Finagling Support for Measure F - How the Lowest Paid Always Get the Shaft
On June 7th Santa Cruz city residents will be voting on Measure F. This is a city council-approved ballot measure to raise the local sales tax by .5% from its current 9.25% to 9.75%. Full disclosure: I am one of three who submitted the ballot argument against the sales tax increase. More on that later. The last sales tax increase was in 2018 when city pensions were cited as the major reason for concern about the city’s fiscal future. The state takes most of the sales tax revenue with the county and the city receiving a smaller percentage. Each quarter cent increase is expected to augment the city budget by $3 million, annually.
In order to place the measure on the ballot, council had to declare that the city is in a financial emergency, which they did. To better assess if this is accurate, consider the following item from the most recent city council meeting.
Item 18 on the Consent Agenda was a request for $442,827 to relocate the city's Finance Department to 1200 Pacific Ave. from its current location where the lease has expired. In 2014, the city undertook a reorganization/refurbishing of city hall space. The Finance Department was expected to move back into city hall, however as stated in the staff report, that was not possible due to "additional space needs for city staff." I interpret that to mean they hired more people. You may have notice many new middle and upper management faces over the past few years.
The almost half a million dollars for the department to relocate is for temporary space. The lease is for 7 years with an option to extend a further 2 years. Out of the total, IT and electrical connections are $60,000 which seems reasonable. The figure that knocked my socks off is the $300,000 for new furniture, far outstripping the cost to lease the building. Apparently, the existing furniture is anchored to the building and just won’t do. And since there may be supply chain delays an extra $20,000 is also allocated for interim rented furniture.
I am not one to begrudge nice furniture to cushion the behinds of city bureaucrats but $300,000 seems excessive. At the least it does not pass the sniff test for declaring a budgetary state of emergency.
Back to the ballot measure. With council all on board, the only task left for the city is to convince the public to vote for the tax increase. As most know, a sales tax is a regressive tax because it disproportionately affects lower income consumers given that rich and poor pay the same amount of tax for the same product. Yes, most groceries, medicines, diapers and feminine hygiene products are exempt as noted in the city’s consultants’ report, which, they claim, “ensures this increase would not burden those with low or fixed incomes when buying essential goods.” That is true only if low- income folk avoid buying school clothes, household cleansers, shampoo, never eat out and never have to have a car repaired, to mention just a few items that are taxed.
Then there is the issue of where the money will be allocated if the ballot measure passes? Here’s where it gets sneaky. Measure F is on the ballot as a general tax, not a specific tax. The former needs 50% plus 1 to pass. The latter needs 66% plus 1 to pass. In other words, if passed, the money goes into the General Fund since it required only a simple majority to pass. As a general tax it is not legal to specify what it will be spent on. That didn’t stop the ballot supporters from listing all the issues that the consultants determined from polling were popular with potential voters. So, you will see on the ballot a laundry list of where the money can be spent: homelessness, affordable housing, downtown and business support, reduction of wildfire risk, maintenance of city facilities and essential infrastructure such as streets, transit and recreation facilities and prevention of reduction to important city services. One wonders…why wait? Those unaware will assume that the tax increase will be spent on such items and vote yes. The more aware will realize this is a lure. Not that a future council couldn’t vote to spend $6 million on the homeless on top of the $14 million allocated from the state, but they also could vote to spend it on new furniture. And what happened to the pension crisis?
Our ballot language against the ballot measure calls them out on this attempt to mislead the public. We add that a progressive city should not vote for a regressive tax. To counter this unexpected opposition, also on the council’s Consent Agenda, along with the pricy furniture item was a Resolution of Intent. This stated that if Measure F passes, the council intends to spend the money on the afore mentioned list of popular issues. At the end of the Resolution is a note that it is non-binding on future councils.
I guarantee that between now and election day, such qualifiers will be buried under an avalanche of persuasive, manipulative arguments on why you should support Measure F. As for the low-income? Well, they can eat cake, which is sales tax exempt.
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On the Streets May 1st
By SARAH RINGLER
At noon May 1, at the Town Clock in downtown Santa Cruz, local unionists will join unionists from around the world to honor International Workers Day. From the town clock, we will march to Wobbly Tom Scribner's statue in front of Bookshop Santa Cruz, where Grant Wilson will read from Scribner's writings. There will also be music with the Santa Cruz Peace Choral directed by Aileen Vance, and nationally famed labor musician Jimmy Kelly.
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May 2nd - Watch "Barbara Lee: Speaking Truth to Power"
On May 2, Reelwork will be featuring the 2020 film by Abby Ginzberg about Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA), at UCSC Merrill Cultural Center at 7pm. The event will be followed by a panel discussion with the filmmaker and Santa Cruz City Councilperson, Justin Cummings. See below to register for the event and for free streaming from Apr. 27- May 2. See the full Reelwork schedule that goes to June 10 at reelwork.org
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Nancy Russell will be showing her art, including her "Artichoke Queen" (above) over the weekend of Apr. 30-May 1,10am-5pm at 421 Gharkey St., SC. |
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National Day of Action for Peace
Sat., May 7
4pm
Town Clock Santa Cruz
Stop sending lethal aid to Ukraine and fund housing, healthcare and education.
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Affordable Housing Month Kickoff
By HOUSING SANTA CRUZ COUNTY
Join us this Sunday, May 1st from 2-4pm at Sesnon House at Cabrillo College, Aptos to kick off Affordable Housing Month and celebrate the one year anniversary of Housing Santa Cruz County.
We have a great event program planned, as well as delicious light snacks and drinks catered by Areperia 831. Let’s kick off Affordable Housing Month the right way. Reserve your tickets now here.
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Photo by TARMO HANNULA
A Bullock's oriole is hiding in an apple tree in Watsonville.
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Trail Segment Updates from Friends of the Rail & Trail
By FAINA SEGAL
As the original organization advocating for the Coastal Rail Trail, Friends of the Rail and Trail are always delighted to see progress on our founding vision for a 32-mile trail spanning the length of the county. Here are the latest updates on segments of the trail that run through some of our most densely populated areas.
Segment 7
The City of Santa Cruz is scheduled to begin construction of Coastal Rail Trail Segment 7 Phase II in May 2022 with expected completion in May 2023. The project is a 0.8 mile long paved bicycle/pedestrian path between Bay/California streets and Pacific Avenue/Beach Street. It will be 12-16 feet wide and run along the coastal side of the existing rail line, behind Neary Lagoon. It is designed for walkers and bikers of all age groups and abilities. Running slopes and curb ramps are designed to be ADA compliant. It will provide an alternative to trafficky Bay Street and steep Beach Hill, providing safer active transportation connections to Cowell Beach, Main Beach, the Wharf, the Boardwalk, and the San Lorenzo River bike path. On the west end it will connect to Segment 7 phase I, the Westside Rail Trail.
Segments 8, 9, 10 and 11
Last month we got to see and comment on designs for Coastal Rail Trail segments 8, 9, 10, and 11. If you missed the open house events for these projects you can catch up by checking out the designs here:
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Plans for Segments 7, 8 & 9 on the City of Santa Cruz Rail Trail Web page.
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Plans for Segments 10 & 11 on the County of Santa Cruz Rail Trail Web page.
You will notice that the planning documents discuss two alternatives, the 'Ultimate Trail' and the 'Interim Trail.' The Ultimate Trail is the original design that keeps the trail alongside the tracks. This design can be built now, with no delay, no need for risky and impractical railbanking, and no wasteful and environmentally harmful demolition of the tracks. In contrast, the 'Interim Trail' scenarios call for track removal and then later replacement, and would require railbanking. The timelines and planning documents comparing an 'Interim Trail’ scenario with the 'Ultimate Trail' scenario show that the Interim Trail would carry a whopping estimated price increase of $12 million more per mile compared to the Ultimate Trail scenario, and railbanking is likely to delay construction significantly. In other words, it is both cheaper and faster to just build the trail right the first time.
To no one's surprise the Friends of the Rail & Trail continue to support the Ultimate Trail design — keeping our rail line intact and building all segments of the Coastal Rail Trail next to the rail line.
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Volunteer to save the Rail and Trail and defeat Measure D
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Sign Up on the NO on D campaign website to stay up-to-date on the campaign.
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Donate directly to the NO on D campaign.
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Santa Cruz 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. Total known cases as of April 28 were 49,038, up 647 cases from last week's 48,391, rounding off to a 1% rise. One person died of covid this last week.
The government is issuing four free Antigen Rapid Tests for free here.
Because of all the home tests currently available, these numbers are underestimates according to Corinne Hyland, County Health Services Agency spokesperson. She recommends people with minor symptoms stay home, isolate and rest.
Hospitalizations have not changed since March 10. Click to view a graph of hospitalizations here.
There have been changes in the last week in the active cases. Active cases in south county decreased by 4%, north county increased by 6% and mid county decreased by 2%. See details in the chart below.
On the county's vaccination webpage, the vaccination rate shows that 81% of the county have had at least one dose and 75% have had two doses. Here are more details on the county's vaccination data.
This webpage also has a link where you can get a digital copy and scannable QR code of your vaccination record. Keep track of your four digit code because that is your access to the site.
The county's Effective Reproductive Number is now 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 information of COVID-19 testing locations around the county visit this site. Click here to make an appointment to get tested.
Any Californian age 12 or up can get vaccinated for free. For information on getting vaccinated, click here.
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% deaths by ethnicity:
White - 57%
Latinx - 34%
Black - 1%
Asian - 6%
American Native - 0%
Unknown - 0%
% deaths by gender/% of population:
Female - 49%/50%
Male - 51%/50%
Deaths by age/261:
25-34 - 2%
35-44 - 3%
45-54 - 4%
55-59 - 2%
60-64 - 6%
65-74 - 18%
75-84 - 24%
85+ - 43%
% active cases testing positive by region/% of population:
Mid-county - 10%/12%
North county - 69%/56%
South county - 21%/32%
Under investigation - 1%
Deaths by vaccination status:
vaccinated - 28/261 = 11%
unvaccinated - 232/261 = 89%
Weekly increases in positive tests:
June 12-19, 2020 - 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%
Nov. 12-19 - 11%
Nov. 19-26 - holiday
Nov. 19-Dec. 3 - 29% 2 weeks of data for this week only
Dec. 3-10 - 16%
Dec. 10-17 - 17%
Dec. 17-24 - 14%
Dec. 24-31 - 19%
Jan. 1-7, 2021 - 13%
Jan. 7-14 - 14%
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Jan. 15-21 - 11%
Jan. 21-28 - 5%
Jan. 28-Feb. 4 - 5%
Feb. 5-11 - 2%
Feb. 11-18 - 2%
Feb. 18-25 - 1%
Feb. 25-March 5 - 1%
March 5-11 - 1%
March 11-18 - 2%
March 18-25 - .5%
March 25 - Apr. 1 - .7%
Apr. 1-8 - 0.1%
Apr. 9-15 - 1%
Apr. 16-22 - 2%
Apr. 22-30 - 2%
Apr. 30 - May 6 - .3%
May 6-13 - 2%
May 13-20 - 0%
May 24 - Data readjustment by county means percentages cannot be calculated this week.
May 27 - June 3 - 0%
June 3-10 - 0%
June 11-17 - .25%
June 18-24 - 0%
June 25-July 1 - 0%
July 2-8 - .3%
July 9-15 - .2%
July 16-22 - .5%
July 23-29 - 1.2%
July 30-Aug. 5 - 2%
Aug. 6-12 - .7%
Aug.13-19 - 4%
Aug. 20-26 - .7%
Aug. 26-Sept. 2 - 3%
Sept. 2-9 - 2%
Sept. 10-16 - 1%
Sept. 17-22 - 1%
Sept. 23-30 - 2%
Oct. 1-7 - 0%
Oct. 8-14 - 1%
Oct. 15-21 - 1%
Oct. 22-28 - 1%
Oct. 29-Nov. 4 - 1%
Nov. 5-11 - 1%
Nov. 12-18 - 2%
Nov. 19 - Dec. 2 - 2 weeks 2%
Dec. 2-9 - 2%
Dec. 9-16 - 1%
Dec. 16-23 - 1%
Dec. 24-30 - 2%
Dec. 31 - Jan. 6, 2022 - 5% Growth of home tests underestimates cases below. See above .
Jan. 7-13 - 9%
Jan. 14-20 - 15%
Jan. 21-27 - 9%
Jan. 28 - Feb. 3 - 31%
Feb. 3-10 - 3%
Feb. 11-24 (2 weeks) - 5%
Feb. 25- March 3 - 1%
March 4-10 - 1%
March 11-17 - 1%
March 18-24 - 0%
March 25-31 - 1%
Apr. 1-7 - 0%
Apr. 8-14 - 1%
Apr. 15-21 - 1%
Apr. 22-28 - 1%
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Photo by TARMO HANNULA
Fashion Street - It might be a purple, penguin, butterfly skating on West Cliff Dr.
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Labor History Calendar for April 29-May 5, 2022
April 29, 1911: Magonistas launch revolution in Baja California, Mexico.
April 29, 1865: Shawl weavers protest poverty, 28 killed in Srinagar, Kashmir.
April 29, 2013: Unionists and civil rights activists begin weekly Moral Monday protests in North Carolina.
April 30, 1899: 1,200 arrested in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho miners' strike one day after Bunker Hill mill dynamited, allegedly by WFM strikers.
INTERNATIONAL WORKERS DAY - May 1, 1886: General Strike for 8-hour day in Chicago and other cities.
May 1, 1986: 1.5 million join South African general strike against apartheid.
May 1, 2006: 2.5 million workers rally in US for immigrant rights.
May 2, 1919: Bavarian revolution crushed.
May 2, 1984: 33,000 West German metalworkers strike for 35-hour week.
May 3. 1886: Police attack McCormick Reaper strikers.
May 3, 1926: UK General Strike.
May 3, 1934: IWW strike at Draper Manufacturing in Cleveland, Ohio.
May 3, 1937: Spanish republican army attacks workers.
May 4, 1886: Police attack Haymarket Square rally called to protest police brutality at McCormick Works.
May 4, 1926: British general strike in support of British miners.
May 4, 1961: US freedom rides.
May 5, 1818: Birth of Karl Marx.
May 5, 1931: Battle of Harlan County, KY.
May 5, 1998: Poor farmers break into supermarket to seize food, Gravata.
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“Workers of the world unite; you have nothing to lose but your chains.”
Karl Marx
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Photo by TARMO HANNULA
Bucatini with Lemony Carbonara
By SARAH RINGLER
This dish is a lemony spin off on spaghetti alla carbonara, a delicious Italian pasta dish with smoky bacon, egg and cheese. A little bit of lemon juice and lemon rind is a subtle and compatible addition. I have to thank Chris Morocco and the March 2017 edition of Bon Appetit magazine for authentic Italian directions that incorporate pasta water, the salted liquid in which the pasta is cooked, into the sauce.
What's the difference between bacon, guanciale or pancetta, the three options that the recipe gives us? Although common in the US, bacon is not common in Italy. Bacon is usually cold smoked, raw, and from the backside or belly of a pig. Guanciale is from the jowl, or cheek of the pig, and is seasoned, dried and aged for at least three months according to the livitaly.com website. It is supposed to have, as I have never tried it, a very strong flavor and a little goes a long way. It is also not easily found in this country. Pancetta, what I used when I made this recipe, comes from the belly of the pig, and is salted and then aged for twenty days to four months. It is the most similar to bacon and comes in unsmoked and smoked varieties.
Just like when you prepare Chinese food, you have to chop and prepare all ingredients before you cook. There's no time once you start cooking and the dish should be served right off the stove. Also, be sure and use a large enough frying pan that can hold the pasta and all the other ingredients together.
You can use other long pastas like spaghetti, linguini or capellini, but bucatini has more substance and the sauce coats it nicely. Serve with a green salad, vegetable or my favorite right now, steamed artichoke.
1 tablespoon olive oil
6 ounces pancetta, guanciale or bacon cut into 1/2 inch pieces
2 shallots, finely chopped
4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
12 ounces bucatini or other long strands of pasta
Kosher salt
2 ounces Parmesan cheese, grated and more for serving
2 large egg yolks
1 teaspoon finely grated lemon rind, plus some thin strands or slices for garnish
1 tablespoons lemon juice
Grate the lemon rind and cheese, separate the egg and juice the lemon. Chop shallots and slice garlic cloves.
Heat oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Cook pancetta, guanciale or bacon until brown and crispy, tossing and stirring often for about 6-8 minutes. Add shallots and garlic and cook until softened for about 5 minutes. Lower heat, if necessary. Add pepper and cook until you can smell the pepper for about 1 minute.
Meanwhile, bring the pasta to boil in a large pot of salted water until al dente, about 9-11 minutes. Drain but save 1 1/2 cup cooking water. Set aside.
Add cooked pasta to the frying pan with 1/2 cup of the pasta water and 1 ounce of the grated Parmesan cheese. Toss and stir to coat the pasta. Remove the pan from the stove and add egg yolks. Toss again adding more pasta water until you have a smooth glossy sauce that coats the pasta. Add grated lemon zest, lemon juice and the rest of the Parmesan cheese. Toss to coat and add more liquid if necessary. Divide into bowls and garnish with lemon slices and more cheese.
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Send your story, poetry or art here: Please submit a story, poem or photo of your art that you think would be of interest to the people of Santa Cruz County. Try and keep the word count to around 400. Also, there should be suggested actions if this is a political issue. Submit to coluyaki@gmail.com
If you are enjoying the Serf City Times, forward it on to others. We need readers, artists, photographers and writers.
Thanks, Sarah Ringler
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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 © 2022 Sarah Ringler - All rights reserved
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