Cleanup is continuing in the Santa Cruz harbor, while officials have revised the toll of damages resulting from the tsunami. Originally estimated at $17 million, damages are now believed to be $22.5 million to the docks and $4 million to the boats. A more precise assessment of the damages will be made today, after FEMA representatives tour the site.
Anti-Semitism At UCSC?
The U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights has launched an extensive investigation into allegations of anti-Semitism on the UCSC campus. The investigation comes in the wake of a 2009 complaint by lecturer Tammi Rossman-Benjamin. Rossman-Benjamin, who teaches Hebrew on campus, has also published a paper titled “Anti-Zionism and the Abuse of Academic Freedom: A Case Study at the University of California, Santa Cruz.” According to her, no other group on campus has been subjected to “such hostile and demonizing criticism” as Jewish students.
Cleanup Underway at Santa Cruz Harbor
Cleanup is underway in the wake of the tsunami that hit the Santa Cruz Yacht Harbor on Friday. According to the Coast Guard, 18 boats sank during the surge, and the harbor suffered about $17 million in damages. As a result of the damage, no vessels are allowed entry into the harbor without the explicit permission of the Coast Guard. There is, as yet, no estimate as to when the harbor will be open to normal traffic. Crews are expected to remain on site through the end of the week.
Watching The Tsunami
On the afternoon of a day that saw 30 boats sink in the Santa Cruz Yacht Harbor by early official counts, damage from a tsunami surge that left an estimated $15 million of wreckage in its wake, Howard Thevenin watched stoically from the side of the harbor and recounted some history.
UPDATE: Tsunami Warning Downgraded
The County Office of Emergency Services downgraded its tsunami warning to a tsunami advisory on Friday afternoon following a briefing scheduled for 3:30pm. Office spokesman Enriques Sahagun said evacuees are encouraged to return home and that beaches will be opened periodically, although people are still being asked to stay out of the water.
Tsunami Warning: Roads to Santa Cruz Beach Flats Closed
Several waterside roads in Santa Cruz have been closed due to tsunami warnings. Roads closed include Beach Street near the Wharf, Riverside Avenue and Laurel Street near Third Street and Pacific Avenue near Center Street. The Boardwalk and Wharf have also been closed.
A Surfer First for Santa Cruz
Plenty of people do it on their skateboards, but no one has ever done it on a surfboard, at least until yesterday. Zoltan Torkos of Santa Cruz performed the first ever kick flip recorded on film.
Silicon Valley Preservation Push Includes Santa Cruz
While the city of San Jose hasn’t hit a million people yet, the population around San Francisco Bay is growing fairly steadily. New developments, whether homes or businesses, are gobbling up available land at a pace that could increase frenetically if the recession ever ends. Silicon Valley seems to be focused more on the Silicon and less on the Valley. Now, a coalition of foundations and environmental groups are hoping to rein in development.
Maybe I’m Amazed
First, a confession. Wings Over America is one of those rare albums that I have owned at various points in my life on vinyl, cassette and even on 8-track. Today, I own it on CD and have selected songs from it on my iPad. One of those songs is “Maybe I’m Amazed.” The live version is so much better than the studio version on Paul’s eponymous breakout album, McCartney.
Santa Cruz Poets, Santa Cruz Inspiration: Morton Marcus
Two poems from the late Santa Cruz poet and Cabrillo writing instructor.
