Heartbroken over coming loss of Lot 4 trees

I went to Lot 4 a few weeks ago to visit the trees, the beautiful magnolia and liquid amber trees — now in their full leafy splendor. I tied a silk flower to each of these soon to be lost friends — healthy, vibrant heritage trees that will all be killed this summer by the developer’s chainsaw.

Standing quietly in the shadow of the abandoned Logos and Nickelodeon and many other empty storefronts, ever expanding high-rise luxury apartments, and increasing poverty and discouragement, I feel nothing but heartbreak.

What has happened to the soul of Santa Cruz, the town I have loved for so many years?

The destruction of Santa Cruz has been called by many “politically correct” names, but those of us who know better feel the pain and loss and are not deceived by the empty words of the planners and developers.

This is a very sad time. Each new loss is too much for this heart to bear.

— Satya Orion, Soquel

Once ‘sweet’ SC being lost as impacts ignored

When Mark Primack writes (April 6) of a “maturing” Santa Cruz’s big blocks of housing, with more to come, he fails to talk about where the water will come from, how it will impact our already gridlocked traffic and struggling medical services and so many more impacts. It will be hard to find what was once “sweet” about Santa Cruz town as it grows to city proportions.

— Tad Veltrop, Santa Cruz

Why historic preservation policies didn’t save house

Nick Sestanovich’s article on the Redman-Hirahara house was concise, well-written and fair.

Santa Cruz County Historic Resources Commission (HRC) is an advisory body that makes recommendations to the County Board of Supervisors. Nothing is more difficult or painful for commissioners than to be tasked with a proposal to delist a property from the National Register of Historic Places, particularly one they have carefully watched for decades as it has sadly and inevitably deteriorated.

The landmark house in Watsonville is a victim of a process called “demolition by neglect,” essentially meaning that historic preservation requirements can be effectively sidestepped if a building is ignored to the point that it begins to rot and fall down.

This might have been avoided if the county had an ordinance requiring property owners to maintain historical buildings. Without one, communities in non-incorporated areas will continue to see their favorite landmarks disappear.

— Carolyn Swift, Watsonville

‘Administrative error’ — who will be deported next?

If anyone is paying attention, the Trump administration had an innocent Kilmar Abrego Garcia grabbed off the street, and secretly (and illegally) sent him without any charges, evidence or even due process, to a notorious prison in El Salvador.

They claim this happened due to an “administrative error” — some error!

And now they claim they cannot get him back, despite the fact they paid El Salvador $6 million to house these deportees in that prison. Really? No power to bring him back?

Note that these prisoners have no access to lawyers, to their families or any due process. Not that the Trump administration has shown any interest in human rights.

Remember when we held disdain for countries where masked police grabbed people off the streets and secreted them away?

I guess this if fine with the MAGA folks, as long as it is not them.

But wait a minute, now Trump wants to be able to do this to American citizens too. Hopefully you won’t be a victim of one of their “administrative errors!”

— Phil Hormel, Scotts Valley

A cacophony of discordant SCS photo captions

A few weeks ago a caption in the Sentinel used the word “cacophony” to describe the clouds in one of Shmuel Thaler’s beautiful photographs. On the front page of the April 16 edition, there’s another gorgeous photo, this one describing the scene as “a colorful cacophony of California poppies.” As an old English teacher, I can’t let this pass twice. “Cacophony” refers to a harsh discordant sound. It is used to mean “ugly.” “Colorful cacophony” is a tempting alliteration; it is also an oxymoron.

Continue with the photos. We need all the beauty we can get these days, but please use your dictionary. I’ll give you an A for imagery but a D for diction.

— Neil Fairbairn, Santa Cruz