Manu Koenig is not in touch with voters and is delaying progress on the rail-trail project

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In June 2022, 73% of Santa Cruz County’s voters defeated Measure D, the so-called Greenway measure, and stated loudly that the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line (SCBRL) should be used for “possible future passenger rail transportation.”

Manu Koenig – who is now District 1 county supervisor but had previously been executive director of Greenway, the nonprofit focused on turning the rail corridor into a bike and pedestrian trail – told the Santa Cruz Sentinel:

“I think the vote on Measure D means people are not ready to give up on the rail option yet. It’s important to honor the will of the people.”

He has gone back on his word and continues to do so. 

Before and since his election in 2020, Koenig has promoted Greenway’s agenda and was a major backer of both Capitola’s 2018 Measure L and the countywide Measure D in 2022. As a member of the board of directors of the Regional Transportation Commission (RTC), he has done much to delay, if not defer, progress on passenger rail on the SCBRL.

At the March 26 board of supervisors meeting, Koenig was instrumental in the board’s refusal to approve Segments 10 and 11 of the Coastal Rail Trail project. At the meeting, he voiced concerns about environmental impacts, saying they were inconsistent with the county’s general plan and climate action and adaptation plan. He called the amount of environmental damage “alarming.” 

That is ridiculous. 

The draft environmental impact report (EIR), which includes projections for tree removal, has been available for review since October 2023. So, declaring alarm over the tree removal estimates at this time is like Claude Rains declaring faux surprise over gambling in Casablanca, while quietly and happily taking his winnings from a croupier.

At that supervisors meeting, Chair Justin Cummings said:

“We really want to be respectful of the voters who voted on Measure D to move forward with the rail and trail option. I think it is really important and it’s our responsibility to continue to honor and respect the vote that was made at that point in time.”

He gets it. Koenig does not.

Note that this has happened before. In a contentious RTC meeting on May 4, 2023, Koenig voted against approving the final EIR for Segments 8 and 9 of the Coastal Rail Trail project, even though the City of Santa Cruz unanimously certified the EIR.

At that meeting, Koenig was rebuffed by Commissioner Mike Rotkin and Alternate Andy Schiffrin. Schiffrin also stated that “[with] Measure D, over 70% of the voters said they don’t want to remove the tracks. Trying to justify a project that is going to fly in the face of what the public wants, I don’t think that’s what this commission wants to do, and I don’t think it’s the appropriate thing to do.”

Again, Rotkin and Schiffrin got it. Koenig did not, which brings up the question: Why does Koenig so adamantly go against the objectives of the county’s voters (and his District 1 constituents)?

I am a resident of District 1 and am one of those constituents. I feel Koenig is not listening to us. I think he has his own agenda, which conflicts with the voters’ demands. This was clearly seen with Koenig’s ill-fated pop-up bike lane debacle on Portola Drive in 2021.

Also, considering that Koenig gathered endorsements from many pro-trail/pro-Greenway people, it seems likely that he is still doing their bidding in trying to stop passenger rail from becoming a reality in this county. Since that goes against the will of the voters who defeated Measure D, I think it’s time to remove Koenig from his position as District 1 supervisor.

It is time to recall Koenig and replace him with someone who is more aligned with the objectives of my district’s constituents. Those objectives were overwhelmingly voiced with the defeat of Measure D.

Peter Gibson is a retired software engineer who lives in Soquel.