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The recent Lookout editorial on Measure C was thoughtful and well-reasoned. It’s right to recognize that both the City and County of Santa Cruz face a severe housing crisis that demands real solutions. But the editorial’s caveat — that voters should approve Measure C only if the city can demonstrate it spends money wisely — makes the measure a non-starter.
As a pragmatic progressive, I find myself in an uncomfortable position. My ideals align with those of most Santa Cruz residents: We want an inclusive, sustainable community with housing people can afford. But my insistence on realism puts me at odds with those who govern here. Anyone who’s been paying attention knows that it’s the idealistic progressives running the city and county who have led us into this situation. Accountability is virtually nonexistent.
The only real form of feedback we have left is to “vote the bums out,” yet we rarely do. Our local leaders seem to have an almost reflexive faith in government itself — a belief so strong it prevents them from measuring outcomes honestly or correcting course when policies fail. And correction is what matters most.
Given that reality, and given the editorial’s own condition for support, there is simply no realistic basis for trusting the city to do what it promises with Measure C funds. Until we see evidence of competence and accountability, new taxes are not the solution — they’re a reward for failure.
Will Mayall
Santa Cruz