Diamond Technology Institute student Brandon Castillo talked to Javier Gonzalez and German Fernandez about the journey to becoming Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s deputies.
Opinion from Community Voices
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Measure D is over. The RTC needs to go after federal and state money.
Santa Cruz voters have spoken. Now what? Mike Rotkin, former five-time Santa Cruz mayor and member of the Regional Transportation Commission, writes about next steps for the RTC and explains how we can get past the logjam and move toward action. That will take federal and/or state funds, some local funding commitment, patience, and a desire to work together.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
More than just a pound
Sarah Goldberg is one of the animal care supervisors at the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter. The shelter takes mistreated, abandoned, strays and lost pets, helps owners find their missing pets, and puts other animals up for adoption.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Making a change for good
Lieutenant Thelma Jimenez is a core officer/executive director at the Salvation Army in Watsonville. The Salvation Army is a nonprofit organization/Christian church. It helps people who are dealing with homelessness and can’t really afford to live on their own. They help people like these find jobs or seek the help they need to get back on their feet to a better and happier life.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
I was a married mother of two and had an abortion. Will you judge me?
Victoria Tatum had an abortion as a young mother of two. She doesn’t regret it, she writes, and she also didn’t make her choice lightly. She has lost her strong ties with the church in Santa Cruz, but says she has an ongoing, private connection to God. She thinks the church, the state and the Supreme Court should mind their own business when it comes to the choice a woman makes.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
The singing dentist: How Dr. Deepak Sachdev brings joy to his patients
Dr. Deepak Sachdev, a third-generation cosmetic dentist and oral surgeon, is devoted to his patients while also helping to guide the people of Watsonville to a growing career that is also in high demand.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
I deliver books to Santa Cruz jails; don’t tell me libraries don’t matter
Librarian Jesse Silva regularly delivers books and library programs to the more than 300 people currently incarcerated in Santa Cruz County. She also brings in kindness and social support. For some, she says, the library is the only outside contact her patrons experience during their months or years in jail. She argues that her work is vital and that we must support our libraries and recognize the essential role reading plays in rehabilitation.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Ryan Coonerty: Who will be Santa Cruz’s George Washington and three other election hot takes
Ryan Coonerty, outgoing District 3 Santa Cruz County supervisor, offers four insights on Tuesday’s election results, along with a bit of wry humor. From the defeat of Measure D to low voter turnout and a historic supervisor runoff, he walks us through the ups and downs of election season and even helps us understand why Santa Cruz today is like Philadelphia circa 1787.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
What does Measure D have in common with your neighbor’s barking dog?
Elections offer an excellent time for reflection, and Tenzin Chogkyi, a Buddhist monastic who teaches courses on compassion, says we all can do better at handling conflict. She works at the Conflict Resolution Center of Santa Cruz County and offers several examples — from a barking dog to Measure D — to showcase how we can reduce animosity in our lives.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Design matters in affordable housing
Mike Rotkin, five-time mayor of Santa Cruz, says the city needs more affordable housing, but we also must be careful what we build. Design, including open space and access to the San Lorenzo River, are key, he says. He cautions against cost-cutting, which could undermine increasingly strong public support for more affordable units.