Pete Kennedy, chair of the volunteer City of Santa Cruz Planning Commission, says Measure M would be detrimental to the city’s recent excellent record on housing. He also bats away arguments that the March 5 ballot initiative is about democracy: “Our commission conducted 18 public meetings just last year,” he writes, “and that’s not even touching all the stakeholder groups, project presentations, calls to staff, emails and other work that goes into planning.” He says he “won’t stand” for arguments that claim the process isn’t democratic.
Election 2024
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Santa Cruz City and County need more funds — vote yes on Measures K and L
Lookout politics columnist Mike Rotkin is in favor of both sales tax increases on the ballot March 5. “If you look around you,” he writes, “it is not hard to see that our city and our county are in desperate need of additional funding.”
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Lookout election forums: Hear and watch the candidates here
How are you making your decisions on the candidates and measures appearing on the March 5 ballot in Santa Cruz County? Lookout’s deep and broad Election 2024 coverage is here to help you. In addition, our election forums are bringing candidates and advocates face to face and side by side in conversations, to fully flesh […]
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Hear from District 5 county supervisor candidates in their own words
Hear from District 5 Santa Cruz County supervisor candidates Theresa Ann Bond, Christopher Bradford, Tom Decker and Monica Martinez as they answer the question, “How will you provide the sort of leadership our community needs and how are you prepared to meet the moment as it arises?”
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Theresa Ann Bond for District 5 supervisor: My commitment to the community and experience set me apart
Theresa Ann Bond believes her work as a school board trustee and for the state Department of Public Health and her devotion to the community make her an ideal candidate for the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors. She says she has been a tireless advocate and someone willing to work seven days a week to get the job done.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Christopher Bradford for District 5 supervisor: My grassroots campaign has built momentum because people know I am invested and care about their needs
Christopher Bradford says he is a listener whose grassroots campaign is hitting a nerve with people in District 5. Bradford lost his home in the CZU Lightning Complex fires and believes the county has been too slow to rebuild. He promises to have an office that “supports conversations” and transparency.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Monica Martinez for District 5 supervisor: We need someone ready to challenge the status quo and bring positive change
Monica Martinez sees herself as a change agent. She believes Santa Cruz County needs leaders who show courage to shake up the system. She wants to lessen the red tape in our county’s bureaucracy to better attack climate-related disasters, income inequality, aging infrastructure and the rising cost of living.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Tom Decker for District 5 supervisor: Let’s stop the bureaucracy that has provided ‘amazingly poor service’ to our community
Tom Decker believes his experience as a builder of affordable homes and his commitment to family and service make him an ideal candidate for District 5 supervisor.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Clashing on the issues: District 1 county supervisor candidates, Measure M debaters take the stage
In Lookout’s second candidate forum of the 2024 election season, candidates vying to represent District 1 on the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors and both Measure M advocates and opponents took to the stage to discuss and debate everything from transit and budgets to housing and inclusionary rates. The primary election is set for March 5.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Hear from District 2 county supervisor candidates in their own words
Hear from District 2 Santa Cruz County supervisor candidates Kristen Brown, Tony Crane, Kim De Serpa, Bruce Jaffe and David Schwartz as they answer the question, “How will you provide the sort of leadership our community needs and how are you prepared to meet the moment as it arises?”