Heavy tire marks are shown atop the 165 foot long Black Lives Matter mural in front of Santa Cruz City Hall on Center St.
Photo by TARMO HANNULA
Response to BLM Mural Destruction and Crime
Public Statement from: Santa Cruz County Black Coalition for Justice and Racial Equity, Santa Cruz County Black Health Matters Initiative, NAACP Santa Cruz County Branch, Black Kings of Santa Cruz County, and Santa Cruz Equity Collab.
On July, 24th, two men drove recklessly in a pickup truck at or about 7:50pm, intentionally defacing the Black Lives Matter mural that was commissioned by the City of Santa Cruz. This flagrant act of destruction, filmed by the two men, resulted in the spread of hate, fear, insult and divisiveness across social media, specifically targeted against the Black community. The Black Lives Matter mural, created on Sept. 12, 2020 and repainted on June 20, 2021, was initiated by the community and later voted on and approved by the City of Santa Cruz. This heinous act of destruction and its provocation of fear and hatred must be viewed as an intentional and deliberate act against the Black community in Santa Cruz County. We, therefore, ask the District Attorney’s Office to prosecute the destruction of the Black Lives Matter mural as a hate crime and use the full capacity of the law to punish those who perpetrated the destruction.
As history shows, acts like this are often written off as innocent pranks with the perpetrators facing few substantial legal consequences. Charges are often reduced to misdemeanors or less. However, we, along with thousands of people in communities across the county, witnessed this act online and watched as it spread like wildfire across social media. It sparked vile, racist, and divisive commentary regarding not only the Black Lives Matter mural itself, but also the people who worked with the City of Santa Cruz to design and create it.
These people’s safety could now be at risk, and Black residents could be targeted for expressing outrage and fear. These types of destructive, aggressive, and provocative acts serve only to heighten the social anxiety existing in the racially charged atmosphere of our country. The men who defaced the mural acted brazenly and intentionally, as evidenced by their filming the destruction of public property. This crime should not to be taken lightly, and the leaders and allies in the city of Santa Cruz and the county must act decisively to ensure that acts of hatred are confronted and prosecuted as such. Our community has to work diligently to look to our community allies and leaders who can assure us that this kind of directed act of hate is intolerable and has no place in our city, county, and country.
Therefore, we call on you, our elected leaders and fellow community members to take a stand against this flagrant and destructive act against both the Black citizens of Santa Cruz County and the commissioned public work and to stand in strong solidarity with the Black residents in our county and others who truly believe that Black lives do matter.
We ask that you join us in holding these individuals fully accountable for their actions and the dire and significant effects that those actions have on our community at large, especially our youth who ride their bikes and walk across the mural and have to see this as nothing less than an act against the value of their lives, their families, and community.
We ask that you consider the mental health and psychological safety of Black community members who when they see this act and are reminded of the kind of racial terrorism that has existed in our country for over 400 years. These miscategorized small acts labeled as, “boys will be boys” leads to empowering others to believe that they too are above the law and their hatred can operate within it. What steps will you take to ensure that this case rises to the charge it deserves?
To this end we state that on Aug. 18, 2020, the County adopted Resolution 176-2020, declaring racism as a public health crisis. As concerned leaders, parents, students, business owners, and citizens of Santa Cruz County, we wholeheartedly agree with Santa Cruz County’s adopted resolution. In this resolution, the County resolved to:
a. Incorporate educational efforts to address and dismantle racism, and expand understanding of racism and how racism affects individual and population health
b. Promote community engagement, actively engaging citizens on issues of racism, and providing tools to engage actively and authentically with communities of color and to dismantle systemic racism and protect the health and wellbeing of Black, Indigenous (and) People of Color (BIPOC).
c. Commit to review all portions of codified ordinances with a racial equity lens.
We call on you to act in good faith to the Black community of this county with this same commitment and dedication to our community that the organizers, artists, and Santa Cruz residents of all races, persuasions and backgrounds held to paint the BLM mural on the ground. As per the artist’s mission statement for the mural:
“My name is Abi Mustapha. I’m a Santa Cruz and Bay Area Artist. My intention for this BLACK LIVES MATTER mural is a dramatic call to action, on the part of the City of Santa Cruz’s government, organizations, businesses, and everyone involved throughout every stage of this project. Anyone who partakes in this incredible work is also called to the tremendously difficult, long-term act of deconstructing racism in our community and in ourselves. This mural is more than a symbolic action. Every participant is called to action.”
As we move forward, we call on you to:
1) Ensure that the perpetrators of racially motivated violence against the Black community by vandalizing the BLM mural are charged with a hate crime.
2) Pursue the hiring of a police officer, sheriff and others dedicated to investigating and pursuing all racially motivated incidents and possible hate groups in Santa Cruz County. Create public safety protocols to ensure the safety of BIPOC community members in schools, community organizations, and all locations within our County.
3) Mandate race-awareness, anti-racist education in all schools/publicly funded educational institutions in Santa Cruz County, beginning in pre-school through adult education.
4) Identify candidates to fill a pipeline to ensure that we continue to have BIPOC elected officials at every level of government.
And finally, we ask for your commitment and support of our community at this time. We may be a smaller population of Santa Cruz residents, but this is our home and we believe that our safety and well being should be at the forefront of all actions hereafter to ensure that this is addressed in the manner that it deserves.Thank you.
Signed: Brenda J. Griffin, NAACP Santa Cruz County Branch; Cat Willis, Santa Cruz Black Health Matters Initiative; Thomas Sage Pedersen, Black Kings of Santa Cruz County; Abi Mustapha, SC Equity Collab Project; Joy Flynn, SC County Black Coalition for Justice and Racial Equity; Cheryl M. Williams, SC County Black Coalition for Justice and Racial Equity; Chris Davis, SC County Black Coalition for Justice and Racial Equity; Black Kings of Santa Cruz County; and Keisha Browder, SC County Black Coalition for Justice and Racial Equity.
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Santa Cruz County CAB Opposes New DACA Ruling
By MATTHEW WEISNER, ESQ., DIRECTING ATTORNEY, CAB
The Community Action Board of Santa Cruz County, Inc. (CAB), opposes U.S. District Court Judge Andrew Hanen’s July 16 ruling declaring that the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program unlawful in a case brought by Texas Attorney General and joined by 9 states. While this decision does not immediately affect current DACA recipients and their ability to renew their DACA cases, it blocks the government from approving new applications for DACA from first-time applicants, leaving thousands of applicants in limbo.
DACA has uplifted over 800,000 immigrant youth by providing them with work permits, a social security number, and protection from deportation in two-year renewable periods. DACA has opened doors to gainful employment, higher education, family unity, and stabilized countless lives and the fabric of our local community.
As one CAB client describes: “DACA has opened many doors for me because it gives a social security number, which is requested in many places, like school or work. Without DACA I could not even think about it. The dreams of being able to improve and pursue an education slowly die inside you, and you lose the hopes of being able to achieve that, but because of DACA many paths were opened for me to be able to help my family.”
CAB’s Immigration Project continues to vigorously defend clients and advocate on behalf of DACA beneficiaries and prospective applicants. CAB calls for action from Congress to pass legislation providing a pathway to permanent residency.
This anti-immigrant lawsuit is legally meritless, and while this month’s shameful ruling will likely be appealed, we need to recognize that our salvation is not in the courts. DACA was born out of advocacy, and those efforts will need to be redoubled for Congress to act.
“DACA has helped lift hundreds of thousands out of poverty and preserve family unity, but it was never designed as a permanent solution. Our community must come together and call with one voice for our representatives in Washington to keep their promise to create a pathway to permanent residency” said Maria Elena De La Garza, CAB Executive Director.
To support the community, CAB’s Immigration Project continues to provide immigration legal services and community education free-of-charge to eligible residents. CAB serves current DACA beneficiaries by assisting with renewal applications and has funding to pay DACA renewal filing fees for California community college students. For more information, contact CAB’s Immigration Project at 831-724-5667.
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Photo by TARMO HANNULA
Like out of a children's book, this little mallard duckling swims between the lily pads in San Lorenzo Park in Santa Cruz.
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"If you can’t win, don’t join them;
learn how to lose.”
Pogo - Walt Kelly
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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. The number of cases on Thursday totaled 16,616, up 191 from last Thursday's 16,425. There were no new deaths and the number remains at 207. There were no significant changes in all the categories.
On the county's vaccination webpage, as of July 26, 65% of the county has had at least one dose and 57% have had two doses. These numbers have not changed much since last week. That webpage also has a link where you can get a digital copy of your vaccination record. Here are more details on the county's vaccination data.
The county's Effective Reproductive Number is staying below one. See chart below. Numbers above one show the spread of the virus is increasing. Below one means the spread is decreasing.
To get tested without a doctor’s request, call 1-888-634-1123 or go online at https://lhi.care/covidtesting. Other testing sites that may have restricted access can be found here.
Any Californian age 12 or up can get vaccinated for free. For information on getting vaccinated, click here.
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% deaths by ethnicity/% of population:
White - 55%/58%
Latinx - 36%/34%
Black - 0/1%
Asian - 7%/4%
American Native - 0.5%/not available
% deaths by gender/% of population:
Female - 51%/50%
Male - 49%/50%
Other - 0
Under Investigation - 0
Deaths by age/202:
30-39 - 2%
40-49 - 3%
50-59 - 2%
60-69 - 13%
70-79 - 21%
80-89 - 31%
90+ - 27%
Tested positive by region/% of population:
Mid-county - 22%/12%
North county - 20%/60%
South county - 57%/29%
Under investigation - 0%
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%
Sept. 10-17- 8%
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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 - 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%
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%
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Photo by TARMO HANNULA
Fashion Street - Ride in Style
By SARAH RINGLER
Dashing bikerider sails the streets of Santa Cruz.
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Labor History Calendar for July 30 to August 5:
July 30, 2010: Four days of riots protest new Bangladeshi minimum wage of $43 a month; 400 workers arrested.
July 31,1909: Government crushes general strike and kills hundreds in Barcelona, Spain.
July 31,1922: Italian general strike against fascism begins, then broken by thugs.
July 31,1968: Mexico City students occupy schools and call for general strike.
July 31, 1981: 50-day baseball strike ends.
Aug. 1, 1910: Miners locked out at South Wales' Cambrian Combine pit; troops deployed against picketers.
Aug. 1, 1912: Los Angeles's San Pedro docks longshore strike defeated with several IWWs blacklisted.
Aug. 1, 1917: IWW Frank Little lynched in Butte, Montana.
Aug. 2, 1910: Green Corn Rebellion, multi-ethnic revolt World War 1 in Oklahoma.
Aug. 2, 1918: Vancouver general strike protests police murder of union organizer, Ginger Goodwin.
Aug. 2, 2010: Bangladeshi garment factories reopen after crushing living wage rebellion.
Aug. 3, 1913: IWW Wheatland Hop strike sheriff shot while breaking up strike meeting: Ford and Suht framed.
Aug. 3, 1981: US air traffic controllers(PATCO) strike begins.
Aug. 3, 2017: Jakarta, Indonesia longshoremen strike
Aug. 4, 1909: Swedish general strike against "right to work" contracts.
Aug. 4, 1997: 15-day UPS strike begins.
Aug. 5, 1929: Start of 2-day strike by Transylvanian coal miners for 8-hour day and the end of child labor was crushed when troops open fire, killing two.
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Photo by TARMO HANNULA
Avocado Toast with Poached Egg
By SARAH RINGLER
I'm continually amazed by the imagination and creativity that continues to emerge out of the food world in recipes, restaurants and through home cooks. As people move, relocate and travel, the world's wealth of flavors and ingredients come to our doorstep. It is a selective process because every community and individual has her or his own palette. Looking through the food section of the New York Times, a story on Australian cooking featured kangaroo sausages and whipped emu eggs. You will probably not see either of those in this column even though you can buy your own emu egg for $79.99 from California Hatchery in Rancho Cucamonga.
This recipe is California friendly, using avocados that are native to Mexico, sourdough bread that is native to San Francisco, and Monterey Jack cheese from down the road. I had it for breakfast at The Grange on J Street next to Citizen Hotel in Sacramento on a train trip to see the sites and visit family.
The flavors in this dish are subtle. The avocado is creamy with the egg nestled in a little indention on top. Sourdough bread makes a solid base that effectively absorbs the egg. Grated pepper Jack cheese and a touch of your favorite hot sauce add contrast.
Monterey Jack evolved from a Spanish semihard white cheese that was initially made by early Californios and commonly called "Queso del Pais," or "country cheese." According to Wendy Moss's essay on the Monterey County Historical Society website, the Jack part of the name is under dispute. One version attributes the name to David Jacks who had 60,000 acres and 14 dairy ranches in Monterey and called the cheese he made, "Jacks' Cheese."
Another version claims that Domingo Pedrazzi of Carmel Valley made a cheese that used the pressure of a "housejack" to weigh it down. His brand, called "Del Monte Cheese," was in use up to 1955. Whatever the local connection, archeological records have cheese making going back over 7,000 years ago in Kujawy, Poland, according to Nidhi Subbaraman's article in the December 12, 2012 Nature Magazine.
Lemon juice
salt and pepper
1 poached egg
1/4 cup grated Monterey Jack pepper cheese
hot sauce
slice of sourdough bread
Cut open the avocado and scoop out the flesh into a bowl. Add some sprinkles of salt and pepper and a spoonful of lemon juice. Mash with a fork, taste and add more seasoning if necessary to bring out the taste of the avocado but not overpower it.
Lightly toast a slice of sourdough bread. Spread the mashed avocado over the bread, and with a large spoon, make a little indention.
Poach the egg. I like to use a small frying pan. Bring the water to a boil and carefully slip the egg into the water. Lower the heat and cook until the egg is cooked to your preference. You might need to slip a spatula under the egg to keep it from sticking. When egg is done, use a slotted spoon to remove it. Shake off the excess water and slip it into the indentation you made in the avocado.
Sprinkle egg with some salt and pepper. Grate cheese and cover the egg. Serve with hot sauce on the side. Makes one.
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YOUR STORY OR ART HERE: Please submit a story 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 possible. Submit to coluyaki@gmail.com
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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 © 2021 Sarah Ringler - All rights reserved
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