Re: “South Sides” (GT, 5/11): I was happy to read the interview of the two serious candidates for county supervisor in South County. I have known both Jimmy and Felipe for years. I am friends with both of them. As an elected trustee, like Felipe, of the Cabrillo Board of Trustees, and a neighbor of Jimmy, it is has been my pleasure to know both of them. What shocks me is the apparent decision of Ed Acosta to file to run for this office. Acosta misses meetings for the Santa Cruz County Board of Education without explanation. He filed at the last minute for this job.
I ask: why? You clearly don’t want to talk about issues or talk to the press. The voters should ignore his candidacy, as he seems to ignore them as well. As an elected official, we are responsible for talking to the press, answering questions about our views on issues, and showing leadership regarding south county. That is why I support Jimmy Dutra. As a proud lifelong progressive Democrat, I have seen Jimmy do just that. While I am delighted to have Felipe Hernandez as my colleague on the Cabrillo Board of Trustees, I have not seen that leadership. I, too, ran on a platform of progressive change. I want to see change—not only changing the name of the college from a despised, genocidal human trafficker and cancel culture cabron, but also change in the county.
Twelve years of Caput is 12 too many. We need a supervisor who will not be shy to assert the importance of South County to the economy of the entire county. We need to recognize we need our farmland, work to get farmers to stop spraying and go organic. Jimmy’s father was a longtime farmer in our area. Jimmy knows more about agriculture than any other potential supervisor. He recognizes the importance of building low-cost housing within our six square miles. I am happy to work with Felipe on the board. I am proud that Felipe has worked hard to improve his health. I want him to be around for a long time to come, whatever office he holds. As for Jimmy, he will lead South County in a new direction. That is, let us stop being the unwanted stepchild of Santa Cruz County. Let us get the state and federal share of money that we deserve. Jimmy will do that. I ask my south county neighbors to vote for Jimmy Dutra as our next county supervisor.
Steve Trujillo
Watsonville
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We’ve logged tens of thousands of words about the rail-trail issue, but these next couple of hundred are the ones I wish I didn’t have to write.
In the last several years, the debate over rail-and-trail versus trail-only has evolved from a niche discussion to a trending topic to the most contentious political issue I’ve seen in Santa Cruz County since the post-earthquake arguments over rebuilding and homelessness. That would be fine—you have to respect the passion that locals on both sides bring to it.
Except it’s gotten way too personal, and way too out of hand. The stories I’ve heard in just the last couple of months about both sides’ political snipes—including denigrating and even sabotaging those who don’t agree with them on Measure D—are disturbing. And the shortsightedness and lack of perspective at play are unbelievable.
Is the question of what kind of trail this county has along the rail corridor, and whether or not it might possibly include rail transportation in the future, really worth destroying the alliances that we depend on for any and all progress in this county? We’re in the midst of a historic water emergency, have no meaningful policy to fix our homelessness issues, can’t meet even our meager goals for affordable housing, and face the possibility of another wildfire disaster on the scale of CZU or worse—and we’re blowing up our political and personal relationships for this?
The aftermath of those 2020 fires is the time I point to when speaking about what we’re capable of doing when we work together. It was a massive effort by a huge group of people united for one purpose—to help those who needed it—with no regard for political disagreements. I wish we didn’t need a natural disaster to inspire that, and I hope that no single issue can break that community bond.
This issue contains everything you need to know when considering how to vote on Measure D, from the nuts and bolts to the arguments for and against to the possible futures after the votes have been counted. Many people have asked me if GT is going to endorse one side or the other. I’ve only got one endorsement to make: civility.
STEVE PALOPOLI | EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
ONLINE COMMENTS
RE: BEARCAT
It was useless during the hunt for murderer Carillo two years ago, when it comically scooted down the street to where a lone private citizen marital artist has already deftly (and barehanded) disarmed the shooter.
Policing by Consent. All this militarization overwhelms any concept of consent. It polarizes and divides, fearful and feared. And it really hasn’t justified its gas bill. Look at that gun turret. It’s disgusting.
— Aname
RE: TRAFFICKING CONFERENCE
It would appear that these ”traffickers” have no conscience. That being the case, does not that put this in the realm of serious evil? I know it’s not politically correct to use such terms, but that’s what it is. It is important to identify the enemy, otherwise run the risk being broadsided by this kind of thing again and again, ad infinitum.
HOOTENANNY Locals have been gathering daily to watch the owlets at Natural Bridges. Take care not to disturb them! Photograph by Sharon Hall.
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
ENCHANTING VALLEY
This Saturday, take a tour of six private, spectacular gardens in Scotts Valley. The event is the Enchanting Gardens in Scotts Valley, and visitors will see large estate gardens, an iris farm of over a thousand plants, Japanese maple tree collections, and other colorful and unique surprises. All proceeds go to Valley Churches’ food pantry. Tickets are $30. For more information, call 831-336-8258, ext. 229.
GOOD WORK
WHEEL HELPMeals On Wheels (MOW), which gives out 180,000+ meals annually to seniors, is looking for a new home. MOW has been operating out of its Live Oak location, which is leased by the Live Oak School District, for 45 years—but on May 4, the group was served an eviction notice. As it looks for a permanent location, MOW is asking the community to send a letter to Live Oak School District’s Board of Directors, sharing the importance of its services. Learn more at: actionnetwork.org/groups/community-bridges.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“The hardest thing about any political campaign is how to win without proving that you are unworthy of winning.”
Good Times received a letter to the editor about Measure D a few weeks ago that was not an opinion intended to sway readers, but instead an earnest request for assistance in making an informed and educated choice when casting their vote.
“It’s really difficult to sort out the different (and often contradictory) information that groups for and against Measure D are citing. Could you please do a fact-checking and vocabulary-defining piece that attempts to put us all on the same page?”
The writer of this letter isn’t alone. Measure D is arguably the most contentious issue on a Santa Cruz County ballot in the last 30 years, and unbiased information has sometimes been hard to come by. A prickly haze of fear, persecution and paranoia has built up around the rail-trail debate—as has a barrage of misinformation and rhetoric.
How to cut through all that? Let’s start by laying out what voters will actually see on the ballot. Measure D, also called the “Santa Cruz County Greenway Initiative,” asks, “Shall voters adopt the measure to amend the Circulation Element of the County’s General Plan related to use of the Santa Cruz Branch Line Rail Corridor as set forth in the Santa Cruz County Greenway Initiative Petition?”
But that phrasing doesn’t really explain what a “yes” vote or a “no” vote would mean for the hotly debated future of rail and trail in Santa Cruz County.
A deeper dig into the language of the measure provides further explanation: If Measure D passes, a halt would be placed on “all references to railroad maintenance, rail transit planning and the like from the county’s general plan.” Meanwhile, if Measure D fails, the county would be able to move forward with its general plan, which currently includes plans for both rail and trail.
For a more detailed explanation of the mechanics of Measure D, read our story on page 10. We trust that all of this information will give our letter writers, and the rest of our readers, a clear understanding of what D would do. (And for an explanation of why it might not ultimately matter, read our other story on page 10).
Beyond that, however, we want to explain what both supporters and opponents of the measure are saying. Taken together, we hope that all of this information will allow readers to make the most informed decision for themselves.
Yes on D: What Supporters Are Saying
Melody Venes lives with her dog Roxy aboard a boat called MeloDays in the Santa Cruz Harbor. The 56-year-old isn’t afraid to tell the stranger gazing over a Measure D ad in the newspaper at the bar near her floating home what she thinks of it all.
“I would love to see the current railroad system turned into a bike path that’s safe for people,” she says, explaining one of her friends was recently killed in a cycling accident. “He was one of the most joyful, pleasant people you could possibly know.”
According to California Highway Patrol data, there were about 8,800 cyclist crashes and 151 deaths in 2020—and Venes believes her friend might still be alive today if a greenway was available.
“He wouldn’t have had the obstacles,” she says.
Venes also supports Measure D because she thinks the tracks are in disrepair. Back when she lived in Seacliff, she remembers walking towards a derailed train to have a look for herself.
“It was surreal,” she says, remembering askew cars amidst the coastal landscape. “They were tipped sideways off the rail.”
Venes says she’s not anti-rail, but simply thinks a commuter rail line would make more sense next to Highway 1—not through neighborhoods.
“It would be loud; it would be too fast,” she says. “I don’t even like the idea of riding a bike next to a railroad.”
That doesn’t fit her vision for the place she moved to from Colorado.
“Santa Cruz is a small town,” she says. “We’re very nature-oriented.”
Venes says she’s given money to support Greenway, and is anxious to see Measure D pass.
Melody Venes lives (pictured with her dog Roxy, on her boat in the Santa Cruz Harbor) is organizing hikes along the rail corridor that she believes will convince more people to vote in favor of Measure D. PHOTO: DREW PENNER
So is Bud Colligan, who’s been spearheading the trail-only push for years. The former Macromedia executive says financial disclosure forms show many locals support the group’s efforts on Measure D. According to regulatory filings since the beginning of the year, the Yes Greenway campaign has brought in $317,343.92 in donations—about twice as much as the No Way Greenway campaign ($159,780.42). While some of that arrived in large amounts from wealthy individuals, Greenway has also drawn smaller contributions from people like Venes.
“I think if we had a great trail we would save a lot of lives,” says Colligan, adding he believes a recreational route would be the best use of taxpayer dollars. “We should build the simplest, least-complex thing on the rail corridor.”
According to Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission Executive Director Guy Preston, while a quality trail might cost as much to build as the recent half-a-million-dollar estimate for passenger rail construction (depending on what environmental, legal and engineering challenges arise), light rail would likely come with an annual $25 million price tag for operations. If government grants are forthcoming, and locals agree to a small tax hike, that could theoretically happen, says Preston, but he adds that complicated infrastructure projects have a way of running over budget.
Santa Cruz County could end up with a situation like what’s happening in the North Bay, where Cloverdale has been paying towards a rail line it was promised before the transit authority ran out of money and voters defeated an extra sales tax proposal, he says.
Here in the Monterey Bay, the county says it could build an initial trail from 17th Avenue to State Park Drive for about $33.4 million, or a rail-and-trail option for $70.2 million. If a trail is built and a rail option is later pursued, that would bring the total to $114.6 million for that portion, known as Sections 10 and 11. Officials admit these figures leave out additional costs, such as fixing aging infrastructure.
Project Manager Rob Tidmore calls the trail-only choice an “optional first phase” that currently can’t be constructed.
“To build the interim trail, you have to remove the railroad track,” he says. “To remove the railroad tracks, you have to railbank the corridor.”
He says it’s unclear if that process would be successful. But supporters of Measure D say building a trail next to the tracks would also require feats of engineering, with new pedestrian bridges and retaining walls to tame the steep topography.
At the moment, local planners have been proceeding with the idea that electric passenger rail is the goal for the corridor, Tidmore says, adding the upcoming vote could impact that trajectory.
Measure D supporters also point to the pitfalls of dealing with landowners whose homes butt into the corridor. There are 180 known encroachments just to the east of the San Lorenzo River alone.
Mark Esquibel, chairman of the Reform Party of Santa Cruz County, says he’s familiar with complications like these. As a right-of-way specialist for Kinder Morgan, Inc, he worked on an East Bay project called the Iron Horse Regional Trail that was a rail line in its previous life.
He also served as the subject matter expert for the pipeline company during BART’s extension from Fremont to San Jose.
“They spent $750 million on nine miles of track,” he says, adding it can be time-consuming to secure property rights. “It doesn’t happen overnight.”
In the last round of Santa Cruz County elections, Esquibel ran for District 1 Supervisor; after dropping out of the race, he endorsed pro-Greenway candidate Manu Koenig, who defeated incumbent John Leopold. That helped turn the tide towards the path-only alternative in some local government circles.
Esquibel says dozens of owners would probably have to be moved—one way or another—to make way for stations and parking lots.
“Those people are going to be asked to sell, and then forced to sell,” he says. “I actually moved a lot of families on the Iron Horse Trail.”
That particular line has now become a popular recreation trail. It’s what Measure D supporters want for Santa Cruz County.
Next to the old railway depot that’s now a museum in Danville, on the Iron Horse route, area resident Melissa says the paved path works great for dogs, bikes and strollers. Another local, Marty, says he appreciates that they ripped out the tracks and put in a trail.
“People love this—they really do,” he says. “I wouldn’t like to be walking along and having a train next to me.”
Back in the Santa Cruz Harbor on the MeloDays, as two paddlers silently glide by in a kayak, Venes works on organizing a hike along the rail corridor to encourage more people to vote Yes on D.
“We don’t want to lose that greenspace to the commuter train situation,” she says. “It would be nice to have a safe bike and hike path.”
It’s a sunny Santa Cruz day near a stretch of trail behind the Santa Cruz Mountain Brewery.
Several representatives from the No Way Greenway group that is leading the opposition to Measure D are poised to present their arguments. Sporting No Way Greenway T-shirts, buttons and holding lawn signs, an impromptu roundtable begins. Their message: Santa Cruz County’s future is dependent on the failure of Measure D.
Mark Mesiti-Miller, No on D and No Way Greenway campaign co-chair, Melani Clark, Roaring Camp Railroads CEO, Lani Faulkner, Equity Transit director, and Cabrillo College trustee Adam Spickler come from very different backgrounds, but have been brought together by their opposition to Measure D. According to No Way Greenway, Measure D would be disastrous for Santa Cruz County.
Left to right: Mark Mesiti-Miller, Lani Faulkner and Adam Spickler discuss why they’re against Measure D. PHOTO: ERIN MALSBURY
“If Measure D fails, plans that have been in the works for over two decades, that have been through the wringer of public meetings—over 100 public meetings were held to develop the master plan for rail with trail, and that plan was adopted by everyone: the California Coastal Commission, every city that the rail line runs through, the County, everybody has blessed that plan,” Mesiti-Miller says, without taking a breath. “If Measure D fails, that plan continues without interruption, without delay. And that’s the vision that everyone in this community has been working on for so long.”
The plan Mesiti-Miller refers to is at the heart of the debate: A decade ago, the RTC purchased a 32-mile segment of the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line that extends from Watsonville up to Davenport. Since then, countless hours and millions of dollars—on top of the $14.2 million spent on the rail line—have gone into transportation studies. So, if Measure D passes, opponents argue, the tracks will be covered to build a larger trail and that plan that consultants, city planners and officials and volunteers have dedicated thousands of hours to will be all for nothing.
“We are already decades deep into moving forward on continuing electric light passenger rail, and what that means for our carbon footprint and transportation equity,” Spickler says. “I want future generations to look back and say that we did the right thing. We kept transportation options in place. We didn’t reduce them.”
Faulkner says rejection of Measure D would mean a path to empowerment for an often-overlooked segment of the population.
“For people who are disabled and elderly, people who have no other way to get around the county other than public transportation, rail in particular is such a powerful way to get around, because you don’t have to sit in traffic,” Faulkner says. “People from Watsonville sit in traffic or wait for buses for hours. The failure of Measure D allows [the County] to apply for funds that will improve both our rail and bus systems, which would serve a much wider swath of our community.”
Mesiti-Miller’s passion is as big as his six-foot, six-inch frame.
“Measure D does only two things,” he begins, “remove the railroad tracks between Santa Cruz and Watsonville and rewrite the general plan to prohibit the County of Santa Cruz from studying or planning rail transit in the rail corridor forever. Read the impartial analysis on the County’s election department website. You will see the words adopting the Greenway initiative do not guarantee a greenway will be constructed. That’s what’s at stake.”
He says the argument over Measure D has been twisted into a debate over issues the measure itself does not address.
“[Greenway] talks about the cost of a train, but the cost of a train is not even on the ballot,” he says. “What’s on the ballot is: Do we want to make sure that there’s no possibility that rail transit will ever be constructed in the rail corridor?”
Meanwhile, the RTC’s Preston is on record saying that if Measure D passes, Roaring Camp Railroad’s ability to run trains to the Boardwalk would not “directly” be jeopardized. However, language is key when discussing anything related to Measure D, whether for or against, and Roaring Camp CEO Clark believes her business would be directly affected if Measure D passes. While Roaring Camp is known for its leisurely treks to the Beach Boardwalk and back to its headquarters in the Santa Cruz Mountains, the company also has the rights to the Felton freight line. Clark says Measure D could prevent freight from ever being run on it.
“It’s important to us and the San Lorenzo Valley that we have our rail link that goes up [to the Santa Cruz Mountains],” Clark says. “We had all of the fire chiefs from San Lorenzo Valley write a letter opposing Measure D because it also plays an important role for all emergency services. If there were a fire in the Valley, the train’s ability to transport people out or transport water and resources to the firefighters would be key. If there’s ever a fire and we had to evacuate the Valley, we’d only have two or three roads. Emergency service people want to keep the rail line in because that provides another way to move people out of here. There are a lot of reasons behind [No on Measure D] that make sense.”
Clark reiterates that she’s not against having the trail.
“Both sides want the trail,” she says. “We’re just saying that it makes sense to have both trail and rail.”
All ballots must be in by the end of the day on June 7. For all the current election information, voting options and voter registration, visit the Santa Cruz County Elections Department at votescount.us.
In his book California Central Coast Railways, author Rick Hamman recounts how, in the summer of 1882, a bunch of businessmen decided to put a railroad from Aptos into the hills to get at the trees.
“Rumors were flying thick and fast that several of the officers of the Southern Pacific and the Central Pacific railroads had just completed a big deal with the Watsonville Mill and Lumber Company and the Fallon family concerning their individual timber holdings up Aptos Creek Canyon,” he writes. “By October of 1882, the Loma Prieta Railroad Company had acquired all of the necessary properties and capital such that the surveying, grading, and construction of the right-of-way could begin in earnest.”
Both sides of the Measure D fight agree on one thing—there’s no way a new train would go in that quickly now. Property rights are a big reason why, experts say.
In an interview with Good Times, Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission Executive Director Guy Preston says there’s still plenty of work left to do to figure out just what agreements would need to be put in place for development on the planned—and controversial—rail corridor to proceed.
“We need to know if we need to obtain additional property rights,” he says.
That means working with an unknown number of individual landowners, each of whom could decide to frustrate plans for a trail or passenger rail.
Land Values
One of them is Cristina Locke, who recently invited a tenant to open a restaurant in the Bayview Hotel she owns. It’s situated right where the Loma Prieta line used to join up with tracks going between Santa Cruz and Watsonville.
The historic structure was built in 1878 by Basque forty-niner Joseph Arano. That was just before the forestry boom that employed around 200 Chinese graders putting tracks inland. Now there’s an orange-and-black No on D sign in front of the stately building that once housed a post office and saloon, and a sturdier one made of wood by the tracks sharing the same message.
Locke says it’s her land all the way across the tracks and halfway into Soquel Drive—unlike her neighbor to the south.
“I have this little piece extra,” she says, pointing into afternoon traffic.
The RTC believes it has rights to the portion the rails cut through, but admits the language on Locke’s deed leaves things open to interpretation.
On this May afternoon, an entire section of rails and ties are gone, leaving behind a gaping hole. It’s part of the work on a mixed-use development going in nearby.
Swenson Builders can’t sell any of the 29 new housing units until it secures a certificate of completion, according to Jessie Bristow, the project manager. It couldn’t get that until Locke signed off on allowing them to move a railroad crossing.
“I made a deal with them,” Locke says, explaining that the company’s chairman, Barry Swenson, has personally been working on the deal with her for quite some time. “For years he’s been after me and after me.”
Locke says she was originally offered just $10,000, but held out for more.
She finally agreed after the company offered to pay her at least $250,000, she says. Bristow disputes the way Locke characterized the deal, but multiple sources with knowledge of the negotiations told Good Times the figure is in the correct range.
Local planners say they aren’t sure how many people hold what titles along the entirety of the rail corridor.
Luckily for them, Locke is enamored with the historic nature of having trains pass by.
“I’d be willing to sell part of my land for that,” she says.
To Bank or Not to Bank
It’s unclear if the other owners in the area would be quite so accommodating.
The County says the quarter-million-dollar payout is a unique scenario that isn’t indicative of how expensive future negotiations would be for potential passenger rail or trail construction.
But according to the RTC’s Preston, it’s not that simple. In fact, it was Swenson Builders’ challenges with Locke that opened his eyes to potential snags all along the corridor—and convinced him of the need for railbanking, he says.
Railbanking is an approach being promoted by Greenway supporters as a way to get a path built quickly while avoiding fights with homeowners and businesses.
The RTC says that if it doesn’t railbank, and the line is abandoned, it could lose its easements.
Supporters of Measure D argue that landowners like Locke could easily frustrate a rail-and-trail build, if planners don’t pursue this strategy.
It’s happened in other places. Last year, dozens of Sonoma County residents sued over a bicycle and pedestrian path next to Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit tracks that hadn’t been railbanked first.
Usually the rail operator would apply for abandonment, but the RTC could pursue “adverse abandonment” to force the issue.
Whether this effort succeeds or not would come down to, among other things, the viability of the existing freight line, according to regulatory officials.
The Surface Transportation Board, the federal agency that makes such decisions, notes each case is very different—and evaluated on its own merits.
The board considers if there’s a freight operator trying to make a go of the line, and looks at other factors like potential environmental harm.
STB spokesperson Michael Booth says the agency is tasked with preserving the integrity of the national rail network wherever possible, while still allowing for railbanking. That process came to be under the so-called “Rails-to-Trails” act of 1983.
“The board is primarily concerned with the network itself and making sure it’s useful for shippers and the public,” he says.
Controlling Interests
Roaring Camp Railroads has been a major force rallying people in Santa Cruz County—and beyond—against Measure D.
But Roaring Camp is the subcontractor of the actual freight operator, Twin Cities-based Progressive Rail’s St. Paul and Pacific Railroad, not the owner of the main branch.
For this reason, an attempt by Progressive to block a railbanking effort would likely carry more weight than one by Roaring Camp, analysts say.
Progressive’s CEO Lon VanGemert tells Good Times the company is firmly against the voters’ initiative—although he stopped short of saying they’d try to kill a railbanking drive.
“This poorly conceived measure aims to rip up the rail tracks,” he says. “Once that happens, there is very little chance they will ever come back.”
However, Progressive previously sent the RTC a 90-day notice of their intent to file for abandonment.
“We had concerns about it, of course,” Preston says, referring to the issues around property rights. “We could lose some of those easements.”
The company then reversed course, signaling it was no longer planning to move forward with abandonment, though it reserved the right to shut down at any point, Preston says.
VanGemert declined to comment on the about-face, saying only that if Measure D is successful, it will “seriously harm” its subcontractor.
Progressive now argues there are legitimate business prospects to be had with rail in Santa Cruz.
“We believe there is clear opportunity for growth in freight service in Santa Cruz County, as well as the future addition of passenger rail,” he says.
Progressive is still trying to get out of its freight obligations, according to Preston.
Meanwhile, the RTC is currently on the hook for millions of dollars in repairs, and hasn’t come up with the cash to hold up their end of their deal with Progressive.
The area used to be a center of profits for railroads. At one point, the Loma Prieta Lumber Company was shipping out 70,000 board-feet of wood a day. But even back then, it was hard to keep things up and running. For example, in early 1899, when bad weather severely damaged the tracks, the timber left on the mountainside wasn’t enough to justify repairs on that part of the line, according to a piece in The Mountain Echo on April 8, 1899.
Mark Mesiti-Miller of No Way Greenway says the fact that Progressive isn’t on board with railbanking means a bike-only path wouldn’t happen as quickly as Greenway suggests.
“I’ve been in this industry of public works infrastructure for more than three decades,” he says. “The idea that you could rip up the rails and put a trail down for 32 miles in four or five years is completely insane.”
It will be up to the RTC to prove to the STB the line isn’t viable for freight, if abandonment proceedings get underway, according to Mesiti-Miller.
“I think everyone would argue their case,” he says. “It becomes a long, arduous affair.”
Greenway’s Bud Colligan admits there’d be delays if Roaring Camp or Progressive opposes railbanking.
As far as the arbiters of the matter are concerned, STB spokesperson Booth says decisions are typically procedural, and the length of time they take depends on the motions that get filed. Without opposition, the process could be wrapped up in six months, but would probably still only take 2-3 years if the railroad tries to fight it, according to the RTC.
But somewhat lost among the back and forth between supporters and opponents has been what, exactly, the measure would accomplish if approved by voters, and who is funding the two campaigns.
What D Would Do
This measure, if approved, would change the county’s General Plan—the jurisdiction’s blueprint for meeting the community’s long-term vision for the future—to include the development of a multi-use bicycle and pedestrian trail between the San Lorenzo Bridge in Santa Cruz and Lee Road in Watsonville, while “railbanking” the existing rail line for future use.
The measure needs only more than 50% of the vote to pass.
Santa Cruz County Counsel Jason Heath’s impartial analysis of the measure says the plan would include the removal of the existing rail tracks.
The measure would add language to the General Plan supporting the building of the trail, while removing language that relates to rail services, both freight and passenger.
Heath wrote that Greenway’s plans hinge on the approval of railbanking, which is a lengthy process that involves the federal government, freight operators and the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission, which currently owns the 32-mile rail line.
Failing that, Heath writes, the change in language would have no real-world effect.
“The General Plan is a planning document and does not mandate that proposed infrastructure be built. Therefore, adoption of the Greenway Initiative does not guarantee that the Greenway will be constructed,” he writes.
The RTC, whose governing board is made up of local city council members, county supervisors and Santa Cruz METRO board members, has maintained that approval of Measure D would not stop the agency from studying or pursuing funds for passenger rail, or its construction.
Ultimately, that agency will have the final say on the rail line’s future. Currently, it is soliciting feedback on which option—a rail and trail option or a trail-only option—it will pursue on two segments between Santa Cruz to Aptos on unincorporated county land. Other segments in Watsonville and Santa Cruz have already been completed under the rail and trail design.
Who’s Behind D?
Proponents of Measure D—led by the organization Santa Cruz County Greenway—say the 32-mile trail is fully funded, and can be built now. It would be accessible to all county residents. They say it would reduce traffic and air pollution while giving residents a safe, healthy way to commute to work and school. It would also preserve the natural landscape of the area.
According to the most recent campaign finance reports, Greenway has raised $318,285.99 in total campaign contributions.
Many of the campaign’s significant contributions have come from Bay Area and Central Coast figures such as author and Silicon Valley venture capitalist Guy Kawasaki ($20,000), Driscoll’s CEO Miles Reiter ($20,000), philanthropists Rowland Rebele ($23,000), Karen Hargrove ($25,000) and Alec Webster ($25,000), Looker co-founder Lloyd Tabb ($25,000), Bill Simpkins ($20,000) and Monterey Bay Aquarium Director Julie Packard ($15,000).
Who’s Against D?
The opposition to Measure D—spearheaded by the group No Way Greenway—say railbanking would bring the county’s existing plans to build a combination rail/trail corridor to an indefinite halt.
According to the most recent campaign finance reports, this camp has raised $165,698.70 in campaign contributions.
Among their top individual donors are Santa Cruz residents Christine Weir ($10,000), Dan and Jill Dion ($15,000 and $10,000, respectively), Mark Mesiti-Miller ($10,000) and Greg Larson ($5,000) as well former Santa Cruz Mayor Donna Murphy ($9,999).
Other notable donors include Santa Cruz City Council members and candidates for 4th District County Supervisor Justin Cummings ($250) and Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson ($100). County Superintendent of Schools Farris Sabbah ($100), former Santa Cruz Mayors Michael Rotkin ($100) and Cynthia Matthews ($100), Monterey Bay Central Labor Council Political Coordinator Glen Schaller ($100) and Santa Cruz County Democratic Party Chair Andrew Goldenkranz ($100) have also donated.
In addition, Fred Keeley, a former member of the state legislature who represented Santa Cruz, also made a $2,608 “nonmonetary” contribution in the form of event services.
No Way Greenway also received donations from the following committees: Democratic Women’s Club of Santa Cruz County ($475), Monterey/Santa Cruz Building and Construction Trades Council ($500) and Santa Cruz for Bernie PAC ($2,000.71).
The last day to register to vote in the June 7 election is May 23. Voters can register online atregistertovote.ca.gov or pick up a card at any post office, library, city hall or county elections office. There are 17 ballot drop boxes installed throughout the county. Ballots postmarked on or before June 7 and received by June 14 will be considered received on time under California state law. For information, call 454-2060 or visitvotescount.us.
The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved the 2022 Active Transportation Plan, a 200-page document that outlines dozens of projects which aim to increase the county’s system of bicycle and walking paths.
“The vision is to create a network of biking and walking routes that connect key destinations within the county and are safe, comfortable and accessible for community members of all ages, backgrounds and abilities,” said Senior Civil Engineer Russell Chen.
The plan includes hundreds of proposed projects in the urbanized areas of unincorporated Santa Cruz County which have the highest density of residents and destinations, including Davenport, Boulder Creek, Ben Lomond, Felton, Live Oak, Soquel, Aptos, Rio Del Mar, La Selva Beach, Corralitos and Amesti.
But because many of the projects are unfunded, the document essentially serves as a wish list for county officials as they seek to improve transportation options.
It was created with the input of nearly 5,000 people, with surveys showing that 86% of respondents want to walk and bike more, but were discouraged from doing so by missing sidewalks and aggressive drivers and speeders.
Supervisor Zach Friend said that the projects are important in Santa Cruz County, which has one of the highest incidents of collisions between vehicles and pedestrians and bicyclists in the state.
The plan, he says, positions the county for more state funding to do the projects.
“This is the first step of future improvements that will erase that issue within our community from a safety standpoint,” he said. “It’s not just affording people an alternative means of transportation. It’s also affording them a safe method to do those methods of transportation.”
ARIES (March 21-April 19): “The only way to the truth is through blasphemy,” declared Aries author Flannery O’Connor. I appreciate the cheeky sentiment, but I don’t believe that all truth requires blasphemy. In many cases, rebellion, irreverence, and skepticism may be enough to pry loose hidden and buried information. Outright blasphemy isn’t necessary. What does this have to do with you? Well, I’m hoping you will be feisty and audacious in your quest for interesting truths. As you dig, I invite you to be less than perfectly polite. Don’t be rude or unkind, of course. Just be charmingly bold.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): “I am so beautiful, sometimes people weep when they see me,” declares comedian Margaret Cho. I would love for you to summon her level of self-esteem and bravado in the coming weeks. According to my interpretation of the astrological omens, you now have the right and duty to boost your self-worth. All of creation is conspiring with you to develop more faith in yourself. And if you do the work to deepen your confidence and self-esteem, there will be an added bonus: a health breakthrough. As spiritual author Caroline Myss says, “Belief in oneself is required for healing.” My prediction: You will rouse an enhanced power to get the soul medicine you need.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): According to the blogger Artemisiasea, “The grandeur of life is the attempt, not the solution. It’s about behaving as beautifully as one can under completely impossible circumstances; making room for what breathes in the presence of the attempt—in the coming-to-be.” I invite you to embrace that wisdom in the coming weeks, Gemini. You won’t be dealing with impossible circumstances, but you may have to navigate your way through fascinating brainteasers and heart riddles. Whatever your destination might turn out to be, enjoy the ride with all the verve you can summon. At least for now, put aside your longing for particular results and instead simply live your life as if it were a magnificent work of art.
CANCER (June 21-July 22): It will be in your interest to change more than usual in the coming weeks. I suppose you could wait around passively and scramble to adjust as life flings challenges your way. But the better approach would be to make conscious decisions about how you want to transform. Identify the situations that would most benefit from modification and then initiate the transitions. Rather than depending on fate to provide you with random wake-up calls, choose constructive wake-up calls that are fun and invigorating.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): “If everyone likes you, it probably means you aren’t saying much,” declared politician Donna Brazile. I suspect you will disprove her theory in the coming weeks. According to my reading of the astrological omens, you will have a lot to say; your communications will be even more interesting than usual. And yet, I also expect you will receive extra respect and appreciation from others. While you may articulate ideas that are challenging to some, you will do so with enough charisma to disarm agitated reactions. A winning combination: expressiveness and approval.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Have you heard of Virgo adventurer Reinhold Messner? The man is a marvel, and not just because he’s a passionate environmental activist. He was the first mountaineer to reach the top of Mt. Everest alone, as well as the first to ascend Everest without supplemental oxygen. No one before him had ever climbed all 14 of the world’s peaks higher than 26,000 feet. He has transited Greenland and Antarctica without the aid of dog sleds or snowmobiles. He also completed a solo trip across the Gobi Desert. I propose we make Messner your inspirational role model for the next four weeks. You may not achieve history-making triumphs like him, but you could surpass what you assumed were your limits. I trust that you will break at least one of your personal records.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): “The world is a very puzzling place. If you’re not willing to be puzzled, you just become a replica of someone else’s mind.” Author Noam Chomsky said that. It’s useful counsel for you right now. I’ll go even further. I will advise you to relish the healthy pleasures of being both mysterious and mystified. Seek out fertile enigmas and be a fertile enigma yourself. Explore the rejuvenating wisdom of being indefinable and uncategorizable. Exult in the quizzical joys of Eternal Paradox.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Have you ever contemplated the beauty of the people and animals you care for and thought, “I would love to give them the strongest blessings I have to give, the smartest love I can express, and the best listening I’m able to provide.” If so, Scorpio, the coming days will be an excellent time to do that. You will have an extra capacity to offer exceptional gifts that are useful and inspirational. You will be at the peak of your ability to home in on what your beloveds need.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Sagittarian author Madeleine L’Engle told us, “The discoveries don’t come when you’re looking for them. They come when for some reason you’ve let go conscious control.” That approach isn’t absolutely true, but it may be useful for you to deploy in the coming weeks. I invite you to relinquish at least a modicum of your conscious control. And if zesty discoveries start flowing in, consider relinquishing even a bit more conscious control.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Is it a legend or a true story? Scholars disagree about whether Capricorn scientist Isaac Newton really was spurred to formulate the theory of gravity when an apple fell from the tree he was sitting beneath. This much is certain: Newton lived in the home near the famous apple tree. And that tree is alive today, 380 years after his birth. Ripe apples still fall from it. Is there an equivalent landmark or keystone from your own past, Capricorn—where an important insight arose or pivotal event happened? The coming weeks would be a good time to revisit that power spot, at least in your imagination, in quest of fresh inspiration.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Aquarian poet Jack Gilbert devoted himself to soulful beauty. I swooned when I first read his line, “We must unlearn the constellations to see the stars.” I cried for joy when he said, “We must have the stubbornness to accept our gladness in the ruthless furnace of this world.” On the other hand, I suspect Jack may have been overly consumed with his pursuit of lyrical moments. His girlfriend Linda Gregg said, “All Jack ever wanted to know was that he was awake—that the trees in bloom were almond trees—and to walk down the road to get breakfast. He never cared if he was poor or had to sleep on a park bench.” I bring this up, dear Aquarius, hoping you will avoid Gilbert’s lack of attention to practical matters. In the coming weeks, I invite you to be your extravagant, idiosyncratic, interesting self to the max. But also be sure to eat healthy food, engage in pleasurable exercise, and get plenty of rejuvenating sleep—preferably in a comfortable bed rather than on a park bench.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): The Uberfacts Twitter account informs me that if you were to consume the amount of food equivalent to what a hummingbird eats, you would eat 300 hamburgers or 7,800 cabbages per day. To match the amount of exercise a hummingbird gets while burning all those calories, you’d have to do approximately 37 bazillion jumping jacks. You will never do this, of course. But in the coming weeks, you may be more metaphorically hungry than usual. I predict you will be voracious for new information and novel experiences and fresh ideas. Not 300 hamburgers or 7,800 cabbages’ worth—but still, a lot. My advice: Have fun being insatiably curious and greedy for stimulation.
Ever tried wine flavored with a smidgeon of bourbon? Well, that’s what you get when you sip on Buck Shack Red Blend. Its full title is Ye Old Genuine Bona Fide Buck Shack Red Blend ($25).
Yes, folks, there’s a touch of bourbon in every swig; this bold and rustic red is aged in old bourbon barrels. You just have to try it for yourselves to experience all of the nuances of a good wine—with a tad of Kentucky’s pride and joy.
The Shannon Family of Wines, based in Kelseyville, California, is behind the Buck Shack Red Blend. The wines are named after the 100-year-old skinning shed on their property, “Ye Old Buck Shack.” Their wines are for “rollicking good times,” not “restrained, erudite conversations.” shannonfamilyofwines.com.
Angel’s Envy Bourbon
Speaking of bourbon, Deer Park Wine & Spirits in Aptos carries two bourbons by renowned Angel’s Envy, an exceptional Kentucky straight bourbon from the creators of Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel and others. It’s finished in port wine barrels. deerparkwines.com.
Good Earth Tea Company
Good Earth Tea was founded in Santa Cruz in 1972. Although no longer based here, their products are still available, including a few new ones: Tropical Mango & Moringa (biodegradable tea bags); Ginger Turmeric & Lemon (biodegradable tea bags); Sweet & Spicy (caffeine-free); Sweet & Spicy Chamomile (caffeine-free); and their 50th Anniversary Chai, a flavored black tea. goodearth.com.
Grab Your Growler
Stockwell Cellars offers growlers for $15-$20 for refills. If it’s not sold out, the Rosé of Grenache is a sure-fire hit. Weekly wine selections change, so check their website before you go. Stockwell Cellars, 1100 Fair Ave., Santa Cruz. 831-818-9075; stockwellcellars.com.
Cabrillo Stage
We are fortunate that the Cabrillo College stage is still going strong. This summer’s productions include Grease (June 23-July 10) and Candide (July 21-Aug. 14). cabrillostage.com.
Bailey Suesens first worked at Café Sparrow as a teenager, assisting her dad—co-owner of the Aptos spot since 1989—in the kitchen. Eventually, Suesens set out to earn a degree in fashion marketing from the Art Institute of San Francisco, where she met her now-husband Donnie—he went through the school’s culinary program. With a talented chef by her side, Suesens moved back to Santa Cruz and now co-owns Sparrow with Donnie, who’s flourished running the kitchen. Bailey describes Sparrow as a “comprehensively French upscale dining experience,” from the décor to the classic cuisine—with a California twist. Seared scallops on polenta with balsamic reduction highlight the apps, and the filet mignon, made with a traditional beef bone stock sauce, is an entrée must-have. They also serve locally sourced wild fish specials and quintessential French desserts like profiteroles, a mini puff pastry filled with custard or ice cream, topped with Ghirardelli chocolate sauce. Sparrow is open Monday-Friday, 11:30am-2pm, for lunch; Monday-Saturday, 5-9pm, for dinner; and closed Sundays. Bailey talked to GT about her “over it” moment with kitchen work and how Café Sparrow keeps it French.
When did you know your back-of-house days were over?
BAILEY SUESENS: I was 16, working in the kitchen doing prep work and plating. My dad was the head chef, and I plated a dish wrong and burned myself on the chicken livers he was cooking. He got upset with me, and I felt terrible too and started crying—I knew from then on that I didn’t want to work in the kitchen anymore. From there, I became a busser and then a server and felt more in my element. Now I love working front-of-house and being the face of the restaurant.
How does Café Sparrow keep it 100% French?
For one, our sauces, which are very traditional to French cuisine and are all made in-house. For example, the Espagnole, which is the base for our sauce on the filet mignon, and the bearnaise, which is basically a hollandaise with tarragon and shallots. Also, the décor is very French countryside too. We have an entire wall of wine bottles, and the other walls are adorned with hand-painted art; there are also lots of quaint French accents throughout the space and menu, starting at the front door with a traditional farm door.
Not content to simply gift the Westside with a sophisticated saloon with creative cocktails and tasty small plates, entrepreneur Sean Venus is on the verge of giving Aptos and South Beach residents their very own spiritual destination. Yes, Venus Spirits Cocktails and Kitchen Beachside plans to open for signature cocktails and a matching menu in mid-June. Where? Well, on the beach, of course. Specifically in the space that has been Café Rio for the past four decades.
“It’s a big project,” Venus told me last week, “and we’ll add menu nuances little by little.” But for the short term, the focus will be on “from the sea” items, plus Westside kitchen favorites translated over to the new establishment.
The distiller says he’s had his eye on the Café Rio spot for a long time.
“My wife’s family had been dining there forever. I knew that the owner Jeanne Harrison was looking to move on, and when I saw the possibility I just kind of jumped in.”
Endless sunsets, the soothing sound of waves, the salt air. What better spot for a cocktail-intensive dinner house. The plan is to feature cocktails crafted with the justly popular distilled spirits from Venus’ Westside Santa Cruz distillery. Personally, I’m hoping the new beachfront Venus will still keep a few of my favorite menu items, especially the irresistible crispy Brussels sprouts with jalapeño cashew cream, and the addictive cornbread with bourbon bacon jam and honey butter. Many out-of-towners have found redemption in these shared plates, especially in the company of the gin and tonic with No. 2 gin, orange, star anise and bay leaf.
“We’ve still got touch-ups to the outside and the inside to finish. New outdoor furniture, artwork, signage,” he says. But less than a month before the planned opening, Sean Venus has the liquor license plus all the licenses submitted.
“I cut through bureaucracy pretty well,” he says with a chuckle. “Looking through the old permit records, I saw that the 1979 opening of the original Café Rio really brought a renaissance for the neighbors and for that area. And we hope to do the same.”
Founded nine years ago, Venus Spirits specializes in small-batch spirits such as vodka, aquavit, the now-legendary line of botanical gins, El Ladrón Blue Agave Spirits, whiskey and rum. Always surfing the point, Venus began a line of canned cocktails in 2019, just ahead of lockdown. Now the galaxy expands to a prime beachfront location. Stay tuned for official opening date.
Mystery on the Menu
Leslie Karst‘s sizzling Sally Solari mystery series strikes again! Former attorney/writer Karst—who divides her time between Santa Cruz and Hilo, Hawaii—has just finished her latest, The Fragrance of Death, to be released in August. Santa Cruz fans of Karst’s home-based cozy mysteries will eat up her latest tale starring a restaurateur turned accidental sleuth. In this installment, Solari’s recent sinus infection has left her without a sense of smell. Not good for a cook! At the center of the plot is a murder that happens at the annual Santa Cruz Artichoke Cook-Off, and there are enough suspects to fill the entire Bookshop Santa Cruz, where, incidentally, Karst will appear at a book talk and launch for The Fragrance of Death on Thursday, August 4. Mark your calendars!
Stay Calm and Chew
Yes, we too experienced some sticker shock at dinner at a venerable downtown landmark last week. Prices had been adjusted upward to keep up with inflation. They have to. But don’t abandon our restaurants. If you don’t frequent your favorite places, they can’t weather the current economic storm.
