By Cheryl Williams

When I stand in my kitchen preparing one of my favorite dishes, peach molasses glazed chicken, I can’t help but reflect on the potential implications of Measure Z here in Santa Cruz. This measure, which proposes an additional tax on sweetened beverages, strikes a personal chord. The ingredients we use could soon become a luxury we can no longer afford — not because of natural market fluctuations, but because our local politicians have deemed it appropriate to dictate the financial priorities of families like mine. It’s about the citizen’s right to make choices without undue government interference.

“Your budget is your values.” This phrase resonates deeply with me, echoing through my work both as a social activist and now as the executive director of Santa Cruz Black. I vividly recall powerful social movements here where leaders worked tirelessly to highlight the subtle economic oppressions like segregation and redlining that still ripple through our communities.

Amid rallying cries for justice and equity, it became profoundly clear that the truth behind how a community’s priorities are mirrored in how it allocates its funds.

Regressive taxes like Measure Z hit lower-income families the hardest, taking a larger share of their incomes and driving up the cost of everyday essentials. It does nothing to address the root causes of health disparities.

At my nonprofit, we strive every day to combat the forces that threaten to price our community out of the very town we call home. Measure Z is an existential threat — an ostensibly well-meaning ordinance that, in reality, imposes a regressive tax burden on all, especially the marginalized and financially vulnerable.

This isn’t just a tax; it’s a barrier, making everyday items like groceries more expensive and inaccessible for those who can least afford it.

Measure Z provides no guarantee that any revenue raised will be directed toward specific health programs, including anything to address diabetes, heart disease or childhood obesity. The language in the measure concludes that the revenue will go into the city’s unrestricted general fund for broad purposes. Although the text mentions a community oversight panel, there is no requirement that its recommendations be followed, creating the risk that funds could be diverted to unrelated projects. This lack of transparency raises serious concerns about whether the revenue will effectively bolster anything that its proponents claim.

Progressive leaders once implored us to “do something.” Today, I echo that call. Let’s do something to decrease, not increase, the cost of living. Let’s ensure everyone can afford housing and healthy food without being penalized for their choices. This measure claims to protect public health, yet ironically it strips away our power to choose how we manage our health and lifestyle.

As progressives, we’ve championed the right to make decisions over our own bodies, advocating for autonomy and personal freedom. Yet, here we are, faced with a measure that contradicts these very principles. We know what’s best for us. We understand the needs of our families and our community better than any detached governmental body ever could.

I want to continue making my peach molasses chicken, not just because it’s delicious, but because it represents something larger — a simple joy, a family tradition, and a choice made by me alone.

Let’s vote No on Measure Z and stand together for the rights of consumers, for the preservation of our community’s economic freedom, and for a Santa Cruz that respects the voice and choice of its people. Let’s protect our community together.

Cheryl Williams is Executive Director of Santa Cruz Black.