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Comments Due Jan. 31 on 2045 Regional Transportation Plan
The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission will hold a public hearing to solicit community input on the Draft 2045 Regional Transportation Plan for Santa Cruz County.
The 278-page draft plan identifies transportation needs and priorities in Santa Cruz County over the next 25 years. It is an essential first step in securing funding from federal, state, and local sources.
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The hearing was scheduled for after 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 13, via Community TV Zoom at https://us02web.zoom. us/j/85771172425 Dial-in:+1 669 900 6833
Webinar ID: 8577117 2425
A staff presentation and other items were scheduled for 9 a.m.
Learn more about the Regional Transportation Plan and view the draft plan at www.sccrtc.org/2045rtp.
The public comment period for the Draft 2045 Regional Transportation Plan runs through Jan. 31.
The public can submit written comments by Jan. 31 to 2045rtp@sccrtc.org or mail to 1101 Pacific Ave., Suite 250, Santa Cruz, CA 95060. n
“Big Basin” from page 6
“The fire that came through the GatewaytoBigBasinwaslargelybeneficial, clearing out understory and regenerating native plants,” added McLendon. “The survival of the Douglas firs on the Gateway property will be a gift to regional forests that lost so many firs in the CZU fire, including most of the firs in Big Basin.”
Stewardship Challenges
Despite its abundance of natural and scenic features, the Gateway property is best known as the former site of a considerable collection of debris and junk, as well as a protracted lawsuit with the County of Santa Cruz.
A previous owner, Roy Kaylor, collected cars and other objects that lined roads throughout the property.
Kaylor, featured on a 2011 episode of the A&E show Hoarders, also battled the county over cleanup of debris and chemicals leaching on the property.
Kaylor ran for supervisor in 2016, collecting 750 votes but finishing third in a 3-way race eventually won by incumbent Bruce McPherson.
VerveCoffeeRoastersco-founderColby Barr purchased the property from Kaylor and the County in June 2020. Funding from Barr’s purchase largely went into cleaning up the property, removing cars and other junk, and improving soil conditions.
Environmental assessments during that purchase and a subsequent study by Sempervirens Fund in November 2021 confirm the Gateway property, including the streams, has a clean bill of health.
Working with Barr, Sempervirens Fund plans to ensure the property is free and clear of remnant debris. Resetting the property to a natural state will set the stage for Sempervirens Fund to implement forest, watershed, and habitat restoration programs at the Gateway, and improve forest resilience in the aftermath of the CZU fire.
“Mr. Barr has put a lot of love and care into the Gateway property, and we are grateful for his stewardship and his commitment to restoring the natural conditions of this magnificent forest,” said Barth. “We are thrilled he would like to see it permanently preserved, especially if it can be useful to efforts to reimagine and expand Big Basin as it recovers from the CZU fire.”
Reimaging Big Basin
In response to the destruction of the CZU fire, California State Parks is engaging in a considerable and first-of-its-kind planning effort to reimagine a state park.
With nearly all of Big Basin Redwoods State Park’s facilities, infrastructure, and trails lost or badly damaged by the fire, and ongoing hazardous conditions in the park’s interior, the effort—Reimagining Big Basin—is ongoing to engage the public in understanding how to reestablish the park for the next century. Visit the website to learn about opportunities to learn more, including attending the second webinar in January, completing an online survey, submitting a memory of the park, and looking for future events.
“We have had serious conversations with California State Parks about the importance of the Gateway property for Big Basin’s future,” said Barth. “Nothing is guaranteed, but we do envision it would both continue to be a dramatic entranceway into Big Basin, and possibly join the park in the future, to expand hiking, camping, and park services.” n
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Photos by Julie Seelin
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“Desmond Tutu” from page 5
“When I think of Archbishop Tutu, I can’t help but think of his good friend the Dalai Lama,” said Mailliard. “When we would meet each of them over the years, they would each speak so lovingly of each other’s friendship and have some humorous comment about their dear friend. One of my favorite stories was when Archbishop Tutu spoke of a time when he and the Dalai Lama were speaking and laughing together in a hotel lobby before some public event. When the press arrived, the Archbishop leaned over to the Dalai Lama and said quietly, ‘Now, you must act like a Holy man’ and they both broke into laughter. The greatness of both men rested upon never forgetting themselves as humble human beings, or as I think of their greatness, beings embodied in ordinary people who did extraordinary things and extraordinary people who did ordinary things. It was their willingness to speak to my students and share how they persevered through historic and devastating events, to laugh with us and give radiance to the present moments we shared with them, that meant so much.”
He added, “My other favorite moment was when one of my students asked Archbishop Tutu what it felt like taking the hand of Nelson Mandela and stepping out on the balcony to introduce him to the world as the President of South Africa. Tutu smiled and said ‘Ooooh! you know, some things you cannot put into words – like holding your first child in your arms.’ Then he said, ‘Do you remember your first kiss?’ and then laughed in his unique way as she blushed. ‘But,’ he said, ‘I will tell you this. At that moment I had a conversation with God and I said, if you want God, you can take me now! This is enough!’ While it is never easy to lose such beacons of faith and humanity, those special moments will inspire us for a lifetime.”
Junior Mara Getz (’10) participated in the MMS students’ first interview with Tutu. In 2009, she shared this reflection on the Ubuntu Project (humanity/ I am because you are) blog: “Our interview with Archbishop Tutu went by in a whirl. I asked him, ‘How did you develop such a deep faith in humankind and have you ever doubted it?’ He began his answer with a story about the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. When he was done, he explained that he has such faith in humankind because humans, by their very nature, are good. If they were not they would not be bothered by the suffering of others. I was so moved. Words cannot begin to express how great I was feeling. What an experience. What a trip. What an interview.”
In 2015, junior Holden Smith (’16) reflected in the students’ Uxhumano (connection) blog: “With Archbishop Tutu, the aim of a question often goes awry in his answering. When we ask him to talk about his faith he tells us about his favorite prophet Jeremiah. Jeremiah was a reluctant leader and Archbishop Tutu likens this to his own experience during the struggle against apartheid. Then he discusses the responsibility of our generation and the value of education. When he finishes answering, he has satisfied a hunger that I never knew I had. I start to notice how Tutu’s skin sags with the weight of time and tragedy, but his voice and laughter is touched by a contagious youthfulness. He takes a humble sip from a teacup that reads: ‘Everyone grows old, but you don’t have to grow up.’ I notice the Tibetan slippers, wrinkled hands, reckless laugh, and Ubuntu bracelet that amalgamate into a human of true moral character. Ubuntu symbolizes Tutu. In his words it is defined as, ‘a person is a person because of other persons.’ Desmond Tutu is a leader because people follow him without being asked to. I think about those around me: Sophia is a singer because people listen, Julia is a writer because people read, Amy and Haley are teachers because we pay attention, Sielo is a dancer because his friends at LEAP School play the drums, and we are all who we are because someone loves us.”
A couple years earlier, in 2013, junior Talia Speaker (’14) reflected in the Sawubona/ Ngikhona (I see you/yes, we see you too) blog: “Throughout the interview, Desmond Tutu poured love, hope and wisdom into our eager ears. Almost immediately I developed a deep respect for him. Although we did not always get direct answers to our painstakingly and precisely worded questions, he gave us more than I could have imagined. With each question he took us on a journey through his mind and memory. His genuine, wise and utterly sincere words filled the room like music. In his presence I felt like a child, watching, taking him in with immense admiration and curiosity. He showed me, in a new light, the value of humor and true compassion. He spoke of respect, love, and humanity in ways that transformed complexity into beautifully simple principles of nature. I feel blessed and honored to have met this man who is so full of the good parts of life.”
In 2017, juniors Elias Moreno (’18) and Sienna Clifton (’18) shared in their class’
— Elias Moreno Ubunye (unity) blog their impressions of the Archbishop.
“Looking at his sympathetic eyes and authentic ear-to-ear smile instantly made me feel more confident, and gave me the ability to truly speak from the heart,” said Moreno. “I told him how inspirational his message of finding joy in even the most difficult circumstances has been to me. I expressed to him that I would try, in all aspects of my life, to see the joy and hope in every situation and that I would encourage others to do the same.”
“As soon as we heard his infectious laughter from down the hallway, I knew what an amazing opportunity this was,” said Clifton. “Once he and his wife sat down, our class started to sing, and the smiles never left our faces. It’s hard to completely put into words how I felt. I had an overwhelming sense of joy and pure bliss being there, in front of such an inspirational person, with my class. One profound, yet very simple statement that he made, was that he was considered a great captain because he had a great team. This sentiment made me truly realize the importance of acknowledging others’ gifts, as well as being able to be proud of one’s own.” n
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See videos of student interactions with Archbishop Tutu:
Ubunye 2017: https://youtu.be/ tqKVO1Xz49g
Sawubona/Ngikhona 2013: https:// youtu.be/0CB21HJUAJw
Sawubona 2011: https://youtu.be/
IWRlLqnh7c4
Ubuntu 2009: https://www.youtube. com/watch?v=tqKVO1Xz49g •••
