Opinion

We’ve heard some say that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s plan to close almost all of California’s state parks and beaches is just a negotiating ploy in the eternal budget battle. That had better be the case, because there are more than a few reasons why it could never work.

EDITOR,

Until it happens to your town, this sort of news seems like another distant struggle. When we — residents of Boulder Creek — discovered that a 50-foot cell tower had been proposed smack in the heart of their historic downtown, we were shattered. We are currently in a battle with Verizon over the location of a proposed cell tower. We are asking the county of Santa Cruz to uphold the county code and deny this application. The third hearing is set for 9 a.m. Friday, Sept. 20 at the county building, 701 Ocean Street, 5th floor in Santa Cruz.

EDITOR,

Having just passed Memorial Day, I want to thank the community for remembering Veterans. I think it is fitting that we contemplate the high price of freedom and have a sense of awe and respect for the service members that gave their lives for our freedoms and for the veterans who have served our country. I would hope that our respect and admiration goes beyond ceremonies, to help and encourage veterans as they return to Santa Cruz County (a county that is not always veteran friendly).

Forty-five years ago, in July 1966, Medicare was launched. Seniors were finally provided a pathway to plan and save for their retirement, and for the first time in U.S. history, it gave them a guarantee of health coverage, and with it the peace of mind that medical bills would no longer drive them into poverty.

Editor’s Note: Tom Campbell, a former congressman who represented Santa Cruz County, is a Republican candidate for governor in the 2010 election. This commentary is adapted from a recent Capitola interview and his statements on a campaign Web site, www.campbell.com.

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Dear editor,