildly.) That there’s a big difference between the two should come as no surprise, given that indoor cultivation uses enormous amounts of energy for lighting and climate control.

Indoor growing is often seen as producing superior weed, but that’s not always true. A big reason so much pot is grown indoors is economic; growers are better able to manage their crops indoors.

Another factor: because pot remains illegal at the federal level, interstate transport is impossible and every state is in effect an isolated market. That will change when and if pot is legalized federally, and at that point a lot more weed will be grown outdoors. At scale, the economics will be a lot better.

The researchers, from the University of Michigan and McGill University in Montreal, also found that outdoor growing is superior when it comes to soil acidification and water pollution. The study was published in the journal Agriculture Science and Technology.

The dearth of research on weed’s environmental footprint is even more stark when it comes to comparing indoor and outdoor cultivation, the researchers found. Outdoor cultivation in particular is “critically understudied,” they concluded.

Interestingly, the research focused not on flower production, which is the usual approach, but rather on the production of the various components of cannabis, including cannabinoids like THC. Those components are the real product, after all. Comparing one flower to another is almost meaningless when the plants might contain wildly different amounts of those components.

While indoor cultivation is notoriously resource-intensive, that doesn’t mean that outdoor farming can’t be problematic. Setting aside illegal operations, where the growers often don’t care about befouling waterways with pesticides and fertilizers, even the most eco-conscious weed growers are going to have an impact on the environment.

It’s also helpful to put things in perspective: so far, anyway, the cannabis industry isn’t all that big a factor in greenhouse-gas emissions. A 2018 study found that the large cannabis industry in that state was responsible for 2% of greenhouse-gas emissions. Given the relative size of the industry, that’s far from negligible, and emissions have likely grown substantially since then.

But industries like construction, other agricultural sectors, mining, and transportation are much larger emitters. Meanwhile, the tech sector’s recent focus on digital currencies (which are “mined” using enormous amounts of computing power) and artificial intelligence have increased emissions to an astonishing degree.

There hasn’t been much political pressure to increase research into the environmental impacts of weed, but one of the most conspicuous of such efforts came from a couple anti-cannabis GOP House members in 2022.

Reps. Earl “Buddy” Carter of Georgia and Doug Lamborn of Colorado, wrote a letter to the Biden administration expressing their “serious concerns regarding the energy and resource-intensive nature of marijuana cultivation.”

So far, we’ve heard nothing from either lawmaker about their serious concerns regarding the energy- and resource-intensive nature of crypto. Or, for that matter, that of cotton or corn.

Free Will Astrology

Astrology

Rob Brezsny

-

July 16, 2024

0

ARIES March 21-April 19

Have you ever been given a Starbucks gift card but then neglected to use it? Many people fail to cash in such freebies. Believe it or not, there are also folks who buy lottery tickets that turn out to have the winning number—but they never actually claim their rewards. Don’t be like them in the coming weeks, Aries. Be aggressive about cashing in on the offers you receive, even subtle and shy offers. Don’t let invitations and opportunities go to waste. Be alert for good luck, and seize it.

TAURUS April 20-May 20

The coming weeks will be a favorable time to enhance your relationship with food. In every way you can imagine, be smart and discerning as you plan and eat your meals. Here are ideas to ponder: 1. Do you know exactly which foods are best for your unique body? 2. Are you sufficiently relaxed and emotionally present when you eat? 3. Could you upgrade your willpower to ensure you joyfully gravitate toward what’s healthiest? 4. Do you have any bad habits you could outgrow? 5. Is your approach to eating affected by problematic emotions that you could heal? 6. Are you willing to try improving things incrementally without insisting on being perfect?

GEMINI May 21-June 20

Hybridization could be a fun theme for you in the coming weeks. You’re likely to align yourself with cosmic rhythms if you explore the joys and challenges of creating amalgamations, medleys and mash-ups. Your spirit creatures will be the liger, which is a cross between a lion and a tiger, and a mule, a cross between a horse and a donkey. But please note that your spirit creatures will not be impossible hybrids like a giroose (a cross between a giraffe and a moose) or a coyadger (a cross between a coyote and a badger). It’s good to be experimental and audacious in your mixing and matching, but not lunatic delusional.

CANCER June 21-July 22

In 1986, Cancerian singer-songwriter George Michael released his song “A Different Corner.” It was a big hit. Never before in British pop music had an artist done what Michael accomplished: wrote, sang, arranged and produced the tune, and played all the instruments. I foresee the possibility of a similar proficiency in your near future, Cancerian—if you want it. Maybe you would prefer to collaborate with others in your big projects, but if you choose, you could perform minor miracles all by yourself.

LEO July 23-Aug. 22

In the Biblical allegory of Noah and the Ark, God warns Noah about an impending flood and commands him to build a giant lifeboat to save living things from extinction. Noah obeys. When the heavy rains come, he, his family and many creatures board the boat to weather the storm. After 40 days and nights of inundation, they are all safe but stranded in a newly created sea. Hoping for a sign of where they might seek sanctuary, Noah sends out a dove to reconnoiter for dry land. But it returns with no clues. A week later, Noah dispatches a second dove. It returns with an olive leaf, showing that the earth is drying out and land is nearby. Dear Leo, your adventure isn’t as dire and dramatic as Noah’s, but I’m happy to tell you it’s time for you to do the equivalent of sending two doves out to explore.

VIRGO Aug. 23-Sept. 22

According to an ancient Chinese proverb, “An ant on the move does more than a dozing ox.” I will add a corollary: An ant may be able to accomplish feats an ox can’t. For instance, I have observed an ant carrying a potato chip back to its nest, and I doubt that an ox could tote a potato chip without mangling it. Anyway, Virgo, this is my way of telling you that if you must choose between your inspiration being an ant or an ox in the coming days, choose the ant. Be meticulous, persistent and industrious rather than big, strong and rugged.

LIBRA Sept. 23-Oct. 22

“If it sounds too good to be true, it always is,” said stage magician Ricky Jay. I only partially agree with him. While I think it’s usually wise to use his formula as a fundamental principle, I suspect it won’t entirely apply to you in the coming weeks. At least one thing and possibly as many as three may sound too good to be true—but will in fact be true. So if you’re tempted to be hyper-skeptical, tamp down that attitude a bit. Open yourself to the possibilities of amazing grace and minor miracles.

SCORPIO Oct. 23-Nov. 21

What is the largest thing ever sold in human history? It was a 530-million-acre chunk of land in North America. In 1803, the French government sold it to the American government for $15 million. It stretched from what’s now Louisiana to Montana. Here’s the twist to the story: The land peddled by France and acquired by the US actually belonged to the Indigenous people who had lived there for many generations. The two nations pretended they had the right to make the transaction. I bring this to your attention, Scorpio, because the coming weeks will be an excellent time for you to make a big, important purchase or sale—as long as you have the authentic rights to do so. Make sure there are no hidden agendas or strings attached. Be thorough in your vetting.

SAGITTARIUS Nov. 22-Dec. 21

An antiques dealer named Laura Young bought a marble bust of a distinguished man at a thrift store in Austin, Texas. Later she discovered that it was over 2,000 years old and worth far more than the $35 she had paid for it. It depicted a Roman military leader named Drusus the Elder. I foresee similar themes unfolding in your life, Sagittarius. Possible variations: 1. You come into possession of something that’s more valuable than it initially appears. 2. You connect with an influence that’s weightier than it initially appears. 3. A lucky accident unfolds, bringing unexpected goodies. 4. A seemingly ordinary thing turns out to be an interesting thing in disguise.

CAPRICORN Dec. 22-Jan. 19

My childhood friend Jeanine used to say, “The best proof of friendship is when someone gives you half their candy bar. The best proof of fantastic friendship is when they give you even more than half.” And then she would hand me more than half of her Snickers bar, Milky Way or Butterfinger. In accordance with astrological omens, I invite you to give away at least half your candy to those you care for in the coming days. It’s a phase of your astrological cycle when you will benefit from offering extra special affection and rewards to the allies who provide you with so much love and support.

AQUARIUS Jan. 20-Feb. 18

If you’re a teacher, it’s a favorable time to enjoy a stint as a student—and vice versa. If you’re a healthcare worker trained in Western medicine, it’s an excellent phase to explore alternative healing practices. If you’re a scientist, I suggest you read some holy and outrageous poetry, and if you’re a sensitive, introverted mystic, get better informed about messy political issues. In other words, dear Aquarius, open a channel to parts of reality you normally ignore or neglect. Fill in the gaps in your education. Seek out surprise and awakening.

PISCES Feb. 19-March 20

Jane Brunette, a writer I admire, uses the made-up work “plurk” to refer to her favorite activity: a blend of play and work. I have always aspired to make that my core approach, too. I play at my work and work at my play. As much as possible, I have fun while I’m doing the labor-intensive tasks that earn me a living and fulfill my creative urges. And I invoke a disciplined, diligent attitude as I pursue the tasks and projects that bring me pleasure and amusement. I highly recommend you expand and refine your own ability as a plurker in the coming weeks, Pisces. (Jane Brunette is here: flamingseed.com)

Homework: What is hard but not impossible to change about your life? Newsletter.FreeWillAstrology.com

Good TimesGood Times

Good TimesGood Times

Another Moss Landing Fire

Driving Hope

World Wide Waves

Guitar Greats Gather Saturday

Street Talk

The Editor’s Desk

Heirloom Tortillas

Oracles Unleashed

Grand Jury Raises Questions About Who Gets Affordable Homes

Does “Moderate Income” Count as Affordable?

Recommendations

Chubbs Knows Chicken

Dream Creams

Contact High

Music as Memoir

By Sean Rusev

Street Talk

Bubbly Journey

Paths to Health

Inside or Out

Free Will Astrology

Grand Jury Raises Questions About Who Gets Affordable Homes

Chubbs Knows Chicken

Dream Creams

Contact High

Music as Memoir

Street Talk

Bubbly Journey

Paths to Health

Inside or Out

Free Will Astrology