Santa Cruz City Council Approves License Plate Camerasย ย 

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The Santa Cruz City Council approved the police departmentโ€™s request to use grant funds to install 14 automated license plate reader (ALPR) cameras at the city limits in a 5 to 2 vote. 

City Mayor Fred Keeley and Santa Cruz Council Member Sandy Brown voted against the measure.   

According to Santa Cruz Police Chief Bernie Escalante, the data will be used to โ€œidentify stolen vehicles, locate missing children or adults and investigate individuals wanted for serious crimes.โ€ The city is applying for funds from a State Homeland Security Program Grant (SHSPG), a yearly grant that the Department of Homeland Security funds. 

Earlier this month, the council debated whether to acquire the ALPR cameras to monitor the entrances and exits of the City. The police department proposed a partnership with Flock Safety to install the cameras at key access points.

According to data Police Chief Escalante presented, one reader currently installed in the Beach Flats neighborhood has helped police locate a wanted vehicle involved in a shooting. At the Tuesday night meeting, he also pointed to a recent case where Capitolaโ€™s police department used the city of Watsonvilleโ€™s readers, which helped locate the suspect in a fatal hit-and-run

Some at the meeting spoke out against the cameras, saying they are a violation of privacy and they questioned the use of the data collected by Flock. 

โ€œThis is expanding policing through surveillance,โ€Jazz Mia said via Zoom. โ€œWhat about any subpoena or leaks of the data collected? How can SCPD really claim that this information can be protected in a world of threats to and weaknesses of cybersecurity?โ€ 

Another person raised concerns over the test community being the Beach Flats neighborhood, an area of Santa Cruz that has a high concentration of Latinx residents. 

โ€œThe poorest, brownest community in Santa Cruz was where we put our surveillance technology as a test,โ€ Richie Misler said via Zoom. โ€œSystemic racism was already on the front.โ€ 

Meanwhile, council members commended the guidelines for the cameras. At the meeting, council members requested there be an annual report on their use and effectiveness, with data on the total number of scans from the cameras, the number of arrests made and vehicles recovered as a result of the cameras.ย 

โ€œIโ€™m appreciative of all the questions and concerns about how this is used,โ€ council member Sonja Brunner said. โ€œEven though there is a photo of the vehicleโ€™sโ€ฆlicense plate, itโ€™s not even used unless it’s related to a crime or abduction…We already have cameras everywhere.โ€

Six People Were Injured In UCSC Bus Crash

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Six people were injured Tuesday night on the UC Santa Cruz campus when a bus veered off the road and slammed into a  stone column.

Authorities told the media that the six people who were injured included the driver of the bus, who suffered major injuries and was flown by helicopter to Valley Medical Center in Santa Clara. Of the five passengers on the bus that were injured, four were taken to Dominican Hospital and one was taken to Valley Medical Center.

The 8:30pm crash happened near the main entrance to the campus on Coolidge Drive between High Street and Ranch View Drive as the bus was coming down a hill toward High Street.

The bus struck a stone structure that is part of the remains of the historic Cowell Ranch building that, in earlier times, served as a lime kiln site.

A statement from the schoolโ€™s Slug Support stated the collision has caused damage to the lime kiln and there could be structural issues.

โ€œWe ask everyone to avoid the area to prevent injury,โ€ the group said. โ€œDifficult news like this can impact the entire campus community and be complex to process. The incident and cause is still under investigation.

Street Talk

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“Is there a local small business you like to support during the holidays?โ€

Ava Carney, 20, Student of computer science, Cabrillo College

โ€œToque Blanche, some people still know it as Chefworks, on Pacific.
I feel like itโ€™s the best place for a family gift because everyone is cooking.โ€
โ€” Ava โ€”


Kael Gonzalez, 19, CEO Ittacuauhtli Impacts, LLC

โ€œLos Primos Taqueria on Ocean Street is a great little place.
I also really love Go Ask Alice, the herbal apothecary and gift shop on Pacific.โ€
โ€” Kael โ€”


Anna Bullock, 22, Paralegal

โ€Botanic and Luxe, the little plant and home shop at Abbott Square.
Itโ€™s kind of new. Itโ€™s really nice and pretty affordable.โ€
โ€” Anna โ€”


from left, Nick Fisher, 56, Wildlife biologist, and Tiffen Shirey, 53, Adult Ed. Teacher

โ€œPaper Visions, they have something for everyone.
Oh, and Far West Fungi the mushroom shop!
They have growing kits, and truffle fries kits.โ€
โ€” Nick and Tiffen โ€”


Brooke Lipman, 46, Farmer, Organic Farm Inspector, Mama

โ€I would say Scotts Valley Feed.
The owners are the most down-to-earth goodhearted people.
They have an awesome gift selection like local honey and local hand-made goods.โ€
โ€” Brooke โ€”


Mose Lipman, 11, Student

โ€œPleasure Pizza! itโ€™s just kinda cozy.
And when we go to the movies during the holidays, itโ€™s right next door.โ€œ
โ€” Mose โ€”


Two Organizations Keeping Santa Cruz’s Arts Alive

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Two organizations keeping Santa Cruzโ€™s cultural community thriving that we are highlighting this week as part of Santa Cruz Gives fundraising campaign are the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History and Arts Council Santa Cruz County. The Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History has connected people to the wonders of nature for over 100 years at their Seabright Beach Location, and plans to use donations from the fundraising campaign toย 

Meanwhile, the Arts Council Santa Cruz County hopes to fund arts education and opportunities for more than 18,000 youth with its donations. 

Hear from the organizations themselves below. 

The Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History Brings Nature to Life

The Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, situated just off the sands of Seabright State Beach, has been a vital bridge between people and nature for over 100 years. The Museum highlights the regionโ€™s colorful spectrum of plant, animal, and human communities from the edge of the Pacific to the summit of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Its mission is to connect people with nature and science to inspire stewardship of the land. 

โ€œVisitors to the museum will learn about the rich and varied landscape of Santa Cruz County, from shoreline to summit, from the deep past to its Indigenous caretakers and modern stewards,โ€ said Development and Community Engagement Kiersten Elzy-Loving. โ€œThe museum hosts special exhibits two to three times a year, featuring local science illustrators, current topics in natural history, and highlights from our collection. Every trip to the museum provides visitors of all ages an opportunity to engage with hands-on exhibits and meet live animals.โ€

The museum’s founder, Laura Hecox, grew up in the Santa Cruz Lighthouse. She was driven to explore and learn about the nature around her and share it with others. At the inception of the museum, she had a hope that each person who visits the museum or participates in one of its numerous programs for the community would walk away better informed about the countyโ€™s natural world and feel inspired to care for it. 

โ€œMuseum visitors of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds making a personal nature connection benefits our entire community and is one reason museum entrance for children is always free,โ€ Elzy-Loving said.

The Museum provides free natural history and science field trips for public schools, grades K-12 throughout the school year that are curriculum complementary.ย 

โ€œWe offer many online learning options, educational kits, and other support tools for educators,โ€ Elzy-Loving said. โ€œWe also provide our Earth Stewards Project, where we work with teens from regional high schools and other nonprofits by engaging the students in service learning environmental projects outdoors throughout the county.โ€

The museum pays deep tribute to a lengthy list of volunteers. 

โ€œOur public programs and community events are only possible with their support. Our goal is to provide volunteer opportunities for a variety of schedules through several different options, including indoors and outside,โ€ Elzy-Loving said. โ€œWe invite anyone interested to contact us to learn more.โ€

The museum stays on course with 14 full-time employees, six part-time and a handful of seasonal staff members. 

โ€œItโ€™s important to include that our volunteers provide hundreds of hours during the year, supporting events, public programs, and working in the museumโ€™s Garden Learning Center, and other projects,โ€ Elzy-Loving said.

The Santa Cruz Natural History Museum has been an independent nonprofit since 2009 but depends on various fundraisers to support their lengthy list of programs and exhibits. 

โ€œIt also depends on donors’ generosity to help our programs for schools and the community thrive,โ€ Elzy-Loving said.

Fueling Santa Cruz’s Arts

Arts Council Santa Cruz Countyโ€™s (ACSCC) mission is to nurture and invest in artists, culture, and the arts. 

โ€œTogether, we’re building a stronger Santa Cruz County, where all artists have access to the resources they need to thrive; where a full range of creative expression is accessible to everyone; and the arts are recognized for their essential contributions to a healthy, vibrant, and representative community. Our community of supporters is critical to these efforts,โ€ Crystal Birns Communications Director said. 

ACSCC just completed a study on the economic impact of the arts in Santa Cruz County which illuminated how the nonprofit arts and culture are an important economic engine for the entire county. 

It also highlighted how the pandemic had an outsized impact on local arts institutions that continues to be felt. The study showed that in Santa Cruz, artists have difficulty affording to live and work in the county. 

With 21 programs advancing the arts in the community, the ACSCC is involved in arts events and creative projects year-round and across the county. Other programs include grants to artists and arts organizations, community initiatives such as Open Studios, support for the artists who live and work at the Tannery Arts Center, and our new Watsonville Center for the Arts that provides space for performing arts classes and rehearsals.

The staff at ACSCC includes the equivalent of 12 full-time positions plus about 50 part-time teaching artists. About 10 high-school teaching artists are hired through their Mariposa Arts program in Watsonville, where high school students โ€œfind their voices and discover their creative gifts through arts training that also supports the development of powerful life skills,โ€ according to the organizationโ€™s website.    

โ€œLike most nonprofits, there is always more work to do than we have the resources to support,โ€ Birns said. โ€œWe are funded through local governments and schools, state and federal grants, private foundations, and individual donors. In order to sustain and expand our work, we need our local community of donors to recognize the value that the arts bring to our region, and support the art and culture that makes Santa Cruz County such a creatively dynamic place.โ€  

Birns added that ACSCC has played a vital role in ensuring that the arts have a strong presence in school district plans in Pajaro Valley, Live Oak, and San Lorenzo Valley, which translates into more arts and music teachers funded in the schools. 

โ€œWe rallied local artists in support of Watsonvilleโ€™s new percent for the arts ordinance,” she says. โ€œAnd we are working with Santa Cruz City leaders to ensure that the arts are an important part of its development downtown.โ€

Birns further stressed the importance of the Watsonville Center for the Arts, a collective of artistic and cultural groups sharing classes with the Watsonville community.

Santa Cruz Gives is funded by the generosity of Good Times, Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz County, Community Foundation Santa Cruz County, Applewood Foundation, Joe Collins, Driscollโ€™s, Inc., Monterey Peninsula Foundation, Comcast, Santa Cruz County Bank, Wynn Capital Management, The Pajaronian, and Press Banner.

Cabrillo College’s New Wine Studies Degree

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What do climate change and cocktails have in common? 

Both are changing the wine industry.  

Deborah Parker Wong, who helped create Cabrillo Collegeโ€™s new Wine Studies Associates in Science (A.S.) degree, says that the wine industry is at a turning point. Parker Wong, who joined Cabrillo College in 2015 but who has a long history entwined with wine, spends her time delving into the wine industry in one way or another.  

From strolling with winemakers in the hills of Tuscany to giving lectures in the countryside of France to doing field research to collect data on the industryโ€™s demographics, Parker Wong is seeing in real-time how the industry is responding to changing demands: both from its consumers and as a result of the natural world. 

As part of Cabrilloโ€™s new wine degree, Parker Wong plans on exploring the innovative ways the industry is adapting to engage its new consumer base and also confront the challenging new realities that climate extremes are posing to winemakers. 

A Changingโ€”And Agingโ€”Industry 

The future of the wine industry lies in the hands of younger women of color. 

The industryโ€™s primary marketโ€”people in the baby boomer generationโ€”is shrinking, as people are nearing retirement age, the time of life when consumerism typically declines. Meanwhile, millennials and Generation Z, the newest generation to reach drinking age, are more interested in cocktails and spirits than wine

Parker Wong, during her research into the industryโ€™s consumers, found something surprising.

โ€œAll the data lined up and pointed to college-educated young women of color as the wine industryโ€™s customer, and its three to five years customer,โ€ Parker Wong says. 

The surprising part lies within the disconnect between its potential consumer base and the industry itself. Less than 1% of wineries in the United States are owned by Black people and just 14% of wineries have a woman as their head winemaker

But Parker Wong sees the changes in wine consumption as a fascinating part of the industryโ€”one that can represent an opportunity, even if at the same time posing a challenge. 

โ€œSome baggage related to wine is that itโ€™s too complicated,โ€ Parker Wong says. โ€œOr that people who sell wine and serve wine are snobby. Wine is not as casual a beverage as other types of beverages like hard seltzers or beer or whatever other choices we have now, and we have lots of choices.โ€ 

To stay relevant, Parker Wong says, the wine industry needs to adapt. 

โ€œThat is what will be taught in this program,โ€ Parker Wong says. โ€œItโ€™s all woven in, and of course, thereโ€™s a class coming up in the spring called wine business basics. It takes a really cold hard look at the three tier system of sales that exists in this country.โ€  

A Modern Wine Degree 

Staying relevant and finding innovative ways to expand its consumer base is just one aspect of the wine industry that prospective students enrolled in the new degree program can look forward to.

The new degree, which will take effect beginning in the fall of 2024, will have two companion certifications for students seeking employment in the wine industry and also for people looking to pursue interests or increase employment opportunities without earning college credits. 

The program has something for a range of people interested in wine, Parker Wong says. 

โ€œAnalytical wine tasting and the assessment of quality and style in wine are really important to me and I teach that as the foundation of my curriculum,โ€ Parker Wong says. โ€œIf you take a wine class with me you will learn wine and spirit education choice, a systematic approach to tasting. Any student who comes out of this program will be skilled at evaluating quality and style in life.โ€ 

Parker Wong played a pivotal role in shaping the wine programโ€™s trajectory. The degree and certificates were developed over a three-year period by the instructor along with an industry Advisory Board with people in the industry from across Santa Cruz County. 

The program comprises 11 major courses including basic winemaking, wine grape viticulture and world wines. Seven of those courses are transferable to the California State University (CSU) and the University of California (UC) systems. 

Overall, this course is for anyone who finds some type of pleasure in the experience of drinking wineโ€”or maybe, someone who wants to.  

โ€œWine is a source of tremendous enjoyment,โ€ Parker Wong says. โ€œThereโ€™s the sensory and the experience are part of consuming and drinking wine with friends at the table. It canโ€™t be replicated, in my opinion, by any other beverage in the world.โ€ 

Rio Del Mar Beach Pathway Controversy

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Rio Del Mar Beach homeowners are facing up to $4.7 million in fines for their continued refusal to allow public access to a 37-foot-wide, 786-foot-long beachside walkway that runs along the properties from 202-300 Beach Drive. 

The California Coastal Commission (CCC) will meet Thursday to decide whether to levy fines against Rio del Mar Beach Island Homeownersโ€™ Association, and property owners Gaurav Singh and Sonal Puri, who own the property at 200 Beach Drive.

Among the allegations by the CCC are that Sing and Puri worked with the homeowners association to impede public access to the walkway.

Most of the homes, owned by 27 homeowners, are in the upscale neighborhood and are used as vacation rentals.

During the meeting which will take place at the Dream Inn on Thursday, the commission will determine whether the property owners are willing to meet a long series of demands, including: removing walls, fences, signs, caution tape and plastic barricades put up to dissuade people from walking there. In some cases, this also includes removing additions such as patio extensions the homeowners build into the walkway.

This issue dates back to 1980, when the property owners applied for permits to build a revetment to protect the homes after storms damaged them. The commission granted the permit with the condition that public access to the walkway continue.

As the battle raged, property owners have said the walkway is their property, and claim that their privacy and safety is at risk with numerous people per day running, skateboarding and biking along the walkway.

But Santa Cruz County and state officials say the issue comes down to law which mandates public access to coastal areas. Officials say that, even if the walkway does belong to the property owners, that state law mandating coastal access supersedes that.

The situation came to a boil in 2018 when the County removed a fence that blocked public access on one end of the walkway and a brick wall that partially blocked the other. The property owners sued, and in October 2022, a Santa Cruz County Superior Court judge ruled in favor of the homeowners, and the commission said they would appeal.

When the commission meets, they can impose a lesser penalty, or, if the homeowners contest the cease and desist order, a greater one, said Coastal Commission spokeswoman Sarah Christie

โ€œThe ultimate determinations are going to be made by the commissioners themselves at the conclusion of the public hearing,โ€ she said. โ€œAll thatโ€™s out there right now is the staff recommendation.โ€

Free Will Astrology

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ARIES (March 21-April 19)
In 1849, Harriet Tubman escaped from enslavement on a plantation in Maryland. She could have enjoyed her new freedom in peace, but instead resolved to liberate others. During 13 bold forays into enemy territory, she rescued 70 enslaved people and ushered them to safety. She testified that she relied on her dreams and visions to help her carry out her heroic acts. They revealed to her the best escape routes to take, the best times to proceed, and information about how to avoid the fiendish โ€œslave catchers.โ€ In alignment with astrological omens, I invite you to be like Tubman and seek practical guidance from your dreams in the coming weeksโ€”to solve problems or seek bliss.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20)
Jack Nicholson has often played mavericks and anti-heroes in his movies. His life away from the silver screen has also been less than steady and predictable. For example, he has fathered six children with five different women. His fellow actor, Carrie Fisher, said Jack was “fun because he doesnโ€™t make sense.” A person with casual knowledge of astrology might be surprised that Nicholson is a Taurus. Your tribe isn’t typically renowned for high eccentricity. But in his natal chart, Nicholson has the brash planet Uranus near his sun in Taurus, indicating he’s quirky. Aside from that, I have known plenty of Tauruses whose commitment to being uniquely themselves makes them idiosyncratic. These themes will be in play for you during the coming weeks. (PS: Taurus musician David Byrne starred in the concert film, *Stop Making Sense*.)

GEMINI (May 21-June 20)
The platitude says that if life gives us lemons, we should make lemonade. Iโ€™ve got a variation on this theme. Consider the Neva River in northwestern Russia. It freezes every winter. During the frigid months of 1739-1740, Empress Anna Ioannovna ordered her workers to cut huge blocks of ice and use them to construct a magnificent palace on the riverbank. She filled the place with furniture and art, making it a hub of festivities celebrating Russiaโ€™s triumph over the Ottoman Empire. I bring these themes to your attention, Gemini, because I suspect that in the coming weeks, you will have substantial redemptive power. Whether you make lemonade from lemons or a palace from a frozen river is up to you.

CANCER (June 21-July 22)
โ€œIf the world were merely seductive, that would be easy,โ€ wrote Cancerian author E. B. White. โ€œIf it were merely challenging, that would be no problem. But I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world. This makes it hard to plan the day.โ€ According to my astrological analysis, your fate in recent weeks has been more challenging than seductive. You’ve been pressed to work on dilemmas and make adjustments more than you might like. But this rhythm is about to change. Up ahead, life is seductive, welcoming, and appealing. Are you prepared to drop any unconscious attachment you have to your interesting discomfort so you can smoothly make the transition to more ease?

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)
I want to prepare you for the delights of the coming days. I want to make sure you are fully alert for them and primed to appreciate them. So I give you the thoughts of Leo psychologist Carl Jung. “It is important to have a secret, a premonition of things unknown,” he said. “We must sense that we live in a mysterious worldโ€”that things happen and can be experienced that remain inexplicable; that not everything can be anticipated; that the unexpected and incredible belong in this world. Only then is life whole.”

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
Have you taken a refreshing break lately? Maybe even a soothing sabbatical? Have you treated yourself to a respite from the gritty grind? If not, please do so soon. And while you are recharging your psychic batteries, I ask you to give your fantasy life ample room to wander wildly and freely. In my astrological opinion, your imagination needs to be fed and fed with gourmet food for thought. For the sake of your soulโ€™s health, I hope you dream up fantastic, unruly, even outrageous possibilities.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
My Uncle Ned advised me, โ€œThe best gift you can compel your ego to accept is to make it your servant instead of your master.โ€ An early Buddhist teacher sounded a related theme when she told me, โ€œThe best things in life are most likely to come your way if you periodically shed all hope and practice being completely empty.โ€ The girlfriend I had when I was 23 confided, โ€œYou may get more enjoyment from the witty ways I confound you if you donโ€™t try to understand them.โ€ I offer these three ideas to you, Libra, because youโ€™re in a phase when the moral of your story is that there is no apparent moral to your storyโ€”at least until you surrender your notions of what the moral of your story is.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)
I believe you Scorpios are the zodiac sign mostly likely to benefit from being empathetic. By that I mean you have substantial power to thrive by reading other peopleโ€™s moods and feelings. You are often able to figure out angles that enable you to gather what you want while helping others to gather what they want. You are potentially a genius at doing whatโ€™s best for everyone and getting paid and rewarded for it. According to my analysis of the astrological omens, this knack of yours will soon be operating at peak levels.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)
Egyptian Pharaoh Tutankhamun died over 3,300 years ago. When his mournful entourage placed him in his tomb, the treasures they left included a pot of honey, which was meant to sweeten his travels in the afterlife. In the early 20th century, archaeologists excavated the ancient site. They dared to sample the honey, finding it as tasty and fresh as if it had just been made. Amazingly, this same longevity is a characteristic of most honey. I propose we use this as a metaphor for your life. What old resources or experiences from your past might be as pure and nurturing as they were originally? And now could they be of value now?

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)
Screenwriter John Patrick Shanley writes, “Life holds its miracles, good erupting from darkness chief among them.” I predict a comparable miracle for you, Capricorn, though I suspect it will arise out of confusion or inertia rather than darkness. My advice: Don’t be so bogged down in the muddle that you miss the signs that a great awakening is nigh. Start rehearsing how you will feel when deliverance arrives.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)
Before he reached the height of fame as a novelist, Aquarian Charles Dickens experienced financial instability. When he was 31, the situation got desperate, and he resolved to take extreme measures. For six weeks, beginning in October 1843, he obsessively worked on writing the story *A Christmas Carol*. It was published on December 19 and sold out in a few days. Within a year, 13 editions were released. Dicken’s economic worries were over. Dear Aquarius, I think the near future will be a favorable time for you, too, to take dramatic, focused action to fix a problem you’re having.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20)
Many religious people believe God can hear their prayers and intervene in worldly affairs. Other religious folks think God can hear their prayers but may not intervene. Then there are the non-religious folks who donโ€™t believe in God and think praying is useless. Wherever you might be on the spectrum, Pisces, Iโ€™m pleased to reveal that you will have extra access to support and benefaction in the coming weeksโ€”whether thatโ€™s from God, fate, nature, or other humans. So seek out blessings and assistance with alacrity. Be receptive to all potential helpers, even unlikely ones.

Homework: My new book has inspirations and prompts akin to what you read in my horoscopes: Astrology Real

Biden Asked to Reschedule Cannabis

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Last week the governors of six statesโ€”Illinois, Colorado, New Jersey, New York, Louisiana and Marylandโ€”sent a letter to President Biden asking him to reschedule cannabis to Schedule III by the end of the year, meaning there would be fewer restrictions on pot and its medical benefits would be recognized.

As is the case with so many proposed reform measures, the letter sounds like an endorsement of outright legalization, but it isnโ€™t.

Every time a new cannabis reform measure is proposed, the ludicrousness of the continued illegality of weed is brought into sharper relief. A bill that would allow banks to do business with pot companies in legal states without fear of liability? Great! But why not just legalize cannabis? A bill to allow health researchers to work directly with the plant without fear of losing federal funding? Great! But why not just legalize cannabis? A bill to allow legal pot merchants to write off expenses on their federal tax returns? Great! But why not โ€ฆ

And on and on and on.

In September, we learned that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services had made a recommendation that cannabis be re-categorized. As I noted at the time, while such a move would ostensibly be a good thing, it wouldnโ€™t even decriminalize pot, much less legalize it. Most of the problems associated with the bifurcation between federal laws and state laws would remain, even as states continue to legalize and the population overwhelmingly and increasingly favors legalization.

The six governors requesting the re-scheduling cite a poll indicating that nearly nine in 10 Americans favor legalization for recreational or medical use, and states that โ€œ[a]s governors, we might disagree about whether recreational cannabis legalization or even cannabis use is net positive, but we agree that the cannabis industry is here to stay, [that] the states have created strong regulations, and [that] supporting the state-regulated marketplace is essential for the safety of the American people.โ€

Great! But why not just legalize cannabis? The governors donโ€™t even really address the question. The letter is essentially an argument in favor of legalization but in essence, it asks that weed be kept illegal, even if somewhat less so, even if the governors โ€œdisagreeโ€ with each other over whether to legalize. As such, it amounts to a perfect encapsulation of how cannabis reform is going at the federal level: Itโ€™s a self-contradicting mess.

Things got even messier later in the week when HHS released the actual proposal and supporting documentsโ€”it previously released only a heavily redacted version that didnโ€™t even include the request for rescheduling, though that bit of news was leaked to the press. Itโ€™s 250 pages and goes on and on about all the benefits of cannabis, and all the drawbacks to maintaining its Schedule 1 status.

Every one of those benefits, and all of the ones cited by the governors, and many more, would be far more easily achieved by simply legalizing.

Toward that end, sort of, a bipartisan group of lawmakers has introduced an update of a billโ€”the Strengthening the Tenth Amendment Through Entrusting States Act (STATES)โ€”that failed in 2018 and again the next year. This one wouldnโ€™t quite legalize weed, but it would recognize legal pot in states that have legalized it, would enable interstate commerceโ€”including allowing regulated transport through non-legal statesโ€”and would order the Internal Revenue Service to allow legal cannabis companies to write off expenses. It would also retain the illegality nationwide of selling pot to anyone under 21, except for medical reasons. And it would create a framework for taxing and regulating pot. Dubbed โ€œSTATES 2.0,โ€ itโ€™s the more conservative alternative to the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act, though both bills have signatories from both parties.

Neither has much chance of passage in the near term, however, thanks mainly to Republican opposition led by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, and so weโ€™re left for now with all these disconnected attempts at reform aimed at solving a myriad of problems that would all easily be solved with one relatively simple and overwhelmingly popular action: legalization.

Sugar Bakery

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Three years ago, Ela Crawford was able to open Sugar Bakery in the Capitola Mall after she applied her unrelenting work ethic to learning the art of baking. She immigrated from Ukraine in 2014 with the goal to buy a property here for her family back home, who had lost their house because of war.

She worked long hours at several restaurants, saved her money, and eventually was able to purchase an apartment for her family. Then her wedding ceremony got canceled by the venue at the last minute in 2020, so she and her husband decided to put on their own instead.

This snafu was a blessing in disguise, as it inspired her to learn to bake so that she could help to cater other peopleโ€™s special events.

In addition to her signature macarons in flavors like pistachio raspberry and mango passion fruit, they also offer a traditional Eastern European honey cake, cupcakes, cheesecakes, cake pops and celebration cakes.

Hours are Tuesday-Sunday from 11am-5pm (until 6pm on Fri/Sat, closed Mondays).

Describe your immigration journey?

ELA CRAWFORD: At first it was very hard and simply scary to think of going to America, especially because it was just me and my twin sister at age 20. And we didnโ€™t know English and left our entire family. Even though we were scared, we saw so many opportunities in America. Itโ€™s a great country to grow and we never said โ€œnoโ€ to any job, and often worked 12-14 hours a day. Hard work will always lead to results, every job taught me something and now I have my own successful bakery.

Tell me more about the Sugar Bakery macarons?

EC: When I first was learning to bake, I Googled โ€œhardest things to bakeโ€ and macarons were at the top of the list. So, I thought that if I could perfect them, I could bake anything. I baked a batch or two a day for three months and almost 90% didnโ€™t turn out well. I would cry on the floor, but then wake up the next day and do it again. And one day, they just worked, and I knew that I had perfected my recipe. Now, macarons are the most popular item on our menu. They are perfect for large gatherings because they not only taste really good, but also display well, look expensive and are easy to grab and eat.

1855 41st Avenue Suite R10, Capitola, 831-222-0022; sugarbakeryco.com

Eat For The Earth Veg Out

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Relatively new Santa Cruz nonprofit Eat for the Earth hasnโ€™t been around all that long. But itโ€™s hoping its efforts around meat-free eating means all of us will be.

Its mission reads clearly enough: โ€œMaking it easier for people to eat more plants and less animal products to sustain all life on Earth.โ€

That finds expression with things like virtual recipe tutorials, full moon ritual yoga retreats and an Eat for the Earth Holiday Celebration. The latter happens this Sunday, Dec. 17, at The 418 Project on River Street and is free with RSVP.

Eliot Kalman will lay down the smooth keyboard jazz. A silent auction and raffle arrive at a good time for gift givers, as does an arts and crafts market. Stan Grindstaff conducts a magic act. Jane Broccolo demos her gift for animal communication.

Meanwhile planet-friendly food like mini walnut-mushroom enchiladas and sourdough-potato baguettes with roasted garlic and eggplant will circulate, naturally, and guests can learn more about E4TE programmingโ€”which includes a โ€œHow Not to Ageโ€ talk on Feb. 3 at Rio Theatre with doctor and author Michael Greger.

Eat for the Earth Executive Director Beth Love likes to build her activities around a one-two punch: inspiration and tools.

โ€œWe give people compelling information why they should move toward a plant-based diet, and then give them practical tools on how, โ€ she says. โ€œWeโ€™re passionate about helping people know eating healthy doesnโ€™t mean sacrificing flavorโ€”and that itโ€™s good for them, good for the Earth, good for all life kinds, and you can really enjoy it.โ€

eatfortheearth.org

HOLEY ROLLING

Rock N Roll Donut Bar has soft opened in the former Starbucks at 1335 Pacific Ave. Iโ€™m acquainted with the original on Cannery Row because itโ€™s a great spot to take the nieces and nephews after a Monterey Bay Aquarium adventure. The m.o. at RnR: aggressively creative and indulgent desserts like triple chocolate cookie dough doughnuts, Cookie Monster donuts and mermaid donuts with blueberry icing, โ€œbeachโ€ sprinkles, blueberry frosting and a white chocolate mermaid tail. Coming to the S.C. spot within the month will be breakfast burritos, garlic donut bites and burgers. โ€œBig, bold and beautiful donuts,โ€ owner Scott Kirkpatrick says. โ€œAnd itโ€™s an entertainment experience, not just donuts.โ€ rocknrolldonutbar.com

NEWS NUGGETS

Farmers market favorite Ashby Confections has a holiday pop-up rolling out the treats at 1306 Pacific Ave. noon-7pm Wednesday to Sundayโ€ฆPebble Beach Food & Wine has announced its lineup for the April 4-7 festival and put tickets on sale in one fell swoop. High-wattage names include Mario Castrellรณn, Graham Elliot, Elizabeth Falkner, Rogelio Garcia, Antonia Lofaso, Jeremiah Tower, Cedric Vongerichten, Roy Yamaguchi, Geoffrey Zakarian and Andrew Zimmernโ€ฆSan Juan Bautista’s Vertigo Coffee just debuted in Mountain View at Carte Blanche coffee shop inside the Shashi Hotel, where Jarad Gallagher is executive chef. Barbecue lovers will want to make a pilgrimage to his other project, The Smoke Point, also in SJB.

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Sugar Bakery

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Three years ago, Ela Crawford was able to open Sugar Bakery in the Capitola Mall after she applied her unrelenting work ethic to learning the art of baking.

Eat For The Earth Veg Out

Eat for the Earth volunteers Hilda Fernandez and her daughter April
Relatively new Santa Cruz nonprofit Eat for the Earth hasnโ€™t been around all that long. But itโ€™s hoping its efforts around meat-free eating means all of us will be. Its mission reads clearly enough: โ€œMaking it easier for people to eat more plants and less animal products to sustain all life on Earth.โ€ That finds expression with things like virtual recipe...
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