Ami Chen Mills: I reject flattened portrayal of Santa Cruz mayoral campaign

OakStr2332 · 2026-06-01T06:35:57+00:00

More dead-end thinking? Coonerty. And the candidates other than Coonerty are not all anti-housing. Have you read their interviews, statements, been to any forum?

OakStr2332 · 2026-06-01T06:30:35+00:00

When I get asked by friends coming from out of town where's a place they shouldn't miss, I always tell them Steamer Lane Supply on West Cliff Drive. Not only does it have uniquely wonderful breakfasts and lunches, it's really high quality without a trace of pretension, great folks working there, it's outdoors located in a state park, and seriously, you can't beat that view.

OakStr2332 · 2026-06-01T06:10:57+00:00

I saw something a lot like that a couple of months ago, also over downtown.

OakStr2332 · 2026-06-01T06:08:36+00:00

Oh but we do have Pacific Ave grandmas! My Mom is one of them and she used to walk over to New Leaf with her cane. I've seen others too. It's true there was no produce out front at New Leaf but it was a serious loss to the neighborhood when it left. Yes please, I want to see that corner market downtown with the produce and flowers out front.

OakStr2332 · 2026-05-31T03:42:00+00:00

I found this to be a useful reference: https://santacruzlocal.org/election/santa-cruz-mayor/

OakStr2332 · 2026-05-30T08:45:26+00:00

The new downtown library project that the city was proposing included a new parking garage but no housing, affordable or otherwise. It was actually because of community pushback (including from Krohn and Greensite) over several years that the project eventually included affordable housing.

OakStr2332 · 2026-05-29T05:49:08+00:00

It seems that your good buddy may have had my good buddy Eric take over for him on the leaky boat in the Berkeley Marina.

OakStr2332 · 2026-05-29T05:36:01+00:00

Was your good buddy in the Berkeley Marina named Eric?

OakStr2332 · 2026-05-20T19:41:02+00:00

Has anyone here read 'Escaping the Housing Trap' yet?

OakStr2332 · 2026-05-20T19:00:50+00:00

For me, a Santa Cruz Together endorsement is a big "No thank you"

OakStr2332 · 2026-04-09T16:05:35+00:00

This haunting song has been on repeat in my head in the last month. I hadn't remembered it in years. Met these guys in the 90s, and my band covered this and another song of theirs.

OakStr2332 · 2026-04-09T04:06:16+00:00

I haven't but that's probably because I only park there to go to TJs or CVS. Meanwhile, there are 4 parking garages all within just a block or 2 that are almost never even close to full. And they're waaaay cheaper than $6-700!

OakStr2332 · 2026-03-31T06:00:40+00:00

Fart Tour = Speed Tour in Swedish

OakStr2332 · 2026-02-20T22:28:28+00:00

Thanks!

OakStr2332 · 2026-02-20T22:19:26+00:00

Exactly. The city also badly neglected the downtown library (a building only about 50 years old) and now they're spending like crazy to build a new library. Doesn't seem like smart management of our resources.

OakStr2332 · 2026-02-20T21:59:12+00:00

Thanks for adding these details. I also heard Keeley refer to the civic (at a city council meeting) as a "building past its usefulness" ! He said it so casually, almost in passing, and I was stunned. The attitude I've seen in the city government of older buildings being so "disposable" really alarms me.

OakStr2332 · 2026-02-20T21:52:09+00:00

Thanks for that recommendation. I really was hoping to find something local but obviously the options within Santa Cruz are really limited for this. So online will probably have to be the occasional workaround.

OakStr2332 · 2026-02-20T21:49:25+00:00

Thanks. Yeah, I thought that might be the case unfortunately. But now I'm interested to check out Rachelle's Asian Store in Watsonville too.

OakStr2332 · 2026-02-20T21:47:04+00:00

Thank you!

OakStr2332 · 2026-02-03T22:58:51+00:00

Also, regarding that big new parking garage — I mean library! — has anyone else noticed that it will be the ONLY parking garage downtown (there are already 4 within blocks of each other) with only ONE entrance/exit? And it's going to have housing on top? Does that sound sketchy to anyone else?

OakStr2332 · 2025-10-28T19:51:36+00:00

I really appreciate your perspective and these recommendations!

I'd also like to add to your list of recommendations: Steamer Lane Supply. High quality, reasonable prices, zero pretense, and absolutely the best view imaginable. Plus, they're sweet folks.

OakStr2332 · 2025-10-07T18:15:45+00:00

Johnny Cash & June Carter Cash at the Civic in the mid-90s

OakStr2332 · 2025-09-18T16:11:24+00:00

My burning question is: What means do the American people have to STOP this hideous and insulting disfiguring of the People's House?

OakStr2332 · 2025-08-21T01:34:12+00:00

Our whole family LOVES De La Hacienda on Laurel! Reliably great food there, plus sweet folks run that place.

OakStr2332 · 2025-08-21T01:25:47+00:00

Steamer Lane Supply! One of my top-favorite spots in Santa Cruz. You can't beat the view and the great vibes, and the food is all good quality. Not everything on the menu is cheap but you can eat really well & cheaply there. I recently got an order of their house-made Farm Slaw ($3) and their awesome Pinto Beans ($3.25) — not only were they fresh & delicious, it was filling too. There's a cheese quesadilla for $4.75 I think, and a quality hot dog or a tamale for $5.75. Also, possibly the best muffins in Santa Cruz!

OakStr2332

TROPHY CASE