Santa Cruz

Keven Cook urges a “no” vote on the city of Santa Cruz’s Measure C, arguing it’s riddled with three major transfer tax loopholes that benefit investors and developers. He says the measure’s $1.8 million lower threshold, $200,000 cap and condo conversion exemption allow high-value and repeat property sales to largely escape taxation. Cook contends Measure C’s flaws undermine its laudable housing goals and should be rewritten without loopholes before voters approve it.