Letters to the Editor, June 12th 2020
I found Pastor PJ Davis's column ("Time to Gather") in the May 22, 2020 edition of the Press Banner somewhat disconcerting and misleading. While I understand the frustration that Pastor Davis and his congregation must be feeling, Pastor Davis seems to imply churches are being unfairly discriminated against, and I see no evidence of that. In fact, this issue has already been litigated, and multiple judges have disagreed with Pastor Davis's assessment. US District Judge Jesus G. Bernal wrote,
Take a Virtual Tour of 5 Enchanting Scotts Valley Gardens
I never miss the annual garden tour sponsored by Valley Churches United. Who wouldn’t be mesmerized by strolling through a beautiful local garden? Plus the proceeds from this fund raiser stay here to provide food and other services to our neighbors in need. This year’s tour is being presented as a virtual video tour and I can assure you it’ll be the best 30 minutes of your day. Enjoy these gardens online at VCUM.org or Valley Churches United Missions Facebook page and please donate to help this worthy cause. I’ve watched this year’s virtual garden tour several times already. Each time I come away with another great landscaping idea, new tree variety, gardening tip and fresh inspiration. I’ve visited two of the gardens before so I have first hand knowledge of how special they are but the other three were new to me and are fabulous, too. The photography is excellent in the video and I especially enjoyed the aerial photography. The first garden on the tour is Corbett and Sheri’s Vineyard Garden. This couple, over the past 25 years, have transformed their property into a plant lovers dream. They are truly plant connoisseurs including trees in their garden such as Shishigashira and Full Moon Japanese maples which are trained to show off their exquisite foliage and shape. Among the other beautiful trees that are featured among the different garden rooms are Chinese Fringe tree and the unusual Dove tree which is also called the Hankerchief tree. You’ll see why this tree is so named when you watch the video. This garden is filled with color from exbury azaleas, smoke bush, roses and Plum Delight loropetaum as well as a generous serving of white flowering shrubs like doublefile viburnum. Sitting areas, patios and water features abound amidst the veggie garden and the vineyard. This garden and the others will be featured on next year’s actual garden tour in May so don’t miss it. Barry’s Garden is called the Forest Garden although the redwoods are just a part of this lovely garden. Barry bought the Tudor house in 2000 and has transformed it into a wonderland filled with beautiful paths, a formal garden in the front, a pond, 71 tree orchard, potting shed, green house, vegetable garden, shade pergola, gazebo and many other features that make this garden user and loved by his two dogs. Jim and Irene Cummins Iris Farm is one of those places you could spend all day and never see everything. I’ve spent a bit of time painting in this garden. Beside the stunning bearded iris the Cummins grow and propagate, this couple have collected an impressive collection of farm implements and tools. The property was originally a turkey farm owned by Irene’s family back in 1949 but the old barn dates back to the late 1800’s when it was a stop for the stagecoaches to change horses. This property is filled with hundreds of bird houses which Irene collects and everywhere you turn there are blooming irises among vintage collectibles. Robby’s Zen Garden is another garden I’ve had the pleasure to visit often. This talented gardener is eager to share his vision and techniques to keep it mole and gopher free. As a deer resistant, low maintenance gardener Robby has created a soothing space complete with a hand made Japanese garden arch called a Tori. His shade garden is filled with tree ferns and the sitting area under the oaks beckons you to stop and enjoy the birds. There is a fire pit area plus a tree swing to enjoy before you head up to the rock garden and the cactus garden. This year round garden features tough but beautiful plants and there is something to admire everywhere you turn. The last garden on the virtual tour is the Pool Garden of Robert and Monica. Some interesting facts about this garden include how the existing rock was jack hammered out for the pool and patio area. Heavy equipment scarred the rock and the rock that remains, which serves as a retaining wall, looks like it came straight from the Sierra. Filled with lavender, lantana, red hot poker, Monica’s grandmother’s bearded iris and other hummingbird attractors this garden beckons you to stop by the pool under the vine covered pergola and enjoy a cold beverage. This is just a snippet of inspiration and ideas you’ll glean from these gardens on the virtual tour. Please donate what you can to help the food pantry of Valley Churches United.
Boys & Girls Clubs of SCC Needs Support for Summer Camp Scholarships
On March 13th Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Cruz County temporarily closed their doors to ensure the safety of their members and staff amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. However, rather than retreat they have responded with resiliency and determination to ensure continuance of programs for youth and families by offering childcare to essential and emergency workers and developing structured summer camp sessions that are fun, safe and designed to prepare kids for reentering school.
Governor Newsom Issues Executive Order for November 3, 2020 General Election
Governor Gavin Newsom has signed Executive Order N-67-20, the second executive order issued to prepare for the administration of California’s November 3, 2020 General Election during the COVID-19 pandemic. Per the order, county elections officials will be required to offer a minimum of one in-person voting location for every 10,000 registered voters beginning October 31, the Saturday before Election Day. Click here to view Executive Order N-67-20. "The health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic will be felt well into the fall and we must prepare the November General Election accordingly,” Secretary of State Alex Padilla said. “Since the outset of the pandemic, I’ve called for sending every registered voter a vote-by-mail ballot while maintaining as many safe in-person voting opportunities as possible. Observing elections in other states during this pandemic has only reinforced the wisdom of this approach. Expanded vote-by-mail, coupled with ample in-person voting on and before Election Day, is the best formula for maintaining the accessibility, security, and safety of our election. In-person voting locations are crucial to providing critical services, including accessible machines for voters with disabilities, language assistance, Same Day Voter Registration, replacement ballots, and more. Ultimately, the more Californians who vote early—either by mail or in-person—means shorter lines, smaller crowds, and a healthier experience for voters and poll workers on Election Day.” “This executive order provides the immediate clarity necessary for elections officials to properly prepare for the general election. The COVID-19 pandemic has already presented enormous challenges for election administration. Many poll workers and voting locations utilized in prior elections will not be available this fall. Election administrators will need the support of state and local governments, as well as the private sector, to identify and secure more suitable voting locations and to recruit new poll workers,” Padilla added. “I commend Governor Newsom and Secretary of State Padilla for moving decisively to confront the COVID-19 pandemic. Unlike the president, the leadership in California has worked diligently to protect the people’s right to vote,” Senator Tom Umberg said. “The executive order—along with Assembly Bill 860 and Senate Bill 423—will ensure that Californians will not be disenfranchised by the pandemic. We will empower the people of California by providing reliable sanitary, in-person voting locations with access to valuable services like Same Day Voter Registration, language assistance with ballots, disability assistance with voting, and more. With safe polling places and a vote-by-mail ballot option, we can assure that the voters' right to participate in elections is protected, and their voice will be heard." “I commend the Governor for taking swift action to implement key parts of the comprehensive legislative package announced last month to ensure that this November’s election is conducted in an open, accessible, and safe manner,” Assemblymember Marc Berman said. “Today’s executive order makes clear that Governor Newsom and Secretary of State Padilla support the policies included in Assembly Bill 860 and Senate Bill 423, jointly authored by myself and Senator Umberg. That clarity will allow county elections officials, community organizations, and voters to move forward now in planning for the November election with the certainty that the Legislature, the Governor, and the Secretary of State have a shared vision for the policies that will apply to the general election. While we don’t know exactly how widespread COVID-19 will be this fall, the policies outlined in these bills and this executive order will help protect both the public’s health and every voter’s right to vote.” In-Person Voting On and Before Election DayPer the Governor’s Executive Order, each county must open a minimum of one in-person voting location for every 10,000 registered voters beginning the Saturday before Election Day. The in-person voting locations in the 15 Voters Choice Act counties will continue to be Vote Centers that can be used by any voter in the county. The in-person voting locations in non-Voter’s Choice Act counties will be consolidated precincts, with each voter having an assigned voting location. All counties will also be required to have a minimum of one ballot drop-off location for every 15,000 registered voters starting 28 days before Election Day. Secure ballot dropboxes qualify as a ballot drop-off location. As is already the case, in-person voting opportunities will still be available in county elections offices starting 29 days before Election Day. Voting Location and Poll Worker SupportCounty elections officials need assistance this year to identify and secure voting locations suitable for social distancing, and to replace experienced poll workers who are identified as more vulnerable to COVID-19. The Governor’s Executive Order:Clarifies that counties can use disaster service workers to support election operations.Reminds public facilities — particularly schools and colleges — that they are to offer their space to be used as voting locations or ballot drop-off locations free of charge.Urges the private sector and non-governmental organizations to consider offering locations for in-person voting and to assist with poll worker recruitment. Expansion of Ballot Tracking ToolsThe Governor’s Executive Order requires every county to implement California’s “Where’s My Ballot?” tracking tool. “Where’s My Ballot” allows voters to sign up at wheresmyballot.sos.ca.gov for automatic updates on the status of their vote-by-mail ballot by text (SMS), email, or voice call. The executive order also requires that counties include intelligent mail bar codes on vote-by-mail ballot envelopes, to provide better tracking for voters. Changes in Elections LegislationSecretary of State Alex Padilla is in support of AB 860 and SB 423. “Senator Umberg and Assemblymember Berman’s critical legislation will help to protect voting rights and facilitate the administration of this November’s General Election. As we expand vote-by-mail statewide and face uncertainty with the service levels of the U.S. Postal Service, providing more time for the processing and counting of vote-by-mail ballots is a smart move to fortify our elections," Padilla added. AB 860 and SB 423: Require that county elections officials process and count ballots that were postmarked on or before Election Day and arrive to elections officials no later than 2 days before certification of election results. Under current law, vote-by-mail ballots that arrive more than 3 days after the election are not counted.Allow county elections officials to begin processing returned vote-by-mail ballots 29 days before Election Day. Under current law, counties can begin processing vote-by-mail ballots 10 business days before an election. Results will still not be released until after all polls close on Election Night.
LOCAL Has his SIGNING DAY!
Patrick Sweeney, soon to be graduate of Scotts Valley High School, has recently committed to pitch for CSU, Stanislaus. He has played baseball since he was five, and coaches refer to him as “a team player with a mid-80’s fastball and a devastating slider, pitching with great command,” great work ethic,” “smart kid who hustles,” “bulldog mentality on the bump.” Principal, Mike Hanson describes him as a “scholar athlete,” “known to have great integrity, “and his youth pastor says, “Patrick has a relentlessly positive attitude,” and “he lights up the room with his presence.”
Carson Bissey Accepts the Challenge of Excellence
With the Press Banner’s first graduation edition of the year, we would like to extend our congratulations to every graduate, for persevering through these tumultuous times. We’d also like to spend time commending a very special graduate from Scotts Valley High School. This past Thursday, the Scotts Valley Exchange Club was proud to present Carson Bissey, a new SVHS graduate, with the A.C.E. Award. The honor is presented annually to students who have overcome great obstacles during their high school experience, in order to graduate and pursue bright futures.
For SLVWD, Running in Place Won’t Work
In the May 22nd edition of the Press Banner, my colleague, Katie Evans, authored a piece regarding the LIRA (Low Income Residential Assistance) program being offered by the San Lorenzo Valley Water District (SLVWD). Katie reached out to Jim Mosher from Friends of the SLVWD to get more information on the program, and wrote extensively on the push for a 5% rate increase for customers. In response, SLVWD Director Bob Fultz requested a chat; having been on the board for 1.5 years, served on district committees and been an involved resident for many years, he seemed like a good bet on getting a different view of things. “Make no mistake, these views are solely mine,” Fultz told me. “I have no authority to speak on behalf of the district.” With that understanding out of the way, we moved onto the meat of the topic. Fultz acknowledge the Friends’ desire for the 5% rate increase, but wanted to clarify its intended use. “100% of that rate hike will go to increased operating expenses, which is the cost of running the district,” he told me. Currently, the district has several pressing financial issues regarding infrastructure and pensions, and none of those items would be addressed by the increase. “We have serious issues, like the need for coating the tanks, building up our reserves and installing new meters,”Fultz told me. In short, applying a rate increase would leave the district “running in place,” instead of getting ahead of the financial issues at hand. While Fultz acknowledged Mosher’s statement in the original article that “ten members called in to support the rate increase,” Fultz stated that the callers were all supporters of Mosher. Those ten people, Fultz said, did not represent the majority of rate payers in the valley. So why would a rate increase of 5% be such a contentious issue? “Well, we need to focus on our budget,” Fultz said. “We’re not a wealthy area by any means, and our no-growth policy negatively impacts the districts finances.” Towns like Saratoga and Scotts Valley are seeing building booms, which equates to fat district coffers. “A water access fee for new residences can be anywhere from $10k-$14k. Granted, that’s a one-time payment, but when you’ve got townhomes being built in rapid succession in Scotts Valley, they’re bringing in substantial revenue from that growth. The San Lorenzo Valley gets just a few new houses each year, so the rate increase needs to be balanced on the backs of existing residents.” The district’s capital reserves were reduced by 50% in this year’s budget, from $1m to $500k. If you assume that the replacement value of infrastructure is $1.5m to $2m, Fultz told me, “that means we need to spend $3m to $4m every year. We’re in a tough situation,” he said, “and it’s important that we get information out to the public regarding the position the district is in.” Did the district not see this coming? According to Fultz, the district is operating in a year-to-year budgeting cycle, which, for an agency that has to be looking decades down the road, doesn’t reflect the long-range planning that is needed. From that planning, clarity will come to demonstrate where the district is financially, and what to do about liabilities that have been built up. Pensions for employees seems to be a pressing issue. “The district’s pension liability is based on a decision made on the state level 25 years ago that assumed the stock market rush of the 1980s and 1990s would continue forever. Of course, we have had a couple of severe crashes, so that has resulted in unfunded pension liability. But these are promises that we made to our district employees. The initial assumed rate of return on our investments was 7%; in the last 20 years, rates have been around 5%. Our pension liability will go up towards $6m-7m range, but since we aren’t advancing paying down the pension obligation, the state is charging us a 7% fee for unfunded liabilities,” he said. “Who will we entrust in addressing these issues in a forthright fashion? The community needs to be fully briefed on our concerns.” Can anything be learned from the district’s past actions? “A few years back, the board decided to increase operating expenses by almost $1m, but without figuring out the actual benefit to the community. They just didn’t have concrete benefits to demonstrate. Now,” said Fultz, “the district is dealing with the fallout of that. We’ll get a better perspective if we move towards a multi-year budget.” The new board members empaneled in the last election have talked about moving to multi-year budgets (3-5 years) with better planning for remaining fund allocation. The current board is mostly comprised of business people, with the exception of Rick Moran who is in education. As Fultz puts it,installing new meters,”“By looking down the road, we’ll get a sense of how expenses will be allocated and managed. By increasing operating expenses each year, customers will see what that means over the long term,” and will lead to more strategic decision making, according to Fultz. And who will those decision makers be? That remains to be seen, says Fultz. There are two seats up for grabs come November, and Fultz thinks this year’s election process may be affected by COVID-19. “Generally, candidates start pulling papers in late July or early August, but we’ll see how the county moves forward with the election process.” Interested in throwing your hat in the ring? Fultz emphasizes that the commitment to the water district is done for love, not money, as the monthly stipend is low and the expectations high. To learn more, visit the Santa Cruz County Elections Department at www.votescount.com.
Floyd Protests in Felton
Protests erupted throughout the country in response to the killing of George Floyd on May 25th. Unrest against racist violence in the police force have ranged from peaceful to riots and looting throughout United States, and have even taken place in the UK, New Zealand, Japan, Australia, Germany, and Denmark. While this worldwide phenomenon develops, it’s also occurring across Santa Cruz County. We had our own moment in the spotlight, as a photo of the Santa Cruz City Police Chief, Andy Mills, kneeling during a protest has gone viral. Many groups of protestors have gathered these past few days at the clock tower in Santa Cruz, marched down Pacific Avenue, Cedar, Soquel, and Water Streets. Protests have moved into our valley as well. On May 31st, from 10 to 11:30 a.m., a march took place from the Felton Covered Bridge Park to the intersection of Highway 9 and Graham Hill Road. Look for an article in next week’s edition for further coverage.
Covid 19 Testing
There are currently two tests available for detecting Covid-19 virus which we know can cause a debilitating and potentially deadly pneumonia. The tests are: Gene detection- based and Serology detection.
The City of Scotts Valley Provides Restart Toolkits to 100 City Businesses
As businesses are able to open back up for in-store sales and the reopening of other business sectors is on the horizon, the City of Scotts Valley wants to support these efforts by providing up to 100 businesses with a Restart Toolkit, including one free gallon of locally produced hand sanitizer and 50 disposable face masks.
Scotts Valley Council clears surplus land step for Town Center project
Scotts Valley City Council’s Jan. 21 meeting made some serious progress on the Town Center development—essentially doing some of the housekeeping items needed to...
