The level of violence in Santa Cruz has shot up, and City Council is determined to do something about it, regardless of the cost. On Tuesday, City Manager Dick Wilson was authorized to fill eight vacant positions on the SCPD, even if it costs the city $1 million. It was a bold move, considering that the city is struggling with a $4 million deficit. Mayor Mike Rotkin is now suggesting a new public safety tax to help defray costs.
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Santa Cruz Surfers Tale Hits the Silver Screen
Though he didn’t have a title for it at the time, Joshua Pomer started filming The Westsiders when he was 16 years old. It was the late 1980s, and, armed with a bulky video camera he borrowed from Santa Cruz High, the teenaged Pomer took in his immediate surroundings: Steamer Lane, the Circles neighborhood and the surf-centered antics of his ragtag group of friends. Over the years, Daryl “Flea” Virostko, Shawn “Barney” Barron and Jason “Ratboy” Collins—Pomer’s cast and crew—became celebrated pro surfers. Pomer, meanwhile, acquired progressively fancier cameras. What happened in the interim has less to do with surfing or filmmaking than with the trials of life and the bonds of friendship, and is the subject of Pomer’s documentary, which premiers Saturday, May 8 at the Riverfront Twin Cinema at 6:30pm as part of the Santa Cruz Film Festival.
John Laird Takes on State Senate Race—and History
It’s 277 miles from the oil field-turned-bedroom-community of Orcutt, in Santa Barbara County at the southern end of State Senate District 15, to tony Saratoga at its northern end. In the next seven weeks, John Laird will get to know them all. On May 3 the former Assemblymember announced his candidacy for the seat vacated by freshly appointed Lieutenant Governor Abel Maldonado, kicking off a hectic drive toward a June 22 special election in which he’ll face Assemblymember Sam Blakeslee, a powerful San Luis Obispo Republican.
Local Foodies Take Home Top Honors
For those in the know, the James Beard Award is the culinary equivalent of the Oscars and the Nobel Prize all rolled into one with a nice remoulade. It’s the highest honor in the world of food and beverages, a celebration of meals that are truly happy, even if they come without the free toy. Two local connoisseurs of the kitchen, chef David Kinch and winemaker Randall Grahm, came home with the prize on Monday night.
It Takes A Riot
In the wake of Santa Cruz’s May Day riot, City Council, together with City Manager Dick Wilson, have decided to fill eight police vacancies that were left empty due to budgetary constraints. The city is currently facing a $3-4 million deficit, and Mayor Mike Rotkin admitted, “We have no idea how we are going to pay for it.” He added, “But this riot is enough of a crisis that we can’t afford to do what is fiscally responsible.”
Santa Cruz Rail Line Purchase Hurtles Toward Approval
Sierra Northern Railway Engine No. 48 rumbles slowly down the tacks toward Watsonville. A growling, 125-ton rolling box of steel and fuel, its form or one similar has hauled people and goods along the 32 miles of Santa Cruz Branch Line railroad since 1881. Beneath it, the tracks and the land at least 20 feet on either side are owned by Union Pacific, as old and imposing a company as you’ll find in American business. And until the Cemex cement plant in Davenport closed down in January, Cliff Walters and Wes Swift, the engineer and conductor inside the train, had plenty of work driving loads both north and south of Santa Cruz, their bosses at Sierra making a modest but steady profit while turning over lease payments in cash and services to UP like clockwork. With slideshow.
Don’t Blame SubRosa For May Day Violence
Something happened on Saturday night in downtown Santa Cruz. There was a ruckus. There was a dance party. There was also aftermath—broken glass, graffiti on walls, police in riot gear.
UCSC’s Shiny New Art Building
Art majors at UCSC got a look at their fancy new digs last Thursday when the university opened its Digital Arts Research Center to much fanfare. The $35 million, three-story complex, with its metal, glass and mesh design, glistened in the warm afternoon sun as the chiming music of UCSC’s Balinese Gamelan jingled in the background. David Yager, the school’s incoming dean of the Arts Division, along with Chancellor George Blumenthal, addressed the crowd of about 200 people before cutting a yellow ribbon and opening the doors for the attendees.With slideshow.
FBI to Help Investigate Santa Cruz May Day Riot
The SCPD has asked the FBI to help it investigate the May Day riot, which left downtown with $100,000 in damages. They explained that the event may have been used by a local anarchist group to provide “political and physical” cover for its intended activities, which, police claim, were carefully coordinated.
No Fire at Cafe During Riot
When the Santa Cruz Sentinel reported that anarchists involved with the May 1 riot downtown set fire to the porch at Caffe Pergolesi and blocked access to firefighters, it left out one important detail: there was no fire on the porch. According to a 911 recording obtained by Santa Cruz Weekly and the accounts of SCPD spokesman Zach Friend and Pergolesi baristas Hiram Coffee and Sam Trude, what really happened was that someone lit a bag on fire across Cedar Street from the café and a bush on fire on Elm Street.
