La Madrona Work Not New Fire Station
In the last three years, Scotts Valley Fire Protection District had two bond measures struck down by the voters for funding of a new fire station to replace the 60-year-old one on Erba Lane.
Recently, the district received anonymous communications voicing concern about construction going on at the fire district’s La Madrona Drive parcel, where the new station would have been built. Questions were asked as to why construction was taking place since voters said no twice.
This letter is to inform the public that the noted construction on La Madrona Drive is part of the Santa Cruz-Scotts Valley Intertie project connecting water districts with a 2-mile pipeline. The construction is a small pumpstation needed to support this project. It is not a new fire station.
The pumphouse is not district funded, but is paid for by a state grant administered through the California Department of Water Resources, directed to Santa Cruz City for implementation. This system is in its final phases and when completed will support regional fire protection and enhance water reliability by linking Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley and San Lorenzo with a connecting pipeline.
Kris Hurst
Board of Director, Scotts Valley Fire Protection District
Vote No on Half-Cent Metro Sales Tax
I urge Santa Cruz County voters to say “No” to the proposed half-cent sales tax for Santa Cruz Metro. This is a citizens’ initiative for the November 2026 ballot. If it qualifies, it only needs 50% plus one vote to pass and become a permanent, forever tax. A county-placed version would require a difficult two-thirds vote—something unlikely to pass given our high cost of living.
We already struggle with some of the highest costs in the nation. This 0.5% sales tax would push local rates as high as 10.25%, burdening working families, seniors and small businesses on everyday purchases.
Supporters say it prevents service cuts after “Reimagine Metro” expansions funded by a one-time state grant that is now running out. But here’s the core problem: about 56% of Metro riders are UCSC students. UCSC students already pay a separate transportation fee that contributes only $4.7 million toward Metro’s roughly $74 million operating budget.
At the same time, Metro bought new, larger buses to support heavy UCSC ridership without additional capital funding from the university. If UCSC paid a fairer share—closer to half the budget—we wouldn’t need this tax. The measure is expected to raise only about $27 million annually. Without new revenue, the biggest cuts would likely hit UCSC routes, where most of the ridership and costs are concentrated.
I support reliable public transit, but not another permanent tax without real accountability or fair contributions from major users like UCSC. Metro should first cut waste, optimize routes, improve efficiency and negotiate a much larger payment from the university.
Vote “No.” Tell Metro and county leaders: Fix your finances and get UCSC to pay its fair share—don’t just raise taxes on the rest of us.
Michael Lelieur
Santa Cruz
