Lookout politics columnist Mike Rotkin, who sits on the Regional Transportation Commission board, says the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors’ split on advancing two segments of the rail trail in Mid-County is a lose-lose for the county. He sees it as a stunning disregard of the June 2022 Measure D vote and urges the community to let the two supervisors (Manu Koenig and Bruce McPherson) who voted against advancing the segments hear their frustration.
rail trail opinion
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Letter to the editor: The rail trail is popular – let’s not listen to the complainers
In a letter to the editor, a Lookout reader urges the building of a bike and pedestrian trail alongside the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Letter to the editor: Stop building the interim trail in Capitola – we voted for the ultimate trail
Have something to say? Lookout welcomes letters to the editor, within our policies, from readers. Guidelines here. In his Sentinel commentary, “A response on Ultimate Trail encroachments,” Jim Weller writes, “The ultimate rail-and-trail option is definitely preferred among elected officials and policymakers.” He leaves out in his own municipality of Capitola, they are not building the […]
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Remember Measure D? Santa Cruz train planning has now left the station
Lookout political columnist Mike Rotkin gives us an update and a timeline on the Regional Transportation Commission’s work to establish an electric rail line and trail between Watsonville and Santa Cruz. One year ago, the community was still recovering from the divisive ballot initiative Measure D that tried to replace the rail-trail option with a trail-only plan. Rotkin serves on the RTC board.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Letter to the editor: Let’s please stop working against the rail
Make your voice heard in Lookout’s Community Voices opinion forum with a letter to the editor.
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
Letter to the editor: Rail cost is too too high, but let’s stop the personal attacks
Have something to say? Lookout welcomes letters to the editor, within our policies, from readers. Guidelines here. To the editor: Thank you, Wallace Baine, for such an in-depth article on Bud Colligan, local philanthropist. I don’t know Mr. Colligan or his wife, but I do attend Jewel Theatre, which makes its home in the Colligan […]
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Letter to the editor: Great Lookout coverage; I say keep building the rail
Have something to say? Lookout welcomes letters to the editor, within our policies, from readers. Guidelines here. To the editor: As election time draws near, I would like to acknowledge your excellent coverage of Measure D including the interviews with Bud Colligan, Mark Mesiti-Miller and Melani Clark. These articles reveal the fascinating political dynamics of […]
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Get your head straight on Measure D: Walk the coastal corridor
Measure D is giving us all a headache. Part of the problem is perspective, 1st District Santa Cruz County Supervisor Manu Koenig writes. Our views are shaped by where we live. People on the Westside experience the trail differently than those in Aptos or Watsonville. Koenig explains why and suggests we leave our own neighborhoods and look at the coastal corridor from another viewpoint. He supports Measure D, and says we need to respect each others’ differences and be open to changing our minds.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Opinion: Vote yes on Measure D: Let’s build a trail now
Measure D is the best chance Santa Cruz County has to build a safe and transit-oriented trail from Watsonville to Davenport. We dismiss the “deceptive” campaign slogans of our opponents and explain the facts and objective reports supporting our view. Greenway pits grassroots citizen activists against those who have held power and been wrong about the rail corridor for 35 years.