The People Have Spoken and They Want Rail & Trail
By FAINA SEGAL
On June 7, the Santa Cruz County electorate came together with an outpouring of support for keeping the current plan to have both rail and trail, including implementing light rail transit on the Santa Cruz Branch Line. The landslide opposing Measure D made it clear that the Rail & Trail project isn’t controversial. Rather, it is an extraordinarily popular unifying vision for a transportation corridor that includes both rail and trail: a transportation corridor that will provide a better quality of life for all of the county residents and visitors. See the most recent unofficial election results broken down by Supervisorial District at the bottom of this article.
The voters in every district have sent a clear message to all of our elected and appointed officials that Santa Cruz County wants to continue with the Rail & Trail vision that has guided years of studies, design, and public process. Our strength is grounded in our ability to work together and we have come together in an amazing coalition across Santa Cruz County. No matter our differences, most of us want pretty similar things. We want to live in a thriving community that provides freedom of movement and opportunity for everyone to get around safely, creates safe and healthy neighborhoods, and gets everyone home on time for dinner. Together we can bring this vision to life.
What's Next for Light Rail Transit?
The dramatic results at ballot box have created a clear mandate for passenger rail. Now that our elected officials know that rail transit enjoys just as much support from the community as the Coastal Rail Trail. It’s time to move this project forward.
Many of us have written to the RTC in the past 12 months to encourage them to oppose abandonment and railbanking and to let them know that we want to move forward with both Rail & Trail. If you wrote your commissioner, did you hear back? Send us a note to let us know HERE.
Coastal Rail Trail Progress
As the founding organization advocating for the Coastal Rail Trail, we are always delighted to see progress on our vision for a 32-mile trail spanning the length of the county. Here are the latest progress updates on segments of the trail that run through some of our most densely populated areas.
California Street to the Boardwalk - The first phase of Coastal Rail Trail Segment 7 has been open between Natural Bridges and Bay Street on the Westside of Santa Cruz since Fall of 2020. The trail is a hit with residents and visitors alike, and people of all ages can be seen walking, bicycling, and skating on the trail at all times of day. Now, we’re delighted to report that the City of Santa Cruz is beginning construction of Segment 7 Phase II this summer.
The trail will be 12-16 feet wide and go from the corner of Bay and California to the roundabout at the foot of the wharf. Like all of the Coastal Rail Trail, it is designed for walkers and bicyclists of all ages and abilities, and is an alternative route to the heavily trafficked Laurel Street and steep Beach Hill. This new trail running alongside the tracks behind Neary Lagoon will provide safer and easier active transportation connections between the beach area and the Westside, and will connect to downtown Santa Cruz via the Beach Street Bike Path and the San Lorenzo River Path. To see info on all the Rail Trail segments in the City of Santa Cruz click HERE.
17th Ave to State Park Drive - Several weeks ago I was pleased to send a letter on behalf of the Friends of the Rail & Trail officially endorsing a County grant application to fund Coastal Rail Trail Segments 10 and 11. We are optimistic that the California Active Transportation Program grant committee will approve funding for this section of the Rail Trail, a 4.5-mile stretch that will connect 17th Avenue in Live Oak to the Seacliff neighborhood in Aptos. It will also connect 10 schools, 18 parks, 13 public beaches, 2 community centers, commercial zones and some of the most densely populated neighborhoods in the county. Click HERE to check out the maps and plans.
We hope you will join us to learn more about the next steps and how you can help lead the charge in Santa Cruz County. Join us next Tuesday, July 5th for a Rail & Trail Leadership Forum. Sign-up HERE.
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FPPC Launches Investigation Based on Second FPPC Complaint Filed by Candidate Ami Chen Mills Against Kalantari-Johnson Campaign and Santa Cruz Together PAC
by AMI CHEN MILLS
Our campaign team was alarmed by the recording produced by local resident Ann Simonton of a May 2nd fundraising meeting held by the Santa Cruz Together (SCT) PAC, in apparent coordination with the Kalantari-Johnon campaign and City Council members, who were apparently seeking support and funds, along with SCT, on behalf of Measure E.
As some of you may know, we held a press conference on what we believe to be Brown Act and Fair Political Practise's Commission violations after several past local elected officials, supervisors, mayors and commissioners began to speak out publicly.
Some of these officials were included in this press conference and some spoke later on the radio on KSQD. My own concerns were more related to the fundraising and coordination that happened at this meeting -- specifically for mailers for the Kalantari-Johnson campaign -- which was preceded by a speech from Kalantari-Johnson herself. This appeared to violate campaign finance laws against independent expenditures which cannot be coordinated nor planned "in concert" with a candidate. I filed a hasty complaint with the FPPC about this, without legal counsel, and I included the recording of the meeting made by Simonton.
The FPPC returned a decision on my complaint declining to investigate, citing that we had no "evidence" of mailers and also vaguely citing the Brown Act, which we were not complaining about, but which seemed related to statements from the City Attorney and local DA which were sent from SCT and the Kalantari-Johnson campaign. We were told that if we had evidence, we could re-submit the new evidence or appeal the decision not to investigate.
We consulted with a former FPPC official and an elections attorney, and decided to resubmit. This time, we included six pages of description along with several attachments of "evidence," including photographs of said mailers, campaign finance statements, and much more.
On June 15, the FPPC responded that they would indeed launch a full investigation of our complaint related to coordination. I have stated in several arenas, including our press conference, that my own concerns have to do with campaign finance in this county and nationally. I stand by these statements.
This is the statement we have sent to the local press:
"We are pleased to learn that the FPPC will conduct a full investigation of apparent campaign finance violations on the part of the Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson campaign and the Santa Cruz Together PAC. Elections should be a contest of ideas, not a contest of how much money a candidate can raise--legally or illegally. The public should always demand full transparency and it is always appropriate to hold all players accountable. Democracy depends upon it."
So far, most of what we have seen in the press has been personal attacks and pushback from the Kalantari-Johnson campaign and supporters, including charges of "dirty tricks" and "desperation" against me and my campaign. If the FPPC does not exist for candidates like myself to make complaints to when there seems to be evidence of campaign finance violations, then I do not know why it exists.
There should always be a full debate in the local news media about such apparent violations, including investigation into the laws as they stand, so that the public can be fully informed as voters, residents and citizens. Contact your local media and request a fair coverage of this issue.
My full statement is HERE.
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Photo by TARMO HANNULA
A western gull reminds drivers to yield on Jetty Road in Moss Landing.
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Santa Cruz 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. Total known cases as of June 30 were 55,459, up 764 cases from last week's 54,695, rounding off to a 1% rise. Deaths increased by one to 266, a vaccinated white woman over 85 years old.
The government is issuing four free Antigen Rapid Tests for free here.
Because of all the home tests currently available, these numbers are underestimates according to Corinne Hyland, County Health Services Agency spokesperson. She recommends people with minor symptoms stay home, isolate and rest.
Total hospitalizations remains at 649. Click to view a graph of hospitalizations here.
There have been changes in the active cases in the last week. Active cases in south county rose by 3%, north county dropped by 2% and mid county dropped by 1%. See details in the chart below.
On the county's vaccination webpage, the vaccination rate shows that 81% of the county have had at least one dose and 75% have had two doses. It appears there was an error in last week's assessment that 81% were "fully vaccinated," as I had reported. Here are more details on the county's vaccination data.
This webpage also has a link where you can get a digital copy and scannable QR code of your vaccination record. Keep track of your four digit code because that is your access to the site.
The county's Effective Reproductive Number is now above one. See chart below. Numbers above one show the spread of the virus is increasing. Below one means the spread is decreasing. The chart, released from the California Department of Public Health below shows several predictions from different agencies. For more information, click here.
To get information of COVID-19 testing locations around the county visit this site. Click here to make an appointment to get tested.
Any Californian, ages six months and older can get vaccinated for free. For information on getting vaccinated, click here.
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% deaths by ethnicity:
White - 57%
Latinx - 34%
Black - 1%
Asian - 6%
American Native - 0%
Unknown - 0%
% deaths by gender/% of population:
Female - 49%/50%
Male - 51%/50%
Deaths by age/263:
25-34 - 2%
35-44 - 3%
45-54 - 4%
55-59 - 2%
60-64 - 6%
65-74 - 18%
75-84 - 23%
85+ - 43%
% active cases testing positive by region/% of population:
Mid-county - 13%/12%
North county - 62%/56%
South county - 24%/32%
Under investigation - 1%
Deaths by vaccination status:
vaccinated - 28/265 = 12%
unvaccinated - 232/265 = 88%
Weekly increases in positive tests:
June 12-19, 2020 - 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%
Sept. 10-17- 8%
Sept. 17-24 - 7%
Sept. 25- Oct.1 - 5%
Oct. 1 - 9 - 4%
Oct. 9-15 - 4%
Oct. 15-22 - 5%
Oct. 23-29 - 4%
Oct. 30-Nov. 5 - 6%
Nov. 5-12 - 10%
Nov. 12-19 - 11%
Nov. 19-26 - holiday
Nov. 19-Dec. 3 - 29% 2 weeks of data for this week only
Dec. 3-10 - 16%
Dec. 10-17 - 17%
Dec. 17-24 - 14%
Dec. 24-31 - 19%
Jan. 1-7, 2021 - 13%
Jan. 7-14 - 14%
Jan. 15-21 - 11%
Jan. 21-28 - 5%
Jan. 28-Feb. 4 - 5%
Feb. 5-11 - 2%
Feb. 11-18 - 2%
Feb. 18-25 - 1%
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Feb. 25-March 5 - 1%
March 5-11 - 1%
March 11-18 - 2%
March 18-25 - .5%
March 25 - Apr. 1 - .7%
Apr. 1-8 - 0.1%
Apr. 9-15 - 1%
Apr. 16-22 - 2%
Apr. 22-30 - 2%
Apr. 30 - May 6 - .3%
May 6-13 - 2%
May 13-20 - 0%
May 24 - Data readjustment by county means percentages cannot be calculated this week.
May 27 - June 3 - 0%
June 3-10 - 0%
June 11-17 - .25%
June 18-24 - 0%
June 25-July 1 - 0%
July 2-8 - .3%
July 9-15 - .2%
July 16-22 - .5%
July 23-29 - 1.2%
July 30-Aug. 5 - 2%
Aug. 6-12 - .7%
Aug.13-19 - 4%
Aug. 20-26 - .7%
Aug. 26-Sept. 2 - 3%
Sept. 2-9 - 2%
Sept. 10-16 - 1%
Sept. 17-22 - 1%
Sept. 23-30 - 2%
Oct. 1-7 - 0%
Oct. 8-14 - 1%
Oct. 15-21 - 1%
Oct. 22-28 - 1%
Oct. 29-Nov. 4 - 1%
Nov. 5-11 - 1%
Nov. 12-18 - 2%
Nov. 19 - Dec. 2 - 2 weeks 2%
Dec. 2-9 - 2%
Dec. 9-16 - 1%
Dec. 16-23 - 1%
Dec. 24-30 - 2%
Dec. 31 - Jan. 6, 2022 - 5% Growth of home tests underestimates cases below. See above .
Jan. 7-13 - 9%
Jan. 14-20 - 15%
Jan. 21-27 - 9%
Jan. 28 - Feb. 3 - 31%
Feb. 3-10 - 3%
Feb. 11-24 (2 weeks) - 5%
Feb. 25- March 3 - 1%
March 4-10 - 1%
March 11-17 - 1%
March 18-24 - 0%
March 25-31 - 1%
Apr. 1-7 - 0%
Apr. 8-14 - 1%
Apr. 15-21 - 1%
Apr. 22-28 - 1%
Apr. 20 - May 5 - 1%
May 6-12 - 2%
May 13-19 - 3%
May 20-26 - 1%
May 27 - June 2 - 1%
June 3 - June 9 - 1%
June 10-16 - 2%
June 17-23 - 2%
June 24-30 - 1%
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Photo by TARMO HANNULA
Fashion Street - Green grass provides a soft bed. Sometimes you have to just catch a nap where you can, like this man in Watsonville Plaza.
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Labor History Calendar July 1-7, 2022
In case you noticed, the events below were already shown in last week's issue. I had hoped to take a week off because I was teaching a short summer school session at Kokoro no Gakko at the Buddhist Temple in Watsonville. But, things just keep happening.
July 1, 1922: One million railway shopmen strike across US.
July 1, 1992: Police fire on labor protest and kill 20 in Madhya Pradesh, India.
July 2, 1894: Federal injunction issued against Pullman strike.
July 2, 1986: 2-day General Strike protest military rule in Chile.
July 3, 1835: Children of Paterson, NJ strike for six-day week, 11-hour day.
July 3, 2021: Workers defy gov't ban, march for end to temporary jobs and unsafe conditions. KCTU president jailed in Seoul, Korea.
July 4, 1994: Nigerian oil workers strike for restoration of democracy that leads to a general strike.
July 5, 1888: 1,400 women strike at Bryant & May in London match factory in solidarity with fellow worker who was sacked for criticizing conditions.
July 5, 1934: Battle of Rincon Hill, San Francisco in longshoreman strike.
July 5, 1935: National Labor Relations act passes Congress.
July 6, 1892: Strikers battle Pinkerton in Homestead, Pennsylvania.
July 6, 1911: Joe Hill's "The Preacher and the Slave" first appears in IWW Little Red Song Book.
July 6, 1916: IWW dock striker Thomas Kenney killed by scab in Philadelphia.
July 7, 1912: IWW lumberworkers shot at by company gunmen - 2 Wobs killed and many women and children wounded at Grabow, LA.
July 7, 1994: Nigerian soldiers replace striking oil workers to break strike against dictatorship.
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“With mirth and laughter let old wrinkles come.”
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Photo by TARMO HANNULA
Chinese dim sum- lo bak go
By SARAH RINGLER
This recipe is an example of how to take a simple and relatively tasteless vegetable like the daikon radish, and turn it into a rich and flavorful main dish. Well, it takes a lot of ingredients and a lot of work. This complicated recipe creates little savory cakes with depths of flavor and a chewy texture that make it worth the work.
I found it in the Christmas issue of England’s Guardian newspaper where it was promoted as a vegan Christmas centerpiece. It is designed by the Israeli-English chef, Yotam Ottolenghi, who is famous for his innovative vegetarian recipes that include ingredients from around the world.
He has taken a traditional Chinese dim sum dish called lo bak go, which translates as “turnip cake,” and internationalized it by adding American maple syrup and pine nuts. A Chinese turnip is a daikon radish, however “radish cake” seems like an even odder name to English speakers. Ottolenghi seems to be a genius at creating new dishes although I admit I made a few adjustments to simplify this recipe.
To speed up your cooking time, prepare the ginger and garlic for the soy-maple nuts and the cake at the same time. The cake has two mixtures that are prepared separately, then combined and baked in a water bath. You will need a large pan that holds the 8-inch square cake. After the cake is baked, it is cut into pieces that are then fried. The cake can be made in advance, then cut, fried and served the next day.
Thai white rice flour, sometimes called rice powder, is made from finely milled raw white rice. It is not glutinous rice flour like Mochiko.
For the soy-maple nuts:
3-4 large dried shiitake mushrooms
3 tablespoons pine nuts, roughly chopped
1 tablespoon white and/or black sesame seeds
6 water chestnuts roughly chopped
1 small garlic clove, peeled and crushed
¼ tsp finely grated fresh ginger
2 tbsp soy sauce
5 tablespoons maple syrup
Salt
For the “turnip cake:”
1/3 cup Thai white rice flour,
1 tablespoon cornstarch
2 teaspoon sugar
1 small garlic clove, peeled and crushed
¼ teaspoon finely grated fresh ginger
2 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
1 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup cold water
1-2 large daikon - 1 pound - trimmed, peeled and roughly grated with the large holes
1/4 cup sunflower oil for frying
To serve:
2 tablespoons soy sauce
3 teaspoons maple syrup
1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
¼ cup cold water
1½ tablespoon finely chopped chives
Bring 2 ½ cups of water to boil in a small saucepan. Add the dried shiitake mushrooms. When water boils, remove from heat and soak the dried shiitake mushrooms for 20 minutes. Heat the oven to 465 degrees. Grease an 8-inch square cake tin and cover with parchment paper. Drain the shiitakes, squeeze dry and finely chop. Roughly chop the water chestnuts, peel and crush the garlic and grate the ginger.
Toast pine nuts in a frying pan over medium-high heat. Toast, stirring, for three to four minutes, until golden and fragrant. Then, add the sesame seeds and cook for a minute more. Stir in the shiitakes, chestnuts, garlic, ginger, soy, maple syrup and an eighth of a teaspoon of salt. Cook and stir for four to five minutes, until the liquid bubbles, reduces and coats the nut and seed mixture. Spread out on an oven tray lined with waxed paper and leave to cool. Taste for flavor. Set aside 2 tablespoons as a topping.
In a large bowl, whisk the first 7 turnip cake ingredients with 2/3 cup cold water until smooth, then set aside.
Peel and grate the daikon radish using the large hole on your grater. Put a large sauté pan on medium heat and add the daikon with 1 tablespoon of water. Cook, stirring now and then, for 15 minutes, until the liquid evaporates. Try and keep the radish from darkening. Let cool for 10 minutes.
Stir the daikon and most of the soy-nut mix into the bowl with the flour and water mixture. Mix well then spoon it into the prepared cake pan. Smooth the top, wrap tightly in foil.
Put that pan inside a slightly larger, high-sided baking tray. Pour in enough boiling water to come three-quarters of the way up the sides of the cake pan. Bake for 35 minutes. Lift the tin out of its water bath, remove the foil, and leave to cool. Then, refrigerate for 40 minutes, or overnight, until completely chilled.
Turn out the cake on to a board, cut into 8 even rectangles and brush on both sides with a total of 3 tablespoons of oil. Put a medium frying pan over medium-high heat. When hot, add a tablespoon of oil and fry the slices in two or three batches, spacing them apart, for two to three minutes on each side, until crisp and golden brown. Keep warm while you repeat with the rest of the cake and oil.
Put all the sauce ingredients except the chives into a small saucepan. Add the cold water and warm on medium-high heat for about 3 minutes. Lay the turnip cake on a platter in overlapping slices, pour the sauce over the slices and sprinkle the chives and the reserved soy-maple nuts on top. Serve.
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Send your story, poetry or art here: Please submit a story, poem or photo of your art that you think would be of interest to the people of Santa Cruz County. Try and keep the word count to around 400. Also, there should be suggested actions if this is a political issue. Submit to coluyaki@gmail.com
If you are enjoying the Serf City Times, forward it on to others. We need readers, artists, photographers and writers.
Thanks, Sarah Ringler
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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, health, 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 a self-funded enterprise and all work is volunteer.
Copyright © 2022 Sarah Ringler - All rights reserved
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