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In a newsletter sent to his constituents on Sept. 8, District 1 Santa Cruz County Supervisor Manu Koenig referred to the ZEPRT (Zero Emission Passenger Rail & Trail) project as “dead” and that “if we want a trail in the rail corridor, the only viable option is to railbank and build it where the tracks are.” Railbanking is the mantra of anti-rail opponents in this county, mostly led by Greenway. Why is Koenig so strongly pushing the Greenway agenda?
Let’s not forget that Koenig served as the campaign chairman for Measure L in Capitola, which was spearheaded by Greenway Capitola, a local offshoot of the broader Greenway movement. And, after his election in 2018 to the supervisor’s position and despite the loss of Measure D in 2022, Koenig has continued to influence Regional Transportation Commission decisions in an impartial manner. He was one of three commissioners who voted against accepting an environmental report for a segment of the rail trail in 2023, citing concerns that echoed Greenway’s priorities.
Throughout his tenure as a supervisor, Koenig has faced public scrutiny and formal inquiries regarding potential conflicts of interest — particularly around his involvement with Greenway and decisions affecting the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line.
The anti-rail tone of his newsletter shows this conflict (and Greenway allegiance) strongly.
Peter Gibson
Soquel