Keep East Cliff Drive path all access for bicycles

On June 16, the county Public Works Department will have a public meeting to discuss options to revise recreation on East Cliff Drive in Pleasure Point. Four out of five proposals would separate bikes from pedestrians. The two leading options make bikes ride in the street. This would be unsafe for most people, especially children who enjoy riding along the cliff path.

Furthermore, overregulating and restricting the natural flow of people along the cliff will damage the ambiance, culture and aesthetics of Pleasure Point.

The best option is to keep the current design, update the striping on the path and bike lane and add speed limit markings for bikes.

Keep East Cliff the all-access entertaining fun place it is. Express your opinion to Supervisor Manu Koenig and at the meeting, Simpkins Family Center, 6 p.m.

— James Rosen, Santa Cruz

Go try out the SC coastal trail with no name

The 320-mile Great Redwood Trail is/will be on a rail-banked train track that connects the bays of San Francisco and Humboldt.

Here, our train track is one-tenth its length.

Ours is long enough to have a marathon on. We could raise money for charity that way. It could have self-guided exercise routines. Destination playgrounds for people of all ages and abilities. Meditation benches. Science displays. Docent-led hikes.

It’d be cool to name the trail.

Maybe it could be called Cajastaca Trail. That’s jackrabbit in Ohlone. The trophy for the marathon winner could be a cool Bronze Cajastaca.

We could name it after Laura Hecox. That trophy could be a bronze lighthouse prism with Laura’s image engraved below it.

But everyone disagrees so we can’t name it.

We can use some of it, which is good. Go try it out. You might run a marathon on the complete unnameable trail someday but don’t hold your breath waiting for it.

I say, “Fun Happy Helpful Trail” now not later.

— Bill Stoesen, Santa Cruz

Fun reading about attempt to purge white guilt

I try not to take the Sentinel letters too seriously, and they can really be fun. In some cases, even therapeutic for the white woman purging her guilt of white privilege and “excess” inequitable generational wealth apparently derived from racism, mass incarceration and targeted hate (she says).

If only there was a place for such a liberal white woman to lick the boots of possibly descendants of slaves, and forfeit all they have to purge the guilt. Why, apparently she found one in Redistributing White Wealth, which as a two-fer, she can also support Palestine and their terrorists, and even lobby the Board of Supervisors to assist the additional goals of reducing the criminal justice budget.

Such helpful info for the guilt plagued, and fun!

— Garrett Philipp, Santa Cruz

Despite 2 miles of trail, the rest won’t be built

While it is good to have a new 2-mile trail, there is much more that probably will never be constructed. If you live near the tracks, take a quick trip there and look at it. Mostly tracks with rock on both sides. Then there are the trestles, tracks, no trail. Even if everyone was on the same page regarding how to proceed, it would be a daunting task, but since this has been a bone of contention for several years, I think that what you see today will be what you see next year and next decade.

I’m sorry to burst your bubble, but a trail, a rail/trail or whatever isn’t going to be built.

— Meade Fischer, Lincoln

Board’s hard work and support on tough issues

We want to extend our sincere thanks to the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors for their support and hard work in helping us resolve our recent rezoning issue. Their dedication and responsiveness proved that they truly care about the well-being of our communities.

It’s clear the board doesn’t shy away from tough issues — they tackle them head-on, with thoughtful consideration and genuine concern. Their efforts make Santa Cruz County a better place to live.

To those with concerns or challenges in your neighborhoods: don’t just drop the problem at the board’s feet. Do your homework. Come prepared with ideas and possible solutions. Collaborating with our elected leaders makes it easier for them to help us effectively.

— Erik and Marina Martensen, Santa Cruz