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 “The coast is never saved; it is always being saved.” Peter Douglas

With new federal efforts to reopen offshore oil leasing—including in areas previously promised permanent protection—the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors is taking a leadership role to defend our coastline by reviving the historic Outer Continental Shelf Local Government Coalition which halted offshore oil drilling along the California coast in the 1980s.
 
To learn more and sign up for updates on our rapid, coordinated response. Visit SaveMyCoast.org and join the mailing list. Once available, the site will also provide residents a way to directly submit comments to the U.S. Department of the Interior on the proposal. 

Public participation is essential to protecting our beaches,

coastal economies, and the Monterey Bay.

To lead this work, on June 24 the Board approved a contract with Richard Charter, the nationally recognized expert who coordinated California’s original local-government anti-drilling coalition. His decades of work on offshore drilling policy, deep experience shaping federal and state protections and proven record of building broad coalitions will be valuable in leading these efforts.
 
The City of Santa Cruz, Sonoma County and many others are joining as partners opposing new federal drilling proposals. This united front is essential to move forward together to protect our coast, our economy, and lead efforts to fight climate change. 

Since taking office earlier this year, no issue has generated more debate and confusion than the County’s work on a zoning ordinance for Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS). We’re not weighing in on a specific project here — we’re laying down the basic rules for where these facilities can go and what safety standards they have to meet. Community interest has been intense, especially with the Vistra incidents in Moss Landing still fresh in everyone’s mind.

The Board of Supervisors main issue is that the developers can bypass the county altogether and go directly to the state for approval if the ordinance is not adopted in a timely manner.  The Board has delayed the ordinance for more than a year at this point.  Another issue is that the ordinance cannot be too onerous or place too many barriers or the developer can again, bypass our county.  We want to preserve our ability to provide stronger safety features like fire risk and first response, environmental impacts in this sensitive habitat, the types of batteries being used, and how facilities are built and operated and monitored day to day. 

That’s exactly why we need strong local rules in place now — so we keep the decision-making here and make sure the community is protected.  I’ll keep you updated as the ordinance and the proposal evolve.

For more information:
Battery Energy Storage Systems Ordinance Website

Recently, I had the opportunity to approve funding for food security to the Second Harvest Food Bank.  With the SNAP benefit (Food Stamps) being curtailed, vulnerable people in our community including seniors, people with disabilities and children stood to lose access to food.  Not only is this hard on people and families that depend on this assistance, our small mom and pop stores as well as our larger grocery operators were slated to lose $6.5 million in revenue as well.  This is a sizable loss to our local economy.  In response, local governments came together to help and pledged about 1.1 million dollars to fill the hole left behind to help families affected by the federal government shutdown.

Thankfully, SNAP benefits were funded last week in their entirety, but there is still a great need in our community. Please consider donating, volunteering, or spreading the word.

How You Can Help

• Donate: Visit www.thefoodbank.org to make a tax-deductible donation.
• Volunteer: Help with food distribution and make a hands-on difference.
• Need food? Visit these sites for emergency food resources: santacruzcountyca.gov/Sanctuary  |  santacruzcountyca.gov/Santuario.

A few weeks ago, I met with PG&E and later hosted a town hall held at the Seascape Resort.  Residents from all over the Aptos area attended to discuss recent outages, wildfire safety, and communication improvements. Repairs at the Rob Roy Substation are now complete, and PG&E is working to provide clearer outage notifications and faster safety management.  Community feedback has been crucial in shaping these solutions.  Thank you for your emails, I presented all of them to PG&E and I believe they made a real difference.

The good news: PG&E is optimistic that the worst outages are behind us and service should stabilize soon.

The not-so-good news: Repairs at the Rob Roy Substation were delayed past the October 15 goal due to backordered parts. Power was temporarily rerouted through less reliable circuits in high fire-risk areas, causing extended outages even in coastal neighborhoods. The repairs were completed on October 28th.

Recent cooler weather and rain have allowed PG&E to deactivate fire-risk sensors temporarily and reroute power away from high-risk zones. Brief interruptions may still occur, but power should restore quickly.

Key takeaways:

• PG&E will provide earlier, clearer outage notifications
• Several high-impact areas still need faster vegetation and safety management.
• Community feedback made a real difference in shaping solutions.

While I appreciate PG&E’s updates, I share your frustration that communication wasn’t better during the summer’s outages. We’ll request a follow-up meeting in the spring to keep improving service and safety.

On October 21st, Nicole Coburn was officially confirmed as the new County Executive Officer for Santa Cruz County: the top leadership position in our local government. She was the unanimous choice of both the Board of Supervisors and a panel of community stakeholders.

Nicole has served as Assistant County Executive Officer since 2017 and brings more than 20 years of public service experience, strong fiscal leadership, and deep roots in our community.

Her appointment was well earned. Following a nationwide search that drew 139 applicants, Nicole rose to the top through a rigorous selection process, including a two-day interview with the Board and a technical panel of community members.

She steps into the role at a pivotal time, as the County continues to face major challenges around housing, infrastructure, and climate resilience. The road ahead won’t be easy, but with her experience, steady leadership, and commitment to collaboration, we’re confident Nicole is the right person to lead us forward.

Nicole succeeds Carlos Palacios, who is retiring after a distinguished career in local government. We extend our sincere thanks to Carlos for his years of service and wish him all the best in his next chapter.

Thank you to everyone who joined us at the Town Hall with the Sheriff on Safety in our area. The reason for this event was the reports about local safety as home invasion burglaries have been reported in our area, most recently in the Day Valley area in Aptos, as well as Rio Del Mar, Porter Gulch, and Corralitos. Over 60 residents showed up to hear about the issues and what can be done to improve safety in our area.

Key Facts About the Recent Burglaries:

• These burglaries have occurred at night.
• They are likely being committed by the same individual, often while residents are home and asleep.
• They appear to be crimes of opportunity, frequently involving unlocked doors.
• The Sheriff’s Office continues to actively investigate these incidents.

What We Can Do: 

• Lock our doors and windows.
• Install security cameras, motion lights and trim back vegetation.
• Work with our neighbors to develop a neighborhood watch program.

Personal plug: there are many dogs at our shelter who will be more than happy to help beef up security at your home: Adoptable Dogs

If you suspect anything, call Sheriff dispatch at 471-1121 or 911.

Recently, I was proud to join the City of Capitola and County Park Friends to break ground on Treasure Cove: Capitola’s first Universally Accessible Playground at Jade Street Park. This new play space will bring children of all ages and abilities together in a fun, inclusive environment designed to spark imagination and connection.

This project reminds me of the Boundless Playground we built at Valencia Elementary back in 2010, another effort that showed how our community comes together to create places where every child can play, learn, and belong.

Thanks to an incredible partnership between the City and County Park Friends, more than 1,500 community members contributed to an 18-month fundraising campaign that raised over $1 million. With additional support from the city and a $3.2 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the project will also include new restrooms and better access to the Jade Street Community Center.

Treasure Cove will open in summer 2026; a wonderful new place for families to gather and for kids to just be kids.

The County of Santa Cruz has launched a countywide survey to understand where internet and phone service is falling short. Your input is critical—every response helps the County know exactly where improvements are needed.

By taking a few minutes to share your experience, you can:

• Guide future broadband expansion projects so more neighbors have reliable service.
• Strengthen emergency communication planning to keep our communities safe.

Final chance to make your voice heard! 

Survey closes: November 30, 2025

Take the survey today and help build a more connected and resilient Santa Cruz County.

Take the survey here: Click to begin

The survey is available in both English and Spanish.

Your voice matters—help shape a more connected Santa Cruz County!

Rooted in Change: Katy King’s Fight to Reclaim La Selva Beach from Eucalyptus Threats

Katy King has always called La Selva Beach home. It’s where she grew up, where she raised her family, and where neighbors know each other’s dogs and kids by name. But for as long as she can remember, one thing has loomed—literally and figuratively—over her beloved community: eucalyptus trees.

When Katy and her husband moved into their home on Mar Monte Avenue, the towering trees were already a source of anxiety. Stormy nights brought crashing branches. One tree took out their front yard. Another landed just feet from their front door. Each time, the fear grew. And then came the moment that changed everything.

A local firefighter, speaking candidly, told Katy that if a wildfire ever swept through Mar Monte, they wouldn’t be able to save the homes—only the people. That stark warning hit hard. Katy realized she couldn’t wait for someone else to fix the problem. She had to act.

She started small: talking to neighbors, gathering support, and forming a nonprofit with five like-minded residents. Together, they raised funds, commissioned biotic assessments, and launched their first major project: clearing over an acre of eucalyptus with full community participation. What began as a safety effort quickly evolved into something more. As the trees came down, native plants like coffeeberry, oaks, and Monterey pine began to return. So did the wildlife—quail, salamanders, songbirds, even owls and hawks, now roosting in native trees instead of the invasive giants.

The 2008 Trabing Fire, driven by fast-burning eucalyptus as it tore through Larkin Valley, had already made clear what was at risk. But it was the brutal winter storms of 2021–2022 that truly galvanized the community. Roads were blocked. Power was out for weeks. Homes were hit. Power lines snapped. The danger was no longer hypothetical—it was right outside their doors.

That’s when Katy took her efforts to the next level. She partnered with PG&E, worked with foresters, and gained support from Congressman Jimmy Panetta’s office and our Second District office. Over three weeks, more than 100 eucalyptus trees were removed along Mar Monte Avenue. It was a massive undertaking—but just one chapter in a much larger story.

Katy knows the work doesn’t end when the chainsaws stop. Maintenance is ongoing to prevent regrowth. Some of the felled wood is being used as firewood. And the land is healing. Native species are reclaiming their space, and the ecosystem is slowly returning to balance.

Today, Katy estimates she’s about one-third to halfway through her goal for La Selva Beach. She’s reaching out to UCSC, exploring grants, and helping other neighborhoods replicate the model. The impact goes beyond safety and ecology—homeowners are seeing lower fire insurance rates, and the community is on track to earn a Fire Safe designation.

But for Katy, it’s not about accolades or recognition. It’s about peace of mind.

“Every time a tree comes down, I think about my neighbors,” she says. “This work brings relief. It lets me give back to a place I love—and help protect the people who make it so special.”

Local Students Build Tiny Homes to Tackle Housing Needs

A creative project in the Pajaro Valley is turning hands-on learning into real solutions for our local housing shortage. Working with the Pajaro Valley Education Foundation, local students have completed the first in a series of tiny homes on wheels—now available for sale.

The foundation hopes to sell each unit for about $30,000, with room for negotiation. A second home is expected to be finished by spring, and a third by next school year.

Anyone interested in learning more or purchasing a unit can contact Les Forster at ismore24@gmail.com or (831) 246-0988.

This project highlights the power of collaboration between education and housing—students are gaining valuable trade skills while helping meet the community’s need for affordable, efficient places to live.