Goodbye to liquidamber trees, soon to be gone

Thank you Aric Sleeper for your thoughtful article (May 28, Sentinel) bidding farewell to the current Farmers Market location. I had just finished tying ribbons and flowers around the two liquidamber trees, that will soon be gone, and was feeling sad when we talked. It helped to know that you would be writing this article.

I’ve wondered who keeps taking the ribbons and flowers down. For who is this a problem?

Perhaps those who plan to use the wood from the heritage trees as potential building materials (a very hard to read statement made by the city) — or those who think that these precious souls can be replaced with 14 new trees and 22 trees in other locations.

In Mary Oliver’s poem, “When I Am Among the Trees,” she writes “they give off such hints of gladness, I would almost say that they save me, and daily.” I too have been saved by these and many other trees. It was very hard saying goodbye the other day. I so wish we could have saved them.

— Satya Orion, Soquel

Business owner supports cigarette filters ban

As a resident of Santa Cruz for 14 years, and an organic farmer on the North Coast on 20 acres while working a day job in affordable housing, I have a great appreciation for entrepreneurial spirits.

I’m writing in response to the op-ed (June 3, Sentinel) opposing the proposed single-use cigarette filter ban in Santa Cruz.

Cigarette filters are not just another form of beach litter. Unlike chip bags or beach towels, they are toxic plastic waste designed to be discarded, small enough to evade cleanups and nearly impossible to recycle. They leach harmful chemicals into our water and marine ecosystems.

This ordinance is not about punishing small businesses. It’s about taking meaningful, preventive action. Santa Cruz has successfully implemented similar bans on plastic bags, foam containers and straws, without issue.

The claim this litter comes mostly from tourists doesn’t weaken the case for a ban, it strengthens it. These filters shouldn’t be sold locally at all.

Retailers profit from this waste while the cost of cleanup falls on taxpayers, volunteers and the city. It’s time to shift that burden by eliminating the source.

— Taylor Lane, Santa Cruz, The Cigarette Surfboard

Response to local GOP: Here’s what’s hostile

I find the recent Guest Commentary by SCC GOP Chair Lelieur (“Local GOP: Stop anti-Trump intimidation”) to be both offensive and comical.

Mr. Lelieur claims a local “Resist” event at the Main Beach was a “disturbing escalation of political hostility” but could only site the 8647 part of our human banner as evidence of such hostility. To “86” something simply means to get rid of it — vote out, impeach, remove from office. Nothing hostile about it.

What’s truly hostile are the constant threatening and intimidating of political opponents and citizens by many GOP members, especially Trump. Mr. Lelieur is simply using the Republicans’ favorite tool to try to steer the narrative ~ gaslighting.

Hostile is sending masked ICE agents to arrest and deport lawful citizens. Hostile is threatening retaliation for not conforming to anti-DEI orders. Hostile is what happened at our Capitol on Jan. 6th, 2020.

We will continue to peacefully resist this administration and bring attention to Trump’s unconstitutional abuse of power.

No kings in the USA! 6/14/25 is our next peaceful protest.

— Jan Burroughs, Aptos

Why is Rep. Panetta not noticably fighting Trump?

Mr. Trump is purposely dismantling our federal government (DOGE), and many agencies are already in chaos and unable to perform their functions of keeping us safe (EPA, air traffic controllers, vaccine providers, etc). Additionally, Mr. Trump’s on-again off-again tariffs have insured higher prices for consumers and the distrust of our former friends around the world. There is little that ordinary citizens can do to stop these actions, but we DO have a champion in Washington.

I would like to thank our Rep. Jimmy Panetta, for his courageous leadership in fighting against the Trump chaos. Surely you may not have noticed Mr. Panetta’s vocal leadership in the House of Representatives, his many in-person town halls and his constant presence on local and national TV, standing up for our cherished democracy during this crisis.

Neither have I.

— Don Eggleston, Aptos