Greg answers questions for the Santa Cruz Sentinel newspaper.

Here are my responses to your questions for the City Council candidate overview.

1.        I have chosen to support the preservation of the utility tax. I do this to insure that programs currently funded by the utility tax are not cut. I would prefer to have a strong local sales tax base that could fund these programs and I will work to build a strong sales tax base in the City of Santa Cruz.

2.        I support measures that will make the Downtown a safe place. Playing Hackey Sack or blocking sidewalks with belongings as well as skateboarding on the sidewalks is unsafe. I believe many street performers contribute positively to the Downtown experience. I support the enforcement of existing laws governing behavior Downtown.

3.        I will work with UCSC to develop more quality on campus housing. More housing on campus will cerate less pressure on our local housing market and lower prices. When students live where they work they won’t have commute problems, parking problems or other problems associated with off campus living.

4.        Revitalizing the Beach Flats is a priority of mine. We need to get the drugs out. I will support a strong police presence in the Beach Flats. We need to build up the area into an attractive area for our out of town guest.  I will work the people who live in the Flats to create a neighborhood that is safe and free of the existing problems.

About myself

Greg Lopez                                      Age: 43                                 Occupation: Construction Manager

 I am a native of Santa Cruz and attended local schools, (Natural Bridges, Mission Hill Jr. High and Santa Cruz High “77”). After High School, I attended Cabrillo College 77-79 and Cal State Hayward 79-82. After college I moved back to Santa Cruz and started a family. I have been married 20 years and have four children, Jennifer 17, Kimberley 15, Eric 12 and Brandon 9. As a parent I have been active in the education and development of my children. I worked to create the Delaveaga School Life Lab Project, and constructed the current kiln room. For the last eleven years I have sponsored a Community Pumpkin Patch in my front yard that has raised over $30,000.00 for local education. I have coached youth soccer and have been a positive role model for many. I have helped to give toys and gifts to people in need during the holidays.

If elected I will work to revitalize the Beach Flats area. Santa Cruz is one of the most beautiful areas in the world and visitors contribute a great deal to our local economy. So why is it one of our most visited areas is one of our worst areas in the city? The Beach Flats area, long neglected, is a constant source of trouble for our Police Department. Attempts in the past to invest in the Flats have been put on hold or scrapped altogether. When will the quality of life for the people of the flats be improved? The time is NOW to make the decision to revitalize the Beach Flats and surrounding area.

Traffic is another problem long talked about but little has been done to improve it.  We have to be innovative and look for real solutions to our traffic problems. The Mission Street Corridor is an example of how traffic can be improved. So why are we going to tear it all up again to do the under grounding of the utilities? This way to construct projects is a waste of tax dollars and will create an inferior final project. I support the widening of highway 1.

Santa Cruz needs to build a strong sales tax base. A strong sales tax base is directly related to City Finances. When a city has a strong retail district it can generate more from sales tax and this revenue can be used for the good of the community. Santa Cruz has seen a great decline in its retail options. Car dealerships have moved to Capitola. Gone are the downtown department stores.  Where do the people of Santa Cruz go to buy items like bed sheets, bath towels or many other household items? The answer, of course, is not in Santa Cruz.

Thank You

Greg Lopez