Dear Friends and Neighbors,
As the shutdown of the Federal Government wears on, the County is stepping up to contribute $500,000 toward emergency food distribution through Second Harvest Food Bank. Details about food assistance are available here.
We had an opportunity to celebrate last week with the groundbreaking for Treasure Cove, a new all-inclusive playground at the City of Capitola's Jade Street Park. It will open in the summer of 2026.
I joined local electeds and non-profits last week in forming a coalition to stop expanded offshore oil drilling and seabed mining–plans that were leaked from the Trump administration and target California.
I'm happy to say the movement to "Ban the Butt" is growing, with cities and counties around the Bay Area taking up the effort.
Finally, if you care about Floral Park, come by the Simpkins Swim Center at 5:30PM on Wednesday to discuss proposed changes to the master plan.
Best, |
Manu Koenig 1st District Supervisor, Santa Cruz County
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Highlights from Tomorrow’s Board of Supervisors Meeting
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Image: Waves crash along West Cliff at high tide. (Credit Ryan 'Chachi' Craig)
Surfing isn’t just part of Santa Cruz culture — it’s big business. A new “surfonomics” study shows local surfing generates about $195 million a year for our county, with more than 780,000 surf visits and tens of millions of dollars flowing into the economy from visitors, gear, and services.
The catch: climate change puts that value at risk. Just one foot of sea-level rise could cost the community $12.8 million in lost surf economy. With higher seas, the number of rideable days drops, and so does revenue.
For reference, the State's Ocean Protection Council currently recommends that cities and counties plan for one foot of sea level rise by 2050 and five feet of sea level rise by 2100.
Instead of hard seawalls, the report recommends nature-based protections to preserve wave quality. Protecting surf breaks isn’t just about recreation.
The County is evaluating impacts and weighing solutions in the Sea Level Rise Vulnerability Assessment, currently underway. If you haven't done so already, now is great time to take the survey to inform this work.
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Image: Alyssa Holmes, center, volunteers weekly at the Second Harvest Food Bank warehouse in Watsonville on Oct. 30, 2025. (Credit Amaya Edwards — Santa Cruz Local/CatchLight Local)
The Board is preparing to declare a local emergency to address rising food insecurity caused by the federal government shutdown and the suspension of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits.
With more than 35,000 local residents relying on these funds–an estimated $6.5 million in monthly support–the sudden loss of assistance has created immediate hardship for low-income households. To help fill the gap, the County will contribute up to $500,000 to Second Harvest Food Bank for emergency food procurement and distribution. This funding will strengthen efforts already underway by Second Harvest and community partners, who are experiencing a sharp increase in food requests as supplies run low.
Declaring a local emergency will allow the County to coordinate with state agencies and request additional resources to support residents during the shutdown. The County’s funding will be paired with contributions from the City of Santa Cruz, the Community Foundation, and the County Office of Education, bringing total emergency support to nearly $1 million. The goal is to sustain food access for thousands of residents over the coming months while continuing to advocate for state and federal aid. The County’s action reflects a broader commitment to protecting vulnerable households, maintaining fiscal responsibility, and ensuring local systems can respond quickly in times of crisis.
If you or someone you know needs emergency food, help is available. Visit santacruzcountyca.gov/Sanctuary for local food and community resources, including Second Harvest Food Bank programs and other free food distribution sites across Santa Cruz County.
Santa Cruz County property owners are reminded to return their ballots for the proposed Mosquito, Vector and Disease Control Assessment before the public hearing on November 4, 2025. You can even do so at the Board of Supervisors meeting at the Watsonville City Council Chambers. Results will be announced at the continued hearing on November 18, 2025.
Third District Supervisor Justin Cummings and I are introducing a resolution reaffirming Santa Cruz County’s commitment to uphold and defend the U.S. Constitution, civil rights, and the separation of powers that form the foundation of our democracy. This resolution comes in response to increasing concerns about executive overreach and violations of individual rights that threaten the balance between the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government. It also reflects our community’s longstanding commitment to protecting all residents from unlawful actions that undermine due process, equality, and trust in local institutions. By adopting this resolution, we are standing with jurisdictions across the country to affirm our dedication to democratic principles, accountability, and the rule of law.
You can view and comment on the entire agenda here: https://santacruzcountyca.primegov.com/Portal/Meeting?meetingTemplateId=744
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Treasure Cove Playground Groundbreaking
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Image: Ground breaking on Treasure Cove Playground at Jade Street Park.
Last week, we broke ground on Treasure Cove, the City of Capitola’s first Universally Accessible Playground, located at Jade Street Park. It is designed to bring children of all ages and abilities together in an inclusive, imaginative play space.
The event highlighted the incredible collaboration between the City of Capitola and County Park Friends, who led an 18-month campaign raising over $1 million in community donations from more than 1,500 donors. With additional City and federal support, including $475,000 from the City for initial outreach and design, as well as $3.2 million awarded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, this project also paves the way for broader park improvements, including new restrooms and improved access to the Jade Street Community Center.
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Image: Treasure Cove layout by Verde Design. (From CountyParkFriends.org)
Treasure Cove, designed by Verde Design, will feature a marine and shoreline theme with specialized equipment such as a wheelchair-accessible merry-go-round, cozy domes, sensory play structures, and climbing zones—creating a space where children of all ages and abilities can play together. On October 23, the City Council approved a $2.44 million contract with SSB Construction to bring the playground to life. The City anticipates opening the playground and new park features in summer 2026.
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Image: Supervisor Manu Koenig speaks at a news conference against Trump administration's leaked plans for offshore oil drilling. (Credit Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz)
I joined Congressman Jimmy Panetta and local leaders last Wednesday at the Santa Cruz Wharf to stand together against a new federal proposal that could open California’s coastline to offshore oil and gas drilling and seabed mining. At the event, leaders from across the Central Coast, including city, county, and state representatives, joined with organizations like Save Our Shores and the Monterey Bay Aquarium to call for collective action.
The leaked plan from the U.S. Department of the Interior threatens not only our coastal environment but also our local economies, which depend on clean water and sustainable tourism. Of particular concern is the possibility of seabed mining at the Davidson Seamount off of the Big Sur coast.
In the 1980s, communities up and down the California coast created a “blue wall” against offshore oil drilling. We did this through local zoning ordinances that prohibit the creation of facilities on land to support offshore drilling. These ordinances have withstood corporate lawsuits.
I'm working with Supervisor Cummings and Save Our Shores to update and strengthen these local laws, including protections against seabed mining. Together, we will utilize our statewide networks—including the California State Association of Counties and the Local Government Outer Continental Shelf Coordination Program—to fight back against this callous and shortsighted proposal. Californians have fought (and won) battles for decades to protect our coastline. We won’t stop now.
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Ban the Butt Movement Grows
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Image from left to right: Taylor Lane (ciggy board creator), Holli Thier (Tiburon Councilmember and Assembly Candidate), Ben Judkins (filmmaker), Manu Koenig (Santa Cruz County Supervisor), and Heidi Sanborn (Executive Director, National Stewardship Action Council).
The movement to ban cigarette butts is growing. Capitola joined Santa Cruz County and City on September 12. Tiburon moved to ban the sale of all tobacco products on October 16. San Mateo County is eyeing a filter ban as of October 22. And last week I joined a screening of the Cigarette Surfboard in San Francisco (see photo), where citizens are bringing the effort to their supervisors.
We've shown the world that it is possible to say no to this toxic and pervasive trash. Despite criticisms that a localized ban won't have any impact, we're seeing just the opposite. Local bans can succeed politically where a state ban has failed because Big Tobacco has more targeted influence in Sacramento.
What's more, the Cigarette Surfboard Team, Ben and Taylor, have created an incredible messaging platform that they are sharing around the world. Catch an upcoming screening or share one with a friend here.
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Interested in a Tiny Home?
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Image: Tiny home on wheels for sale. (Credit Les Forster, County Office of Education)
A creative housing project in Pajaro Valley is turning hands-on education into real-world solutions for our local housing shortage. The local students working alongside the Pajaro Valley Education Foundation have completed the first in a series of tiny homes on wheels, built by local students and now available for sale. The foundation hopes to sell each unit for around $30,000, with some flexibility for negotiation, and plans to have a second unit ready by spring and a third completed by next school year.
Anyone interested in learning more or purchasing a unit can reach out to Les Forster at ismore24@gmail.com or (831) 246-0988. This effort shows how partnerships between education and housing can make a difference - students gain valuable trade skills while contributing directly to the community’s need for more affordable, efficient living spaces.
I also encourage you to stay tuned in the coming year for updates to the County’s Tiny Homes on Wheels ordinance, which I helped draft and champion to expand housing options across Santa Cruz County. |
Photo: Floral Park - join me and the Parks Dept. this Wednesday for a discussion about new proposals for Floral.
The County Board Chambers will undergo renovations for the remainder of the calendar year. All Board meetings from September 30 onward will be held at various alternate locations throughout the County. The Fall 2025 meeting schedule with locations can be found here.
Tuesday, November 3 - Board of Supervisors Meeting starting at 9:00 AM. The meeting will be held via Zoom and in person at the Watsonville City Council Chambers, located at the top floor of 275 Main Street, Watsonville, CA 95076.
Wednesday, November 5 - Office Hours from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM. Come visit me at the Sheriff's Center, 5200 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz CA 95062. Bring your questions and meet with me one-on-one. As always, first come, first served.
Wednesday, November 5 - Floral Park Master Plan Meeting at 5:30 PM. The meeting will be held at the Simpkins Family Swim Center/Live Oak Library Annex Community Room, located at 979 17th Ave.
Tuesday, November 18 - Board of Supervisors Meeting starting at 9:00 AM. The meeting will be held via Zoom and in person at the County Government Center Community Room, located in the basement at 701 Ocean Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060.
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