Opinion

A recent visit to a very moving, emotionally taxing Japanese-American Exclusion Memorial on Bainbridge Island in Washington State's Puget Sound generated some disturbing thoughts about the concept of freedom. The exhibition memorialized one of the darker episodes in our country's history. After the attack on...

Support public education  Cabrillo College didn’t exist in 1953. Santa Cruz County taxpayers paid Monterey County for my 1955 Associate Arts degree from Monterey Peninsula College, for which I am eternally grateful. The older generations, many of them World War II and Korean War veterans,...

Letters the Editor, Aug. 2, 2019

There’s something powerful about a fresh start—especially when it’s backed by real progress, deep community roots, and a bold vision for the future.  At our April 18 State of the Hospital event, Watsonville Community Hospital unveiled a new logo symbolizing its transition back to community...

Let’s not get railroaded by special interests While most of us agree upon the ideals, the reality of trying to squeeze in a viable Rail-Trail within a limited 30-mile corridor, will sacrifice well-being and even safety. I am not a writer or a salesman. As...

The surprising success this season of the San Francisco Giants had me thinking the other day of Dave Dravecky. Beloved by Giants fans, Dravecky was a popular pitcher until a tumor invaded his throwing arm. After surgery he forged a surprising comeback—until the cancer...

In the next few weeks, we will turn our clocks forward and then later in March the first day of Spring will arrive. The Buddhist celebration of the Spring Equinox is called Ohigan in Japanese. This year’s celebration takes on greater significance as we begin...

Secondhand smoke in multi-unit housing Sometimes people tend to believe they have a “right” to smoke, but in reality, there is no constitutional right to smoke. Everyone does have the right to breathe, and a right to clean air.  Therefore, multi-unit housing complexes should regulate...

For some years now, we have seen a transformation in university life that does not bode well. These changes are in line with changes in public behavior in our society at large, a general coarsening of language, ideas and actions.

Power poles are visual blight I had the opportunity to drive on an improved and repaved Freedom Boulevard recently.   Traversing it nice, however, I wish the powers that be had the foresight to include in the budget, PG&E undergrounding of those unsightly poles, electrical transmission wires...