We need housing – especially affordable homes for local seniors and families – but it should fit our community, not overwhelm it. As mayor, I will fight back against predatory, out-of-scale projects like those in Seabright, on Mission and Water, and make sure neighborhoods have a real voice in shaping Santa Cruz’s future.

We can provide compassionate services and support for people in need without allowing unmanaged encampments in public spaces. I will lead the effort to end unmanaged encampments in places like Coral Street, along the river, and in our open spaces. As mayor, I will bring services, shelter, treatment, and consistent enforcement together to help people move toward stable housing and reduce impacts on the community.

Too many people who work in Santa Cruz cannot afford to live here. Teachers, nurses, first responders, young families, and longtime residents are being pushed out of the community they love. I will support affordable, neighborhood-compatible housing for local workers, families, and seniors; make it easier to build accessory dwelling units; and insist that UCSC provide housing for its own growth instead of putting more pressure on our limited housing stock.

It is unacceptable when trash piles up, graffiti stays on walls, parks are poorly maintained, or public spaces feel unwelcoming. Clean streets, safe parks, attractive medians, good lighting, and well-maintained beaches are not luxuries – they are part of a healthy community and a strong local economy. Children should be able to bike, seniors should feel comfortable taking a walk, and families should be able to enjoy our public spaces. As mayor, I will make sure we take care of the basics by investing in public art, landscaping, and maintenance that make Santa Cruz feel cared for.

We have too many empty windows and vacant buildings – in downtown, along commercial corridors, and in neighborhood business districts – where local businesses should be. Every empty storefront means fewer jobs, fewer customers for nearby businesses, and a less vibrant community. I will make city permitting faster and more predictable, work with property owners and entrepreneurs, and help create a city where small businesses can open, succeed, and provide good local jobs.

Our greenbelt, parks, beaches, and bay are why people love living in Santa Cruz. I will protect our open spaces, keep our beaches and waterways clean, invest in our parks, plant and care for more trees in our neighborhoods, and make environmental protection part of every major decision about Santa Cruz’s future. We will never allow drilling in our Bay.

Everyone should be able to walk down the street, go to school, visit a library, call 911, and participate in community life without fear of discrimination. Standing up for vulnerable communities is a Santa Cruz value. It matters more than ever that we do that now. As mayor, I will speak up for our LGBTQ+ and undocumented neighbors, protect equal access to city services, fight Trump administration policies, and make sure Santa Cruz remains a welcoming city for everyone.

At kitchen tables across Santa Cruz, people are struggling to keep up with rent or mortgages, groceries, childcare, transportation, and rising everyday costs. Seniors worry about being forced out of the community they helped build, while working families wonder whether they can afford to stay. City government cannot solve every affordability challenge alone, but as mayor, I will make affordability one of the tests we apply to major decisions and fight for policies that help workers, families, and seniors remain and thrive here.

When disaster strikes, our preparations will determine how quickly people get warnings, find loved ones, evacuate, and begin to recover. Every neighborhood should know where to get emergency information, how to evacuate, and how to check on vulnerable neighbors. As mayor, I will strengthen emergency planning, communications, evacuation routes, neighborhood preparedness, and coordination with the county, UCSC, and first responders so Santa Cruz is ready for the next crisis.

People should not have to attend a city meeting or dig through a government website to find out what City Hall is doing. Residents deserve clear answers about what was promised, how much it will cost, who is responsible, and whether the work actually got done. As mayor, I will make city government more open and understandable and create a public dashboard showing the city’s goals, deadlines, spending, and progress. Residents should have a meaningful way to hold their leaders accountable.