Page 505 – Good Times

Do Santa Cruz County’s Fire Districts Need Big Changes?

Jacob Pierce

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September 15, 2020

Do Santa Cruz County’s Fire Districts Need Big Changes?

Residents of Bonny Doon and Boulder Creek have begun moving back to the area threatened by the CZU Lighting Complex fire, which is 91% contained as of Tuesday morning after burning 86,509 acres. Residents are grappling with questions about water supply, water quality, road repairs and so much more as they try to get on with their lives.

But as the smoke continues to clear in the Santa Cruz Mountains, they are asking another question: How did this happen?

Ian Kapostins, a resident of Last Chance, remembers seeing the sky suddenly catch fire on the night of Aug. 18, as a thick, gusting, ember-filled wind blew through his backroad neighborhood. Kapostins rushed his wife out of a shower, and they gathered up the cats, got in the car and floored it down Last Chance Road as flames engulfed their neighborhood. Although fires had been burning for a few days, Kapostins and his neighbors never got an evacuation warning.

Media reports have since detailed the harrowing experience of the Kapostins’ neighbors—the death of longtime resident Tad Jones, the horror of spending the night in an open meadow while flames closed in, and hiding out in a pond with a pipe for a snorkel. It all happened hours after Last Chance residents were repeatedly assured they’d be safe.

Kapostins’ home was one of more than 900 to burn in the fire. He says he has no beef with Cal Fire, which he knows was stretched thin due to historic wildfires blazing throughout the state. But as he shifts gears to think about rebuilding, he just wants to make sure it doesn’t all happen again.

“We do see that something fell apart,” Kapostins says. “We’re totally supportive of what they do, but we want to help them do it better.”

ASH PROMISED

In the years ahead, there will be a report looking into what happened in the CZU Lightning Complex fire. There will also be a close look at how best to structure fire services in the county.

The Land Agency Formation Commission of Santa Cruz County (LAFCO) was already planning to spend the next year working on a review of fire services in the county. Then came a scathing report earlier this summer from the Santa Cruz County Civil Grand Jury detailing systemic issues among the county’s 10 fire districts. Among its concerns, the Grand Jury argued that the current setup creates a confusing web of bureaucracy that provides little accountability. That prompted a recent response from LAFCO and cast a spotlight on the agency’s coming analysis.

As an example of what will be on the table, LAFCO staff could recommend the consolidation of different agencies—if they determine that such changes would be more efficient, more sustainable or safer.

Because so many of the fire safety issues outlined by the Grand Jury are organizational, it is too early to say whether the bulk of them made the CZU fire any worse. But the crisis has shone light on this pivotal moment between a major Grand Jury report and the anticipated analysis.

Local LAFCO Executive Officer Joe Serrano was working at the San Diego branch of LAFCO after fires terrorized southern California in 2008, and he saw firsthand how the agency played a leading role in reorganizing fire services in San Diego County.

He says Santa Cruz County’s LAFCO could play a similar role locally as the community works on how to move on. That’s why Serrano looks forward to digging more deeply into the Grand Jury’s findings.

“They raised good questions, so I really want to continue that analysis,” he says. “After these fires extinguish, we’re going to see what went well and what didn’t. What were the lessons, and how can we prevent this from happening again or minimize those effects?”

DISTRICT PROTOCOL

When it comes to merging two or more special districts, Santa Cruz County Supervisor John Leopold, a longtime LAFCO commissioner, says it takes lots of hard work and years of collaboration.

LAFCO played a role in the Aptos/La Selva Fire Protection District’s merger with Central Fire—which LAFCO is expected to approve next month—as well as the merger of the Lompico Water District with the San Lorenzo Valley’s. The Grand Jury was also involved in both of those. In many instances, however, Leopold says that Grand Jury and LAFCO recommendations go unheeded.

Individual special districts, like water districts and fire districts, meet the needs of the customers in various ways, and there are always lots of details to work out, he says, to see the process through. One of those hurdles can be that a community will often root its sense of identity in its small-town water district or fire protection district—even when that value appears largely symbolic.

“Fear of losing that identity is one of the factors that can complicate the logistics of mergers,” Leopold says.

Fellow LAFCO commissioner Jim Anderson, who serves on the Felton Fire Protection District’s Board of Directors, said at a Sept. 2 LAFCO meeting that he has a certain fondness for the San Lorenzo Valley’s fire departments, all of which are volunteer-run. Still, he thinks it’s important to leave the door open for changes, including the possibility of a consolidated system of stations, staffed by paid firefighters.

Serrano says the whole process is just getting started, and there’s no telling where it will lead.

“These reports plant a seed of an idea,” he says. “An opportunity.”

Film Review: ‘Personal History of David Copperfield’

Lisa Jensen

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September 15, 2020

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Film Review: ‘Personal History of David Copperfield’

Anglo-Indian actor Dev Patel may not be the most obvious choice to play David Copperfield, one of Charles Dickens’ most beloved and most autobiographical heroes. But casting the popular Patel is but one of many inspired and audacious choices made by Armando Iannucci in his smart and highly entertaining adaptation The Personal History of David Copperfield.

Director Iannucci and his co-scenarist and frequent writing partner Simon Blackwell are best-known for sly political satires The Death of Stalin and TV’s Veep, created by Iannucci. In their hands, Dickens’ classic coming-of-age tale gets an energizing makeover that is absolutely true to this spirit of the novel. While unapologetically diverse in its casting, it never feels unduly PC, and is often brilliant in the originality of its storytelling.

The movie is framed as a theatrical recitation by acclaimed author Copperfield (a nod to the kinds of public readings Dickens himself staged for his rapt admirers throughout his career). As he narrates his life story, beginning with his birth, it unfolds onscreen, with the adult David popping up in the shot with commentary—one of the movie’s many charmingly surreal touches.

David’s idyllic childhood with his loving young widowed mother ends abruptly when she marries grim Murdstone, who arrives with his equally sour sister (an unrecognizable Gwendoline Christie). The spirited child David (Jairaj Varsani) is banished to London to work in a grimy factory. He’s a teenager (now played by Patel) when he learns his mother has died, and walks all the way to Dover to throw himself on the mercy of his only relative, the formidable Aunt Betsey Trotwood (a delightful Tilda Swinton).

Peter Capaldi is droll and wistfully philosophical as the impecunious Micawber, and Hugh Laurie is wonderful as the mostly befuddled but sometimes gently insightful Mr. Dick, Aunt Betsey’s distant relation. He and David share a love of writing things down, giving the filmmakers ample opportunity to weave Dickens’ delicious prose into the fabric of the movie. Ben Whishaw is unctuously oozy as conniving Uriah Heep, although there’s not enough time to convey the full menace of his crimes. Aneurin Barnard’s impressively grand Steerforth seems more of a poseur than genuinely charismatic; David’s attachment to him never quite feels earned.

Meanwhile, the narrative strides boldly forward through Dickens’ busy plot, hitting most of its emotional and comic high notes. Quick and clever editing keeps the pictures moving with smooth dissolves and ingenious expositions. When David falls instantly in love with porcelain, childlike Dora (Morfydd Clark), daughter of the lawyer who employs him, he sees her face painted on a pub sign in the street, and her blonde curls adorning a passing cart driver. To keep the narrative moving, the filmmakers even have the nerve to write out a key character, at her request. (“I really don’t fit in.”) I doubt if Dickens would approve, but it’s a smart way to keep the movie’s tone consistent and focused.

This David Cooperfield looks terrific, from teeming London streets to the countryside to the seaside. Motherly Peggotty (Daisy May Cooper), David’s former nurse, lives with her family under the upturned hull of a boat on the beach at Yarmouth. (A magical place vividly realized by production designer Cristina Casali.) In addition to the Micawbers, Aunt Betsey and Mr. Dick, David’s surrogate family includes his aunt’s tippling but well-meaning solicitor Whitfield (Benedict Wong) and his daughter Agnes (played with good-humored warmth by Rosalind Eleazar).

Patel plays David with the right balance of open-hearted exuberance and dawning maturity. The non-traditional casting also highlights the story’s core question of identity. David earns many nicknames on his journey through life—Davy, Trot, Daisy, Doady—which are more expressions of who others need him to be than who he actually is. It’s a nifty little victory when David finally discards his nicknames to proclaim himself simply David Copperfield— the hero (at last) of his own life.

THE PERSONAL HISTORY OF DAVID COPPERFIELD

(****)

With Dev Patel, Tilda Swinton, Peter Capaldi, Hugh Laurie, Rosalind Eleazar, and Jairaj Varsani. Written by Simon Blackwell and Armando Iannucci. From the novel by Charles Dickens. Directed by Armando Iannucci. A Searchlight release. Rated PG. 119 minutes.

Rob Brezsny’s Astrology: Sept. 16-22

Rob Brezsny

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September 15, 2020

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Free will astrology for the week of Sept. 16

ARIES (March 21-April 19): In one of your past lives, maybe you were a Neanderthal midwife in what’s now southern France. In another incarnation, you may have been a 17th-century Guarani shaman who shared your knowledge about local plants with an Italian Jesuit missionary in what’s now Uruguay. All the powers and aptitudes you perfected in those and other previous ages could prove helpful as you cultivate your genius in the coming weeks. Just kidding! Cancel my previous speculations. For you Aries folks, past achievements are often of secondary importance as you create your future. In fact, your mandate is usually to transcend the old days and old ways. It may be better not to imitate or rely on old stories, no matter how dazzling. This will be especially true in the coming weeks.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): “There are no ordinary feelings,” says poet Dean Young. “Just as there are no ordinary spring days or kicked over cans of paint.” That’s always true, but it will be especially true for you in the coming weeks. I suspect you will be host to a wealth of interesting, unique and profound feelings. They might be a bit overwhelming at times, but I think they will mostly provide rich opportunities for your soul to grow deeper and stronger and more resilient.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): “There should be a science of discontent,” said novelist Frank Herbert. “People need hard times and oppression to develop psychic muscles.” I partially agree with that observation, but I also think it’s a gratuitous cliché that’s not at all absolute. In fact, our culture is under the spell of a mass delusion that tempts us to believe “no pain, no gain” is the supreme learning principle. I’d like to see the development of a robust science of contentment: how fascination and freedom and generosity can build psychic muscles. You’ll be a good candidate to study that subject in the coming weeks.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Cancerian songwriter Mathangi Arulpragasam is better known by her stage name M.I.A. She has accomplished a lot in her 45 years on the planet, having been nominated for three Grammy Awards and an Academy Award. Esquire magazine named her the 75th most influential person of the 21st century. One key to her success is the fact that she formulated a clear master plan many years ago and has used it to guide her decisions. In her song “Matangi,” she refers to it: “If you’re gonna be me, you need a manifesto / If you ain’t got one, you better get one presto.” I bring this to your attention, Cancerian, because the coming weeks will be an excellent time to formulate (or reformulate) your life manifesto and master plan.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): “If you’re not invited to the party, throw your own,” declares singer and actress Diahann Carroll. In the coming weeks, I urge you Leos to use that advice as a metaphor in every way you can imagine. For example, if you’re not getting the love you want from a certain someone, give it to yourself. If no one hands you the opportunity you need, hand it to yourself. If you wish people would tell you what you want to hear, but they’re not saying it, tell yourself what you want to hear. It’s a time when you need to go beyond mere self-sufficiency. Be self-gratifying, self-rewarding, self-acknowledging.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): “At the necessary moment, going naked will be your most convincing disguise,” writes poet Dobby Gibson. As I apply his witty statement to your life, I’ll interpret it metaphorically. My sense is that you could really use the kind of “disguise” he’s talking about. What I mean is that you would benefit by appearing to be different from what people expect of you. You can gain key advantages by shifting the image you present to the world—by expressing a part of your identity that is not usually obvious. And I think the best way to do that is to “go naked”—i.e. be candid and transparent and vulnerable about your core truths.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Libran playwright Wendy Wasserstein wrote, “Every year I resolve to be a little less the me I know and leave a little room for the me I could be. Every year I make a note not to feel left behind by my friends and family who have managed to change far more than I.” I recommend Wasserstein’s practice to you, dear Libra. The coming weeks will be an excellent time to launch this ritual as an annual tradition. For best results, write it out as a vow. I mean take a pen and paper and compose a solemn pledge, then sign it on the bottom to seal your determination.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): “I may not lead the most dramatic life,” confesses singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright, “but in my brain it’s War and Peace every day.” He was referencing Leo Tolstoy’s sprawling, exuberant 1,200-page novel War and Peace, which features stories about five families who lived through Napoléon’s invasion of Russia in the 19th century. I’m guessing that these days your fantasy life may also be filled with epic fairy tales and heroic sagas and tear-jerking myths. Is there a problem with that? Not necessarily. It could be quite entertaining and educational. I do recommend that you keep your actual life a little calmer and saner, however.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): “I rejoice to live in such a splendidly disturbing time!” said author Helen Keller (1880–1968). She was a smart activist who worked hard on behalf of women’s equality, labor rights, antimilitarism and socialism. Was she being sarcastic in saying she loved being alive during a time of upheaval? Not at all. She derived excitement and vigor from critiquing injustice. Her lust for life soared as she lent her considerable energy to making life on earth more enjoyable for more people. I invite you to consider adopting her attitude in the coming weeks. It’s a good time to experiment with generating the personal power that becomes available by taking practical action in behalf of your high ideals.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You know what perfectionists are: people who obsessively strive to finesse every last detail, polishing and honing so compulsively that they risk sucking all the soul out of the finished product. In contrast to them, I propose that we identify a different class of humans known as imperfectionists. They understand that a ferocious drive for utter purity can make things sterile and ugly. They resolve to cultivate excellence while at the same time they understand that irregularities and eccentricities may infuse their work with beauty. I hope you’ll act like an imperfectionist in the coming weeks, Capricorn.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): “Everything good I’ve ever gotten in life, I only got because I gave something else up,” writes author Elizabeth Gilbert. To that melodramatic declaration, I say, “Really? Everything? I don’t believe you.” And yet I do think she has a point. On some occasions, the most effective strategy for bringing good new influences into our lives is to sacrifice an influence or habit or pattern we’re attached to. And often the thing that needs to be sacrificed is comfortable or consoling or mildly pleasurable. I suspect that the coming weeks will offer you one of these opportunities, Aquarius.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): “I and me are always too deeply in conversation,” confessed philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. I wonder why he said “too deeply” and not just “deeply.” Did he mean his dialogs with himself distracted him from important matters in the world outside of his imagination? Was he implying that he got so consumed while conducting his self-interviews that he lost his bearings and forgot what his goals were? With these cautions in mind, Pisces, I invite you to dive into an intense but spacious communion with yourself. Make this a delightful and illuminating conference, not a raging debate or a debilitating argument.

Homework: What’s your favorite rule to break? freewillastrology.com.

Learning to Love Dessert Again Thanks to Vim Dining and Desserts

Christina Waters

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September 15, 2020

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Learning to Love Dessert Again Thanks to Vim Dining and Desserts

I always appreciated the dining side of Vim Dining and Desserts. But last week I fell in love with the dessert side of this busy little Westside restaurant. Now with its patio dining in full swing, plus indoor tables hosting happy diners, Vim is cooking full steam—enough so that it served us a terrific little take-home dinner with a memorable dessert.

Let me start at the top. Chef Jesikah Stolaroff likes to make things look as good as they taste, even when neatly packed into surprisingly well-insulated carryout containers. When I got home with our dinner items, they were still hot and easy to unpack and dish out in a reasonably appetizing manner.

With dinner we opened a bottle of 2015 Tempranillo Pierce Ranch from winemaker Jeff Emery’s Quinta Cruz label ($19.99 at Shopper’s Corner). Candles were lit as I organized our plates. We YouTubed some mellow Paris jazz to go with an order of Moroccan spiced pork tenderloin ($27). Sliced into four generous portions, the rare pork had been glazed with harissa-infused pluot jam and arrived on a soft cushion of mashed butter beans. The glaze and beans were tossed with a dice of rich cured pork guanciale that heightened the spicing of red peppers, coriander, and a hint of cumin—it even might have been even more aggressively spiced for my taste. On the side were braised stems of broccolini. Perfection with the berry and bay leaf tones of the wine.

Another entree—also a very generous portion—was a triumph of sophisticated comfort food. A caprese of chicken breast, juicy and tender, arrived topped with basil, onion tomato jam, and mozzarella, on a bed of garlic mashed potatoes and sided by delicious green beans (both entrees $27). Big flavors, big satisfaction. Each dish was terrific, but the caprese alone would have justified the visit to Vim. It looked colorful and preserved the best attitudes of old school Italian-American cooking. Again, the Tempranillo made a great partner. Both dishes were easy to serve, nothing tiny and precious to slide around in the carryout containers or to mess up while serving.

Full disclosure: I do not fantasize about desserts. Give me a cheese plate any day. But. Opening a container of multi-layered tiramisu—yes, I said tiramisu—I found myself surrendering. Huge fresh raspberries adorned this classic creation of mascarpone, soft tea-soaked sponge cake, and unsweetened cocoa powder ($12). Here was a barely sweet adult creation that looked like a child’s birthday party on New Year’s Eve. My companion pronounced the tiramisu the ideal conclusion to our flavor-intensive dinner as he slid his fork through all the layers into the fragrant, moist cake at the bottom.

Remember when no restaurant dared offer a dessert menu without tiramisu? It was everywhere, and at some point I must have eaten my fill because I know I hadn’t tasted it in many years. How nice, given its former cliché status that Vim’s version was given real respect. The tiramisu was dreamy, elegant, and frankly perfect. I saved enough to consume with a cup of strong black tea the next day for lunch. It was my entire lunch. Guilty pleasure? You bet.

2238 Mission St., Santa Cruz. Wednesday-Saturday, 5-8pm; Sunday, 10am-1pm. vimsantacruz.com.

Good News Department

Even in the midst of harvest, Alfaro Family Vineyards is open on Saturdays for weekend outdoor by-the-glass tasting, noon to 5pm. Call 831-728-5172 for your reservation.

Watsonville’s Kabwasa to Release Debut Full-Length Album

A&E
Music

Johanna Miller

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September 14, 2020

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Watsonville’s Kabwasa to Release Debut Full-Length Album

Watsonville singer-songwriter Kabwasa will celebrate a major milestone in his career on Sept. 16 by releasing his first full-length studio album, “Maiden Flight.”

Born Etienne Kabwasa Green, Kabwasa now lives in Los Angeles, where he made waves in the hip-hop scene even before graduating from the University of Southern California in April. But his music continually harkens back to his hometown—his EP, re-released earlier this year, was simply titled “Watsonville.”

“I’m just really excited to give something to people in Watsonville,” he said. “People reach out to me, saying they didn’t think someone from their hometown could reach success like this, and I think that motivates them. That’s the most important thing to me. To inspire Watsonville artists to pursue their passions.”

Kabwasa’s lyrics often hit on important social issues, especially those he recognized growing up in the Pajaro Valley, but also more lighthearted fare such as “Boardwalk,” a track recently remixed and promoted by the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.

“Maiden Flight” will be his first full-length album. The album, he says, tells the story of his journey as an artist, from when he first started to present day.

“Each song is a different step mentally, emotionally, artistically, of what I’ve been through so far,” he said. “It’s not just a compilation of singles. I wanted to make sure it meant something. Like if I left one song out, it would feel incomplete.”

Kabwasa’s music is a mixture of R&B and hip-hop, with “old school sounds” and elements of jazz, soul and funk. “Maiden Flight” features a number of guest collaborators, including Clarence the Kid, Club Yokai, Moskito Sounds and Watsonville’s own Saucy Beats.

Staying creative during the Covid-19 pandemic has been a challenge, but Kabwasa says he has noticed how important art has become to people during the crisis.

“It has brought art to the forefront,” he said, “and shown that it’s one of the most powerful things we have.”

Kabwasa has also been inspired by the ongoing resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement, releasing a track called “Black Movement” and spearheading a large protest at USC in June that drew about 1,000 students, community members and faculty.

“I want to use the small platform I had … to use my little bit of influence,” he said. “For my fellow African-Americans, for the LGBTQ community, for all of my brothers and sisters … to give them a chance to be heard.”

Kabwasa says he’s excited for “Maiden Flight” to be released, and eager to hear what people think.

“I love when people reach out to me … especially when they’re from Watsonville,” he said. “I love connecting with people and encouraging them in any way I can. That’s what I hope my music can do.”

“Maiden Flight” will be available on Sept. 16 on all streaming platforms, including Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon and Soundcloud. Follow Kabwasa on social media @musicbykabwasa and on YouTube

Local Arts Groups Look Ahead to Going Virtual for Fall Exhibits

Johanna Miller

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September 14, 2020

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Local Arts Groups Look Ahead to Going Virtual for Fall Exhibits

An exhibit at Cabrillo College’s art gallery in Aptos was only open to the public for five days in March before it had to close down due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Since then, Cabrillo Gallery staff has kept connected to art lovers by posting about the show, “Six Years Smitten,” regularly on social media. Each piece is featured, giving the artist a chance to give a statement about their work. They also moved their Student Exhibition online in April.

Gallery Director Beverly Rayner said the social media postings have been “very well received,” and praised Program Coordinator Victoria May for her dedication in promoting the work.

“Victoria has been doing a really beautiful job at reaching out,” Rayner said. “I think the frequency of the posts has really helped us stay in touch with people.”

The physical “Six Years Smitten” exhibit will most likely be taken down at the end of September, May said.

After that, there is plenty more to look forward to in fall 2020. Switching to an all-online format, the gallery will open “Navigators,” a show featuring the work of more than 40 Cabrillo staff and faculty. The work will span all disciplines, from painting to sculpture and photography to mixed media.

Rayner said she hopes the show will be as uplifting to Cabrillo staff and faculty as the Student Exhibition was for students.

“Students were separated from the campus, from their instructors, from each other,” she said. “To have that kind of exposure. It was really nice to give that to them. We hope we can give the same to our [colleagues].”

“Navigators” will be online to view Sept. 28-Oct. 23 and include a series of virtual artist talks.

In November the gallery’s annual “12×12 (x12)” open invitational will be held, albeit in a different format. It will run online Nov. 2-Dec. 4.
The show, which allows artists of all levels to submit equally-sized works from various mediums, is one of the gallery’s most popular exhibits of the year.

“It’s a real community celebration,” Rayner said. “Everybody gets involved. We don’t want to let that go. It’ll be interesting, but we’re looking forward to it.”

More art happenings

Pajaro Valley Arts

“Sculpture Is” — Sculpture exhibit at Sierra Azul Nursery, 2660 E Lake Ave., Watsonville. A portion of art sales goes to support PVA. Ongoing through Oct. 31.

“Members’ Exhibit: People, Places and Poetry” — PVA’s annual member’s exhibit will be held virtually this year. An online gallery will be live in the next week. Stay tuned for more updates.

“Mi Casa es Tu Casa” — Annual exhibit inspired by Día de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead). PVA invites the community to send digital images of family members who have passed. A virtual exhibit will be created from the images. Submit Entry and Release Form to he****@pv****.org by Sept. 20.

Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History

“Community is Collective Care” — A new exhibit in the museum’s garden features a mural by artist Irene Juarez O’Connell. The show also displays information and advice on navigating the Covid-19 pandemic, and offers free “Creativity Kits” to attendees.

“In These Uncertain Times” — Opening in late fall, the exhibit will showcase the creativity and resilience of Santa Cruz County’s response to shelter-in-place and the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Queer Santa Cruz” — MAH’s first all-virtual exhibit explores the important contributions, impact, and history of Santa Cruz County’s LGBTQ+ community. Available to view online.

Sesnon Art Gallery

“Irwin 2020: Collective Solitude” — The 34th annual Irwin Scholarship Award exhibition showcases the work of a select group of UC Santa Cruz’s most promising young artists. The virtual show aims to explore our present, estranged world where everyone is experiencing some form of loss and separation.

“Barring Freedom” — A bi-coastal exhibition of contemporary art organized by UCSC in collaboration with San José Museum of Art. The show makes visible the troubled history and radicalized present of the prison-industrial complex. Opening virtually Oct. 20.

First Fridays Santa Cruz

“Virtual First Fridays” — Local artists are featured every week on First Friday social media accounts. Artists take over the group’s Instagram account, posting images, stories and videos about their work.

Santa Cruz Art League

“Art League Journal” — Every Monday the league will post a new theme on social media for the community to participate and share in. Post an artist or artwork that you enjoy using the hashtag #artleaguejournal. Ongoing.

Open Studios

“Virtual Arts Network” — Arts Council Santa Cruz County is bringing Open Studios to an online format this October. The network is a curated directory of local visual artists and their work. Artists will be able to show off their work through images, statements, contact information, sales portals and more.

Protests: Live Updates from Across Santa Cruz County

GT Staff

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September 14, 2020

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Protests: Live Updates from Across Santa Cruz County

Protests have been taking place across Santa Cruz County in support of the Black Lives Matter movement following the death of George Floyd, a Black man who was killed in Minneapolis on May 25 after a white police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes.

In addition to the nationwide calls for police reform and defunding, locally these protests have expanded to address such issues as the death of 21-year-old Tamario Smith at the Santa Cruz County Jail on May 10, the rights of the Black transgender community, and more.

Check back here for continuing coverage of local action, including links to full stories and details about planned community events. The most recent updates are added at the top.

Sept. 14, 10:30am: Black Lives Matter activists paint new mural

Even as clouds of smoke blanketed the skies on Saturday, Sept. 12, the haze that filtered in from fires around California wasn’t the only thing in the atmosphere.

During a Black Lives Matter mural painting at Santa Cruz City Hall, the air was also filled with hope, as excitement and positivity flowed through a socially distanced crowd. More than 500 people volunteered to paint the city’s permanent Black Lives Matter mural on Center Street that the Santa Cruz City Council unanimously approved in June.

Activists will repaint the mural every year. Organizers say it’s part of a broader, ongoing conversation that’s continuing to gain momentum, three months after the killing of George Floyd by Minnesota police in May.

“That’s the point of all this,” explained local artist and activist Abi Mustapha, who first came up with the concept, based on similar models around the country, and pitched it to the city. “It’s not just a performative act; there’s a lot more behind it.”

On July 8, the Arts Commission pledged to fund the mural’s maintenance, pick an organization each year to oversee the annual repaintings and to release an annual report on the committee’s commitment to “Equity, Inclusivity and Environmental Justice.”

The Yoga For All Movement, a Santa Cruz nonprofit that takes its practices into jails and rehab centers, sponsored the inaugural event. Each year, the chosen group in charge of the mural repainting will have to show what it has accomplished over the previous 12 months on racial equity, LGBTQ+, environmental and human rights issues in the community.

Mustapha said Santa Cruz is the first city in the country to incorporate a sustainability and equity initiative into its Black Lives Matter mural.

Families and people of all ages waited in line for the chance to paint a portion of the historic mural, while other volunteers worked on sanitization and crowd control. Organizers even set up a booth selling commemorative T-shirts with proceeds going toward future mural maintenance.

Mustapha’s friend Taylor Reinhold, an artist and activist, was among the volunteers, as were his fellow members of the Made Fresh Crew, whose murals can be seen throughout town.

At the event, Keisha Browder, CEO for United Way of Santa Cruz County, addressed the crowd.

“Enjoy the rest of this afternoon, but remember that Black Lives Matter as a mural—it matters in the boardroom, and it matters as policy,” Browder told the crowd. “It matters how we treat people.”

She later told GT that, going forward, activists, politicians and community members will need to keep working together to create equal access to quality education and housing, while shining a brighter light on problems in the criminal justice system. But she also said the turnout and unanimous vote “speaks to the heart of Santa Cruz.”

“I have to say I do feel seen, heard and valued in Santa Cruz,” she said.

Sept. 4, 5pm: Action continues with fundraisers, murals and more

Local organizing group Blended Bridge continues to take action to support racial justice in the community. The group recently collected school supplies for Beach Flats youth. It is currently collecting school supplies for Campesino families in Watsonville. Learn more about what they are collecting and how to contribute here: instagram.com/p/CEndkXSg__M.

More upcoming events for communities in need and for racial justice can be found on the Blended Bridge website and on the IndyBay calendar.

The Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History (MAH) is hosting an event where a Black Lives Matter mural will be painted on Center Street in downtown Santa Cruz. The MAH is inviting people to sign up as painters, sanitation helpers, and speakers at an open mic for the mural event on Sept. 12 from 10am-5pm. Learn more and sign up here before Sept. 10: santacruzmah.org/events/blm-mural/2020/09/12.

Aug. 17, 12:15pm: Organizers continue call for justice

Local organizers are continuing to hold events to bring attention to the movement for social justice.

The latest action comes on the heels of Santa Cruz’s first Black Lives Matter Month, which activists noted was marked by a string of racist incidents and hate crimes. As Black Lives Matter activist Esabella Bonner shared, they’re working to use last month’s incidents as a tool for educating people about the role of racism locally. They’re trying to provide resources to keep up the momentum for change.

“This backlash has been motivating for me because people wouldn’t be pushing back if we weren’t disrupting the status quo and we weren’t making changes. Long term, these changes are going to have a positive effect on everyone—even the folks that might have more reservations right now,” Bonner said.

A Defund the Police Coalition’s People’s Mic and March is planned for Tuesday, Aug. 18. The Santa Cruz group of the Showing Up for Racial Justice network is coordinating a car caravan in support of the event.

On Aug. 25, Santa Cruz Skateboarders Against Police Brutality will meet at Lighthouse Point on West Cliff between 3-4pm for a protest.

More events are also being added on the IndyBay calendar.

Aug. 5, 1:20pm: March tonight and more upcoming events

A march and speak-out for social justice are planned for tonight at 6pm in Santa Cruz. Anyone interested in participating is asked to meet at the Cowell Beach parking lot for the march to the Santa Cruz Lighthouse. More information is available from organizing group Blended Bridge.

There are also many more events planned for the continued effort toward social justice, including virtual events from NAACP Santa Cruz and other community leaders. On Sunday, Aug. 9, Santa Cruz County Clerk Gail Pellerin will moderate a panel discussion about women’s suffrage and the continued struggle for voting rights. Learn more about the virtual event here.

July 31, 11am: Black Leadership Panel today

A Black Leadership Panel today will feature several community leaders discussing their experiences as organizers in the social justice movement and what it means to be Black in Santa Cruz.

Thairie Ritchie, Faith Brown, Ayo Banjo, and Esabella Bonner will be on the panel discussing intersectionality and racial injustices that are often dismissed in local government. Learn more about the event, which will be held on Zoom starting at 2pm today, at blendedbridge.com/upcomingevents.

The event comes at the end of the first Black Lives Matter Month in Santa Cruz. In an open letter this week, community organizers reviewed what had happened throughout the month, including several documented and suspected hate crimes.

In an introduction to the letter, Bonner wrote that the first Black Lives Matter Month ultimately “felt like a not so subtle attempt to distract and deter attention from the main goals at hand—policy and sustainable change in our community.”

“It is my hope that we continue to work toward actionable policies and acceptance within our community for the years to come,” she added. Read the full letter here.

July 15, 12pm: UCSC NAACP calls for action

The UCSC NAACP called for better communication and a more direct response from campus officials following what campus police have described as a possibly “bias-related incident.”

The UCSC Police Department said in a statement last week that it is “investigating the suspicious circumstances surrounding a piece of rope that was strung from a street sign near the campus entrance” on July 2.

In an open letter this week, the UCSC NAACP said it “is appalled both by the boldness of people to intimidate Black lives by echoing the racial violence of past lynching, and by the following complicit nature of our institutional systems to not communicate effectively to the populations which may be directly impacted, such as our Black student leaders.”

The UCSC NAACP said that a statement last week from UCSC officials “falls short of describing what will be done to ensure tangible support and bolster resources for the Black community on campus.”

“Merely suggesting for folx to reach out for support is not nearly enough of an action-based reaction on behalf of the University,” the UCSC NAACP added.

In their open letter, which the NAACP Santa Cruz also signed on to, the group asked what steps UCSC will take to ensure the people responsible for the incident will be held accountable. They called for a “complete and full investigation into the perpetrators of this racist act,” including “a direct and correlated response” from UCSC and the UCSC police and updates about the case to groups including the campus NAACP.

Anyone with information regarding the incident can call the UCSC Police Department at 831-459-2231, extension 1, to speak with an officer.

July 13, 2:45pm: SCPD tracking reported hate crimes

The Santa Cruz Police Department issued an update Thursday on four reported hate crimes that have occurred in the city this year.

Two of those incidents met the legal standard of a hate crime, according to SCPD. Police are working with the District Attorney’s Office on pursuing charges in both cases.

Those two hate crimes occurred in Santa Cruz on June 28 and July 5. In the June 28 incident, the suspect launched an unprovoked attack on a man from Jamaica and used racial epithets during the assault. The victim sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries, including a fractured orbital and a laceration requiring stitches. In the July 5 incident, a white man started slashing with a knife at a Black man while screaming racial slurs. That case was also forwarded to the FBI for review since a weapon was involved.

“Hate crimes have consequences far beyond the criminal act itself,” SCPD said in its statement Thursday. “These offenses not only cause lasting trauma to the victims, but they also impact our community with fear and exclusion.”

Two other suspected hate crime cases are still under investigation. One appeared to be hate crime based on language used about a person’s sexual orientation, according to SCPD spokesperson Joyce Blaschke. The other incident was June 18 at Alderwood, when a group started yelling “White America” and a homophobic slur at an off-duty chef, who is Filipino and has said he’s confident that racial bias played a role in what happened.

“These two cases involve unsettling name-calling and insults, but the individuals involved have elected not to press charges,” SCPD said.

The four reported hate crimes this year follow two in 2019 and 10 in 2018. Noting that hate crimes are often underreported, SCPD said they “accept and review all bias-related reported crimes.”

Anyone who is a victim of or witnesses a suspected hate crime can call 911 or reach SCPD at 831-471-1131.

July 8, 5pm: Paddle out for Tamario Smith, Black Lives Matter actions planned for this week

Several local events are coming up to continue the call for social justice. On Saturday, July 11, the Indigenous Surf Club is organizing a paddle out for Tamario Smith at Cowell Beach starting at 6pm. Smith, a 21-year-old, died in custody at the Santa Cruz County Jail on May 10. The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office said Smith died of acute water intoxication. Smith’s family says that claim has left them with more questions than answers.

There are also Black Lives Matter marches scheduled for Thursday in Scotts Valley and Saturday in the San Lorenzo Valley. Meanwhile, Watsonville’s Fruition Brewing has joined “Black is Beautiful,” an initiative aiming to raise awareness of racial injustice. On Monday, the brewing company released a beer for which 100% of the proceeds will go to the American Civil Liberties Union. Our partner paper The Pajaronian has more details in their story.

July 8, 4:30pm: More racist incidents in Santa Cruz

More suspected hate crimes continue to be documented in Santa Cruz as people across the country call for action to address systemic racism and injustice.

On Sunday, July 5, a white man started slashing with a knife at a Black man while screaming racial slurs, according to the Santa Cruz Police Department. The incident happened at San Lorenzo Boulevard and Broadway Street. Police arrested the suspect, 43-year-old Ole Hougen, and charged him with a hate crime and assault with a deadly weapon.

The suspect said he only wanted a “white person to help” take him into custody, SCPD said. In their Facebook post about the incident, the department added that’s “not an SCPD accommodation. Our staffing includes people of color. Mr. Hougen continued to make racial comments and slur towards SCPD officers and jail staff during the booking process.”

Anyone who is a victim of or witnesses a suspected hate crime can call 911 or reach SCPD at 831-471-1131.

The UCSC Police Department is investigating a July 2 incident that they say may be “bias-related” after a piece of rope was strung from a street sign near the campus entrance.

“At this time, this is not classified as a crime, and we do not know the motives of the individual that left it there,” according to a UCSCPD press release. “Nonetheless, this incident is deeply troubling to those that observed it, and may be considered a bias-related incident.”

The department shared a video that shows four people gathered as one of them throws the rope onto the sign around around 9:45pm on July 2. Anyone with information regarding the incident can call the UCSC Police Department at 831-459-2231, extension 1, to speak with an officer.

On Tuesday, the city of Santa Cruz said that the community memorial, or Ofrenda, at the Town Clock was vandalized during the weekend. The city said in a tweet that it saved the materials from the memorial, which can be claimed at the Civic Auditorium through noon on Friday, July 10. “Our hearts go out to those participants whose items were damaged, and we welcome the community’s help in protecting this important space for expression,” the city added.

July 2, 4pm: Action continues for racial justice

It is Black Lives Matter Month in the city of Santa Cruz, where the city council voted unanimously last week to install a Black Lives Matter Mural and to display Pan-African and Black Lives Matter flags in front of City Hall during the month of July every year.

Action for racial justice continues across the county, too, including a march and speak-out that drew several hundred people in Capitola on Wednesday.

Coming up, a block party is planned in downtown Santa Cruz on Saturday, offering a space for “building community with fellow abolitionists while enjoying speakers and music,” according to an event poster. The event will start at the clocktower at 1pm, with a march beginning at 4pm.

There’s also a San Lorenzo Valley Black Lives Matter Protest planned for Saturday, July 11, starting at 10am. More info can be found on the Black Lives Matter SLV Facebook page.

At least one local company is participating in Blackout Tuesday on July 7. Treehouse, a Santa Cruz-based cannabis dispensary, said it will close on July 7 and encourage people to shop only at Black-owned businesses on that day. The company will additionally donate all of its profits from its apparel sales this month to the Last Prisoner Project, which works to reduce jail and prison sentences for cannabis-related charges. Law enforcement in the U.S. disproportionately charges Black people with cannabis-related crimes.

At least two allegedly racist incidents have happened in Santa Cruz in recent days, including a suspected hate crime on Sunday and an incident at Alderwood that fueled calls to boycott the downtown restaurant. Last week, we also covered a Facebook post by former Santa Cruz Police Chief Kevin Vogel, who announced he was cancelling his Netflix subscription. Although Vogel did not offer specific context, he not-so-subtly hinted that the cancellation was because Netflix CEO Reed Hastings donated $120 million to historically Black colleges.

In this week’s cover story, local leaders including Santa Cruz Mayor Justin Cummings discussed the history of predictive policing in Santa Cruz and the questions that the now-banned technology raised about racial bias. Going forward, Cummings says, he wonders if technology could be used “not for predictive purposes, but for evaluating police departments.”

Cummings talked about calls to defund the police, too.

“We need to have all pieces in place before we start cutting funding from different departments,” he says. “And that’s what this conversation will be all about—how do we want to be policed, what does public safety look like for Santa Cruz, and how can we do so in a way that ensures equal protection for everyone?”

June 19, 1pm: “What Happened to Tamario Smith” Protests Point Finger at Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office

Three things could be heard as roughly 150 demonstrators, armed with banners and signs, marched from the downtown Santa Cruz clock tower over the Water Street bridge.

The first was a marching snare drum beat, and the second was the recurring chant of “Say his name,” followed by “Tamario Smith!” The third was the wailing cries of Smith’s family members as they led the procession toward Santa Cruz County Jail to raise awareness about the death of the 21-year-old, who had been incarcerated at the facility when he died May 10.

“The facts are not adding up,” said criminal defense attorney Jonathan Gettleman, addressing the crowd. Gettleman and his wife, Elizabeth Caballero, specialize in cases of police abuse, misconduct and in-custody deaths. They have agreed to take on Smith’s case pro bono.

According to the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office, Smith was found unresponsive in his jail cell, and attempts by paramedics to revive him were unsuccessful. According to his obituary, Smith was born in Stockton but moved to Santa Cruz with his family in 2001. He had been in custody since January.

Under both Sheriff Jim Hart and his predecessor Phil Wowak, the sheriff’s office has faced scrutiny for its medical services, inspection procedures and deaths at the jail. Consecutive Santa Cruz County Grand Jury reports about the jail in 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017 all called for improvements.

Smith’s family organized the protest and march to bring awareness to his case and to ask why Smith died. It’s a question that was left unanswered until just hours before the demonstration took place, when the sheriff’s office distributed a press release.

The release stated that Smith died of “acute water intoxication, due to the over-consumption of water in a short period of time.” The media release adds that Smith drank too much water, leading to an electrolyte imbalance, because of “underlying mental health issues.”

Acute water intoxication, also known as hyponatremia, can cause death when a person’s kidneys become unable to process water quickly enough, diluting the body’s sodium levels.

Gettleman said Smith had serious kidney issues and that he begged for help but did not get it.

The sheriff’s office’s media release has left the Smith family with more questions than answers. How did Smith get access to that much water, and why did it take so long for guards to find him “unresponsive?” Also, why was he not given the proper medical attention?

“It’s bullshit,” Tamario’s twin sister, Tamia Warren-Smith, tells GT. She said her brother was a natural protector and cared about those around him, from family members to homeless people in the community. Because of that, Smith says her family isn’t done asking questions about what happened to her brother.

“It’s never going to end,” she says.

Organizers are holding a Juneteenth protest, aimed at spreading peace and solidarity, today, June 19, at 5:45pm. They’ll be meeting at the Louden Nelson Community Center.

Read our continuing coverage of the local protests and policy discussions.

June 16, 9am: Juneteenth Peace March planned for Friday

As protests against police brutality continue across the country, an upcoming youth-led peace march in Santa Cruz aims to raise awareness about systemic racism locally.

The Juneteenth Peace March is intended to “create a platform to hear from youth, poets, historians, spiritual leaders, mental health advocates and formerly unhoused members of our community on systemic racism in Santa Cruz and stand in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement protesting police brutality nationwide,” organizer Thairie Ritchie said in a press release.

The march is planned to start at 5:45pm on Friday, June 19, at the Louden Nelson Community Center. The march will proceed down Center Street to a speak-out in front of Santa Cruz City Hall from 6:15-7:45pm. The organizers are asking people who attend to wear a mask and practice social distancing by keeping six feet apart.

If you know of upcoming racial justice events in Santa Cruz County, please email ca******@go*******.sc so we can write about your event here.

One way people are supporting the racial justice movement is by shopping at Black-owned businesses. The Downtown Association of Santa Cruz has been featuring local Black-owned businesses on its Instagram. The NAACP Santa Cruz is crowdsourcing a list of Black-owned businesses in Santa Cruz and Monterey counties. There’s a crowdsourced list just for Santa Cruz County, too.

Read our continuing coverage of the local protests and policy discussions.

June 5, 5:30pm: Protests continue in Santa Cruz

Emotions and tensions ran high for the second straight evening in Santa Cruz, as protesters turned out for another Black Lives Matter demonstration on Thursday, June 4. The three-and-a-half hour protest remained peaceful but was followed by the tearing down of barrier fencing surrounding a post office and the spray-painting of the police station for a second time.

Roughly 250 people gathered in front of the clocktower at the intersection of Pacific Avenue and Water Street, blocking what little traffic there was until the police cordoned off the area.

The crowd gave several demands to Mayor Justin Cummings: keep the Santa Cruz Police Department away from Oakland, provide comfortable housing to all homeless people, the “dissolution of all cops,” the 100% defunding of the Santa Cruz Police Department, and freeing all prisoners and closure of all Santa Cruz County jails.

Read more about Thursday’s protests in the full story here.

June 4, 5:30pm: Policing policies being discussed

With Black Lives Matter protesters across the nation filling the streets in daily calls to action after the killing of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police, the city of Santa Cruz and its police department have reached out directly to the public.

On Wednesday, June 3, Mayor Justin Cummings, City Manager Martín Bernal and Police Chief Andy Mills held an online discussion titled “Changing the Culture of Policing” and looked at how it will change in the future.

Cummings opened the online discussion by saying it was Mills who reached out and initially started the dialogue.

“We decided to pull together this forum for our community, so people could speak directly to their elected officials and police chief while social distancing,” explained Cummings.

After that, the floor opened up for a few words by local activists and organizers of the most recent local Black Lives Matter protests—one of which was happening at the same time as the webinar.

When it came Mills’ time to talk, he wasted no time discussing how he is changing the policing policies of his department.

“Today, I issued an order to my entire department that we’ve changed our policy and will no longer use the carotid restraint, also known as the ‘choke hold,’” he said. “It’s done.”

Floyd was killed not in the carotid restraint but with a knee on his neck, a controversial maneuver that became infamous after the 2014 killing of Eric Garner by New York City Police. Since Floyd’s death on May 25, dozens of police departments in California, including San Diego and Watsonville, have banned the technique.

“It’s low-hanging fruit, but it’s a good place to start,” Mills said.

Read more about the policy changes being proposed in the full story here.

Watsonville’s Initial Pandemic Budget Report Brings Optimism

Tony Nuñez

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September 11, 2020

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Watsonville’s Initial Pandemic Budget Report Brings Optimism

The Covid-19 pandemic has not yet been as harsh on Watsonville’s economy as predicted, but Finance Department Director Cindy Czerwin said at Tuesday’s City Council meeting it is still too early to “feel totally confident” about the city’s financial future.

The city’s sales tax revenues for the 2019-20 fiscal year saw a 5.8% drop, far short of the 10% drop that was originally anticipated. The final quarter of that fiscal year, which ended on June 30, also fell short of the anticipated 25% decline from the previous fiscal year. Sales tax revenues in that quarter were down 16% from the fourth quarter of 2018-19.

Thanks to stimulus funding and the $600 federal supplement to unemployment benefits, Czerwin said, consumer spending remained at 94% of pre-pandemic levels in the fourth quarter of the 2019-20 fiscal year. Czerwin said the continued steady spending could be attributed to an uptick in online shopping.

The better-than-anticipated sales tax returns, Czerwin said, could be a result of increased local shopping from Watsonville residents that have not been able to spend their dollars in neighboring communities because of the economic shutdowns and concerns about contracting the novel coronavirus.

Czerwin’s current projections have the city with a $2.8 million revenue surplus from the original projected general fund revenue of $38,621,392.

“We’re not seeing some of the dramatic declines that we had anticipated a few months ago,” she said.

But Tuesday’s update did not include sales tax numbers past June 30. Czerwin said the next update, set for early December, will give the city a better look at the effects of the pandemic through the first quarter of the 2020-21 fiscal year.

The expiration of the $600 unemployment benefit in July, Czerwin said, could have a ripple effect on the economy, as roughly 12% of Watsonville’s workers still remain unemployed—a number that reached the 20s a couple of months ago. The volatility of the pandemic, and the mass closures that come with it, could also diminish the city’s sales tax revenues, she said.

The city also received $636,063 in Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funds that it has dropped into its general fund. Czerwin said those funds could help offset some of the council’s reinvestment into the community such as the Emergency Rental Assistance Program, a $100,000 initiative unanimously approved Tuesday that seeks to help Watsonville renters that have fallen behind because of the pandemic.

The council did not take any action on the budget, but it unanimously approved the allocation of $951,479.16 to the Risk Management Fund to settle a 10-year-old worker’s compensation claim. That money, Czerwin said, will be reimbursed by the Public Agency Risk Sharing Authority of California, which helps municipalities with worker’s compensation claims above $150,000.

The council could make adjustments to the budget at its Dec. 8 meeting.

Czerwin said the city by then should know how much it will be reimbursed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other mutual aid agreements for costs associated with the Covid-19 pandemic and its response to the California wildfires.

The city spent roughly $1 million in fiscal year 2019-20 to prepare for and respond to the pandemic. Purchases included personal protective equipment, tech updates so that employees could work from home and federally mandated extensions to sick leave.

This fiscal year the city has spent a little more than $100,000 on costs and purchases related to the pandemic.

Watsonville Fire is currently $120,000 over its salary budget as it has struggled to keep its overtime to a minimum while helping battle various fires that have charred thousands of acres along the Central Coast, Czerwin said. The agency, however, expects to be reimbursed in the coming months.

PVUSD Trustees Advance Distance Learning Plan for Students

Todd Guild

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September 11, 2020

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PVUSD Trustees Advance Distance Learning Plan for Students

With distance learning likely to last through the rest of 2020—and possibly extend through June—the Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees on Wednesday tentatively approved the district’s Learning Continuity Plan, a 16-page document that seeks to standardize education for the district’s 19,685 students.

The trustees will consider the plan for final approval on Sept. 16.

According to Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction Lisa Aguerria, the draft plan has been approved by the Santa Cruz County Office of Education and aligns with California standards.

District officials created the plan with input from 15,980 people in three separate surveys, Aguerria said.

Those respondents, she added, overwhelmingly asked for consistent schedules for their children.

PVUSD closed all its school sites starting on March 16 as Covid-19 cases began to increase across the globe. When district officials realized that a return to the classroom was not likely in the foreseeable future, they began to hammer out a plan that would allow them to learn from home.

“Due to Covid-19, distance learning is new for all schools across the country,” Aguerria said.

Because of this, the Learning Continuity Plan is not set in stone, but can evolve as the year goes on, Aguerria said.

“It is a living document that can change if we uncover planned activities that are not working for our students and our families,” she said.

To help with distance learning, PVUSD has handed out 15,000 Google Chromebooks to its students, along with 3,000 wireless hotspots to help them with internet connectivity.

The plan includes a three-step system for students who are not participating in the online lessons. This starts with teacher intervention, and if unsuccessful moves to a “site wellness team” that could include home calls from the principal. If that fails, a “district wellness team” would include more direct family intervention and possibly referrals to organizations such as Pajaro Valley Prevention and Student Assistance.

If students need additional support, they will attend on-campus “Safe Learning Spaces” with Wi-Fi access monitored by PVUSD staff.

“We want to make sure we are first trying to identify all students who are not participating, and second identify the barriers that are getting in the way of why students are not participating,” Aguerria said. “Then we want to build individual support for students.”

Once in-person instruction is allowed, PVUSD will prioritize students returning to school, first bringing back the youngest students, those who are far behind in their academics, students with disabilities, foster youths, English Learners and students with socio-emotional struggles.

Two days a week families are able to use a drive-thru service located at the district office and several school sites for Chromebook support, repair or replacement. Call 786-8324 for help.

Remembering the Fallen: Firefighters Commemorate 9/11

Todd Guild

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September 11, 2020

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Remembering the Fallen: Firefighters Commemorate 9/11

More than 50 firefighters from agencies across Santa Cruz County gathered in Aptos Friday morning to commemorate the 19th year since the 9/11 attacks.

Using two ladder trucks, the firefighters hoisted a giant flag into the air, and then read the names of their 343 colleagues that died trying to rescue victims in the wake of the attacks.

Retired Watsonville Firefighter Matt Ryan said the day is a time to remember the first responders and police who died, along with nearly 3,000 people who were killed that day.

“It’s a day of honor and remembrance,” Ryan said. “Being a firefighter is such a job of honor and valor that we can’t forget it. To me it’s absolute respect and honor.”

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More art happenings

Sept. 14, 10:30am: Black Lives Matter activists paint new mural

Sept. 4, 5pm: Action continues with fundraisers, murals and more

Aug. 17, 12:15pm: Organizers continue call for justice

Aug. 5, 1:20pm: March tonight and more upcoming events

July 31, 11am: Black Leadership Panel today

July 15, 12pm: UCSC NAACP calls for action

July 13, 2:45pm: SCPD tracking reported hate crimes

July 8, 5pm: Paddle out for Tamario Smith, Black Lives Matter actions planned for this week

July 8, 4:30pm: More racist incidents in Santa Cruz

July 2, 4pm: Action continues for racial justice

June 19, 1pm: “What Happened to Tamario Smith” Protests Point Finger at Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office

June 16, 9am: Juneteenth Peace March planned for Friday

June 5, 5:30pm: Protests continue in Santa Cruz

June 4, 5:30pm: Policing policies being discussed