Forest Lakes Firewise includes more neighbors
When I moved to the San Lorenzo Valley in 2018, I fell in love with living in the forest. But then the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex wildfire opened a whole new view of living in the woods. As lucky as I was in only needing to be evacuated instead of rebuilding my home, I’ve come to believe in the vital agenda of preparing for the next wildfire.
While I feel capable of preparing my home and my family, I’ve come to appreciate how important it is to prepare my community as well. We will all fare better if we improve the evacuation routes and make our properties more defensible for the firefighters—but also if we can know who and how to assist our neighbors before and during the event itself.
Firewise is a program supported by the FireSafe Council of Santa Cruz County (firesafesantacruz.org) to help neighborhoods increase their resilience and ability to deal with wildfires. Just after the CZU fire, I tried to organize my neighbors as a Firewise community—but I knew few neighbors and wasn’t able to create the team needed to promote the education and cooperation necessary to gain Firewise recognition.
Suddenly, this past autumn, I discovered that a nearby Firewise group—Forest Lakes Firewise and Safety Association (FLFSA, forestlakesfsa.org)—had expanded their boundaries from 350 Forest Lakes parcels to include 694 parcels in south Felton, west of Highway 9 between San Lorenzo Avenue and Glengarry Road, which included my neighborhood. I was excited to be joining a group promoting local wildfire and disaster resilience—but I was even more excited for my neighbors who had experienced their insurance getting canceled, because now they qualified for a discount on the very expensive Cal FAIR Plan alternative insurance.
FLFSA had already taken on an educational and inspirational role throughout the San Lorenzo Valley by sponsoring significant Firewise events, including June’s showing of “Elemental: Reimagine Wildfire” (elementalfilm.com), July’s “Santa Cruz Mountains Firewise Festival at Roaring Camp,” and November’s “Giants Rising Movie Night” (giantsrising.com). They had created a nonprofit to qualify for grants and to attract sponsors for their educational activities and mitigation efforts.
By expanding their boundaries, FLFSA can support better maintenance of the local alternative evacuation routes—particularly the rarely used ones that many of us living in the woods might not be aware of. Given what is still happening with the wildfires in Southern California, I am hoping that expanding Firewise boundaries can also expand awareness that no person is an island—and that all of us living in the forest can live safer when we help each other.
Bill Fitler
Felton
Embracing the complexity of wealth and opportunity
I am writing in response to the recent letter discussing wealth and privilege in our society. While I appreciate the sentiments expressed, I would like to present an alternative perspective that highlights the complexities of wealth accumulation and the opportunities available in our country.
It is essential to recognize that many of today’s wealthy individuals began their journey from modest beginnings. The narrative that wealth is solely a product of privilege overlooks the hard work and determination that many have invested to achieve their success. Furthermore, it is often the case that those who have attained wealth employ numerous middle-class individuals, thereby contributing to the economic fabric of our society.
The argument against inheriting wealth often stems from a misunderstanding of the efforts that led to its accumulation. Many wealthy individuals are the descendants of pioneers who had innovative ideas and worked tirelessly to bring them to fruition. It is only natural for them to pass their resources to their dependents, ensuring that the values of hard work and ambition continue to thrive in future generations.
Regarding the challenges of homeownership, particularly in our state, it is true that many people find it difficult to enter the property market. However, it is important to highlight the various programs available to first-buyers. These initiatives are designed to help those who are committed to achieving home ownership, providing that pathways to success do exist.
Moreover, countless hard-working individuals are making sacrifices by prioritizing their financial goals over discretionary spending. By putting their “nose to the grindstone,” they forgo luxury, such as dining out, and engaging in costly extracurricular activities. This dedication is a testament to their commitment to achieving a better future for themselves and their families.
While I agree that not everyone will find their path to riches, I firmly believe that in America, the possibilities are vast for those willing to work hard and dream big. Our nation is built on the principle that, with perseverance and determination, success is attainable for all.
Thank you for considering my perspective. I hope this adds to the conversation surrounding wealth and opportunity in our society.
Christine Conceicao
Ben Lomond
Expertise overlooked in water management decisions
The reason why I ran for SLVWD director is because of work experience. After losing, I applied for the Engineering and Environmental Committee. When the agenda came out, I was interested in seeing my competition. I was astonished. There was a resume for Dr. Laura Ciravolo, who is a professor at UC Santa Cruz. Her doctorate is in civil engineering specializing in water resources. She did not live in the District, but the Board should have made an exception.
It is really sad that our community will not benefit from the free consultation of an internationally known expert in water. I’d argue my qualifications are better because I am more “hands-on.” I’ve also consistently come up with innovative and effective solutions to water.I recently developed ideas for fire protection for cities like Pacific Palisades.
In the beginning of the meeting to make the selections, they had a presentation on the Brown Act. Then, when the subject came out, President Smolley said they came to a consensus who they wanted, which did not include Dr. Ciravolo or myself. Obviously, they had a secret meeting to make this decision, which is a clear violation of the Brown Act.
Bill Smallman
Lompico
