A Year of Action for District 5

A Year of Action for District Five

Dear District 5 Resident,

As we close out the year, I want to begin by acknowledging the recent storms and prolonged power outages that affected many parts of District 5, including San Lorenzo Valley and Scotts Valley. Like many local families, my own spent Christmas without power, and I know how disruptive and stressful that was, especially over the holidays. I am grateful to neighbors who checked in on one another and to first responders, utility crews, and contract workers who worked long hours in difficult conditions to restore service safely.

Throughout the outages, my office stayed in regular communication with PG&E and county partners as crews worked around the clock to restore power safely. While it was not necessary to activate local shelters during this storm and most customers have now been restored, these events are a clear reminder of our vulnerability to extreme weather and why preparedness, infrastructure, and coordinated emergency response remain core priorities for me as your Supervisor.

PG&E is responsible for restoring power, and the rules that govern utility response is set at the state level. In my role as your Supervisor, I will continue advocating for District 5, pushing for clear communication and improved response where possible, and coordinating with our PG&E liaison and County offices to strengthen preparedness and ensure residents have access to resources during prolonged outages.

I am also working with our state officials to help residents access resources during severe winter storms. These include food assistance, rebates for generators, portable chargers, and others. If there is something you need, please provide us with your contact information by completing this form.

Living in a forested, mountainous area means outages are sometimes unavoidable, but how we prepare and support our community still matters.

This email is also a look back at my first year serving you on the Board of Supervisors. It has been a year defined by real challenges, and by real action. I ran for this role to get things done, and I want to be transparent about what that has looked like in practice.

Below are some of the concrete ways we moved District 5 and Santa Cruz County forward this year.

2025 Highlights: Action and Results

Protecting Essential Services During Federal Rollbacks

Photo: Community-based organizations, partner agencies, and County departments gather to discuss the local impacts of federal budget and policy changes and how to take collective action to support those most in need.

This year brought major federal policy changes that directly threaten food assistance, healthcare, immigration protections, and civil rights. We focused on concrete steps the County could take immediately.

What we accomplished:

Convened a countywide working group of 40+ nonprofits and service providers to prepare for Medi-Cal and CalFresh cuts
Moved quickly to allocate up to $500,000 to protect access to food when the federal shutdown threatened food stamp benefits
Organized district-level coordination with local food assistance providers to strengthen access for residents in need
Secured $200,000 in county funding to support LGBTQ+ services and legal aid for undocumented residents
Passed a Board resolution affirming protections for LGBTQ+ youth and immigrant communities

What’s next:
As deep federal cuts take effect in 2026, this groundwork positions Santa Cruz County to respond more quickly and protect vulnerable residents, including families, seniors, and people in District 5 who rely on these services.

Wildfire Preparedness, Resilience, and Recovery

Photo: Supervisor Martinez hosts a town hall on evacuation and emergency communications with county leaders, fire officials, law enforcement, and emergency agencies.

Wildfire preparedness remains a top priority in District 5. This year, we focused on practical, accessible actions that help people protect their homes and communities.

What we accomplished:

Funded and organized a free yard waste disposal every Saturday in August at the Ben Lomond Transfer Station - Served 400+ households, resulting in a 140 percent increase in yard waste removal compared to the prior year
Hosted two evacuation and emergency communications town halls in Zayante and Lompico with fire, law enforcement, and emergency agencies
Continued county work on evacuation route planning and emergency notification improvements

Recovery efforts:

Implemented planning and permitting improvements to support CZU Fire rebuilds
Worked directly with residents to help resolve individual roadblocks and move rebuilds forward

Putting Health and Equity at the Center of County Decisions

Photo: Supervisor Martinez discusses Health in All Policies framework at the February 25 Board Meeting.

Every county decision affects health, safety, and quality of life. This year, I worked to make sure those impacts are considered explicitly, not as an afterthought.

What we accomplished:

Embedded a Health in All Policies framework into Board discussions and strategic planning
Elevated health and equity considerations across decisions on disaster preparedness, infrastructure, housing, and public services
Appointed 29 District 5 residents to county commissions and advisory bodies to ensure community voices help shape policy

This approach matters now more than ever as we face future storms, wildfire risk, infrastructure strain, and budget pressures.

Investing in Parks and Community Spaces

Photo: Supervisor Martinez with staff from County Parks at the Miller Property County Park ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Parks and public spaces are not just amenities. They support physical health, mental health, and community connection.

What we accomplished:

Celebrated the opening of Miller Property County Park in Boulder Creek with new parking, picnic areas, and trail development underway
Marked the completion of a new mural at Ben Lomond County Park
Secured funding for:
- Alba Schoolhouse Park, honoring a historic site lost in the CZU Fire
- Infrastructure and accessibility improvements at Ben Lomond County Park
- Repairs to the community deck in downtown Felton
- Felton Pump Track at Covered Bridge County Park

With funding secured, expect to see progress on these projects in 2026!

Community Engagement and Accessibility

Photo: Supervisor Martinez joins Community Bridges volunteer to deliver meals on wheels to residents in SLV.

Being your Supervisor means showing up, listening, and staying connected to what residents are experiencing day to day.

What we accomplished:

Held 14 office hours and met with 125+ residents one-on-one
Spoke at 70+ community events across the county
Hosted 4 town halls on wildfire prevention, transportation and road projects, and water system stabilization
Met with teachers, healthcare providers, veterans, youth, seniors, nonprofit leaders, and local businesses from the Summit to Santa Cruz
Volunteered locally, including the annual Pitch In Clean-Up, Meals on Wheels deliveries in SLV, SLVE Read Across America, and many fundraisers supporting local nonprofits

As we head into the new year, I remain focused on action, accountability, and results, especially as we prepare for future storms, wildfire risk, and difficult budget decisions ahead.

Thank you for trusting me to represent you. It is an honor to serve District 5, and I look forward to continuing this work with you in the year ahead.

[officialname]

Santa Cruz County Supervisor, District 5

A Year of Action for District Five

District 5 Team

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