Election Guide, March 5, 2024: Santa Cruz County Supervisor District 5

How to improve wildfire evacuation, cell service and emergency preparedness

Theresa Ann Bond:

• Encourage more local Firewise Communities to reduce wildfire risk.
• Repair evacuation routes.
• Consider a countywide program to distribute and maintain generators.

Christopher Bradford:

• Invest in efforts like brush-buster programs to prepare for wildfires
• Support fire breaks on large properties.
• Create more landlines, ham radio systems and alert sirens for emergencies.

Tom Decker:

• Encourage community groups to create phone trees.
• Encourage residents to have generators and emergency plans.

Monica Martinez:

• Build early warning systems like evacuation sirens.
• Prioritize evacuation routes for road repairs.
• Support community-based organizations for emergency response.
• Encourage utilities to build more cell towers.

How to improve power reliability

Theresa Ann Bond:

• Consider creating a local, publicly-run power utility.
• Consider penalizing PG&E for outages that impact schools.

Christopher Bradford:

• Support undergrounding of power lines.
• Advocate for solutions with PG&E and state and federal representatives.

Tom Decker:

• Work with other rural counties and state legislators.
• Hire a lobbyist to advocate for local power reliability.
• Encourage residents to own generators.

Monica Martinez:

• Ask the California Public Utilities Commission and state lawmakers to “encourage PG&E to do better.”
• Support rebates and incentives for generators.

How to reduce obstacles to post-wildfire rebuilding

Theresa Ann Bond:

• Have staff give more data to county supervisors about progress on rebuilding permits.
• Individually connect with wildfire victims who have not been able to rebuild.

Christopher Bradford:

• Don’t require rebuilders to conform to updated standards for septic systems and roof sprinklers.

Tom Decker:

• Set up a volunteer group to help applicants through the permitting process.

Monica Martinez:

• Remove local regulations and challenge state rules that impede rebuilding.
• Make septic requirements more flexible.
• Make permit review faster and more consistent.

How to fund affordable housing and where to add new homes

Theresa Ann Bond:

• Close the gap between housing costs and wages.
• Pursue funding for workhouse housing.
• Reject large, dense developments.

Christopher Bradford:

• Reduce septic requirements.
• Use county land for affordable housing.
• Increase housing density throughout the district.

Tom Decker:

• Cut costs for developers by loosening septic requirements.
• Build on empty lots.

Monica Martinez:

• Consider funding affordable housing with county money and tax increases on the wealthiest county residents.
• Build housing on county land and on transit corridors.