Opinion

Recently, I received a flier from the newly formed citizen group “Preserve Scotts Valley.” It appears some folks are concerned about the magnitude of the city budget cuts and suggest an extension of a recent tax increase. As a taxpayer, I would support tax increases only if the Scotts Valley City Council recommended them. In addition, if things are as dire as the citizen group suggests, my first question would be, “Is Scotts Valley going to roll back the police and fire pension benefits?” The recent pension increases during the past decade that reach 90 percent of pay (with overtime spiking) is unsustainable and also, I might add, unreasonable. San Jose is going to implement a two-tier pension system this year with increased contributions by employees and lower pensions. With the coming budget deficits Scotts Valley faces, it's now time for the leadership of Scotts Valley to move in the same direction. The police and fire departments are the largest part of the budget, and public safety pensions are part of the reason for the current budget woes. Before any tax increases, our fiscal house should be put in order.

Garden Tale

EDITOR,

EDITOR,

“May you live in interesting times” — a Chinese curse or a Western invention? While its origin is disputed, its meaning is quite applicable to our current state of affairs. Nowhere is this truer than for the Santa Cruz Public Libraries.

EDITOR,

Our mother, a Mount Hermon resident, came to the United States 66 years ago. For 66 years, she has been opening her door to trick-or-treaters on Halloween night. She delights in making everyone who comes to her home feel special by complimenting them on their costumes and giving out delicious treats (like cookies from the most expensive, European-style bakeries).