living in Santa Cruz pre-1989

Greetings
I am looking for old school peeps who were living in Santa Cruz pre-89.
I was born in SantaCruz, and left for a long journey through Europe one month before the 1989 earth/change, my grand mother advised me to continue on my journey. I returned home a year later, most of my friends had scattered to the 4 directions, and housing had become so expensive I could not afford to stay for long. Well as the universe played me, I discovered & moved to my beloved adopted home of New Orleans in 1991...durring the last 2 years while dealing with all the katrina kaos, I am reminded in some ways about the tragedy of 1989, and all the bonds that were broken due to migration & circumstantial displacement.
Obviously, Katrina, the flooding of New Orleans, & the loss of life is a huge tragedy,perhaps more so then 1989, but for me the pain and sorrow is the same, it cuts deep. You see, I lost My home in NOLA, and some friends.I have been trying to move back for two years...the realestate inflation & gentrification have hit hard in New Orleans. New Orleans does not have the economy to support high prices, and life is really hard there, no resources, out of control murder rate ...AHHHGG>Breaks MY Heart..So, here I am in NYC thanks to rent control! I am remembering where I came from, what I loss, found and loss again, HOME. I loss contact with 97% of my SantaCruz friends, and I've learned a very important (& painful) lesson from that loss - that is keep in touch, and return often, never give up on the people, and the place you love. I hope to return to living in New Orleans someday. As for my birth home Santa Cruz-I tried to return once, twice, then I gave up on her... Its been a long time since I walked through elf land, or rode my bike to Ben Lomand, or along the coastal highway. Its been a long time since I saw my Santa Cruz peeps. If you feel me, Holla! Peace, A.M. Hann

 

I lived in Pacific Grove but biked to Santa Cruz regularly and spent a lot of time there in 1987-1988. Nice place then, far too yuppified now...

 

Yes it was a great time to be living in Santa Cruz. It is crazy how things change so drastically after a disaster. I am concerned that the rebuilding of New Orleans will produce the same result if the city and federal goverment continue their refusal to enforce rent control,and stop the demolition of public housing. There is always the danger of damaging the spirit of a place when community people are exiled due to economic status and other variables. Still there is hope.
Senate bill 1668 ensures a just rebuilding of the southern gulf coast.
Peace
Ahda

 

Senate Bill 1668 Additional info. http://www.nasco.coop/node/995

• CALL TO ACTION: Solidarity With New Orleans Demand that the Senate approve Senate Bill 1668 ( numbers listed below)
• THE GULF COAST RECOVERY ACT>>>>>
• • It has been over 2 years since Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans and the Gulf Coast, displacing hundreds of thousands of people from their homes and communities. Yet, while the storms wrecked havoc across the Gulf, it has been the actions of people, not nature, that have continued to devastate New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. The realities are grim: in New Orleans, over 100,000 residents continue to be dispersed across the nation, homelessness has gone up from 6,000 people to between 12,000 and 16,000 since Katrina, rents have skyrocketed as much as 70%, and in the next 3 months 65,000 people will be kicked out of their FEMA trailers across the Gulf Coast. Despite the clear need for affordable housing in New Orleans, bulldozers and wrecking balls are being prepared to demolish 4,605 units of viable public housing units with the plan of only replacing 744 units.

• Demand that the Senate approve Senate Bill 1668
• THE GULF COAST RECOVERY ACT>>>>>
•
• • Senator David Vitter: The Louisiana senator actively supporting the demolitions by blocking the passage of Senate Bill 1668: The Gulf Coast Recovery Act. Put pressure on him to support SB 1668. Washington D.C. Office (202) 224-4623 New Orleans Office (504) 589-2753

• Senate Banking,Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee Members: SB 1668 is currently stuck in the Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs committee. Demand that they approve SB 1668
o Senator Christopher Dodd (202) 224-2823
o Senator Tim Johnson (202) 224-1638
o Senator Jack Reed (202) 224-4642
o Senator Charles Schumer 202-224-0420
o Senator Evan Bayh (202) 224-5623
o Senator Tom Carper (202) 224-2441
o Senator Robert Menendez (202) 224-4744
o Senator Daniel Akaka (202) 224-6361
o Senator Sherrod Brown (202) 224-2315
o Senator Robert Casey (202) 224-6324
o Senator Jon Tester (202) 224-2644
o Senator Richard Shelby (202) 224-5744
o Senator Robert Bennent (202) 224-5444
o Senator Wayne Allard (202) 224-5941
o Senator Michael Enzi (202) 224-3424
o Senator Chuck Hagel (202) 224-4224
o Senator Jim Bunning (202) 224-4343
o Senator Mike Crapo (202) 224-6142
o Senator John Sununu (202) 224-2841
o Senator Elizabeth Dole (202) 224-6342