With the November election quickly approaching, voters in Santa Cruz County are abuzz about desalination and the fifth district supervisor race between Bruce McPherson and Eric Hammer.
Devil in the Desal Details
The Santa Cruz Weekly’s description of Measure P (“Ballot Points,” Oct. 10).html, the right to vote on desal, is wrong. The current ordinance is different from the proposed charter amendment in two important respects.
The actual ordinance specifies that it “does not prohibit the City from taking other action, short of construction.” Measure P calls for voter approval for any planning that requires legislation or city indebtedness.
Most importantly, a city ordinance can be changed by the city council. A yes vote on Measure P is a yes vote that ensures Santa Cruz city voters will be able to vote on a desalination plant unless a later majority of voters passes a measure that would overturn it. Changing an ordinance only requires a handful of people’s votes, changing a charter amendment requires tens of thousands of votes.
Measure P gives the people of Santa Cruz a direct way of deciding on how their water needs are met. It will allow for more of a public process and more discussion of the pros and cons of desalination. That is what democracy is about.
Dorah Shuey
Santa Cruz
FROM THE WEB
Amused in 5th District
I’ve lived in the 5th district for 30 years, and I am greatly amused by all the letters to the editor.html about the upcoming supervisorial election.
A great deal of the 5th district is not part of the San Lorenzo Valley, and in fact includes parts of the City of Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley and extends all the way up to Castle Rock State Park.
These areas have differing concerns than people in the SLV.
In the 30 years I have lived here, I have never met nor seen any 5th district supervisor or candidate who has bothered to come to my neighborhood and talk to us. They simply don’t care about those of us outside of the SLV area.So, imagine my surprise when Bruce McPherson knocked on my door a couple weeks before the June primary. He introduced himself and wondered if I had any concerns. I chuckled and told him that he was the first and only candidate to show up at my front door in 30 years.
Eric Hammer made an appearance after the primary. My neighbor asked him why he was there and he told him that it was a tight race and he needed every vote he could get.
You can probably tell where my vote’s going.
Nick Haflinger
Santa Cruz
Elect Hammer
Eric Hammer is remarkable. His volunteer community service is lifelong. His decades of volunteer leadership continue to serve the environment, children, teens, schools, local business, parks and social services.
Eric built a superior construction business with high standards of performance and respect for the environment – he’s an exemplary employer and handles enormous jobs with facility – and is committed to improving and streamlining the County’s Planning Department’s procedures.
Eric is dedicated to the preservation and protection of our watersheds and coast. He is a great family man glowing with pride and love for his wife and children. He has a generosity of spirit enabling him to work with all kinds of people. He is a problem solver. He does a superior job, not just a good job. We need him as our Supervisor. Now.
Nancy Macy
