Decriminalize Public Safety and Save Money
By SARAH RINGLER
< Art by PAUL GERSHOWITZ 1929-2017
In response to input from the Santa Cruz community, Mayor Justin Cummings has scheduled a study session for Nov. 16, 1-5pm, that will examine information on existing mental health response programs in the city and county of Santa Cruz.
According to the MoveOn petition, Re-imaging Public Safety: Establish an Alternative Emergency Response Program in Santa Cruz County, created by Amy Lebichuck, the Santa Cruz Police Department receives 28.1% of its operating budget from the General Fund, amounting to about $31 million. They respond to about 100,000 calls a year at about $300 per response. In 2018, only 15.5% of their calls were classified as “crime related.” 60% of the calls were related to people without housing, and 20% were welfare checks. SCPD spent over $15 million of their funds addressing homelessness.
Crisis Assistance Helping Out On The Streets of Eugene, Oregon has an alternative model to offer in response to 911 calls for nonviolent crises. Their goal is to address and de-escalate non-violent mental health and social service related calls that might include substance abuse, suicide prevention, domestic violence, welfare checks, and issues related to homelessness. Two-person teams that consist of a medical person like a nurse, paramedic or EMT, and a crisis worker who is trained and experienced in the mental health field can be dispatched to an incident at one third the cost of the police. Last year in Eugene, CAHOOTS took 17% of the police calls costing 2% of their budget, saving the city about $8.5 million in public safety costs and $14 million in emergency room and ambulance costs.
The safety of the public does not always have to involve the criminal justice system. Re-examining our needs and reclassifying the definition of public safety can save costs, and also save people’s dignity by avoiding jail time and involuntary holds. CAHOOTS proposes the creation of four mobile crisis units at a maximum cost of $1.5 million each, that could address calls that are related to homelessness, relieving the misplaced burden from the police and fire departments. Money that is freed up could then be used to truly help people with housing, mental health and substance abuse issues.
Join the study session with Mayor Justin Cummings on Nov. 16 and write to city and county leaders to advocate for a more humane and cheaper road to public safety.
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Bigfoot, kidnapped and return, with slight head injuries
Photos and story by SARAH RINGLER
A wooden replica of Bigfoot, also known as Sasquatch, that was discovered to have been kidnapped Monday from the Bigfoot Discovery Museum in Felton was returned Thursday. Michael Ugg, curator of the museum, noticed that Bigfoot's chains had been cut and the sculpture was gone Monday morning after returning to the museum at 5497 Highway 9, in Felton. Ugg carved that sculpture, as well as others, with Joe Kersh.
Years ago, Ugg made dulcimers with his brother, then became a graphic artist, and finally evolved into the Bigfoot guy, as he calls himself because of his long interest and study of Bigfoot.
He credits the return to publicity from KSBW Wednesday night that ran a story on their evening news report. He suspects that the thieves returned Bigfoot after seeing that Ugg had filed a report with the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office. The Sheriff’s Office found the 250 pound Bigfoot tossed by the side of the road off of Glenwood Drive and returned it to its proper home Thursday. He now stands in his usual place but suffers from a slight gouge above his right eye as you can see below.
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Man is the only creature who refuses to be what he is.
Albert Camus
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Sarah's County Covid-19 Report
By SARAH RINGLER
The Santa Cruz County Health Department regularly releases data on the current status of Covid-19 in the county. As of Nov. 12, there were 3,329 cases that tested positive, a 10% increase from Oct. 29. The death count is 26, the same as last week.
As of Nov. 10, we moved back into the more restrictive Red Tier. For what that means to the county, click here. For information on the tiers, go here.
The distribution of the data remains stable despite the rise. The county's Effective Reproductive Number continues to has risen above one. See chart below. Numbers above one show the spread of the virus is increasing. Below one means the spread is decreasing.
To get tested without a doctor’s request, call 1-888-634-1123 or go online at https://lhi.care/covidtesting. The testing clinic is at at Ramsay Park in Watsonville. Other testing sites that may have restricted access can be found here.
To visit the website for the Santa Cruz County Health Department:
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Known cases tested positive by age/% of population:
19 and under - 17%/25%
20-34 - 31%/22%
35-44 - 17%/12%
45-64 - 25%/27%
65 or older - 10%/15%
Tested positive by ethnicity/% of population:
Multi-Race - 1%/3%
White - 17%/58%
Latinx - 62%/34%
Black - .5%/1%
Asian - 1%/4%
Other - 3%/.4%
Unknown - 13%
Tested positive by gender/% of population:
Female - 53%/50%
Male - 47%/50%
Other - 0%
Unknown - 0%
Tested positive by region/% of population:
Mid-county - 18%/12%
North county - 17%/60%
South county - 62%/29%
Under investigation - 2%
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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%
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THE LEFT BURNER - RECIPES
Eat like a bird
By SARAH RINGLER
Photo by TARMO HANNULA
Chef Nyesha Arrington has to receive accolades for these most wonderful delicately crisp crackers. They are almost entirely made with seeds and nuts augmented with minced shallots, garlic, salt and a tiny amount of olive oil. But, the ingredients are out-shown by the imaginative process of turning them into crackers. Chef Arrington currently runs a catering and consulting business; the recipe was in the Los Angeles Times's "Culinary SOS" column by Jenn Harris in June 2016.
The secret to these crackers lies in the magic quality of flax seeds that when soaked in water develop a thick, clear glue-like liquid. This gelatinous liquid is combined with the other seeds and nuts, pressed between two sheets of parchment paper and baked. It's so impressive and I just have to admire the genius who thought this up.
I have been writing a recipe column for the Watsonville Pajaronian for the last twelve years. I thought I'd add some recipes now and again.
Leona's seeded crackers
3/4 cup flax seeds
1 1/2 cup hot water
1/2 cup sliced almonds
1/2 cup shelled sunflower seeds
3/4 cup shelled green pumpkin seeds
1/4 cup sesame seeds
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
olive oil
Possible additions:
3 tablespoons minced shallots
1/2 small garlic minced clove
1 teaspoon smoked paprika powder
pinch cayenne or chili powder
1 1/2 teaspoons garlic and/or onion powders
First soak the flax seeds in the hot water. Set aside for about an hour until most of the water is absorbed and the seeds have become thick and gelatinous.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Put the sliced almonds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds and sesame seeds on a rimmed cookie tin. Toast in the oven for about 4-8 minutes until seeds are starting to turn brown. Shake and stir to mix them and watch carefully so they don't burn. When done, take out of the oven and set aside.
Preheat or lower oven to 300 degrees. Put the soaked flax seeds in the food processor and run until a thick paste forms. I added the shallots and the garlic clove as well at that time. The seeds will still be whole for the most part.
Put the thick paste in a bowl. Add the toasted nuts and seeds with the flavorings and salt. Mix well.
You will need two cookie tins and 3 sheets of parchment paper cut to the size of the pans. Brush or spray one side of each of the 3 parchment papers with olive oil. Put the 2 parchment papers on the cookie tins or on a smooth counter that you will then move to the cookie tins. Divide the contents of the bowl evenly onto 2 pieces of the oiled side of the parchment paper.
Take the third oiled parchment paper and put it oiled side down on one of the clumps of flax and seed mixture. With a rolling pin, carefully roll out the mixture to edges of the parchment paper to about a 1/8 inch thickness. Remove the top of the oil parchment and use it again for top of the second pan. Now discard the top parchment paper but keep the bottom paper in place.
You are going to bake each side of the cracker. First, put pans in the oven to bake for 45 minutes. Remove from oven and flip over the large cracker. Peel off and discard the parchment paper. Continue to bake for about 20 minutes more until the crackers are completely golden brown and crisp. Turn off the oven and let crackers sit for a while longer. Use a pizza cutter or large chef's knife to cut into desired shapes or just break into pieces. Crackers are delicate. Store in a tin.
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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 © 2020 Sarah Ringler - All rights reserved
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