Photo by TARMO HANNULA

Remnants of a building being torn down on Front Street in Santa Cruz in late May.

In Memory of George Floyd - A March Toward Love and Courage

By THAIRIE RITCHIE

I want to reach out to let everyone know about an event that I'm hosting on Mon., June 19, Juneteenth, called " March Toward Love and Courage." The march will start in front of the London Nelson Community Center and end in front of Santa Cruz City Hall, the site of the Black Lives Matter Mural and will run from 5:30pm to 8:30pm. See poster below.

New Supervisor Candidate for District 1 Who Supports Rail & Trail - Lani Faulkner

By SALLY ARNOLD AND MATT FARRELL

Together we built a landslide defeat of the deceptive Measure D proposal to tear out the train tracks that would have killed our transit future and delayed trail construction. After our historic victory to defeat Measure D, we thought that our elected officials would respect the will of their constituents and work toward trail construction and planning for rail service.  

But that has not been the case. Some politicians are still trying to stop construction of the trail! This is a threat to the rail and trail that we must take seriously.

Recently, Supervisor Manu Koenig, District 1, wasted everyone’s time grandstanding and refusing to accept the Environmental Impact Report for Rail Trail segments 8 & 9, that had just been funded for construction. His failures to listen don’t stop with the Rail & Trail.

District 1 residents are complaining about his focus on his wealthiest constituents rather than the majority of District's residents. Whether it’s Coastal Commission policy, parking programs, bike lanes, housing or zoning – small businesses and constituents are upset with the incumbent.

One strategically placed government official can do a whole lot of damage if they have an agenda that’s not aligned with the will of our community. The Board of Supervisors is a small body with only 5 elected supervisors, so just one troublesome supervisor can make it difficult for the board to get things done for all of us. This is why all of us, no matter which district we live in, should care about the District 1 supervisor’s race.

That’s why, as members of the NoWay Greenway Campaign Committee, we are excited to support Lani Faulkner for First District Supervisor. Lani brings a wealth of experience from her successful career in Biotechnology to her community involvement. Lani serves on the Executive Committee of the Santa Cruz Chapter of the Sierra Club, the Community Traffic Safety Coalition, Equity Transit, Friends of the Rail & Trail and the NAACP. Her work on the Democratic Central Committee and with local union leaders has given her the connections and relationships needed to get things done. Her experience working with government agencies is exactly what we need in a local leader.

First District residents asked Lani to run for First District Supervisor because she’s a true part of the community, living and raising her family in Live Oak. She makes herself available, knows how to listen and is committed to finding common ground. Lani’s diplomatic approach to problem solving will help our whole community.

This race has direct consequences for not just the First District but the whole county. Remember, the county voted to defeat Measure D and have a rail and trail. In a time when we need to bring the community together to solve some of the tough challenges ahead of us, we need a supervisor who works well with others.

Will you join us in supporting Lani for Supervisor? Lani's Launch Party will be held on June 11 at DeLaveaga Park, Forty Thieves Picnic area from 2 to 4pm.

Early endorsement and donations are important. You can add your name and support Lani in other ways here: Endorse Lani for Supervisor

Art on Wheels 

By JESSICA CARRASCO

This Sunday, the Watsonville community will have their first Art on Wheels event at Lakeview Middle School from 12-5pm. Art on Wheels is an event that celebrates visual art, performing art and car art. Monica Galvan from Arte del Corazon, Moe Haro from the Watsonville Riders Car Club, Israel, also known as Viejo, from the Watsonville Impalas Car Club and I, artist and founder of Carrasco Concepts have come together to organize this event. We wanted to collaborate to showcase and celebrate Watsonville art, talent and culture. Funds from this event will pay for the event and the rest will be donated back to the community in forms of scholarships for students.

The family event will start at noon; you will be able to buy hot dogs, tacos or sweets from the food vendors. You may also walk around and appreciate or purchase art from the many local artist vendors of whom 30% are local student artists. Art activities start at 1pm. See the schedule of events in the poster below.

All of these activities are free and for kids and their families. At 4pm, judges will announce the car awards for best all around, best motorcycle, best bike and judges' choice.

The Watsonville community invites you to see all the beautiful art, folklorico dancers, music played by youth mariachi, dance to our Dj’s hits, eat our delicious cuisine and be face to face with breathtaking cars decorated with glossy paint jobs, historical murals, and pieces of art rolling on wheels. 

Watershed Memory

By WOODY REHANEK

*Much of the Pajaro Valley is floodplain.

Its wetlands were drained by Chinese 

workers in the late 1800s, before the

Chinese Exclusion Act. The Army Corps

built a too-narrow channel & fragile

levee in 1949 to "contain" the Pajaro

River. It failed in 1955, 1958, 1995,

1998, & 2023. The farmland & Latino

farmworker community of Pajaro did

not figure positively in the Army Corps'

cost/benefit ratio. American Rivers in

2005 named the Pajaro the nation's "most

"#1 most endangered river," due to its

makeshift levee & ag chemical runoff.

*Congressman Jimmy Panetta worked

tirelessly to fund a future $400 million

levee rebuild, as well as work on Corral-

itos Creek, which cuts across the NW

valley & joins the Pajaro River on the

eastern edge of Watsonville. "You can't

put a price on lives in Pajaro," he said.

When again the town flooded on March 11,

30-year resident Jose Estanquero, 79, 

said: "They have abandoned us."  

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

Photo by TARMO HANNULA 

An hybrid agave-with plastic Dollar Store flowers grows in a yard along Pioneer Road in Watsonville.

Santa Cruz County Covid-19 Report

By SARAH RINGLER

The California Department of Public Health now reports on Covid-19 for The Santa Cruz County Health Department. They regularly release 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 new information on vaccination records, treatments, vaccines, tests, safety in the workplace and more.

Photo by TARMO HANNULA

Fashion Street - Accidental landscaping currently bedecks the eaves at Pajaro Middle School, where I taught in the 2000s.

Labor History Calendar - June 9-15, 2023

a.k.a Know Your History Lest We Forget

June 9, 1902: Anti-anarchist law passed in Washington state.

June 10, 1912: General strike of British transport workers. 

June 11, 1872: Unions legalized in Canada.

June 11, 1913: Cops shoot at Black and White IWW maritime workers striking United Fruit Company; 1 killed and 2 wounded.

June 12, 1917: 260 die in Butte mine disaster; 14,000 strike for safe conditions.

June 12 1968: Unions win 12-day general strike against poverty and police repression in Senegal.

June 13, 1925: Angry miners burn three company stores in Nova Scotia, Canada.

June 14, 1905: Battleship Potemkin mutiny.

June 14, 1924: San Pedro, CA IWW Hall raided by thugs; children were scaled and the hall demolished.

June 14, 2009: General strike across Brazil.

June 15, 1990: Battle of Century City, police attack striking SEIU janitors and supporters in Los Angeles, CA.

June 15, 1996: Borders Books in Philadelphia fires worker for IWW organizing, sparking international picketing.

June 15, 2018: General strike in Nicaragua.

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

"The Labor Movement was the principal force that transformed misery and despair into hope and progress.”

– Martin Luther King Jr.

Photo by TARMO HANNULA

The Holy Grail of Cornbread 

By SARAH RINGLER 

Somewhere between cake and bread, this loaf is light, sweet and an easy and portable contribution to any potluck dinner.  

I have been searching for years for a cornbread that isn’t too dry and can be made in a loaf pan. This is it. It’s from Susan Pridmore’s webpage, The Wimpy Vegetarian. 

I prefer a loaf rather than squares because slices have less crust and more moist bread. After having served the warm bread, I cut the loaf in slices and freeze it. It is easy to take out just one slice and throw it in the toaster. It is excellent served under a poached egg. 

Buttermilk is a special ingredient that really improves the loft of quick breads like biscuits and pancakes, and also adds a slight sour taste. However, it is difficult to keep around because it is usually sold in quart containers and has to be used up so it doesn’t go bad. That means baking and eating a lot of biscuits and pancakes in a short period of time. However, you can buy powdered buttermilk that lasts a long time. Bob’s Red Mills makes Sweet Cream Buttermilk Powder that I whisk into warm milk and water. I get it at Staff of Life. 

Easy buttermilk cornbread

1 cup medium coarse cornmeal 

1 cup 4.5 ounces all-purpose flour 

1/2 teaspoon baking soda, 

3/4 teaspoon kosher salt or 1/2 teaspoon table salt

1/2 cup unsalted butter melted, plus more for the loaf pan

1/2 cup white granulated sugar

2 large eggs

1 cup buttermilk

Preheat oven to 375˚ degrees. Butter a medium loaf pan. Whisk the cornmeal, flour, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl.

Melt the butter in small saucepan or in the microwave oven in a microwave-safe dish. Let it cool. Pour into a medium bowl and whisk in the sugar. Then add eggs and buttermilk, and continue to whisk until well blended. Stir in the cornmeal-flour mixture. Do not over mix. There will be some lumps, but that's fine. Pour batter into the prepared loaf pan.

Bake for 30 to 40 minutes in the center of the oven. It helps to cover the bread with foil in the last 10 minutes of baking to help keep the cornbread moist, and help it to bake more evenly. It is done when a toothpick or bamboo skewer inserted in the center comes out clean. 

Cool in the loaf pan for 10 minutes before removing. Run a sharp knife around the cornbread, separating it from the sides of the pan. Flip it out onto a cutting board for easy slicing.

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. 

Copyright © 2023 Sarah Ringler - All rights reserved