County of Santa Cruz Government News Digest

Following his recent vote against approval of two segments of the Rail Trail, Supervisor Manu Koenig explains his decision.

The next phase of the $94.2M project to add lanes and bike/pedestrian overpasses on the three mile span of Highway 1 between the three mile Bay Avenue/Porter Street has commenced.

A proposed ordinance limiting use of e-bikes on sidewalks and walkways in unincorporated parts of the county was delayed by the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors until its May 14 meeting following feedback from residents.

Public hearings for the recently released $1.1B annual budget have been scheduled for May and June by the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors.

Supporters of the rail trail rallied in front of the Santa Cruz County building on April 3 to advocate for approval of segments 10 and 11.

The official vote count for Measure N in support of Watsonville Community Hospital passed and was certified on April 4 by the Santa Cruz and Monterey county elections departments.

A recent split vote by Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors stalling approval of two rail trail segments is jeopardizing future state funding for the project.

Supervisor Zach Friend recuses, and Supervisors McPherson and Koenig voted against moving forward with segments 10 and 11 of the Coastal Rail Trail between 17th Avenue in Live Oak and State Park Drive in Aptos.

The retiring District 2 County Supervisor received the Al Smith Friend of Agriculture Award from the Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau and Agri-Culture at the National Agriculture Day Spring Luncheon.

The County of Santa Cruz is remodeling the two story office building at 5300 Soquel Avenue in Live Oak with conference rooms, family spaces and other amenities for youth in crisis and expand the Health Services Agency’s substance use disorder and mental health services.

Incumbent Councilmember Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson is leading the at the ballot box with about 70% of the vote so far.

Incumbent Manu Koenig still leads challenger Lani Faulkner as ballot counting continues.

Second District Candidates hosted by Aptos Chamber of Commerce for an informative Q&A.

After halting services for about four years, a sobering center that county leaders say is a critical boon to the community, local health care providers and law enforcement is back online in Santa Cruz.

A comprehensive restructuring effort is preparing for roll out within Santa Cruz County's network of more than 40 boards, commissions and advisory bodies thanks to a recent nod of approval from the Board of Supervisors.

The annual point-in-time count took place with about 130 volunteers, local officials and homelessness service workers hitting the streets before sunrise to try for the most accurate picture of homelessness in Santa Cruz County possible.

For the first time, local officials have taken a hard look under the hood of Santa Cruz County's network of more than 40 boards, commissions and advisory bodies and have proposed a series of changes.

Though Aptos resident Anthony, or “Tony,” Crane will be in the 2nd District race, the one hopeful in particular he aims to beat is running in a different district.

David Schwartz of Corralitos, Kristen Brown of Capitola, and Aptos’ Kim De Serpa, Bruce Jaffe, and Tony Crane have all thrown their hat into the race for the Second District seat on the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors.

Theresa Bond has always been a process person. It's what guided her through a career in the tech industry and made her a productive school board member for more than a decade.

Bruce Jaffe, a 40-year county resident and longtime Soquel Creek Water District boardmember, is running for the soon-to-be vacant 2nd District seat on the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors.

Things are heating up as candidates eye three seats on the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors. Farm owner and U.S. Air Force veteran David Schwartz hopes to represent the 2nd District, running from Aptos to the Pajaro River basin.

Santa Cruz County is the 15th most vulnerable county nationwide, according to data recently compiled by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
More than 93% of the county's total geography is made up of unincorporated regions where more than half of its population resides.

County leaders will seek state backing to install “no parking” signs for more than a mile outside Santa Cruz city limits along Highway 9. The move targets a stretch of state highway where vehicle pullouts serve as access points to wooded areas.

As of Nov. 1, personnel working in acute care facilities, skilled nursing facilities, surgical and maternity centers, and infusion centers are required to wear a face mask at all times regardless of vaccination status.

Those watching the race to replace retiring Supervisor Bruce McPherson wondered whether Santa Cruz County Sheriff Jim Hart would run. Instead, Hart has endorsed Monica Martinez, giving the nonprofit CEO a leg up over fellow candidates Christopher Bradford and Theresa Bond.

Local leaders say the number of impacted homes and people displaced will only grow as the climate crisis intensifies, and they have set their sights on exploring a new tactic they think could both aid in the recovery effort and help residents prepare for the future.

The statement will be incorporated into the county’s strategic plan, which was originally adopted in 2018. County staff will present the board with recommended indicators, such as life expectancy and rent burden, that will be used to guide cohesive action.

Kim De Serpa brings a background in social services and years of experience as a public official to the much-anticipated race. She is currently the social services manager at the Salinas Valley Health Center.

Deitch, 74, told the Sentinel he previously ran for the 2nd District role in 1996, 2000 and 2012. He also ran for the 3rd District in 2010 and has made several more attempts at other federal and statewide office positions.