Candidates Gather for On-Campus Forum
In the print edition of this article, City on a Hill Press mischaracterized the effects of an amendment to Measure O. The decrease in the affordable housing requirement was applied to areas outside of downtown Santa Cruz, not downtown itself. The downtown requirement is unchanged. City…
‘H’ is for Housing
While Measure M has taken the spotlight, a quieter competition simmers between Yes on H and No on H campaigners in Santa Cruz County. Measure H, the Santa Cruz County Affordable Housing Bond, is one of several pieces of housing legislation to appear on the…
A Guide to Voting Without a Fixed Address
More and more states require a would-be voter to provide identification and an address, often excluding houseless populations. In California however, houseless people don’t need ID or even a fixed address to cast their ballot. With almost 2,000 houseless people in Santa Cruz, California regulation…
Big Money in Small Races
The Supreme Court rendered limits on individual campaign contributions unconstitutional in Citizens United eight years ago, and the effects are being felt today at the local level in Santa Cruz. While conversations about political spending largely focus on national and state races, the influence of…
The Who of the Housing Crisis
Jane Eng paid $650 a month for a one-bedroom cottage in Live Oak in 1990 when she first moved to Santa Cruz. Her wages increased 40 percent since then, and her overall rent increased by 450 percent. She now pays almost $3,000 a month for…
Environmental Policies to Watch
In the upcoming election, voters will have the ability to impact the outcomes of several bills and programs affecting the state and country’s environmental policies moving forward. Here’s a breakdown of local and national bills and propositions and how the election could affect them. California’s…
Guide to State Ballot Measures
California’s voters will be asked to vote yes or no on 11 state propositions come Nov. 6. We researched all 11 measures — here’s our breakdown. Proposition 1 — Bonds for Government Housing Assistance Programs A “yes” vote would authorize $4 billion in state bonds…
Local Officials Vow to Fight New Green Card Rules
Area officials are promising a fight over proposed restrictions that could prevent immigrants from getting green cards if they have received certain types of public assistance. A 60-day public comment period began last week, and local officials held a news conference Oct. 11 to urge…
Veterans Threatened with Eviction Notice
Two disabled veterans living in an apartment complex at 526 and 528 California Ave. received eviction notices when the property was purchased by a new landlord, Dan Decker. The notices were given to every tenant on the premises on housing assistance, demanding they leave by…
Rallying for Housing Security
People caught in Santa Cruz traffic received an urgent reminder to vote in favor of housing justice legislation as a Students United with Renters (SUR) rally unfolded at the Bay and Mission intersection on Oct. 11. Their chants of “Fight, fight, fight! Housing is a…