Feature Archives

On September 1st, Oaxaca's 5th MegaMarcha started in the community of San Felipe and ended at the zócalo in the center of Oaxaca City. Hundreds of thousands of people lined the streets and marched to demand the immediate departure of Ulises Ruiz Ortiz (URO), freedom for political prisoners, the cancellation of 70 government arrest warrants for people involved in the leaderless Popular Assembly of the People of Oaxaca (APPO, by its Spanish initials) and the desire for popular governance.
Photos: 1 | 2 | 3 | Slideshow || en español

Ann G. writes: Just came back to Santa Cruz after being in New Orleans. It's nice to be back, where peoples' homes are intact and not everything is toxic. My heart is heavy though, thinking about the people of New Orleans who have lost so much and continue to suffer.

One year after Katrina, less than half the population of New Orleans has returned. Tens of thousands of families still live in trailers and mobile homes with no plan in place to move them to permanent housing. Countless others are homeless. Rotting debris and toxic waste remain in many streets. Only half the city has electricity. Half it's hospitals and public schools remain closed. The suicide rate has tripled and many residents suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder. Read more and view photos

Audio: Peacetalks: Alan Jenkins, New Orleans one year after Hurricane Katrina

more info: One-Year Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina || New Orleans Indymedia || Alternative Relief Organizations

Gordon Soderberg writes: On September, 1st 2006 I got a link to this editorial called "Katrina Reflections" by Joseph W. Heston, President and General Manager of KSBW 8 in Santa Cruz, California. After I read it, I thought, this was a clear example of how the "commercial media" is pandering to the governments advertizing budgets.

I believe he needed to address all the flack that his pandering partners at the United Way, Red Cross and Salvation Army were getting in during the anniversary week of Katrina. Who knows maybe he got a call from the advertizing firm hired by the United Way, Red Cross or Salvation Army. One that might have said to get something good on T.V. Maybe the call was due to the fact that donations were dropping faster than the bombs in Iraq? Or maybe he didn't need a call since Heston is a member of the Board of the United Way of Monterey County...

Too bad he could not actually talk about the fact that most of the volunteers from Santa Cruz did not go to the Gulf Coast as United Way, Red Cross or Salvation Army. He knew he could not claim otherwize because of independent media sources like (http://www.indybay.org/santacruz/) documented the efforts of the people of Santa Cruz very well. Read more

SC-IMC coverage of local relief efforts: Audio, Photos and Written Reports from Houston and New Orleans || Santa Cruz Sends Relief to Louisiana || Malik Rahim Speaks About the Grassroots Response to Hurricane Katrina || Santa Cruz Billboard Shows Remarkable Candor || Gulf Coast Communities Still Need Help from Santa Cruz

Congressman, Sam Farr, held a “town hall” meeting on Monday in Santa Cruz at the Vet's Hall. It appeared that he showed up to rally his Democrat supporters, however, it was very clear that Farr was mostly at odds with the crowd in attendance. While attendees brought up a myriad of issues, the people's concern for the U.S. bombings and invasions of other countries overwhelmed the dialog. Farr did sign the Declaration of Peace, but did not offer other hopes to end U.S. driven war.

This meeting reminds us of the limited power our elected officials have to change policy which we are concerned about, such as ending U.S.-led war, such as in Iraq, and violent occupations, such as in Palestine and Haiti, or other issues such as higher education budgets and a violence-free and welcoming immigration policy. Is it the system that fails? Is it Farr that fails? What are we going to do? Read more

see also: Pro-War Diane Feinstein, What Are The Alternatives?

bikey mcridesalot writes: A fun mystery ride which found us running from the Bronze, ruling the Wastelands, and having a fun time exploring our community and making new friends! We arrived at the Bike Church to bolster our numbers and draw more to our ranks... As we explored the ruins of the industrial district, we were reminded of visages of a life past... As we left the ruins of Harvey West, the sun set brilliantly.

Join us every Friday outside of O'Neill's at 5:30 and for Critical Mass, the last Friday of every month at 5:30 at the Clock Tower! Hope to see you there as we advocate for bicycling in Santa Cruz, sustainable transportation, and best of all, make new friends and have fun riding together! Read more and view photos

see also: Pirates Roll Through Santa Cruz || 08/25 Critical Mass: Mission Failed!

John Malkin of Free Radio Santa Cruz interviewed Russ Rankin, lead vocalist of Santa Cruz based punk band Good Riddance. Russ talks about the band, political influences, activism and punk rock and their new album My Republic.

Audio: Download the mp3 (1 hour and 7 minutes / 30.8 MB)

The quartet exploded onto the world punk scene with their 1995 debut For God and Country and quickly began to cultivate a reputation for combining a strong social/political message with energetic live shows. Read more

California registered Medical Marijuana provider Roger Mentch was arrested last August 2005 for legally dispensing medical marijuana to registered patients and his hearing is scheduled for October. His arrest followed a previous conviction and sentencing in May of 2005 for providing medical marijuana to registered patients. His conviction was based on federal law and ignored California Compassionate Caregiver law. In spite of this, the judge in the case gave Mentch legal permission to continue to sell Medical Marijuana.

Mentch's arrests appear to be part of a trend of federal harassment of medical marijuana providers. He is only one of three registered Medical Marijuana providers in Santa Cruz County.

A Medical Marijuana Question and Answer Session with Attorney Ben Rice and a local ACLU Drug War representative was held on August 17th in the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors chamber, 701 Ocean St., Room 525.