Santa Cruz County seems very excited by the prospect of purchasing the 32-mile Union Pacific rail line from Davenport to Watsonville, and is willing to use state funding to buy it. “Not so fast,” says the California Transportation Commission. There are still preconditions that have to be met, and the county has until November to meet them. One of these preconditions actually seems quite obvious. The Commission wants the County to make a greater commitment to actually running trains on the rail line. This means that the County has until Nov. 3 to sign a contract with Sierra Northern Railway to run its touristy dinner train and other passenger lines.
News
Police Still Searching for Comerica Bank Robber
The SCPD is still searching for a man who held up a Westside branch of Comerica Bank on Wednesday.
Homeless Camp Finds New Home
The homeless camp located outside the County Courthouse has moved locations. It is now situated outside Santa Cruz City Hall. Protesters say they plan to roll out their sleeping bags there every night until the city addresses the problems they face and lifts its ban on sleeping in the streets. Spokesman Christopher Doyon did not comment on the fact that the new location is now city property, not county property, so the local police are fully authorized to deal with the protesters. Since the protest began five and half weeks ago, 24 people have been cited and nine have been arrested, though only one has appeared in court so far.
Teen Arrested for Graffiti… Lots of It
The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Department announced that it has arrested Alfonso “Pancho” Ramirez, 19, for 160 acts of vandalism involving graffiti, causing $11,700 in damages. The arrest was part of a countywide crackdown on graffiti vandals, who are said to cause as much as $1 million dollars of damage per year in the county.
Sidewalks Almost As Bad As Roads
Everyone knows that there’s a problem with road maintenance.
Santa Cruz County Jail Joins Immigration Initiative
On Tuesday the Santa Cruz County Jail joined the controversial Secure Communities initiative sponsored by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Youth Stabbed Near Watsonville School
Watsonville police are investigating the stabbing of a 15-year-old boy in Watsonville on Tuesday night.
Incoherent ‘Othello’ Disappoints
Othello, which opened last weekend at Shakespeare Santa Cruz in the Festival Glen, is a bold and tragic tale of “one that loved not wisely but too well.” Othello, a celebrated black general of Venice (played with physical power by Corey Jones), has eloped with Desdemona, the daughter of Brabantio, a senator of Venice. “It is too much of joy,” Othello admits, finding himself newly married and assigned to defend Cyprus against the Turks. The plot thickens quickly on the wings of brilliant writing as news of the promotion of a lieutenant, Cassio (Richard Prioleau), reaches the overlooked commander Iago (Victor Talmadge). Cassio famously plots his revenge for this perceived insult by turning Othello first against Cassio, and then against his new bride, by planting Desdemona’s handkerchief on Cassio, whereby it is “discovered,” and with it the fictional adultery as well.
Ballot Boxing on August 17
It wasn’t the lowest turnout in the history of California balloting. That dubious honor goes to two state legislators from Los Angeles, whose 2009 special elections stand as sagging monuments to voter apathy: each drew 7.9 percent of registered voters. But the turnout for the June 22 primary to fill the 15th Senate District seat—while, at 31.78 percent, is perfectly in line with most special elections—seems low for a contest deemed so important that the president of the United States has weighed in on it.
Eating The Pests
Many gardeners know that dandelions and other weeds go well in salads. Fewer know that the common garden snail, Cantareus aspersus (formerly known as Helix aspersa), does well when sautéed in butter and garlic (what doesn’t?) and served in the shell in which it lived its life. Yep, the garden snail that ravages your chard and kale is among the snails esteemed as escargot. In fact, it was introduced to California from France, no less, in the 1850s as a food source, according to a UC Davis online report. It now lives around the world.
