Press Release: Professional Firefighters of Santa Cruz County Endorses Yes on Measure Q, Water & Wildfire Protection Act
Fire Safe Council of Santa Cruz County also endorses; Measure Q invests in brush removal, emergency access and open-space buffers to protect homes
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. — The Yes on Q, Water & Wildfire Protection Act campaign today announced the Professional Firefighters of Santa Cruz County – Local 3535 has thrown its support behind the measure, joining the Fire Safe Council of Santa Cruz County. The Water & Wildfire Protection Act will make essential investments to address wildfire risk in Santa Cruz County, as well as natural water source protection, the health of Monterey Bay and improvements for local parks. The measure will go before Santa Cruz County voters in November.
“Firefighters need more investment in resources and strategies to fight the threat of wildfire, especially as the impacts of climate change continue to grow,” said David Hopper, fire captain and representative for the Professional Firefighters of Santa Cruz County – Local 3535, the largest firefighter union in Santa Cruz County. “We need Measure Q because its dedicated funding for wildfire risk reduction will help us remove hazardous overgrown brush, clear emergency access roads, and create open-space buffers to protect homes and businesses.”
The Professional Firefighters of Santa Cruz County – Local 3535 represents firefighters with Central Fire District, who provide protection for more than 90,000 residents in Aptos, Capitola, La Selva Beach, Live Oak, Rio Del Mar, and Soquel – an area of approximately 55 square miles that is served by firefighters based in seven fire stations in the area.
The Professional Firefighters of Santa Cruz County and the Fire Safe Council of Santa Cruz County join numerous other organizations supporting Measure Q: Coastal Watershed Council, County Park Friends, 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.
Partial list of elected officials who endorse Measure Q: Sen. Laird; Asm. Pellerin; Asm. Addis; Santa Cruz Mayor Keeley; Santa Cruz City Councilmembers Sandy Brown, Sonja Brunner, Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson and Scott Newsome; Watsonville Mayor Vanessa Quiroz-Carter; Watsonville Vice Mayor Maria Orozco; Watsonville City Councilmember Eduardo Montesino; Capitola Mayor Kristin Brown, Capitola Vice Mayor Yvette Brooks; and Cabrillo College Trustees Christina Cuevas, Dan Rothwell and Donna Ziel.
Learn more at www.SCCforWaterandWildfireProtection.org or via Facebook and Instagram.
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