By STEVEN DECINZO

Solidarity Vigil for Farm Worker Bill 2183

Watsonville Plaza on Main St, Watsonville CA

 Sept. 2, 5PM - 7PM

By IRENE JUAREZ O'CONNELL 

On August 3, UFW Farm Workers launched a 24-day, 335-mile "March for the Governor's Signature" from Delano to Sacramento in support of Assembly Bill #2183, which expands options for farm workers to vote for unionization. The bill would allow farm workers to vote in secret whenever and wherever they feel safe, free from intimidation. 

When marchers arrived at the capitol on August 26th, Governor Newsom refused to sign the bill, despite the bill passing in the legislature. Since then, the marchers and supporters have been holding 24-hour vigil at the Capitol steps until the Governor signs. 24-hour vigils are also now happening in Los Angeles, Fresno, San Francisco and San Jose.

Currently, farm workers are not protected under National Labor Relations Laws, and not protected from retaliation by federal law when engaged in labor organizing. AB #2183, co-authored by our own district assemblyman Mark Stone, would be a step in the right direction to provide more protection for farm workers. Considering the high numbers of farm workers living and working right here in Santa Cruz and Monterey counties, the passing of this bill would benefit thousands of our community members working in agriculture on the central coast. 

Feeding People and Saving Farmland - Yes on Q in Watsonville

By SAM EARNSHAW

Social issues being faced by Watsonville are being encountered by every town and city in California and across the country. Rising real estate prices, housing needs and homelessness are not solved by paving over farmland.

Watsonville is a special and unique place and does not need to become another sprawling city like San Jose. Our world-class farmland can produce food forever; our agricultural businesses and industry provide thousands of jobs; our city has many vacant and under-utilized lots available for all levels of housing and mixed-use development. See photos below. 

In 2002 and again in 2013, our citizens reaffirmed the vision to protect our valuable farmland and create housing and jobs that suited the location of our city, situated on the highly desirable flatlands of the Central Coast of California. Measure Q enables the city to grow within its boundaries for another 18 years, when the citizens can decide a future path. 

However, the city’s deceptive Measure S is a Loophole to Sprawl. Read the language: 

Shall the City of Watsonville maintain the restrictions on growth approved by the voters in 2002 until 2040, with the exception of any property identified by the City Council during the General Plan update.

“With the exception of,” means that future City Councils may identify any property, including farmland, outside the established Urban Limit Line for development and sprawl without approval from voters. 

Our Measure Q has language that enables the City to annex lands: “This Initiative requires voter approval to change the ULL except that the City Council may change the ULL: (1) if the change moves the ULL closer to the City boundary, (2) is necessary to comply with state or federal housing law…”

In other words, Measure Q contains language that enables them to do what they may have to without putting their conflicting measure on the ballot. Measure S is a Stairway to Sprawl.

Vote YES on Measure Q, Watsonville Planned Growth and Farmland Protection Initiative, to keep Watsonville healthy and growing in a way that will give us a liveable city into the future.

Please consider putting up a Yard Sign, YES on Q. Signs are available at the Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau office, 141 Monte Vista Avenue, or call (831) 724-1356.

Below are photos of three of the over 150 vacant and under-utilized sites within Watsonville city limits, available for infill housing.

Special appearances by Tom Noddy and his bubble magic as well as funny and topical music by the incredibly versatile Russell Brutsché.

Schendledecker, Maxwell, Shargel & Marín Endorsed for Santa Cruz City Council 

By JEFFREY SMEDBERG – SANTA CRUZ FOR BERNIE

Each city has a sphere of influence beyond its city limits, and its elected officials serve on regional boards and commissions whose policies can have effect countywide. So it matters to all of us who's elected in every city.

SC4B and the PDC (People's Democratic Club) held a well-attended public Zoom forum on August 26 for candidates for Santa Cruz Mayor and City Council. This is the first time city voters are directly electing their Mayor and electing Councilmembers by District in the November 8 General Election. If you missed last Friday's forum, watch the video recording, and you can view all of SC4B's endorsements here. 

Candidates who attended the forum were Joy Schendledecker and Fred Keeley for Mayor, Bodie Shargel and Héctor Marín for Council District 4, and Sean Maxwell for Council District 6, all from Santa Cruz city. Other candidates were invited but were unable to attend. Candidates shared their experience and policy positions and answered questions on a wide range of subjects relating to city government.

After the forum, candidates were excused and 45 SC4B members discussed what we heard and voted to endorse several candidates with the required 2/3 majority.

Joy Schendledecker was endorsed for Santa Cruz Mayor by a wide margin, and Sean Maxwell received unanimous support for Council District 6.

In Council District 4, Bodie Shargel and Héctor Marín were nearly equally popular based on their progressive positions. While Shargel slightly edged out Marín, our ranked voting process showed that, when counting both first choice and second choice votes, both candidates met our endorsement threshold. The result is essentially a dual endorsement. If one of these young activists withdraws from the race, as both have hinted may happen, then SC4B will fully support the remaining candidate.

Rail Art - This painting, "Too Little, Too Late," is by long time Santa Cruz County artist Elizabeth Williams. Her art can be seen in many venues and homes around the area. 

Photo by TARMO HANNULA

These ducks swim through a blanket of algae at Pinto Lake City Park.

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 and on the soon to be renamed monkeypox.

The department is monitoring for monkeypox viral DNA in wastewater solids. The heatmaps and charts display data from WastewaterSCAN’s monitoring for monkeypox viral DNA; the results shown include the northern California communities served by the Sewer Coronavirus Alert Network (SCAN) and the communities in California and across the US participating in WastewaterSCAN.

Because of the availability of home testing, I will no longer report on changes in the active cases in the county. The Health Department is now collecting data from wastewater at the City Influent for the city of Santa Cruz, and from the Lode Street pump stations for the county. See webpage HERE. The first chart below shows the county data.

There were two new Covid deaths this week. Two White people, a man and a woman, one between the ages of 65-74, and the other over 85. One was vaccinated and the other wasn't. Click to view a graph of hospitalizations here.



I will no longer be reporting on vaccinations because two boosters, with probably more on the way, are not factored into the the county's vaccination data. Besides, there has been little change in the last eight  months. 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. This information is still being requested as it was last Saturday at Cabrillo College's Crocker Theater. The play, "Candide" was spectacular.

The county's Effective Reproductive Number is now below one. See the second chart below. Numbers above one show the spread of the virus is increasing. Below one means the spread is decreasing. The chart, released from the California Department of Public Health below shows several predictions from different agencies. For information, click here.

The government has issued three rounds of four free Antigen Rapid Tests here. If you have not ordered tests or have only ordered one set, you are entitled to a full 12 boxes. Order now while supplies last. To get information of COVID-19 testing locations around the county visit this site. You can make an appointment for a Rapid Antigen Test here.

Any Californian, ages six months and older can get vaccinated for free. For information on getting vaccinated, click here.

Photo by TARMO HANNULA

Fashion Street - A man carries a tray of eggs and a to-go box as he rides his bike in downtown Watsonville.

Labor History Calendar Aug. 26- Sept. 1, 2022

a.k.a Know Your History Lest We Forget

Sept. 2, 1917: Mass arrests of IWW’s ordered by US Attorney General Palmer.

Sept. 2, 1921: Mine owners bomb West Virginia strikers by plane. 

Sept. 2, 2016: 150 million gov’t workers strike against privatization for higher minimum wage in India, the world’s largest strike.

Sept. 3, 1891: Cotton pickers strike in Texas.

Sept. 4, 1894: NYC tailors strike against sweatshop conditions. 

Sept. 5, 1882: 30,000 march in New York’s first Labor Day Parade.

Sept. 5, 1917: Palmer raids on all IWW halls and offices in the US.

Sept. 5, 1934: 325,000 US textile workers strike against pay cuts, 2 killed.

Sept. 6, 1869: Avondale Mine Disaster – 110 miners killed, let to first mine safety law in Pennsylvania.

Sept. 6, 1934: Scabs and police fire on textile strikers killing 7 in South Carolina.

Sept. 7, 1893: Two locked out coal miners are killed while picketing in Featherstone, England.

Sept. 7, 1993: Chemical workers occupy Crotore, Italy plant to block its closure.

Sept. 8, 1909: Victory for IWW McKees Rock, Pennsylvania strikers.

Sept. 8, 1911: National  Confederation of Labor founded in Spain.

Sept. 8, 1965: UFW begins grape boycott. 

Labor History Calendar has been published yearly by the Hungarian Literature Fund since 1985.

Some Labor Day quotes from around the internet: 

"If all the cars in the United States were placed end to end, it would probably be Labor Day Weekend." Doug Larson

"Rules like 'don't wear white after Labor Day' or 'shoes matching the handbag' are antiquated. Modern women should feel free to experiment." Stacy London

"I believe that summer is our time, a time for the people, and that no politician should be allowed to speak to us during the summer. They can start talking again after Labor Day." Lewis Black 

“Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work.” Aristotle

“To find joy in work is to discover the fountain of youth.” Pearl S. Buck

“No work is insignificant. All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence.” Martin Luther King, Jr.

Photo by TARMO HANNULA

Vegetables Made More Beautiful

By SARAH RINGLER

A terrine is a broad term for any dish that is usually shaped like a loaf. It can contain meats, vegetables or both. Sometimes it is baked or a gelatin base can be used as a solidifier. This particular terrine is like a salad made into a block and then sliced. I know this suddenly sounds like a construction project but it really is something for the dining room table. It has bright layers of red bell peppers, eggplant and zucchinis with a sweet and savory center layer of onion and raisins surrounded by a dark stained glass-like cover of translucent gelatin. 

Terrines are common in French cooking and according to Harold McGee, a renowned writer on the history and chemistry of food, people have taken the terrine to sophisticated and complex heights. If you are a creative cook, you may want to experiment on your own. Terrines are also a great way to use leftover meats or vegetables.

In the U.S., we have the meatloaf. In fact, a Pyrex or ceramic meat loaf pan works well for this recipe.  I used an aluminum bread pan that turned out just fine. 

Don’t miss the shiny, firm, purple eggplants and the glossy, bright bell peppers that are currently in your local market. And because they’re so abundant in neighborhood gardens, you might even get zucchinis for free like I did. 

4 large red bell peppers, cored, seeded and quartered

1 large eggplant, sliced lengthwise

2 large zucchinis sliced lengthwise

6 tablespoons olive oil

l large red onion, thinly sliced

½ cup currants or sultana raisins

1 tablespoon tomato paste

1 tablespoon red wine vinegar

1 2/3 cups tomato juice or to ¾ or a 14-ounce canned tomatoes blended with water to make 1 2/3 cups

2 tablespoons powdered gelatin

Fresh parsley or basil leaves for garnish

Broil the peppers skin side up until the skins turn black. Place them in a closed brown paper bag or in a covered bowl until they cool, about 20 minutes. You may also buy already-broiled and skinned red bells in a jar.

Next, put the sliced eggplants and zucchinis on a cookie sheet. Brush with olive oil and put under the broiler. Broil until they are tender and golden. You may have to do this in batches. Set aside.

In a frying pan, heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil and add the sliced red onions, tomato paste and red wine vinegar. Cook over low heat until the mixture is soft and thick. Set aside.  

Pour half of the tomato juice into a saucepan. I made my tomato juice by putting 3/4 of a 14-ounce can of tomatoes in the blender and liquefying it, adding a little water to make 1 2/3 cups. Sprinkle the gelatin over the juice and stir it in. Cook over low heat to dissolve the gelatin.

Peel the red and yellow peppers and put them aside. 

Now you are ready to begin assembling the terrine. Use your terrine dish or a 5½ inch by 9 ½ inch bread pan. Grease the pan and then cover it with plastic wrap. Start with a layer of red bell peppers. Pour in enough of the gelatin-tomato juice mixture to cover the peppers. Next add a layer of eggplant and zucchinis and follow again with the gelatin-tomato juice mixture. 

Place the cooked red onions, vinegar and tomato paste mixture in the middle. Follow again with the gelatin-tomato mixture. Repeat what you have done in the reverse adding the eggplant and zucchini slices followed finally by the red bell peppers. Pour over the remaining tomato juice and tap the pan on the counter a few times to distribute the sauce and fill in the gaps. Cover and chill until set. It will take at least 4 hours. 

Reverse the terrine on a plate and remove the plastic wrap. Pour the dressing over it and add a few fresh basil leaves or parsley. Cut in slices. Serves 6

Dressing:

6 tablespoons olive oil

2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

salt and pepper to taste

Whisk the oil and vinegar and season to taste.