11-21-22: Giving More Than Thanks

As we head to the end of 2022, there are also beginnings. After Measure E passed in June, the the city of Santa Cruz changed in two significant ways. For the first time, Santa Cruz voters will elect a mayor directly. At the same time, the city is midway through switching to district elections and cutting from seven to six councilmembers.

Renee Golder, who was already serving at large, is now representing the newly formed District 6. And freshly elected Scott Newsome will fill the District 4 seat. Voters in the other four districts will elect their own representatives in 2024.

In light of these changes, we offer up two explainers by Jonathan Vankin. In an exploration of what it means to be a California city, he writes, “The clearest benefit of cityhood is self-government—the foundation of the democratic system.”

And he also delves into the growing number of cities switching to district-based voting—not only why the change is happening, but why it matters.

Finally, though municipalities are the bedrock of local governance, many Californians do not reside inside the boundaries of a city or a town. How, then, are water supplies, fire protection and other necessities delivered? The answer: a special district with its own governing board. Vankin explains it all, starting the very first community service district, created back in 1952.