![]() ![]() ![]() They’re tearing us apart, not bringing us together. They act as the gatekeepers of Santa Cruz neighborhoods, developing policies that have slowly pushed out artists, workers, and families – ensuring that their property values increase and only a wealthy few can afford to live here. In the face of an affordable housing crisis that makes Santa Cruz the second-most-expensive rental market in the country, Santa Cruz Together has set their sights on blocking tenant protections, recalling progressive council members, and backing conservative politicians for local office. There’s nowhere for these totals to go but up.Ī History of Opposing Tenant Rights & Progressive Policy However, these totals are likely outdated with the next summary filing deadline for contributions less than $1,000 coming up on September 29th. This sum surpasses the Empty Home Tax’s reported $18,951. This cycle’s $20,000 donation from Los Angeles-based California Association of Realtors more than doubled SCT’s reported donation total to $43,970 this year and boosted SCT’s total out-of-county funds to just over 57%. CAR’s candidate-supporting PAC, the California Real Estate PAC, also commonly makes large donations to candidates representing their interests–they recently gave $1000 to Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson’s campaign for supervisor, $500 to Justin Cumming’s campaign for that seat (Justin Cummings has endorsed Measure N), and various amounts to City Council members like Sonja Brunner, Renee Golder, and Martine Watkins. This money isn’t limited to big ticket items either – its anti-democratic purchasing power permeates our local elections and has helped shape the City’s anti-houseless policies. When rent control was on the Santa Cruz ballot in 2018, opposition to the measure raised roughly half-a-million dollars from the National Association of Realtors, California Association of Realtors, the California Apartment Association, and the local Real Estate industry to defeat the citizen’s initiative. Santa Cruz is no stranger to big Real Estate money opposing City measures meant to alleviate the cost of housing for the working class. The 8/22 donation to Santa Cruz Together - No on N is likely just the opening salvo as Big Real Estate interests start their campaign to stop the affordable housing initiative. $20,000 could pay someone’s rent for an entire year in many cities, but the California Association of Realtors (CAR) thinks it’s better spent fighting Santa Cruz’s proposed Empty Home Tax.
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