Mountain Charlie Road Residents Finally Get a Break
Construction began this week to build a temporary road over a landslide that has cut off or isolated residents of Mountain Charlie Road in the Santa Cruz Mountains since February. Residents have had to walk, climb or bike home around a massive landslide. Residents have been forced to manage life impacted by a landslide that’s still moving and could take years to repair. An alternate route through Scotts Valley adds at least an hour of commute time. The temporary road will connect one side of Mountain Charlie Road to the other. It will be 15 feet wide, and it will be a single-lane road. The road will have drainage and erosion control features to deal with the upcoming winter rains, and as a safety precaution, gates will be installed. The cost of the temporary road would come from 2016 Measure D funds. The temporary road is expected to cost $500,000. FEMA has previously announced it needs Congress to restore funding for its disaster fund and will only provide money to immediate needs. Santa Cruz County is awaiting roughly $140 million from disaster relief dating back to 2017. Construction is expected to take 4-6 weeks.
Convicted Santa Cruz Murderer and Rapist Denied Change of Venue
Adrian Gonzalez, who has already been convicted of the rape and murder of 8 year old Maddy Middleton in 2015, was denied a change of venue for a trial that will decide if he is released on his 25th birthday. Gonzalez was 15 when he raped and murdered his young neighbor. He was convicted and sentenced, but since he was a juvenile he is eligible for release from a juvenile holding facility when he turns 25. A probable cause hearing was held in early August to determine if Gonzalez still posed a threat to the public if he were to be released. Last week, a trial readiness hearing was held in a Santa Cruz courtroom to decide on a date for his release trial. Santa Cruz Superior Court Judge Denine Guy ruled that a trial will be conducted to see if Gonzalez is fit to be released. She stated that she thinks Gonzalez still poses a potential public safety risk. Jury selection will begin on Monday.
When the Levee Breaks
Tuesday night around 7:30PM, Santa Cruz Police responded to reports of a shooting along the San Lorenzo River levee in downtown Santa Cruz. After arriving in the area of the west levee near Front Street, officers found a victim who had been shot. Fire and AMR paramedics provided treatment at the scene before the victim was taken to a trauma center, where they are in critical condition. During the initial investigation, detectives learned that some type of altercation happened on the levee between the victim and the suspect just prior to the shooting. The unknown suspect shot the victim and fled on foot. Police say the shooting may be gang related. This is the 2nd public shooting in 2 weeks in Santa Cruz, resulting in 3 victims flown to trauma centers in critical condition.
The Endless Bummer
The Santa Cruz Port District announced this week that they have cancelled the rest of the Thursday Night Beach BBQ events hosted by the Crow’s Nest Restaurant. This comes in the wake of a shooting in the area on August 8th that left two people in critical condition. Officials say this is the most responsible course of action as they look into the impacts to public safety that’s associated with having large gatherings at the harbor. I really wouldn’t blame the harbor, or the Crows Nest, or the people who host or come to the Thursday events. They are always well received, inclusive, friendly, and fun. What happened here was more of an anomaly than a regular thing. I guess this is the punishment we as a community have to suffer for the bad actions of a few individuals. It’s been said many times by many people. “We can’t have nice things in Santa Cruz”.
What a Drag
Last Friday around 8PM, Capitola Police spotted a male driver on 41st Avenue and Gross Road seemingly trying to challenge another car to a race. When the driver noticed the officer, he tried to speed off. After the officer tried to do an enforcement stop, the driver refused to pull over, leading to a reckless chase lasting more than a mile. After the driver hit a sidewalk on Clares Street, he ditched his vehicle and grabbed a bike from the bed of the truck and took off on the bike. He eventually surrendered to police on the 1100 block of 41st Avenue where he was taken into custody without further incident. The bike and truck were impounded and the man was arrested on multiple charges, including felony evading, reckless driving and DUI.
New Assistant City Manager Hired in Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz City Manager Matt Huffaker announced last week that after a national search, the city has hired Michelle Templeton, formerly from the city of Santa Clara, as the Santa Cruz assistant city manager. Since 2020, she has been employed as the acting assistant city manager in the Santa Clara city manager’s office, which serves about 130,000 residents. She will officially begin her duties as Santa Cruz assistant city manager in late September with a starting salary of $249,444 annually. So now we know how the city is spending your money! Just for perspective, the President of the United States has an annual salary of $400K. Mayor Fred Keeley makes about $41K per year. But we know how important that ASSISTANT city manager position is!
Bueno Mierda!
This past Tuesday, the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors approved the expansion of eligible households for the Composting Toilet Pilot Program to include existing single-family dwelling within the county with a permitted onsite wastewater treatment system. They also announced that property containing active single-family dwelling as well as public agencies with permit applications are now eligible. The county is hoping to implement this type of composting toilet system throughout various locations in the county. The Composting Toilet Pilot Program uses Container-Based Sanitation (CBS) that includes collecting waste within specially designed containers for shipping to a centralized location that specializes in managing compost to reduce health risks. Submitted by First District Supervisor Manu Koenig, expanding the list of eligible participants will help the pilot program move forward. The Board says that eligibility expansion is necessary for the project to progress, with a maximum of 25 properties awarded the pilot program.
Cleaning Up After the Slobs in the Pogonip Costs Taxpayers $140K
This past Tuesday, the Santa Cruz City Council approved a $140,000 contract to clean up a large homeless camp in the Pogonip. But wait?! I though Mayor Fred said they don’t exist in the city of Santa Cruz anymore? The city voted to hire Santa Cruz-based Kenny Robinson Construction after officials had heard complaints about the estimated 40 active and abandoned camps along the approximately 1.5-mile Nature Loop, accessible off Golf Club Drive. 40 ACTIVE AND ABANDONED CAMPS? IN ONE LOCATION? HAS ANYONE TOLD MAYOR FRED?!? Concerns raised by community members and neighbors included unleashed dogs, debris and fires. Vice Mayor Renee Golder supported the encampment cleanup. According to city officials, all people located at encampments along the Nature Loop were offered shelter earlier this month and none had accepted. Sandy Brown was the sole “no” vote against approving the contract. Of course she was.
In My Ear
Nice little jam from the Doobies.
Steamer Lane Breakdown – Doobie Brothers
New Santa Mierda YouTube Channel!
I started a new YouTube channel for the Weekly Dump. It will host all my videos going forward. I’ll also put the podcast over there too if I can ever get that going. Go check out some videos if you haven’t seen them yet, and thank you to all the subscribers! (you can subscribe over there)
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7 Responses
To be fair, it’s more relevant to compare the salaries of other comparable positions, like the City Manager and County managerial positions then the President of the United States. The Assistant CAO for the County does make a similar salary. Not defending it, just saying it isn’t out of line with other govt salaries.
What chafes me though is the “assistant” city manager is the 2nd highest paid city employee, behind only the city manager. Really?! The assistant city manager makes more than the fire chief, the chief of police, any of the department heads. Does our city manager suck so bad that we have to pay this much for an assistant? I know they both have an extensive staff under them. Talk about a glut of middle management bloat.
It’s hefty for sure. Not disagreeing with any of that. The safety personnel do get full retirement at 50 so maybe that is the offset?
“According to city officials, all people located at encampments along the Nature Loop were offered shelter earlier this month and none had accepted.”
Assuming this is 100% true, I offer my unpopular opinion:
We asked.
You answered.
Now GTFO, or we will do the Getting TFO for you.
Of course this won’t happen, but I can dream… can’t I?
Well dream on until your dream comes true!
Well I am shocked at this week’s dump!! I was expecting something like “ Santa Cruz county supervisors full of shit” as a title to composting toilets.
Sorry couldn’t help myself 😉🙏🫶🏻
Maybe the worst part about paying $1/4 million a year for an assistant is that the rest of the City employees will feel like they are being left out and in need of a pay upgrade.
But then, what did everyone really think cramming even more 6 story housing units downtown was for. Those new tax dollars and fees will be going to City workers in payroll and benefit packages. Gotta keep up with every one else’s quality of life.