Lookout Santa Cruz: Labor union council backs Santa Cruz County’s Measure Q

Article by Lookout Santa Cruz - Read the full story here.

The Monterey Bay Central Labor Council (MBCLC) is endorsing a “yes” vote on Santa Cruz County’s Measure Q, a coalition of local environmental and community organizations backing it announced Thursday.

Measure Q would fund projects focused on building resilience to wildfires and other natural disasters, water conservation, water quality, flood protection and restoration, protection of public access to beaches and wildlife protection through a special tax of $87 on each parcel of land located within the county (with some exceptions). Expected to raise about $7.3 million a year, the tax would begin in the 2025-26 fiscal year if approved by voters.

Described as the “union of all the unions” in a release about the endorsement, MBCLC has more than 80 local union affiliates representing more than 37,000 union members and their families in Santa Cruz and Monterey counties.

Previously, the measure was endorsed by the Professional Firefighters of Santa Cruz County – Local 3535, the largest firefighter union in the county.

Other organizations supporting Measure Q include Coastal Watershed Council, County Park Friends, Fire Safe Council of Santa Cruz County, Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks, Friends of Watsonville Parks & Community Services, Land Trust of Santa Cruz County, Mid County Democratic Club, The Nature Conservancy, O’Neill Sea Odyssey, Peninsula Open Space Trust, Regeneración – Pajaro Valley Climate Action, Resource Conservation District of Santa Cruz County, Santa Cruz City Council, Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors, Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau, Santa Cruz Mountain Trail Stewardship, Santa Cruz Works, Save the Redwoods League, Save Our Shores, Sempervirens Fund, The Valley Women’s Club of San Lorenzo Valley and Watsonville Wetlands Watch.