Mike Rotkin, former five-time Santa Cruz mayor, is predicting a new trend in Santa Cruz politicians. Low pay, less expensive district elections and increasing abuse from the public are, he writes, causing many experienced leaders to bow out. He thinks Santa Cruz will likely see younger, less experienced city councilmembers and mayors in the future.
Opinion from Community Voices
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
I quit my job to surf and hike across the world; you can do it, too
Santa Cruz native Evan Quarnstrom quit his job with the International Surfing Association to travel the world. He’s been to Brazil, Colombia, Chile and right now, he’s in Bali, “where fast, powerful, waves that break over shallow coral reefs have been quite the contrast from the more mellow, sloping point breaks that I learned to surf on at home in Santa Cruz.” He’s also taken time to grieve his late father, Dean Quarnstrom, to come to terms with his famous local family and consider what sort of life he wants to lead. He reminds us that, with a bit of courage, we, too, could pick up and change our lives.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
My wife decided to make a dahlia farm over the remains of the CZU fire — she’s crazy, but in a good way
Two years ago, Karla and Daniel DeLong and their two young daughters fled their Ben Lomond home during the CZU fire. Their house miraculously didn’t burn, but they lost hundreds of trees and were left with acres of scorched land. Aided by friends, the community and Karla’s “crazy-cool” vision, they have transformed their property into a dahlia farm “with the sole purpose of bringing color and joy back to our devastated community,” Daniel DeLong writes. It’s open this Saturday to the public.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Don’t let Santa Cruz City Council mute your voice on development decisions
Save Santa Cruz believes the city’s new “objective standards” are flawed and will radically change the fabric of the city; the city council is scheduled to vote on them at its meeting Tuesday. The group, led by the author, Gary A. Patton, who served as District 3 Supervisor from 1975 to 1995, believes the new standards will significantly cut back public hearing rights and will not adequately project the quality and character of life in Santa Cruz.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Come with us to the Benchlands: Listen to five voices of Santa Cruz’s unhoused
We often talk about “the unhoused” in Santa Cruz County, but we rarely talk to them. Here, in video clips, Lookout’s Jody K. Biehl and Kevin Painchaud take you to the Benchlands, Santa Cruz’s largest homeless encampment — a place of ongoing controversy as the city plans its closure — and hear from five people living there. If you haven’t walked the Benchlands, this is your opportunity. As part of our interviews, we asked Benchlands residents what they want you — the public — to know about them and their lives.