The opposition to the proposed new downtown Santa Cruz library began with parking — specifically people opposed to ever adding any parking downtown. Over time, Mike Rotkin writes, others found reasons to oppose the project and joined the effort in support of Measure O. But nothing changes the fact that the proposed library will be bigger and better for less cost than rebuilding a library on its current site.
Community Voices
Posted inEndorsements
A Lookout View: Vote Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson for District 3 Santa Cruz County Supervisor
Lookout Endorsement: No matter who becomes the next District 3 supervisor, Santa Cruz County will benefit. The Lookout editorial board likes both candidates, but endorses Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson over Justing Cummings because we think she has the momentum the moment requires. We believe she will do the hard work and be the consensus-builder our community needs to address pressing issues of affordable housing, homelessness, mental health and climate change.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Letter to the editor: Please stop echoing what city says on library project
Have something to say? Lookout welcomes letters to the editor, within our policies, from readers. Guidelines here. To the editor: Can local reporters please stop echoing what city staff says and dig a little deeper before perpetuating untruths? Lookout’s story about a possible “swap” of the locations of the library and farmers market makes it […]
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Measure Q keeps growth within Watsonville city limits. Don’t listen to the naysayers; vote yes.
Measure Q is not “against” growth, argues Betty Bobeda, former Watsonville mayor. It’s against growth that would destroy the city’s valuable farmland and for growth that would use existing underused lots for housing. She decries the negativity of the campaign against the measure and insists special interests are driving it. “Can anyone,” she challenges, “name one place where paving over farmland has solved housing problems, reduced real estate costs or addressed homelessness?”
Posted inEndorsements
A Lookout View: Vote no on Measure O
Lookout Endorsement: If we want a vibrant farmers market, more affordable housing, a jewel of a new main branch library — and the ability to chart the future of downtown Santa Cruz step by step, with a free and open public process — we urge a no vote on Measure O. We think it will limit and restrict us too much today and tomorrow.
Posted inEndorsements
A Lookout View: Vote no on Measure N
Lookout Endorsement: Our affordability crisis is acute and calls for a range of initiatives to address. Unfortunately, citizen initiative N in the city of Santa Cruz offers too little bang for the buck and too much uncertainty about its real effectiveness. Measure N is well meaning, but it offers too little for what it demands.
Posted inEndorsements
A Lookout View: Vote Fred Keeley for Santa Cruz mayor
Lookout Endorsement: Fred Keeley can’t sweep in and fix all of Santa Cruz’s problems. However, given his deep experience and wide connections, he is well suited and well qualified to be the city’s first directly elected mayor in this time of great stress. Politics is about timing as much as policy, and Keeley matches this moment well. What we would expect from him over the next four years can be summed up in one word: leadership.
Posted inEndorsements
A Lookout View: Our endorsements
Homelessness is California’s biggest crisis and a problem Santa Cruz County cannot seem to get a handle on, as hard as…
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Letter to the editor: How can I as a Latina trust Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson to represent me?
Have something to say? Lookout welcomes letters to the editor, within our policies, from readers. Guidelines here. To the editor: How can I as a Latina believe that Shebreh Kalantari–Johnson as a Santa Cruz County Supervisor will represent me in the 3rd District? On April 19, 2022, at the city council meeting, Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson motioned […]
Posted inEndorsements, Opinion from Community Voices
A Lookout View: Our editorials
Homelessness is California’s biggest crisis and a problem Santa Cruz County cannot seem to get a handle on, as hard as…