My Dear Friends and Beloved Community
By SHEILA CARRILLO
Eight candidates are running for four vacancies on the Santa Cruz City Council in November. Many of them are community members whose names are new to us. They all seem sincere, well-intentioned and determined to solve our problems.
After lengthy countywide inquiries, Sandy Brown, Kelsey Hill, and Kayla Kumar were universally endorsed by progressive groups, including Campaign for Sustainable Transportation, Santa Cruz for Bernie, People’s Democratic Club, Santa Cruz Progressive Alliance, Sierra Club and the Monterrey Bay Central Labor Council which represents some of the local labor unions.
There is a fourth candidate, Alicia Kuhl, whom I want to introduce as well. Alicia was endorsed by the Sierra Club and the Campaign for Sustainable Transportation.
None of these four are backed by big money or bigwigs, and all need your support by ordering yard signs, making a donation of any size, and spreading the word. We can count on these women to fight for public and low-income housing, offer compassionate focused attention to meeting the needs of our unhoused residents, and prioritize addressing our climate catastrophe. They will rethink our $31million dollar annual police budget in alignment with the Black Lives Matter movement by considering the fact that only 15% of our 911 calls require police presence.
Sandy Brown “My approach to public service is motivated by my lifelong commitment to advancing the goals of economic democracy, sustainability, and social justice. …we must vigorously work to achieve social change, and this change only happens through collective action.”
- Was on her own at 15, arrived in Santa Cruz at 17, and has been a 30-year resident.
- Spent a decade as a community-labor organizer with the Community Action Board and Monterey Bay Central Labor Council.
- At UC Berkeley, received a doctorate in geography researching farm labor from California’s strawberry fields and cooperative banana farms and plantations in Ecuador, Columbia, and Peru.
- Worked at Swanton Berry Farm, the first unionized, organic strawberry farm in the country while in grad school at UC Santa Cruz.
- Has taught Geography, Public Affairs, and now American Studies at San Jose State University, always with the intention of inspiring students to ask critical questions and to work for social and environmental justice.
- Was elected to the Santa Cruz City Council in 2016 as part of what was seen as the first progressive majority in decades.
Kelsey Hill "I’ve seen what happens when we prioritize profit over human lives, and it’s imbued in me a strong desire to fight for a more equitable society, one that works for everybody, not just those with wealth and access.”
- Born in So Cal. to a working-class family with a strong legacy of union involvement.
- In the 2008 financial crisis, at age 14, both parents lost their jobs and their home due to eviction.
- Graduated with a degree in History from UC Santa Cruz, where she was an editor of City on a Hill press.
- Employed at the Romero Institute, a local law and policy center that exposes and litigates cases of structural injustice, as a social media specialist and currently an intern director. In her work, she is empowered to put her ideals of equity and transformative justice into motion.
- Stood with Indigenous communities in their prayerful resistance to the Dakota Access pipeline in Standing Rock, North Dakota.
- Active in an array of local progressive efforts: Santa Cruz for Bernie, the climate strike, public banking, the movement for housing justice.
Kayla Kumar “It is out of this deep understanding of and gratitude for community support that my daily work reflects such a commitment to healing, justice, and equity….my time here has focused on community healing, racial justice, and youth empowerment work within marginalized communities.”
- Received a Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy from Saint Joseph’s University and a Master’s Degree in Applied Economics from San Jose State.
- Prior to arriving in Santa Cruz, worked with youth as a teacher, coach, and mentor in music classrooms, community centers, and juvenile halls. Worked for and with refugees, those surviving HIV/AIDS, and organized with international peace efforts.
- Worked at Santa Cruz Barrios Unidos, a nationally acclaimed leader in restorative justice both inside and outside prison walls, engaging in projects on decarceration, healing work in state prisons, and reentry efforts in local juvenile hall.
- Development Director of “Food, What?!,”an organization designed to support the well-being, and empowerment of marginalized high school students in Santa Cruz County through the study and practice of farming, nutrition, and leadership development.
- Serves on the board of two local nonprofits: Santa Cruz Community Ventures, an economic empowerment organization, and Salud Para La Gente, a nonprofit community health center.
- Serves on the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Commission of Santa Cruz County.
Alicia Kuhl “Who better to represent the increasing numbers of us facing eviction or homelessness due to the fires than an unhoused mother and Santa Cruz Homeless Union President, Alicia Kuhl?”
- Grew up in Campbell in group homes and foster homes. Both parents were substance abusers.
- Managed to go to school and get a business degree. She is currently studying for a law degree.
- Worked as a case manager with health services for Second St. Studios in San Jose, a 135-unit Permanent Supportive Housing for the chronically homeless.
- Has lived in SC 15 years. Two years ago, lost her home in the mountains to a court-ordered demolition of all the units on the property. Landlord didn’t return deposit or rent money, or relocate as required.
- Homeless and living in an RV with her partner and three children. Lack of access to housing opened her eyes to failures of the system, spurring her passionate advocacy, which has become her calling, her life path.
- Cites intersectionality of all issues from tenant protection, low income housing, transportation, strong unions and immigrant rights.
- Works on the front lines, defending the rights of those living outside. Organized and currently managing the Santa Cruz Homeless Union COVID-19 Relief Center to provide food, clothing, access to hand washing, masks and survival gear.
- Active with the Black Lives Matter movement standing against racism while seeking to defund the police and refund the community.
- Stands for people over profits, defending the poor and unhoused, and standing with the Boardwalk vendors.
- Calling on the city to end their campaign of towing the vehicular homes of the unhoused and confiscation of tents and survival gear.
|
|
Stave Off Regrets, Take Action Now
By MARY FLODIN
Photo by JOHN SPINK/Atlanta Journal Constitution/AP
September may be the most crucial month in the history of the human species. Even if you believe that the Democrats have served
the American people badly, think about this: under a Democratic administration we’ll still have the possibility of improvement. But if Trump gets another four years, the devastation he and his thugs will cause to democracy, civil society, social justice, and the environment may be irremediable for generations to come.
This is it! Early voting started on Sept. 9 in Alabama. Click here for a calendar of each state’s early voting. Now is our chance to ensure free and fair elections in the USA. Now is the time to pause your sense of “business as usual,” and put your whole self into saving the world from Trump.
In 2018 in Georgia alone, more than 200,000 voters were wrongfully purged from voter rolls — the majority of them Black. In-person voting is now fraught with obstacles such as long lines and insufficient poll workers; broken, missing, and insecure voting machines; the out-and-out double danger of Covid-19 and right-wing armed extremists summoned to the polls as “poll watchers” by Trump.
Volunteers are urgently needed now to re-register purged voters, register young voters for the first time, and help people obtain Vote by Mail ballots. Also, help is needed to ensure citizens receive accurate information about the safest and most secure way to vote in their county, how to track their vote to assure that it’s been counted, and give people access to 24-hour voter help lines.
Many democratic groups, such as SwingLeft.org, Power the Polls and FieldTeam6.org, have organized volunteer phone and text banks, coordinating efforts to Dump Trump, flip the Senate, and end gerrymandering across the country.
Find volunteer opportunities that fit your schedule:
Spare yourself the agony of having to look back later, filled with regret wishing that you could have done more. Be a patriot. Be a hero. Do the right thing. Sign up to volunteer today!
More resources:
|
|
ENTERTAINMENT
Chicas in Cinema
by CONSUELO ALBA
Until Sept. 14, we are proud to present three wonderful short films made by local young women expressing their creativity in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic.
These short films were created at the Watsonville High School's Digital NEST Internship Program. They are great examples of Watsonville's talented and creative young filmmakers!
"Alone" is a mind-bending story of what happens when a girl finds herself at home alone after her family disappears.
Sept. 11-20, watch "Remover El Corazón," "To Stir the Heart," directed by Melissa Elizondo. On September 19, 2017, a powerful earthquake shook Mexico. The children of one of the most affected villages learn to transform their trauma through poetry and painting. In San Gregorio Atlapulco, Xochimilco, the creation of community through art shows us that when the earth opens, our hearts open up too.
|
|
“When you're born you get a ticket to the freak show. When you're born in America, you get a front row seat." George Carlin
|
|
Sarah's County Covid-19 Report
By SARAH RINGLER
The Santa Cruz County Health Department regularly releases data on the current status of Covid-19 in the county.
On Sept. 10, there were 2,013 cases that tested positive, a 6% increase from Sept. 3. Seven people have died.
To get tested without a doctor’s request, call 1-888-634-1123 or go online at https://lhi.care/covidtesting. The testing clinic is at at Ramsay Park in Watsonville. Other testing sites with that may have restricted access can be found here.
To visit the website for the Santa Cruz County Health Department:
|
|
Tested positive by age:
19 and under - 16%
20-34 - 32%
35-44 - 17%
45-64 - 26%
65 or older, 9% tested positive
Tested positive by ethnicity, rounded off:
1% - Multi-Race
18% - White
62% - Latinx
.4% - Black
1 % - Asian
2%- Other
16% - Unknown
Tested positive by gender:
52% female
48% male
0% other
0% unknown
|
|
Weekly increases in positive tests:
June 12-19 - 7%
June 19-26 - 23%
June 26 to July 3 - 22%
July 3-9 - 23%
July 9-16 - 40%
July 16-23 - 20%
July 23-30 - 27%
July 30 - Aug. 6 - 13%
Aug. 6-13 - 12%
Aug.14-20 - 16%
Aug.20-28 - 10%
Aug. 28 - Sept. 3 - 10%
Sept. 3-10 - 6%
Tested positive by region:
17% mid-county -11% of SC County population
15% north county - 60% of pop.
62% south county - 30% pop.
6% under investigation
|
|
|
YOUR STORY HERE: Please submit a story that you think would be of interest to the people of Santa Cruz County. Photos are also welcome. Try and keep the word count around 400. Also, there should be suggested actions if possible. Submit to coluyaki@gmail.com
If you are enjoying the Serf City Times, forward it on to others. We need readers and writers. You can also direct others or find back issues at our website https:// serf-city-times.constantcontactsites.com
|
|
Welcome to Serf City Times. Over time, our county has grown more stratified and divided with many people feeling left out. Housing affordability, racism and low wages are the most obvious factors. However, many groups and individuals in Santa Cruz County work tirelessly to make our county a better place for everyone. These people work on the environment, housing, economic justice, criminal justice, disability rights, immigrant rights, racial justice, transportation, workers’ rights, education reform, gender issues, equity issues, electoral politics and more. Often, one group doesn’t know what another is doing. The Serf City Times is dedicated to serving as a clearinghouse for those issues by letting you know what is going on, what actions you can take and how you can support these groups.,This is not a profit-making enterprise and all work is volunteer.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
