In praise of local eucalyptus and ice plant

Bravo Stephen Kessler for writing enthusiastically about local eucalyptus and West Cliff ice plant! (Commentary, May 17). These two species are maligned by native plant zealots. Their counterparts in Christchurch, New Zealand, cut down a 200-year-old English Oak because it was non-native. Such mindless destruction of nature in a time when every large tree, native and immigrant, should be protected.

Despite evidence, myths about eucalyptus persist. The tragic 1991 Oakland Hills fire was not due to eucalyptus. All reports conclude it started as a brush fire, then a structure-fueled fire consuming everything in its path, including the trees. Dairy farmers denuded the land of oaks before the eucalyptus was introduced in the 1850s. A documented 90 species of birds use eucalyptus trees in Monterey Bay, while 40% of bird species are here because of the eucalyptus, which flowers in winter, a boon for migrating songbirds.

The ice plant along West Cliff should not be removed. It is ideally suited for that environment, a low carpet of flowers against the ocean. Perfect! And bees like the nectar.

— Gillian Greensite, Santa Cruz

Ode to wonders of Natural Bridges State Beach

Natural Bridges State Beach is a strange and wonderful addition to any visitor’s checklist. There, you will see an assortment of birds naturally adapted to their environment. I recently witnessed majestic black cormorants and hardy pelicans sweeping in wide arcs around the cliffs at this beautiful park.

Something about the sunsets at Natural Bridges recalls Hollywood moments of lore, when the film ends with a flourish of natural phenomena. Many spend time looking out at the vast Pacific horizon, scanning for whales or other assorted sea creatures. A tranquil tide pool is at the far end of the beach, where herons and other fowl dot the sandy landscape. Please convey my thanks to the wonderful people that maintain it!

— Tod Mastrandrea, Ben Lomond

Why downtown SC needs a pedestrian street

Having traveled extensively in Europe, it boggles my imagination that Santa Cruz has never done the same in establishing a pedestrian street. I feel sorry for the stores that don’t benefit from it. Our community doesn’t have a community friendly downtown area. We drive cars in the downtown shopping mall. Are we so stuck on cars that we can’t see the benefits for the cars?

Close off the streets and turn them into a destination instead of a parking lot.

— Chelsea Wagner, Soquel

‘Major infrastructure projects take a long time’

A recent letter writer asks why it takes a long time to build infrastructure. The implication is that we should change our plans.

This is like starting a long journey and when the destination comes into sight saying, “This is taking too long, let’s turn around and give up.”

All major infrastructure projects take a long time: Highway 1 widening, the Chanticleer overpass, the wildlife underpass on Highway 17. These all had many years of planning, designing and funding. So much was happening before anyone saw construction.

The difference with the Rail and Trail project is that much of this process has occurred in the public eye. There has been an unprecedented level of public outreach and input. This view into the inevitably lengthy process has made people impatient in ways they are not when they see the planning, design, engineering and grant writing.

— Russell Weisz, Santa Cruz

Here’s why things look wrong on railroad cost

1) The RTC’s 2015 Passenger Rail Feasibility Study’s “Estimated Infrastructure Construction Cost”: $40.7 million. Watsonville to far West Side.

2) 2025 ZEPRT: Estimate only bridges and trestle repair/replacement cost: $980 million.

That’s 24 times the 2015 value!

— Carey Pico, Aptos

The joy of seeing Soquel Elementary’s ‘Peter Pan’

I would like to give a shout-out to everyone involved in the Soquel Elementary School production of “Peter Pan.” The fourth- and fifth-grade actors were a joy to watch and put incredible heart and enthusiasm into their parts. The music selected to play between the scenes was perfect and couldn’t help but make the audience tap their feet and look forward to the next scene. Bravo!

— Diane Hofman, Aptos