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DESCRIPTION:Two Santa Cruz initiatives fight for affordable housing\n\nFebruary 10, 5 
 to 7:30 PM\n\nWill the EMPTY HOME TAX and OUR DOWNTOWN OUR FUTURE BALLOT 
 initiatives bring more affordable housing to Santa Cruz?\n \nIf you're 
 asking this question, or any question about these two initiatives, this 
 conference is for you. \n\nKEYNOTE PRESENTATION by Oakland 
 Councilmember-at-large and Vice Mayor REBECCA KAPLAN\n\nThere's an exciting 
 new vibe in our city. Unhappy with decisions made for them by their City 
 Management and Council, voters have written two ballot initiatives that 
 will generate funds and dedicate most of the remaining downtown lots for 
 affordable housing. Both groups, Empty Home Tax and Our Downtown, Our 
 Future, are currently gathering the signatures needed to get their 
 initiative on the November ballot.\n\nAbout Empty Home Tax (EHT) and Our 
 Downtown • Our Future (ODOF)\n\nThese are separate initiatives that will, 
 if passed, have a collective impact on housing in Santa Cruz. EHT proposes 
 to establish a tax on homes that are occupied less than 120 days per year. 
 The tax would apply to various types of vacant properties, including 
 single-family and multi-family residential parcels, condominiums, and 
 townhomes.\n\nOur Downtown Our Future opposes the planned 
 parking/library/housing structure on Lot 4 where the Farmers' Market meets 
 every week. The fours points of the initiative include dedicating most of 
 the downtown city-owned lots for 100% affordable housing, keeping the 
 Farmers' Market where it is, renovating the downtown library where it is, 
 and using excess parking revenue (from not building the garage) to help 
 build affordable housing and towards cost of renovating the library.\n\nHow 
 will these two initiatives affect housing in Santa Cruz?\n\nThese 
 voter-initiated measures, if passed, should have a significant and positive 
 impact on Santa Cruz' dire affordable housing situation. And yet, there's 
 opposition for political, practical, and economical reasons. The conference 
 offers an opportunity to dig into the initiatives, and to clarify doubts 
 and misunderstandings as representatives of both initiatives will answer 
 questions posed by a panel of housing experts, renters, students, and 
 political officials. As part of the audience, you will have an opportunity 
 to ask your question, and gain a better understanding of the issues and the 
 initiatives. \n\nConference schedule\n\n• Keynote by Rebecca Kaplan, 
 Oakland Councilmember-at-large and Vice-mayor.\n\n• Presentation of the 
 Empty Home Tax initiative by Cyndi Dawson and Kayla Kumar followed by a 
 presentation of the Our Downtown Our Future initiative by Lira Filippini 
 and John Hall.\n\n• Questions and comments by panelists:\nSandy Brown, 
 Santa Cruz City Councilmember\nChris Krohn, Activist, former Mayor and City 
 Councilmember\nChris Lang, Graduate Student UCSC \nCandace Brown, 
 Accountant and Activist\nDon Lane, Housing Santa Cruz County co-founder 
 \n\n• The discussion will be followed by a Q&A.\n\nThe conference will be 
 held in English and Spanish, in separate Zoom channels.\n\nOptional 
 suggested donation: $5-10\n\nPlease register here: 
 https://secure.actblue.com/donate/confrenting\n\nFor more information, 
 please contact Erica Aitken: reimaginesantacruz@gmail.com\n 
 https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2022/01/22/18847508.php
SUMMARY:reImagine Conference: Two initiatives that will impact affordable housing
LOCATION:Register Today: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/initiatives
URL:https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2022/01/22/18847508.php
DTSTART:20220211T010000Z
DTEND:20220211T033000Z
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