Columns and Commentaries
Commentary: Clean creeks make good neighbors
Robert Frost’s iconic poem, Mending Wall, concludes: “Good fences make good neighbors.” I would add that plastic-free creeks also make good neighbors. In early March a local daily newspaper publish...
Apr 03, 2014 | 5 5 comments | 151 151 recommendations | email to a friend
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Commentary: Polo Barn demolition decision should be delayed
On November 11, 2013 a public notice was sent out stating the Scotts Valley City Council was considering an agreement to allow the demolition of the historic Polo Barn complex. This notice was anno...
Jan 09, 2014 | 4 4 comments | 334 334 recommendations | email to a friend
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Commentary: Supervisor recaps first year in office
My first year as Supervisor of the Fifth District has been busy, productive, and thoroughly enjoyable. It’s been a year of listening and learning, and a time of growing appreciation of the Fifth Di...
Dec 26, 2013 | 3 3 comments | 344 344 recommendations | email to a friend
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Commentary: BC Cell tower protest only the beginning
Several Sundays ago, eight Boulder Creek residents protested in front of Verizon’s store in downtown Santa Cruz. Why did we do this? Haven’t we already won (“Cell tower application all but dead in ...
Dec 19, 2013 | 1 1 comments | 351 351 recommendations | email to a friend
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Commentary: Roads, not Rail Trail, should be priority
Buried on the back page of the December 13 Press-Banner, the headline, “Local road projects get boost” (page 20), immediately caught my attention. The excellent article by Joe Shreve raises some se...
Dec 19, 2013 | 1 1 comments | 349 349 recommendations | email to a friend
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Shout-out: Ben Lomond Fire board lauded for responsible spending
EDITOR, This is a long overdue letter to acknowledge Fire Chief Stacie Brownlee and the Ben Lomond Fire District Board of Directors for coordinating and overseeing the installation of the beautiful...
Nov 14, 2013 | 0 0 comments | 420 420 recommendations | email to a friend
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Commentary: SLV paying price for Santa Cruz’s lax homeless policies
by Mike Degregorio
Nov 07, 2013 | 13 13 comments | 459 459 recommendations | email to a friend
The cool fall air and drizzly damp mornings have finally arrived — chilly mornings that signal the end of the craziest, most stressful summer since the great Lockheed fires of 2009. This summer fel...
Commentary: Mayor asks for Measure U vote
by Randy Johnson
Oct 24, 2013 | 5 5 comments | 479 479 recommendations | email to a friend
I have had the pleasure these past few weeks to talk to lots of people, some door-to-door, about our temporary ½-cent sales tax, Measure U. The response has been very positive.  Some heartily endor...
Commentary: Board member voices rate increase concerns in interview
by Suellene Petersen
Oct 23, 2013 | 2 2 comments | 490 490 recommendations | email to a friend
On Thursday morning, October 17, I had an opportunity to discuss this massive rate increase with San Lorenzo Valley Water District Director Randall Brown.  As a historian who is interested in the e...
Commentary: Water rate increase more about pet projects than improvements
by Randall C. Brown
Oct 17, 2013 | 9 9 comments | 503 503 recommendations | email to a friend
When elected to the board of the San Lorenzo Valley Water District last November, I was pleased to have the opportunity to work with people I respect. The long-serving majority played a highly posi...
Commentary: Scotts Valley situation dire without sales tax
by Danny Reber
Oct 03, 2013 | 7 7 comments | 542 542 recommendations | email to a friend
I am writing this letter on behalf of the Scotts Valley Chamber of Commerce and its Board of Directors.  You may have already heard of Measure U.  This is a proposed temporary sales tax to fund our...
Commentary: In support of SLV Water District rate increase
by Nancy Macy
Sep 26, 2013 | 12 12 comments | 556 556 recommendations | email to a friend
The rate increase proposed for SLV Water District customers is not only justified; it is necessary. Concern for low-income residents is shared not only by those opposed to the increase, but also by...