The difference between drag queens and transgendered persons, plus branding tips for Santa Cruz.
It’s a Drag
Re: “Cowboy Up” (Film, Nov. 20): Could somebody please explain to Richard von Busack the difference between drag queen and transgender?
Antonio R. Gamboa
Santa Cruz
Real Homeless Only, Please
It’s cooler outside these November days, going to get cold, and there are people living outside who await the proposed homeless camp. Waiting while the City Council in their warm chambers on their soft seats bounce the vocal volleyball around instead of taking action. Let’s listen in: “Um, well (chair squeak), we need to hire a study team to study the team which studies the feasibility of this project. Ahem, phoot, belch, cough, we clearly need a…um…what was that we needed again?”
And it gets colder every day. Ah, a guest advisor from Happy Valley School—second grade student Billy! Go ahead, kid. “I’m only seven, but I know that to have a bunch of people be together you put in the good ones and keep out the bad.”
In other words, the camp would have a gate and table to screen applicants: only legitimate homeless in the traditional sense. People who lost homes and jobs and have the IDs and paperwork to prove it. Perpetual transients, muggers, whacked out druggers and drunks, twentysomethings who are able but too busy panhandling to work: no admittance.
Screw a study, build a camp for the legitimately homeless, with a big sign overhead: “Local Legitimate Homeless Only—Proof Required.”
Theodore F. Meyer III
Santa Cruz
How to Brand
Re: “Re-Branding Santa Cruz” (Currents, Nov. 20): Although I have not been a resident of our city for generations as some have, I nevertheless entertain fond memories of a community that was rich both culturally and artistically. As we consider the question of a brand name, we must be very careful not to focus overmuch on identifiers that cater solely to the business and lodging industries at the expense of the welcoming and generous vibe that has served us for so long and so well. I understand that economic vitality is in everyone’s best interests, but rather than “rebranding” our city solely with an eye toward increased revenue, perhaps reminding visitors and prospective economic partners of the richness, diversity and vibrancy of Santa Cruz is the better approach.
Steve Pleich
Santa Cruz
FROM THE WEB
What Are They Hiding?
Re: “In the Eye of the Storm” (Currents, Nov. 27): How does Monica Martinez respond to allegations that the 100,000 Homes Campaign which the 180/180 Project participates in is an illegal enterprise operated by a fake charity—which is not a legal entity—calling itself “Community Solutions”?
Why did Christine Sippl of the County’s Homeless Persons’ Health Project, County Housing Programs Manager Julie Conway and Santa Cruz Housing Authority Executive Director Ken Cole all lie to me that their agencies were not formally involved in the 180/180 project?
What are they and Ms. Martinez hiding about the 180/180 Project’s relationship to the illegal 100,000 Homes Campaign and the fake charity called “Community Solutions”?
John Colby
