It’s no secret that affordable housing remains our community’s most significant policy challenge. While numerous housing projects are currently in progress, there’s an urgent need to ensure that a substantial portion of these new developments are genuinely within reach for our residents.
The city of Santa Cruz finds itself at the forefront of this critical issue, as the state of California has entrusted it with a formidable task. Over the next eight calendar years, the city must meticulously plan to create more than 3,700 new housing units.
What sets this mandate apart is that over half of these housing units must be affordable to those in the very low-income, low-income and moderate-income brackets, as defined by federal guidelines. This means providing a housing solution for our frontline workers, the backbone of our community.
For a few years, the community has attempted to identify a successful funding mechanism to achieve the development of much-needed affordable housing. Santa Cruz community members have moved funding measures to the local ballot, but those measures have failed. The county’s Measure H in 2016 would have provided millions of dollars for this purpose and needed 66.6% vote to prevail.
The total countywide vote was about 54% yes votes, thus, missing the approval threshold by a mile. However, city voters supported the measure by more than 70%. In 2022, voters rejected the Empty Home Tax, even though most approved the spending plan.
The issue of housing affordability stands firm as the community’s most pressing concern this year, refusing to take a backseat.
A comprehensive public opinion research poll, commissioned by the city of Santa Cruz unequivocally demonstrated that housing affordability and homelessness prevention reign supreme among all other concerns. Moreover, the poll revealed a strong voter willingness to approve a funding source to address these pressing challenges.
Earlier this month, the city hosted three open community meetings to see whether there was consensus on a funding measure (the tax, the rate, the base, and the spending plan). After three open, transparent meetings, the city released a working draft measure to the community for interested stakeholders to review, revise, finalize and potentially attempt to qualify for the ballot via signature gathering.
Now, many of the folks who participated in the community meetings are taking the reins moving forward with small group and public meetings, with the goal being a funding measure for the 2024 election ballot.
At the community meetings, much of the conversation centered on which tax would be the best for this purpose. Most supported the many spending categories outlined in a draft measure. Some favored a parcel tax/fee, while others wanted a real estate transfer tax (like those enacted in numerous other California communities).
More focused discussions are taking place among community stakeholders, and progress is being made.
As mayor, I will continue to support these efforts until we achieve our goal. Failure is not an option; success will help make our city be a more inclusive and affordable place to work and live.
Fred Keeley is the mayor of Santa Cruz.
