In a time of rising cost of living and escalating war spending abroad, voters in Santa Cruz County face a stark choice in the vote for U.S. House District 19 representative, writes activist Unhae Langis. She argues that current federal budgets favor militarization over community needs such as housing, healthcare and climate resilience, and contrasts incumbent Rep. Jimmy Panetta’s record with challenger Sean Dougherty’s platform. She believes Dougherty is a better choice for Santa Cruz County voters who don’t support military spending.
Unhae Langis
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Taxpayers Against Genocide lawsuit over funding Israeli military now includes Jimmy Panetta, District 19
Four Santa Cruz County locals, including author Unhae Langis, have joined a Northern California class action lawsuit known as Taxpayers Against Genocide, which charges that congressional representatives – including Rep. Jimmy Panetta and Sen. Alex Padilla – abused their “tax and spend” authority when they voted to allocate $26.38 billion in military aid to Israel on April 20, 2024. “The lawsuit appeals to the moral revulsion of American taxpayers who condemn genocide to defend a shared humanity,” Langis writes.