California's upcoming ballot initiatives
By SARAH RINGLER
Photo by SARAH RINGLER
Are you informed about the California propositions that will be on the Nov. 3 ballot? Santa Cruz for Bernie held an informative online Endorsement Forum, Aug. 31, offering both pros and cons for each initiative. About 40 SC4B members attended and 22 ballots were cast, greater than the required 2/3 quorum for endorsements. Endorsements were given when 2/3 of the votes were in support. Jeffrey Smedberg chaired the event and provided the following information.
Santa Cruz for Bernie Endorsements of California Propositions on November 3 Ballot:
Prop 14 - Stem Cell Research - Issues $5.5 billion in bonds for research. No recommendation
Prop 15 - Schools and Communities First - Split-roll modification of 1978's Prop 13, that will only tax high-end commercial and industrial properties at their market value. YES
Prop 16 - Affirmative Action - Ends the ban on Affirmative Action by repealing 1996's Prop 209. YES
Prop 17 - Free the Vote - Grants the right to vote to people on parole. YES
Prop 18 - Youth Vote - Allows 17-year-olds to vote in a Primary if they turn 18 by the General Election. YES
Prop 19 - Property Tax Breaks and Wildfire Fund - Changes tax assessment transfers and inheritance rules. No recommendation
Prop 20 - Tough On Crime - Increases penalties on violent and property crimes, and limits parole. NO
Prop 21 - Rent Control - Allows local jurisdictions to strengthen ordinances. YES
Prop 22 - Ride-share Drivers - Partially repeals 2019's AB 5 and classifies app-based drivers as self-employed. NO
Prop 23 - Dialysis - Regulates clinics. YES
Prop 24 - Consumer Privacy - Strengthens existing law. No recommendation
Prop 25 - End Cash Bail - Approves 2018's SB 10 and replaces bail with risk assessments. YES
To see which side you are on and how SC4B ranks with other organizations like the California Democrats, the California Labor Federation, Peace and Freedom Party, the California Republicans, the Chamber of Commerce and others, click on CA Propositions Endorsement Guide.
|
|
Slow Streets
By SARAH RINGLER
Slow Streets on Darwin and Owen between Hanover and Hall Streets. >
Photo by TARMO HANNULA
Moved by a petition created by Slow Streets Santa Cruz, and signed by at least 1,500 people, Santa Cruz City Council voted July 2, to create a new Slow Streets program, designed to create more public space for people to exercise and practice safe distancing during Covid-19. Modeled after one in Oakland and Los Angeles, it will attempt to limit automobile traffic on certain residential streets and encourage foot and bicycle traffic. Eleven streets were nominated by residents, and selected by the city to participate in this 6-month pilot program.
Two blocks of Caledonia St., between Soquel Ave. and Broadway, just got barriers and signs Monday announcing that it was now a “Slow Street.” Resident Lynn Simon reports, “Things are much better and our street is no longer a raceway. They were trying to get to Broadway and avoid the light at Branciforte. Google taught them to do this. Then Google took it off, but still, they had learned the new trick. They may probably use Pine or Pennsylvania or Cayuga now as a raceway. We'll see."
|
|
Santa Cruz County Housing Report
Here is the Housing Inventory Snapshot of our county from Raeid Farhat Real Estate Inc. as of August 31.
Single Family homes: The average list price: $1,264,755 (+9.8% 30-day trend) and average sold price: $1,072,933 (+3.7% 30-day trend).
Luxury Family homes: Average list price: $3,641,276 (+1.5% 30-day trend) and average sold price: $3,922,177 (N/A)
Condo/Townhomes: Average list price: $558,417(-6.8% 30-day trend), average sold price: $593,398 (-3.16% 30-day trend)
Luxury Condo/Townhome: Average list price: $959,353 (-14%.6% 30-day trend), average sold price: $928,313 (-20.5% 30-day trend)
|
|
ENTERTAINMENT
Watch "Waging Change" for National Labor Week
Contributed by REAGAN BRASHEAR AND JEFFREY SMEDBERG
"Waging Change" shines a spotlight on the challenges faced by restaurant workers trying to feed themselves and their families off tips by intertwining stories of individuals, such as Nataki Rhodes of Chicago, Andrea Velasquez of Detroit and Wardell Harvey of New Orleans with the growing movement to end the tipped minimum wage.
Featuring Saru Jayaraman, Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the film reveals American workers’ struggles hidden in plain sight-- the effort to end the federal tipped minimum wage of $2.13 for restaurant servers and bartenders and the #MeToo movement's efforts to end sexual harassment. Directed by Peabody award winner, Abby Ginzberg, "Waging Change" helps all
|
|
consumers see the important role
they have to play in ending this two-tiered wage system.
This film is one of Santa Cruz's Reel Work Labor Film Festival 2020 selections and they are a co-sponsor of this event, held September 10, 4-6 pm PT.
Watch the trailer and register here for a free showing: Waging Change
|
|
"Any girl can be glamorous. All you have to do is stand still and look stupid." Hedy Lamarr
|
|
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. They continually have been making changes and there are more this week.The category of jurisdictions has been divided into smaller communities so I've decided to use cases by region instead. Cases by race/ethnicity have added "Unknown" as a category.
On Sept. 3, there were 1,896 cases that tested positive, a 10% increase from Aug. 28. 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
61% - Latinx
.4% - Black
.8% - Asian
3%- Other
16% - Unknown
Tested positive by gender:
52% female
47% male
0% Under investigation
|
|
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 to Sept. 3 - 10%
Tested positive by region:
18% mid-county -11% of SC County population
14% 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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
