Residents' Resolutions Revealed

It's just a day before the New Year, but some Santa Cruz residents still haven't thought about making any resolutions. Some even say they aren't going to make any.

But never fear. There are people out there in the community who have something to say about their hopes and dreams for 2012.  

Here’s what a few of them—from street musicians to business owners to public officials—have to say at the very end of 2011.

“For the city, I hope we can continue to provide good services while keeping our budget balanced,” Santa Cruz Mayor Don Lane says.

On a personal level, Lane reveals that one of his resolutions is to ride his bike more often to work and to meetings, especially in the evenings and when it’s cold out.    

“Carving out some time every day to focus on email without distractions is another goal I have for this coming year," he says. "It's not unusual for me to receive 50 substantive emails in a day, and it’s a real challenge.”  

For Kevin Vogel, Santa Cruz chief of police, a desire to bring his department to full staffing during 2012 is on the top of the list.

“My professional New Year’s resolution is to hire qualified and extraordinarily talented people,” says the chief.

Enjoying life more and spending more time with family and friends during 2012 is his personal resolution.

Street musician Mama Val Promise, 53, has big plans for 2012, but her resolution is not a musical one.

“I’m actually continuing on my last year’s one, which is to make up more than a bazillion dollars," she says. "I have all kinds of business ideas, so I like to move forward, and music is what I do for fun and joy.”  

Promise is a publisher, she says, and hasn’t always been a musician. She claims it’s all part of a very colorful mid-life crisis.

Fellow musician Lee Wilson, 54, also of Santa Cruz, intends to quit smoking. He does wish the city would make a resolution in 2012 to close Pacific Avenue to traffic from Cathcart Street all the way to the end and keep it open only for merchants and emergency vehicles.

“I’d love to see a walking mall here like we used to have,” says Wilson.

David Philp, 54, also enjoys playing music on Pacific Avenue. His resolution is to get his guitar sent to him from Chicago, where he was visiting a few years ago.

Otherwise, Philp says he’s doing pretty good playing his 1905 Gibson mandolin, which he claims he found half broken in a garbage can 18 years ago and then gave it away. Recently the mandolin was returned to him and had been repaired by a friend.

Philp, who has lived in the area for 33 years, plays out on Pacific Avenue every day for some pocket change and occasional cigarettes.

Eco Goods founder and owner Elaine Berke says her New Year’s resolution is to continue to educate the public about the value of environmental products and how empowering it can be to make conscious choices about merchandise that impact our environment. 

“The sign outside suggests that our resolution to customers should be to buy green,” she says.

Working harder to satisfy people’s requests and finding products that are non-toxic and biodegradable will be a continuing achievement for Berke in 2012.

When asked what the New Year’s resolution is for the Catalyst, employee Vanessa Lucas explains the agenda for 2012.

“We are trying to get different types of music in here to invite people to come in and maybe sit and view music they may otherwise may never have been introduced to before,” she says.

The Catalyst's recently remodeled room in the downstairs courtyard will host local bands like New Zoo Revolt and touring bands, in addition to a jazz jam every Monday night. There are shows for 16-year-olds and up, but generally the Catalyst is a 21-and-over club.

Dave Lermini, Logos Books manager, reveals his resolution, which could be inspiring to others.

“Have all my pet peeves put up for adoption,” says Lermini.