Workbench is working against the community

How much is Workbench costing local taxpayers in staff time to deal with their constant maneuvering and re-negotiating project sizes (propose 16 stories but will take 8), efforts to go around code and conflicts with community requests?

Workbench touts enhancing communities — what’s the evidence? Workbench appears to take a “holier than thou” stance fueling feuds and filing lawsuits. In discussions with neighborhood communities, they have been tone-deaf to compromises on height, density, more on-site parking. Their latest Clocktower design is out of code related to deck square footage; going over property boundaries sets a precedent that will not stop. Their 841 Capitola Road project at 5 stories will be in a 1-and-2-story home neighborhood and will overshadow many surrounding homes.

Did Workbench’s CEO’s Tim Gordon’s tenure on the County Planning Commission fuel early-on legislative and internal department information (timetables, builder’s remedies, etc.) encouraging Workbench to fight local code and de-facto standards now resulting in a lack of partnership and to the detriment of our community?

— Patti Brady, Santa Cruz

The boondoggle train to an expensive nowhere

How is it that we have no problem seeing poor judgment and boondoggles in others, and yet are unable to see them in ourselves?

Some time back there were reports about a $200 million bridge to nowhere in Alaska. I’m sure most of us shook our heads and wondered how such a boondoggle could happen.

Now we Santa Cruzans are confronting a similar situation. Four billion dollars, 22 miles. 200 million a mile, on average. Shouldn’t that, by itself, end the discussion?

As to the idea that infrastructure projects are inevitably expensive, here is where cost/benefit should enlighten: A single-track shuttle, 45 minutes to cover 22 miles, a blazing 29 miles an hour on average. Not close to population or employment centers, and apparently having no meaningful impact on reducing traffic congestion.

Another odd thing about people is their view of money. We don’t want to spend our own, but have no problem spending other taxpayers’ money, as if we move into the realm of play money when we talk about state and federal funding.

— Peter Katzlberger, Felton

Stop using public funds on projects for the rich

Dr. Griggs (Our Ocean Backyard, June 14) should simply tell these elected representatives to stop throwing money on resilience projects that only benefit the millionaires who rent their homes or are using the government to pay for their bluff-top mansions, seawalls, bulkheads, jetties, shoreline devices. Not to mention the rail or trail projects that are on bluffs, like New Brighton or the Depot Hill area.

Our politicians need to focus on their stakeholders who are all Santa Cruz citizens and not a place for the rich. These civil servants and politicians need to prioritize spending “public” funds on infrastructures, i.e., the iconic wharves and state parks, and not on saving bluff-top houses or those vacation rental properties on our public beaches.

— Jeff Staben, Soquel

Time is now to defend democracy against Trump

Our democracy is dying. It is being bludgeoned by fascists who care only about power.

We have one hope, the same hope that has saved us before: Every American, regardless of party, must stand up and defend freedom.

Donald Trump and his sycophants are attempting an armed takeover. Trump has amped up his scare tactics to justify turning our streets into battlefields. Then, by his order, he would pit our U.S. Armed Forces, sworn to support and defend the Constitution, against the very people who believe the same.

Statements of solidarity, email petitions or letters to the editor are not enough. It is time to vote in the streets. Show up. Future generations are counting on us to defend the Republic.

We are you: your relatives, your neighbors, your fellow countrymen, your fellow humans. We can do this. We must do this. We will do this.

— Tony Russomanno, Santa Cruz

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