June 7, 2016 Presidential Primary Election
Times Publishing Group, Inc., as the publisher of the Aptos Times, Capitola Soquel Times and Scotts Valley Times, is devoted to the task of informing the voters concerning the candidates’ positions on current issues rather than endorsing a particular person for the office.
For the 2nd District Supervisor election there are three candidates: incumbent Zach Friend, mother gardener Becky Steinbruner and small business owner Rich McInnis. Here are our questions and the responses from Friend, Steinbruner and McInnis.
Q1 — Affordable housing is becoming harder to find in our county. What can the county do to help provide affordable housing for seniors, public employees such as teachers, and young people entering the labor force?
Friend: The lack of affordable housing is one of the most important issues facing our county. In order to rent a modest two-bedroom apartment a family needs to earn more than $70,000 per year. Our children and grandchildren are being priced out of our community at alarming rates, and I’ve heard from many seniors on fixed incomes struggling with rising rents.
To address this the County is encouraging smaller affordable housing units on transportation corridors — providing options for downsizing seniors or first-time homebuyers — allowing live/work options and easy access to services. Additionally, the County significantly updated affordable housing regulations to encourage the creation of affordable housing units.
While the Fair Housing Act limits using public funds for housing exclusively for a specific population (teachers/seniors), there are employer-sponsored options (private land purchases, linking employment and housing) which could make it possible — and the County is exploring those options.
Steinbruner: The problem of affordable housing is linked with the higher-than-state appraised property values. We live in a beautiful place. I think this County needs some sort of rent control measure. I think the County needs to partner with UCSC and Cabrillo College to help provide low-cost student housing complexes that could be available in summer months for short-term and vacation rentals.
I think the current Measure J requirement that new development include 15% affordable housing is not enough. I think it should be closer to 40% with at least half of that being dedicated to low-income households (the County’s median income, which governs this classification, is $86,000). I think current affordable housing developer in-lieu fees should be discontinued because it is not working to serve the people who need this housing.
I think there could be developer incentives to provide deed-restricted low and moderate — income housing, especially for seniors and people with impairments. I also think there must be community garden space for all development of over 5 units, supported by rainwater collection systems.
McInnis: I think there are already programs in place to provide for affordable housing in new developments, unfortunately our planning department makes it nearly impossible to build in the county, so if the process is made easier for builders and developers to build, then new affordable housing will be added to our housing stock for seniors, teachers, and young people moving out on their own.
Q2 — Petty crime is rising locally at an alarming rate. What can the county do to better protect its citizens and their property?
Steinbruner: The good news is that, according to Sheriff Hart, violent crime rate is extremely low. To best address petty crimes, I think we need to examine the root causes. Is it related to drug addiction? Gangs? Poverty? Knowing that, I think the best long-term solution would be to offer better drug and alcohol treatment, peer-to-peer counseling, better mental health treatment options, educational and job-training mentors, and better outreach for homeless services.
I also think more energy needs to be given to Neighborhood Watch, connecting communities on a human level. NextDoor is a tool, but the real connection that truly improves neighborhood safety is person-to-person.
McInnis: As a small business owner who has been a victim of many petty crimes over the years, such as graffiti and broken windows, shoplifting, auto break-ins, and assault; I think the county needs to step back and look at how they police the county, because it seems to be re-active and not pro-active in nature. I am amazed to see how these petty crimes fall through the cracks with no concern for the damage done to the victims in these types of cases.
Friend: While property crime rates in the surrounding cities (Santa Cruz/Capitola) rank as some of the highest in the state, the unincorporated area (such as Aptos) have significantly lower rates. In fact, overall crime rates in the unincorporated area have been declining for many years with theft-related crimes down the past three years compared to the 1990’s.
Over the last few years we’ve taken numerous steps to keep crime low including: bringing the Sheriff’s Office to full staffing for the first time in nearly a decade, supporting funding to open a recovery center for chronic inebriates – once at the center they are offered services and treatment to help end the cycle of theft and intoxication. Additionally, as some petty crime offenders have mental illness and substance use disorders, I supported a program that assigns a mental health social worker with Sheriff’s patrol officers to provide access to proper services.
Q3 — Santa Cruz County is known as a difficult place for builders and developers because of its complex and expensive planning process. Should this process be made even more difficult to essentially stop any more development, remain the same, or be made easier to encourage moderate economic growth and affordable housing?
McInnis: As long as our population continues to grow, we need to have places for people to live, so I believe the process should be made easier for builders and developers to build. And unfortunately our planning department has not made it easy or cost effective and this is why we have a housing shortage and corresponding high prices for homes and high rents for tenants.
Friend: There is no question that historically the County planning process has been difficult to maneuver. Over the last few years we’ve made efforts to help simplify the process — especially for homeowners making improvements or repairs — including providing information on applications and permits through our new free County mobile app.
Additionally, with our recent changes in affordable housing regulations, the Board has created an environment where it’s easier to construct smaller, more affordable housing options including focusing on reducing fees and providing incentives for property owners wanting to build deed-restricted Accessory Dwelling Units or install solar on their property.
I believe more can be done to simplify the process while still maintaining a robust, and transparent, public planning process, which ensures environmental and neighborhood protections are maintained.
Steinbruner: Because of the critical water crisis in our County, I support a temporary moratorium and enforcement of pre-2009 criteria of the County Well Ordinance. This area has been in groundwater overdraft since 1980, but until recent State mandates and declaration of our area as “Critically Overdrafted,” the problem has not been addressed. Until supplemental water supplies are secured and seawater intrusion into the aquifer stabilized, I feel the responsible action is to protect the health and safety of residents and the environment with a temporary moratorium. Salt water in the groundwater causes irreversible damage, thereby imperiling health and safety of the area and it’s natural resources.
Once the supplemental supply is secured and monitoring wells provide consistent data showing stabilized aquifer condition, I would support slow growth rates with changes in building codes to require built-in grey water and storm water collection / groundwater recharge on site. I also feel there needs to be incentives, such as were provided in 2004, to preserve historic structures rather than demolish them.
The recent changes to the County Housing Element are not necessary because the County is already meeting the State-required housing numbers (RHNA). It bothers me that these changes, along with code “modernization” will unleash development throughout the unincorporated areas, without regard to the very real lack of infrastructure to support it. It bothers me that developers now only need ask for exceptions to codes designed to protect the neighborhood character and quality of life, as well as and public safety … and the exceptions are nearly always granted.
However, at some point, I think the County must acknowledge that it is at maximum build-out, to preserve the quality of life for residents, tourists and the environment.
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To see the candidate’s ballot statements and other election information visit: VotesCount.com