Replace ‘dreck’ with quality buildings: No on M

I urge voters in Santa Cruz to vote No on M. We have a town that is mostly built out and suffering from an extreme housing shortage, inflated rents and a burgeoning homeless problem. State law has mandated changes to our zoning codes to address this historical dereliction of duty to provide the county and cities fair share of housing.

Decades of elitist NIMBY policies have resulted in constant missed opportunities to approve more modest low-rise projects leaving us with the task of turning to our remaining redevelopment to right these historically misguided policies with taller buildings in our city center and density bonuses. Those bonuses should especially favor dedicated rental housing.

Our town is growing into a city. As we replace Taco Bells and old low-rise strip mall quality dreck with quality designed taller buildings we should encourage an attractive aesthetic made affordable through economy of scale and embrace positive change and a financially healthier city that conforms to state laws.

— Clifford Bixler, Santa Cruz

M is ‘really simple’: Do you want taller buildings?

A No on M letter printed on Thursday says a lot of things that aren’t true. Opponents of Measure M are making untrue claims. Measure M is really simple. Do voters want the right to vote when the city proposes to change the General Plan, which is known as the “constitution for land use,” to allow taller buildings? If voters want the right to vote on that, then they should vote Yes on M.

All the supposed “problems” are bogus. Naturally, the developers, and their supporters don’t want the voters to weigh in, but the question is, what do the voters want? If they want a voice, they should vote Yes on M!

— Eva Brunner, Santa Cruz

Non on M, yet another ‘deceptive measure’

I’m voting No on Measure M. It’s yet another deceptive measure forced on us by people who are unwilling to reveal their true aim. First there was Greenway’s horrible Measure D that threatened the future of the popular rail trail. Then there was Measure O that would have killed the affordable housing and library project downtown. Both of those deceptive measures were thankfully defeated.

Now we have Measure M that claims it will create more affordable housing, when it will do exactly the opposite in the name of stopping growth. That’s why housing nonprofits, the Democratic Party, the Chamber of Commerce and many others are opposed to M. Vote No on M.

— Shiri Gradek, Santa Cruz

Yes on 1 to create more treatment options

Finally! A $6.4 billion opportunity to create treatment beds and housing.

While there will be minor changes to how MHSA funds are directed, the bond measure in Proposition 1 can create 11,150 new places statewide, for both treatment and housing, (per the legislative analyst).

We currently lack beds and treatment at every level of sorely needed care.

Proposition 1 changes to MHSA spending won’t “decimate” local services. They will shift focus of county spending toward care of the most vulnerable — 30% will be used for housing services. The state will get 10%, instead of current 5%, to increase trained workers and provide oversight.

Even if you do not personally know someone suffering from a serious mental illness we all witness it on the streets of Santa Cruz and every city in our state.

Finally there is a glimmer of hope of a real solution. Vote Yes on Proposition 1.

— Elena Broslovsky, Aptos

No on 1: Where would mentally ill be housed?

Regarding the Yes on Proposition 1, the inane catch phrase is “treatment not tents.” Where are you planning to house these hordes of mentally ill people? Are they to become permanent residents of yet-to-be-built psychiatric facilities? I think not. Anyone voting yes on this proposition should have their head examined.

— Tina Owen, Capitola

Protect your voting rights: Yes on Measure M

Voting Yes on M protects your right to vote. Do you want more affordable housing? Do you want 12-story buildings downtown? Your vote, your choice, your suffrage, and our 15th Amendment! If you care about our democracy, Yes on M, right to vote.

— Kimberly Fitchen-Young, Santa Cruz