Scotts Valley Halts Evictions Thru May 31

In a special meeting March 24, the Scotts Valley City Council unanimously voted to prohibit evictions through May 31 for residential and commercial tenants for non-payment of rent COVID-19.

“We want to go out of our way to help people,” said Mayor Randy Johnson.

More than 100 emails came in from renters affiliated with the Action Network, a progressive online organizing platform, making the same request: Emergency rental or mortgage assistance, prevention of utility shutoffs and halt fees and more public hand-washing station and portable toilets. Most lived in Santa Cruz, some in Watsonville and Boulder Creek.

“I live in a house with seven other people, including my wife who does not have health care,” wrote Gabriel Mindel of Santa Cruz. “All of us are either students or teachers… Many of us have already lost our jobs.”

“Everyone’s under financial strain, we’re doing our level best,” Johnson said, noting the city isn’t in a position to offer financial assistance.

Recently at the Sheraton Four Points hotel, previously a source of room tax revenue for the city, he saw just one car in the parking lot, “heretofore, it was packed.”