One of GT’s most iconic covers featured “SC’s own Doobie Brother” Pat Simmons 41 years ago, in January 1978. In the interview with his good friend and novelist Bill Craddock, Simmons casually mentioned, “We’re doin’ a new album.” Ten months later, Minute by Minute was released, and by spring it was the country’s best-selling album and would go triple-platinum.
I remember thinking how cool it was seeing one of the era’s genuine rock stars at the zenith of his commercial success walking out of a Soquel florist or behind the counter at his Classic Motorcycles shop on Mission Street. I’d see his post-Doobie Brothers-breakup band Skin Suit perform at the Crow’s Nest, and attended the Doobies’ benefit at the Catalyst after the Loma Prieta earthquake. Pat then started a family and moved to Maui.
Time flies, and now Pat’s son is a family man and working musician in his own right, making his headlining club debut at Moe’s Alley on Thursday and appearing on the cover of GT with Steve Palopoli’s cover story. Welcome home!
Having just read the article “Booking Ahead” in the Good Times (GT, 7/10) edition extolling the new Capitola library being built, I want to respond to some of the opinions being expressed in it. I totally agree that the libraries are central to maintaining the community. The downtown library is an important part of my life, both its materials and its programs.
However, the overall tone of this article was “Hey, we need to keep up with the Joneses.” Not all of us want to keep up. Some of us see this attitude as having been part of a culture that is unsustainable. We have enough information now about the rapidity of global warming and species extinction that the idea of building another parking structure downtown Santa Cruz becomes questionable.
Many people are afraid of the homeless. Seeing that the downtown library is a refuge for some individuals who are homeless might keep them away. I wonder if the thought is that having modern steel and glass structures will keep more homeless folk away? Isn’t it time to face our fears and broaden our idea of community?
We are in the 21st century and the image of moving forward to a bigger and better material world is not clear for many of us. Why can’t we nurture the community that is actually here? Do we need to project “new” as if it’s going to save us from deterioration that our own consumerism has helped bring about?
Sara Cloud
Santa Cruz
Reasons for Recall
Re: Nuz’s “Call It Like It Is” (GT, 6/19): On March 24, I attended a rally against the Krohn-Glover plan to establish a Ross-style campground at Depot Park. The protest was organized by residents of the surrounding neighborhoods, who had a microphone and speaker set up. I stood among the listeners facing the speakers. Councilman Glover stood with the organizers facing the audience. Whenever a neighborhood organizer spoke against the tent camp, Glover applauded—pretending to be against the proposal that he and Councilman Krohn had initiated only days before. I was shocked, but not surprised, by the councilman’s deceitful behavior. Clearly, Mr. Glover was not suddenly against his own proposal. So I conclude that he was trying to fool the neighbors. The majority of voters in Santa Cruz, however, are not fools, and recognize obvious dishonesty. Residents of our town have the opportunity to reject pretense and deceit by simply signing a petition to place the recall measure on the ballot. Let the voters decide whether dishonesty is a valid reason to remove someone from office.
Monika Adam
Santa Cruz
Re: Beekeeper Trouble
I’ve been fortunate enough to have Tom and Donna’s honey, and have come to their home with my young children. They have inspired me with their hospitality and generosity, and my girls never were stung during many long visits in their yard. They are a couple of good people that represent what’s good about humankind. Please let them keep up the “good times” with their beekeeping!
— Jessica Golding
I had no idea about this ordinance! I came to this article via Councilmember Glover addressing it in his newsletter. I am all for revamping this ridiculous rule. Thank you for the info.
— Michelle Davis
An unfortunate story, especially as they’ve had been there for years. Sound like great neighbors, with a cool front yard. The Google street view is very illuminating. Small beehive in 2011 turns into two impressive large hives in 2015, and in 2019 hives are mostly gone, with a building going in to the left.
— Gary
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GOOD IDEA
Who says that dogs can’t appreciate a good tale? The Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter and county parks department will host the first-ever “Doggie Date Night” on Thursday, Aug. 8, at Brommer Street Park, 1451 30th Ave., Santa Cruz. There will be tacos and beer, with festivities beginning at 7 p.m. Free movie The Secret Life of Pets will start at 8:30 p.m. Well-behaved dogs on leashes are welcome. For more information, visit scanimalshelter.org.
GOOD WORK
The Santa Cruz sock company MERGE4 founder and CEO Cindi Busenhart apologized to the Hindu community for socks featuring Lord Ganesh, quickly removed the product from its website and discontinued the design. Rajan Zed of the Nevada-based Universal Society of Hinduism had emailed news outlets about the representation of the elephant-headed god. Zed argued that putting the deity on people’s feet trivialized Ganesh, which Busenhart said was never her intention.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“If you don’t have ADD right now, you’re not paying attention.”
Pategonia’s Film Premiers have been going off all summer—and usually they have a full house. This week, they are hosting three short surf films, followed by a discussion about ocean stewardship hosted by Patagonia ambassador Lea Brassy. The films—Los Plasticos, Saving Martha, and Estado Salmonero—highlight the importance of keeping our waves and oceans wild, and the problems caused by overfishing, industrial fish farming and plastic pollution.
INFO: 7 p.m. on Weds., July 31. Santa Cruz Patagonia Outlet, 415 River St #C, Santa Cruz. Free.
Art Seen
RODNEY CROWELL’S TEXAS TOUR
With more than 40 years of American roots music under his belt, Texas native Rodney Crowell is a two-time Grammy Award winner with five No. 1 hits of his own and a legacy of songwriting excellence that’s made him an icon among musical giants. With strong roots in country music, Crowell has written chart- topping hits for the likes of Emmylou Harris, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Keith Urban, and more. Photo: Sam Esty Rayner.
INFO: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 2. Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. 479-9421, snazzyproductions.com. $37/$41.
Sunday 8/4
ANDY’S AUTO SUPPLY 70th ANNIVERSARY
One of Pacific Avenue’s oldest businesses, Andy’s Auto Supply, will celebrate its 70th anniversary this week. In 1949, Andy Mekis wanted a place where car enthusiasts could go to receive quality service, so he opened an auto parts store on Pacific Avenue. The Mekis family is inviting their friends and longtime customers to a local “old school” afternoon—just like when the shop opened. Maple Street will be closed, and there will be plenty of custom cars on view, all to the sounds of vintage songs like “Little Deuce Coupe” and “Mustang Sally.”
INFO: 3-8 p.m. Andy’s Auto Supply, 901 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. 423-8400, andysparts.net. Free.
Saturday 8/3
STRAWBERRY JAM FUN RUN
A new run is coming to Watsonville— the Strawberry Jam 1k/5k Fun Run/Walk. The first-annual event is plenty of running and funning, without the stress of an intense race. This is a moderately hilly, fun course that starts and ends at Ramsay Park and traverses Watsonville’s famous sloughs with an out and back section on Ohlone Parkway. No dogs, but families and strollers are welcome to join in. Register on Active.com or pick up a hard copy application at the Watsonville Parks and Community Services Department office at 231 Union St. Watsonville.
INFO: 7:45 a.m. Ramsay Park Family Center, 1301 Main St., Watsonville. 768-3270. $5-$40.
Saturday 8/3 and Sunday 8/4
CHURCH ST. FAIR
Held every August in front of the Civic Auditorium, the 28-year-old Church Street Fair is treasured as the quintessential late-summer festival. Between the local music, dance, art, food, and wine, there is something to watch or eat at all times. This year’s performance lineup includes Qi Gong, Ballet and Tango, The Great Morgani, Watsonville Taiko, and more. There are also free activities for children and their families, including a creativity tent and the Cabrillo Festival’s free family concert with a tour of the orchestra at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
Most mainlanders know the meaning of aloha, but fewer have heard of Aloha Aina. That’s a bit ironic, considering that the concept of Aloha ʻĀinais arguably even more integral to the Hawaiian way of life. While it literally translates to “love of the land,” the meaning in everyday life is far more complex, encompassing not only one’s connection to the Earth, but also environmental consciousness and cultural understanding of all types.
It’s also the principle by which Pat Simmons Jr. lives his life. He’s primarily known for his music, which is to be expected when you’re the son of a founding member of one of the most famous groups of the ’70s and ’80s—Doobie Brothers guitarist Patrick Simmons—and your own musical career began when you were barely old enough to walk.
But the 28-year-old Simmons, who released his debut album This Mountain in 2017 and is currently working on a follow-up, sees his music mainly as a medium for his message. And sometimes, he’s torn between whether musical activism or direct action is the best way to get it across—to the point that it’s even a little bit hard for him to be on his current West Coast tour, which comes to Moe’s Alley on Aug. 1.
On the Big Island, the showdown between protestors and the TMT Observatory Corporation over a planned Thirty Meter Telescope construction project on Mauna Kea has intensified over the last week. Though Simmons lives on Maui, he says this is an issue that affects all Hawaiians.
“My message is Aloha ʻĀina,” says Simmons. “For me, my ultimate hope and goal with my music right now is to spread the word about what’s happening in Hawaii. It’s so hard for me to be away right now, knowing that my ohana, my Hawaiian family, is standing up for their sacred mountain and trying to protect the place they call home. If I was home, I’d be right there on the front lines.”
Being out on tour also means less time he can be at home farming with his family. “When I’m not playing my music, I’m mostly weeding gardens and planting,” he says. “The indigenous people had a whole agricultural system that they passed down for generations, these agricultural practices. I’ve really learned a lot from what they grew—a lot of root vegetables, a really special plant called taro. In Hawaii, it’s called kalo. My family and I grow a lot of it, and a lot of fruits.”
BACK TO THE LANDSimmons farms and gardens on Maui. PHOTO: SASHA NITZE
And, let’s face it, the coconuts are not going to pick themselves.
“Coconuts are a big part of our life. I actually climb coconut trees with a harness,” says Simmons. “I’ve got my whole harness setup, where I can get way up in a tree and belay down the coconuts, which are hundreds of pounds.”
Clearly, coconut-picking is not what people expect from the son of a rock star.
“People expect that I’m this fancy, riding-the-high-life, rock-star kind of person,” he says. “And in some ways, I did grow up with that, because I was on tour with my dad and grew up backstage. Whereas at home, I grew up in the country with all the local Hawaiian kids. I grew up where most of my friends had never even heard the Doobie Brothers.”
JUST ANOTHER KID
Another Hawaiian word Simmons feels a close connection to is haole,the word for a non-native Hawaiian. That’s the outsider status that Simmons started from on Maui, where he moved with his family from his native Northern California at age 5. Though he fell in love with the island’s indigenous culture, he had to prove himself at every turn—particularly with surfing, which has long been a huge part of his life.
“I was just another local kid, another haole, another white kid in Maui,” he says. “I had to make a name for myself there, being a surfer in the lineup. Nobody cares who your dad is. It’s a different world out there.”
He wasn’t the only superstar offspring going through a bit of haole culture shock. One of his close friends growing up was Lukas Nelson, son of country music legend Willie Nelson. The two formed their first band at age 12, complete with exactly the kind of terrible band name you’d expect from a pre-teen group musically situated somewhere between the Jimi Hendrix Experience and punk rock.
“The first band we had was a little garage band,” Simmons recalls. “I was the singer, Lukas was the lead guitar player. His brother Micah, who goes by Particle Kid now in his band, he was the drummer. We played all around Maui; that was my first experience writing music and performing it. We all had calluses on our fingers because we were just learning to play guitar. We were practicing hard, and our fingers were getting sore, so we called our band Kalice.”
It may sound adorably silly now, but behind the adolescent energy, the seeds of something deeper were already being planted.
“We were all kind of becoming hippies at that age, because of who our parents were,” says Simmons. “Willie Nelson’s a real activist himself, so we were exposed to that at a young age. I remember being 12 years old when the Iraq War began, right after 9/11. There were war and oil protests happening all around the country, and I remember being at marches with my family and the Nelson family on Maui. We’d go march in the streets. We were exposed to activism and aware of the environmental crisis at a very young age. Some of our songs were about that kind of stuff.”
Lukas Nelson remembers that he and his brother Micah “had a blast” in Kalice.
“Pat was our best friend, and still is,” Nelson says. “When we were young, we were all just kids skateboarding and playing video games and watching South Park. At a certain point, Pat decided—as we all did—that being conscientious and aware of our social and environmental responsibilities as humans was an important part of our growth.”
Nelson says he understands exactly where Simmons is coming from with his musical mission, and how it was shaped by their upbringing. “Growing up in Hawaii, we are confronted with a diversity and exposure to nature that many on the mainland aren’t,” says Nelson. “We can see firsthand the importance of preserving culture, and the impact that an invading culture can have on social development. As people of European decent, we had to be educated about the way Hawaiian lands were stolen, and it is our responsibility to make sure that proper respect to the land and native culture is given.”
WAITING IN THE WINGS
While Kalice gave him his first shot at songwriting, it wasn’t Simmons’ first exposure to the stage—far from it. That came over numerous Doobie Brothers tours, where he would wait every night to be called out for the band’s traditional last song, “Listen to the Music.”
“When I was about one and a half, two years old—just starting to walk even—I would get out on stage with my dad, and I just wanted to be out there. I don’t even remember when I started doing this. I was probably two or something, but they used to put these big soundproof headphones on my head to protect my ears, and I would walk out on stage in front of thousands of people with my little plastic guitar and just rock out. Like, I had no fear of it. I was totally having fun, and I just wanted to do that—every night I had to do it. Nobody was pushing me to do it. I wanted to.”
And he did it for years, until he got his own guitar at 10 years old and started to learn chords. When the Nelson brothers went on to form their own band after Kalice, Simmons had gotten more into surfing and skateboarding. But within a couple of years, he wanted to pursue music again, and his first-ever solo gig came at age 16, opening for the Doobie Brothers at Mountain Winery in Saratoga.
SANTA CRUZ HOMESTEADING
As any Doobie Brothers fan knows, that’s not the Simmons family’s only connection to this area. The Doobies got their start in San Jose, where co-founder Patrick Simmons Sr. was born. He was introduced to Tom Johnston and John Hartman in 1970 by Skip Spence of Moby Grape, and the band began playing the local scene. In the early days, they found a devoted following among bikers, playing regularly at the Santa Cruz Mountain biker bar Chateau Liberté to Hell’s Angels and other biker gangs. John McFee, who joined the Doobie Brothers in 1979, grew up in Santa Cruz.
The Doobies’ lineup has famously been a revolving door over the years, with members coming and going—and sometimes coming back. Simmons Sr. has been the only member to be part of every era in the band’s almost half-century of existence (it did disband completely for a few years in the ’80s). He, Johnston and McFee are now the core of the line-up, which is currently touring the U.S. and Canada, and returns to Northern California to play the East Bay and San Francisco in September.
Many local fans know that at the height of the Doobies’ fame in the 1970s, Simmons Sr. lived in Santa Cruz, but they may not have known that he was paving the way for his future son’s Aloha ʻĀina.
“My parents have always kind of been homesteader people,” says Simmons. “Not a lot of people realize this about my dad, but even when he was on tour in the ’70s, he used to raise 20 goats, and chickens. He had a whole farm in Santa Cruz. When he was off tour, he was milking goats and stuff, and living the country lifestyle.”
It’s true, confirms the elder Simmons. “We were out near Branciforte Drive, where it meets Vine Hill Road,” says Simmons Sr. “We did have goats in those days. I grew apples, and had a big garden. I was the king of raspberries—they grow good in Santa Cruz, huge production! I still love those damn things. Nothing like fresh raspberries right off the vine.”
When he moved to Maui with his wife Cris and the kids, Simmons Sr. continued working the land. “I started planting trees—citrus, avocados, lychees, papayas, macadamias, coconuts, and more. I always loved growing things, and stuff grows fast in Hawaii,” he says. “I think Pat probably absorbed some of that, and more from friends of his who were even more fanatical about growing. Then he studied permaculture, arbor techniques, grafting, and a whole range of farming, both in college and privately. He’s an amazing taro farmer. Of course it’s all organic, which is what we all try to eat.”
EXPLORING BEYOND THE MOUNTAIN
Simmons Sr. has gotten to witness the evolution of his son’s musical career from a unique perspective. He has been playing with him for years, and produced This Mountain.
“Pat has his own style, and approach to writing, and performing,” he says. “More than anything—and I think this is important—he is authentic. His songs come from the heart, and from personal experience, which is something I value personally. I like songs that tell a little story, and it’s best, for me anyway, when the story is a lived experience.”
It’s been a thrill, he says, to watch his son develop as an artist. “I’ve enjoyed music so much all my life. Pat got bit by the same bug, and I see how much enjoyment he gets from it as well. When we play together, it’s as good as it gets,” says Simmons Sr.
This Mountain was defined by strong hooks, Simmons’ environmental messages and a laid-back, often rootsy folk sound. For this follow-up album, which he hopes to release by the end of the year, he’s taken a somewhat different approach.
“I really enjoyed making This Mountain, but I left a lot of the decisions up to my dad,” says Simmons. “This time around, I’ve been choosing the material, just being more creative in my own way. Being the sole producer for the first time.”
As a result, he’s finding himself exploring more in the studio.
“I grew up listening to reggae music, and there’s a few reggae tunes in there. Which is, like, my ultimate dream, really. I grew up listening to Bob Marley and all the epic reggae musicians, and coming from Hawaii, that’s a big, big influence out there,” he says. “But I play all kinds of music, and there’s definitely a country, bluegrass-y vibe in there, and then kind of a Jack Johnson funk-folk acoustic blues. We even have a straight-up blues tune thrown in there. So it’s kind of a medley of all the different genres I love to perform and listen to.”
The first album had a coastal feel, and it was fun to see if you could tell what was NorCal influence and what was Hawaiian—they’re similar in a lot of ways, Simmons admits. There will likely be a similarly watery touch to his upcoming record, since he has rediscovered surfing after a bout with cancer brought him face to face with his own mortality.
TIDAL PULLSimmons surfing in Maui. PHOTO: MAKOTO
“When I was 23 years old, I got diagnosed with testicular cancer. I went through chemo, and after chemo I was really pretty rattled, just realizing how fragile my life really is. I started thinking about the things I love in my life, and the ocean and surfing was just something that popped up again,” he says. “And so right after chemo, I started surfing again. It helped me find peace and joy in my life again. I get up almost every morning and go look for waves in the dark at 5 am. I’m committed. I do my best to try to get out there every day.”
Another Hawaiian word that is especially important to Simmons is na-au—intuition, which is how he is finding his way through his music career and his life.
“Part of my mission with the music is to really utilize my opportunity to talk about these important things, because we’re in such a pivotal moment as a species, and people need to wake up to the realities that we face on the planet,” he says. “It’s not easy, because there’s so much of the industry side of the music, where you’ve gotta write a song and it’s got to be catchy, and it’s gotta sell. There’s that whole pressure that I feel. But really, when I listen to my heart, when I tap deep into my na-au, I just keep following these messages that need to be heard.”
Pat Simmons Jr. performs with his band at 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 1, at Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. $10 advance/$15 day of show. 479-1854, moesalley.com.
Police Chief Andy Mills is coming up on two years with the city of Santa Cruz, as the anniversary of his official swearing in approaches on Aug. 7. According to the most recent data, crime in Santa Cruz appears to have fallen over that span, although Mills is reluctant to take credit himself for any positive trends.
Last week, GT sat down with Mills at Walnut Avenue Cafe to talk about summer fireworks, police oversight and why he and his wife choose to live and rent downtown. The Santa Cruz Police Department (SCPD) is celebrating National Night Out on Tuesday, Aug. 6, with an open house at the station.
ANDY MILLS: I just went through an interview with everyone in our department who has more than a year on, trying to figure out what the things are that bug them. That did come up fairly frequently. I think the issue is not so much that we arrested him as the embarrassment it causes to the profession, to the organization, that there’s victims of this. It’s created a lack of trust among some employees. It’s been a catastrophic event.
Anyone who’s spent the past few summers in Santa Cruz can see that fireworks have dropped way down since July of 2017, just before you took office. What’s been your strategy? How much credit do you give yourself and your department?
I would love to take all the credit in the world for reducing fireworks, but I can’t. I’m not sure why the amount of fireworks has gone down. When I first got here, people told me it was a complete war zone, and I hadn’t seen that. My wife and I had just moved downtown. We live at Soquel and Front. I thought, “Hey, this isn’t too bad.” Then at 3 in the morning, it looked like Disneyland outside. That’s not acceptable in our community. I’m not sure why it went down. We certainly put out a lot of educational media. It could be as simple as it not being as easy to get the stuff over the internet this year. Or some of the suppliers we hear about in Salinas or San Francisco didn’t have enough stock. Or people are being more educated on the effects on people with PTSD or animals. I hope that’s the case—that people are more compassionate.
Why do you live downtown?
This is an amazing city. This is where people choose to go to vacation. It has nightlife, amazing restaurants. We walk to dinner several times a week. There’s entertainment. There’s action. We walk downtown—my wife and I, or individually—every single day. There are throngs of people out enjoying this fabulous city. We love being in the heart of it. Plus, the commute’s terrible. I walk to work everyday, and it’s the highlight of my day. Santa Cruz is the crown jewel of this region. I get the comment a lot, “Hey, we’re afraid to go downtown.” You’re missing out on something wonderful.
I remember hearing that you lived in Capitola? Was that just in the beginning of your time here?
Yeah, we actually rented that place sight unseen. We got online and started looking for places to rent. We went to Santa Cruz first and didn’t find anything that met our needs. The place in Capitola popped up.
We tried to buy a house when we first got here. We knew the market was hot, so we gave ’em a full-price offer. They laughed and said, “No, no, no, that’s not how it works.”
The independent police auditor’s contract just expired, and the Chief’s Advisory Committee doesn’t do investigations. Are there any avenues for police oversight right now?
It expires every year about this time, and it’s managed out of the city manager’s office. And I know they’re going to be putting out an RFP on that. There’s nothing in the hopper right now that’s pressing. That’ll come out in the not-too-distant future. And again, that’s managed through their office, because it’s police oversight. I’m part of the police. My feeling on it was, “We’ve had the same guy for 18 years. At what point does it not become independent anymore?” It was time to put out an RFP and see what else is out there. Someone with a little more independence might apply. They may not. So we’ll see.
You incorporated SCPD’s predictive policing algorithms into a community policing model. What’s the department’s strategy right now?
First of all, community policing has nothing to do with predicative policing. What I like to do is take a look at the data locally and say, “Is this thing that we’re doing helping, or not?” You have to measure before, and then, you have to do your application to measure afterward to make sure it’s being effective. We haven’t done that. I want to make sure that whatever we’re doing is working, and if it’s not, we need to adjust our tactics and move a different way.
I have an analyst named John Mitchell, who’s freakin’ brilliant. He talks, and I try to grasp what he’s saying. The latest in crime analysis worldwide is you take a look at the standard deviation of the data. And whatever goes outside of that deviation, that’s when we have to become more concerned—why is this particular crime up more than others? We make sure we’re looking at this properly on a monthly basis. We can see if robberies have gone up and it’s outside of the range. Then, you have to say, “Do we need to change our focus?” That’s predicative policing, and it can work in that way.
Community policing is working to solve problems in this community. We choose to do a strategy called problem-oriented policing. You take a look at problems, you analyze them as best you can, and then, you figure out what kind of application you need to fix that—working with the community, shoulder to shoulder, hip to hip. … I want this to be an actual relationship with the community.
Crime was down overall last year, according to data SCPD submitted to the FBI. And five out of the seven individual crime categories of crime were down. The FBI warns not to use these stats to determine department effectiveness, but is there something you’re doing right?
There’s a lot we’re doing right. We have some young officers and older officers that really get out there and get after it and work with the community, manage these problems. This is our officers working with a great community to solve some of these bigger problems. There are a lot of things that impact crime rates.
Ten percent of people account for 51% of crime. Well, you’ve got to take a look at that 10%. One of the things we found out in taking care of the un-housed population is they’re 20 times more likely to be the victim of a crime. That’s a concern. They’re 18 times more likely to be the suspect of a crime. So what does that mean? What can we do to intervene in that? That’s how you’re able to affect the crime right—by being as smart as possible about it.
Eighty percent of property crime is acrime of opportunity, so if we can help educate people to take stuff out of cars at night and lock their cars, it ceases to be the honeypot where people can go. People shouldn’t steal from those vehicles, but if you can reduce it, you want to do that.
You’re 62. How much longer do you think you’ll be chief?
I’m here until either we work with the community to fix these problems or I get Bernie Sanders’ age. I have no plans for going anywhere. We love this community. We enjoy the people we work with, both in the community and in the department.
Your department currently has two mental health liaisons, provided by the county. Up in Oakland, the East Bay city’s new budget includes $40,000 to study the possible implementation of a program to send mental health workers to many calls instead of cops. Is that something you would support for Santa Cruz?
Super interested in it. I gave direction to my principal management analyst, “Let’s look for grants, so that we might be able to hire a couple [more] mental health liaisons.” That is vital. A large percentage of our calls are people with mental health problems. But we can hire all the mental health practitioners we want. The reality is we lack beds. Some money from the county needs to be spent putting beds in place for people.
In the homeless area, we’re seeing a few kinds of homeless people. One are those who want and need help. This is a really generous community. I think this community wants to help those who want and need help, by and large.
Then you have the mentally ill and the drug addicted, who don’t necessarily know what they want or need. They’re just so incapable of thinking that way or so addicted. Government is going to have to step in to help. The sheriff can’t be the largest mental health institution in the county. For the drug addicted, there needs to be beds. I was in San Lorenzo Park, and a guy walked up to me. He said, “Hey chief, I’m a meth and heroin addict. I need help. I’m ready today.” I start making phone calls. Eight weeks away. That guy’s not ready in eight weeks. He won’t be around to back for this ‘appointment.’ He needs help right now. These are the folks who Santa Cruzans complain about the most—people stealing, petty theft and the people walking down the street screaming at the demons in their head.
The third tier is recalcitrant. They know there’s no jail space for them. The courts aren’t going to put them in prison for drinking a beer in public or urinating or defecating. I understand that. We write 11,000 tickets per year. Ninety percent of those: never appeared on. What are we going to do? After five tickets, you send them to collections. So we’re sending people with no money, who are trying to get housed, to collections. We have to come up with a better way.
You’re an active Twitter user. What’s your strategy with social media?
For Facebook, it’s about how I’m proud of my kids and grandchildren. And we have a lot of friends, both here and elsewhere that want to see what’s going on with the police. Twitter and Instagram are more informational. I want people to see what’s going on and to communicate to send messages of what my philosophy of policing is. Idid a post on the officer who threatened AOC. I’m sending a message to cops: “This isn’t acceptable, and if you do that, I’m gonna fire you.” … I’ve tweeted about DACA in the past and ICE. We don’t have a relationship [with ICE]. I’ve said it 18,000 times in 9,000 ways to every politician who will listen. We don’t work with ICE, we don’t collaborate with them.
In February of 2017, before you took office, the department took heat for collaborating with ICE in a raid, where some immigrants ended up being arrested purely based on immigration status. Two years later, some activists wondered where SCPD was when another round of ICE raids was happening. What’s the department supposed to do?
People have questions about what took place at that raid. You can’t have it both ways. If you don’t want us to have an official relationship with ICE, they don’t exactly invite you to the table. They did this raid. We had a detective sergeant two blocks away, in case emergency medical was needed. … We still do need some level of relationship [with ICE]. They have a lot of terrorism information. They have some human-trafficking information that can help us and aid us in investigations. I can get that in other ways, but that’s a good source of that information, but when it comes to immigration, that’s an absolute no-go for anyone in my department.
Many think of Santa Cruz as a liberal town, but it also has a very loud public safety community. Do you have different messages for each camp, or do you try to stay consistent and talk to everyone all at once?
I try to be fairly consistent in my messaging. If you get in that game, where you’re playing “talk tough with this group and “social justice” with this group, it gets all muddled. I’m pretty pragmatic, and I try to just drive forward with what I think is important and what I think is right. Yes, I know there’s a group that’s very interested in taking things back to the way they were in the ’70s. The difference is it’s almost 50 years later. Things have changed. That doesn’t mean we can’t strive to have as much safety as we can, where the children feel comfortable riding down to the wharf, but this is a sizable city—65,000—and it’s growing. In fact, it’s gone down in size from what it was several years ago. It was at over 100. We’re budgeted for 94. We’re authorized for 99, thanks to our city manager. Daytime population swells significantly, and throw in about3 million visitors per year.
You mentioned the police force’s size. Hiring more cops was a popular idea in 2013, when the Public Safety Task Force wrapped up. Former City Council candidate Greg Larson, who finished fifth in the race for four seats last year, said he wanted to hire more officers. Do you think you need more officers?
I do, based on the city’s size, with as much as we have going on. TheCPSM study, which came out a year and a half ago, looked at the size of our department, size of the city, calls for service. They said you have to do one of two things—either increase your police force in size or cut down the calls for service you have. It takes about $1 million for every five police officers all packaged in. That’s a pretty big nut in a community that’s struggling with PERS obligations. The only other thing you can do is cut down on calls for service. We’ve tried to do that and met some resistance.
Our officers get dispatched to see if there’s poop in the gutter. Is that what we want a $75-an-hour police officer to do? I don’t think so. That doesn’t make any sense to me. It becomes my responsibility to figure out how to cut down on those calls, and when give our officers time, they’re spectacular. …
Yesterday, an officer was giving me a ride to a meeting, and it got canceled. He said, “What do you want to do? I said, “Let’s go find someone to put in jail.” I had never gone through the jail booking process. We went to Coral Street, and there was a guy there under the influence, acting out. We arrested him for being under the influence of methamphetamine, took him to jail. He wasn’t cooperative, fought with the jail staff, flipping out. Jail staff did an amazing job, helping us get this guy booked and processed and into the cell. But it’s a two-hour adventure, and I’m taking a cop off the street for a misdemeanor crime that probably will never get filed. That’s why this is such a tense and difficult thing. And we arrest thousands of those people a year, so how is the DA’s office going to issue all those complaints and then try all those cases when don’t have the staff for that? They’re hunting murder investigations and sexual assaults and domestic violence. The jail’s at 120% capacity.
Where’s the value in looking for someone to put in jail?
It’s part of our responsibility. There has to be some level of order. Even if we’re taking that guy off the street for five, six hours, I think that’s worth it. That’s five, six hours, where he can’t inflict harm on other people. But again look at the effectiveness. If this isn’t effective, let’s find a different way.
SCPD will celebrate National Night Out on Tuesday, Aug. 6, from 4 to 6 p.m. at 155 Center St. There will be activities, station tours, live demonstrations, and snacks. Info: cityofsantacruz.com. Other law enforcement departments will celebrate inBoulder Creek,Capitola,Scotts Valley, andWatsonville.
A pair of recent Santa Cruz transplants are thought to have been among those caught in the chaos when a gunman opened fire on Sunday evening with less than a half-hour left in the 41st annual Gilroy Garlic Festival.
Multiple news agencies reported after the shooting that killed two children, ages 6 and 13, that also among the dead was 25-year-old Trevor Irby, a native of upstate New York who friends say moved to Santa Cruz with his girlfriend earlier this year. A Gofundme campaign registered to three of Irby’s classmates from Keuka College also notes that Irby was living in Santa Cruz, and that, “Trevor was an unfortunate victim of the mass shooting.”
Local law enforcement officials were unable to confirm the reports, since all investigations related to the shooting will be handled by authorities on the ground in Gilroy, says Sgt. Dee Baldwin of the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office. Santa Cruz Police Chief Andy Mills adds that his department sent several groups of local officers to help secure the shooting site at Christmas Hill Park, along with other police departments in Watsonville and Capitola.
The Santa Cruz County Fire Department was also among dozens of local agencies to send reinforcements to Gilroy. A spokesperson said that the department sent five engines and one battalion chief to the site on Sunday, all of whom returned that night.
In the meantime, there are still more questions than answers about the events leading up to the shooting. Thick fog had settled in by Monday morning, when rumors started to swirl about social media posts that may have linked the shooter, 19-year-old Gilroy native Santino William Legan, to far-right or racist ideologies. Police confirmed that the 2017 Gilroy High graduate had an active Facebook account, but they did not comment on other accounts or potential motives.
“Everybody wants to know why,” Gilroy Police Chief Scot Smithee said at a Monday press conference.
Also unclear was whether the AK-47-style gun that police said Legan used in the shooting was legal in California, since he purchased the weapon in Nevada.
Collective Grief
When the shooting began around 5:40 p.m. on Sunday, Gilroy resident Kelly Ramirez hid in a tent with a group of cheerleaders, two young children and several mothers she described as overcome by “paralyzing fear” since their children were elsewhere in the park.
“Every one of us in this community is now a survivor,” Ramirez said at a vigil held Monday night in downtown Gilroy.
After a tense day marked by swarms of television crews roaming residential neighborhoods, the vigil brought together anti-violence advocates, law enforcement, politicians, and local public figures like Ms. Morgan Hill Teen USA. Some attendees wore t-shirts emblazoned with slogans including “#gilroystrong” and “Keep calm & eat garlic.”
The vigil was organized by Gilroy resident David Almeida, who said he expected only a few people to show up when he created a Facebook event earlier in the day. Hundreds packed the plaza near the police station just over 24 hours after the shooting.
“I thought this would help me process,” said Almeida, who created the event after he said he was unable to sleep or work after the shooting. “But what happened was a lot to process.”
In addition to Irby, speakers at the vigil identified the two other victims as San Jose residents Stephen Romero, 6, and Keyla Salazar, 13. A total of 15 people were injured, including Romero’s mother and grandmother, family members said.
“My son had his whole life to live,” Romero’s father, Alberto Romero, told NBC Bay Area.
After initial reports that multiple shooters may have been involved in the incident, police on Monday said that they had searched the family home and car of Legan, the grandson of former Santa Clara County Supervisor Thomas Legan. Santino Legan was shot dead by police within a minute of opening fire, investigators said.
State Senator Bill Monning, whose district includes both Santa Cruz and Gilroy, recalled attending the first Gilroy Garlic Festival in 1971. The event has grown in tandem with the city, which is now home to just under 60,000 people. That the shooting happened at the festival, Monning said, only “enhanced” the shock.
“There’s no training manual for responding to this type of tragedy,” Monning said.
Tension and frustration also surfaced at times during the vigil. Speakers like Elsa Lopez, founder of San Jose anti-violence nonprofit A Mother’s Voice, urged those shaken by the event to channel their grief into advocacy for victims.
“We are broken today, and the families are even more broken,” Lopez said. “You might have silenced our children, but you haven’t silenced us. We are their voice.”
As shellshocked residents ran through what-if scenarios—what if they’d stayed at the festival a little longer, or gone back to the park instead of going to see a play?—a sense of shattered peace also crept into speakers’ remarks.
Morgan Hill City Councilmember Rene Spring recalled another shooting just a month earlier in his neighboring town. In that case, three people were killed when a shooter believed to be a disgruntled former employee opened fire at a local Ford dealership and killed two employees and himself.
“Things like this don’t happen,” Spring said of the quiet, culturally diverse Silicon Valley suburbs. “But they do.”
Santa Cruz Local, the new media outfit and podcast launched by Kara Meyberg Guzman and Stephen Baxter, has been pulling back the curtain on how they do business. In the first installment of a new series called “Meet Santa Cruz Local,” former Santa Cruz Sentinel managing editor Meyberg Guzman said she wanted to be more transparent.
In conversation, she mentioned that Baxter “really burned out” on journalism back in 2016 and then “took a break.” Baxter elaborated that his wife had a baby around that time. Butif this was really all about transparency, Baxter should have added that he resigned shortly after he left a mean-spirited voicemail that got posted to Facebook and ignited controversy.
But anyway, we were more interested in the survey responses from Santa Cruz Local listeners about what they want and where they get their information. Baxter reported that 85% of listeners said they want “news about city government and deeply reported investigative pieces.” Three-quarters of listeners get their news from the Sentinel, Baxter added, and half get news from word of mouth. Three-quarters also get their news from the social media site NextDoor.
Wait, these listeners have been getting their information from the platform where xenophobes post phony facts about made-up plans for new homeless encampments, without checking anything, just to stir the pot?
Come on Santa Cruz Local listeners, Nuz is right here. What is it you want to know?
WEED BE REMISS
Speaking of podcasts, in a recent episode of The Weeds, journalist Matthew Yglesias interviewed Yale law professor David Schleicher about why local and state politics—a one-time respite of partisanship—have gotten so nasty as of late. In many ways, it’s a story of the rise of the decline of local media, as well as the rise of cable news and online media.
Back when news consumers had more local information, it was easier for them to vote for a liberal presidential candidate and a more conservative councilmember in the same election cycle, generally speaking. Those days are over. Voters increasingly pick local candidates based on partisan instincts, instead of local issues. “People have less information about local politics with which to distinguish whatever it is their city is doing from whatever it is the president is doing,” Schleicher explained.
This is all happening, of course, against the backdrop of an increasingly polarized national political landscape that’s dividing the electorate.
Makes you think, how many Santa Cruzans who love/hate councilmembers Drew Glover and Chris Krohn with every fiber of their being could explain why they feel so strongly?
We begin the astrological week with Sun, Moon, Venus and Mars in Leo, the sign of the golden lion and the sign in which we praise, recognize, honor, applaud, extol, commend, admire, speak well of, give credit, and pay tribute to everyone during the entire Leo month—especially Leos who need all of these to properly advance, progress, develop, and evolve.
Leo is about being creative and receiving recognition in the full light and grace of their creativity. This recognition helps develop their identity.
The key to Leo is “I am (exist) because (through what) I create.” If we created t-shirts for each sign, the Leo t-shirt would read: “For my evolutionary growth and well-being, and even if I act at first like a benevolent dictator, please be patient with me. And praise, recognize and admire me constantly. I am learning how to be a creative leader.”
This information is especially important for parents and teachers of Leo children in order to understand their behaviors, know what their tasks are and help focus Leo’s fiery creative nature.
Someday the world will understand the tasks, gifts, purpose, journey and sufferings of all 12 signs. For now, those reading this who understand can begin to change and bring understanding to the world—one Leo at a time.
ARIES: Being creative may not be your most important self-identity. Initiating things is. However, creativity is hounding you every minute, and for weeks to come you’ll be called to new productive endeavors. You will respond to all changes coming your way in terms of how you’re recognized, and who you may think you are, which is limited, because you’re much more than that. Observe everything. Your path has power and purpose.
TAURUS: Home and everything connected with home must hold your focused attention, for there is much to be done there. I will also tell you that your digestion may be going through difficult times, so you need to be very careful of your diet. Enzymes, probiotics, acidophilus, and Calcium Phos (homeopathic) are some or all of what’s needed to tend to your sensitive digestion. Maintain adequate electrolytes and water.
GEMINI: Many Geminis have contacted me this week concerning what I wrote for their sign. The reason for reading everything I write is to gather enough esoteric wisdom for your esoteric journal (which you are to create) so you can begin to have the framework within that unifies polarities through your ability to love (Ray 2), which happens when enough information has been gathered. When love happens, then wisdom comes forth, too (your tasks in the coming times). For now, you’re to study, create your journal and ponder on these things.
CANCER: Communication may feel more difficult, and you may in response feel anger and frustration. Simultaneously, others could be acting out those feelings for you. You may be focused on money, finances and resources. Your pride in what you have makes you want to share it, and this is good. Your resources allow different ways of tithing. Whatever you give opens a gate and always what you give is returned tenfold. That’s a cosmic law.
LEO: Happy Birthday, Leo. The Sun’s light illuminates and brings you something new and golden, wanted and loved. The past, present and future all show up for your birthday, providing you with the opportunity to work on forgiveness, have gratitude, value every experience, and at the end offer (internally) love to everyone encountered in your life. There is an added amount of courage being offered to you, and a momentum to move forward into a deeper level of creativity. A profound sense of empowerment is hovering over and all around. You need not restrict yourself. The grass grows all by itself.
VIRGO: As you begin things and are held back over and over (Mercury retrograde in its shadow), go slow and let yourself rest a bit so that your inner-self (physical body, emotions and mind) can restructure itself. This creates a new mind with new thoughts, visions, ideas, and realities. We all need this reorientation (and slowing down) several times in our lives, so new values and new inner-resources can be impressed on us from on high. Contemplation of these things provides relief.
LIBRA: You hop (drive?) between home and work, wondering how to gracefully balance both areas of life. Emotions pull you home, responsibilities call from work. Although constantly changing, you’re warm and safe at home (wherever and whatever home is for you now). However, a magnetic pull calls you to work, often overtime. Daily life seems ever-so-complicated and ever-shifting. You can’t count on anything consistent. You’re learning how to navigate the waters of change. You’ll be the captain when everything falls down.
SCORPIO: Try not to plunge carelessly into anything, including other people’s lives. Maintain poise within the constant daily variations of reality. Your work, home, values are shifting. As you evaluate all communications, home is both dissolving and later coming together, and a new creativity is on the horizon. Don’t worry about any unusual occurrences. They are normal in times of transition. Soon your resources expand and a new garden appears.
SAGITTARIUS: What’s written for Scorpio applies to you. However, you’re in a state that’s even more difficult, for it seems your entire inner-self is being excavated so that whoever you really are can be brought forth. You can think of yourself as a found object of art, strangely beautiful and made of parts shiny, luminous and deeply intelligent. It’s good to think of yourself in this way, for it contains hope and virtue, light amidst darkness, solitude within the crowd. You’re always in control. Know this (about your soul).
CAPRICORN: There’s something you want; a change of place, of venue, of work, of things in life deeply needed. Use your kitchen or dining room table as your workshop. Tape down large sheets of paper, gather the family, have lots of colored pens and pencils available, and begin as a family (or group of friends) to draw in detail what you want/need. Do this as an exercise each day/evening. Don’t miss a day. You are bringing what you need into form and matter. You will teach manifestation. This is what magic actually is. Disciples are White Magicians.
AQUARIUS: You are blending, merging and adapting your life into an art form through your various creative endeavors. We come into incarnation hoping to fulfill our tasks (different each lifetime). Then in one particular lifetime, we begin to live within our particular gifts. We become happy and joyful and life feels luminous. This is an Initiation, an inner spiritual growth phase. It’s the path of Ray 7, the ray star of Aquarius’s ruler Uranus. You then bring humanity a revolution of beauty.
PISCES: After the last few weeks (months, years, lifetimes) of visionary work, it’s back to the drawing board, back to work creating the foundation for future endeavors. Seek to create a routine that summons your abilities and simultaneously serves others. There is a sense of bittersweetness—you understand the sadness of hopes dashed, yet you carry on, straight into the eye of the hurricane. Read Aquarius’ task and follow through with yours. Energy follows thought. Energy expends energy. The energy of beauty is your task.
The members of Froth nearly released a blank record once, just because the idea sounded hilarious to them. This was before the band actually existed, but singer/guitarist Joo-Joo Ashworth and a group of guys he was hanging around with would go to shows and tell people that they were a band called Froth. None of them played instruments, though, so they thought a great practical joke would be to release an actual vinyl record with an album cover that said “Froth” in big, bold letters, but had no music on it.
“This guy at a record pressing plant said that he would do it for us for free because he had a blank mold,” Ashworth says. “He was dating my aunt, but then they broke up and it never happened.”
Froth did become a band later, mostly with other members. When Ashworth started to jam with this new group of guys, everyone was basically starting from scratch.
“It was definitely not serious at first,” Ashworth says. “Once the first record got put out, that clicked in—‘Oh, this is a band.’ But at the same time, every band is a real band, and every band isn’t a real band, you know what I mean?”
Now that Froth just released its fourth record Duress, they are more of a real band than a not-real band. The early records were psych-pop in the vein you’d expect from Burger Records, which released the group’s second album. For Duress, the band has evolved quite a bit and now incorporates a lot of shoegaze elements. It’s simultaneously more pop-oriented and more experimental in its layering of instrumentation and sonic nuancing.
Despite its beginnings, Froth has developed into a meticulous project where every sound is given a lot focus and care.
“Some of the songs we were working on for months and months,” Ashworth says. “We would throw it down and bring it back later. We took a bit of time dialing in the sounds. I like the process of knob twiddling.”
The latest record came after a quiet spell for the band. There was no official declaration of a hiatus, but the members were kind of off doing their own thing. Ashworth was working on a solo album, but eventually he started to wonder if the songs could work as a Froth record, despite going in a different direction.
“I think it turned out cool. I don’t think it was too far off from what we were doing before,” Ashworth says. “Maybe some of it is left field. One or two songs.”
Songs cover some oddball topics, too, like lead single “Laurel,” which explores the brief 2018 Laurel vs. Yanny craze, where a sound clip sounded like Laurel to some people and Yanny to others.
“I don’t know if there was cultural significance for me. But I thought it was interesting that it can so specifically mark the time,” Ashworth says. “Those weeks with Yanny and Laurel were like a thing.”
Another song explores a condition he and drummer Cameron Allen share called “Alice in Wonderland Syndrome,” where one perceives large and small objects as one as they fall asleep. The song treats it with a light-hearted, stream-of-consciousness view.
“It’s like this weird, overwhelming perception,” Ashworth says. “[The song] is a superficial discussion about it. It’s so hard to write about what the feeling even is.”
Overall, the music isn’t anything heavy; it’s more of a sonic adventure. The group digs deep into what a rock trio can sound like with this album, so much so that they barely recognize the band they were when they were still learning how to play their instruments.
“Just listen to the new album. Don’t worry about the old ones,” says Ashworth. “Especially the first one.”
Froth performs at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 3, at Felton Music Hall, 627 Hwy. 9, Felton. $15 adv/$18 door. 704-7113.
ARIES (March 21-April 19): “Dear Diary, last night my Aries friend dragged me to the Karaoke Bowling Alley and Sushi Bar. I was deeply skeptical. The place sounded tacky. But after being there for 20 minutes, I had to admit that I was having a fantastic time. And it just got better and more fun as the night wore on. I’m sure I made a fool of myself when I did my bowling ball imitation, but I can live with that. At one point I was juggling a bowling pin, a rather large piece of sweet potato tempura, and my own shoe while singing Led Zeppelin’s “Kashmir”—and I don’t even know how to juggle. I have to admit that this sequence of events was typical of my adventures with Aries folks. I suppose I should learn to trust that they will lead me to where I don’t know I want to go.”
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): In his poem “Wild Oats,” poet W. S. Merwin provided a message that’s in perfect alignment with your current astrological needs: “I needed my mistakes in their own order to get me here.” He was not being ironic in saying that; he was not making a lame attempt to excuse his errors; he was not struggling to make himself feel better for the inconvenience caused by his wrong turns. No! He understood that the apparent flubs and miscues he had committed were essential in creating his successful life. I invite you to reinterpret your own past using his perspective.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Even if you’re an ambidextrous, multi-gendered, neurologically diverse, Phoenician-Romanian Gemini with a fetish for pink duct tape and an affinity for ideas that no one has ever thought of, you will eventually find your sweet spot, your power niche, and your dream sanctuary. I promise. Same for the rest of you Geminis, too. It might take a while. But I beg you to have faith that you will eventually tune in to the homing beacon of the mother lode that’s just right for you. P.S.: Important clues and signs should be arriving soon.
CANCER (June 21-July 22): What would a normal, boring astrologer tell you at a time like now? Maybe something like this: “More of other people’s money and resources can be at your disposal if you emanate sincerity and avoid being manipulative. If you want to negotiate vibrant compromises, pay extra attention to good timing and the right setting. Devote special care and sensitivity to all matters affecting your close alliances and productive partnerships.” As you know, Cancerian, I’m not a normal, boring astrologer, so I wouldn’t typically say something like what I just said. But I felt it was my duty to do so because right now you need simple, basic, no-frills advice. I promise I’ll resume with my cryptic, lyrical oracles next time.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Let’s check in with our psychic journalist, LoveMancer, who’s standing by with a live report from inside your imagination. What’s happening, LoveMancer? “Well, Rob, the enchanting creature on whose thoughts I’ve been eavesdropping has slipped into an intriguing frontier. This place seems to be a hot zone where love and healing interact intensely. My guess is that being here will lead our hero to breakthrough surges of love that result in deep healing, or deep healing that leads to breakthrough surges of love—probably both.”
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Virgo figure skater Scott Hamilton won an Olympic gold medal and four World Championships. He was a star who got inducted into the United States Olympic Hall of Fame and made a lot of money after he turned professional. “I calculated once how many times I fell during my skating career—41,600 times,” he testified in his autobiography. “But here’s the funny thing: I also got up 41,600 times. That’s the muscle you have to build in your psyche—the one that reminds you to just get up.” In accordance with current astrological omens, Virgo, I’ll be cheering you on as you strengthen that muscle in your psyche during the coming weeks.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): What’s the story of your life? Psychologist James Hillman said that in order to thrive, you need to develop a clear vision of that story. How do you do that? Hillman advised you to ask yourself this question: “How can I assemble the pieces of my life into a coherent plot?” And why is this effort to decode your biography so important? Because your soul’s health requires you to cultivate curiosity and excitement about the big picture of your destiny. If you hope to respond with intelligence to the questions and challenges that each new day brings, you must be steadily nourished with an expansive understanding of why you are here on earth. I bring these ideas to your attention, Libra, because the coming weeks will be an excellent time to illuminate and deepen and embellish your conception of your life story.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): “Artists are people driven by the tension between the desire to communicate and the desire to hide,” wrote psychoanalyst Donald Winnicott. I think that description fits many people born under the sign of the Scorpio, not just Scorpio artists. Knowing how important and necessary this dilemma can be for you, I would never glibly advise you to always favor candid, straightforward communication over protective, strategic hiding. But I recommend you do that in the coming weeks. Being candid and straightforward will serve you well.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Sagittarian poet Aracelis Girmay writes, “How ramshackle, how brilliant, how haphazardly and strangely rendered we are. Gloriously, fantastically mixed and monstered. We exist as phantom, monster, miracle, each a theme park all one’s own.” Of course that’s always true about every one of us. But it will be extraordinarily true about you in the coming weeks. According to my analysis of the astrological omens, you will be at the peak of your ability to express what’s most idiosyncratic and essential about your unique array of talents and specialties.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Sometime soon I suspect you will arrive at a crossroads in your relationship with love and sex—as well as your fantasies about love and sex. In front of you: a hearty cosmic joke that would mutate your expectations and expand your savvy. Behind you: an alluring but perhaps confusing call toward an unknown future. To your left: the prospect of a dreamy adventure that might be only half-imaginary. To your right: the possibility of living out a slightly bent fairy tale version of romantic catharsis. I’m not here to tell you what you should do, Capricorn. My task is simply to help you identify the options.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): How many handcuffs are there in the world? Millions. Yet there are far fewer different keys than that to open all those handcuffs. In fact, in many countries, there’s a standard universal key that works to open most handcuffs. In this spirit, and in accordance with current astrological omens, I’m designating August as Free Yourself from Your Metaphorical Handcuffs Month. It’s never as complicated or difficult as you might imagine to unlock your metaphorical handcuffs; and for the foreseeable future it will be even less complicated and difficult than usual for you.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): People who sneak a gaze into your laboratory might be unnerved by what they see. You know and I know that your daring experiments are in service to the ultimate good, but that may not be obvious to those who understand you incompletely. So perhaps you should post a sign outside your lab that reads, “Please don’t leap to premature conclusions! My in-progress projects may seem inexplicable to the uninitiated!” Or maybe you should just close all your curtains and lock the door until your future handiwork is more presentable. P.S. There may be allies who can provide useful feedback about your explorations. I call them the wounded healers.
Homework: Fantasize about ways you could make money from doing what you love to do. Report results! freewillastrology.com.
Somewhere near the start of the 21st century, inquiring singer, music explorer and California native Brad Wells began foraging well outside the standard repertoire of the harmony and melody performed by Western choral groups since the Renaissance.
After surveying the performance galaxy of music from other cultures—ones in which much more than vocal chord vibration is used to produce sounds—Wells started holding auditions for what would become Roomful of Teeth in 2009.
Next came commissions of exploratory work for the group’s precise set of skills and sound effects, then a 2013 Grammy for the ensemble’s recording of Partita for 8 Voices, composed by Roomful’s mezzo-soprano Caroline Shaw. The group’s reputation soared. They performed all over the world, and as Wells had stipulated from the very beginning, each singer made a living wage.
Roomful of Teeth has been called a lab experiment for the human voice. The sounds they are capable of creating using teeth, tongue, throat, and lips can range from stabbing percussion to shimmering whispers and lusty yodels. Each singer is classically trained, yet Bach would be astonished at the sounds they produce. Floating high above all the action of the lower voices is the effervescent soprano of Esteli Gomez, a Santa Cruz native who first studied music at Aptos High School with choral director Meri Pezzoni.
“This really is new and exciting music,” says Pezzoni, a UCSC music graduate. An accomplished singer and pianist, Pezzoni recently formed a woman’s vocal group, Amica, now rehearsing for its second annual concert.
Having performed with countless choral groups in the Bay Area, Pezzoni suddenly wanted to do an all women’s group. “Instead of a book club,” she says with a laugh, “we have a singing club with a very high skill level.” Pezzoni has kept in touch with Gomez since the days when she was a student in Aptos. “She started with me in junior high, and sang for six years as one of my soprano soloists.”
After Aptos, Gomez went to Yale School of Sacred Music, where she got involved in Baroque music. Pezzoni vividly recalls Gomez’s “beautiful soprano voice and great phrasing. She was always a superstar,” she says.
The allure of singing with other voices in a choral ensemble is powerful, says Pezzoni.
“You’re either a soloist or you’re not. If you’re drawn to singing with others, it becomes your passion, and it can often begin in high school, where choirs get to travel and you sing with your friends. There’s a sense of belonging, of being a family,” Pezzoni says. She’s preaching to the choir, since I too began choral singing as a kid (and was in a madrigal group with Pezzoni several decades ago) and haven’t stopped.
Roomful of Teeth continues to find alternative kinds of sound and music, says Pezzoni.
“These musicians are always trying to push the envelope,” she says. “They’re astonishing.”
Roomful of Teeth will perform at the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music on opening night (Friday, Aug. 2, 8 p.m.), when they’ll appear with the festival orchestra and mezzo-soprano Jamie Barton in the world premiere of ‘When There are Nine.’ They will also be part of the festival’s free Community Sing (Saturday, Aug. 3, 4 p.m.). Finally, there is a chamber concert devoted entirely to their radical choral music (Sunday, Aug. 4, 7 p.m.). Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, 307 Church St., Santa Cruz. cabrillomusic.org.
Many local fans know that at the height of the Doobies’ fame in the 1970s, Simmons Sr. lived in Santa Cruz, but they may not have known that he was paving the way for his future son’s 
