Santa Cruz approves Double Shot tower

Wow... I can't believe it. I also can't believe the way they describe the elected officials (socialist, poet, etc.).

I think it's refreshing to read an article that isn't riddled with corporate speak and describes people in ways other then the method by which they obtain money.

Santa Cruz seems like a place that really has its act together and knows how to seperate the wheat from the chaff.

From the article:

She said she was concerned about ``the amount of screaming'' and hoped it didn't lead to more crime.

Is this one of the most spectacular leaps in logic ever or just a poorly worded sentence?

"Oldtimer Dave Ferrari urged the council not to listen to the ``small little band of people who complain about everything.''"

Now there is someone who has the right perspective on things. I wish more down to earth people like this would be more outspoken. Hoo-rah to the old timer.

The San Jose Mercury is a great paper. By the way Gonch, good catch.

This is simply pulitzer prize caliber stuff right here:

Vice Mayor Mike Rotkin, an avowed socialist, said he was ``not prepared to do anything for money.'' But, he said, ``If you can't approve a ride at an amusement park, it might make people think their government is going crazy.''

Its funny when someone steps up to bat like that Mr. Ferrari guy in that artical.One quick comment can pretty much put people in there places.

It is nice to see an article that pins the elected officals for what they are. It is also nice to see capitalism and property rights win for once.

The story can also be found here:
http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/archive/2004/February/11/local/stories/02local.htm

I heard and was told of much negativity about the tower ride and the Boardwalk itself by a number of people "in the know". It was the majority favoring the Boardwalk who packed the council chamber, and the city council who cut through the clutter and voted with common sense in seeing the Boardwalk is the single highest tax revenue source in the city, and helping them in turn helps city coffers in this time of uncertainity here in California. The Boardwalk attracts many visitors from ALL OVER Northern California, including many from the central and northern San Joaquin Valley where I live. It's the last of it's kind on the West Coast. It doesn't have the upsidedown roller coasters the big majors have, but it has something the big theamers don't, THE OCEAN and the way things were before Disney and Six Flags. Congratulations to the city leaders of Santa Cruz for making the right decision, and keeping a California icon strong in the land of the giants. Paradise Pier at Disneys California Adventure was based on the old boardwalk amusement piers, and check out King Trition's Carrousel where you'll find the logo on the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk along with logos of the other long ago parks of California.

Wow, I never looked that close on King Triton's. I'll just have to look again.

I don't know about "nice to see capitalism winning" or anything like that. Given the oppulence of this country, I'd say it won flat-out a long time ago. There really is a problem with the way we treat our environment. There needs to be a balance though. And it is possible for both sides to go too far. And liberal as I am, this issue was going too far. The energy should have been saved for something else.

I'm sure no one would have complained if they decided to take the city off the power grid by erecting the world's largest wind turbine.

Then again...

The logos of the old defunct California amusement parks are on the "joint cover shields" of the outside rim of King Triton's Carrousel. San Diego's Belmont Park logo is there, along with the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk logo. Nice touch to honor the places that had (and still have) the magic, besides the re-creation of those places that is the theme of Paradise Pier. K.T.C. is the first in history to feature all sea animals/mamals (whales, dolphins, seals etc.) Previously only "Sea Dragons" or "Hippocamos" were used by the carousel carving masters. It was carousels or merry go rounds that were the foundation for amusement parks and piers over a century ago, with Coney Island having over a dozen spinning at one time.