Good Times’ newsletter has been very poorly received by the Downtown business community. No one likes it when places close, but spreading misinformation like this will make it more difficult for our community to attract the new uses that we all want. Perhaps you should publish an apology and correction.
Inaccuracies you just spread about Downtown include:
The headline: “For every business that opens downtown, another two close.” Where do you get your information? Did you do any fact checking before publishing this? What 36 businesses just closed Downtown? Because these 18 businesses opened in 2024:
Not to mention the 28 new businesses that opened Downtown in 2023. Or Monday’s ribbon cutting for the new headquarters for Paystand, a global block-chain financial services provider now with offices in Downtown Santa Cruz. Two new kiosk businesses just opened serving up crepes and tamales. And there are lots more new businesses to come in 2025!
In the article you write, “Toadal Fitness will soon move from downtown to a new location at 716 Ocean St. These are only the latest in a rash of businesses fleeing downtown Santa Cruz rents and depressed shoppers.”
Who told you Toadal Fitness is “fleeing” anything? They are temporarily relocating nearby while a brand-new library and affordable housing is built for Santa Cruz families, and then are welcome back in the new Downtown library building alongside a new childcare center.
Please don’t call our shoppers “depressed”! The data says otherwise. Downtown visitors are vibrant and there are lots of them! Several local Downtown businesses have told me they made or surpassed their holiday sales goals, thanks to the many amazing, wonderful locals who love to support their community and shop Downtown for their loved ones during the holiday season. Places like the Downtown CVS, the Downtown Gap & Downtown Trader Joe’s are also outperforming their peer stores. Downtown shoppers are the best!
We don’t like it when anyone has to close their business, but we are proud of the resiliency of Downtown and the vast majority of businesses that survive year after year, and continue working hard to help our community thrive, even when a handful of visible businesses in the district decide to close.
There are over three hundred locally owned businesses in the Downtown district, with thousands of employees and customers. They deserve our support and yours. We know you can do better than “news” like this that sensationalizes the bad, and shares none of the good.
Sincerely,
Jorian Wilkins
Executive Director Downtown Association of Santa Cruz
ONLINE COMMENTS
Fika Bakeshop Fans
Susan Ortmeyer is the best and most determined baker I have known! Her baked goods are a rare treat.
Philip Spradling | PhD, MFT
Susan’s home bakeshop is a gem in the valley. I’m looking forward to the meals she’ll be offering soon!
The late, great Linda Burman-Hall, Santa Cruz Baroque Festival’s founder and redhaired harpsichordist-in-chief, is a hard act to follow. But the 50-year-old festival has found its next leader in the form of exuberant German organist Jörg Reddin.
Reddin, guest director and performer for last season’s SCBF, is by any reckoning a musical virtuoso. As at home with intricate vocal work as he is surfing organ pedals at Olympic speed, Reddin is resident concert master at Bach’s former digs in Arnstadt, Germany*, and officially takes the directorial reins this weekend as the Santa Cruz Baroque Festival opens its 52nd season.
Channeling his inner Baroque muse, Reddin has designed a multi-concert program, Rendezvous with the Romantics, in which the works of Baroque masters (think J.S. Bach) will explore the styles, themes and melodic innovations that influenced later Romantic composers such as Schubert and Brahms.
If you think you’re not ready for pre-electronic music, you’re in for a mind-bending shock. Reddin works the pedals of the organ like a man possessed, creating a sonic landscape almost unthinkable in volume and beauty.
Reddin was captivated by Santa Cruz the minute he arrived last year. “It was so exciting for me,” he said in a recent Zoom interview. “Germans are so earnest, and here people are more open and relaxed, I can try out my musical ideas.”
Reddin, whose bass-baritone vocals will also be featured in the upcoming concerts, is impressed with the expertise of local music groups, especially the work of the Santa Cruz Chorale, with whom he occasionally rehearses.
When pressed, Reddin diplomatically refused to choose a favorite between singing and playing the organ: “With my singer’s heart I try to bring the sound of singing to the organ.” The virtuoso says he gained his astonishing keyboard abilities starting at the age of 15. “I learned good technique in the early years, and now I can focus on turning that into living music.”
Keeping up a monster professional schedule in Germany, Reddin plays church services in Arnstadt on Sundays, and on Mondays rehearses his 40-voice Bach Choir, plus a smaller cantata choir with 16 top singers. He presents four cantata projects each year, and works with children weekly and seniors twice a month. But that’s not all. “In the summer I have up to 40 to 50 tourist groups for whom I do private guided tours in the Bach Church—Bach tourists from all over the world.”
Why is Baroque music relevant in the 21st century? “I think the world has something like a memory,” Reddin maintains, “and everything that once sounded continues through the generations. The traditional compositions exist as a legacy, and being committed to this heritage is a great honor. That’s what Christian Grube, Sheila Willey, Vlada Moran, Mickey McGushin and many others do in Santa Cruz.” Reddin counts himself one of those, believing that “it is a blessing for the Santa Cruz area that Linda Burman-Hall created a sensitivity for this era with her dedication and love for Baroque music.”
Here’s where the past meets the present. Starting Jan. 26, the Santa Cruz Baroque Festival plunges into four concerts of rare keyboard and vocal compositions displaying the crossover from Baroque to Romantic music.
“Baroque music is characterized by a clear structure,” the maestro says, “with a lot of counterpoint. This means that a melody has a quasi-countermelody and they unite again and again. In Romanticism, the music opens up with more freedom; emotion unfurls even more.” Reddin’s programming has been carefully designed to make clear to the listener “that the difference is not so big, and that Romantic music would not exist without the Baroque.”
Concert I will comprise Baroque organ masterworks performed by Artistic Director Reddin on the pipe organ set against the glow of candlelight at Holy Cross Church. Guest artists will join maestro Reddin for some outstanding examples of 17th-century musical thinking. Reddin is especially excited about the second program on Feb. 2, which has been programmed for a bit of fun. Two of J.S. Bach’s most well-loved cantatas, the Coffee Cantata and Cantata Burlesque, will be performed in a pop-up café setting in Holy Cross Church Hall. “The audience can drink coffee first, and then afterwards have some beer,” the Arnstadt Church organist chuckles. Joining Reddin, who will be singing bass-baritone, are soprano Jennifer Paulino, harpsichordist Jonathan Salzado and the Baroque Festival Strings and Winds.
On Feb. 15, chamber music takes center stage with maestro Reddin on the Peace United Church organ, joined by violinist Shannon D’Antonio and cellist Judy Roberts. This unusual chamber concert explores works by Bach, Corelli and Vivaldi, as well as Romantic creations from Saint-Saens, Grieg and Rheinberger.
The March 1 finale to this year’s Baroque Festival provides a chance to savor the full range of Reddin’s musical dexterity. He will perform both as organist and vocalist, accompanied by the UCSC Chamber Singers led by Michael McGushin. The Bay Area’s premier early music choir, Women’s Antique Vocal Ensemble (WAVE), directed by Susan Swerdlow, will perform very early music by Guerrero and Schein, among others.
Reddin admits he’s excited about his return to Santa Cruz, now in his official capacity as music director. “The first time I came last year was difficult, with visas and paperwork, but it is a good break from my duties here in Germany.”
The chance to spend time in California, with new musical colleagues and venues, is something of a sabbatical for the man whose busy schedule has him leading choirs and performing as resident organist for various German churches. While this European master is in town, Santa Cruzans have an opportunity to go for Baroque in a big way. And we predict they’ll never look back.
Santa Cruz Baroque Festival
Jan. 26, 7:30pm—Holy Cross Church
Feb. 2, 2pm refreshments; 3pm concert—Holy Cross Church Hall
Author Anais Nin wrote, “Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage.” I bring this to your attention because you Aries folks now have a mandate to expand your life through courageous acts, thoughts and feelings. I suggest we make the Arctic fox your power symbol. This intrepid creature undertakes epic migrations, journeying over 2,000 miles across sea ice, using starlight and magnetic fields to navigate. Let’s dare to speculate that you have something in common with it; let’s propose that you are equipped with an inner guidance system that gives you a keen intuitive sense of how to maneuver in unfamiliar territory. PS: Anais Nin has another tip: “We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are.”
TAURUS April 20-May 20
Taurus archeologist Howard Carter made a spectacular discovery in 1922: the intact tomb of the Egyptian Pharaoh Tutankhamun, more than 3,300 years after his death. It was filled with over 5,000 artifacts, became a global sensation, and to this day remains the most famous find from ancient Egypt. A short time before he succeeded at his five-year quest, Howard Carter nearly gave up. But then his sponsor agreed to provide funds for a few more months, and he continued. In this spirit, Taurus, I urge you to keep pushing to fulfill your own dream. Renew your faith. Boost your devotion. Remember why you feel so strongly.
GEMINI May 21-June 20
The James Webb Space Telescope is the largest telescope in space. Recently, it discovered hundreds of galaxies that no humans had ever before beheld. They are very old, too—far more ancient than our own Milky Way Galaxy. I propose we make this marvelous perception-enhancing tool a symbol of power for you. According to my analysis of the astrological omens, you now have a robust potential to see things that have always been invisible, secret or off-limits to you. Some of these wonders could motivate you to reinterpret your life story and reshape your future plans.
CANCER June 21-July 22
One theory says that humans evolved to be afraid of reptiles because our early ancestors were frequently threatened by them. Among the most commonly feared creatures in modern culture are snakes. And yet, as anyone knows if they’ve studied mythology, snakes have also been symbols of fertility and healing in many cultures. Because they periodically shed their skin, they also represent regeneration and rebirth. I’m hoping you don’t harbor an instinctual aversion to snakes, Cancerian. The coming weeks will be a favorable time for you to call on and benefit from their iconic powers.
LEO July 23-Aug. 22
In the coming months, be extra creative as you enhance your network of connections and support. Encourage your allies to provide you with tips about opportunities and possibilities that you would not otherwise know about. Ask them to serve as links to novel resources that will nurture your long-term dreams. Here’s an idea to energize your efforts: Get a vivid sense of how trees use vast underground fungal webs to communicate with each other. (Learn more here: bit.ly/TheWoodWideWeb) Knowing about this natural magic may impregnate your subconscious mind with evocative suggestions about how to be ingenious in weaving the kind of community you want.
VIRGO Aug. 23-Sept. 22
I love my job as a horoscope writer. What could be more fun than analyzing cosmic signs to generate inspirational counsel for my readers? It’s a big responsibility, though. I am intensely aware of how crucial it is that I craft my messages with utmost care and compassion. Having been scarred as a young adult by reckless, fear-mongering fortune-tellers, I’m rigorous about nurturing your free will, not undermining it. I want you to be uplifted, not confused or demoralized as I was. With these thoughts in mind, I invite you to take a vigorous inventory of the effects that your work and play have on the world. Are they aligned with your intentions? Are your ambitions moored in impeccable integrity?
LIBRA Sept. 23-Oct. 22
Why are diamonds considered so valuable? I’m skeptical. High-grade diamonds are not as rare as public perception would lead us to believe. Yes, they are extraordinarily hard and scratch-resistant, but is that a reason to regard them as a sublime treasure? I acknowledge they are pretty in a bland way. But other gems are more intriguingly beautiful. Maybe the most important reason they are so prized is that diamond sellers have done effective marketing campaigns to promote them as symbols of love and luxury. All this is a prelude to my main message: Now is an excellent time to think and feel deeply about what is truly beautiful to you—and take steps to bring more of it into your life. For you Libras, beauty is an essential ingredient in your life’s purpose.
SCORPIO Oct. 23-Nov. 21
The way that ancient Romans made concrete was more ingenious than modern methods. Their manufacturing materials included “lime clasts,” which gave the concrete self-healing qualities. When cracks arose, they fixed themselves. That’s why Roman aqueducts built 2,000 years ago can still convey water today. Metaphorically speaking, I hope you will work on building similar structures in the coming weeks. It’s time to create strong foundations that will last for a very long time.
SAGITTARIUS Nov. 22-Dec. 21
Do you harbor a yearning to learn a new language, new skill or new trick? The coming weeks will be a favorable phase to get serious about doing it. Have you fantasized about embarking on an adventure that would expand your understanding of how the world works? The time is right. Have you wished you could attract an inspirational prod to unleash more creativity and experiment freely? The astrological omens suggest that inspirational prod is imminent. Have you wondered whether you could enhance and fine-tune your receptivity—and thereby open up surprising sources of fresh teaching? Do it now!
CAPRICORN Dec. 22-Jan. 19
Bristlecone pine trees grow very slowly, but they are hardy and long-lived. Their wood is so dense and strong that it’s virtually immune to disease, insects and erosion. They grow in places that are inhospitable for many other trees, flourishing in cold, windy environments where the soil is not particularly rich in nutrients. For the bristlecone pine, apparent obstacles stimulate their resilience. I don’t want to exaggerate the ways they remind me of you Capricorns, but you and they certainly have affinities. I believe these shared qualities will be especially useful for you in the coming weeks.
AQUARIUS Jan. 20-Feb. 18
In old Hawaii, it was forbidden for ordinary people to touch objects that belonged to the chiefs or to anyone with spiritual powers. Other taboos: Never walk across the shadow of an important person and never wear red and yellow feathers. Our modern taboos are different, but often equally rigid. For example, you are probably hesitant to ask people how much money they make or what their relationship status is. What are other taboos you observe? I won’t outrightly advise you to brazenly break them, but now is a good time to re-evaluate them—and consider changing your relationship with them.
PISCES Feb. 19-March 20
As winter progresses, each day is longer and each night shorter. Most humans feel an undercurrent of joy that the amount of light in the world is growing. But as an astrologer who appreciates cycles, I like to honor the beauty and powers of darkness. That’s where everything new gets born! It’s where the future comes from! In ancient Hawaiian religion, the word kumulipo meant “beginning-in-deep-darkness.” It was also the name of a prayer describing the creation of the world. In the coming weeks, I believe you will be wise to tap into the rich offerings of darkness.
The Nth Power are three virtuoso musicians on drums, guitar and bass, with strong vocal harmonies who’ve worked with A-listers like Beyoncé, Snarky Puppy, Maceo Parker, Dumpstaphunk, Big Daddy Kane and John Brown’s Body. The trio aren’t afraid to show off a bit. As they step out of the support role and into the spotlight, they’re acrobatically swinging through genres, blending soul, rock, funk and R&B. Their combination of strong chops, songwriting and daring arrangements equal good music to get lost within. KEITH LOWELL JENSEN
Winner of the 2023 International Herbie Hancock Competition and named “Chicagoan of the Year in Jazz,” Jahari Stampley continues redefining jazz’s boundaries with genre-defying music that captivates aficionados and novice jazz enthusiasts. The pianist’s dynamic live performances have been praised for earnest delivery and groundbreaking artistry. Collaborating with his Grammy-nominated mother, D-Erania Stampley, who brings multi-instrumental brilliance to their performances, the band draws influence from gospel, electronica and even the avant-garde. MELISA YURIAR
INFO: 7pm, Kuumbwa Jazz Center, 320 Cedar St., Santa Cruz. $42. 427-2227.
EXPERIMENTAL
GREGG KOWALSKY
Los Angeles-based multi-instrumentalist Gregg Kowalsky brings his mesmerizing soundscapes to Santa Cruz, performing a long-form piece that blends selections from his latest album, Eso Es (a hypnotic, intricate project using a Yamaha DX7 synthesizer and inspired by two decades of experimental composition), and new works that include plenty of rhythmic sequences and meditative melodies. Known for his previous work with underground duo Date Palms and contributions to American minimalist and electroacoustic genres, Kowalsky’s latest body of work showcases a new creative era: one that intertwines emotive melodies with delicate sound structures, offering listeners a unique fusion of immersive minimalist and playful maximalist sounds. MY
INFO: 8:30pm, Indexical, 1050 River St. #119, Santa Cruz. $16.
ART EXHIBITION
ACCIDENTALLY WES ANDERSON
Mix surreal symmetry, vivid colors and a pinch of retro fashion, and one gets the primary visual components of any Wes Anderson film. His unique aesthetic choices mesmerize and captivate the imagination, so much so that there’s a social media trend where people make videos focused on symmetry and faded colors. Paying homage to his aesthetic and Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk’s Giant Dipper roller coaster, the exhibition explores our world through a Wes Anderson lens, giving attendees a renewed sense of curiosity and exploration, who can see familiar sites from Santa Cruz and beyond. Runs through March 18. ISABELLA MARIE SANGALINE
INFO: Noon, Museum of Art and History, 705 Front St., Santa Cruz. $10. 429-1964.
SATURDAY 1/25
FOLK
CAP QUIRK
Solo artist and musical storyteller Cap Quirk released his debut album, Step One, in 2013 and paid his musical dues when he performed at the Folk Alliance International Conference. He followed that with a set at the 2015 Indiana State Fair. Relocating to California, he released Sessions on Leslie, an acoustic-based exploration of lyrical concerns expressed as an emotional odyssey. Quirk’s core message asserts that the side paths in life’s journey are the most consequential and important. Cap Quirk’s extramusical pursuits—carpentry, electrical work, athletics—all subtly inform his music. BILL KOPP
This night of music is about as real as it gets. No tricks, no gimmicks, just a night of true-blue Americana music from—and in—the heart of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Opening the evening is the duo of Allyson Makuch and Rory Cloud, otherwise known as Echoes & Artifacts, with rustic vocals and emotional truths that transcend time. Headlining the night is the one and only Chris Jones, who, when not performing solo with his trusty vintage hollow body Epiphone, is front and center singing for local folk group Wolf Jett. Thankfully, Jones knows his music and has the chops to prove it, with a catalog celebrating blues, country and rock. MAT WEIR
When it comes to telling tales of adventure, deceit and substance-fueled times with plot twists and surprise endings, the name Fred Eaglesmith stands alone. Maybe that’s because Eaglesmith has lived many of the things he sings about, starting when he was a teenager hopping on a freight train to travel across his native country of Canada. Since 1980, he’s performed a wide range of traditional and rootsy music, from blues to outlaw country. Performing with Eaglesmith is the multi-instrumental Texas-born singer Tif Ginn, who toured with him as a duo between 2016 and 2020 and is also his wife. MW
INFO: 5pm, Kuumbwa Jazz Center, 320 Cedar St., Santa Cruz. $54/adv, $59/door. 479-9421.
MONDAY 1/27
AUTHOR EVENT
SONORA REYES
Author Sonora Reyes was a National Book Award finalist for their 2022 young adult novel, The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School. Reyes’s most recent work, The Broposal, again tackles issues of Latinx queer identity with wit and style. The novel’s “brotagonists” (lifelong best friends Alejandro “Han” and Kenny) are planning to wed, but the initial motivation is more about scoring a green card for Han than anything else. As events unfold, however, the two find their feelings. Arizona-based Reyes will read from their novel and engage with attendees in a Q&A and a book signing. BK
INFO: 7pm, Bookshop Santa Cruz, 1520 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. Free w/ RSVP. 423-0900.
TUESDAY 1/28
FOLK
THE WILDWOODS
Strumming their way from Lincoln, Nebraska, comes the Wildwoods, an Americana trio featuring upright bass, guitar and violin—sometimes strummed and sometimes bowed. The married couple plus one plays traditional folk and rootsy compositions and originals, blending sweet vocal harmonies throughout each piece. It’s apparent they’re well-loved at home, being crowned Best Band by the Lincoln Choice Awards in 2022, and they’ve quickly become festival favorites and serious road dogs, with so many highway miles between everywhere else and Nebraska. KLJ
No matter how you slice it, wood-fire it, deep-dish it, thin-crust it, brick-oven it, or stuff-crust it…
Whether you roll Sicilian, Neapolitan, Roman, New Yorker, Chicagoan or Detroit-style…
Regardless of your preference for pepperoni or peppers, black olives or green, bacon or basil, pineapple or purgatory, jalapeños or extra cheese…
If you’re an identifiable pie purveyor of any variety, your appetite shall be sizzling with the approach of the first-ever Santa Cruz Pizza Week—Jan. 29-Feb. 8—if only because of the star producers participating.
The list of SCPW pizza-smiths joining in bubbles up around 25 (and swelling) as of press time, and involves some of the greats in the game.
Toss these by your tastebuds, if you will: La Posta, Kianti’s, La Marea, The Pizza Series, Namaste, Buzzo, Pizza 1, Engfer Pizza Works, Pizza My Heart (times three locations), Seabright Social, Upper Crust, Laili, Sleight of Hand, Crow’s Nest Beach Market, Churchill and Beers, Pizzeria la Bufala, Cavalletta, Woodstock’s, Mentone Restaurant, Bookie’s, and Tramonti Santa Cruz.
Bookies pizza guru Todd Parker, who already specializes in outside-of-the-box, produce-driven, fluffy-thiccie-tasty pizza, provides a helpful take on the excitement, while noting he and his team are plotting a meatball pizza special and an unprecedented foraged mushroom masterpiece.
“It’s an opportunity to do something we wouldn’t normally do, something fun, in a new way,” he says. “An invitation for people who don’t know about us to come check us out!”
That speaks to the big picture driving the 11-day stretch: Eaters can anticipate bespoke special recipes, exclusive Pizza Week–only deals and, yes, pizza for people who care about their locally created pies.
The official website presents a flavorful place to start, and there is also an official app (wklys.co/m/pizzaweek) and an Instagram feed (instagram.com/santacruzrestaurantweek) to keep y’all well-rounded (or square).
As punk rock icon and Santa Cruz–style spirit Henry Rollins put it, “Pizza makes me think that anything is possible.”
I promised more things to look forward to in 2025 in this space, but the pizza urgency means that can wait another week. But (!) there is this dope development to savor right now: Gabrielita Tamaleria (in a kiosk by New Leaf Market on Pacific Avenue) with chef Gema Cruz’s Oaxacan, banana-leaf-wrapped tamales—“unlike any you’ve had,” she says—are officially dishing in downtown Santa Cruz…OK one more thing to come, and start prepping recipes for: The 42st Annual Clam Chowder Cook-Off, Feb. 22-23, at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, the only clam chowder competition in the land that has lasted this long and lusciously, beachboardwalk.com/Clam-Chowder-Cook-Off…The most surprising press release of the year came this week with a request for me to attend the Rocky Mountain Oyster Fry Festival, happening just over the state border in Virginia City, Nevada, on March 16, and you’re invited too, visitvirginiacitynv.com…While A Complete Unknown earns Oscar buzz, Bob Dylan low key distills an underappreciated connoisseur-grade thing with his Heaven’s Door Spirits and its line of whiskeys, heavensdoor.com…“There is nothing,” Dylan once said, “so stable as change.”
Rachel Hall has worked at Café Cruz for 22 of its 30-year history, starting as a hostess and then moving up position by position until she became general manager five years ago. “The only thing I don’t do is cook the food,” she says. What started as just a job turned into a passion, as Hall found her fairly introverted self pleasantly challenged by such an extroverted environment.
A “great space with great people,” as Hall says, Cafe Cruz is centered around an open kitchen amid rustic autumnal colors in a dynamic setting with plenty of nooks, crannies and differently vibed spaces both indoor and outdoor. A full bar featuring craft cocktails and a local-centric wine list holds down the beverage side, and Hall defines the food menu as elevated California cuisine with a focus on fresh proteins and local sourcing.
Appetizers include light, crispy calamari with strips and tentacles, as well as shaved Brussels sprouts with bacon and parmesan. Daily seafood specials highlight the entrées, and other favorites are the molasses-cured applewood-smoked pork chop and skirt steak fettuccine with a gorgonzola basil alfredo sauce. It’s also known for rotisserie meats: garlic herb chicken, prime rib, tri-tip steak and lamb roast. Beyond rotating dessert specials like tiramisu and seasonal cheesecakes/cobblers, the classic offering is the Polar Bear mud pie.
Tell me about your hostess-to-GM journey.
RACHEL HALL: I think the environment that existed here when I started was very supportive and community-focused. I felt like staying here was easy and felt right, and I loved learning the industry. Restaurants are like puzzles, and I love puzzles. I tend to put all I can into things that I’m passionate about and that is what I did here. And any time I’ve been through adversity in my life, the restaurant, my guests and coworkers have been there for me.
How is it being an introvert working in such a busy restaurant?
I think it’s really interesting and pushes me outside of my personality box. It allows me to have so many experiences with people and different situations that I wouldn’t normally have. It has helped me in my personal life outside the restaurant too, in my ability to navigate social situations as well as giving me the tools to help raise my 18-year-old son.
“They say cut back. We say fight back!” was the rallying cry on Thursday as registered nurses lined Soquel Avenue in front of Dominican Hospital for a National Day of Solidarity, organized by the Nurse Advocacy Network. It marked the first time the Dominican staff has participated in what has become a yearly, national event.
Many passing motorists honked their horns in support of the appreciative nurses, who waved signs, clattered noisemakers and chanted loudly, though at a distance from the hospital.
“We want to make sure that our community knows that we’re here for them and we’re fighting for them. That’s what this Day of Solidarity is for,” said Annalisa Andersen, a union spokesperson.
“What we’re mainly here for is safe staffing,” she said, describing what she says is an ongoing issue that healthcare workers are facing nationwide. “We’re constantly told that we’re fully staffed even though we’re finding that we’re short on every shift.”
Andersen explained that staffing guidelines are passed down from the top administrators of Dominican’s health care system, but nurses who work night and day with their patients say they don’t reflect the reality of what is needed.
“Sometimes we’re having to work a skeleton crew with only one patient care technician,” Andersen said. PCTs help with taking vitals, assisting with the commode, changing bedding, turning patients, and cleaning and restocking the floor.
“When we don’t have that staff we need to fill in for them, taking away time for us to give the kind of care that patients really want, and cuts back on our ability to take much-needed scheduled breaks.”
The problem is not a nursing shortage; in fact, there is a surplus of people who are qualified to nurse, according to Andersen.
“The problem,” she says, “is getting people to hire them, getting them educated and then keeping them on staff. That’s why we want more incentives to keep people where they are.”
High on the list of issues in upcoming union negotiations will be shift-specific incentives, called differentials, which Andersen says are essential to retain staff for difficult positions.
For example, Andersen cites the NOC shift—“noc” for nocturnal, from 11pm to 7am—to which newcomers are often assigned.
“It’s hard to keep people on that shift,” she said. “The NOC is proven to be bad for your health. It can cause heart problems, and sleep deprivation can cause cancer. An incentive would keep people—experienced people—on that shift,” she said.
Artificial intelligence related to hospital care is also a pressing concern voiced at the demonstration.
“We want to use AI in nursing, and slowly introducing AI is something that we’re expecting,” Andersen said. “But, we’re fighting to ensure that we’re introducing it in a safe way and not overshadowing the human experience. To be safe, we want to make sure we’re not cutting corners.”
The official statement received from Dignity Health reads, “We recognize and respect the right of our employees to participate in yesterday’s Day of Action. The safety of our caregivers and patients is our highest priority. Hospital operations were not impacted by this event.”
What inspired you to join the Martin Luther King March today?
LADY JAZZ
It’s tradition and legacy. I’ve been doing this with my children for 40 years. Sometimes you have to gird yourself because it can seem so futile, and yet when you sing this music and you do this march, it speaks to our resilience. That’s what I’m here for, to gird myself.
Lady Jazz, 72, KSQD Music Programmer/Activist
UNHAE
I’m here for peace and love and to do what I can to resist the Trump 2.0 and the genocide and occupation of Gaza. Gaza is like the test for humanity. It’s all interwoven, and there is still some colonization and racism interlinked with the disparity between the rich and the poor. All the people of color who have been oppressed, descendants of colonialism, we’ve been played. We need to get together and focus on love.
Unhae Langis, 62, Writer/Activist
ALAN
I’ve been a peace activist for social justice since I was in the womb. I’m here because of Martin Luther King’s legacy of placing people’s needs over oligarchy and endless war. What’s happening in Gaza and here at home is all connected because the wars and occupations are taking away from desperately needed funds for social concerns.
Alan Fischer, 63, Acupuncturist
JOAN
It’s Martin Luther King Day, and I have Black relatives, Palestinian relatives, Jewish, Jordanian, Vietnamese, Mexican and Egyptian relatives. Literally, they’re blood relatives of my husband. His parents were driven out of Palestine at the time of the Nakba in 1948. But even if we didn’t have Palestinian and Black relatives, we would be here.
Joan Rentz, 83, Retired Language Teacher
CHRISTINE
We are all diverse people, all created equal, and it’s essential to show up for truth, whether you belong to a group or not, you have to start showing up. I thought this would be a good antidote for the sideshow going on in Washington.
Christine Fahrenbach, 69, Clinical Psychologist
SHEILA
The situation in Palestine is very similar to what we had with our racism in the United States. I’m Jewish, and I was there two years ago, and that’s why I do things like this. It’s important to make the genocide in Palestine visible in our community.
A huge fire broke out inside a building at the Moss Landing Power Plant Thursday, forcing emergency crews to evacuate areas around Moss Landing and close the heavily traveled Highway 1 in both directions for hours.
The fire was reported around 3pm as a loud alarm boomed its warning over the Moss Landing Harbor. Shortly afterwards, a column of black smoke wafted into the sky alongside the pair of 500-foot concrete towers that were built in 1950.
Maia Carroll, Communications Management Analyst and Public Information Officer, sent out this warning: “The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office has issued evacuation orders for areas of Moss Landing South of the Elkhorn Slough, North of Molera Road and Monterey Dunes Way, and West of Castroville Blvd. and ElkHorn Road to the ocean for the following zones (MRY-B037, MRY-B047, MRY-B050, MRY-B051,MRY-B053, MRY-B058, MRY-B060). The Castroville Recreation Center is being opened as a Temporary Evacuation place, 11261 Crane St., Castroville.
Supervisor Glen Church responded to a command post in Castroville set up by North Monterey County Fire, the lead agency combating the blaze.
“There is no way to sugar coat this: It is a disaster,” he said. “This is a multi-agency response event. From what I understand, the fire is inside a concrete building and numerous batteries are on fire.”
As the fire developed and night fell, the orange glow could be seen for miles. Traffic clogged surface roads around the incident including downtown Castroville where northbound Hwy 1 traffic slogged through the city and aimed north on Hwy 156 toward Hwy 101.
Carroll said that as of 10:30pm Thursday about 40% of the 50,000 square-foot building containing batteries had burned and that all Vistra employees, law and fire personnel were safe and accounted for.
The incident marks the fourth fire at the Vistra Energy plant. When Vistra first installed a system of Tesla batteries at the plant in September, 2022, a week later a fire broke out and forced officials to close Hwy 1 in both directions for around 12 hours and evacuate the area.
Officials have also announced that all schools in the immediate area will be closed Friday.
“It is unknown how long this incident may last,” Carroll said Thursday night. “No active fire suppression is taking place, the batteries must burn themselves out. No water can be used. This is standard action for battery fires.”
On Thursday night Castroville Recreation Center was being transitioned to an overnight shelter managed by the American Red Cross. Around 1,214 people are in the evacuation zones and 7,676 acres were under evacuation.
Because of the type of fire, “air quality in the evacuation zones can be considered serious for people which is why they were asked to leave,” Carroll said.
If people who are not in the evacuation zones but have medical conditions or are concerned about smoke, they can stay indoors, close windows and use air purifiers.
The County is coordinating with the National Weather Service and Vistra Energy regarding weather which might impact movement of smoke from the fire. For information, visit More/Mas Info: alertmry.org
December 30, 2024—Bruce McPherson’s last day as supervisor for the Fifth District of Santa Cruz County—dawned bright and blue. After bidding farewell to his team of analysts and taking down the last mementos from his office walls, McPherson traveled to Scotts Valley for his final interview to recount the highs and lows of his career.
“I feel very fortunate to have been in some form of service. I’ve had two primary careers over the past 50 years—I practiced journalism with the Santa Cruz Sentinel for 28 years, and then was in public service for the last 25. It’s been a blessing; I’ve enjoyed each of those careers because they bring something different every day, but I think being in the press really helped me in my political roles. Maybe it’s in my blood,” said McPherson, a fourth-generation Santa Cruz native, referring to his familial connection to both the Sentinel and the political scene.
The McPherson family owned the Sentinel from 1862 to 1982, carving a path for politically ambitious family members to not only have their voices heard, but also exercise influence in the political sphere of the county.
“I didn’t know I was going to get into politics—it was a surprise when I ran for the Assembly in 1993,” said McPherson, who clarified that the surprise was sprung upon his wife, Mary, to whom he has been married for 57 years. “I thought early on that being in the sports room and a reporter was enough, but when I started writing editorials for the paper, about two-thirds of them were focused on local issues, so I got a feel for what was going on. It was ever-changing and kept me on my toes. The excitement and the nature of constant change held my interest.”
McPherson’s father, Fred Jr., had run for State Assembly in 1932 and lost the contest by about 500 votes. In June of 1993, following a series of local shifts in the political landscape (Leon Panetta ascended from 17th Congressional District Supervisor to become President Bill Clinton’s Director of Office of Management and Budget, allowing Assemblyman Sam Farr to take the congressional representative’s seat in 1993), McPherson ran for Farr’s seat in a special election—and won.
When the election returns were broadcast on that June evening in 1993, Fred Jr. stood up, waved a towel in the air and bellowed, “It took us 60 years to get this seat, but it’s ours now.” Fred Jr. lived just a year after that election, and McPherson was thrilled that his dad was alive to see the results.
Grinning, McPherson recalled, “That was one of the greatest moments of my life.”
McPherson’s own transition to political practice came naturally following his time at the Sentinel. After leaving the paper, he served two terms in the California State Assembly (1993-96) and two terms in the California State Senate (1996-2004).
Following the resignation of California’s Secretary of State in early 2005, McPherson was confirmed unanimously in both the Assembly and Senate to be Secretary of State after being nominated by then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. As a Republican (Santa Cruz County was a red area until the 1960s) who later changed his political stripes to “no party preference” in 2012, McPherson found his stride in public service.
As Fifth District supervisor, McPherson was firm in his belief that local issues are not based on a political ideology, and that the Board of Supervisors is meant to serve the populace, not a party.
McPherson’s belief system was formed and nourished by the mentors in his life. Gordon “Scotchy” Sinclair, who joined the Sentinel in 1939 and became sports editor in 1941, was a huge influence for McPherson, as was the Cronkite-Brinkley-Rather era of news delivery.
“Back then, news was based on facts, not opinion. It’s just so different now,” remarked McPherson.
His journalism instructor at Cal Poly, John Healey, was another source of leadership.
“He was a fact-driven person who said not to release the story until you got the story right. He was a very important part of my life at that time,” recalled McPherson, who said Fresno’s Sen. Ken Maddy was another pivotal figure. “He was a moderate Republican, and I wanted to be just like him.”
McPherson recalled that some colleagues felt he was going backwards in his political career when he moved from state to local leadership with the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors, but McPherson disagreed.
“I could sense that politics were changing around that time, and I decided that I would be most comfortable in the supervisor’s seat. In fact, when I left the Senate, a fellow senator remarked that I was the most independent legislator in California, so I was coming into this new role with familiarity around governmental processes,” he said. “I quickly learned that as a county supervisor, you really need to know more about everything. In the county, you’re focused on issues like public safety, health and human services, parks—you have a buffet of issues that need your attention. You can’t let your mind wander, because something else is right around the corner.”
Those “something elses” materialized in rare form during McPherson’s tenure: floods, the CZU fire, earthquakes, tsunami-induced waves, atmospheric rivers—and yes, a tornado to top it off. Those issues restructured the way the Board of Supervisors operated over the past several years.
“We weren’t able to plan ahead; instead, we were working to get funding and resources to help communities impacted by natural disasters. Federal and state leaders determine the funding for disaster response, and the current structure is not the right one. FEMA has run out of money, and we need to adjust to a new reality. It seemed like we could hardly catch up, much less get ahead,” said McPherson, who noted that Santa Cruz County was owed over $100 million for road repairs going back seven years; the county has received about $50 million in repayment.
A former planning director once told McPherson that two-thirds of the mountainous roads in the Fifth District would not be permitted today, creating further funding challenges for the area.
For CZU victims, McPherson was frustrated by the addition of new county-based septic requirements for homes and other obstacles that impacted rebuild plans for residents.
“Santa Cruz County has the highest number of septic tanks west of the Mississippi, so to tell people that not only do they have to install a new system, but that it could run $75,000 to $100,000, and that material costs have doubled, and geological standards have been altered, which impact the permitting process, and the fire districts require a 14-foot wide road—it just became overwhelming for those residents, and understandably so. That’s been the most frustrating part of my time in the Fifth District,” said McPherson, adding that the permit process has been improving, but needs to be better. “I know that people will continue to work on that. I don’t want to make excuses, but those are the facts, and they really delayed what we wanted to accomplish.”
BIDDING FAREWELL With gratitude for the past 25 years, Bruce McPherson looks ahead to new opportunities. Photo: Christina Wise
The Fifth District is in a more sensitive rebuild environment than other locales, and according to McPherson, much of that has to do with new laws that have been passed at the state level.
“I’m really troubled with the amount of housing Sacramento is demanding we build in the district. We’re not going to be able to put any of the new units in the San Lorenzo Valley, and we won’t be able to meet the numeric requirements due to infrastructure concerns and environmental concerns,” he said. “If we meet those housing goals in the next eight years, Santa Cruz County is going to look a lot different.”
McPherson referenced some of the new developments going up in downtown Santa Cruz: “A lot of people don’t like it, but it’s what we’ve been ordered to do, and we don’t have a choice in the matter.”
As part of state legislation aimed at easing the housing crisis, the county is tasked with permitting 4,634 new homes by 2032, drastically altering the landscape of the area. “The state taking over the land use operations of counties is really concerning,” McPherson said.
During his time as supervisor, McPherson was recognized as Legislator of the Year by numerous organizations and foundations and served on a slew of committees that supported his main areas of interest, namely education, the environment, public safety and small business growth. The cornerstone of his political approach, McPherson said, was based on sports.
“I grew up playing sports, and I learned that you win or lose as a team. People said I was known for my attitude of being a team player, and that’s something I’m proud of,” he added.
That tactic came in handy during his time in government.
“The thing I believe the most is that you can have your own opinions, but you need to hear and respect the opinions of those that are different from your own,” McPherson said. “Maybe that’s a throwback to my journalism days, but I really think open communication is critical when working with others. Compromise is the most important thing one can achieve, and we need more of that today. Everyone could use a little more grace.”
In closing, McPherson became emotional when talking about wrapping up his time in public service.
“I was lucky enough to be born in the greatest place on the planet. I remember my dad saying to me, ‘We’re in a good position to make it better. Let’s just leave it better than we found it.’ My staff and I worked hard to achieve that goal, and I am grateful to all of them—and all of the agencies I worked with—for their tireless efforts under challenging circumstances,” he said. “These last five years have been unlike my first 20, and I really appreciate the cooperative ventures I’ve experienced with them all. The successes I’ve had are due to the people I’ve worked with.”
McPherson acknowledged the role his wife, Mary, played in his success.
“If it wasn’t for the support of Mary and my family, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I love this county. My family has been here for over 170 years, and I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. I don’t know what I’ll do in the future, but I plan to spend more time with my family and give myself some time to figure out what comes next,” McPherson mused. “I’ve met eight presidents, a dozen governors, and hopefully I’ve served the people well. Santa Cruz County has nearly 800 nonprofits, so there’s room for folks to volunteer and give back to this amazing place. We’re a giving community, and we’re better for it.”
