In 2007, there were just over 3,000 sea otters living along the Central California Coast. It wasn’t that many, but there was still reason for hope. After all, the entire population was descended from just 50 otters living near Big Sur back in 1938. With careful preservation policies, the California sea otter was brought back from the brink of extinction.
Articles by Danny Wool
Pot Ice Cream Joins Gourmet Frozen Dessert Boom
Budding entrepreneurs in Santa Cruz’s medical marijuana business have come up with yet another delivery system for cannabis—pot-laced ice cream. For the more traditionally inclined, there’s TRIPle Chocolate Brownie, but there are also flavors like Banannabis Foster and Straw-Mari Cheesecake, for those who want a more fruity taste. There is, as yet, no vanilla based flavor, and everyone knows that vanilla is the true ice cream connoisseur’s flavor of choice, but as demand expands new flavors will inevitably hit the market.
Group Celebrates Religious Diversity
About 75 people of diverse religious beliefs gathered around the Town Clock in downtown Santa Cruz to deliver a message of respect for religious diversity. The gathering included representatives of all the major religions in Santa Cruz, including several Christian denominations, Muslims, Jews and Baha’i.
Rally to Protest Religious Intolerance
“Dort, wo man Bücher verbrennt, verbrennt man am Ende auch Menschen” (“Where they have burned books, they will end up burning people”). These words, by German Jewish poet Heinrich Heine, have a prophetic air about them. They were recalled in April and May 1933, when the Nazi-backed German Student Organization called for “action against the un-German spirit,” by publicly burning (they called it “purging”) books deemed antithetical to the “new German spirit.” We all know how that ended.
Group Wants To Keep The Porch Light On
Just last month, Paul Krugman wrote an op ed piece in The New York Times describing how cities across the U.S. are cutting back on street lights in a desperate attempt to save money. It’s certainly true of Santa Cruz, where in many neighborhoods the only street lights are at intersections, leaving the rest of the block in the dark. This, say local residents, is conducive to car thefts and home invasions.
The Bedbugs Are Coming to Santa Cruz County
There’s been an increase in the number of bedbug infestations in Santa Cruz County, according to the Santa Cruz Environmental Health Services Department. The problem, says the Department, is that it lacks the authority to regulate bedbug infestations, and the bugs, while annoying, are hardly a priority.
Flight Of The Condor
Look! Up in the sky! It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No, it’s a really big bird! It’s a California condor! Last month, there were only 384 critically endangered California condors left in the world, with only 188 of the majestic birds left to soar in the wild. Thanks to captive breeding, the majestic species is slowly making a comeback. On Sept. 25, two condors will be released into the wild at the Pinnacles National Monument.
Santa Cruz’s Carbon Footprint Plan Unveiled
Santa Cruz’s climate change action coordinator, Ross Clark, is turning to the local community to help make the city’s action plan for climate change a success. After spending three years studying the city’s carbon footprint, Clark produced an 80-page plan that would reduce emissions by as much as 30 percent by 2020 while continuing to promote economic growth. He plan was discussed by city council at its Tuesday meeting.
Santa Cruz Confirms Rental Inspection Law
At its meeting on Tuesday, Santa Cruz City Council officially approved an ordinance requiring owners of rental properties to register their properties and submit them for inspection. The measure, approved at its first reading a few weeks ago, passed 5-1, with only Tony Madrigal voting against. He argued that the plan could lead to increased rents for low-income residents. The council rejected the arguments of rental property owners that the program violates their property rights.
San Jose’s Mayor’s Open Government Campaign Promise to Be Tested
When he ran for mayor of San Jose, Chuck Reed promised greater transparency. On Wednesday that promise will be put to the test. A committee, headed by the Mayor, will decide whether to succumb to pressure by journalists and citizens’ groups to release information that the SJPD says will invade privacy and hinder their ability to fight crime.
