We are one month away from our next general election on Nov. 8. There will be new City Council candidates running from the newly formed District 4 and District 6, a new mayor, plus some important local city measures on the ballot.
Measure P is a revenue measure that would align the city transient occupancy tax (TOT) with the recently passed county rate which would allow the city more financial capacity to support the city services people rely on and the workers who do the work. Measure N establishes a tax on residences that are in use less than 120 days per calendar year with revenue allocated toward affordable housing projects
Measure O prohibits construction of the almost ready to build new main branch Library and affordable housing project downtown. I encourage everyone to read the arguments for and against, as well as any impartial analysis and fiscal impact listed on the official votescount.us website.
Sometimes, in the midst of a passionate political campaign, we can lose sight of the fundamental values we look to advance as a community. There are often exaggerated claims, and sometimes even the demonizing of an opponent, which are ultimately activities that just interfere with our ability to recognize the common goals we have for our community.
I believe one of those goals is to have a vibrant, diverse, and successful downtown neighborhood at the center of our community. This is not just a goal any Santa Cruz mayor would have — it’s a special goal for me because I have worked downtown for the last 30 years, day in and day out, boots on the ground, to help make our downtown work well for everyone. My “day job,” when not serving as your mayor, is to serve the community as the director of operations of the organization whose sole purpose is creating a great downtown, the Downtown Association of Santa Cruz.
Based on my experience, here’s some of what we need to make downtown work well. A healthy diverse business community that provides goods and services and entertainment to both locals and visitors. A lot of public art. A strong supply of affordable housing so that people can live, and work, in the same neighborhood and reduce their car use. Amenities, music, and activities that bring us together downtown so we can experience a rich life together even as we come from different neighborhoods and backgrounds.
This also means things like a lively farmers market, innovative gathering places, an outstanding library, and places for people who use a variety of transportation modes to access all the great things we have downtown.
Measure O seems to have become the centerpiece of our community debate about our downtown. If it passes it would change the Downtown Plan and General Plan. I’ve received several inquiries and some people have let me know it’s tempting to embrace some of the ideas suggested by the supporters of Measure O. We all want some of the ideas Measure O promises.
However, when we zoom out and look at the whole context, those promises don’t hold up when we think about a thriving downtown and the cost to our community should it pass. Measure O would create a major setback by stopping the city’s largest 100% affordable housing development, at the cost of the people and families waiting and eager to apply, as well as the community diversity and equity that comes with housing that really meets the needs of our local families and workforce, now rather than some time in the future.
It will also lead to the waste of millions of dollars of funding that has been secured and taxpayer money dollars we need to spend wisely and efficiently.
Measure O would also be a setback for many local businesses, residents and visitors because of unwise parking policies and impractical land use restrictions. Measure O will send a message that almost any innovation that comes forward downtown will be hindered and become a disincentive to the community and businesses wanting to revitalize our downtown post COVID.
As a person who has committed so much of my time and energy in having a great downtown, I urge you to join me in voting No on Measure O. We can explore some of the ideas, but not at the cost of 124 low income homes so desperately needed now.
With all of the current efforts underway, including two other 100% affordable housing developments coming to the parking lot where the Metro bus center is, we can have an even better downtown that supports our community in so many ways, and we don’t need Measure O getting in the way.
Sonja Brunner is the mayor of Santa Cruz.
