Not fully understanding that “it takes strength to ask for help” continues to be one of the biggest obstacles to reducing veteran suicide. Asking for and getting the help a veteran needs is especially difficult for many combat vets trained to take care of others in their unit above all else, and getting their own wounds treated last, according to Viet Nam War veteran Buzz Gray.

Campaign contributions matter in political campaigns, both large and small. In the three-way race for two seats on the Scotts Valley City Council, Stephany Aguilar received the most money for her campaign- a total of $17,786, with Jim Reed coming in a close second at $17,516.  Derek Timm reported receiving a total of $10,438 for his campaign, all according to the most recent campaign disclosure statements, covering the period to Oct. 20, filed with the city clerk.  

(Editor’s Note: This is Part III of a three-part series on state-wide propositions on the November Ballot.  Part I covered Prop. 1 through 4 (Oct. 12 edition), Part II covered Props. 5, 6 and 10 (Oct. 19 edition).

Measure G proposes a hike in sales tax of one-half cent per dollar spent in the unincorporated areas of the county. The measure was put on the ballot by a unanimous vote of the CountyBoard of Supervisors. A key argument of county budget officials proposing the increase is because about half of the county’s residents live in unincorporated areas, primarily in Live Oak, Aptos and San Lorenzo Valley, the county provides a good number of municipal services usually provided by incorporated cities-and the county needs to catch up with the sales tax revenues collected in the four incorporated cities to provide “critical unmet needs” in the unincorporated areas.  

The housing affordability crisis across the state has inspired several measures on the Nov. 6 ballot. A local response is Measure H, which if approved will authorize the county to issue up to $140 million in general obligation bonds, generating an estimated $8.6 million annually to fund affordable housing throughout the county. The total price tag for the principal and interest of these 35 year bonds is estimated at about $274 million-almost double the face value of the proposed bond issue.