Whether it’s the recent smoking ban in public spaces or the crackdown on panhandling, the Santa Cruz Chamber of Commerce says much credit should go to the community group Santa Cruz Neighbors, which supported the various new city ordinances intended to clean up the city.
Whether it’s the recent smoking ban in public spaces or the crackdown on panhandling, the Santa Cruz Chamber of Commerce says much credit should go to the community group Santa Cruz Neighbors, which supported the various new city ordinances intended to clean up the city.
The group began five years ago on the Westside as a communal response to loud parties, most of them hosted by UCSC students. Over the years, the group expanded to other neighborhoods and took on new issues relevant to local residents. They’ve organized barbecues and town hall meetings and pushed an agenda that promotes public safety. Chamber head Bill Tysseling referred to the group as a “connecting point for a lot of people who have really strong feelings about how the city ought to work.”
Of course, they haven’t always succeeded. Violent, gang-related crime is still a major concern in Santa Cruz, but police spokesman Zach Friend praised Neighbors as an “invaluable partner” in the SCPD’s efforts to nip emerging problems in the bud.
Santa Cruz Neighbors will be honored Friday night at the Chamber of Commerce’s annual Community Recognition Dinner.
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