John Leopold is committed to working for the community.  He holds at Constituent Meetings every week.  He has also organized community meetings around critical issues of development, criminal justice reform, housing and health services.  While in office John has worked on the following efforts:

COVID-19 Response

  • Drafted the County’s Eviction Moratorium
  • Created a $1 million rent and utility assistance fund for residents
  • Led the effort to allow businesses to use their parking lots for outdoor seating
  • Hosting weekly meetings to share information
  • Published weekly newsletters to update residents
  • Help establish a $1 million assistance fund local business
  • Supported the establishment of temporary housing for vulnerable communities.

Environment

  • Led the County to be the first to ban fracking in the state
  • Drafted innovative response to sea-level rise and now working with the Coastal Commission to set model for the state
  • Advocated to create the Climate Action Manager position
  • Led on the issues of Plastics Pollution Bans/Litter Reduction and Recycling
  • Wrote the Illegal Dumping Ordinance and Program
  • Limited PG&E tree removals around their gas pipeline in response to residents’ concerns
  • Voted in favor of transitioning all METRO buses to zero emission by 2030

Housing

  • Drafted new Mobile Home Park Closure Ordinance
  • Advocacy for Mobile Home Park residents
  • New affordable housing projects Capitola Road, Los Esteros Court and senior housing at St. Stephens Senior Housing
  • Wrote the County’s Vacation Rental Ordinance to limit impacts in neighborhoods
  • Approved the Pleasure Point Community Plan

Support local business

  • Initiated Pleasure Point Community meetings leading to design guidelines for commercial development
  • Drafted the County’s Cannabis Policies
  • Tripled the County’s reserves and improved our credit rating

Health

  • Voted for Tobacco license program
  • Banned flavored tobacco
  • Created the Pharmaceuticals & the Sharps Needles take back programs
  • Leading the Getting To Zero HIV Transmission effort
  • Led the effort to use County property for new health and dental clinics

Parks

  • Help create Chanticleer Park & Leo’s Haven
  • Pushed for the funding for Felt Street Park
  • Secured the funding for Heart of Soquel Park
  • Approved the Farm Park community gardens
  • Ensured the funding for East Cliff Parkway
  • Created Summer Movie Nights in Soquel and Live Oak
  • Drafted the regulations for Surf Schools at Pleasure Point
  • Led the creation of the first dedicated Pickleball Courts in county at Brommer Park

Public Safety

  • Founded Smart On Crime Santa Cruz County
  • Led the effort to establish the Justice and Gender Commission
  • Moved the Sheriff’s Office to Live Oak to improve response times
  • Ensured Youth Program/Violence Prevention Program in Winkle Park area
  • Convened the agencies for the first shaded fuel breaks on the Summit
  • Supported wildfire prevention efforts for Rodeo Gulch area
  • Acquired new fire truck for Loma Prieta volunteers
  • Drafted the Alcohol Nuisance Abatement Program

Transportation

  • Led the effort to purchase the Rail Corridor
  • Led the effort to pass Measure D to support Transportation Needs (including the Rail Trail)
  • Created the first Green lanes in the county in Soquel
  • Help create traffic calming measures in SC Gardens
  • Advocacy for changing the Jet Path over our community
  • Secured funding to build the Arana Gulch bike path
  • Ensured the creation of new sidewalk from Soquel High to the Village