Letter to the Editor Letters 

Letter: Why Vote NO on The Proposed Felton Fire District Benefit Assessment

The Fire District’s crisis has been caused by mismanagement. We do not need to abandon the volunteer model for fire service, which is far less costly and more financially sustainable over time. The Fire District has provided inadequate, confusing, and often contradictory budgetary data to justify the Benefit Assessment, and its financial status cannot be determined based on documentation available… Read More
Letter to the Editor Letters 

Letter: Prepare for Today’s Wildfires, Not Yesterday’s Departments

The larger concern for me is whether our current fire service structure is truly prepared for the kind of wildfire behavior we are now seeing in California. Wind-driven fires, extreme fire weather, rapid ember spread, evacuation complexity, and year-round fire seasons have changed the landscape dramatically over the last couple of decades. These incidents require advanced training, regional coordination, sophisticated… Read More
felton pump track Letters 

Felton Pump Track: Is Contract Enforceable?

Dear Honorable Board of Supervisors of Santa Cruz County, and Mr. Matt De Young of Santa Cruz Mountains Trail Stewardship: The Board of Supervisors has approved the Memorandum of Understanding (MOA) between the County and the Santa Cruz Mountain Trail Stewardship (SCMTS). In reading the MOA, it is apparent that “Section IX Indemnification” contains provisions to indemnify both parties against… Read More
Felton Covered Bridge Park Commentary Letters Local News 

Unveiling Concerns: Valley Women’s Club’s Take on the Proposed Pump Track

Addressing Community Concerns: Our Letter to the Supervisor We want to bring your attention to an important matter at the heart of community well-being. The Valley Women’s Club has taken a step forward by addressing their concerns in a heartfelt letter to Supervisor Bruce McPherson, shedding light on the proposed pump track in Felton Covered Bridge Park. Our focus is… Read More
czu fire rebuild Fire Recovery Letters Local News 

Open Letters to Bruce McPherson and County Leadership

“It’s not the fire that breaks you, it’s the County” By Antonia Bradford On February 1, 2023 Supervisor Bruce McPherson was quoted in a Sentinel article titled “Supervisors Bruce McPherson, Justin Cummings Seek CZU Rebuild Details” saying, “roughly one-third of impacted residents have not sought a rebuild permit after the CZU fires.” He goes on to say, “The county isn’t… Read More