Photo by TARMO HANNULA
New housing, like these apartments at Five55 Pacific that were built in 2018, have done little to staunch the housing crisis in our area.
Santa Cruz City Empty Home Tax Update
By CYNDI DAWSON
We are reaching out to update you on the Empty Home Tax Campaign and highlight opportunities for you to take action to ensure we get on the ballot and fund affordable housing in the City of Santa Cruz. The measure, if passed, would establish a tax on residential parcels that are in use less than 120 days in a calendar year. The tax would be used to promote more affordable housing. To be successful, our people powered campaign is going to need to take a big push over the next three months. Like you, we know and love this community and want to make sure Santa Cruz is a place for all of us.
We were approved by the City of Santa Cruz on Oct. 27 to begin collecting signatures to get the Empty Home Tax on the November 2022 ballot.
Our incredible volunteers hit the streets on Oct. 29 and began collecting signatures on petitions to advance our goal of at least 5000 signatures by the end of March 2022. We have been at the Farmers Markets, special events, and hitting up our friends and family wherever and whenever we can. We have collected over 1,000 signatures to date and are currently verifying these signatures. Only signatures from those registered in the City of Santa Cruz at their current address will count.
We have had 102 individual donors contribute to the campaign raising $10,692 so far; the largest donation was $700 and the smallest was $5, at an average donation of $104.82. This money has been used to pay for legal fees, web hosting, filing fees, tabling supplies and printing costs. All labor is being donated by volunteers and we have no paid staff. Your donations allowed us to launch this campaign and without your generosity we would have not ever made it off the ground.
Fifty-eight of your neighbors have been out there collecting signatures either staffing tabling efforts or hitting up their friends and family. A big thanks to all who have been putting in the work by donating their time.
To keep our ground swell of momentum building, we need to ensure we have the valid signatures we need by the end of March 2022. Here is how you can help:
-
We need money to keep the lights on...Ok not really the lights since we don't have an office, but to pay for printing, supplies, web hosting, etc. If you can give please donate and spread this link.
-
We need more people power! We need Location Captains which coordinate volunteers for a certain location or event and Signature Gatherers. Both are super easy and fun, no experience needed, and all training and supplies provided. Visit here to sign up for a shift or email and we will get you plugged in.
-
If you live in Santa Cruz city and haven't signed the petition, email voluteer@emptyhometax.org and we will come to you!
-
If you have signed the petition please check that your voter registration is up to date by clicking here. Your signature will not count if your voter registration doesn't match the signature on the petition.
We look forward to seeing you in the New Year and building the Santa Cruz we want together.
|
|
“Yes, Marcos is gay. Marcos is gay in San Francisco, black in South Africa, an Asian in Europe, a Chicano in San Ysidro, an anarchist in Spain, a Palestinian in Israel, a Mayan Indian in the streets of San Cristobal, a Jew in Germany, a Gypsy in Poland, a Mohawk in Quebec, a pacifist in Bosnia, a single woman on the Metro at 10pm, a peasant without land, a gang member in the slums, an unemployed worker, an unhappy student and, of course, a Zapatista in the mountains.
Marcos is all the exploited, marginalized, oppressed minorities resisting and saying `Enough'. He is every minority who is now beginning to speak and every majority that must shut up and listen. He is every untolerated group searching for a way to speak. Everything that makes power and the good consciences of those in power uncomfortable -- this is Marcos.”
― Subcomandante Marcos
.
|
|
County deaths from Homelessness
By SARAH RINGLER
For the last three years, the number of deaths of homeless individuals has increased according to data from the County of Santa Cruz Health Services Agency and the Homeless Persons Health Project. In 2021, the number increased 23% from the previous year, and 64% from 2019. According to the last Homeless Census & Survey carried out in 2019, 74% of respondents reported living in Santa Cruz County prior to becoming homeless. These people are Santa Cruzans.
Clearly, our city and county governments are not doing enough. Wish our elected officials a Happy New Year and encourage them to take action to save lives.
Contact:
|
|
Photo by TARMO HANNULA
A white-tailed kite keeps a sharp watch from a bare tree at Watsonville Slough.
|
|
Santa Cruz County Covid-19 Report - Data Challenged by New Home Test Kits
By SARAH RINGLER
The Santa Cruz County Health Department regularly releases data on the current status of Covid-19 in the county. But, as more home test kits are available, the numbers issued by the county may be meaningless. The number of cases reported on Thursday, Dec. 30, totaled 22,399 up 435, from Dec.23. The number of deaths rose by one to 228. Click to view a graph of hospitalizations here.
There have been some changes in the last week. Active cases in south county dropped by 10%. Mid county rose 2% and and north county increased by 8%. See details in the chart below.
On the county's vaccination webpage, as of Dec. 19, 77% of the county have had at least one dose and 71% have had two doses. Cases with one and two doses rose 1 % since Dec. 12. 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 below one. See chart below. Numbers above one show the spread of the virus is increasing. Below one means the spread is decreasing.
There are many COVID-19 testing locations around the county and a few sites have free testing. For information on how to get tested, visit this site. Click here to make an appointment to get tested.
Any Californian age 12 or up can get vaccinated for free. For information on getting vaccinated, click here.
|
|
 |
% deaths by ethnicity:
White - 55%
Latinx - 36%
Black - 0%
Asian - 7%
American Native - 0%
Unknown - 0%
% deaths by gender/% of population:
Female - 49%/50%
Male - 51%/50%
Deaths by age/228:
25-34 - 2%
35-44 - 3%
45-54 - 4%
55-59 - 1%
60-64 - 6%
65-74 - 18%
75-84 - 22%
85+ - 43%
% active cases testing positive by region/% of population:
Mid-county - 14%/12%
North county - 52%/56%
South county - 33%/32%
Under investigation - 2%
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%
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%
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%
|
|
|
|
Photo by TARMO HANNULA
Fashion Street - The Party is Over
This beaten and discarded piñata was left for trash at Pinto Lake City Park.
|
|
Labor History Calendar for Dec. 31 - Jan. 2, 2022
Dec. 31, 1969: United Mine Worker dissident Joseph Yablonski murdered by gun thugs.
Jan. 1, 1831: Garrison founds "Liberator," abolitionist newspaper.
Jan. 1, 1994: 3,000 Zapatistas (Ejército Zapatista de Liberación Nacional) rebels storm the government buildings in Ocosingo, Las Margaritas, Huixtan, Oxchuc, Rancho Nuevo, Altamirano and Chanal in Chiapas on the day the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) went into effect. They also freed prisoners in the jail in San Cristobal de las Casas. EZLN flag above, right.
Jan. 2, 1905: Conference of Industrial Unionists in Chicago leads to formation of IWW.
Jan. 3, 1917: Mooney tried in San Francisco in bombing frameup.
Jan. 3, 1932: Martial law declared in Honduras to quell revolt started by sacked United Fruit Co. workers.
Jan. 3, 1964: 450,000 NYC public school students strike against de facto racial segregation and poor conditions.
Jan. 4, 1966: Transport Workers Union officials jailed in NYC transit strike.
Jan. 5, 1869: 1st Black Labor Convention.
Jan. 6, 1882: ;Toronto Labor Council supports equal pay for equal work.
Jan. 6, 1970: West miners wildcat strike to protest murder of union reform leader.
|
|
Photo by TARMO HANNULA
Huevos Rancheros Salad with Cucumber Spaghetti
By SARAH RINGLER
For a light stand-alone dinner or luncheon, try this interesting salad made with thin, crunchy tortillas strips mixed with spaghetti-like cucumber strips and covered with a poached egg, a vinaigrette dressing and cheese.
This unusual culinary mutation is from Chef John Rivera Sedlar, a native of Santa Fe, New Mexico, whom Gourmet Magazine once labeled "the father of modern Southwest cuisine." He started to work in a French restaurant in Santa Fe as a young man in 1971, and later fused that style of cooking with the Mexican and Southwest style cooking of his grandmother, Eloisa Rivera, after whom he eventually named one of his restaurants. I have really enjoyed the recipes in his 1986 cookbook "Modern Southwest Cuisine," no longer quite so modern but still very innovative.
Many of the recipes in the cookbook are very intricate and with the French influence call for a lot of heavy cream; but, this one is simpler. I love the thin strips of fried tortillas. Cutting cucumbers to look like spaghetti is more challenging. You definitely want to combine them at the last minute to keep the tortilla strips crispy.
An easier version, which I occasionally make for breakfast, is to just cut a tortilla into thin strips and fry in oil into a crisp nest, then drain. Top the nest with a lightly cooked egg that is covered with salsa and a little grated cheese. The yolk, salsa and cheese all sink and combine into the tortilla nest making sort of a breakfast egg nacho, not a bad way to start the day.
Jalapeño Vinaigrette:
1/8 cup sherry vinegar, or a red or white wine vinegar
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/8 cup olive, avocado or walnut oil
2 teaspoons roasted jalapeño pepper, peeled, deseeded and chopped
lemon
Vegetable oil for frying
8 corn tortillas
1 medium cucumber, peeled, halved and seeded
8 eggs
1/2 cup shredded white melting cheese like Monterey Jack or Queso de Oaxaca
1 avocado cut in slices
Mix the ingredients for the vinaigrette in a small jar. Shake vigorously and set aside. Taste and adjust flavor. Grate cheese, slice avocados and set aside. Sprinkle a little lemon, chili powder and salt on the avocadoes.
Stack 2 to 3 tortillas on top of each other and with a long knife, cut into narrow 1/8-inch wide strips until you have made a little pile of strips. Heat 1/2 inch of vegetable oil in a heavy fry pan. When the oil is hot, put in a handful of strips and cook for about 3-4 minutes until they are golden brown and crisp. Drain on paper towels. Continue frying in batches until you are done. Add more oil if necessary. Sprinkle with a little salt and set aside.
Take peeled, seeded cucumbers and slice the long way. Cut into 1/8 inch wide strips that look like spaghetti. Drain on paper towels until ready to use.
Prepare your 4 plates. Bring a shallow saucepan filled 2/3 with water to a boil. When water is boiling, turn it down. Break an egg into a small bowl then slip into the boiling water. Add the next egg. If your pan is large enough, you might be able to get all 4 eggs into it.
While eggs are boiling, mix the fried tortilla strips and the cucumber strips in a large bowl. Toss with the dressing then arrange on four plates like a nest. Decorate with avocado slices around the edges.
When eggs are done but still runny on the insides, remove from the water with a slotted spoon and place two on each nest. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, cheese and serve immediately. This recipe serves four with two eggs each.
|
|
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
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
