Pedestrians in Santa Cruz have claimed a victory. A hotly contested alleyway linking Mission Plaza with the High Street cul de sac will remain open to foot and bike traffic between the hours of at least 6am and 10pm. The court-arbitrated compromise marks the end of three-year struggle with absentee property owner John Mahony on one side and neighbors supported by bike/pedestrian group People Power on the other.
News
A Quiet Mehserle Protest
Shortly before noon they gathered at Pacific and Cooper streets in downtown Santa Cruz, a dozen or so protesters, mostly college age. Two hours later they were still there under the white summer sun, holding crude homemade signs bearing slogans about racism and injustice. With slide show.
Farmers and Enviros Fight over Water Quality Rules
At an open meeting of the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Review Board in Watsonville, environmental groups argued that nitrates used in fertilizers and pesticides are threatening the region’s water supplies. Their claim was challenged by local growers, who responded that they have taken steps to reduce the amount of nitrates used, including the expanded use of drip irrigation. Drip irrigation technologies enable them to get water and nutrients directly to the roots of their plants, thereby cutting down the use of both considerably. They further argued that the nitrates that they are being asked to clean up are “legacy nitrates” from previous generations of farmers in the region.
Santa Cruz Quiet but Gearing for Protests
At least 86 people have been arrested in Oakland in riots following the reading of the verdict in the Johannes Mehserle trial yesterday afternoon. Mehserle, an Oakland police officer, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in the murder of Oscar Grant. According to eyewitnesses and video evidence, Mehserle shot Grant in the back after he had been arrested and restrained by the police.
Ten Questions for Bruce Bratton
Santa Cruz’s favorite raconteur, muckraker-about-town and critic at large reveals his hostility toward loud motorcycles downtown and gives up the goods on his (now not-so-) secret star crush.
Joan Rivers’ Oral Gratification
Can we talk? If you’re not exhausted after watching the mesmerizing new docupic on comic legend Joan Rivers, then you’re not conscious. At 76, the much-lifted stand-up icon sets a blistering pace, powering through a schedule of shows, engagements, rehearsals and appearances that would kill anyone half her age. To say that this proto-feminist is driven is to say that Tiger Woods plays a little golf.
More Gang Violence in Santa Cruz
A 33-year-old man was shot multiple times on Tuesday morning as he was walking to work.
Should Lighthouse Field Go to the Dogs?
On Saturday, Take Back Santa Cruz, Save Our Shores and the Friends of Lighthouse Field will be launching a major cleanup campaign at Lighthouse Field. The 36-acre landmark has been seeing an increase in drug dealing, littering and illegal camping since 2007, the year that the city gave up its lease to the site and it reverted to State Park control. Given the current budget crisis facing California, the Parks Department is hard-pressed to provide the necessary protection for the area. According to Take Back Santa Cruz, “Whenever you pull the community out of an area, then this illegal activity is going to flourish.”
Alfresco Moves Uptown
Marilyn Emery’s healthy fast food creed is short and sweet: “Ready in 45 seconds to two minutes.” And she means it. I peek inside her miniature curbside kitchen as she whips up the Muffalleta wrap I have just ordered. A supple, pie-sized whole wheat tortilla materializes. Hummus is instantly spread across every centimeter. The chopped olives, red peppers, capers, pepperoncini and garlic are slapped into the middle, followed by a healthy handful of organic baby greens. Whoosh! Her lightening hands roll everything into a tight, fat cylinder. She makes a diagonal cut forming two perfectly uniform halves. It’s packed tightly into a to-go sheet of plastic wrap or served up on a biodegradeable plate to eat on the spot. Bam. It’s done and you’re good to go.
Staring Down the Dragon on Dependence Day
On the night of the Fourth of July, I flew into New Orleans. I watched from above as fireworks sailed from below into the sky to celebrate Independence Day.
The young man from a small Louisiana coastal town sitting next to me said “I’ve never seen fireworks from above.”
“Me neither.”
