Santa Cruz County Local News: Elections & Politics

Unless California solves its housing crisis, the state will lose more congressional seats and could shift the political alignment of the whole country

After months of work promoting Measure N—efforts that included going door to door in the vast Pajaro Valley Health Care District (PVHCD)—officials can now begin to envision how they will use the $116 million to improve Watsonville Community Hospital.

A new bill would make it illegal for homeless residents to camp in certain places, such as near schools, throughout California. Its authors say such a ban has had great success in San Diego. But a closer look at that city paints a more nuanced picture.

In an analysis of more than 1 million votes cast by current legislators since 2017, CalMatters Digital Democracy reporter Ryan Sabalow and CBS Sacramento reporter Julie Watts found that Democrats vote “no” less than 1% of the time on average.

Some of California’s top lawmakers want to clear up, but also rein in, the “builder’s remedy.”

The state is considering zeroing out funds for CalWORKS family stabilization and job subsidy programs to help balance the budget.

Nonprofit CEO Monica Martinez has dominated in her race against three others in the Santa Cruz County Fifth District primary election.

Watsonville’s Measure N is holding steady at 68.5% of the vote, just over the 66.6% majority needed to pass.