IN A 4-2 VOTE THURSDAY THE SANTA CRUZ PLANNING COMMISSION DENIED THE PROPOSED RIVER STREET MEDICAL MARIJUANA GROW AND DISPENSARY.   THE PLAN WAS STRONGLY OPPOSED BY NEIGHBORS WHO BELIEVE THE PROBLEM WITH HEROIN IN THE AREA WOULD ONLY BE EXACERBATED BY THE DISPENSARY.   THE DENIAL CAN BE APPEALED TO THE Santa Cruz CITY COUNCIL.    THE COLLECTIVE REQUIRED A SPECIAL USE PERMIT TO OPERATE WITHIN 600 FEET OF A RESIDENTIAL ZONE,  AND THERE ARE MORE THAN TWO DOZEN UNITS ON THREE SIDES OF THE BUILDING AT 1321 RIVER STREET.

A SERIES OF MEETINGS TO ADDRESS GANG VIOLENCE IS COMING TO MONTEREY COUNTY.    RESIDENTS WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE CONCERNS ABOUT GANG VIOLENCE AND IDENTIFY WAYS MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY CAN SUPPRESS IT.     MEETINGS WILL BE HELD AT THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS:

- GREENFIELD AT 6 P-M APRIL 30^th AT THE CITY HALL ON 599 EL CAMINO REAL.

- SEASIDE AT 6:00 PM MAY 2^nd AT THE LAGUNA GRANDE HALL ON 986  HILBY AVENUE.

- CASTROVILLE AT 6:00 PM MAY 8^th AT THE JAPANESE SCHOOL HOUSE ON 11199 GEIL STREET

- SALINAS AT 6:00 MAY 9^th AT 6:00 PM AT LA PAZ MIDDLE SCHOOL ON 1300 SANBORN ROAD.

A FULL INVESTIGATION IS BEING LAUNCHED INTO QUESTIONABLE SPENDING SPREES BY ALIAS UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT’S SUPERINTENDENT.    JOHN RAMIREZ RECENTLY USED A SCHOOL-ISSUED VISA FOR A SHOPPING STINT AT MACY’S, MOVIE TICKETS, FANCY DINNERS, CAR WASHES AND CAR RENTALS.    RAMIREZ, WHO IS A TOP EDUCATOR AND SERVES AROUND 8 THOUSAND STUDENTS, IS THE ONLY PERSON IN THE ALISAL UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT WHO HAS A CREDIT CARD PAID FOR BY THE DISTRICT.

A FIRE BROKE OUT BEHIND A FENCE AT A LOCAL B.B.Q. JOINT IN MONTEREY THURSDAY AND THE OWNER JUMPED INTO HELP BUT OUT THE BLAZE.    HENRY OF HENRY’S B.B.Q. NOTICED THE FLAMES AND GRABBED A HOSE IN ATTEMPT TO DOUSE THEM WHILE WAITING FOR FIRE CREWS TO ARRIVE.   WITH FIREFIGHTERS ON SCENE THE BLAZE WAS PUT OUT IN SEVERAL MINUTES.   THE STRUCTURE AND SURROUNDING AREA HAD AN ESTIMATED 5 THOUSAND DOLLARS IN DAMAGES,   THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE IS YET UNKNOWN.