Page 347 – Good Times

Residents, Businesses Must Recycle Food Scraps Under New Law

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January 7, 2022

Residents, Businesses Must Recycle Food Scraps Under New Law

Recycling is an idea that has become deeply embedded in modern culture, so much so that many don’t think twice before placing cans, bottles and cardboard into the appropriate bins.

Beginning this year, a new law will let California residents do the same with their food waste.

The new law—Senate Bill 1383—requires businesses and residents to recycle their food waste, and municipalities to provide them a way to do so.

Residents in the unincorporated parts of Santa Cruz County can immediately begin putting their food scraps into the same GreenWaste bins where they put their lawn trimmings and other landscaping refuse.

This includes vegetable and fruit scraps, meat, cheese, animal bones and any food leftovers.

Raw meat, plastic and paper are not acceptable.

“We’ve been preparing for this,” said Santa Cruz County Recycling and Solid Waste Services Manager Kasey Kolassa. “Everything is in place to go.”

The cities of Capitola and Scotts Valley have implemented their own collection programs.

Authored in 2016 by then-Senator Ricardo Lara, the bill—also called the Super Pollutant Reduction Act—was created, among other things, to keep food waste from landfills, where it decomposes and emits methane, a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming.

Also included in the law is an enforcement piece that requires jurisdictions to inspect businesses and residences for compliance. While those found out of compliance could face fines, that part of the law will not kick in until 2024.

But Kolassa says that the County will focus on educating before imposing any penalties.

In the city of Watsonville, residents should wait until they receive the go-ahead from city officials—and a special collection bin—from the city, which is expected to occur within the next few months.

From March through June the City will be delivering approximately 6,000 35-gallon green carts to single-family households, along with instructions, said Environmental Projects Manager Cristy Cassel-Shimabukuro. Those with an existing yard waste cart will be able to include food waste once the City notifies them.

Cassel-Shimabukuro estimates the city will be ready to implement the program by July 1.

While the law allows municipalities to increase fees to cover their extra costs, Watsonville says on its website that there will be no extra costs for residents.

Watsonville, which already had a similar program for businesses, collected a total of 830 tons of organic food waste in 2019, diverting it from local landfills.

Once the material is collected, it will be hauled to the Monterey Regional Waste Management District in Marina, where it will be composted and turned into soil suitable for some farming, says Emily Hanson, chief strategic officer for GreenWaste Recovery, the company responsible for picking up and hauling the material.

The biggest change, Hanson says, is how the final composted material can be used. Previously, it consisted of clean yard trimmings and other yard waste and could therefore be used on “fresh crops,” or agricultural products that can be immediately eaten.

Because the new compost will be derived in part from food products, it can only be used on crops such as grapes that require some processing.

California is the first state to require mandatory food scrap diversion. The law aims for an immediate 50% reduction in the level of the statewide disposal of organic waste, and a 75% reduction by 2025.

Such laws are part of the state’s goal to reduce its methane emissions by 40% by 2030.

Santa Cruz Gives Raises Over $1 Million for Nonprofits

Johanna Miller

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January 7, 2022

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Santa Cruz Gives Raises Over $1 Million for Nonprofits

The seventh annual Santa Cruz Gives holiday crowdfunding campaign raised more than $1 million for local nonprofit organizations in 2021.

The milestone was reached after the campaign doubled in size, featuring 80 nonprofits on its online platform. Individual donors, matching funds, challenge gifts and more contributed to its success.

“We are overjoyed,” said Gives organizer Jeanne Howard. “This community’s generosity has been incredible.”

The decision to take on twice as many organizations largely came after The Human Race, an annual walk/run event that had been held for more than 40 years, was officially retired in 2021. Gives saw a gap forming in nonprofit support.

“It’s been a lot more work, having twice as many groups,” Howard admitted. “And it’s been challenging for the donors. It forces them to narrow down their focus, make tough decisions on who to support. Each page provides compelling work, so it can be hard to choose. But it has also expanded our network. More nonprofits, and their supporters are now involved.”

Because of its rapid growth, Gives increased its publicity, going to radio stations, newspapers, distributing posters and more to garner interest. Howard said that the organizations also “stepped up” in their outreach.

“We are a platform, and they have to work the platform,” she said. “It’s like we are a wave and they are the surfer; they’ve got to work it.”

As for donors, Howard said they saw more people than usual donating to different organizations. Usually, donors tend to give to similar groups, but this year was different.

“We still see people giving to like-minded organizations, however, this year people also chose random, unrelated groups,” she said. “Maybe they saw something that moved them, or had personal connections. It was interesting.”

The Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter was the leader in donations, raising $101,226. Friends of the Santa Cruz Public Libraries followed with $60,350, and Dientes Community Dental came in third with $49,520.

Howard said there were some “wonderful” surprises, including the small nonprofit Live Like Coco, which aims to provide local children with various educational opportunities, raising $20,300.

Howard said that supporting nonprofits is “vital” for a community.

“People know about government, they know businesses,” Howard said. “But there’s a nonprofit sector people don’t know anything about. We hope to reach more people to understand how the sector helps our community. New donors are the lifeblood of nonprofits, like new customers are to businesses.”

Looking ahead, Gives organizers hope to secure more matching funds, which greatly help nonprofits during the campaign. They also want to hear from donors about how they are using the website and any suggestions they have.

“We want Santa Cruz Gives to become so well-known that it takes the burden off the nonprofits entirely,” Howard said. “We want to make it a household name in this community.”

Email comments and suggestions to in**@************es.org. For information visit santacruzgives.org.

County Health Officials: ‘Avoid the ER’

GT Staff

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January 7, 2022

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Santa Cruz County public health officials are asking that anyone with asymptomatic or mild coronavirus cases—or other non-serious illnesses—stay home and avoid unnecessary trips to already burdened hospital emergency departments.

The county also renewed its call for everyone eligible to get vaccinated or receive their booster shot if they have not already done so.

The public appeal comes as the Omicron variant of the coronavirus spreads and Covid-19 cases and local hospitalizations increase, with people seeking treatment for mild Covid cases, as well as flu or other seasonal illness.

According to Santa Cruz County Deputy Health Officer Dr. David Ghilarducci, Covid-19 cases have increased here by 121% in the last 14 days.

The rapid rate of infection indicates a winter surge whose effects may not arrive for several weeks, he said.

Most individuals who contract Covid-19, especially those who are vaccinated, do not need to visit the hospital’s emergency department, and can effectively recover from their illness at home, health officials say. These people can also seek primary care treatment or speak with their primary care provider.

People with severe Covid-19 symptoms such as significant difficulty breathing, intense chest pain, severe weakness or an elevated temperature that persists for days are among those who should consider seeking emergency medical care.

Those with mild to moderate symptoms such as a cough, sore throat, runny nose or body aches—or those who want a Covid-19 test—should consult an outpatient primary care provider.

Ghilarducci says that unnecessary visits to hospital emergency departments put a strain on hospitals and frontline healthcare workers, and can also cause a delay in care for patients experiencing true medical crises and deplete of finite resources.

“The best defense against serious illness and hospitalization from Covid-19 is to get vaccinated,” he said. “If you have not gotten vaccinated or boosted and are eligible, please do so now. Do it for yourself, your family, and your community, including the health care workers we depend on to be there when we truly need emergency care.”

For information, including on where to get vaccinated or tested go to www.santacruzhealth.org/coronavirusor call 454-4242 between 8am and 5pm, Monday through Friday.

Virtual Forum Aims to Inspire Women Leaders

Johanna Miller

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January 7, 2022

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Virtual Forum Aims to Inspire Women Leaders

Women in Leadership for Diverse Representation (WILDR) will host a series of free virtual forums aiming to inspire and encourage women to serve in positions of leadership in Santa Cruz County.

WILDR was formed last year by Dorian Seamster, who brought together a small group of local women looking to address inequalities in representation. Through it, participants support racial and gender equity, reproductive rights, housing justice, voter access, lifespan education funding and equitable economics.

“Dorian got us together, and we began asking questions about why it doesn’t seem like women are equally represented in positions of leadership in our community,” said Gail Pellerin, former Santa Cruz County Clerk and WILDR member. “We asked, ‘What can we do? How can we encourage and support women to take on these roles?’”

The first of five forums will be held Jan. 26 over Zoom, and will be moderated by Pellerin and Cabrillo College Trustee Christina Cuevas. Local women with experience in elected or appointed positions, or those with experience in supporting women candidates, will speak, provide information and resources. There will also be an opportunity for small group discussions.

Scheduled speakers include Cabrillo Board of Trustee Donna Zeil, Capitola City Councilmember Kristen Petersen, Watsonville City Councilmember Vanessa Quiroz-Carter and Pajaro Valley Unified School District board member Maria Orozco.

The forum will focus on:

Considerations when deciding to run for office
How to support other women who are running
Positions on the 2022 ballot

Pellerin said that the aim goes beyond helping women run for political office. There are many ways to get involved, she said, from helping out at public schools, organizing neighborhood safety groups, diving into local water issues, and more.

“It’s a matter of identifying what opportunities are out there,” she said. “Not everyone wants to run for office. But there are other ways to serve your community.”

The forum will be held at 6:30pm and be simultaneously translated into Spanish. It is free and open to the public, but pre-registration is required.

WILDR held their first forum last October with the help of co-sponsors, however, they ran out of time to do so again. Most expenses, including the Spanish translation, are coming out of members’ personal pockets.

“Putting the forums together … it does cost money,” Pellerin said. “We would eventually like to raise the funds to cover expenses. If people want to help us in the future with financial contributions, it would be a huge help.”

Four more forums will be held in the coming months. For now, they will remain virtual, but Pellerin said they hope to hold in-person events in the future.

“Things are changing,” she said. “City councils have a majority of women, which is great to see. But the board of supervisors still has five men. We’ve never elected a woman higher than countywide. We are just a grassroots group trying to make a difference, develop a pipeline for women in leadership, to make sure women of all backgrounds are represented.”

To register go here. For information email Seamster at do********@***il.com.

Animal Welfare, Police Reform Among New California Laws

Todd Guild

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January 7, 2022

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Animal Welfare, Police Reform Among New California Laws

Every year, state lawmakers send hundreds of bills to the governor in hopes they will be signed into law.

Many do not make the cut, and fall victim to the state’s lengthy legislative process. But last year 770 bills became law, and many became effective on Jan. 1.

Here are a few new laws that will variously affect the lives of Californians.

Lawmakers Pen Animal Welfare Law

Approved by voters in 2018 by a 63% majority, this law requires farmers to provide space for animals such as pigs, calves and chickens to be able to turn around and lie down—around 24 square feet of space.

The law further prohibits the sale of animals that are not afforded that right.

Those that fail to comply face fines of up to $1,000 and up to 180 days in jail.

Supporters, including the Humane Society of the United States and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, said the rules bring a measure of compassion to an industry that confines animals to small cages for the entirety of their lives.

But detractors, which includes the National Pork Producers and American Farm Bureau Federation, say the rules will upend the industry.

According to National Hog Farmer—that industry’s news source—nearly all pork currently produced in the United States fails to meet California’s standards. Californians account for 13% of the nation’s pork consumption and import 99.87% of pork consumed.

That organization estimates that meeting the state’s new standards will cost billions, which will almost certainly be passed along to consumers, who may very well see fewer pork products on grocery store shelves.

Two lawsuits have failed to stop the law so far, but in November a group that includes grocery stores, restaurants and industry groups filed a lawsuit seeking a 28-month delay.

Raising the Bar

California has become the first state to mandate a $15 per hour minimum wage for companies with more than 26 employees, and $14 for those with fewer. That is part of Senate Bill 3, which became law in 2018.

Washington, D.C., along with several cities, have already reached that milestone.

Hang Up and Drive

Under Assembly Bill 47, anyone caught using a cell phone while driving for the second time in 36 months will see a point added to their driver’s record, which could boost insurance costs.

Giddyap

Young mule-riders take heed: Assembly Bill 974 requires you—and anyone under 18 and similarly riding a horse or donkey on a paved highway—to wear a helmet while doing so. Additionally, nighttime mule riding requires a lamp and/or reflective gear.

But those who are riding said mounts in a parade or festival—or crossing a paved highway from an unpaved highway—need not fear, as they are exempt from these requirements.

What Could Go Wrong?

With Senate Bill 389, Senator Bill Dodd has extended our ability to purchase takeout alcoholic drinks at restaurants through 2026.

Police Reform

There are several new laws that take aim at police officer procedures and standards.

Assembly Bill 48 prohibits police from using rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse crowds at protests. Assembly Bill 490 prohibits police from using restraint and transportation methods that carry “a substantial risk of positional asphyxia” such as carotid restraints and chokeholds. And Assembly Bill 89 raises the minimum age for someone to become a police officer from 18 to 21.

On The Road

Under Assembly Bill 798, any vehicle owned or operated by a federally recognized Indian tribe is considered an authorized emergency vehicle when responding to an emergency, fire, ambulance or lifesaving calls.

Senate Bill 287 allows Class C Drivers to pull trailers weighing between 10,001 pounds and 15,000 pounds—or gross vehicle weight with a fifth-wheel and kingpin or bed mounted gooseneck connection—as long as the trailer is used exclusively for recreational purposes.

Finders keepers

Senate Bill 395 is a pilot program that eventually will allow people to collect roadkill deer, elk, pronghorn antelope and wild pig for consumption. This, however, requires first reporting it and somehow securing a permit, a process that has not yet been set up. So for now, leave those animals where they lie.

Reducing Waste

Assembly Bill 1276 prohibits restaurants from passing out single-use items such as sporks and condiments unless a customer asks for them.

Bathroom Breaks

Under Assembly Bill 701, large warehouse retailers such as Amazon cannot fire workers who miss quotas because of rest periods and bathroom breaks.

Community College

Assembly Bills 928 and 1111 make it easier for community college students to transfer to California State University and University of California institutions by streamlining courses and admission requirements.

Vote by Mail

Assembly Bill 37 sets a permanent requirement for every voter in California to receive a vote-by-mail ballot.

Hate Crimes

Assembly Bill 600 adds immigration status under the definition of nationality so that crimes that target people based on their nationality can now be considered hate crimes.

Things To Do in Santa Cruz: Jan. 5-Jan. 11

GT Staff

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January 5, 2022

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Things To Do in Santa Cruz: Jan. 5-Jan. 11

A weekly guide to what’s happening.

ARTS AND MUSIC

CELTIC TEEN BAND PROGRAM Teenage musicians ages 12-19 play in an ensemble, developing musicianship, flexibility and musical creativity. Participants work on music from Ireland, Scotland, Brittany, Norway, Sweden and the United States, in addition to modern and more quirky pieces. Instruments welcomed include fiddle, viola, flute, tin whistle, pipes, cello, upright bass, guitar, mandolin, banjo, dulcimer, autoharp, ukulele, Celtic harp, accordion and percussion. Students must have at least two years of experience on their instrument and must be able to read sheet music and chord symbols. The group meets twice a month Wednesday afternoons from 3:30-5pm at the London Nelson Center with fiddle teacher John Weed. Cost is free-$10 per session on a sliding scale. Potential students are welcome to come for a session and see if they like it—no obligation! More information and registration at CommunityMusicSchool.org/teenband. Wednesday, Jan. 5, 3:30pm. London Nelson Community Center, 301 Center St., Santa Cruz.

COMMUNITY

AN EVENING WITH AL FRANKEN As far as anyone knows, Al Franken is the only U.S. Senator who was also one of the original writers for Saturday Night Live. During his fifteen seasons with SNL, Franken won five Emmys for writing and producing. He’s also the author of four New York Times bestsellers, including Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot and Other Observations, Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them–A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right and Al Franken, Giant of the Senate. Franken served Minnesota in the Senate from 2009-2018, besting his first opponent, incumbent Senator Norm Coleman, by 312 votes. He won his second election by well over 200,000 votes. Franken served on the Judiciary, Energy, Indian Affairs and Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committees where he routinely embarrassed poorly prepared witnesses and was a fierce opponent of media concentration, mandatory arbitration and Betsy DeVos. The Al Franken Podcast is one of the nation’s top-ten politics and public affairs podcasts with guests like Malcolm Nance, Sarah Silverman, Paul Krugman, Chris Rock and more. His political action committee, Midwest Values PAC, supports progressive Democrats, voting rights and a host of other good, non-political things. For more information, visit cityofsantacruz.com/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/19580/3922. Friday, Jan. 7, 8pm. Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, 307 Church St., Santa Cruz.

CRUZ GAMBIT CHESS CLUB Got Chess? Chess is a fun game of strategy which improves focus and problem-solving skills. Beginner lessons utilize puzzles, timed play, chess notation and alternative play format to create a diverse and fun learning environment. Participants will learn the rules of the game and basic approaches for positionally-sound play. Middle-game concepts such as pins, skewers and discovered attacks will be introduced. Camp is free and requires registration in advance at scparks.com. Hurry, space is limited, before it’s checkmate! Instructors: Andy Kotik & Aiden Rector. Wednesday, Jan. 5, 3:30pm. Thursday, Jan. 6, 3:30pm. Friday, Jan. 7, 3:30pm. La Selva Beach Branch Library, 316 Estrella Ave., La Selva Beach.

DOWNTOWN SANTA CRUZ ANTIQUE FAIRE The Santa Cruz Antique Faire is on the second Sunday of every month. Vendors offer an eclectic blend of antiques and unique items, vintage clothing, collectibles, LP’s, clothing, furniture, memorabilia, home decor and more! Sunday, Jan. 9, 9am-5pm. Downtown Santa Cruz Antique Faire, Lincoln St. between Pacific and Cedar Streets, Santa Cruz.

GROUPS

COMMUNITY PILATES MAT CLASS Come build strength with us. This very popular in-person community Pilates Mat Class in the big auditorium at Temple Beth El in Aptos is in session once again. Please bring your own mat, small Pilates ball and theraband if you have one. You must be vaccinated for this indoor class. Suggested donation of $10/class. Thursday, Jan. 6, 10am. Tuesday, Jan. 11, 10am. Temple Beth El, 3055 Porter Gulch Road, Aptos.

COMPASSIONATE FRIENDS OF SANTA CRUZ Please see our website for current info and to join our email list for meeting links at tcfsantacruz.com. Parents of a child who died at any age, from any cause, any length of time ago, are invited to join The Compassionate Friends of Santa Cruz for our monthly grief support meeting. Opening circle followed by smaller connection groups. Sharing is optional. Grief materials are available. Bereaved grandparents and adult siblings are also welcome. Non-religious. Monday, Jan. 10, 7-8:30pm. Santa Cruz Quaker Meetinghouse, 225 Rooney St., Santa Cruz.

ENTRE NOSOTRAS GRUPO DE APOYO Entre Nosotras support group for Spanish speaking women with a cancer diagnosis. Meets twice monthly. Registration is required, please call Entre Nosotras at 831-761-3973. Friday, Jan. 7, 6pm. WomenCARE, 2901 Park Ave., Suite A1, Soquel.

MEMBER MEET-UP: MONARCHS AT NATURAL BRIDGES Natural Bridges State Beach is a vital overwintering location for monarchs. The Park’s Monarch Butterfly Natural Preserve is filled with winter-blooming eucalyptus trees that shelter and provide nectar to the monarchs during the winter months. During January’s Member Meet-Up with the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, we will be touring the Preserve at Natural Bridges, spotting the remaining clusters of monarchs before they leave Santa Cruz in search of food. Martha Nitzberg, State Park Interpreter 1, will share details about monarch lifecycles, threats to monarchs and what we can do to help. We will also see a monarch restoration project with Groundswell Coastal Ecology and the California State Parks Foundation in action. Not yet a Member? Join today. To learn more, visit santacruzmuseum.org/get-involved/membership. This program is in support of our new exhibit, Pollinators: Keeping Company With Flowers, on view Jan. 15-March 6. Saturday, Jan. 8, 11am-noon. Natural Bridges State Beach, Swanton Blvd. & W Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz.

WOMENCARE ARM-IN-ARM WomenCARE Arm-in-Arm Cancer support group for women with advanced, recurrent, or metastatic cancer. Meets every Monday, currently on Zoom. Registration is required, call WomenCARE at 831-457-2273. Monday, Jan. 10, 12:30pm.

WOMENCARE TUESDAY SUPPORT GROUP WomenCARE Tuesday Cancer support group for women newly diagnosed and through their treatment. Meets every Tuesday currently on Zoom. Registration required, call WomenCARE 831-457-2273. Tuesday, Jan. 11, 12:30-2pm.

OUTDOOR

ROCKIN’ POP-UP: SEASONAL CHANGES OF SEA ICE (ONLINE) Blanketing millions of square miles, sea ice is frozen seawater that floats on the ocean surface, forming and melting with the polar seasons. Vital to the marine mammals and birds for which they are habitats, sea ice can also play a crucial role in regulating climate. Join the Geology Gents, Gavin Piccione and Graham Edwards, for monthly conversations about rocks live on Facebook. Each month we’ll explore a different geologic topic, from Santa Cruz formations to tips for being a more effective rockhound. For more information and the live Facebook video link, visit santacruzmuseum.org/1-5-rockin-pop-up-seasonal-changes-of-sea-ice. Note: you do not need to have a Facebook account to be able to watch the program live. Wednesday, Jan. 5, noon-12:30pm.

VIRTUAL FUNGUS FAIR Due to Covid-19, the Fungus Fair is changing its format and going virtual this year. Instead of crowding inside, we are taking it into the field! We will be offering two-hour local forays; two per day on January 8 and 9, 15 and 16 at 9am and 1pm. Cost is $5 per person with children under 12 free when accompanied by a paying adult. Limit 30 persons/foray. Mushroom identification and culinary event to follow each foray. Times, details and approximate locations, and reservations can be found on our website: ffsc.us. The exact location will be emailed to registered participants of each foray. There will also be free evening talks on Zoom by mushroom experts at 7pm on Jan. 10 through 14. Our website, ffsc.us, will have the link to the Zoom meetings and more information. We hope you can join us!

Acclaimed Indie Outfit Best Coast to Play Catalyst Atrium

Aaron Carnes

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January 5, 2022

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Acclaimed Indie Outfit Best Coast to Play Catalyst Atrium

Best Coast’s 2010 debut record, Crazy For You, was a hit with critics and indie fans alike. The lo-fi production, saccharin pop-hooks and lovesick lyrics generated a lot of buzz, and soon charted on the U.S. Billboard 200.

Singer Bethany Cosentino pushed herself to keep producing music, but after Best Coast’s third record, 2015’s California Nights, she found herself unable to write. It would be five years before the band released another record, Always Tomorrow, which came out in February of 2020.

During that five-year gap, she told herself that she had suffered a severe case of writer’s block. She’s since reconsidered what was happening.

“Crazy For You came out when I was 22. And I didn’t stop going until I was about to turn 30. So there was a lot of stuff I needed to process,” Cosentino says. “At the time, I equated my worth with how much I was creating, how many songs I was writing per day, and the pandemic helped me realize that none of that stuff is tied to my value. I had to do a lot of work around who am I as an artist, and who am I as a person, and those two things are completely separate.”

Always Tomorrow is Best Coast’s most optimistic and straightforward power-pop record, sounding almost like a different band than when they produced the hazy sadness of their earlier records. As powerful as it was, the group was only able to tour behind it for two weeks before the world shut down.

But now Best Coast is hitting the road again; they return with a deluxe version of Always Tomorrow, which has a live version of Sheryl Crow’s “If It Makes You Happy,” two songs released last year and two new songs. It will be released just four days before their Jan. 11 Santa Cruz show.

“As an artist, to have put out a record nearly two years ago, and to just now be embarking on a tour for it—it’s pretty interesting to still be referring to it as a ‘new’ record,” Cosentino says.

But the album is very special for Cosentino, who worked through a lot of personal issues during the time between California Nights and Always Tomorrow, including getting sober. When she wrote “Everything Has Changed,” an anthemic rock song that could easily be a theme song of acceptance, she was still working on getting sober, almost like she was trying to will her sobriety and peace of mind into existence.

“Writing songs is a very therapeutic process,” Cosentino says. “I almost have this ability to reach deep into my psyche and pull this stuff out and just put it out into the universe. I’m a very spiritual, ‘woo woo’ person. I was born and raised in LA; I think it’s intrinsically in me. I don’t realize I’m doing it, but I feel like I am manifesting these things for myself.”

Releasing a hopeful record about acceptance with lines like “Everything has changed/I like it this way” and “People can change/’Cause I finally feel free” is sort of odd, timing-wise, just before a global pandemic. For Cosentino, it seemed fortuitous, and one that made a lot of sense as time progressed. She had to process the message of the album.

“I feel like I made a record that was necessary to make not only for myself, but I think also for the collective fan base of people that this record reached,” Cosentino says. “Ultimately, the core of this record was about learning to be okay with not being able to control so much. The biggest lesson that I had to take from the pandemic was I had to laugh at myself, like, ‘Dude, you can’t control any of this stuff.’”

With everything that happened, she feels like Always Tomorrow didn’t get the proper attention it deserved, which is why she is glad to have a second chance to share it with people.

“It just makes sense to tie it all back together and sort of create one big piece of art because we didn’t feel like Always Tomorrow is a thing of the past,” Cosentino says. “You always have tomorrow to have a fresh perspective on life. At the end of the day, what was not meant to be a pandemic record, kind of became a pandemic record.”

Best Coast will play at 8pm on Tuesday, Jan. 11, at the Catalyst Atrium, 1101 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $22. (831) 713-5492.

Letter to the Editor: ‘Stockings’ Stuffed

Letters to the Editor

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January 5, 2022

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Letter to the Editor: ‘Stockings’ Stuffed

Last night I had the privilege to experience a wonderful presentation with my daughter in the show “Stockings.” It was an example of what Santa Cruz is best known for—its arts and dance—at Motion Pacific’s 10th year anniversary burlesque show. A totally truly uninhibited show of gender openness dance and comedy creating equality all the way, and beautifully performed, greatly intelligent, very funny and ultra-sensual. I can also say I’m a proud Santa Cruz resident. Traditionally we go watch the Nutcracker for this season, and what a beautiful and different holiday show with outstanding Samba Soul Dancers that put a great Brazilian spice on the show and made me feel so homesick for Brazil. Fantastic work of art, keep it up!

Wallace Ferreira

Santa Cruz

This letter does not necessarily reflect the views of Good Times.To submit a letter to the editor of Good Times: Letters should be originals—not copies of letters sent to other publications. Please include your name and email address to help us verify your submission (email address will not be published). Please be brief. Letters may be edited for length, clarity and to correct factual inaccuracies known to us. Send letters to le*****@*******es.sc.

Letter to the Editor: Adios, 2021

Letters to the Editor

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January 5, 2022

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Without getting into their specifics, a couple of thoughts regarding 2021. The saddest personal moment of the year directly led to my most uplifting and grace-laden moment, four months later. The most challenging and frustrating endeavor of the year morphed over five months into a project I’m more proud of than any other one of mine, ever.

So, with a humbled and heavy—but also strengthened and renewed—heart and soul, I say adios (“goodbye” and “to God”) to 2021 and here’s to a brighter 2022.

“And now abide faith, hope and charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity” (or “love” or “kindness”—whichever word works for you). At their core, all three seem to espouse basically the same sorely needed sentiment for this troubled—but also potentially positive and transformative—time that we’re in.

Russ Lake

Santa Cruz

This letter does not necessarily reflect the views of Good Times.To submit a letter to the editor of Good Times: Letters should be originals—not copies of letters sent to other publications. Please include your name and email address to help us verify your submission (email address will not be published). Please be brief. Letters may be edited for length, clarity and to correct factual inaccuracies known to us. Send letters to le*****@*******es.sc.

Opinion: A Million Thank Yous

GT Staff

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January 5, 2022

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EDITOR’S NOTE

Before I get into anything else, let me start this year by saying a huge thank you for helping us raise over a million dollars in our Santa Cruz Gives holiday drive. A million! Actually, $1,068,588.86 by last official tally, though there may be some straggler checks that have yet to be counted. We’ll have the official final numbers, along with a wrap-up of the campaign, in the next issue, but for now, just … wow. Everyone here has been completely blown away yet again by the generosity of our readers. At a time when there’s so much uncertainty and anxiety out there, you’ve done something that will positively affect thousands of lives in Santa Cruz County. I’ll be talking more about the results of the campaign, and some of the lessons we learned this year, on KSQD’s Cruz News and Views on Wednesday from 3-4pm.

Now, onto our first issue of 2022. As many of you will remember, we always start the year with a cover story from the graduate students of the UCSC Science Communication Program. It’s one of the top programs for science journalists in the country, and we love collaborating with them. Every year we pick a different set of topics for the students to research, and this year, as part of the never-ending effort to battle back the bad science floating around our culture, they’re tackling some of pseudoscience’s greatest hits. I think what’s remarkable about these pieces is that in the span of just a couple of hundred words each, they often go much deeper than you’d expect, into the question of why certain beliefs endure. Thanks so much to our guest science writers, to Erika Check Hayden, director of the SciCom program, and Rob Irion, the program advisor and former director who started this tradition with us and continues to work closely with his students on each piece.

STEVE PALOPOLI | EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Read the latest letters to the editor here.

Re: Empty Home Tax

EHT supporters provide completely unsupportable statistics to rationalize a bumper-sticker policy, particularly their flatly false assertion that there is a 9.5% vacancy rate in Santa Cruz. The U.S. Census ACS clearly states that the homeowner vacancy rate is one-half of one percent in the entire county, so the rate within the city will be even less. Accordingly, this initiative will raise no money for affordable housing, and will end up costing the city money.

EHT supporters’ real goal is to create a shadow City Council with a revenue stream to enact policies that they cannot pass through the normal course of city government. To do so, they are utilizing the same “evil rich” tropes that we were all treated to during the Measure M/rent-control debacle, this time focusing on an even narrower demographic they portray as some kind of bogey-person, in order to get people that don’t know any better to vote against their own interests. Don’t forget, it is brought to you by the same group of activists that advocated the elimination of all private property rights by 2050 during that campaign. Don’t sign the petitions, or if you want to rescind your signature, contact the elections department.

— John McKelvey

Re: Jury Room Retirement

Awww farewell, Marv! I wish I could be there! Definitely the most dapper bartender in SC.

— Colleen Carey

PHOTO CONTEST WINNER

Submit to ph****@*******es.sc. Include information (location, etc.) and your name. Photos may be cropped. Preferably, photos should be 4 inches by 4 inches and minimum 250dpi.

GOOD IDEA

BARK YOUR CALENDAR

Last week we wrote to you about the $22 rabbit adoption special at the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter, and this week we bring you: the $50 dog adoption special! The shelter is overloaded with well-trained, social dogs who want to be your best friend. Shelter animals are already a bargain, since their fees include spay/neuter, microchip, vaccinations and a free pet wellness exam. The special applies to all dogs over 50lbs, and goes through Valentine’s Day. Learn more at scanimalshelter.org.

GOOD WORK

TEST PATTERNS

With Omicron spreading and the holidays coming to an end, it feels like everyone knows someone who was exposed to Covid-19, and tests are in high demand. So to keep up with testing demand, Santa Cruz County will expand testing hours at select locations. Mobile testing facilities in Depot Park, Ramsay Park, the Felton Library and more will be ramping up their testing hours and available appointments. For a list of local testing sites, go to santacruzhealth.org/coronavirus and click “Get Tested.” Stay healthy!

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“There’s a difference between an open mind and an empty head.”
-Abhijit Naskar

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