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?”
Local elections
Posted inPolitics & Policy
12 stories? Keeley’s new plan would flip script on controversial Warriors-area downtown expansion vision
Advanced by the Santa Cruz City Council in June, the downtown expansion plan’s proposal for 15- and 17-story towers has found few supporters in the city. Mayoral candidate Fred Keeley has unveiled a new proposal that he vows, if elected, to put on the city council agenda in January. The focus? Lower height, more affordability.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Assembly District 30 update: Will Addis’ advantage in Santa Cruz, Monterey push her past Nohrden?
Vicki Nohrden of Monterey, the Republican candidate in the race for state Assembly District 30, garnered more votes in San Luis Obispo County than Morro Bay’s Dawn Addis in the June primary. But Addis (along with three other Democratic candidates) carried the vote in Santa Cruz and Monterey counties and seems likely to collect the votes of those three other Democrats.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
I’m not a career politician. I will work to restore balance for businesses and families.
California State Assembly District 30 runs along the coast and includes parts of Santa Cruz, Monterey and San Luis Obispo counties. It’s a new district configuration, hammered out to take effect in 2022. Lookout asked the candidates running in this race — Dawn Addis, a Democrat from Morro Bay, and Vicki Nohrden, a Republican from Monterey — to submit answers to two questions. Vicki Nohrden’s answers are below.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
We need to fix our schools. I’m a 20-year veteran teacher and I know we can do better for our kids.
California State Assembly District 30 runs along the coast and includes parts of Santa Cruz, Monterey and San Luis Obispo counties. It’s a new district configuration, hammered out to take effect in 2022. Lookout asked the candidates running in this race — Dawn Addis, a Democrat from Morro Bay, and Vicki Nohrden, a Republican from Monterey — to submit answers to two questions. Dawn Addis’ answers are below.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Lookout candidate forum: What we heard and saw from Santa Cruz City Council, Assembly District 28 candidates
Lookout’s final forum of election season went down Monday night at Hotel Paradox, with District 4 council candidates Greg Hyver, Hector Marin and Scott Newsome, District 6 council hopefuls Renée Golder and Sean Maxwell and state Assembly District 28 foes Liz Lawler and Gail Pellerin mixing it up on the issues.
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 inPolitics & Policy
In Watsonville City Council’s District 7, two veterans square off
Though four city council seats are up for grabs in Watsonville this November, only District 7 will see a contest — where current mayor Ari Parker will square off against longtime Watsonville politico and educator Nancy Bilicich. Lookout sat down with Parker and Bilicich to talk about their campaigns.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
‘Anti-establishment’ Dutra swerves to offense: ‘I’m not going to flip-flop to win votes’
Embattled District 4 Santa Cruz County Supervisor candidate Jimmy Dutra didn’t shy away from highlighting what he feels are key differences between him and opponent Felipe Hernandez at a recent forum. Dutra was believed to hold a commanding lead before charges alleging he molested a 12-year-old family friend when he was 30, 17 years ago, surfaced on Oct. 5. Can he survive the political tempest? He told Lookout he believes he can.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Pellerin vs. Lawler: What each Assembly District 28 candidate is learning on the ‘other side of the hill’
When you are a Republican campaigning in Santa Cruz or a Democrat walking some of the more conservative zones of San Jose, there are conversations that sometimes strike a different tone. Liz Lawler and Gail Pellerin are seeing it firsthand, yet each candidate says she is far more about breaking down those lines that divide as both seek a seat in Sacramento. They face off in a Lookout candidate forum Monday.