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From the Editor

Thursday, 04 February 2010 17:13 Greg Archer Columns - Editors Note
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greg_archerS2sPlus Letters to Good Times
Embrace Real Celebs
Totally Taxing
Time for the Heart

How often do you use your car, even if it’s just to go down the block to get a last-minute grocery item? There’s a strong chance that many of us use our automobiles far more than necessary, which brings us to this week’s cover story and an interesting question: Are you addicted to using your car as your only means of transportation? I admit it. I may be an addict. (Hi, my name is Greg and I’m a car-aholic ... it’s a convertible—it’s too low to the damn ground and God knows why I still have it—but yes, yes, I think I’m addicted to using it, and only it, as my single method of getting around!) We may all be in the same boat, so peruse this week’s cover story by Elizabeth Limbach, and dive into our pullout (“Commute Solutions”) to learn the myriad ways you can be making a difference environmentally by using sustainable transportation. And it’s not just about being “green”—although, isn’t “blue” the new green? It’s about making better choices all around—for your own health and the health of the planet we live on.

In other news, it’s that time of year again. It’s time to vote for the Best Of Santa Cruz County. Visit our online voting and get going. Take note of a few new categories this year too.

In the meantime, it’s the first week of February, which  means Valentine’s Day is coming. My advice: don’t be afraid to take yourself out on a date that weekend. True, it’s cheaper, but the bottom line? You gotta dig yourself enough before you can really dig somebody “out there” in a good way.

Keep me posted ...

Greg Archer | Editor

Letters to Good Times Editor

Embrace Real Celebs
Regarding “4 To Watch” and the NEXTies Awards story and recap online with video on GTv, it's refreshing to see local papers give credit to the real celebrities in our community seeking ways to make this county and the world beyond better—to cut the crap and make things happen. Enough of the drugged out, illicit affairs and babies and overnight icons. Thank you. Thank you.
Kathy Cheer
Santa Cruz

Totally Taxing
Regarding a recent letter, I'd like to ask Jason Loring to be a little more specific about the exact source of his data from the IRS. The sources I read suggest that about 97-98 percent of the wealth in this country is owned by the top 10 percent with the the upper 2 percent owning about 90 percent of that. Has he considered state and local taxes, various utility taxes and the myriad hidden taxes that get passed on to the consumer.
And has he counted the stashes in foreign banks a la the Cayman Islands or Switzerland?
There is an old saying that goes “Statistics don't lie but statisticians do?”
Don Dibble
Santa Cruz

Time for the Heart
I just read the beautifully written article called “The Gift of Time” by Duffie Bart (GT 1/28). It made me think about what’s in my heart instead of in my head. I loved her article and can feel her big beautiful smile in her words. I am approaching 50 and this article went right to my heart. I am going to try and live from the heart for the second half of my life. Thank you Duffie Bart—you “touched” my heart. Happy Valentine’s (Heart) Day! It’s my favorite day of the year.
Cammy Goldmann
Santa Cruz

Making Sense
In reference to your article, “A Salty Situation” (GT 1/19), People Power would to like to clarify that we are advocates for sensible transportation in Santa Cruz County and not water quality issues. We advocate for public transportation and support human-scale development. Although we are proud to have Rich Longinotti as a member, People Power neither supports nor dismisses the desalination plant as a viable source of drinking water. We do, however, support proper hydration whilst enjoying another beautiful day riding a bike.
Paul Hempstead
People Power


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