Santa Cruz County - 3rd District

Question 1:
The Regional Transportation Commission owns the rail corridor. The RTC has unanimously affirmed its commitment to institute high capacity public transit service on the Santa Cruz Branch Line.

Do you support implementing electric passenger rail on the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line?

Joy:
Yes.

Why or why not? How would this position be expressed in your work, should you be elected? What will you say to your constituents about this project?

Joy:
I have lived in both transportation-impoverished and transportation-rich places. I’ve experienced firsthand what it means to be stuck unless you have a car and the costs and burdens associated with that, as well as the communal wealth of abundant public transportation options that include rail. I know from personal experience and plentiful research that transportation equity is essential to reproductive justice: people don’t have full agency over their lives if they don’t have mobility. Transportation, especially highly-efficient and affordable rail service, is one of the most important elements of equity–economic, environmental, and reproductive. When elected, I will support implementing electric passenger rail in Santa Cruz by sharing information, serving on boards and committees, appointing people committed to transportation justice to advisory bodies, securing funding, and passing policies and budgets that support and expand transportation equity, especially public transportation.


Question 2:
Construction has begun on the trail next to the tracks, but some segments have faced opposition and resulting delays.

Do you support building a trail next to the tracks from Davenport to Watsonville?

Joy:
Yes.

How would this position be expressed in your work, should you be elected? What will you say to your constituents about this project?

Joy:
Public property for public good is a core values and central to my platform. Difficulties around engineering, loss of trees, and private property encroachment are surmountable. The community as a whole has much more to gain from a continuous trail along the tracks than we lose if we don’t resolve those barriers. Trees are the biggest loss; I'll fight to maintain and replant native and heritage trees. As we increase housing density, the Rail-Trail becomes an even more important wildlife haven and connector; we must offset habitat loss immediately. I use a section of completed rail-trail regularly. It's free, accessible, safe, and communal–where people and pets of all incomes, ages, and abilities walk and roll. It’s fun, and you get to see what people are up to as well as smile and say hello. I eagerly await completion of the segment to downtown, as it can replace most of my route in that direction –avoiding narrow streets with parked cars, speed bumps, and lights.

 
Question 3:
Neighborhoods with safe streets, bike lanes, and sidewalks create room for us to move freely without our cars.

Do you support improved street infrastructure to protect pedestrians and cyclists?

Joy:
Yes.

How would you support or prioritize projects, policies and funding to improve safety and infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists?

Joy:
Public Works is asking residents for neighborhood traffic calming proposals. Most probably have no clue that this process is happening. A call for entries on 12/7/23 with a deadline of 1/15/24 is quite short. The majority of our city residents are not part of neighborhood planning organizations; and not everyone feels comfortable with ones that do exist. My proposal to fund precinct assemblies so that neighborhoods can organize themselves and communicate better with their representatives is perfect for addressing safe streets and implementing Vision Zero principles. We know what needs improvement on our streets, but have little opportunity to coordinate and build consensus about solutions or advance their proposals up to council representatives or the DPW. By funding city-supported, politically-neutral groups, the ground would be laid for meaningful public participation in submitting proposals and refining project plans.


Question 4
The June 2022 Greenway Measure D sought to “rail bank” and tear up the tracks for a trail only. Did you oppose the the June 2022 Ballot Measure D?

Joy:
Yes.

What do you think are the implications of the 73% defeat of measure D?

Joy:
There is a clear mandate from the public to move forward with the Rail-Trail. We want multi-modal and active transportation that gets us out of our cars on safe bike and pedestrian paths. And we want public transportation that includes rail within our county that has connections beyond.


Question 5:
The California Coastal Commission recognizes the value of both freight and passenger rail in the coastal zone for environmental and coastal access reasons. Freight rail capability is important infrastructure for disaster preparedness and recovery.
 
Do you support preserving freight rail capacity on the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line?
 
Joy:
Yes.

How would this position be expressed in your work, should you be elected?

Joy:
I'm from the East Coast, with passenger and freight trains sharing the line up and down the Eastern Seaboard. I’d rather be on a train waiting for freight to pass than in a car stuck in highway traffic with trucks and their exhaust. Getting a share of passenger and freight off of highways and neighborhood roads (and on the Westside our main street is Highway 1) will reduce congestion and pollution, speed travel times, and improve safety and air quality for all. Preserving rail access for disaster response and recovery will continue to be important as climate change induced disaster intensifies. Rail is just one piece of our de-carbonization puzzle: according to the CA Air Resources board SC County has twice the CO2 emissions from off-road equipment and recreational boats than from all on-road road vehicles combined. Continuing to find sustainable alternatives to gas and diesel engines is an important area of research and development.