Ban gas-powered leaf blowers in Santa Cruz

Couple is thankful for Capitola Fire Station

We all have been moved by the tireless, heroic efforts of our fire departments.

Thank you all very much!

Our recent incidents requiring help from members of Central Fire, Station 4, in Capitola may not have been as dramatic or as life saving as many of their recent responses to the devastating fires nearby, but they’re deeply appreciated by us! On two occasions I had to call the Capitola Fire Station

4 to help move my husband up a very steep walkway in order to transport him to the Dominican\Emergency room and, again, just yesterday, to a physicians’ office. On the first occasion he was unable to walk and in terrible pain and on the second, he was in a wheelchair and still in pain! It took strength and skill and kindness of all involved and we are forever grateful!

Thank you Capitola Fire Station 4.

We are so grateful!

SLVWD comes through for customers

Dear San Lorenzo Valley Water Department,

Thank you for all of your hard work during the CZU August Lightning Complex fire. While our firefighters and first responders toiled on the front lines to battle this unprecedented wildfire, your employees continued working to ensure SLV residents would have viable water service to return home to. When we evacuated, my husband left the sprinklers running over our roof in an effort to protect our home, as many other residents did; after several days, worried about water damage, I emailed SLVWD requesting our water be turned off. They not only turned off our water, but when we returned home after 11 days, there was a kind employee in our neighborhood who checked on us and made sure our water was back on. Thank you for your service, dedication, and efforts; after all, water is vital not only for a fire fight, but for life itself.

I feel Santa Cruz needs to pass a ban on gas-powered leaf blowers. I live at the ArtWorkSpace lofts on Swift Street which is adjacent to two properties that have blowers come once a week. The Delaware Addition had two (very loud) blowers out at 7 a.m. this morning blowing ash and dust everywhere. The property behind us has a blower come Saturday morning around 9 a.m. The property management here at ArtWorkSpace also leaf blows our compound on Wednesdays around 10 a.m. It’s way too much noise pollution. If Los Gatos can ban blowers why can’t environmentally conscience Santa Cruz do it? Anything you could do on your part would be very helpful.

Vote for Kates, Marsilio for water board

It’s time for change in leadership on the Soquel Creek Water Board.

Each customer is being forced to spend approximately $13,000 on the “Pure Water Soquel” Recycling water project on top of our water charges. Is your bill higher and higher? Enough is enough. Most customers don’t trust the water as it is now and buy bottled water to drink. I certainly don’t trust or want to drink recycled water. Corrie Kates and Maria Marsilio are the answer to reasonable people sitting on the SCW Board. They’ll bring common sense, civility, kindness and proven results back to our local water company. Join us on the weekly Zoom call, find the login information on their website katesandmarsilio.com. Bring common sense back!

Leopold brings thoughtful approach as supervisor

County residents are lucky to have an experienced, hardworking and compassionate public official like John Leopold. I have seen how John Leopold works with community groups.

Several years ago a fun and affordable sport called pickleball became popular in our community. The demand soon exceeded the temporary court set up at Brommer Street Park. We asked Supervisor Leopold if he would support installing permanent pickleball courts at the park. John met with us, educated himself on the issues and hosted community meetings to collect public input. At all times he listened respectfully to the varied community opinions. He decided to support the construction of the first public pickleball courts in Santa Cruz County, which are now open and very popular.

That is the thoughtful approach that I want from my Supervisor. Please vote to re-elect John Leopold this November.

Sincerely Barb Jordan