Thanks to the staff at the fairgrounds
My husband and I received our second Covid-19 vaccination at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds. As with our first vaccination, the entire staff, from those giving directions to the nurses injecting the vaccine, was very polite, friendly and professional. Everything was explained very clearly.
We want all those involved to know how much they are appreciated. They gave their time and expertise for the welfare of our community.
Bill and Laura Cass, Watsonville
We need to act know on climate change
Northern Californians did not plan on having to create forest fire evacuation plans back in June of 2020, but they were forced to. The current effects of climate change on our country and our state are cause for grave, urgent concern. We are only nine years away (2030) from the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) deadline to cut our carbon emission by half to avoid climate disaster. Governor Newsom’s deadline of 2045 for 100% clean energy will be much too late. As part of the CALPIRG community here at UC Santa Cruz, I am concerned about the increasing effects of climate change on our state, including fires and heat waves.
Fracking affects air quality, water, and causes more earthquakes. If we don’t cut out carbon emissions in half by 2030, there will likely be a climate disaster worse than there currently is. By calling on Governor Gavin Newsom to move California’s 100% clean energy promise up to 2030 we will have a much better chance at saving our planet. Alternative Green energy and renewable clean energy will help combat the effects of climate change and benefit our health as well as our planet’s. By powering millions of homes and businesses, renewable energy is reducing the threat of climate change and making the air safer to breathe. I don’t want to see our state fall to climate change more than it already has.
Hanna Cohn, UC Santa Cruz
The WHS mural does indeed deserve another look
Judy Doering Nielsen was right when citing the glaring contradiction between allowing the symbolic Aztec and Mayan mural at Watsonville High School to go up and removing the historic, iconic bust of our first President George Washington from the City Plaza to the library.
This is once again, is a blatant case of pandering and political correctness going overboard. What a shame.
Gary V. Plomp, Gilroy
Takeout alcohol means easy access for minors
In an effort to help restaurants and bars survive the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) loosened restrictions on takeout and delivery of alcoholic beverages. This has provided an opportunity for our community to support local businesses and enjoy drinks responsibly at home to avoid Covid-19 transmission. Unfortunately, it has also created a greater challenge for public health: how do we prevent minors from accessing alcohol, ensure safe transport of alcoholic beverages in private vehicles, and enforce ID checks when alcohol is delivered by third-party services?
The ABC’s Coronavirus regulatory relief changes allow alcohol licensees to sell drinks to-go in prepackaged or sealed containers, through takeout windows and by curbside pickup. Far too many businesses have eagerly embraced the relaxed regulations while neglecting their responsibility to protect youth and the public. Statewide ABC enforcement actions found significant violations of the law, stating that “minors are routinely able to purchase alcohol through delivery from restaurants.” Compliance actions from ABC found up to 70% of minor decoys were able to receive alcohol from third-party delivery services. When alcohol is ordered through a third-party delivery service, such as DoorDash, the companies themselves are not liable.
Legal responsibility for checking to make sure that they are not selling to minors rests on alcohol licensees and delivery drivers. When our local alcohol merchants and third-party delivery services treat public health as their personal responsibility, our community is less likely to experience consequences of increased youth alcohol consumption, alcohol poisonings, and drunk driving tragedies. Parents and guardians should note the easier access to alcohol for minors and re-evaluate their system for preventing underage drinking. One way to engage is to have an honest, non-judgmental conversation with youth about safety and alcohol.
We don’t have to choose between thriving businesses and negative outcomes associated with increased alcohol use during the pandemic. We can temporarily relax regulations and still maintain a healthy community by emphasizing education of alcohol merchants, consistent enforcement of the law, and securing and monitoring alcohol in our homes.
Christina Borbely and Suzette Rochelle-DiVirgilio, Community Prevention Partners Co-Chairs
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