The Rights to West Cliff
It’s clear why he goes by the name “Red.” His long red beard and hair are hard to miss walking along the West Cliff by Lighthouse Field. As he stood next to his home — a minivan that neighbored others living in their Recreational Vehicles…
Fighting for Respect and a Livable Wage
Seven members of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 521 were arrested by order of the mayor during a Santa Cruz City Council meeting on May 26. After speaking on behalf of SEIU, the members locked arms in front of council members shouting, “What…
Council Members Reaffirm BearCat Purchase
Santa Cruz City Council reaffirmed the Santa Cruz Police Department’s (SCPD) grant proposal to purchase the Lenco BearCat (Ballistic Engineered Armored Response Counter Attack Truck) on March 24. In past City Council meetings, several community members, including those involved with Santa Cruz Resistance Against Military…
Q&A with Mayor Don Lane
Mayor Don Lane served two previous terms on Santa Cruz City Council, once from 1988 to 1992, and then again from 2008 to 2012. He is currently serving his third term, which began in 2012 and will end in 2016. During each of his City…
Armored Vehicle Fails to Deflect Opposition
By Susana Alvarez and Georgina Sandoval While shouting, banging on windows and even chaining themselves to light fixtures, demonstrators demanded the rescindment of the Santa Cruz City Council’s approval of a grant from the Department of Homeland Security to purchase an armored police vehicle….
City Council Approves Increased ‘Stay Away’ Penalties
Gary Curry is all too familiar with ordinance 2014-12, or the “Stay Away” ordinance — $7,000-in-tickets-for-sleeping-citations familiar. To pay off the fines, Curry worked 12 hour shifts, then panhandled afterward to make enough money to eat. The Franchise Tax Board once withdrew $800 from Curry’s…
Restrictions for Downtown Performers Revised
Public protest poured into the email inboxes of City Council members after the Great Morgani retired this year. Known for his eye-popping costumes and accordion-playing on Pacific Avenue, the Great Morgani stopped performing after a City Council decision last year made street performing restrictions more…
Limiting Money, Reforming Elections
Santa Cruz City Council candidates have historically fought for votes by amassing support through campaign contributions, using money as their key into the council. New campaign finance reform legislation may change that, setting all candidates on an equal monetary playing-field. Over 50 people gathered to…
Tobacco Ordinances Expanded to Ban E-Cigarettes
Santa Cruz’s tobacco smoking regulations now include what’s claimed to be smoking’s new fad — electronic cigarettes.