ARTICLE
More than five years ago in April 2019, the five chambers of Santa Cruz County came together to host a business mixer at the Tannery Arts Center. The art studio was packed with Aptos, Capitola, Pajaro Valley, San Lorenzo Valley, Santa Cruz and Scotts Valley locals. The energy in the room was on high octane. Just a week ago, the five chambers again hosted an all-county business mixer for a large gathering hosted by Specialized Aviation at the Watsonville Airport. Again, the energy level was high octane. But unlike the event five years ago there was no discussion about the #1 issue facing Santa Cruz County: Yes, you don’t need to be puzzled by the answer: The lack of Affordable and Accessible Housing for our region. At that April 2019 all-chamber event, you could feel a celebratory feeling and the connection between the arts and business community. Earlier that day I read the news about one of our community leaders — leaving us for a better opportunity for her family. The former Executive Director of the Tannery Arts Center Michelle Williams said goodbye to Santa Cruz not because she wanted to leave, but because she had to. “We’re going backward, instead of forwards, in our financial lives,” Williams remembers thinking. “We have no hope of ever buying a home here.” The Chamber has been actively supporting housing projects and policies that can create more housing opportunities so this story is not repeated. However, we know from following the endless articles in print and social media platforms throughout California and specifically along the Central Coast, that access to housing at all income levels is a huge problem seeking a different solution. Some housing projects are in the construction process while the state legislature continues pushing an agenda to produce more housing. Yet, there are those who want to control the housing debate through local initiatives — some good, some bad and some are too early in the process to know. One suggestion is from a community group called “People for Housing.” They have started the signature-gathering process to place a Santa Cruz City initiative on the March 2024 primary election ballot that according to the language of the measure, “the initiative would prevent the Santa Cruz City Council from amending the city’s general plan or zoning ordinances that increase allowable height limits or floor area ratios for new developments greater than the limits already in effect for the city as of June of this year without a citizen vote approving the increase.” Their intent is an initiative that would put all proposed changes to building height and density requirements in the city’s general plan to a citizen vote. We’ve been down this same political dead-end road before when “Our Downtown Our Future” group tried a similar tactic by placing a petition on the November 2022 Ballot (Measure O) that essentially stated, “The downtown library and affordable housing project would require voters’ approval that would dictate the future of that project.” The voters in the City of Santa Cruz soundly defeated that measure. Fortunately, there is good news. Just this past week the City received a $33.5 million award from the California Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program toward the eight-story Library and Affordable Housing project. The project is set to include a new downtown library, at least 124 income-restricted housing units, a 243-space parking garage and room for commercial tenants, 258 bike parking spaces and a childcare facility. Out of the $33.5 million, Mayor Keeley said $22 million will go toward plans to build 124 affordable housing units. The other $11.5 million will go toward a number of related public infrastructure pieces within a quarter-mile of the project site such as improved bike paths and lighting. Now, back to the future of the 2024 election cycle: There is news (behind the scenes so far) from a local housing community group focused on producing language for a housing measure (parcel tax, bond measure or potentially a property transfer tax) that would most likely appear on the November 2024 ballot if qualified. The latest information can be reviewed here: https://www.santacruzsentinel.com/2023/08/31/coalition-shoulders-city-funded-affordable-housing-tax-measure/. It is too early to tell what this potential language of this housing measure will look like. The interesting twist is that local initiatives for the Santa Cruz City ballot, a Santa Cruz County ballot, or any other potential local municipality or special district ballot measure — the voters will also see a growing list of state initiatives that are moving through the California state legislature that can or will appear on the March ballot. What’s in the works during the last 24 hours of the 2023 California State Legislature is still a hazy vision of what will appear on the March 2024 Ballot. (The legislature will recess at midnight on Sept. 14 providing that all legislative action is resolved). In past years it is not unusual for the legislature to work past midnight to finalize their work. Here is what I’ve heard: As noted a couple of weeks ago, the Assembly Constitutional Amendment (ACA 13) which would amend the constitution regarding raising taxes by placing an additional requirement to pass citizens’ initiatives that seek to enforce Proposition 13’s two-thirds vote required for local special tax increases. The California Senate is considering ACA 13 today. It appears it has the votes to move to the Governor’s desk on the last day of the Legislature. If approved and signed by the Governor, it will be on the March 2024 ballot. Some statewide measures have already qualified for the November 2024 ballot that went through the extensive statewide process, qualifying the measure by submitting the petition to the California Secretary of State, getting language approval from the California Attorney General's office and gathering the necessary signatures of registered California voters. Presently, the California Secretary of State office shows two statewide measures are qualified for the March 5, 2024 Ballot: Senate Constitutional Amendment (SCA 2) Public Housing Projects. SCA 2 (by Senator Ben Allen) The California Constitution prohibits the development, construction, or acquisition of a low-rent housing project, as defined, in any manner by any state public body until a majority of the qualified electors of the city, town, or county in which the development, construction, or acquisition of the low-rent housing project is proposed to approve the project by voting in favor at an election, as specified. This measure would repeal these provisions. Assembly Constitutional Amendment ACA 5 by Assemblymember Evan Low. Marriage equality. The California Constitution provides that only a marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California, and federal law permanently enjoins the state from enforcing this constitutional provision. This measure would repeal this unenforceable constitutional provision and would instead provide that the right to marry is a fundamental right, as specified. As noted earlier this past month, the Assembly Constitutional Amendment (ACA 6) dealt with the University of California to continue the procedure for outside contracting services. The University of California policy requires contracts to be used only sparingly, and as an option of last resort, to address temporary or exigent circumstances, but not to displace University employees. The Chamber wrote a letter in opposition to ACA 6. ACA 6 seems to have stalled in the Senate Election and Constitutional Amendment Committee. It was rejected by the committee earlier this week on a 3-1 vote with two senators declining to vote on the amendment. It would need a two-thirds vote from the committee to move to the Senate Floor. If the impasse on the legislation stands, it will be the fourth legislative session in a row where similar legislation has failed. The Governor’s key legislative proposal regarding mental health care funding is AB 531 which establishes the Behavioral Health Infrastructure Bond Act of 2024. The legislation authorizes $6.380 billion in bond funds. The legislation is pending a vote on the California Senate floor yesterday (9/13) or tomorrow (9/14. If approved by the Senate it would appear on the March 5, 2024 ballot. In the last 24 hours of the California Legislature, anything can happen. As Yogi Berra would famously say, “It ain’t over until it is over.”
More than five years ago in April 2019, the five chambers of Santa Cruz County came together to host a business mixer at the Tannery Arts Center. The art studio was packed with Aptos, Capitola, Pajaro Valley, San Lorenzo Valley, Santa Cruz and Scotts Valley locals. The energy in the room was on high octane.
Just a week ago, the five chambers again hosted an all-county business mixer for a large gathering hosted by Specialized Aviation at the Watsonville Airport. Again, the energy level was high octane. But unlike the event five years ago there was no discussion about the #1 issue facing Santa Cruz County: Yes, you don’t need to be puzzled by the answer: The lack of Affordable and Accessible Housing for our region.
At that April 2019 all-chamber event, you could feel a celebratory feeling and the connection between the arts and business community. Earlier that day I read the news about one of our community leaders — leaving us for a better opportunity for her family. The former Executive Director of the Tannery Arts Center Michelle Williams said goodbye to Santa Cruz not because she wanted to leave, but because she had to. “We’re going backward, instead of forwards, in our financial lives,” Williams remembers thinking. “We have no hope of ever buying a home here.” The Chamber has been actively supporting housing projects and policies that can create more housing opportunities so this story is not repeated.
However, we know from following the endless articles in print and social media platforms throughout California and specifically along the Central Coast, that access to housing at all income levels is a huge problem seeking a different solution. Some housing projects are in the construction process while the state legislature continues pushing an agenda to produce more housing. Yet, there are those who want to control the housing debate through local initiatives — some good, some bad and some are too early in the process to know.
One suggestion is from a community group called “People for Housing.” They have started the signature-gathering process to place a Santa Cruz City initiative on the March 2024 primary election ballot that according to the language of the measure, “the initiative would prevent the Santa Cruz City Council from amending the city’s general plan or zoning ordinances that increase allowable height limits or floor area ratios for new developments greater than the limits already in effect for the city as of June of this year without a citizen vote approving the increase.” Their intent is an initiative that would put all proposed changes to building height and density requirements in the city’s general plan to a citizen vote.
We’ve been down this same political dead-end road before when “Our Downtown Our Future” group tried a similar tactic by placing a petition on the November 2022 Ballot (Measure O) that essentially stated, “The downtown library and affordable housing project would require voters’ approval that would dictate the future of that project.” The voters in the City of Santa Cruz soundly defeated that measure.
Fortunately, there is good news. Just this past week the City received a $33.5 million award from the California Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program toward the eight-story Library and Affordable Housing project. The project is set to include a new downtown library, at least 124 income-restricted housing units, a 243-space parking garage and room for commercial tenants, 258 bike parking spaces and a childcare facility. Out of the $33.5 million, Mayor Keeley said $22 million will go toward plans to build 124 affordable housing units. The other $11.5 million will go toward a number of related public infrastructure pieces within a quarter-mile of the project site such as improved bike paths and lighting.
Now, back to the future of the 2024 election cycle: There is news (behind the scenes so far) from a local housing community group focused on producing language for a housing measure (parcel tax, bond measure or potentially a property transfer tax) that would most likely appear on the November 2024 ballot if qualified. The latest information can be reviewed here: https://www.santacruzsentinel.com/2023/08/31/coalition-shoulders-city-funded-affordable-housing-tax-measure/. It is too early to tell what this potential language of this housing measure will look like.
The interesting twist is that local initiatives for the Santa Cruz City ballot, a Santa Cruz County ballot, or any other potential local municipality or special district ballot measure — the voters will also see a growing list of state initiatives that are moving through the California state legislature that can or will appear on the March ballot. What’s in the works during the last 24 hours of the 2023 California State Legislature is still a hazy vision of what will appear on the March 2024 Ballot. (The legislature will recess at midnight on Sept. 14 providing that all legislative action is resolved). In past years it is not unusual for the legislature to work past midnight to finalize their work.
Here is what I’ve heard: As noted a couple of weeks ago, the Assembly Constitutional Amendment (ACA 13) which would amend the constitution regarding raising taxes by placing an additional requirement to pass citizens’ initiatives that seek to enforce Proposition 13’s two-thirds vote required for local special tax increases. The California Senate is considering ACA 13 today. It appears it has the votes to move to the Governor’s desk on the last day of the Legislature. If approved and signed by the Governor, it will be on the March 2024 ballot.
Some statewide measures have already qualified for the November 2024 ballot that went through the extensive statewide process, qualifying the measure by submitting the petition to the California Secretary of State, getting language approval from the California Attorney General's office and gathering the necessary signatures of registered California voters. Presently, the California Secretary of State office shows two statewide measures are qualified for the March 5, 2024 Ballot:
Senate Constitutional Amendment (SCA 2) Public Housing Projects. SCA 2 (by Senator Ben Allen)
The California Constitution prohibits the development, construction, or acquisition of a low-rent housing project, as defined, in any manner by any state public body until a majority of the qualified electors of the city, town, or county in which the development, construction, or acquisition of the low-rent housing project is proposed to approve the project by voting in favor at an election, as specified. This measure would repeal these provisions.
Assembly Constitutional Amendment ACA 5 by Assemblymember Evan Low. Marriage equality.
The California Constitution provides that only a marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California, and federal law permanently enjoins the state from enforcing this constitutional provision. This measure would repeal this unenforceable constitutional provision and would instead provide that the right to marry is a fundamental right, as specified.
As noted earlier this past month, the Assembly Constitutional Amendment (ACA 6) dealt with the University of California to continue the procedure for outside contracting services. The University of California policy requires contracts to be used only sparingly, and as an option of last resort, to address temporary or exigent circumstances, but not to displace University employees. The Chamber wrote a letter in opposition to ACA 6.
ACA 6 seems to have stalled in the Senate Election and Constitutional Amendment Committee. It was rejected by the committee earlier this week on a 3-1 vote with two senators declining to vote on the amendment. It would need a two-thirds vote from the committee to move to the Senate Floor. If the impasse on the legislation stands, it will be the fourth legislative session in a row where similar legislation has failed.
The Governor’s key legislative proposal regarding mental health care funding is AB 531 which establishes the Behavioral Health Infrastructure Bond Act of 2024. The legislation authorizes $6.380 billion in bond funds. The legislation is pending a vote on the California Senate floor yesterday (9/13) or tomorrow (9/14. If approved by the Senate it would appear on the March 5, 2024 ballot.
In the last 24 hours of the California Legislature, anything can happen. As Yogi Berra would famously say, “It ain’t over until it is over.”