Candidates consider affordable housing solutions ahead of SC County Board of Supervisors election
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, Calif. (KION) Buying, or even renting, a house is out-of-reach for most on the Central Coast. It’s a problem so severe that residents say it’s causing an exodus in Santa Cruz.
“Most of the locals can’t even afford to live here—having to leave and go to
Oregon and other states,” Santa Cruz resident Justin Boyens said. “So it’s a major problem.”
And while Zach Friend—and his District 2 opponent, Becky Steinbruner—agree there’s a housing crisis, they differ in the way to solve it.
Friend said that his solutions for affordable housing issues in District 2 would look a lot like this housing complex behind me in Aptos Village.
It’s a collection of homes nestled alongside Highway 1 off Spreckels Drive.
“One that has mixed-use, has affordable housing, has commercial,” Friend said. “And also has easy access to transit options.”
Steinbruner said her background—growing up in an Oregon farming community—makes her value that small-town feel.
She says that, while she expects growth, the Aptos Village project doesn’t align with her vision of keeping Aptos unique.
“I think we have a good amount of housing,” Steinbruner said. :The problem is that it is not affordable.”
Steinrbuner is concerned the Aptos Village project was pushed through without the community having a real say in its construction. The board passed phase two of the project a few weeks ago.
“Sadly, it was on the consent agenda and not even discussed,” Steinbruner said. “So, that is part of the process that needs to be improved. And that, to a large degree, is why I’m running for this office.”
Steinbruner also opposes rent control. But, without offering specifics, she thinks the board can come up with a way of making rentals affordable for working families.
Meanwhile, Friend said the one way to make housing affordable is to build more.
“There’s sort of been a long-term belief that, in our county, development in general is bad,” Friend said. “But not all development. We’re talking about affordable housing, which our families and our working families really need.”
