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Things to do in Santa Cruz

Things To Do This Week

GT Staff

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October 11, 2023

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THURSDAY

AMERICANA

BART BUDWIG

The term “Americana” is awful because it encompasses so much but says so little. It’s the easy way out. The lazy man’s description. But when it comes to Bart Budwig, it’s hard to call him anything but Americana because his music hits every end of that vast spectrum. It’s part Steve Earle, part Justin Townes Van Zandt and mixed with some John Prine and Bruce Springsteen. His latest album, 2020’s Another Burn on the Astroturf has the soul of a rock album, the sunbaked dirt of a country album and the voice of a roadhouse jukebox. MAT WEIR

INFO: 8pm, The Crepe Place, 1134 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. $10. 429-6994.

FRIDAY

ART

FESTIVAL OF MONSTERS

Monsters are awesome! And they’ve been a part of culture as long as we’ve had culture. So this week, there is a 3 day Festival of Monsters in Santa Cruz. Much of the event is a ticketed conference, but Friday’s festivities are free and open to the public. It includes Unwieldy Creatures author Addie Tsai doing a reading and conversation, a Black Nerds Create panel, a keynote from author Mallory O’Meara on the topic of the Legacy of Women in Horror, and other fun stuff like a ceremonial opening of the Festival of Monsters and really cool exhibit at MAH. AARON CARNES

INFO: 9:30am, Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History, 705 Front Street, Santa Cruz. Free. 429-1964.

JAZZ

CHAMPIAN FULTON TRIO

Twenty years into her jazz career, NYC-based vocalist/pianist Champian Fulton has long since mastered the crucial art of putting her own idiosyncratic spin on standards from the jazz canon. You can hear echoes of the singer Fulton has cited as a primary influence – Sarah Vaughan – in her richly textured, self-assured vocalizing. Earlier this year she released her 16^th album as a leader, the “live” session, Meet Me at Birdland. She was last seen locally as part of Mondays with Kuumbwa, the weekly online performance series during the pandemic. On this trip, Champian will front a trio that includes bassist Jayla Chee and drummer James Gallagher. DAN EMERSON

INFO: 7pm, Kuumbwa Jazz Center, 320 Cedar St., Santa Cruz $31.50/adv, $36.75/door. 427-2227.

EXPERIMENTAL

MARY LATTIMORE

Harp music is supposedly what the angels play, and it’s possible that Mary Lattimore is one such heavenly being, because her sound is certainly otherworldly. But her music is less lying around noshing on grapes in the clouds, and more falling through a mirror into a strange and unnerving wonderland. Her soundscapes are fully-realized explorations of various tableaus, with songs titled “Til A Mermaid Drags You Under” and “Horses, Glossy on the Hill” that evoke the precise sensations that those images suggest. Lattimore’s music is dizzying in its expansiveness, but somehow anchored by the depths it traverses. JESSICA IRISH

INFO: 8pm, Felton Music Hall, 6275 Highway 9, Felton. $21/adv, $25/door. 704-7113.

SATURDAY

FOLK

MAYA MCNEIL & BEN PEARL

Local duo Maya McNeil and Ben Pearl—who comprise The Lilac & The Apple—have prepared a selection of spooky songs to celebrate autumn. Inspired by traditional music, the pair will resurrect age-old murder ballads, ocean laments and ghost stories at the intimate mountain venue Lille Aeske Arthouse. They also promise some original tunes and have plenty to choose from with their debut album, Waiting For the Light To Change, slated to be released later this season. With earthy sensibilities, sultry tones and talk of a costume contest, McNeil and Pearl are set to deliver a show worthy of the living and the dead. ADDIE MAHMASSANI

INFO: 8pm, Lille Aeske Arthouse, 13160 Highway 9, Boulder Creek. $25/adv, $30/door. 703-4183.

POST PUNK

DEEPER

When asked about his band’s third full-length, Careful!, Nic Gohl said, “I wanted these to be interesting songs, but in a way where a two-year-old would vibe out to it.” Which is truthfully the best way to describe this Chicago quintet. Formed in 2014, their 2018 self-titled debut was described as “where Deerhunter left off” by Pitchfork. They combine post-punk melodies with modern indie rock sensibilities ala The Killers, for moody and introspective tracks that challenge anyone within earshot not to dance. MW

INFO: 9pm, Catalyst, 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $15/adv, $18/door. 713-5492.

SUNDAY

FOLK

WILLI CARLISLE

Born in the Midwest, Willi Carlisle now lives in the Ozarks, which he captures the sound of through his poetry sewn folk. The travelin’ troubadour brings a rare updated version of folk music, singing about the here and now in the same tradition of Woody Guthrie. Then there’s songs like “Vanlife” which grabs the honky tonk country sound of Hank Williams while singing about living in a van and eating at 7-11. His songs are fun–with elements of humor and touches of sadness, bringing a tried-and-true classic American style with the details of the highs and lows of modern society. He’s joined by Rachel Baiman, who’s latest album is all about American capitalism and the devastation it creates. Old Woody would approve. MW

INFO: 8pm, Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz., $15/adv, $20/door. 479-1854

MONDAY

JAZZ

SÄJE

According to NPR, säje is “taking the vocal jazz ensemble into the 21^st century.” In 2020, the supergroup received a Grammy nomination for its very first composition, the tender and pensive original, “Desert Song.” After that auspicious beginning, the all-female quartet attracted an energetic following, with fans around the world reveling in the magnificent harmonies that happen when Sara Gazarek, Amanda Taylor, Johnaye Kendrick and Erin Bentlage sing in unison. Their self-titled, self-produced debut album is as much a tribute to the power of collaboration as it is a technical feat, marshaling intricate vocals and nuanced storytelling in service of female empowerment. AM

INFO: 7pm, Kuumbwa Jazz, 320 Cedar St, Santa Cruz. $36.75/adv, $42/door. 427-2227.

TUESDAY

CLASSICAL

JESSE COOK

Jesse Cook’s Libre Tour brings rhumba rhythms from his 11^th studio album, Libre, to town this week. The composer has been exploring diverse genres through his life, studying classical and jazz guitar early on but later eschewing strict conventions to immerse himself in gypsy jazz and world music. His style has evolved into a genre reminiscent of the flamenco rumba one hears in Andalusia, but the musician has a note of warning: “If you go to Spain and you play [my] music, they’ll say, what is this? They don’t recognize it as Flamenco because it’s not, it’s a hybrid.” AM

INFO: 7:30pm, Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz. $35-$55. 423-8209.

Free Will Astrology

Astrology

Rob Brezsny

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October 11, 2023

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ARIES (March 21-April 19): The Indigenous Semai people of Malaysia have an unusual taboo. They try hard not to cause unhappiness in others. This makes them reluctant to impose their wishes on anyone. Even parents hesitate to force their children to do things. I recommend you experiment with this practice. Now is an excellent time to refine your effect on people to be as benevolent and welcoming as possible. Don’t worry—you won’t have to be this kind and sweet forever. But doing so temporarily could generate timely enhancements in your relationship life.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Taurus author Shakespeare reshaped the English language. He coined hundreds of words and revised the meanings of hundreds more. Idioms like “green-eyed monster” and “milk of human kindness” originated with him. But the Bard also created some innovations that didn’t last. “Recover the wind” appeared in Hamlet but never came into wide use. Other failures include, “Would you take eggs for money?” and “from smoke to smother.” Still, Shakespeare’s final tally of enduring neologisms is impressive. With this vignette, I’m inviting you to celebrate how many more successes than flops you have had. The time is right for realistic self-praise.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): I hope beauty will be your priority in the coming weeks. I hope you will seek out beauty, celebrate it, and commune with it adoringly. To assist your efforts, I offer five gems: 1. Whatever you love is beautiful; love comes first, beauty follows. The greater your capacity for love, the more beauty you find in the world. —Jane Smiley. 2. The world is incomprehensibly beautiful—an endless prospect of magic and wonder. —Ansel Adams. 3. A beautiful thing is never perfect. —Egyptian proverb. 4. You can make the world beautiful just by refusing to lie about it. —Iain S. Thomas. 5. Beauty isn’t a special inserted sort of thing. It is just life, pure life, life nascent, running clear and strong. —H. G. Wells.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): I read a review that described a certain movie as having “a soft, tenuous incandescence—like fog lit by the glow of fireflies.” That sounds like who you are these days, Cancerian. You’re mysterious yet luminous; hard to decipher but overflowing with life energy; fuzzy around the edges but radiating warmth and well-being. I encourage you to remain faithful to this assignment for now. It’s not a state you will inhabit forever, but it’s what’s needed and true for the foreseeable future.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): The published work of Leo author Thomas de Quincey fills 14 volumes. He inspired superstar writers like Edgar Allan Poe, Charles Baudelaire, Nikolai Gogol and Jorge Luis Borges. Yet he also ingested opium for 54 years and was often addicted. Cultural historian Mike Jay says de Quincey was not self-medicating or escaping reality, but rather keen on “exploring the hidden recesses of his mind.” He used it to dwell in states of awareness that were otherwise unattainable. I don’t encourage you to take drugs or follow de Quincey’s path, Leo. But I believe the time is right to explore the hidden recesses of your mind via other means. Like what? Working with your nightly dreams? Meditating your ass off? Having soul-altering sex with someone who wants to explore hidden recesses, too? Any others?

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Virgo journalist H.L. Mencken said, “The average person doesn’t want to be free. He wants to be safe.” There’s some truth in that, but I believe it will be irrelevant for you in the coming months. According to my analysis, you can be both safer and freer than you’ve been in a long time. I hope you take full advantage! Brainstorm about unexpected feats you might be able to accomplish during this state of grace.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Libran philosopher and writer Michel Foucalt aspired to open up his readers’ minds with novel ideas. He said his task was to make windows where there had been walls. I’d like to borrow his approach for your use in the coming weeks. It might be the most fun to demolish the walls that are subdividing your world and preventing you free and easy interchange. But I suspect that’s unrealistic. What’s more likely is partial success: creating windows in the walls.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): More and more older people are transitioning to different genders. An article in The Guardian (tinyurl.com/GenderMeaning) describes how Bethan Henshaw, a warehouse worker, transitioned to female at age 57. Ramses Underhill-Smith became a man in his 40s. With this as your starting point, I invite you to re-evaluate your personal meanings of gender. Please note I’m not implying you should change your designation. Astrological omens simply suggest that you will benefit from expanding your ideas. Here’s Scorpio singer Sophie B. Hawkins, a mother who says she is omnisexual: “My sexuality stems from an emotional connection to someone’s soul. You don’t have to make a gender choice and stick with it.”

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Sagittarian author Mark Twain said that in urgent or trying circumstances, uttering profanities “furnishes a relief denied even to prayer.” I will add that these magic words can be downright catalytic and healing—especially for you right now. Here are situations in which swearing could be therapeutic in the coming weeks: 1. when people take themselves too seriously; 2. when you need to escape feelings of powerlessness; 3. when know-it-alls are trying to limit the range of what can be said; 4. when people seem frozen or stunned and don’t know what to do next. In all these cases, well-placed expletives could provide necessary jolts to shift the stuck energy. (PS: Have fun using other surprises, ploys and twists to shake things up for a good cause.)

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): In Roman mythology, Venus was goddess of love, desire and beauty. Yet modern science tells us the planet Venus is blanketed with sulfuric acid clouds, has a surface temperature of 867 degrees Fahrenheit, and is covered with 85,000 volcanoes. Why are the two Venuses out of sync? Here’s a clue, courtesy of occultist Dion Fortune. She said the goddess Venus is often a disturbing influence in the world, diverting us from life’s serious business. I can personally attest to the ways that my affinity for love, desire and beauty have distracted me from becoming a hard-driving billionaire tech entrepreneur. But I wouldn’t have it any other way. How about you, Capricorn? I predict that the goddess version of Venus will be extra active in your life during the coming months.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Thousands of heirloom food species are privately owned and hoarded. They once belonged to Indigenous people but haven’t been grown for decades. Descendants of their original owners are trying to get them back and grow them again—a process they call rematriation—but they meet resistance from companies and governmental agencies that commandeered the seeds. There has been some progress, though. The Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin has recovered some of its ancestral corn, beans and squash. Now would be a good time for you Aquarians to launch your own version of rematriation: reclaiming what was originally yours and that truly belongs to you.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): I like Piscean poet Jane Hirshfield’s understanding of what “lies at the core of ritual.” She says it’s “the entrance into a mystery that can be touched but not possessed.” My wish for you right now, Pisces, is that you will experience mysteries that can be touched but not possessed. To do so will give you direct access to prime riddles at the heart of your destiny. You will commune with sublime conundrums that rouse deep feelings and rich insights, none of which are fully explicable by your logical mind. Please consider performing a homemade sacred ritual or two.

Homework: What burden are you too attached to? Newsletter.FreeWillAstrology.com

Street Talk

Street Talk

John Koenig

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October 11, 2023

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The Festival of Monsters comes to MAH at Abbott Square this weekend, and creepy décor is all around. As scary movies abound, we wonder, who are your most memorable monsters?

“The first monster I once thought about is the Pyro. It’s an internet thing, like a creepypasta. My favorite is probably the Wendigo—and I don’t know who the scariest monster is, there’s a lot of scary ones—too many. The scariest thing was riding the Giant Dipper at The Boardwalk.”

“I think my first monster was Frankenstein. Frankenstein is still my favorite, I like his story, and that it was written by Mary Shelley. I think the scariest are vampires in general, because of the way they prey on people.”

“I saw a vampire on the internet when I was six—just the stereotypical archetype with slicked back hair. I kinda wanted him to get me. I was like, ‘oh, this guy’s suave, like, what do you mean it’s a monster?’ Zombies are just scary to me. My favorite monster would be the Thing, from The Thing, the alien, the shapeshifter.”

“My first and still the scariest is the banshee! We listened to a radio program in second grade for Halloween, and it just terrified me. My favorite is Dracula.”

“My first monster was the werewolf—in the Twilight movies. And Creature from the Black Lagoon, that would be my favorite monster.”

“The Hand, that was creeeepy. It was in the 1950’s, black and white. And it was just this hand that you never knew where it was, and it would crawl up like a gecko and get you. It’s still the scariest. My favorite is Sully, the big, blue furry guy from Monsters, Inc”

Housing For People Initiative Heading To The Ballot

Breaking News

Josué Monroy

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October 10, 2023

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Housing For People Initiative Heading To The Ballot

The group Housing For People cleared a big hurdle this week after gaining the necessary signatures to put their initiative on the ballot for the March 2024 primary elections.

The group amassed over the target number of signatures and filed their petition with the city of Santa Cruz on Monday Oct. 9.

Frank Barron, a member of the Housing For People group and retired Santa Cruz City planner, says that the results of their petition shows significant support from city residents for their cause.

“it indicates that there’s a lot of support out there,” Barron says. Barron recalls the enthusiasm for the petition as he went door to door to gather signatures in the run up to the Oct. 9 deadline. “A lot of people [were] like ‘Hell yeah! Sign me up.”

Santa Cruz City Clerk Bonnie Bush confirmed that the group’s petition had been filed and had obtained the necessary signatures.

“The number of signatures that we counted was 6810,” Bush says.

That is 3,100 signatures over the required amount, which Bush says is 3,693.

According to their website, the Housing For People initiative has two core goals:

To increase the affordable housing allocation rate to 25% within the Santa Cruz city limits.
To grant citizens a right to vote on new developments that exceed the city’s current height limits.

According to Barron, the group’s petition began circulating about 3 months ago, giving the group only half of the allotted time to qualify their petition for next year’s ballot.

“We’re just kind of taking a breath,” Barron says when asked what’s next for his group’s campaign.

The initiative is a direct response to the development in downtown Santa Cruz, including the city’s Downtown Plan Expansion, which would redevelop 29 acres south of Laurel St. The plan would bring 1,800 units of new housing,20% of which would be required to be affordable to people with moderate, low and very low incomes. 60,000 square feet of commercial retail space, as well as a new 3,200-seat arena for the Santa Cruz Warriors basketball team, is also part of the plan.

City planners are looking to rezone for the expansion plan’s proposed development to allow for buildings up to 12 stories, about double the current zoning limits.

Santa Cruz Mayor Fred Keeley is a critic of the Housing For People initiative, saying that the group has not gotten enough public input or support. Keeley previously stated that the group’s demands were “cooked in someone’s living room.”

“[Keeley] is not going door to door and talking to a lot of individual voters. He’s probably talking to people, you know, in his circle,” Barron responds. “I don’t know what he’s basing that on.”

When Keeley was elected mayor in January 2023, he attempted to assuage concerns over building heights by amending the plan to its current 12-story limit. He also recommended a net 20% affordable unit allotment, regardless of any density bonuses that would allow developers to build to the maximum unit and height limit.

Keeley said to GT that Housing For People’s demand for a 25% affordable unit requirement was “pulled out of a hat”.

Barron counters that claim and says the 25% came from an earlier recommendation from the city’s Planning Commission regarding affordable housing allotments for new developments.

“They went through this whole process […] and then they voted to recommend that the city council adopt the exact same thing. 25% for projects that have 30 or more units and it was never brought to the city. It was somehow cut off by city staff,” Barron says.

Barron does admit that there are many residents that don’t see a problem with taller and denser buildings. But he says that the aim of their initiative is to let everyone have a say in how they want new developments to move forward.

“We’re saying ‘democracy, what’s wrong with democracy?” Barron says.

LatinXperiencia at Cabrillo Gallery

Art

John Koenig

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October 9, 2023

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Cabrillo Gallery, on the Aptos campus of Cabrillo College, has begun its groundbreaking LatinXperiencia series with an exhibition showcasing the artistic brilliance of Victor Cartagena and Enrique Chagoya. Based in San Francisco, with international exhibition experience, they are influential figures in the art world.

The duo’s entertaining, thought-provoking, and widely acclaimed artwork delves into pressing social, political, and cultural issues, with each employing a distinctive approach.

Victor Cartagena’s creations serve as a response to his many life experiences–as an immigrant, citizen, and observer. His mixed media artworks, comprised of photographic imagery, objects, videos, and paintings, intricately weave together narratives of displacement, exile, and migration. Through his art, Cartagena captures the essence of immigrant struggles and historical legacies, offering a poignant portrayal of the human condition.

In contrast, Enrique Chagoya employs humor and satire to dissect complex issues such as colonialism, xenophobia, and identity. Drawing inspiration from pop culture, pre-Columbian mythology, and political history, his prints and paintings challenge common myths and misconceptions about immigrants and indigenous cultures. With biting wit, Chagoya exposes societal biases and sheds light on the social, racial, and economic disparities rooted in these prejudices.

Cartagena, the Visual Arts Instructor and founder of the Printmaking Department at Creativity Explored, and Chagoya, a Full Professor at Stanford University’s department of Art and Art History,

This exhibition marks the inaugural installment of LatinXperiencia, a recurring series of annual exhibitions and programs dedicated to showcasing the talent of LatinX artists. Through their diverse artworks, these exhibitions aim to facilitate cross-cultural dialogues, foster interdisciplinary connections, and encourage meaningful conversations. LatinXperiencia aims to demonstrate the power of art in challenging societal norms while promoting inclusivity.

LatinXperiencia: Victor Cartagena and Enrique Chagoya

October 2 – October 27, 2023

Mon–Fri 9am–4pm
Wed and Thurs evenings 6:00-8:00pm

12×12 Call For Entries!

Cabrillo Gallery has announced the return of its highly anticipated annual event, the 12 x 12 Open Invitational, an inclusive exhibition that offers a unique opportunity for individuals to present their artistic visions through various disciplines and media.

The gallery invites artists across California to submit their work for this remarkable fundraising event.

All entries meeting the specifications of 12″ x 12″ in size (and no more than 12″ deep), as well as adhering to the rules of entry, will be accepted. This initiative ensures a level playing field and encourages participation from artists of all backgrounds.

The 12 x 12 Open Invitational serves as an invaluable fundraiser for Cabrillo Gallery. By participating in this event, every artist contributes to our gallery’s ongoing financial support.

In addition to the opportunity to showcase their artistic talent, participating artists will have the chance to vie for three awards, which will be selected through a popular vote. This engaging process invites visitors and art enthusiasts to actively engage with the exhibition and have a say in recognizing outstanding artistic achievements.

To learn more about the submission guidelines, read more and download the prospectus at the Gallery w ebpage.

Farms to open doors to the public

Local News

Todd Guild

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October 6, 2023

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Starr Linden and Andy Griffin stand on a gentle slope overlooking part of their sprawling Watsonville farm, each of them taking turns describing the process of creating the property’s centerpiece—a hand-built labyrinth of 3,000 fragrant lavender plants.

“This was a Covid project,” Griffin said proudly.

Using a tractor, string and a hand-drawn chart for guidance, the pair who own Mariquita Farm took about two years to construct the concentric circles of raised beds, all based on a 11-circuit medieval pattern.

The labyrinth has since drawn dozens of enthusiasts to the farm, including for World Labyrinth Day on May 6.

Griffin said the project was a way to fill the time after the pandemic temporarily dried up business at restaurants, which make up many of his customers.

Todd Guild/The Pajaronian Andy Griffin, left, and Starr Linden stand in a trellis built to support giant Oaxacan chayote.

But it was also a way to eschew the humdrum rows of traditional crops, he said. He adds that he hoped to give pilots flying into Watsonville Airport something beautiful to look down upon.

“We have grown herbs for a really long time, and we began branching out into doing more flowers,” he said. “A labyrinth like this is a fun way to plant the herbs, and we wanted to create an art work, a piece of earth art.”

Todd Guild/The Pajaronian Andy Griffin of Mariquita Farm holds several tomatillos de milpa.

Mariquita Farm also grows an eclectic variety of indigenous and unique fruits and vegetables, including a wild variety of tomatillo de milpa, Mongolian giant sunflowers, Oaxacan Chayote, Roman mint, corn, squash and beans.

They also grow marigolds, which are mainly used in Bay Area Buddhist and Hindu temples.

While lavender season has long since ended, visitors can see the farm during the upcoming Open Farm Tours on Oct. 7 and 8.

The Tour

Every year, a handful of farms around Santa Cruz County open their doors for two days to give a behind-the-scenes glimpse at an industry that the public normally does not see.

The Open Farms Tour, now in its 10th year, is also a chance to meet the local producers who grow the food they buy in grocery stores and at farmers’ markets, and to encourage people to get their food from local, sustainable sources.

Todd Guild/The Pajaronian The lavender labyrinth is just one sight at at Mariquita Farm.

“Increasingly, our time, energy and money are spent on fast food made by automated corporate systems instead of people, which erodes the humanity of caring for each other through food,” said organizer Penny Ellis. “The tours give our community an opportunity to learn about how our food is grown, meet their farmers and learn why a sustainable agricultural system is crucial to the health and wellness of the Earth and each other.”

This year’s tour includes 12 farms, variously specializing in apples, flowers, fruits and vegetables.

These are Esperanza Community Farms, Fruitilicious Farm, Live Earth Farm, Sea To Sky Farm, Thomas Farm, Prevedelli Farms, Terra Sole Farm, Mariquita Farm, Beeline Blooms and Dos Aguilas olive grove and Pajaro Pastures Ranch.

In addition, ALBA (Agriculture and Land-Based Training Association) in Salinas is hosting a family farm day.

Beeline Blooms grows more than 300 varieties of dahlias and will offer bouquet making sessions.

Prevedelli Farms is hosting a barbecue and offering tastings of multiple varieties of apples. Visitors can also tour Prevedelli’s vast orchards. Live Earth Farm is offering U-pick apple, pumpkin and tomatoes.

Visitors to Sea To Sky Farm can see a Taiko drum concert in their redwood grove, in addition to tours and a potato and tomato U-Pick.

Dos Aguilas is offering olive curing presentations.

•••

The annual Open Farm Tours is Oct, 7 and 8. Tickets range from $10–$20 per carload.

Mariquita Farm will host a Harvesting Culture Feast on Oct. 9 from 3-7pm, which will feature the indigenous cuisine of the region. Most of the food is grown specifically for this event.

For information and tickets, visit openfarmtours.com.

“Voices Of Pajaro” Brings South County Reality To UCSC

Breaking News

Josué Monroy

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October 5, 2023

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“Voices Of Pajaro” Brings South County Reality To UCSC

Around 2,500 students packed the Quarry Amphitheatre at U.C. Santa Cruz on the evening of Oct. 3. to hear an inspiring panel of local community leaders discuss their experiences as organizers responding to the Pajaro floods earlier this year.

“Voices of Pajaro” was organized by the Center for Reimagining Leadership. The event included musical performances by local artists and aimed to bridge the gap between the South County/Pajaro community and the student body.

The all-women panel was moderated by national organizer Ayo Banjo, a UCSC alum, and included United Way Santa Cruz CEO Keisha Browder; Esperanza Community Farms co-director Mireya Gomez-Contreras; Community Action Board executive director Maria Elena De La Garza and UCSC professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Erika Zavaleta.

Watsonville-based corrido band Linea Distinguida electrified the crowd to start off the night before the tone turned to a more somber topic.

On March 11 2023, the levee of the Pajaro River failed after weeks of torrential rains and flooded the town of Pajaro. Over 2,000 families were displaced in a community that’s predominantly made up of immigrant farmworkers. The slow response from state and federal officials to the disaster that unfolded—made more apparent in comparison to the faster response to flooding in the Santa Cruz area—left the Pajaro community to fend for itself.

To give the audience a sense of the people who were affected, a video showcasing the flood damage to homes in Pajaro and the families that resided in the community was projected on a giant screen behind the panelists. The video was shot by Mireya Gomez-Contreras, who grew up in Watsonville.

“I get very emotional because…’Fuck!’, right?” Gomez-Contreras said, explaining her feelings towards the situation as she struggled to compose herself. “That’s a little bit about who I am, I’m driven by the emotion because that shouldn’t be what’s happening.”

In the aftermath of the flood, Gomez-Contreras’ organization mobilized to provide assistance to flood victims. All panelists agreed there was an inadequate response from officials at all levels.

“There was a lack of coordinated response,” Maria Elena De La Garza said.

Many families that were evacuated only spoke Spanish and some only spoke Mixteco or other indigenous Mexican languages. De La Garza tried to convey to the audience the state of fear they felt as they were scared, confused and soaking wet.

The speakers considered systemic racism a factor contributing to the disparate emergency responses between the poorer Pajaro and the more affluent and predominantly caucasian Santa Cruz area.

While the panel talked about their experiences as leaders during a catastrophe, the message that they wanted to get across was the need for greater localized community action. A community, they said, UC Santa Cruz students also form a part of.

De La Garza encouraged students to venture into Watsonville and get to know the South County community.

“You gotta get off the hill,” De La Garza said. “I guarantee that you will be accepted with open arms because we need you. We need you when there’s a crisis and we need you when there’s not a crisis.”

As a former student at UCSC, Ayo Banjo understood how daunting it can be to get involved in a new community.

“How do we actually be community allies, especially if you’re not from this community?” Banjo asked the panel.

De La Garza told the students that everyone can contribute in their own way and find out what that “granito de arena” (grain of sand) is.

Mireya Gomez-Contreras told the students that being in a leadership role is not easy.

“It’s a double-edged sword,” she said.

But Gomez-Contreras is compelled to do the work out of an abundance of love for her community and said that is what drives her. “I can’t help it,” she said.

De La Garza felt optimistic about the incoming cohort of students and their potential contribution to the community, as well as their impact on government policy and emergency response.

“We need to make it happen and I’m expecting it to happen,” De La Garza said.

County Supervisors Approve Equity Statement

Breaking News

Todd Guild

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October 5, 2023

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County Supervisors Approve Equity Statement

Before the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously approved an equity statement, Elaine Johnson, president of Santa Cruz County’s NAACP branch, described an experience years ago that she says is “still traumatizing to this day.”

Johnson, who has lived in Santa Cruz for two decades, came out of a restaurant to find a man slashing her tires, who then called her the N-word.

“I’ve never, ever had that experience growing up in New York City,” she said. “So I ask us—I invite us—to make this change, because we all deserve to be here.”

The County’s newly approved equity statement is:

“Equity in action in Santa Cruz County is a transformative process that embraces individuals of every status, providing unwavering support, dignity, and compassion.

Through this commitment, the County ensures intentional opportunities and access, fostering an environment where everyone can thrive and belong.”

It, along with a framework of steps needed to combat systemic racism and discrimination, was forged by the Circle on Anti-Racism, Economic, and Social Justice (CARESJ), a group of dozens of county workers and community members formed three years ago when the Supervisors declared racism a public health crisis.

“In 2020, it became clear as we saw actions around the country that we needed to address the systemic issues of race, equity in our country and our county,” said former Supervisor John Leopold, who launched the original effort to create the equity framework.

At the time, Leopold said he saw disproportionate minority confinement in the County Jail, among other things.

“The idea was to try to wrestle with what we as a county could do,” he said.

Johnson said she supports the statement, but said that the community should be willing to transform it to demonstrable steps.

“I want more,” she said. “We have to show up differently in this community. We can come here and we can do the work and we can present the work that is needed to make change in this community, but everything speaks on action.”

One problem that needs to be addressed, said Viviana Rocha, who works in the County Tax Collector’s office, is that many residents are unable to receive county services because they do not speak English and cannot find translation services.

“I am passionate about helping my Latino community, who could be my abuela, my abuelo, tia, tio or primo (grandmother, grandfather, aunt, uncle or cousin) who may not understand the services we provide for this wonderful community we live in,” Rocha said.

County Principal Administrative Analyst Sven Stafford said that more than 1,000 people contributed to this statement.

“Those that participated took a risk by trusting that this process would lead to much more change than an equity statement on a website,” he said.

More than a dozen people spoke in favor of the equity statement.

“This statement embodies the ideal of inclusivity that our community holds dear, and moves us in the right direction towards addressing inequities that are impacting too many of our friends and neighbors in Santa Cruz,” said Capitola Vice-Mayor Kristen Brown.

Just two people spoke against the equity statement—neither giving their names—both implying that racism is not a problem in Santa Cruz County and one implying it is a conspiracy theory.

Artist Abi Mustapha, who co-founded SC Equity Collab and was part of the group that created the defaced and restored Black Lives matter mural, said she supports the equity statement, “with all my heart.”

But she also said that she was terrified to be in the room after hearing people speak against it.

“I’ve received hate mail that is very, very in alignment with a lot of the words and the aggression that have been spoken in this room, dare I say almost to a T,” she said

Everyone, Mustapha said, has different life experiences, which is what the equity statement acknowledges.

At the same time, the cultural shift that could come with implementing the framework could be uncomfortable for some, she said.

“There is a difference between oppression and losing a little bit of your privilege, and there are times when people who have experienced a lot of privilege might feel like equity or equality is oppression,” she said. “And I guarantee you it is not, it is discomfort.”

Supervisor Manu Koenig called the potential changes “lofty but achievable,” and pointed to the goal of increasing by 60% the number of Hispanic and Latino South County residents serving on boards and commissions.

Supervisor Felipe Hernandez called the move “a great start.”

“I believe the equity statement is a working document, and with all the great partners we have here, we will continue to evolve to better repair the inequities and the historic underfunding of communities,” he said.

Supervisor Justin Cummings said that the county should boost its efforts to keep rent and home prices low, allowing low-income people to better afford to live here.

“That’s one of the issues that determines who gets to be in this community,” he said.

The matter will return to the supervisors in August 2024 for an update on how the county has implemented the equity framework.

Pushback Against Felton Bicycle Track

Breaking News

Todd Guild

-

October 5, 2023

1

Plans to potentially put a bicycle track in Felton Covered Bridge County Park—which would replace an aging and unused volleyball court—has stirred a modicum of controversy in the small community.

Supporters say the new track would give a recreation opportunity for young people.

Opponents, meanwhile, claim the paved pump track does not fit in with the spirit of the beloved and historic park.

The track has not yet been approved—the Board of Supervisors would need to give their stamp of approval to the plans at a future meeting. Still, several people spoke against it on Tuesday during the Board of Supervisors meeting.

Brianna Goodman, a board member of Valley Women’s Club of San Lorenzo Valley, asked the board to consider other locations.

She said that the county has not taken seriously concerns of flooding and of parking impacts. She also points to a petition on which opponents gathered 1,100 signatures, to counter a petition that 1,800 supporters of the project signed.

Cyndi Maskolunas of Felton said that the park’s large, open lawn and idyllic setting fits in better with the Felton Town Plan, while the proposed bike track would detract from that. Instead, she said, the county should consider putting in “something usable” such as a pickleball court or a community garden.

“This process has created divisiveness, and it’s showing our youth that you can have what you want and not think of others,” Maskolunas said. “That’s not how we should be conducting ourselves or teaching our kids or running our community.”

Maskolunas added that the park’s designation as a historical site requires the county conduct an environmental review.

But county officials say that’s not the case, since the track would be a minor change and replace an existing recreation use.

Santa Cruz County Deputy Parks Director Rebecca Hurley said that Felton and its environs has been identified as an underutilized area, with many young families living there.

“There’s not a lot of things for young people to do in the (San Lorenzo) valley,” she said.

Covered Bridge Park, Hurley said, is an area whose master plans already call for active uses.

The new pump track, if approved, will not be the eyesore that many detractors believe, Hurley added.

“Nothing is going to take away from the view of this historic bridge, nor would we ever approve anything that would do that,” she said.

Hurley added that ongoing safety improvements along Highway 9 should make biking to the park easier.

Pump tracks are designed for riders to navigate a series of features as they create momentum by “pumping,” or using up-and-down body movements to keep moving.

Matt De Young, executive director of Santa Cruz Mountains Trail Stewardship, said the organization would plan and fund the project, expected to cost roughly $500,000.

Once approved, it would take 6-8 weeks to build.

The organization has already built pump tracks at Harvey West Park, in the City of Santa Cruz and in Ramsay Park in Watsonville. All of them, De Young said, have been “resounding successes.”

“They appeal to a wide audience of people, different types of people, different age groups, diff skill sets,” he said. “They’re really inclusive places that bring a positive activation to park spaces.”

De Young said he was not surprised at the community pushback.

“It’s pretty par for the course for anything new,” he said. “Anything new that we do or that anyone else does, there is a contingent of folks who oppose it for one reason or another.”

He added that the track will not be so big as to affect the view of the bridge and would keep the spirit of the park.

“It’s going to be a great asset for the community,” he said. “It’s really targeted at families and kids, and there’s just not a lot of park access in the San Lorenzo Valley, so we see this as a prime opportunity, a prime location to activate an underutilized space.”

Santa Cruz County Crop Production Shows Uptick

Breaking News

Todd Guild

-

October 4, 2023

0

Santa Cruz County Crop Production Shows Uptick

Crop production in Santa Cruz County last year showed a modest uptick from the previous year, with a 1.5% growth totaling more than $666.9 million.

As usual, berries in 2022 remained the primary driving force in the county’s agricultural output at 60% of the total yield and a 3.4% growth, with strawberries far outpacing their bush-bound colleagues.

That is according to the 2022 Crop Report, released Friday by the Santa Cruz County Agricultural Commissioner.

According to the report, more than 2,500 acres of strawberries brought in well over $220 million, a 4.2% increase from last year.

Meanwhile, vegetable crops garnered their fair share of economic input, growing 5.6% with more than $101 million in value.

Additionally, grapes had a good year, increasing a whopping 24% to $5.9 million.

Nursery crops, including cut flowers, decreased 6.4% to nearly $128 million.

Agricultural Commissioner David Sanford called 2022 “a solid year.”

“Our agricultural sector continues to grow and contribute to the local economy,” Sanford said. “The 2022 Crop Report demonstrates that local agriculture is thriving and supporting local families, while our products continue to be enjoyed across the nation and throughout the globe.”

The report does not reflect the losses to cropland sustained during the storms, since the lion’s share of rain and flooding occurred this year, from January through March.

“There were significant losses on both sides of the (Pajaro) river,” Sanford said. “Monterey County took astronomical losses.”

The storms and flooding damaged crops, caused delays in planting and put some fields out of production.

Still, farmers are rebounding and recovering from the damage, Sanford said.

“The growers here in Santa Cruz County are super resilient and super diversified, and adaptable to what they’re dealing with,” he said.

To see the full report, click here or visit tinyurl.com/yejn2xww.

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County Supervisors Approve Equity Statement

Pushback Against Felton Bicycle Track

Santa Cruz County Crop Production Shows Uptick