Letters and Shout-outs

Bravo to fireworks production crew
Editor,
Kudos to the people that put the fireworks show on for the Fourth of July — amazing show, by far the best year yet. Not sure what company Scotts Valley used this year, but they should put them on every year.
James Trent,
Scotts Valley
Poor traffic control and crowd management tarnished July 4 events
Editor,
First let me say that the fireworks show that was shared with the county last night was one of the most impressive I have attended.
That being said, the execution of directing traffic from the event was the poorest in the many years that I have attended the fireworks.
Whomever came up with the insane idea of making all traffic turn right onto Mount Hermon Road, go down to the light and make a U-turn into the traffic trying to exit Scotts Valley should be tarred and feathered. It was the height of poor planning, poor directing and just plain stupid.
It gridlocked the traffic flow so much that what usually takes us 45 minutes to an hour to exit took us 90 minutes of turtle crawling.
The end route of the parade was the same story — there were no policemen or security for crowd control.
The crowd that was allowed to sit in the streets at the very end would have been fine if they would have all been sitting.
Instead, you had adults and children crowding more and more into the street, while gigantic vehicles attempted to back up so they could turn around.
My heart was in my throat a few times watching children run into the street near those vehicles with water pistols and shooting everyone that passed.
There should have been barriers or ropes set up and officers — or at least security — to control what was happening.
Not a good execution, Scotts Valley, of either event.
Hopefully, you will get enough concerned citizens lodging complaints that you will rethink your strategy for next year.
Jan McAnelly,
Santa Cruz
Scotts Valley’s Independence Day celebration a reminder of national pride
Editor,
Yesterday — July 4 — I attended the lovely parade in Scotts Valley.
While walking up Scotts Valley Drive, my small party was thrilled at the magnificent flight pattern and production of the well-appointed, colorful airplanes. They were breathtaking, and reminded me of my childhood years when “The Fourth of July” brought out the pride for our country throughout the nation.
I just want to tell the city of Scotts Valley that you all do a splendid job in preserving the spirit of our great Independence Day!
May we have many, many more to come.
Margaret Smith
Santa Cruz