Affordable housing isn’t a matter of opinion — it’s math, writes Doug Erickson, founder of Santa Cruz Works. Here, he explains why developers of new market-rate housing aren’t the villains they’re often made out to be, and why affordable and market-rate homes play different but complementary roles. Understanding the economics behind both will help us navigate Santa Cruz’s housing crisis, he writes.
Doug Erickson
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Joby, drones and the Dutch: The Central Coast is playing a smart economic long game
For decades, California’s Central Coast watched major economic booms happen elsewhere, writes Doug Erickson, co-founder of Santa Cruz Works. Now, Monterey Bay DART, Joby Aviation, UC Santa Cruz and a coalition of both regional and international partners are building a new aviation ecosystem that is attracting investment, workforce funding and international attention.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
The RTC finally chooses progress over paralysis on the rail trail
The RTC’s vote for the interim trail marks the first real movement on the rail corridor after a decade of drift, writes Doug Erickson, founder and executive director of Santa Cruz Works. The interim trail — buildable, fundable and immediately useful — aligns policy with reality and public demand.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Could Dave have talked HAL into opening the pod doors if HAL was an advanced AGI?
Doug Erickson, Santa Cruz tech guru and founder of Santa Cruz Works, helps us understand artificial intelligence by taking us back to 1968’s cult classic “2001: A Space Odyssey.” Could that fictional scenario of machines taking over for people happen with today’s AI? He leads us through some scenarios.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
AI is our friend, even in Santa Cruz County. Why are we so afraid of it?
Local tech guru and Santa Cruz Works co-founder Doug Erickson ponders the fear surrounding artificial intelligence and the push to regulate it. It’s not a demon monster, he says, but something we all already use in Santa Cruz County. And he applauds our leaders for being open to it. He suggests we approach it with cautious optimism. “AI has the potential to carry us into an epoch of remarkable transformation — one where human effort is minimized, decisions are optimized and public services reach heights of quality previously unimagined,” he writes.
