It will be a tense day at UCSC as students and faculty return to class after the long weekend. They are concerned about a threat of violence, posted anonymously in a bathroom in the Social Sciences building in December. Though there was no indication of what form the violence would take, many students have announced their intention to stay home today. The Student Union Assembly cancelled a meeting and a small number of professors have cancelled classes.
Articles by Danny Wool
What to Do About Aptos Creek
Having a home with a view comes with a cost. That’s what the residents of homes on a bluff overlooking Rio del Mar Beach are beginning to realize, and the cost is more than just hefty mortgages. They are worried about Aptos Creek, which runs beneath the bluff. If the creeks swells in another storm, it could cause the bluff to crumble and send their homes tumbling down.
UCSC Warned of Violence
Graffiti scrawled in the men’s restroom of the UCSC Social Science building warned that Tuesday, Jan. 18 will be a violent day on campus. Authorities do not know who left the message or what type of violence it means, but they are taking it seriously. Jan. 18 is the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., and the violence could be related to his legacy.
You Guys Are Life Savers
California was faced with a dilemma when it ran out of sodium pentathol, the drug commonly used in lethal injections. The state’s supply expired on October 1 last year, and the Department of Corrections spent two months searching for a remedy. They finally found one in the State of Arizona, which agreed to lend us 12 grams of the coveted drug.
County RDA Team Forges Ahead
Gov. Jerry Brown is eying the state’s redevelopment agencies’ funds to cover the budget deficit, but in Santa Cruz County, one branch of the redevelopment agency is moving full steam ahead despite an uncertain future. The Economic Development team under its new manager, David Dobson, is focused on fostering local startups and expanding existing businesses. This focus on the private sector, he believes, will spur job growth in the county.
UCSC Scholarship Fund for Shooting Victim
A new scholarship has been created at UCSC in memory of Gabriel Zimmerman, an aide to Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords who was killed in the Tucson massacre on Saturday. Zimmerman was a UCSC alumnus. The fund was established by two alumni, Alex Clemens and Jonathan Klein, who have no connection to Zimmerman but were inspired by his story. “He embodied the traits you want to see for a person who goes into public service,” said Clemens.
City Votes to Extend First Alarm Contract
City Council voted last night to continue employing First Alarm security guards to patrol downtown during the day. The annual cost, $63,000, is 25 percent cheaper than a community service officer. Funding for the program will be drawn from redevelopment funds, though these are already targeted by Gov. Jerry Brown to cover the state’s deficit.
City to Vote on Moving Bike Route
The Pacific Coast Bike Route is a landmark in Santa Cruz. The route, which runs from British Columbia to Southern California, has long passed through the city, running along Mission Street. Originally, the street was chosen because of all the services it provides cyclists. The problem, however, is that it cannot be widened to accommodate separate bike lanes. With traffic on the rise, people on bikes are often forced to compete with cars for their share of the road. In the past year alone, this has resulted in two fatalities.
Colleges Facing Cuts Again
With California’s budget still straining, it was inevitable that the new governor would search desperately for places to cut. And it was inevitable that all the old favorites would be targeted. This means that higher education—one of the only “flexible parts of the budget,” in Gov. Brown’s words—is on the chopping block again, with a proposed $1.4 billion in budget cuts. The UC and CSU systems will each face $500 million in state funding cuts, while the community college network can expect another $400 million in cuts.
Building Evacuated in Bomb Scare
The University Town Center was evacuated on Monday morning after a suspicious package was found on the third floor of the building. The bomb squad investigating the object determined that it was a laptop with some wires protruding. The object was first noticed by an IRS employee, who immediately notified the police—the floor is shared by the IRS and the ACLU. Occupants of the building were allowed to return shortly after 12:30pm.
