For years, Santa Cruz County has not paid enough attention to community fire protection and safe movement, particularly in the rural wildland districts that ring the county, writes Sanjay Khandelwal. Now, he writes, it’s time. Lessons from the 2020 CZU fire mean we need an urgent rethink of how we handle fire protection. For Khandelwal, a Summit resident who served as the last chair of the county’s fire department advisory commission, an important step is converting county fire, which has a $10.8 million budget, into an independent fire district. The board of supervisors is considering this, and Khandelwal hopes the new board will push forward with this needed change.
Government
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Phalanx of Santa Cruz County leaders vows to stand with immigrant community in second Trump term
On Thursday, leaders representing Santa Cruz city and county government, public schools and nonprofit organizations reassured the county’s immigrant community of their commitment to support and protect them following former President Donald Trump’s election Tuesday to a second term.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
After Trump win, leaders say they’ll protect Santa Cruz County’s immigrants
In the wake of Donald Trump’s victory Tuesday, a broad coalition of public and private sector leaders, including county officials, law enforcement, health care leaders and educators, is pledging to protect Santa Cruz County’s immigrants. In Watsonville, nonprofit organizations are beginning to navigate the potential impacts a second Trump presidency could have on the city’s large undocumented population and how they’ll reassure the community the next four years.
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After a year of drama, Felton Fire District hopes a competitive election means a fresh start
Felton Fire Protection District’s three open board seats have drawn seven candidates, as the embattled agency faces funding gaps, leadership upheaval and ethics violations.
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Santa Cruz County recommends 28 nonprofit programs to split $3.44 million in funding
Santa Cruz County has chosen 28 community-based organizations to receive a total of $3.44 million over the next three years. They were chosen from a pool of about 100 applications for funding of programs whose mission is to “achieve equitable health and well-being” for county residents. An additional $1.2 million designated for funding community nonprofits has yet to be allocated.
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Neighborhood group opposes new attempt at Santa Cruz County needle distribution program
The Grant Park Neighborhood Association is opposing the potential approval of a second countywide syringe exchange program led by the Harm Reduction Coalition of Santa Cruz County. The neighborhood group is encouraging county residents to oppose the program via public comment.
Posted inLatest News
Inspector seeks ‘full transparency’ on Santa Cruz County Jail deaths
The first report of an Office of Inspector General established to hold the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office accountable is calling for “full transparency” on the in-custody deaths of three men and sexual assault of another, while recommending an overhaul of use-of-force policies and the way the department investigates such incidents.
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Inspector General: Reform Santa Cruz sheriff force, body camera policies
The first annual report of the Office of Inspector General calls on the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office to require deputies turn body cameras on for routine calls and recommends an overhaul of how the department handles use of force incidents and investigations into them.
Posted inLatest News
Santa Cruz County Civil Grand Jury seeking citizen complaints
The Santa Cruz County Civil Grand Jury is calling on residents to submit complaints and concerns about the operation of various aspects of county and city government, fire and water districts “or the officers and personnel within them.”
Posted inPolitics & Policy
De Serpa, Martinez widen money advantage in supervisor races
Kim De Serpa and Monica Martinez widened their fundraising advantage over Kristen Brown and Christopher Bradford, respectively, in their campaigns for the District 2 and District 5 seats on the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors, according to campaign finance reports that were due Thursday. In the District 2 race, De Serpa has cash on hand, while Brown reported spending slightly more money than she has brought in. In the District 5 race, Martinez has a nearly 3-to-1 fundraising advantage over Bradford.