Housing is a fundamental human right, writes UC Santa Cruz student and union organizer Joe Thompson. Measure N takes a bite out of the whale that is the affordable housing crisis.
Election Op-Eds
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Pajaro Valley Health Care District needs solid, continued leadership of Pimentel and Nájera
The fledgling Pajaro Valley Health Care District — cobbled together to protect the bankrupt Watsonville Community Hospital from closing — still has a momentous task ahead to reach stability for our community and its staff. A group of 10 well-respected public service professionals argue for the election of two current health care board representatives. Marcus Pimentel and Jasmine Nájera, both appointed by the board of supervisors to the jobs last year, are pivotal to the district’s future success, they write.
Posted inEndorsements
A Lookout View: Vote Dawn Addis for Assembly District 30
Lookout Endorsement: Dawn Addis has a tough task ahead of her, representing one of the most diverse geographic Assembly districts in California. While Santa Cruz County represents just 20% of it, we believe that Addis is clearly our best shot at strong representation. She has committed to continuing to spend time in Santa Cruz County and to having an open-door policy, while her opponent is far out of step with local issues and views.
Posted inEndorsements
A Lookout View: Vote Renée Golder for Santa Cruz City Council
Lookout Endorsement: How well is Santa Cruz’s new system of districted council seats working? As we assess the first set of candidates, it’s problematic. We need experienced representatives with knowledge of how things work. In District 6, we endorse Renée Golder. Unfortunately, in District 4, we’re unable to recommend any of the candidates.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Downtown businesspeople oppose Measure O with unanimous vote of Downtown Association board
After a unanimous vote against Measure O by the governing board of the Downtown Association of Santa Cruz, business owner Zach Davis explains his and others’ opposition to the ballot proposition before voters in the city of Santa Cruz centered around the mixed-use library project.
Posted inEndorsements
A Lookout View: Vote Gail Pellerin for Assembly District 28
Lookout Endorsement: Gail Pellerin is a homegrown and well-loved politician who will best represent Santa Cruz County interests in Sacramento. She is a connector, a listener and someone with the skills and longtime political relationships we need to move forward on pressing issues like mental health, homelessness and affordable housing.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Soquel Creek Water District: Three incumbents intent on Pure Water Soquel project vs. two newcomers calling for change
Soquel Creek Water District’s election has five candidates battling for three seats and comes at a pivotal time, just as the ambitious, $145 million Pure Water Soquel project takes shape. The project puts 8 miles of pipes from Santa Cruz to Capitola and has disrupted traffic throughout the area for months. The incumbents want to see the project to its end in 2023; the newcomers insist water costs and district salaries are too high. Lookout asked the five candidates for statements. Read the four responses we got here.
Posted inEndorsements
A Lookout View: Vote yes on Measures K and L
Lookout Endorsement: Our schools need our help. They need to fix roofs and heating, to modernize classrooms, update sports facilities and install better security systems. Santa Cruz County’s patchwork system of public education doesn’t allow the state of California to pay for these “extras.” That’s why we have to pass bonds to support our schools. Lookout endorses a yes vote on Measures K and L.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
We are voting for Justin Cummings; Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson’s policies are detrimental to the unhoused
Santa Cruz Cares is against the choices the Santa Cruz City Council has made on dealing with our community’s unhoused. This includes the clearing of the Benchlands encampment and the oversized vehicle ordinance — both of which, its members write, they believe harm the unhoused unfairly and don’t offer viable, lasting or empathetic solutions to their plight. They feel Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson’s record of voting for these policies make her a poor candidate for Santa Cruz County 3rd District Supervisor. They have endorsed Justin Cummings.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
We have businesses in downtown Santa Cruz and we support Measure O
Six downtown Santa Cruz business owners, including the current and future proprietors of Gabriella Cafe and Soif, support Measure O. They want a downtown commons, more affordable housing and a home for the farmers market, they write.