A LOCAL DEVELOPER HAS UNTIL WEDNESDAY TO CONVINCE A SANTA CRUZ DOWNTOWN LANDOWNER TO SELL. BUT DEVELOPER BOLTON HILL SAYS IT ISN'T ENOUGH TIME AND IS ASKING CITY OFFICIALS FOR A THREE-MONTH EXTENSION. THE RELUCTANT PROPERTY OWNER IS RON LAU WHO OWNS A VACANT LOT ON PACIFIC AVENUE. HILL PROPOSED A PROJECT WHICH WOULD INCLUDE CONDOS, RETAIL STORES, A PARKING GARAGE AND RESTAURANT THAT REACHES FROM PACIFIC AVENUE TO CEDAR STREET THE CITY COUNCIL WILL MAKE A DECISION ON WHETHER TO EXTEND THE WEDNESDAY DEADLINE AT THEIR MEETING TODAY. IF AN AGREEMENT WITH LAU CAN NOT BE NEGOTIATED, THE USE OF EMINENT DOMAIN, COULD BE USED TO AQUIRE THE PROPERTY.

A PROMINENT LABOR ATTORNEY DIED IN CARMEL . EUGENE MILLER DIED AT THE AGE OF 76 OF BLADDER CANCER EARLIER THIS MONTH. MILLER REPRESENTED NUMEROUS UNIONS IN HIS 50-YEAR-CAREER. IN ADDITION TO HIS WORK WITH UNIONS, MILLER GAVE SEMINARS, WROTE ARTICLES, AND TAUGHT LABOR AND UNION LAW AT MONTEREY COLLEGE OF LAW, MONTEREY PENINSULA COLLEGE, UCLA'S EXTENSION, AND THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS. HE IS SURVIVED BY HIS WIFE, 3 SONS, 3 STEP-CHILDREN, AND 2 GRANDCHILDREN. MEMORIAL DONATIONS CAN BE MADE IN EUGENE MILLER'S NAME TO THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY.

A BILL WAS INTRODUCED IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE THAT WOULD COLLECT A TAX ON CARGO CONTAINERS FOR SECURITY COSTS. ASSEMBLY BILL 1406 CHARGES $10 FOR EACH CARGO CONTAINER HANDLED BY CALIFORNIA PORTS AND HARBORS. THE STATE OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY WOULD COLLECT AND ADMINISTER THE FEE. THE U.S. COAST GUARD ESTIMATES THAT NATIONAL PORT SECURITY WILL COST $5.4 BILLION DOLLARS OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS. CALIFORNIA HANDLES JUST UNDER HALF OF THE NATION'S WATERBORNE CARGO. ALTHOUGH FEDERAL OFFICIALS SAY 100 PERCENT OF ALL SEAPORT CARGO IS SCREENED FOR POTENTIAL DANGER, IN FACT ONLY 6 PERCENT OF CARGO GETS A COMPLETE INSPECTION BY X-RAY, BY HAND OR BOTH.

ABOUT 70 SUPPORTERS OF THE $100 MILLION HOTEL AND CONFERENCE CENTER PROJECT RALLIED OUTSIDE THE CIVIC AUDITORIUM IN SANTA CRUZ TODAY. THEY ARE ASKING SANTA CRUZ VOTERS NOT TO SIGN A PETITION THAT WOULD CREATE A SPECIAL ELECTION ON THE ISSUE. THEY HAVE THE SUPPORT OF MAYOR MIKE ROTKIN WHO SAID "WE NEED TO GET THIS PROJECT GOING." SANTA CRUZ WOULD LOSE ABOUT $700,000 A YEAR IN TAX REVENUE WHILE THE HOTEL IS BEING BUILT, BUT ONCE COMPLETE UNION REPRESENTATIVES SAY IT WILL ADD MUCH-NEEDED EMPLOYMENT IN THE AREA.