SANTA CRUS — In a rare development of controversy stemming from the normally uncontroversial consent meeting agenda for the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors, the board announced on Tuesday that director Justin Cummings will be directing Andy Shiffrin’s Santa Cruz. voted to deny appointment to the Cruz County Planning Commission.
Chairman Zach Friend and supervisors Manu Koenig and Bruce McPherson voted against Shiffrin to sink the nomination.
“Ultimately, I think the spirit of these commissions is to involve more information, more perspectives in county decision-making,” Koenig said during the meeting, noting that the board will continue to support Shiffrin. Mr. Shiffrin intends to appoint him to the Board of the Housing Authority. He is also Cummings’ alternate on the County Area Transportation Commission.
Koenig said the county was in a housing crisis with far-reaching implications, adding: “We can’t keep doing the same thing and expecting different results.”
Cummings said he was shocked by the vote, telling Sentinel: “This is unprecedented. What happened is a direct attack on my job and my election.”
“Rather than support the overseer trying to put on board those who fight for affordable housing in this community, there are officers who oppose it and oppose my opportunity and ability to put someone on the board. It’s really disturbing to see that there are ‘who I choose,’ Cummings continued.
Cummings defended Shiffrin’s credentials, saying she had deep knowledge and experience in institutional planning and was a key factor in Cummings’ intention to promote more affordable housing in the county.
Shiffrin spent decades in the Santa Cruz County District 3 Superintendent’s Office and recently completed his tenure on the City of Santa Cruz Planning Commission.
Cummings added that he also believes the vote is blatant hypocrisy. Koenig expressed concerns rooted in the fact that Shiffrin was also employed as an analyst at Cummings, but Cummings said the board planned to hire former Cummings analyst Rachel Dunn earlier this year. Approved the appointment of the third district representative to the committee. Departure from his office. He said Friend magazine analyst Alison Biollante is also on board. Planning Committee.
Still, Friend voiced his unequivocal opposition to Shiffrin’s candidacy during the meeting.
“What we’re facing in Santa Cruz County is a crisis of housing and transportation and a planning crisis that equals a crisis,” Friend said. “I think it’s very important to have a voice in the planning committee that doesn’t move us in the past and moves that effort forward.”
Shiffrin told The Sentinel that he was surprised by the vote and that in his experience it was highly unusual for other supervisors to refuse to appoint colleagues to committees.
“It sets a dangerous precedent for the majority to impose their will on district appointments,” Shifrin said. “I am surprised and disappointed by today’s vote, and while I try not to take it personally, I am politically opposed to my effectiveness in advocating a strong environmental and affordable housing commitment.” I want to take it as an attack.”
Cummings said he did not yet know who he would replace Shiffrin with, but said alternate Dennis Horvath would represent the district at planning committee meetings in the meantime. .
