Hey, not so fast… says one reader defending the honor of political cartoonist DeCinzo and his latest poke at a possible desalination plant.
DeCinzo Right On
In disparraging DeCinzo’s cartoon that depicts the city bulldozing “science-based evidence” and “democracy” (among other things), Charlotte Webster (“Cartoon Facts,” Posts, April 25.html) omits some critical points about the desal issue. Many scientifically supported solutions to our water problem have been proposed, but the city, in its years-long, $12 million (to date) push for a desal plant, has refused to commit any reasonable sum of money to investigate these. The most feasible alternative—that of improved winter water storage (it’s like money in the bank!)—requires a political commitment to cooperation among the three affected water districts. Storage would cost far less and be less environmentally destructive than desal. Nor would storage alter the character of our Westside neighborhoods, as would a desal plant with all its associated infrastructure.
Desal, on the other hand, requires no political will, only an obscene amount of money in this fragile economy: $180 million, including financing.
The cartoon’s portrayal of city council destroying democracy is right on the mark. While the council approved an ordinance to put desal on the ballot (after the Right-to-Vote-on-Desal began its campaign for a charter amendment), how democratic is it if the powers-that-be have the legal right to withdraw the ordinance before it’s voted on? In contrast, the petition currently being circulated in the city by Right-To-Vote-on-Desal puts the decision inalienably in the voters’ hands. Please check RTVOD.org or call 419-6441 to find out where to sign this petition.
Karen Minkowski
Santa Cruz
Step Right Up!
One recent Sunday morning (the 22nd—Earth Day!) I was meditating in my pyramid that I constructed over a crop circle that mysteriously appeared in my backyard during Y2K. Attempting to channel the songs of Mu sung by whales, my chakras achieved alignment and my aura began to hum and vibrate like an overloaded PG&E transformer. Suddenly an air chrysalis materialized in front of me, shimmering with colors that I could feel rather than see. It was like being at the Mystery Spot during the harmonic convergence or how I felt after a week following the tenets of Breathology. It slowly dissolved, leaving behind the glowing form of a spirit guide from the past whose teachings still resonate to this day. His mouth opened and outpoured honey-gold words of wisdom. “To seek and understand the truth of Bigfoot (Sasquatch to the enlightened), gaze through a crystal while viewing Thrive.” With a poof! he was gone, only leaving behind the pungent effluvium of barnyard. Later, I read that at the moment, a meteorite passed overhead and exploded; a coincidence? I think not. There are some out there who may be skeptical, but because I said this happened to me, I believe it. I urge all who seek the truth, keep looking. Oh, the spirit guide's identity? P.T. Barnum.
Arthur “Pendragon” Wood
Santa Cruz
Note From The Editor
In the summer of 2009 we started running a monthly feature called “Local Poets, Local Inspiration.” Each installment, curated by Robert Sward, presented work by one of Santa Cruz’s finest literary voices—poets such as Gary Young, David Swanger, Ellen Bass and numerous lesser-known scribes. All good things must end, and we’re officially discontinuing the feature, but it’s been a good run. We thank Robert Sward for his hard work, the poets for their genius and Santa Cruz for providing the local inspiration.
