Environmental Coalition Backs Measure Q
Vote YES on Measure Q to Protect Santa Cruz County’s Natural Water Sources — and Protect our Communities and Local Forests from Wildfire
Vote YES on Measure Q:
- Protect Water Quality: Safeguard natural water sources, including rivers, creeks, and streams and the surrounding areas, to reduce pollution, trash, plastics, and toxic chemicals.
- Protect Natural Water Sources: Protect areas where rainfall replenishes our natural water supply to secure clean water reserves for future droughts.
- Reduce Wildfire Risks: Reduce catastrophic wildfire risks by removing hazardous overgrown brush, conducting prescribed burns, and creating critical shaded fire breaks — and help our forests recover from recent fires.
- Keep Beaches Clean and Protect Marine Life: Prevent pollution and trash from reaching our local beaches and the ocean.
- Preserve Wildlife Habitats: Safeguard local forests, wetlands, and wildlife habitats, ensuring these ecosystems remain vibrant and healthy amidst threats like droughts and climate change.
Fiscal Accountability and Local Control:
- Local Funds for Local Needs: All money raised will stay in Santa Cruz County and cannot be taken by the State.
- Independent Transparent Oversight: Dedicated citizens’ oversight, public spending disclosures, and annual audits will ensure funds are spent responsibly and only on voter-approved purposes.
- Leverage State Matching Funds: Measure Q will allow Santa Cruz County to qualify for state and federal grants, expanding our local ability to protect our communities against wildfires and our water sources from pollution, at no additional cost to local taxpayers.
Vote YES on Measure Q for Water and Wildfire Protection!
John Ricker, Retired Water Resource Manager
David Hopper, Fire Captain, Local Firefighter
John Laird, State Senator, 17th District
Nancy B Macy, Chair, Valley Women’s Club Environmental Committee
Anna V. Hurtado-Aldana, Treasurer, Friends of Watsonville Parks and Community Services
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Rebuttal to the Argument Against Measure Q
We all share responsibility for minimizing wildfire risk and supporting recovery, and we want well-funded local fire departments to respond in the moment.
We also need to fund smart preparation that protects our homes, businesses, and natural areas. Measure Q supports both.
Measure Q provides dedicated funding for wildfire risk reduction:
- Removing hazardous overgrown brush
- Clearing debris from emergency access roads for first responders
- Creating open-space buffers to protect homes and businesses
- Proactively managing land and forests to prevent spread of wildfires
- Safely conducting prescribed burns
- Local fire departments are eligible for Measure Q’s largest financial grants. These funds will help buy wildland fire engines, lifesaving equipment, and more.
Measure Q also protects water quality, clean beaches, and wildlife habitat. Measure Q isn’t only about wildfires: we must also protect our natural water sources, groundwater, beaches, marine and wildlife habitat, wetlands, forests, parks, and open space from growing threats of climate change, extreme weather, pollution, and drought.
Vote YES on Measure Q to:
- Protect Water Quality
- Protect Natural Water Sources
- Reduce Wildfire Risks
- Protect Forests
- Keep Beaches Clean
- Protect Marine Life
- Preserve Wildlife Habitats
Measure Q will also attract millions in state and federal matching funds. All funds are subject to local control and independent oversight.
Firefighters, the Fire Safe Council of Santa Cruz County, the Central Coast Prescribed Burn Association, and hundreds more agree — Vote YES on Measure Q for Water and Wildfire Protection! Learn more: www.VoteYesOnQ.com
Joe Christy, Founding Member and Former President, Fire Safe Council of Santa Cruz County
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Fire Chiefs Association Says No to Measure Q
Safe Drinking Water, Clean Beaches, Wildfire Risk Reduction, and Wildlife Protection Initiative
Your Santa Cruz County Fire Chiefs’ Association does not support this measure because it does not directly contribute to wildfire risk reduction nor directly fund all local fire agencies that are responsible for wildfire risk reduction.
The Fire Chiefs struggle with:
- The governance structure places decision-making in the hands of Santa Cruz County departments who themselves will be competing for funding.
- Direct fiscal apportion-ment to the County and cities but nothing to fire agencies best positioned to provide wildfire risk reduction in the unincorporated areas of the county.
- The advisory board serves 4-year terms, and no more than two terms. but can be extended indefinitely by the appointing agency.
- How this tax will apply to every non-exempt parcel in the County regardless of income capacity.
The measure as written over 16 pages identifies 17 areas of focus; wildfire risk reduction is just one of the areas competing for these funds.
In light of the CZU wildfire experience, we believe funding should be prioritized, not minimized, to protect our communities and for it to be placed in those best positioned to protect them.
Mark Bingham, President and Fire Chief, Santa Cruz County Fire Chiefs Association
Stacie Brownlee, Treasurer and Fire Chief, Santa Cruz County Fire Chiefs Association
Rob Oatey, Secretary and Fire Chief, Santa Cruz County Fire Chiefs Association
Jason Nee, Vice President and Fire Chief, Santa Cruz County Fire Chiefs Association
All 4 signing on behalf of the Santa Cruz County Fire Chiefs Association
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Rebuttal to Argument in Favor of Measure Q
Vote NO on Measure Q
Now coined the “Water and Wildfire Measure” in their media displays, this play on your emotions — it is misleading and irresponsible branding. These funds are managed by County Departments, approved by County Supervisors, with an advisory board appointed by the County Supervisors and Cities — it’s not “independent transparent oversight.”
There is no guarantee any funds will be spent to reduce wildfire risks, or distributed to Fire Agencies best suited as subject matter experts to conduct wildfire resilience and fuel reduction projects.
There is no way to prevent the County, charged with managing the revenues, from supplanting ongoing County Operating Expenses with Measure Q funding.
This measure funds programs that do not focus on clean water or wildfires — funds can be used for park construction, litter clean up, after school programs, visitor services, and trail head facilities (toilets).
There is no advocate for the unincorporated areas of our County residing in Independent Fire Districts. You will pay and yet may see no benefit.
Priority funding given to:
- Agencies with matching funds — the County is best positioned for matching funds
- Programs with multiple benefits — the County is best positioned to supplant funds to create multiple benefits
- Invest in disadvantaged communities — transferring local tax dollars to other parts of the County for non-wildfire programs
Measure Q employs a broad brushstroke to address a vast array of 17 environmental concerns without providing specific solutions, details, or accountability. It’s bad policy and legislation designed to fund the County!
Join us in VOTING NO ON MEASURE Q!
Mark Bingham, President, Santa Cruz County Fire Chiefs Association signed on behalf of the Santa Cruz County Fire Chiefs Association