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Monica Martinez should not be a member of the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors. 

Since 2017, I have attempted to bring evidence of a calculated misuse of public funds by Monica Martinez and county officials for proper adjudication. At every turn, county officials have thwarted me. Not surprising, since several were involved in the acts and the subsequent cover-up. 

However, I am deeply mystified by our local media’s refusal to investigate Encompass Community Services’ placement of an unprecedented eight-bed crisis mental health facility in my Aptos neighborhood that defied zoning codes. Yes, local media have written articles stating the claims of our community, but in every instance, in an attempt to be “fair and balanced,” they counter our documented evidence with undocumented, false rhetoric from Encompass and county officials. 

This is not investigative journalism of days past.

I believe the conspiracy to mislead the public, led by Martinez and county officials, was for the purpose of avoiding required legal scrutiny in the form of a public hearing in front of a zoning administrator. This was the only legal avenue (other than a costly lawsuit) our community had to assert our rights. Sadly, this unconscionable behavior by those charged with protecting our rights has become normalized.

Here, I have linked documents and internal emails between Encompass and county officials and staff that I believe showcase these misdeeds. 

Here are three examples from county and Encompass emails which directly contradict statements made at a community meeting, led by Martinez, on Aug. 21, 2017. At that meeting, Encompass and county officials stated that licensing for the program was not required. 

But, the emails between them show it was. Here are excerpts: 

“I know we are losing the ability to move into the neighborhood and not alert neighbors to the program by moving forward with the licensing process, but we don’t have a choice.” – Pam Rogers-Wyman, July 14, 2017 

“Inbal is questioning the timing of licensing and reporting to the neighbors. We will need to be licensed by December. At what point will neighbors be alerted to this process. One month, two months, five?” – Adrian Bernard, June 28, 2017 

“I recapped the history of how we got to the licensing requirement and that yes, it was a condition of the grant, especially around expanding bed capacity” – Erik Riera, July 6, 2017 

This behavior is dishonest and shows poor leadership. We are currently experiencing a fiscal and social crisis and we need ethical, honest and transparent officials to lead us forward. 

Martinez, I believe, has proved herself untrustworthy and is not the right choice for supervisor. 

Tony Crane

Aptos