Gillian Greensite

Retired UCSC Educator
Educadora jubilada de la UCSC
Email:greensiteformayor@gmail.com
Website:greensite4mayor.org
Phone: 831-427-2174
Mailing Address: PO Box 2534, Santa Cruz 95062

How do you feel about what’s happening to our town? I have been an active member of this community for 51 years. In the early days that meant joining with neighbors to save the Garfield Park library from threatened closure by the city. Today it means joining with neighbors at public hearings to protest the impacts of outsize housing projects on established neighborhoods.

Any candidate who claims they will reduce the height and scale of future projects is giving false hope. State housing laws have taken away local control. Six or eight story housing projects that overwhelm neighborhoods are legal, and the council has no ability to change the height or density, nor require parking.

So, what to do? As a candidate for mayor, I am well versed in state housing laws. I know what we can and cannot accomplish. I will work with other cities against unrealistic state-mandated housing numbers and harmful state housing laws. 

Where the city does have control, I will work for a council policy change to slow down the rate of overbuilding. The current line-up for project approvals is way above state mandates. It is unsustainable for the city’s infrastructure and city services. It is decimating small businesses. I will never agree to eliminate public hearings for large housing projects, a staff proposal currently working its way to council for a vote.

For Affordable Housing, I will work to ensure that local workers and city residents are given preference. We cannot continue the current practice of building affordable housing for the entire county and region.

I have a long history of local environmental work. I served on the city’s task force to clean up the water at Cowell Beach. I was appointed to the city’s Technical Advisory Committee for West Cliff Drive. As a Sierra Club leader, I helped introduce bird-safe design requirements for new city buildings. As a member of Dark Sky Santa Cruz, I helped develop and present the city with an Outdoor Lighting Ordinance which is still waiting for council action. My work to protect Heritage Trees is ongoing.

For 30 years I worked as head of UCSC Rape Prevention Education. I have continued that work since retiring and am currently trying to improve the city’s response to reported rape. If elected mayor, I will fast-track that goal.

If the above priorities are also yours, please consider voting Greensite for Mayor.