Opinion

EDITOR,

EDITOR,

EDITOR,

EDITOR,

I have had the pleasure these past few weeks to talk to lots of people, some door-to-door, about our temporary ½-cent sales tax, Measure U. The response has been very positive.  Some heartily endorse the measure, agreeing that to keep current services intact that additional revenue is needed for our city. But not everyone favors this tax and they have their reasons and they are happy to share them with me. The “I pay enough taxes already,” is the most frequent reason given for resisting any new tax. I think they are surprised when I agree with them.

EDITOR,

EDITOR,

EDITOR,

The cool fall air and drizzly damp mornings have finally arrived — chilly mornings that signal the end of the craziest, most stressful summer since the great Lockheed fires of 2009. This summer felt like being transported back to 1960’s Viet Nam, with tactical scout planes controlling firefighters and police on the ground, and helicopters and Boride bombers in the air. Millions of dollars went up in smoke fighting scores of suspicious fires in the Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley, Felton and Ben Lomond areas.