Martinez’s fiscal record raises red flags
In the race for Fifth District supervisor, many concerns have been brought up about Monica Martinez, including lawsuits over misappropriation of grant money and labor law violations, as well as concerns about how she conducted business with the county in regard to a neighborhood mental health facility.
These issues have been well-discussed on social media. However, I think these discussions are sidetracking the public from Monica’s biggest red flag—her inability to manage her budget.
Monica began working at Encompass Community Services, a nonprofit providing health and human services to Santa Cruz County residents, in 2014. Under her management and leadership, Encompass has been in the red eight out of nine tax years.
Her annual shortfalls have ranged from $406,607 to $1,673,476 and total $4,908,978 over those nine years. This information is public record (propublica.org – EIN: 23-7275290). It’s black and white, verifiable and indisputable.
Would you trust the financial soundness of a business who ran this much in the red? Not me. It is the responsibility and duty of our District 5 supervisor to spend our tax dollars with thoughtfulness and carefulness.
Should you trust Monica Martinez with your tax dollars? I don’t think so.
Karen Anderson
Boulder Creek
Elect Redenbacher to strengthen SV school board
Neighbors, I urge your vote this November for attorney Gary Redenbacher to our Scotts Valley School Board. Gary’s a 30-year member of our community and raised two children who attended SV schools. Many will recall his wife, Renae Fish, a 20-year SV middle-school teacher.
Gary remains active in the District as an assistant coach for his grandchildren’s SV sports team and he is a regular attendee of the SVUSD Board meetings. For years, Gary has actively participated on various child-advocacy committees and groups, was a SV school construction committee member (yes, before Gary was an attorney, he was a contractor) and is a long-standing Mission Springs Board member.
SVUSD Board membership is his first elective-office effort, and he will be a great addition.
I have one child now at Brook Knoll. Another will be there soon. I taught at the elementary level in both the Aromas-San Juan and Soquel school districts. I know the services our kids need and deserve. Yet, I also know the SV declining enrollment now creates budgetary challenges. We are asked to support a new bond measure.
There is no better time to have someone with Gary’s skills and devotion on this Board. Please join me in supporting Gary for Scotts Valley Unified School District Board this November.
Jessica Florence
Scotts Valley
Choose Holloway for SLV Water Board
Do you want to elect a rubber-stamper or a watchdog to the San Lorenzo Valley Water District Board? I’ve had the pleasure of watching the actions of various board members over the past few years and I’ve found them to be earnest, intelligent folks, working hard for almost no pay. But some members have a tendency to work for the benefit of the water district itself and not water district customers.
Bruce Holloway is always fighting for the customers, and we need more people like him on the board. That’s why I’m voting for Bruce; he’s the watchdog we need.
James Bahn
Ben Lomond
Why wouldn’t you vote yes on U?
Measure U is the greatest opportunity in years for voters in the San Lorenzo Valley Water District to voice their frustration with the ongoing unfair water rates and restructuring. As you know, this last water rate increase was huge on the fixed charge side. It unfairly hits low water users the hardest and that isn’t right.
In today’s world, people cannot afford it. For numerous folks trying to save on water, their bill is still higher compared to the electric bill.
We, customers of SLVWD, put this measure on the ballot. Yes on U is for you.
Don’t let the opponents and special interest groups scare you. Of course, we will still get water out of our faucets. The District can collect the same amount of money by re-balancing fixed charges and what we pay for water usage.
Please join me and thousands of voters opposed to our unfair water rate structure and vote yes on U.
Donna Fertig
Ben Lomond
Supporting Bradford in the supervisor race
I’m a born-and-raised Santa Cruz County native and lived here most of my life, but am new to the San Lorenzo Valley, where my fiancée and I are putting down roots to start a family. As aspiring millennial parents unlikely to move again for the next 25 years, if ever, we’re approaching this election season with an eye for the long haul.
Part of moving to a new area is learning about the people and politics running it. Good civics necessitates taking an informed interest both in your community’s history and where it’s headed, else you’re just a resident less a participant. It follows I’ve taken the time to read up on both candidates and chat with my neighbors about the choices for Fifth District supervisor.
I’ve landed on voting for Christopher Bradford, and encourage readers to do the same. My reasoning is more than threefold, but here’s what space allows: 1) Christopher’s personal story and journey is that of numerous immense challenges overcome (and not just losing his house in CZU—I recommend reading his bio), speaking to a type of resilience, empathy and resourcefulness that will serve our community well; 2) His private sector credentials are noteworthy, showcasing a history of steady-hand management, entrepreneurship and deft problem solving; and 3) He’s a proper political outsider (and, importantly, this claim holds up under scrutiny) but with the chops to navigate bureaucracy where required.
He’d be advocating for us as one of us, unfettered by precedent, old habits or favors owed. In my humble opinion, this is a bit harder to say about his opponent, given their professional background and its financial overlap with county government.
I’ll conclude with this: I’ve noticed a number of Bradford’s signs were vandalized. Not sure how the culprits thought this would benefit them and I’m sure this is down to a few bad apples, but it’s counterproductive for SLV at large and not a great look. Let’s keep it clean, folks, whomever you support.
Zaac Turner
Ben Lomond
