COMMUNITY NEWS
How Bystanders Can Become Leaders
For Men’s Violence Against Women, Challenging Norms is Key By Jondi Gumz
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hen Santa Cruz County Sheriff 4232, is the only rape crisis and human Jim Hart saw the video of George trafficking center in the county and saw an Floyd killed during his arrest increase in domestic violence reports during last year, it was clear to him that Derek the pandemic shelter-in-place order. Chauvin (found guilty of murder) was the The sheriff restarted the county’s alpha officer, the guy in the charge. Sexual Assault Response Team in February, Other officers on the scene didn’t have reducing the need for the survivor of an the courage to step in or didn’t attack to drive an hour to a clinic know how to because they were in Santa Clara County. so new. Lauren Zephro heads Hart’s conclusion: There forensic services, which reports needs to be a lot of training on the receiving 36 rape kits over the duty to intervene. past 12 months of the pandemic, That’s one reason the Sheriff’s with the most — six — coming in Office sponsored a virtual visit November. April 14 by educator-activist-author Michael Henderson, who Jim Hart Jackson Katz, whose TED talk “Viotaught computer science at San lence Against Women is a Men’s Issue” has Lorenzo Valley High School through 2019, been seen 2.5 million times. is to stand trial for four felony counts of The visit was supported by the Santa inappropriately touching a minor, and invesCruz Commission for Prevention of Violence tigations are ongoing into allegations by Against Women. It was one of several events students of sexual misconduct by four former scheduled for Sexual Assault Awareness San Lorenzo Valley school district employees. Month and promoted by Monarch Services, “Leaders” page 23 which has a 24-hour crisis line, 1-888-900-
“Mayor Brooks” from page 12 Future agenda items include reviewing the City’s pension debt, which the City has no control over, and has increased an average of 20% annually for the last five fiscal years, and develop a strategy to address the rising costs. In addition, the FAC will be reviewing the Capitola Village parking program and making recommendations to the City Council. Historical Museum Board he Capitola Museum’s purpose is to bring a better understanding and appreciation by the Capitola community of its history, architecture, culture, technology, and its creative and natural environments. The museum plans to reopen in May on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Their current exhibition, “Capitola Then & Now,” will be up through the end of the year. The exhibit compares historic photographs with pictures of the same scenes today and shows the interesting ways Capitola has changed over the years. Planning Commission he Planning Commission is a City Council-appointed board whose members are charged with reviewing land use and development permits for consistency with the Capitola General Plan, and
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the Capitola Zoning Code. Planning Commission decisions may be appealed to the City Council. Thank you to Commissioner Courtney Christiansen, Design + Project Manager at Fuse Architects Inc who has continued to offer her support and expertise to the Commission the past two years. Lastly, I would like to acknowledge my fellow Council members, Vice Mayor Sam Storey, Jacques Bertrand, Kristen Petersen and Margaux Keiser who in addition to their elected positions, all sit on additional boards and commissions. While it often goes unnoticed, the job of serving on the City Council, as well as so many other boards and commissions is nearly a full time job, and I am deeply appreciative of the time and effort my peers take to do the job well. Getting involved is important to our community and there are many agencies still in need of your support. Again, thank you to all of the volunteers in our community. n ••• Your time is invaluable. I encourage everyone to get more involved and become a volunteer today. As always, if you have any questions please do not hesitate to email me at brooksforcitycouncil@gmail.com
A rally at the Santa Cruz Town Clock.
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www.tpgonlinedaily.com Capitola Soquel Times / May 2021 / 21
