The Weekly Dump – 9.22.24

The Vacation is Over

Well the kids are back up at UCSC this week, bringing an end to their summer vacation and an end to a nice local run of not having the students around. I’ve got nothing against the students. But when they aren’t around, I gotta say I enjoy Santa Cruz more (with fewer people clogging it up). Classes officially begin this Thursday the 26th. I’m curious if the kids will pick up where they left off. Last time we saw them, they were clogging the entrance to the campus with their protest party. Is the University gonna let that dumpster fire burn again? I guess we’ll find out next week!

Vote YES on Proposition 36

This November, VOTE YES on Proposition 36, a ballot measure that will increase penalties for thefts and drug possession. According to a new study from the Public Policy Institute of California, it has the overwhelming support from California voters, with 71% of voters saying they are likely to vote yes on the initiative, while 26% would vote no. California Republicans favor the ballot measure the most, with 85% saying they would vote yes. About 63% of Democrats and 73% of independents also said they would vote yes. Well it seems pretty clear this has unilateral bipartisan support, but Governor Gruesome still opposes it and whines about how bad it is. Gee, I wonder why? It’s because he helped Jerry Brown grift us with the pile of crap that was Prop 47. A “yes” vote on Prop. 36 would roll back provisions of Prop. 47, a voter-approved initiative that reduced some felonies to misdemeanors and set a $950 threshold for shoplifting charges. Proposition 36 would also create a new treatment-focused court process for some drug possession crimes and require courts to warn people convicted of selling or providing illegal drugs to others that they can be charged with murder if they keep doing so and someone dies.

So if you vote for nothing else, VOTE YES ON PROP 36.

Purple Rain in the Forecast For Santa Cruz County

This week, a contract between Santa Cruz County and its largest employee union expired. While there is a possibility it will be renewed, the renewed threat of a strike will effect ongoing negotiations. After months of negotiations, county administrators and SEIU Local 521, which represents about 1,800 county employees, failed to agree on a new contract before the current one expired. While the terms of the contract allow for a temporary extension, a strike is a real possibility in the near future. Some of the main issues for union members include chronic understaffing issues and inadequate pay for a county that has one of the highest costs of living in the country. The 1,800 county employees with SEIU 521 represent almost two-thirds of the total county workforce.

Vote NO on Monica Martinez

Monica Martinez is in a runoff election against Christopher Bradford in the race for the Santa Cruz 5th district supervisor seat, which is being vacated by a retiring Bruce McPherson. I can’t say I know a lot about Christopher Bradford, but I know plenty about Monica Martinez, one of the long time key players in the “Homeless Industrial Complex” of Santa Cruz. She used to run the Homeless Services Center on Coral Street. Look how well that turned out! It’s a constant human dumpster fire. While Monica Martinez was the Director of the Homeless Services Center (“HSC”) in 2012, she allowed Charles Edwards, who has a documented history of mental illness and violence, to stay at the Paul Lee Loft Shelter on the HSC campus. HSC failed to conduct a background check on Edwards, which would have revealed a lengthy, violent criminal history and psychiatric hospitalization. A few days into his stay, Edwards stabbed to death local business owner Shannon Collins in a brutal public slaying that shocked and horrified Santa Cruz. Despite this tragedy, Martinez refused to make policy changes for the HSC, such as requiring background checks for people staying at the shelter, to avoid similar tragedies in the future.

Then she moved over to Encompass, one of those dubious “Homeless Industrial Complex” local non profits that is constantly being funded without any real deliverable measures of success. She’s made a nice living off the backs of the local homeless, and the kind local benevolent souls that constantly throw their money in her direction for her to waste. According to a lawsuit filed in Santa Cruz Superior Court against Encompass Community Services, Martinez was accused of making an unauthorized bank transfer of $850,000 from another nonprofit to Encompass to cover its debt, all while Martinez served as Chief Executive Officer of Encompass. And while under Martinez’s “leadership”, Encompass is facing three class action lawsuits and one individual lawsuit for serious labor code violations, including failure to pay its workers overtime and minimum wages.

Monica Martinez cannot be trusted to serve as Santa Cruz County Supervisor. The last thing I want is for her to be anywhere near the county’s general fund.  VOTE CHRISTOPHER BRADFORD FOR SANTA CRUZ

The Weekly Seen

Alien sand pyramids have taken over Cowells Beach!

In My Ear

Rest in peace JD Souther, one of the smoothest, sweetest voices to ever grace a microphone.

White Rhythm and Blues – JD Souther

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)

Check Out Our Twitter Feed for More Mierda!

Be sure to check out and follow our Twitter feed for even more mierda! Even though the Dump only comes your way once a week, I try to post breaking news and updates on other days as well. So check us out and follow us on Twitter for even more updates about real time news in Santa Cruz you might not otherwise hear about.