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As you read this weekly e-news, many of you will have already cast a vote via mail or in person at the County Clerk’s office. Did you know that nearly 80% of Santa Cruz County voters vote by mail? For those of you who have voted, thank you for being part of our democratic process. The Santa Cruz Area Chamber of Commerce encourages every eligible and registered voter to cast a ballot on November 6. For those of you who are registered voters and haven’t cast a ballot either by mail or in early voting, I wanted to remind you that voting is not only a privilege but a responsibility, and every vote counts. Did you know that: One vote kept Aaron Burr from becoming President in 1800. One vote made Texas part of the United States of America in 1845. One vote saved Andrew Johnson from impeachment in 1868. One vote elected Rutherford B. Hayes to the Presidency in 1876. And one vote elected the Indiana Representative who cast a deciding vote in that election. One vote per precinct would have elected Richard Nixon rather than John F. Kennedy in 1960. One vote elected Marcus “Landslide” Morton governor of Massachusetts in 1839. Your Chamber advocates on issues that impact our members and the economic vitality of the region. The Chamber does not systematically take a position on all ballot measures. The Chamber board votes to support or oppose a measure after thorough review of the issue that is core to the Chamber’s mission. On the November ballot your Chamber took public positions on the following: Chamber Positions on State-wide Propositions The Chamber supports Proposition 1: Give the state permission to borrow $4 billion to fund affordable housing construction and rental and home loan subsidies. The money would be used to build and renovate rentals ($1.8 billion), to offer home loan assistance to vets ($1 billion), to construct additional housing in dense urban areas and near public transit ($450 million), to offer down payment assistance and other aid to low-and moderate-income homebuyers ($450 million) and to provide loans and grants for agricultural workforce housing development ($300 million). Why does the Chamber support this Proposition? The State of California is facing an unprecedented housing crisis and these bonds will go a long way to move our state forward. Voting against a new funding source for housing is not an acceptable option. Secondly, if our local Affordable Housing Bond (Measure H) passes, it will make Santa Cruz County competitive in applying for state funds because we’ll have local funds to match state dollars. The Chamber opposes Proposition 6: Repeal a recent increase in the gas tax and other fuel and car fees and require voter approval for all transportation-related tax increases in the future. Taxes to be rolled back include a 12-cent hike in the gasoline excise tax, a 4 percent increase in the diesel sales tax, as well as a new annual vehicle fee based on the value of the car or truck. Why does the Chamber oppose this Proposition? Transportation infrastructure improvements was the number 2 issue (behind lack of affordable housing) that Chamber members echoed to us in past opinion surveys. Measure D in 2016 provided local funds up to $17 million a year for transportation improvements. Repealing the Gas Tax will remove another $5 to $7 million/per year in state funds for Santa Cruz County. There are over $5 billion (annually) in state funds that would be lost if Prop. 6 passes. The Proposition would have a devastating impact on our local streets, county roads, highway, Metro services, and active transportation network. Please vote no on this backward looking Proposition. The Chamber opposes Proposition 10: Bringing back rent control allows cities to introduce new restrictions on market rents or expand existing rent control policies. Why does the Chamber oppose this Proposition? Rent control will not address the fundamental problem facing California’s housing shortage. Economists on all sides of the political spectrum state that rent control does not create more rental housing. California families are facing a severe housing affordability crisis. Unfortunately, Prop 10 is a measure that will make our housing crisis worse. Seniors, veterans and affordable housing experts all oppose Prop 10 because it will make housing less available and less affordable. Chamber Positions on Local Ballot Measures The Chamber supports Measure H – Santa Cruz County Affordable Housing Bond To provide affordable local housing for working families and vulnerable populations including veterans, seniors, low-and moderate-income households, persons with disabilities, homeless individuals and families; and supportive housing for individuals suffering from mental health illnesses or substance use disorders; shall the County of Santa Cruz issue up to $140,000,000 in general obligation bonds, with an estimated levy of $16.77 per $100,000 of assessed valuation, generating approximately $8,600,000 annually through maturity, subject to independent citizen oversight and regular audits. Why does the Chamber support this Measure? Santa Cruz County is one of the least affordable places to live in the country. There are many reasons why Santa Cruz ranks at the bottom because of long held housing regulations at the city and county level. Measure H is endorsed by the Watsonville and Santa Cruz city councils, the mayors of Capitola and Scotts Valley, the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors and state legislators Senator Bill Monning and Assemblyman Mark Stone. It’s also endorsed by the county Democratic Party, the Santa Cruz Area Chamber of Commerce and the Service Employees International Union. In an area ranked as one of the least affordable housing markets in the nation, Measure H supporters say the bond will help low- and middle-income families struggling to pay rising rents, and local businesses who are finding it difficult to recruit or retain employees because of the high cost of living. The Chamber opposes Measure M - Santa Cruz City Rent Control and Tenant Protection Act Measure M amends the City Charter and imposes "just cause" for eviction laws on nearly every residential property in Santa Cruz. It also resets rents to October 2017 and limits rent increases to no more than increases in the Consumer Price Index. Why does the Chamber oppose this measure? Measure M will make the housing shortage worse. It will be harder to find a place to live. Fewer rentals will be available because people will stay in apartments longer and many housing providers will withdraw rental units because new restrictions are too onerous. Rent control measures need to be thoughtfully written with a board consensus of the community and enacted by the local municipality. This measure is fundamentally flawed and will have the opposite effect on the rental market at a time when we need more housing units of all types — especially low income and workforce housing.
As you read this weekly e-news, many of you will have already cast a vote via mail or in person at the County Clerk’s office. Did you know that nearly 80% of Santa Cruz County voters vote by mail? For those of you who have voted, thank you for being part of our democratic process.
The Santa Cruz Area Chamber of Commerce encourages every eligible and registered voter to cast a ballot on November 6. For those of you who are registered voters and haven’t cast a ballot either by mail or in early voting, I wanted to remind you that voting is not only a privilege but a responsibility, and every vote counts.
Did you know that:
One vote kept Aaron Burr from becoming President in 1800.
One vote made Texas part of the United States of America in 1845.
One vote saved Andrew Johnson from impeachment in 1868.
One vote elected Rutherford B. Hayes to the Presidency in 1876. And one vote elected the Indiana Representative who cast a deciding vote in that election.
One vote per precinct would have elected Richard Nixon rather than John F. Kennedy in 1960.
One vote elected Marcus “Landslide” Morton governor of Massachusetts in 1839.
Your Chamber advocates on issues that impact our members and the economic vitality of the region. The Chamber does not systematically take a position on all ballot measures. The Chamber board votes to support or oppose a measure after thorough review of the issue that is core to the Chamber’s mission. On the November ballot your Chamber took public positions on the following:
Chamber Positions on State-wide Propositions
The Chamber supports Proposition 1: Give the state permission to borrow $4 billion to fund affordable housing construction and rental and home loan subsidies. The money would be used to build and renovate rentals ($1.8 billion), to offer home loan assistance to vets ($1 billion), to construct additional housing in dense urban areas and near public transit ($450 million), to offer down payment assistance and other aid to low-and moderate-income homebuyers ($450 million) and to provide loans and grants for agricultural workforce housing development ($300 million).
Why does the Chamber support this Proposition? The State of California is facing an unprecedented housing crisis and these bonds will go a long way to move our state forward. Voting against a new funding source for housing is not an acceptable option. Secondly, if our local Affordable Housing Bond (Measure H) passes, it will make Santa Cruz County competitive in applying for state funds because we’ll have local funds to match state dollars.
The Chamber opposes Proposition 6: Repeal a recent increase in the gas tax and other fuel and car fees and require voter approval for all transportation-related tax increases in the future. Taxes to be rolled back include a 12-cent hike in the gasoline excise tax, a 4 percent increase in the diesel sales tax, as well as a new annual vehicle fee based on the value of the car or truck. Why does the Chamber oppose this Proposition? Transportation infrastructure improvements was the number 2 issue (behind lack of affordable housing) that Chamber members echoed to us in past opinion surveys. Measure D in 2016 provided local funds up to $17 million a year for transportation improvements. Repealing the Gas Tax will remove another $5 to $7 million/per year in state funds for Santa Cruz County. There are over $5 billion (annually) in state funds that would be lost if Prop. 6 passes. The Proposition would have a devastating impact on our local streets, county roads, highway, Metro services, and active transportation network. Please vote no on this backward looking Proposition.
The Chamber opposes Proposition 10: Bringing back rent control allows cities to introduce new restrictions on market rents or expand existing rent control policies. Why does the Chamber oppose this Proposition? Rent control will not address the fundamental problem facing California’s housing shortage. Economists on all sides of the political spectrum state that rent control does not create more rental housing. California families are facing a severe housing affordability crisis. Unfortunately, Prop 10 is a measure that will make our housing crisis worse. Seniors, veterans and affordable housing experts all oppose Prop 10 because it will make housing less available and less affordable.
Chamber Positions on Local Ballot Measures
The Chamber supports Measure H – Santa Cruz County Affordable Housing Bond To provide affordable local housing for working families and vulnerable populations including veterans, seniors, low-and moderate-income households, persons with disabilities, homeless individuals and families; and supportive housing for individuals suffering from mental health illnesses or substance use disorders; shall the County of Santa Cruz issue up to $140,000,000 in general obligation bonds, with an estimated levy of $16.77 per $100,000 of assessed valuation, generating approximately $8,600,000 annually through maturity, subject to independent citizen oversight and regular audits.
Why does the Chamber support this Measure? Santa Cruz County is one of the least affordable places to live in the country. There are many reasons why Santa Cruz ranks at the bottom because of long held housing regulations at the city and county level. Measure H is endorsed by the Watsonville and Santa Cruz city councils, the mayors of Capitola and Scotts Valley, the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors and state legislators Senator Bill Monning and Assemblyman Mark Stone. It’s also endorsed by the county Democratic Party, the Santa Cruz Area Chamber of Commerce and the Service Employees International Union. In an area ranked as one of the least affordable housing markets in the nation, Measure H supporters say the bond will help low- and middle-income families struggling to pay rising rents, and local businesses who are finding it difficult to recruit or retain employees because of the high cost of living.
The Chamber opposes Measure M - Santa Cruz City Rent Control and Tenant Protection Act
Measure M amends the City Charter and imposes "just cause" for eviction laws on nearly every residential property in Santa Cruz. It also resets rents to October 2017 and limits rent increases to no more than increases in the Consumer Price Index.
Why does the Chamber oppose this measure? Measure M will make the housing shortage worse. It will be harder to find a place to live. Fewer rentals will be available because people will stay in apartments longer and many housing providers will withdraw rental units because new restrictions are too onerous. Rent control measures need to be thoughtfully written with a board consensus of the community and enacted by the local municipality. This measure is fundamentally flawed and will have the opposite effect on the rental market at a time when we need more housing units of all types — especially low income and workforce housing.