News

Letters to the Editor,  Jan. 4-11, 2012

By
• January 3, 2012

Our readers sound off about the meaning of true friendship and the perils of downtown dog poop.

Tough Tickets

[RE: “Ticketed Off” and “Meter–Made Problem,” Posts, Dec. 28 and Dec. 14], it always tickles me when people who can't budget their time point the finger of blame at anyone but themselves when things go awry. So you got a ticket because your meter had expired? Welcome to Planet Earth, where parking meters (and their beloved tenders) don't know from your shopping nightmares, your prolonged appointments, your broken heels or your quirky bladder.  With them, it's either feed me dinero—NOW!—or I'll turn bright red and violate your ass. Sure, most of us see the world in technicolor, but in the parking police universe, only two colors count. Still green?  You're good to go, and have a pleasant afternoon. Running-late red?  Thank you for your generous contribution to the city's coffers. If you're that incensed about this egregious miscarriage of justice, fight the damn thing in court—not in the newpaper.

Tim Rudolph

Santa Cruz

 

Man Bites Dogs

I spet a rather pleasant day downtown recently amid the last-minute Xmas shoppers but it was unfortunately made less pleasant by an encounter with three small piles of dog shit on the sidewalk, one of which appeared to have been stepped in. So I am moved to ask the city council:  Who is enforcing the pick-up-after-your-dog law? What happens when the dog's best friend does not cooperate?  What are the public health implications of a shopping and dining district wagging with dogs? If a homeless person defecated on the sidewalk, what would be the penalty? Are dogs permitted at the Capitola Mall? When does the dogs downtown policy come up for review?

Stephen Kessler 

Santa Cruz

 

Freedom From Facebook

Thank you for your article on the misery Facebook can cause someone (Currents, Dec. 21). After reading the article I realized my Facebook interactions were causing me to feel depressed for parts of my day. The problem was that most of my posts were being ignored by my '”Facebook friends.” I would upload a picture or write a comment and it was like I didn't exist. I decided I would use the “Paranoid Dictator” approach to this problem and purge or “unfriend” most of my cyber buddies. This can be accomplished by clicking on a friend and selecting “unfriend.” I learned that the friend is not notified they have been unfriended. You can always go back and change your decision and bestow friendship status to someone kicked out of your kingdom. After my purge I feel happy and free. No longer will I be at the mercy of the  “like heart” underneath a post, or expect a response from my “friends/traitors.” I encourage people who are feeling Facebook depression to free yourself. You have the power. It is your domain!

Name withheld in the interest of social propriety

Santa Cruz County

  • https://www.santacruz.com/news/2012/01/03/letters_to_the_editor1 Angela Heywood

    Stephen Kessler – Man Bites

    The SPCA has an adoption center and gift shop at Capitola Mall. The Mall gives them the space for FREE. So yes, there are dogs in Capitola Mall.

    Capitola Village also welcomes pooches and their people.

    I have been downtown with my dog, and have seen many, many more dogs downtown. I have some great pictures of well-behaved dogs in downtown accompanying their owners while shopping, eating and hanging out.

    I don’t support dog owners who don’t pick up or don’t come prepared, but I do support dogs downtown.

  • https://www.santacruz.com/news/letters_to_the_editor1.html Angela Heywood

    Stephen Kessler – Man Bites

    The SPCA has an adoption center and gift shop at Capitola Mall. The Mall gives them the space for FREE. So yes, there are dogs in Capitola Mall.

    Capitola Village also welcomes pooches and their people.

    I have been downtown with my dog, and have seen many, many more dogs downtown. I have some great pictures of well-behaved dogs in downtown accompanying their owners while shopping, eating and hanging out.

    I don’t support dog owners who don’t pick up or don’t come prepared, but I do support dogs downtown.

  • https://www.santacruz.com/news/2012/01/03/letters_to_the_editor1 Concerned Parent

    In response to Mr. Kessler’s “Man Bites Dogs” comment I must say that he raised a valid question: “If a homeless person defecated on the sidewalk, what would be the penalty?” Indeed, Mr. Kessler, regardless of the law, it seems there isn’t a penalty. Or, perhaps the penalty isn’t a sufficient deterrent, as public defecation by humans occurs Downtown frequently. (If you have any doubt, walk behind the Post Office or visit the Farmer’s Market. You too will witness compromises to public health when merchants place their full produce boxes on the ground where the individuals who regularly loiter in the parking lot defecate. And surely Mr. Kessler has not spent much time Downtown or he’d be equally outraged at the parents who deposit dirty diapers in the gutter or open public trash bins rather than bothering to properly dispose them. Given Mr. Kessler’s point of view, it seems the City should consider a ban on all children, vagrants AND dogs from the Downtown, since they are the ones primarily responsible for sidewalk messes. It seems that Mr. Kessler fails to understand the value in not only allowing but welcoming a more positive element of society to Downtown Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz ought to consider attracting those who are capable of supporting our local economy.
    When the ban on people with their four-footed family members on Pacific Avenue was lifted, our family decided to give Downtown Santa Cruz another try after a seven-year boycott of Downtown and its surrounds—not the least of which was because of the unfriendly policy toward our four-footed family member, but also because the Downtown had become hostile to families. Instead, Downtown had been overtaken by vagrants, panhandlers, drug pushers and peddlers, predators and annoying so-called “street musicians”—all of whom made it impossible to take our family Downtown, carry on a pleasant conversation, eat on the terraces, and generally feel comfortable or safe. We’d had enough and were no longer willing to tolerate all-too-frequent family-hostile behaviors, ranging from street crimes (e.g. brawls, personal threats, stabbings) to witnessing vile acts (e.g. filthy individuals, passed out on the sidewalk, piles of dirty clothing and used underwear piled on public benches, the stench of the smoking, boozing street urchins who approached us, demanding hand-outs while alternately screaming obscenities.  Such craziness has become part and parcel of what makes Santa Cruz not merely weird but a complete embarrassment and shameful City/County.
    On our first foray back Downtown, we made an effort to show our gratitude to the merchants for making an effort to welcome families back. We managed to casually spend over $1300. while merely browsing at the Book store, clothing and shoe stores before deciding to stay Downtown and enjoy a nice meal out on the town. Upon leaving the Sock Shop with three bags full, we had to step over a man completely passed out with no pants on who had defecated on the sidewalk. Calling 911 yielded virtually no response, though minutes prior, a patrol car passed by without taking notice. We finally left before assistance had come to the aid of this man, feeling sad, disgusted and repulsed but we vowed to give the struggling Downtown merchants yet another chance.
    We’ve since returned on several occasions, each time investing in the local economy despite the higher grocery prices increased parking hassles, and limited consumer choice and far more pleasant alternatives (Los Gatos, San Jose, Monterey, Carmel), where our entire family, is very welcome, including our well-mannered, groomed pup—who is trained not to defecate on the sidewalk—and whose considerate, law-abiding guardians always pick up after him.
    Not once have I seen evidence of dog doo left on the street in Downtown Santa Cruz but I do not doubt that it has occurred. I fully endorse enforcement of the existing litter law. However I fail to see the societal value in penalizing the entire population in response to the unlawful acts of a few persons, particularly in light of the negative impact that reinstating a ban on dogs Downtown will most certainly have on local merchants and residents of the City, especially families. I urge the City Council to stop driving merchants and families out of Downtown Santa Cruz and to take the necessary steps to enhance the quality of life in Santa Cruz and to build a better Downtown community.

  • https://www.santacruz.com/news/letters_to_the_editor1.html Concerned Parent

    In response to Mr. Kessler’s “Man Bites Dogs” comment I must say that he raised a valid question: “If a homeless person defecated on the sidewalk, what would be the penalty?” Indeed, Mr. Kessler, regardless of the law, it seems there isn’t a penalty. Or, perhaps the penalty isn’t a sufficient deterrent, as public defecation by humans occurs Downtown frequently. (If you have any doubt, walk behind the Post Office or visit the Farmer’s Market. You too will witness compromises to public health when merchants place their full produce boxes on the ground where the individuals who regularly loiter in the parking lot defecate. And surely Mr. Kessler has not spent much time Downtown or he’d be equally outraged at the parents who deposit dirty diapers in the gutter or open public trash bins rather than bothering to properly dispose them. Given Mr. Kessler’s point of view, it seems the City should consider a ban on all children, vagrants AND dogs from the Downtown, since they are the ones primarily responsible for sidewalk messes. It seems that Mr. Kessler fails to understand the value in not only allowing but welcoming a more positive element of society to Downtown Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz ought to consider attracting those who are capable of supporting our local economy.
    When the ban on people with their four-footed family members on Pacific Avenue was lifted, our family decided to give Downtown Santa Cruz another try after a seven-year boycott of Downtown and its surrounds—not the least of which was because of the unfriendly policy toward our four-footed family member, but also because the Downtown had become hostile to families. Instead, Downtown had been overtaken by vagrants, panhandlers, drug pushers and peddlers, predators and annoying so-called “street musicians”—all of whom made it impossible to take our family Downtown, carry on a pleasant conversation, eat on the terraces, and generally feel comfortable or safe. We’d had enough and were no longer willing to tolerate all-too-frequent family-hostile behaviors, ranging from street crimes (e.g. brawls, personal threats, stabbings) to witnessing vile acts (e.g. filthy individuals, passed out on the sidewalk, piles of dirty clothing and used underwear piled on public benches, the stench of the smoking, boozing street urchins who approached us, demanding hand-outs while alternately screaming obscenities.  Such craziness has become part and parcel of what makes Santa Cruz not merely weird but a complete embarrassment and shameful City/County.
    On our first foray back Downtown, we made an effort to show our gratitude to the merchants for making an effort to welcome families back. We managed to casually spend over $1300. while merely browsing at the Book store, clothing and shoe stores before deciding to stay Downtown and enjoy a nice meal out on the town. Upon leaving the Sock Shop with three bags full, we had to step over a man completely passed out with no pants on who had defecated on the sidewalk. Calling 911 yielded virtually no response, though minutes prior, a patrol car passed by without taking notice. We finally left before assistance had come to the aid of this man, feeling sad, disgusted and repulsed but we vowed to give the struggling Downtown merchants yet another chance.
    We’ve since returned on several occasions, each time investing in the local economy despite the higher grocery prices increased parking hassles, and limited consumer choice and far more pleasant alternatives (Los Gatos, San Jose, Monterey, Carmel), where our entire family, is very welcome, including our well-mannered, groomed pup—who is trained not to defecate on the sidewalk—and whose considerate, law-abiding guardians always pick up after him.
    Not once have I seen evidence of dog doo left on the street in Downtown Santa Cruz but I do not doubt that it has occurred. I fully endorse enforcement of the existing litter law. However I fail to see the societal value in penalizing the entire population in response to the unlawful acts of a few persons, particularly in light of the negative impact that reinstating a ban on dogs Downtown will most certainly have on local merchants and residents of the City, especially families. I urge the City Council to stop driving merchants and families out of Downtown Santa Cruz and to take the necessary steps to enhance the quality of life in Santa Cruz and to build a better Downtown community.