Elena DeBre, Author at Santa Cruz Local

About Elena DeBre

Elena DeBre is an investigative journalist at Lighthouse Reports, a nonprofit newsroom specializing in cross-border collaborations.

How Big Soda nearly killed Measure Z in Santa Cruz

By Jesse Kathan and Elena DeBre|2026-07-22T10:02:30-07:00July 22, 2026|Tags: City of Santa Cruz, Featured, Felipe Hernandez, health, Hector Marin, investigation, Jesse Kathan, Measure Z, soda tax|

Part 2: How voters fought back against pressure by the beverage industry

A decade ago, a soda tax effort fizzled in Watsonville. Advocates blame Big Beverage.

By Jesse Kathan and Elena DeBre|2026-07-22T09:59:54-07:00July 22, 2026|Tags: City of Watsonville, Featured, Felipe Hernandez, health, investigation, Jesse Kathan, soda tax|

Part 1: Industry leans on elected leaders of color to defend against regulation, experts say