Letter: Workshop will bring the firsthand facts of Measure N to Lompico residents
Editor,
I’d like to invite my fellow Lompicans to an informational workshop organized by the Lompico County Water District. The workshop, to be held on Wednesday, Jan. 14, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Zayante Fire Station, will offer an opportunity to get information directly from the appropriate sources.
The workshop will focus on Measure N, the bond for repairing and upgrading our water system, a final step which will allow us to become part of San Lorenzo Valley Water District through an annexation.
Information tables will be staffed by Patrick McCormick, executive officer of the Santa Cruz Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO); John Ricker, water resources division director for Santa Cruz County Environmental Health Services; Mary Jo Walker, Santa Cruz County auditor-controller-treasurer-tax collector; Suzanne Harrell, bond counsel; County Supervisor Bruce McPherson; representatives of San Lorenzo Valley Water District; and others.
I have found that too many residents have gotten their information secondhand from neighbors and rumors.
I urge everyone to attend this workshop and get the information we all need firsthand, so we can all make decisions based on facts, not assumptions or fears.
The upcoming bond election will determine the future of our water system, our health and safety, and our financial health; we all need to make our decision — and we need to have our neighbors make their decisions, which will affect us — based on facts.
Merrie Schaller, Director, Lompico County Water District
Letter: Reserved movie theater seating removes many headaches
Editor,
As a frequent moviegoer, there is always an anxious moment when I walk into the theater and see which seats are available.
For popular movies, there is the question of when to arrive, and how long to sit there with those annoying commercials in order to get a good seat.
On one occasion, I decided to go to a popular movie I really wanted to see on opening night. Having no interest in motion seating, I splurged for a D-Box ticket so I wouldn’t have to worry about where I ended up sitting. The person sitting next to me had done the same thing.
Although it takes some getting used to, the reserved seating removes these worries. When I purchase tickets, I can see what seats are available and decide if I still want to go to that showing.
I can use an app on my phone to check what seats are open and decide if I want to pay extra to buy tickets and reserve seats before going to the theater. I can arrive when the movie starts (maybe grab a glass of wine at the cafe), and I never have to stand in those extra lines to wait to get into a theater after purchasing a ticket.
There are some things to get used to. My usual way to select seats from a chart is to select them closest to where I want to be, which typically will involve selecting a seat next to someone else.
In a less crowded movie theater, this can be awkward, since people typically leave a seat between themselves and others. There is always the possibility that I won’t end up liking where I sit.
Though I assume once the movie starts, it won’t be a big deal if I change seats if I really feel the need.
On balance, I am very happy with the new reserved seating at Cinelux. It gives me more choice (e.g. select another showing if I don’t like the available seats) and more time (e.g. not having to show up early to get good seats), which makes my overall moviegoing experience more enjoyable.
Corrina Burnley, Scotts Valley
Letter: Read carefully to avoid false or misleading information on Measure N
Editor,
On Jan. 5, the Superior Court soundly rejected claims that statements in the voter information pamphlet for the Lompico bond were false and misleading.
Filing such a claim normally costs $435 for the filing fee, and we supporters had to pay this just to defend our valid arguments.
Mark Meacham, who ran for the Lompico Water Board last fall as a “successful business owner” claimed that he could not afford this fee and had it waived by the county.
Meacham submitted no proof that any of the statements were false or misleading, yet his own arguments on the voter pamphlet were clearly false and misleading. An example is his estimate of the “real” bi-monthly cost where he and his fellow authors added in the surcharge twice.
It is hard to believe that such a serious misrepresentation could have been just an oversight by the four anti-merger authors.
When Felton voted on their water bond, Community Facilities District No. 1 in 2005, the typical single-family expected rate in the voter’s information pamphlet was $598 and the maximum rate was $695.52.
When the bonds were sold, the actual rate was $535.46, 10 percent less than the expected rate in the voter information pamphlet and 23 percent less than the maximum rate stated. The Felton charge was recently reduced to $455 as a result of refinancing, indicating the CFD administrators’ efforts to keep the bond costs as low as possible.
Meacham, in his filing, tried to have the expected tax stricken from the Lompico voter information pamphlet, alleging it was biased.
I encourage all Lompicans to read the conflicting information carefully before making a decision. There will be an information session on Wednesday, Jan. 14 at 7 p.m. at the Zayante Fire Station where citizens can ask the agencies involved questions directly.
Pete Norton, Lompico
Letter: Cinelux should be applauded for reserved ticket program
Editor,
After recently visiting the Scotts Valley Cinelux Theater and again wildly appreciating their ticket procurement program, I was surprised to see a recent letter to the editor that faulted this system as an attack on the writer’s freedoms.
My wife and I so appreciate the ability to go online, purchase reserved seats, and smoothly pick them up at a kiosk at the theater. We see absolutely no downside to this system and only benefits.
I considered the listed concerns of the writer, sitting behind a tall person, in proximity to a smelly person or wild kids, and an unlimited list of “what ifs,” and can appreciate her issues.
However, no system in a complex society will please all inhabitants. It is impossible to please all the people all the time.
I see the ticket system at the theater as giving me the freedom to avoid waiting on a long line, to know that I will not face a sold-out show, to choose a seat in my preferred area, and to favorably resolve many other “what ifs.” Some freedoms always will infringe on the freedoms of others.
I would be very surprised if the vast majority of our residents did not support this program.
I applaud the Scotts Valley Cinelux Theater as being a classic example of a great anchor business for our city. I also thank them for letting me drink a draft beer during the show.
My only faults for the Cinelux are spending $7 for that beer and not having the options of brewer’s yeast and cayenne pepper as flavoring for my popcorn. These are available in other local theaters.
Thanks go to the Scotts Valley Cinelux Theater; you are one of our foremost local businesses.
Marty Siegel, Scotts Valley
Letter: Postal employees parking in public spaces create problems for customers
Editor,
I am a customer of the Scotts Valley Post Office for 35 years. I am complaining about the employees from the Morrissey Post Office parking their cars all day long in our public parking area.
Nick Vrolyk, Scotts Valley

Previous articleSV man sinks his third lifetime hole-in-one
Next articleDispatch Log (Jan. 9, 2015)

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here