Political Report on Talk of the Bay, June 1, with Chris Krohn: Build a Garage and They Will Come

The city of Santa Cruz’s Public Works Department seems hell-bent on building a five-story parking garage in downtown Santa Cruz. It is a project they’ve been pursuing for more than 20 years. To make matters worse, the garage will displace the popular downtown Farmer’s Market. The city’s Economic Development Dept. is also pushing to move the downtown library next to this project by touting the inclusion of 40-50 units of affordable housing. The Campaign for Sustainable Transportation (CFST) is pushing back, and saying that our city does not need any more parking garages and the money would be better spentincentivizing non-car forms of transportation such as bike, bus, and pedestrian travel. The group plans to go directly to voters with a no more garages ballot initiative that is designed to also save the Farmer’s Market. Join members of the Campaign for Sustainable Transportation  as they  discuss their initiative effort tonight on Talk of the Bay with your host, Chris Krohn.

On the second half of the show, Keith McHenry of Food Not Bombs will offer an update and analysis of the state of homelessness and houselessness in the city of Santa Cruz, as more than 400 people are now camped in the San Lorenzo Park Benchlands and along the San Lorenzo River sprawling out towards the Boardwalk. The numbers of homeless are growing and as summer sets in are we facing a humanitarian crisis on a scale never seen before in this city? Also of great concern are “climate refugees” from California’s Central Valley who arrive here each week seeking relief from the valley’s intense heat.  Join us on Talk of the Bay, tonight with your host, Chris Krohn.