On February 23 UC Santa Cruz chancellor MRC Greenwood was promoted to Provost - the second highest position next to President. As provost, Greenwood receives an annual pay increase of $110,000, bringing her total salary to $380,000. Higher and higher salaries for UC administrators is a growing trend, while student tuitions also increase. At the same time, UCSC's clerical and custodial employees, already understaffed, are burdened with an expanding workload, as the campus grows.

In light of budget shortfalls, University Labor United, a coalition of campus unions at UCSC have demanded Greenwood turn down the raise. As invited guests and friends of Greenwood attended her farewell gala at the Coconut Grove on, June 3, a coalition of unions students, and community members came out to protest.

Free Radio Santa Cruz reporter Emily Hell was on scene to provide live coverage on Rockin' the Boat.

Audio: [ Listen to the Stream or Download the mp3 ]

A mass mobilization is afoot from June 3-9 in San Francisco to oppose the hostile corporate takeover of the necessities of life, and to demonstrate the solutions to corporate power that already exist. I’m forwarding this because it’s very much a grassroots effort, and we are what makes up those grassroots…

The biotechnology industry will be meeting in San Francisco from June 6-9th, to "celebrate the benefits of biotech to health, agriculture, the economy and the environment." BIO 2004 will be met with an alternative gathering called Reclaim the Commons, from June 3-9th. Although BIO's website claims that the Bay Area "is the world's leading bioscience corridor," the Bay Area is also renowned for its recent resistance against global capitalism, protests against destruction of the environment, and the US war on Iraq.

Reclaim the Commons consists of a number of working groups that focus on greening the Bay Area, messaging, a welcome center, and the planning of various actions. Read a list of events - and add your own event(s) - on the Reclaim the Commons Calendar.

[ Reclaim the Commons Coverage on Indymedia I BioDev Teach-In | West Coast G8 I Indybay's Biotech page I Biotech IMC ]

On March 27, 2004 about 500 Santa Cruzans came together to protest next year’s proposed budget. Projected county budget cuts attempt to compensate for a loss of 7.5 million state dollars by cutting 118 jobs, 80 of which are from the human and health services departments. This lopsided allocation of funds will directly affect programs like Medical, Foods Stamps, In Home Services, and Public Health Nurses. Organizers called for more equitable distribution of available funds.


Santa Cruz County budget hearings will be held June 15 – 25 at 9AM on the fifth floor of the county building and are open to the public.



Audio: Workers Independent News Service (WINS) coverage

In Home Services Slated for Cuts

CopWatch groups have become a phenomenon in America, out of dire necessity. I interview the creators of the new Portland's Worst Cops Card Deck, and take a look at police accountability tactics and organizations in this article...as well as review how to start a CopWatch group/action yourself...

It is now a phenomenon. CopWatch organizations are being set up all over America, by ordinary citizens, driven to police the police, in grassroots community efforts. Portland (Portland Copwatch and Rose City Copwatch), Austin, NYC, Santa Cruz, Cincinnati, Phoenix, Berkeley, Tucson, Denver, and more, have CopWatch organizations in their cities. And CopWatch groups are networking and training each other. Berkeley CopWatch came down to Santa Cruz to help start Santa Cruz Copwatch.

Texas Copwatch describes Copwatch as "a group of ordinary people who observe and record police activity on the streets. We do this because we believe that police brutality is widespread in our communities and that the only way to stop it is to challenge it directly."

Berkeley’s CopWatch describes itself as a community based volunteer organization that “monitors police activity in the Southside neighborhood, and elsewhere, in an effort to defend the rights of all citizens, especially those who live on the street, who are people of color, or are otherwise disenfranchised. Everyone has a right to fair treatment under the law. Copwatch also carries out campaigns and distributes educational material geared at ending institutionalized injustice and police misconduct in our communities.�

Copwatch 101 booklet

At 10:15 a.m. on Thursday, May 13, agents from the Federal Communications Commision attempted to gain entry into the studio of Free Radio Santa Cruz. Skidmark Bob approached the pair to ask if they had received complaints of interference. Both agents said the only problem was the station isn't licensed. As they left, Agent Hartshorn threatened to return with a warrant if FRSC did not shut down.

The all volunteer, collectively-run, community based radio station began broadcasting in the spring of 1995, providing Santa Cruz radio listeners with a diverse array of music, talk, and experimental programming unparalleled by anything on the local dial.

The FCC visit comes just five days after the 35 watt station relocated to a new home and new spot on the dial. After nine years of broadcasting at 96.3 FM, a previously unused frequency, FRSC operators moved to 101.1 FM. The switch comes as a good faith effort to avoid interference with Air 1. Last summer, the Christian rock station was granted a license for a ten watt repeater on 96.3 FM in Salinas, CA.

Thursday's visit to Free Radio Santa Cruz is yet another attempt at silencing the tiny station, despite strong community support. On September 3, 2003, the Santa Cruz City Council voted 7-0 in support of an emergency resolution calling on the FCC to leave the station alone.

[ Audio: FCC Visit at the New Location I FRSC vs FCC Skidmix I Coverage from DiyMedia.net ]

This is a short excerpt from the film followed by the information about the event.

Please come on Sunday November 20th at 7 pm at the Resource Center for Nonviolence to watch the new film "Walking Rainbow: Fred Moore remembered" followed by a panel discussion about nonviolent direct action and the legacy of Fred Moore. We are asking for a $5-20 sliding scale donation, with no one turned away for lack of funds. Proceeds will go to help with distribution of "Walking Rainbow"

Actions against military recruiting in our schools and universities are steadily increasing.

National "Not Your Soldier" Youth and Student Day of Action, Thursday November 17th at a high school or college campus near you.... Are military recruiters invading your schools and using promises of scholarships and career opportunities to convince your friends to join the military? You are not alone! On November 17, International Students Day, join youth and students from around the country in the first nationally coordinated day of action for and about young people! NOT YOUR SOLDIER!

HELP STOP THE WAR MACHINE!!