Letters to the Editor

SVFD hosts successful strategic planning workshop On March 7, the Scotts Valley Fire District hosted a strategic planning workshop to develop vision and goals for the department’s next five years. I want to commend and thank community stakeholders, administrative staff, fire suppression personnel, chief officers and...

Protect our future by demanding climate responsibility from pension funds I am writing to express my concerns regarding our state’s public pension fund. I’m urging them to vote for climate action at this spring’s shareholder meetings for the major corporations the pensions are invested in. As...

Forest Lakes Firewise includes more neighbors When I moved to the San Lorenzo Valley in 2018, I fell in love with living in the forest. But then the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex wildfire opened a whole new view of living in the woods. As lucky...

High density threatens Hidden Glen’s quality of life Just wanted to quickly tell our story and voice our strong opposition to the proposed Haven Development, Santa Cruz County Application Number: 241369. We moved to the Hidden Glen neighborhood five years ago, after looking for the perfect...

Just before the holiday season, there was an opinion piece in the Press Banner about San Lorenzo Valley Water District (“Measure U’s Decisive Defeat: What It Means for SLVWD,” Dec. 13, 2024). The author, Jim Mosher, is a citizen who represents a special interest...

Community raises concerns over new housing development We can all agree Santa Cruz County needs affordable housing, but recent moves by lawmakers in Sacramento have created a loophole for one local developer to abuse our planning process and circumvent all restrictions on density, fast-tracking a...

San Lorenzo Valley Water District (SLVWD) ratepayers soundly defeated Measure U, the proposal to roll back much of the rate increase put in place earlier this year, and elected Alina Layng and Bryan Largay to the SLVWD Board. In so doing they have sent...

A call to vote ‘No’ on Measure U I am an SLVWD ratepayer. According to information included in the paper from the Yes on U campaign, I am one of those using a lower than average amount of water, at less than 4 units per...

Fairer solution for Scotts Valley lies in housing, not higher taxes In response to Scotts Valley Fire District Board Director Daron Pisciotta (“Ensuring Fairness for All Homeowners with Measure S,” Oct. 4), I appreciate your thoughtful response to my concerns regarding Measure S, but I...

Support Measure U for equitable rates  We can all make a difference working together by voting “Yes” on Measure U for equitable rates in the San Lorenzo Valley Water District. Adopting the Measure U ordinance means the district can rebalance the rate structure and support...