Photo by TARMO HANNULA

Ernest Hemingway's house in Key West, Florida, in winter, 2009.

Disorder at Key West

By WOODY REHANEK

WALLACE was robust & tall.

He was an insurance executive

who loved poetry above all.

He wrote about blackbirds & ice cream.

He escaped New England winters

with occasional vacations in Key West.

On the train to work in Hartford, 

Wallace hand-wrote poems

& his secretary typed them out. 

Some of them were astonishing.

Yet in Key West, Wallace would drink 

martinis & could barely hold his liquor

as he staggered out the door.

ROBERT was a famous American

who wrote of woods on snowy evenings,

roads not taken, & how the world might end.

He had a fondness for Key West

but disliked Wallace's poetry.

The two competed for the golden ring

as our finest living New England poet.

Robert had once attempted to read poems

at JFK's inauguration,

but the sun got in his eyes,

making for a faltering delivery.

In Key West, the two poets locked horns.

"Robert, all you write about is subjects,"

Wallace Stevens said belligerently.

"Wallace, all you write about is bric-a-brac,"

Robert Frost countered tartly.

************

On another occasion, Wallace was insulting

a man named ERNEST in a Key West dive.

Wallace growled that Ernest wrote childish

prose & hadn't a poetic bone in his body.

Ernest was not in the bar

at the time, but his sister was.

She went home & retrieved Ernest

to defend his honor

just as Wallace was leaving.

Outside the bar, without a word,

Wallace took a preemptive swing

at Ernest & missed.

Ernest countered with a spot-on right hook.

Wallace Stevens landed, "spectacularly,"

Ernest would later say,

"on his back in a mud puddle."

After all, Ernest Hemingway always 

loved to spar. He took great pride

in flattening a giant Pulitzer Prize- 

winning poet named Wallace Stevens. 



Rail Trail on Track but Anti-Railers Won't Let Go

By FAINA SEGAL

At the Regional Transportation Commission meeting on May 4, there was a straightforward agenda item: to accept a Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) for building the Coastal Rail Trail from the City of Santa Cruz to Live Oak. The lead agency, the City of Santa Cruz, had already certified the FEIR for Segments 8 and 9 and selected the trail next to the tracks as the Preferred Project. The RTC was only being asked to accept the FEIR as an adequate document on which to base future decisions. Unfortunately, grandstanding from rail transit opponents turned the item into more than an hour of speeches, testimony, and disagreement. 

First, the Commissioner from District 1, Manu Koenig, came out with a long list of complaints. He was joined by District 2 Commissioner-Alternate Robert Quinnand Scotts Valley Commissioner Randy Johnson. District 5 Commissioner Bruce McPherson also voiced opposition, although eventually he joined the majority in voting to accept the FEIR by a vote of 9 to 3.

It seems that the lines have been drawn and we can expect similar split votes in the future. Unfortunately, three of the commissioners who oppose the project are placed on the RTC via seats on the County Board of Supervisors, an agency that also has jurisdiction over many aspects of these projects. 

However, all three districts are up for election in 2024: Manu Koenig in District 1; Bruce McPherson in District 5; and Zach Friend with his chosen alternate Robert Quinn (a former Greenway board member) in District 2.

It's clear we will have to continue to fight for every inch of both the Coastal Rail Trail and the Rail Transit Project. If you haven’t done so yet, now would be a great time to give to our Spring Fundraising Match so we can stay vigilant and keep making progress. 

Bike and Pedestrian Bridge over Hwy. 1 Added to North Coast

Construction of Segment 5 of the Coastal Rail Trail, stretching 7.5 miles from Wilder Ranch State Park to Davenport, is now fully funded. The project now also includes a Phase III bike and pedestrian bridge over Highway 1 at Panther Beach to provide safe passage between the trail and Cotoni-Coast Dairies National Monument. Funding for the first two phases of construction will be available in FY 2024/25. For more details, click here. 

Bike Month Events Roundup 

May is Bike Month Santa Cruz County. Ecology Action invites all riders to join in on a 31-day mission to bike more and drive less. Use your bike to go to work, school, run errands, and cruise around town in May. Log your rides. Win prizes. Repeat. Need more inspiration? Click here to check out all the awesome community bike events happening this month.

Stories of Solidarity With Migrants

By RESOURCE CENTER FOR NONVIOLENCE

This installment of the Resource Center for Nonviolence's Stories of Resistance, will feature organizers of YARR, Your Allied Rapid Response. YARR was responsible for providing rapid response to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids ushered in by president Trump. Community members from religious communities and peace and justice groups were trained in skills to observe and to intervene with nonviolent action, and above all, to respect the wishes of people targeted by ICE. A text hotline number called trained YARR members so they could respond in an emergency.

We hope you will join us to hear from the organizers of YARR, local activists Mariam Gafforio and Iridaea, co-founders of YARR.

More Info... Click Here to Register

STORIES OF RESISTANCE

Free | Saturday, May 13, 2pm

Resource Center for Nonviolence

612 Ocean St. Santa Cruz

Where Do You Think Housing Should Go in SC County?

By SARAH RINGLER

Santa Cruz County is updating the Housing part of the county’s General Plan. It has to be updated every 8 years and must be submitted to the state by December 2023. The new plan has to be planned to meet state required Regional Housing Needs Allocation.

Go to this website for the Interactive Mapping Tool that gives you an opportunity to chose where you think new housing should go. To start, go to the heading “Go Where and What Kind.” Then go to “Twin Lakes and Pleasure Point.” The term Flexible Housing is defined as "housing that is designed for choice at the design stage, both in terms of social use and construction, or designed for change over its lifetime. It evolves from the change in residents’ requirements and promises adaptability to their living conditions. This spatial adaptability is thought as a tool to replace spatial hierarchy and enhance life quality." 

Click on the options you would like. I usually chose the one that offers the most housing. I believe that people should not have to be fantastically rich to be able to live here. Especially people who work here should be able to live here be they farm workers, office workers, teachers , city and county workers, fast food workers etc.. The county has become outrageously unaffordable and the city and county governments have been unable or unwilling to step in to change that dynamic. Only by increasing the supply can prices become more affordable. 

Nerdville Comes to Watsonville, June 25

By SARAH RINGLER

Silicon Valley Comic Com 2023, aka SiliCon, was just cancelled this year. Aftereffects from Covid and severe economic uncertainties were given as reasons on the events website.

However Nerdville X Anime Watsonville is gearing up for their third annual event on June 25, 9am-5pm at Watsonville High's New Gym. The event features special guests Abby Trott, Landon McDonald and Catero Colbert. It will have anime, art, cosplay, gaming, crafts, collectibles and more.

The event is free to all Pajaro Valley Unified School District students with proof of ID, $20 for adults and $10 for non-PVUSD students and youth(6-17) at the door. Get tickets HERE.

Photo by TARMO HANNULA 

A western gull darts beneath a palm tree at Rio Del Mar State Beach.

Santa Cruz County Covid-19 Report

By SARAH RINGLER

The California Department of Public Health has taken over Covid-19 reporting from the The Santa Cruz County Health Department and regularly releases data on the current status of Covid-19 in the county. There have been no new deaths in the county since Dec. 15. Since cases are still appearing, and there are still vulnerable people, I will continue reporting the graphs below.

The three graphs below give a picture of what is happening currently. The first graph below shows the Rt Number. Numbers above one show the spread of the virus is increasing. Below one means the spread is decreasing.

The second graph below shows data that the Health Department collects for Covid from wastewater at the City Influent, for the city of Santa Cruz, and from the Lode Street pump stations for the county.

The third graph below shows hospitalizations. Click to see more information on hospitalizations HERE.



The vaccination data for the county has stayed fairly constant increasing very little over time. Go HERE for information on vaccination records, treatments, vaccines, tests, safety in the workplace and more.

Photo by TARMO HANNULA

Fashion Street - A pair of shoes dangle from utility lines in Watsonville.

Labor History Calendar - May 12-18, 2023

a.k.a Know Your History Lest We Forget

May 12, 1916: Execution of James Connolly, IWW organizer and Irish freedom fighter.

May 12, 1972: Nine towns occupied as Quebec general strike spreads with 300,000 workers out.

May 13, 1913: 10,000 IWW dock workers strike in Philadelphia.

May 13, 1968: Strikes in Paris leads to general strike by 10 million workers.

May 13, 2014: 310 killed in Soma mine disaster after Turkish authorities ignore union safety warning.

May 14, 1771: Labor reformer Robert Owen born.

May 14, 1993: 11-day East German metalworkers' strike settled.

May 15, 1902: Anthracite miners strike.

May 15, 1919: General strike in Winnipeg begins and lasts six weeks. 

May 15, 1931: Soldiers fire on strikers killing many in Ådalen, Sweden.

May 15, 1942: Death of IWW songwriter T-bone Slim in NYC.

May 15, 2011: Indignados occupations across Spain.

May 16, 1821: Engineers start successful 5-month strike for 9-hour day in Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

May 16, 1934: Minneapolis general strike backs Teamsters.

May 16,  2018: North Carolina teachers strike for better schools.

May 17, 1838: First women’s anti-slavery conference in Philadelphia.

May 17, 1954: Supreme Court outlaws segregation in public schools.

May 18, 1814: Birth of Michael Bakunin.

May 18, 1855: Birth of George Speed, IWW, active in Haymarket defense, Coxey’s Army and Pullman strike.

Labor History Calendar has been published yearly by the Hungarian Literature Fund since 1985.

"There will always be rocks in the road ahead of us. They will be stumbling blocks or stepping stones; it all depends on how you use them."

Friedrich Nietzsche

Photo by TARMO HANNULA

Getting Along with Butter and Soy

By SARAH RINGLER

Despite the many things in life that divide humans, the food we prepare and eat seems to unite us. Although there is a group of people who are very specific -- some call them picky -- about what they eat, many of us are excited to, at least, try something different.

Polenta, although made from corn that is native to the Americas, is an Italian dish. Soy sauce is an Asian condiment. Asian food rarely uses butter and cow's milk.  Here, Sam Sifton, food columnist for the New York Times, combines the ingredients from at least three cultures in this creamy polenta and mushroom dish that he titles "The Elegance of Butter and Soy."

This is the time of year for wild mushrooms and if you are lucky enough to have a source and are knowledgeable, this is the dish. Chanterelles would be perfect.  The last time I went up to forage in my "secret spot," I was fenced out. It was irritating but in reality it was hardly "my spot," but it had taken me years to find a place that was usually reliable. 

This dish can stand alone or be served with a salad or greens. It is also a nice side dish with pork chops.

If you don't have access to wild mushrooms try the combinations below. You can buy bulk, dried porcinis at Staff of Life. It's not a good idea, according to David Arora, author of "Mushrooms Demystified," to mix mushroom varieties so I would use only dried porcinis and one other fresh store bought mushrooms. Also, the dish is very rich and has a lot of butter so I just used milk in the mushroom mixture without sacrificing flavor; it calls for such a small amount of cream anyway.  

Polenta:

2 1/4 cups water

1 cup milk

1/ 2 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup polenta or cornmeal 

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 tablespoon grated Parmesan

Mushrooms:

1/4 ounce dried porcinis mushrooms 

4 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into pats

1 clove garlic

1/2 pound fresh mushrooms, washed, dried and sliced

1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme leaves

1 tablespoon soy sauce

1 tablespoon whole milk, heavy cream, or sour cream

1 tablespoon olive oil

Salt and pepper

Make the polenta by mixing 2 1/4 cups of water and the milk in a medium sized heavy bottomed saucepan over medium high heat. Bring to a bubbly simmer. Add salt. Pour the cornmeal slowing into the liquids mixing with a whisk to prevent clumping. Continue to stir until mixture begins to thicken for about 2-3 minutes.

Turn heat to low and cook for about 30 minutes stirring now and again. Add more water if it becomes too thick. After it has cooked, add butter and stir well. Add cheese and taste. Add more salt if necessary. Cover pan and keep warm by placing the pot over another pot of simmering water.

Put the dried mushrooms in a small bowl and cover with 1/3 cup of boiling water. Let it steep for 2 minutes then remove mushrooms and mince. Reserve liquid for mushroom stock.      

Wash, dry and slice mushrooms and mince garlic and thyme leaves. 

Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a frying pan over high heat. Do not let the butter burn. When melted, working quickly, add garlic and thyme, and when it begins to sizzle, add all the mushrooms. Stir and cook for about 3-4 minutes until mushrooms are brown and tender. Add the mushroom stock and stir to remove bits of cooked mushroom from the bottom of the pan. Cook to reduce liquid down if necessary. Add last 2 tablespoons of butter whisking to combine. Then add soy sauce, cream or milk and olive oil. Cook until mixture thickens. Remove from heat and taste for seasoning and add more salt and pepper if necessary. Put polenta in a shallow bowl and cover with mushroom sauce. Serves four. 

Welcome to Serf City Times Our county has problems and many people feel 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. 

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