Santa Cruz Local

How to apply for a Measure C parcel tax exemption in Santa Cruz

6 hours 13 min ago

Measure C was adopted with 56% of the vote in the Nov. 4, 2025 special election. (Amaya Edwards — Santa Cruz Local/CatchLight Local)

SANTA CRUZ >> Santa Cruz city voters approved a transfer and parcel tax in November to support construction, preservation and rehabilitation of below-market-rate housing. Measure C’s $96 annual parcel tax went into effect on July 1, and eligible homeowners have until July 24 to apply for an exemption.

Residents do not have to pay the parcel tax if the house they own is their primary residence and they earn 60% or less than area median income, or are 65 or older and earn 80% or less than area median income.

Qualified residents must complete the exemption form and mail required documents to Workforce Affordability Act Exemption, 1200 Pacific Ave., Suite 290, Santa Cruz, CA 95060. All documents and the application must be received by July 24.

Required documents include:

A utility bill or property tax statement to prove the home is a primary residence.
A CalFresh, Pacific Gas and Electric Co. CARE Program document, tax documents or Social Security documents to prove income level.
Property tax bill to prove ownership.
For the senior exemption, a copy of a driver’s license, birth certificate, Medicare card or passport to prove age.

Residents are advised to redact any sensitive information from documents, including Social Security numbers.

For assistance and questions, residents can email askfinance@santacruzca.gov or call city finance analyst Jessi Bond at (831) 420-5068. Bond said during an informational webinar on Tuesday that she can be reached in person 1-4 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays to file paperwork and answer questions at the City Manager’s Office, 809 Center St., room 10.

Questions or comments? Email info@santacruzlocal.org. Santa Cruz Local is supported by members, major donors, sponsors and grants for the general support of our newsroom. Our news judgments are made independently and not on the basis of donor support. Learn more about Santa Cruz Local and how we are funded.

Learn about membership Santa Cruz Local’s news is free. We believe that high-quality local news is crucial to democracy. We depend on locals like you to make a meaningful contribution so everyone can access our news. Learn about membership

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Categories: Local News - Santa Cruz

Cabrillo College fixes most dental program violations, state board says

Mon, 07/06/2026 - 06:00

Cabrillo College has the only dental hygiene program in the Monterey Bay region. (B. Sakura Cannestra — Santa Cruz Local file)

APTOS >> After the Dental Hygiene Board of California found in February that Cabrillo College’s dental hygiene program was not in compliance with minimum standards for patient safety and student learning, the college has now addressed all but one of the eight violations. Board members were outraged by the violations but opted to put the program on a three-year probation and allow it the opportunity to fix the issues.

In a letter dated July 1, the board wrote that the college is now in compliance with seven areas of concern. The program has yet to meet minimum staffing requirements and has until Aug. 17 to hire another permanent, full-time staffer. The program was found to be in violation with only one full-time employee, the program director. The board previously cited the college for understaffing of its dental program in 2019 and 2024.

In a letter dated July 1, the board wrote that the college is now in compliance with seven areas of concern. The program has yet to meet minimum staffing requirements and has until Aug. 17 to hire another permanent, full-time staffer. The program currently has one full-time employee, the program director. The board previously cited the college for understaffing of its dental program in 2019 and 2024.

In a press release published on July 2, Vice President of Instruction Travaris Harris wrote that the improvements demonstrate “the extraordinary commitment of our faculty, staff, administrators, and students to ensuring that our program not only meets regulatory standards but continues to prepare outstanding dental hygienists who serve our community with excellence.”

Santa Cruz Local reported last month that problems in the program may have stemmed from a chaotic and at times, toxic work environment. College leaders denied the allegations. The dean overseeing the dental program, Heidi Weber, resigned June 21. Weber and college administrators declined to discuss her resignation.

Questions or comments? Email info@santacruzlocal.org. Santa Cruz Local is supported by members, major donors, sponsors and grants for the general support of our newsroom. Our news judgments are made independently and not on the basis of donor support. Learn more about Santa Cruz Local and how we are funded.

Learn about membership Santa Cruz Local’s news is free. We believe that high-quality local news is crucial to democracy. We depend on locals like you to make a meaningful contribution so everyone can access our news. Learn about membership

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Categories: Local News - Santa Cruz

Appeal expected after judge rules in city’s favor in soda tax lawsuit

Fri, 07/03/2026 - 13:00

The No on Z campaign mailed fliers to Santa Cruz voters, sent people door to door and blanketed social media and TV with advertisements ahead of the Nov. 5, 2024 election. (Photo collage by Jesse Kathan)

SANTA CRUZ >> The City of Santa Cruz has prevailed in a lawsuit that challenged its voter-approved sugary beverage tax after a Sacramento Superior Court judge denied a petition from the California Grocers Association, the American Beverage Association and other industry groups.

City voters approved Measure Z in November 2024 with more than 52% of the vote, in defiance of a state law that sought to ban local authorities from implementing soda taxes. At the time of the election, city leaders said a lawsuit was all but guaranteed if voters approved the tax — and were willing to take on the fight.

Beverage corporations including Coca-Cola Co., PepsiCo Inc. and Red Bull poured in more than $1 million dollars to oppose Measure Z and sent campaign mailers warning voters that if it was adopted it would lead to costly litigation from city coffers.

The judge’s ruling asserted that the state law, The Keep Groceries Affordable Act of 2018, does not prevent local municipalities like Santa Cruz from adopting a soda tax because the issue is not a statewide concern, the litmus test for when state law can override local charters.

In a press release sent to media June 30, Santa Cruz Vice Mayor Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson wrote that “the court’s ruling sends a clear message: local democracy can withstand even the deepest-pocketed opposition.”

The release stated that an appeal is expected. Once the court officially files the judge’s decision, the plaintiffs will have 60 days to file an appeal.

Questions or comments? Email info@santacruzlocal.org. Santa Cruz Local is supported by members, major donors, sponsors and grants for the general support of our newsroom. Our news judgments are made independently and not on the basis of donor support. Learn more about Santa Cruz Local and how we are funded.

Learn about membership Santa Cruz Local’s news is free. We believe that high-quality local news is crucial to democracy. We depend on locals like you to make a meaningful contribution so everyone can access our news. Learn about membership

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Categories: Local News - Santa Cruz

Capitola affordable housing advances, construction expected by November

Thu, 07/02/2026 - 15:45

A proposal for 52 homes at 1098 38th Ave. could be constructed by May 2028. (Tyler Maldonado — Santa Cruz Local file)

CAPITOLA >> A proposal for 52 below-market-rate homes beside the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line in Capitola is expected to break ground in November after its developer secured funding earlier this year.

The property at 1098 38th Ave. is the former site of a convalescent home that has sat empty for years. Foster City-based nonprofit developer MidPen Housing Corp. is behind the project that was first put forward in 2022.

The three-story project is expected to break ground in November and could finish in spring 2028. It is set to include four studios, 21 one-bedroom homes, 14 two-bedroom homes and 13 three-bedroom homes. Eligible renters must earn 60% of area median income or less, according to state-set income limits.

About half of the homes are expected to be filled from the Housing Authority of the County of Santa Cruz’s waitlist for recipients of a Housing Choice Voucher, formerly called Section 8. The remaining units could be filled from a lottery and waitlist administered by MidPen Housing, but no interest list has yet been established.

In May, the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee awarded the project roughly $34 million in tax credits, an essential source of funding for low income housing development. The project is now fully funded, said MidPen Housing Senior Vice President Joanna Carman.

See more housing projects and updates on Santa Cruz Local’s housing tracker.

The site of a proposed housing development in Capitola.

Nonprofit developer MidPen Housing has secured financing for 52 units of affordable housing at 1098 38th Ave. in Capitola. (Naomi Friedland — Santa Cruz Local file)

Questions or comments? Email info@santacruzlocal.org. Santa Cruz Local is supported by members, major donors, sponsors and grants for the general support of our newsroom. Our news judgments are made independently and not on the basis of donor support. Learn more about Santa Cruz Local and how we are funded.

Learn about membership Santa Cruz Local’s news is free. We believe that high-quality local news is crucial to democracy. We depend on locals like you to make a meaningful contribution so everyone can access our news. Learn about membership

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Categories: Local News - Santa Cruz

‘We’re going to keep escalating’: Dominican Hospital nurses decry proposed layoffs

Thu, 07/02/2026 - 09:41

Nurses and their supporters hold an informational picket at Dominican Hospital on June 30. (Amaya Edwards — Santa Cruz Local/CatchLight Local)

LIVE OAK >> Dominican Hospital nurses rallied in front of the medical center on Tuesday, one month after layoff notices were sent to about 20 nurses and staff. Drivers honked their horns in support as they passed dozens of nurses and their supporters chanting, waving signs and blowing whistles.

Hospital workers say the proposed cuts would jeopardize patient safety by stretching the staff thin and taking time away from patient care. CommonSpirit Health, which owns the hospital and more than 2,000 other health care centers in the U.S., did not say why the cuts were proposed.

CommonSpirit did not make anyone available for an interview with Santa Cruz Local. In an emailed statement, spokesperson Christina Zicklin wrote that “the safety of our caregivers and patients is our highest priority,” and said hospital operations were not affected by the rally.

Born and raised in Santa Cruz, Carly Chavez-Ellis has worked as a nurse at Dominican for three years. She said the cuts would slash “critical” staff positions. In the cardiac unit where she works, they are set to lose the person responsible for coordinating patient transportation and fielding phone calls from family members, other hospitals, doctors, nursing homes, patients who were discharged, and more.

“It’s scary, because all the nurses are wondering who’s going to take that role,” she said from the picket line. “I fear that nurses will be expected to step up and do those things, and that’s going to take nurses away from the bedside with direct patient care.”

Chavez-Ellis said the cardiac unit lost a staffer a couple years ago when CommonSpirit reduced the number of aides to three from four.

“Safe staffing saves lives,” she said, adding that the cuts are “under the guise of saving money, but their CEO made $14 million in 2025.”

Carly Chavez-Ellis, left, and Clara Hernandez rally against proposed layoffs at Dominican Hospital. (Amaya Edwards — Santa Cruz Local/CatchLight Local)

Tax returns from the nonprofit show that the 30 top-paid employees each made more than $1 million in the fiscal year ended June 2025, and brought in more than $128 million collectively. CommonSpirit reported a total of $822 million spent on salaries for its roughly 160,000 employees. Top-heavy executive compensation is not unusual for large hospital systems.

Rory O’Moore, who’s worked in health care for nine years and has been at Dominican for two, said the decisions are being made by executives who don’t necessarily understand the direct effects cuts have on patients.

“This is people’s lives that they’re playing around with, and they just want to save a couple dollars,” O’Moore said. “We’re going to keep escalating until we have something.”

O’Moore said that ostensibly the reason for the cuts is the effect of the Republican-backed One Big Beautiful Bill Act, that decimated funding for Medicaid, but that the effects of that bill also mean fuller emergency rooms and the need for staff has only increased.

“It’s very short-sighted,” O’Moore said of the proposed cuts.

Rory O’Moore, left, and his twin sister, Elaine O’Moore, are nurses at Dominican Hospital. They hold union signs that read ‘Some cuts don’t heal.’ (Amaya Edwards — Santa Cruz Local/CatchLight Local)

Lauren Bailey works in the ER at Dominican and said she is also concerned about the effects on patient outcomes if the cuts go through.

“If these ancillary services get cut, then more is going to be on the plate of the nurses, which means less time with patients, less time being able to review charts, to get reports from the ER nurses trying to get patients upstairs,” she said. Fewer staff would slow the process of moving patients from the ER to other units, she said, which also means fewer available ER beds.

Proposed cuts include the staff responsible for answering call lights from patients, she said, which come from “patients who are asking for emergent things. ‘I have to go to the bathroom. I need pain medicine.’ Basic human needs. And again, that’s going to fall on the plate of the nurses.”

She added, “when you’re in a scenario where you feel like you’re stretched too thin, things get missed.”

Evelia Carter, an environmental services technician, blows a whistle during an informational picket at Dominican Hospital on June 30. (Amaya Edwards — Santa Cruz Local/CatchLight Local)

Questions or comments? Email info@santacruzlocal.org. Santa Cruz Local is supported by members, major donors, sponsors and grants for the general support of our newsroom. Our news judgments are made independently and not on the basis of donor support. Learn more about Santa Cruz Local and how we are funded.

Learn about membership Santa Cruz Local’s news is free. We believe that high-quality local news is crucial to democracy. We depend on locals like you to make a meaningful contribution so everyone can access our news. Learn about membership

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Categories: Local News - Santa Cruz

As Felton Fire faces mounting financial challenges, an assessment proposal divides residents

Tue, 06/30/2026 - 18:21

Felton Fire leaders have proposed a charge on property owners to maintain an independent district. (Amaya Edwards —Santa Cruz Local/CatchLight Local)

FELTON >> Property owners in Felton Fire Protection District are considering a new annual charge that could help the embattled district secure a future with paid fire staff. The district has faced years of mounting pension debt, decreasing volunteers and a rotation of chiefs, leaving residents uncertain about its future.

Supporters — including Felton Fire leaders — say the proposed property assessment would be the most cost-effective option, and would provide the best response to 911 calls. But detractors question whether the proposed $1.7 million income boost is truly needed.

If the assessment fails, Felton Fire could dissolve or try again to pass a different tax or assessment. Felton Fire leaders said that without a cash infusion, the district could run out of money to pay staff and volunteers by 2028.

Property owners can turn in mail-in ballots until July 24. Owners who would pay more get a bigger say.
If the tax isn’t approved, Felton Fire leaders could propose another way to raise money, or ask another agency to take over.
It’s unclear if other agencies would be willing to absorb Felton Fire, or how much residents would pay.
Volunteer-driven response is currently meeting the community’s need, but is unsustainable, Felton Fire leaders said.
Regardless of the vote outcome, emergency service will continue.

What is the assessment, and how do I vote?

The property assessment is proposed under state Proposition 218, which differs from elections for parcel taxes and bonds. Only property owners can vote, and each vote is weighted according to the amount they would pay — essentially, those who would pay more get a bigger say. The assessment requires 50% approval of the weighted ballots.

Ballots were mailed out in late May and must be returned by July 24. They may be submitted:

By mail, using a pre-paid envelope included with the ballot. Send to 131 Kirby St., Felton, CA 95018.
In person by July 24 at the Felton Fire district office at 131 Kirby St. in Felton.
In person at a public hearing for the assessment, 6 p.m. July 24.

Voters who want to change their vote or request a replacement ballot can call 831-335-4422.

Property owners who believe the assessment doesn’t comply with the California Constitution have until July 6 to submit a written objection. If the assessment is approved, it may only be challenged in court by those who have submitted a constitutional objection.

Who would pay, and how much?

The assessment must also be priced according to how much each property owner would benefit from the improved service. The assessments have been priced according to property use, property value, fire hazard and distance to the station.

Each ballot includes the amount of the property’s proposed assessment. A typical single-family home would be assessed $697.43 annually. The assessment can increase up to 3% a year to match inflation. A citizen panel would annually review Felton Fire’s finances and assessment spending.

All properties are legally required to pay the tax. But though homeowners could face a lien for non-payment, churches, nonprofits, or government buildings like schools would not.

What would the assessment pay for?

Felton Fire collects about $1.1 million annually through property taxes. The new tax would increase the district’s revenue to $2.8 million.

The district has long relied on volunteer firefighters. Until 2024, it also had a part-time administrator, a full-time chief and up to two full-time firefighters and two full-time captains. But the district can no longer afford the full-time employees, said Interim Chief Issac Blum, and is currently staffed entirely by volunteers.

Volunteers receive a $120 stipend for a 12-hour shift. Blum receives up to a $2,500 stipend each month, though some months he has opted not to take it, he said. Blum said he usually works at the station four days a week, in addition to a full-time paid position at NASA Ames research center near Mountain View.

Blum said he intends to vacate his volunteer position at the end of the summer. The board is interviewing six candidates for the role, one of whom is set to receive a job offer after the assessment vote. If the board offered him the role, “I would have to think very hard about it,” he said. “What we want to ensure the next fire chief is the best person for the job.”

About $1.6 million of the expanded $2.8 million budget would go to training and salaries, including health care and retirement:

A full-time chief and for $166,000 to $193,000 base pay.
Three fire captains.
Six firefighters. The staffing plan also accounts for two on-call volunteer firefighters.

The Proposition 218 assessment must be linked to the cost of a specific benefit to property owners. In this case, Felton Fire leaders say, the money would allow the re-hiring of three full-time firefighters and a full-time chief, ensuring faster response times and more firefighters responding. It would also pay for training and equipment.

District leaders previously considered a $700 parcel tax before pursuing the assessment.

What happens if the tax doesn’t pass?

If property owners reject the proposed assessment, the station will not immediately close, and 911 calls will still be answered. The station’s reserves are expected to be mostly depleted by an agreement underway to exit California’s CalPERS pension system, a move to make future hires less costly.

The reserves have enough money to also cover a $400,000 shortfall in this year’s budget and staff the station for one year with a slightly larger paid staff — a chief, two fire captains and an administrative assistant.

Without an assessment, the station may not have enough money to continue to maintain that staffing after 2028, Blum said.

If the assessment fails, Felton Fire leaders could propose a lower assessment, or renew efforts for a parcel tax. Director Erica Schwanbeck said she is unsure if she would propose another revenue measure or move towards dissolving.

“I would hope that there’s a through road there” to continue without dissolution, “but I don’t know for how long.” she said.

Could another agency absorb Felton Fire?

If Felton Fire leaders are unable to find a sustainable way to provide emergency response, they could ask another fire agency to absorb the district. But no district would be obligated to take on Felton Fire’s coverage area.

A 2025 report from the Local Area Formation Commission of Santa Cruz County included a dozen possibilities for Felton Fire’s future. The report’s four top-ranked options are to be absorbed by another fire agency.

One of those agencies is County Service Area 48, also known as Santa Cruz County Fire. The agency is part of the county government, though leaders have discussed becoming an independent fire district. CSA 48 has two existing assessments, which total about $367 for a typical single-family home. But if CSA 48 takes over Felton Fire, it could decide that the existing assessments won’t be enough to provide service to Felton residents, and propose an increase.

CSA 48 is in the process of absorbing Pajaro Valley Fire Protection District, which opted to dissolve after years of unsuccessful tax proposals. Pajaro Valley Fire Chief Dave Martone said the move is a win for residents, who will now have more robust emergency service. Martone did not take a position on the Felton assessment.

Former interim Aptos/La Selva Fire Chief Don Jarvis, a Pajaro Valley Fire District resident and past consultant for LAFCO, presented the South County dissolution as a cautionary tale for Felton Fire residents. Single-family homeowners will pay more to CSA 48 than what Pajaro Valley Fire proposed as an assessment. It’s unclear how much CSA 48 would charge Felton property owners if it absorbed the area. A county spokesperson declined to comment on whether CSA 48 would be willing to absorb Felton Fire, or how much it would charge.

The neighboring Zayante Fire Protection District could also offer to absorb Felton Fire. Zayante Fire Chief Jeff Maxwell said that neither he nor Zayante Fire’s board of directors have taken a position on the tax or the possibility of taking on Felton Fire’s service area, and that said Felton Fire leaders have not reached out to discuss the issue.

Blum said Zayante’s staffing model wouldn’t work for Felton Fire long-term. Zayante, which takes on fewer calls than Felton Fire, employs two daytime fire fighters and relies on volunteers at night. Like CSA 48, Zayante Fire leaders could decide they need to raise taxes to take on the expanded service, he said.

“Maybe we could tread water for a few years, but the reality is that it still does not provide a long-term solution for the Felton community,” Blum said.

Ultimately, Felton Fire residents will not have a firm idea of how much a takeover would cost until the district signals an intent to dissolve.

LAFCO Executive Officer Joe Serrano had encouraged directors last year to start the dissolution process at the same time they pursued a new assessment, to create a “Plan B” in case it fails. That would have triggered a process for LAFCO to consult with neighboring fire agencies and create a report on the possible cost and viability of being absorbed by another agency. The directors opted not to start that process, leaving the other options unclear.

“It’s a little misleading to say that there’s other options out there,” Serrano said. “There are, but there’s no analysis, there’s no commitment, there’s nothing.”

Does Felton Fire need 24-hour paid staff?

Supporters of the assessment say that it assures an industry-standard three-person response to emergencies — and it makes a four-person response, with the assistance of a chief or volunteer, more likely.

Labor protection laws stipulate that with fewer than four people, fire fighters can enter a burning building only for search and rescue. With four people, two can enter to fight the fire from within while two stand outside.

Felton Fire has 25 volunteer fire fighters, including 21 with enough training to respond to calls, Blum said, but only three live in Felton. The rest may not be available on short notice.

Blum attributes the difficulty of recruiting local volunteers to the increasing gentrification of the San Lorenzo Valley with more commuters to Silicon Valley. Within a decade, “you’re going to see this transition all the way through the valley,” he said.

Maxwell, the Zayante Fire chief, said his agency has had success hiring daytime staff while relying on local volunteers for nighttime coverage. “I think it takes strong leadership to create an environment that is welcoming for those members of the community,” he said. “It’s absolutely not easy.”

Serrano said the fact that other agencies have survived on a smaller budget thus far doesn’t mean the model is sustainable long term.

“If you lose your legacy fire chief and you have to hire someone new, you know, they may not want to take a pay cut like the current fire chief is taking,” he said. “You can easily compare somebody, but at the end of the day, Felton Fire is struggling with its current model, and it’s looking for ways to address that.”

If voters approve the assessment but later push to reduce paid staffing, fees could be lowered with the vote of three board members.

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Categories: Local News - Santa Cruz

Over 100 seats across Santa Cruz County are up for election. Here’s why they matter.

Mon, 06/29/2026 - 05:00

Primary Election Day in Santa Cruz on June 2. (Amaya Edwards— Santa Cruz Local/CatchLight Local)

Election Information meetings

Learn about candidate paperwork, election deadlines and the election process.
3:30 – 5 p.m. June 29, in the basement community room of 701 Ocean St., Santa Cruz.
2 – 3: 30 p.m. June 30, in the community room 500 Westridge Drive, Watsonville.

SANTA CRUZ >> More than 100 elected positions to represent Santa Cruz residents are up for grabs in the Nov. 3 general election.

Prospective candidates can file to run starting July 13. Filing ends Aug. 7, or Aug. 12 if the incumbent does not seek re-election.

What’s on the ballot

The November ballot will vary significantly across the county, in keeping with the overlapping patchworks of school districts, cities and special districts. To see which races you’ll vote in, or where you may be eligible to run, look up the address of your voter registration on the county’s interactive map, then check the tabs on the bottom for which jurisdictions it falls in.

The positions have four-year terms. Some seats up for election would serve a partial term if a prior representative left prematurely.
Most positions do not have term limits.
Candidates must be registered to vote in California, and most must live in the area they will represent. Some positions have other requirements.

Forms needed for nomination are available on the county elections website. A candidate manual has more details about the candidacy and election process.

For questions, contact:

Scotts Valley City Clerk Cathie Simonovich at csimonovich@scottsvalley.gov or (831) 440-5600.
Capitola City Clerk Julia Gautho at jgautho@ci.capitola.ca.us or (831) 475-7300 ext. 228
Watsonville City Clerk Irwin I. Ortiz at irwin.ortiz@watsonville.gov or (831)768-3040.
Santa Cruz County Clerk Tricia Webber at tricia.webber@santacruzcountyca.gov or (831) 454-2060.
Candidate Services Manager Stanley Avila at stanley.avila@santacruzcountyca.gov or (831) 454-2423.

Questions or comments? Email info@santacruzlocal.org. Santa Cruz Local is supported by members, major donors, sponsors and grants for the general support of our newsroom. Our news judgments are made independently and not on the basis of donor support. Learn more about Santa Cruz Local and how we are funded.

Learn about membership Santa Cruz Local’s news is free. We believe that high-quality local news is crucial to democracy. We depend on locals like you to make a meaningful contribution so everyone can access our news. Learn about membership

The post Over 100 seats across Santa Cruz County are up for election. Here’s why they matter. appeared first on Santa Cruz Local.

Categories: Local News - Santa Cruz

Cabrillo College dental hygiene faculty, students allege toxic work and learning environment

Sun, 06/28/2026 - 05:00

An anonymous source finishes up paperwork after a day of working at their dental office on June 23. (Amaya Edwards — Santa Cruz Local/CatchLight Local)

APTOS >> A toxic work environment. Excluded from official department meetings. Discouraged from reporting misconduct.

Heather Lawler served as director of Cabrillo College’s dental hygiene program from 2021 to 2025 and described a culture of toxic management from the top-down that worsened over time. She alleged college administrators regularly yelled at her, excluded her from faculty meetings, stalled necessary equipment repairs and asked students to falsify misconduct reports against her.

Her experiences were not isolated. Santa Cruz Local spoke with nine current and former faculty, staff and students, all of whom alleged problematic behavior by college administrators who retaliated against those who raised concerns, discouraged reporting misconduct and disregarded rules required by state law.

Earlier this year, a state investigation into the program found eight violations, resulting in a three-year probation that risks Cabrillo’s ability to prepare future students for licensure.

Four Cabrillo College administrators denied the allegations of misconduct in a 90-minute interview with Santa Cruz Local on Wednesday.

The former Dean of the School of Health and Public Service, Heidi Weber, resigned on Sunday. She declined to comment on this story. College administrators said she resigned voluntarily and declined to comment further.

Administrators also noted they could not speak to private personnel or student matters, including closed or ongoing investigations.

“We as the college take all employee complaints very seriously,” said college spokesperson Kristin Fabos. “All complaints received from dental hygiene faculty and staff from 2023 to the present were reviewed and investigated, or are in progress in accordance with applicable college policies and procedures.”

After an increasingly tumultuous final year leading Cabrillo’s dental hygiene program, Lawler resigned on Jan. 19, 2025. Others in the program watched Lawler be targeted by administrators. Michelle Rico, a former instructor and technician in the program, said some administrators spread rumors about Lawler, questioning her credibility and leadership.

Lawler said the final straw was when administrators allegedly directed staff and students to disregard parts of the dental hygiene student handbook, which laid out program-specific student conduct and educational requirements. Some of the dental hygiene student handbook’s policies are required by state law — ignoring them could have risked Lawler’s license to practice in California.

“I cannot manage a program where we’ve said we’re not going to follow the laws that govern us,” Lawler said.

Multiple people confirmed they were told to disregard certain procedures in the student handbook, prompting confusion and concerns from students, faculty and staff over what qualified as misconduct.

Vice President of Instruction Travaris Harris denied that the handbook was suspended and said some parts of it were superseded by the college’s broader Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook. He and other administrators did not acknowledge the lack of clarity voiced by students, staff and faculty.

Cabrillo’s dental hygiene program has one full-time director, three classified staff and 13 part-time faculty. One of the state law violations found during the Feb. 12 site visit was that the program’s clinic was consistently understaffed.

Rico resigned from the program on Dec. 12, 2024, after administrators allegedly asked her to take on IT responsibilities for the program that were not part of her job description, without additional compensation.

She also alleged administrators would mislead her and other staff about how to officially report misconduct and was not notified whether reports were being investigated.

“It just got to be too much and anything you said could be turned on you,” Rico said. “It was a very toxic atmosphere.”

Vice President of Human Relations Angela Hoyt said the position is responsible for providing day to day technical support for dental hygiene hardware, software and equipment, and denied that the role changed during Rico’s tenure.

Other faculty shared similar stories of miscommunication and a lack of transparency by administration beyond the student handbook confusion, and requested anonymity out of fear of retaliation. They said multiple faculty in the program had been reprimanded by administrators for speaking up about the program not adhering to state dental hygiene laws.

Another instructor referenced meeting notes that describe current program director Faye Khoury and Weber, the former dean, discussing strategies to remove faculty they don’t like, including asking students to file complaints. Other current and former instructors said they have overheard similar conversations, and that complaints of any kind can be harmful to faculty’s records at Cabrillo and for future jobs.

“It can’t go on the way it’s been going,” one instructor said. “The administration is just setting people — faculty as well as students — up for failure.”

Khoury denied seeking or encouraging complaints from students against specific faculty or staff, and said her conversations with students have focused on their education. She said she has listened to student’s concerns when raised and encourages students to use official college processes.

Fabos said the allegations of retaliation are false.

“Our faculty and staff both have union representation, so if that were to happen, they’ve got union representatives to advocate for them and address those issues,” Fabos said.

Kendall Sooter, spokesperson for the Cabrillo College Federation of Teachers, declined to comment on any grievances filed from the department.

Former and current faculty members said they reported administrative misconduct to the college’s human resources department and the union, but said reports went nowhere and they were not notified of any updates.

Santa Cruz Local spoke with nine current and former faculty, staff and students, all of whom alleged problematic behavior by college administrators. (Amaya Edwards — Santa Cruz Local/CatchLight Local)

Impacts to student education

Multiple students from the class of 2025 alleged that conflict between administrators and faculty affected their learning environment, with managerial strife leading to students being neglected.

The former students requested anonymity for fear of retaliation. They said there was a lot of tension between fellow students in their cohort, with classmates filing misconduct reports against each other. These reports were made either directly to administrators or through the college’s official Just Report It system.

Students filed multiple reports against classmates in the cohort’s two years at Cabrillo, alleging sexual harassment, bullying, vandalism and intimidation.

Despite the reports, the students said administration failed to follow up with them, downplayed their worries and suggested they were reporting false accusations.

One student alleged there was a meeting in which Weber encouraged the cohort to “just drop” the misconduct reports. At a state board meeting on March 27, Harris referenced the students charged with intimidation and said they “didn’t do what they were accused of doing.”

Harris and the other administrators declined to comment on the student investigations.

Santa Cruz Local reviewed an audio recording of a meeting about the dental hygiene program on May 10, 2025, involving students, some faculty and staff, and at least three administrators. In the recording, an administrator says they have been inundated with false reports and suggested the school could cancel the program’s unofficial graduation celebration, or “pinning ceremony.”

“The pinning ceremony can get taken away if there continues to be any type of false accusations made because that is also a violation of our code of conduct,” the administrator says in the recording.

Another administrator is heard in the recording suggesting the school could “pull somebody’s diploma” as punishment for students who disrupt the ceremony.

During the Wednesday interview with Santa Cruz Local, college administrators declined to comment on this specific meeting but said they host multiple meetings about available support resources and proper reporting procedures for students, faculty and staff across campus.

“On a regular basis, people from my team, including Samantha and others, might be asked by a dean or a faculty director, chair, etc., to come and support a program because there might be challenges,” Hoyt said.

Former students said they felt the meeting was a threat from administrators, dissuading them from reporting further misconduct.

“I honestly felt very hopeless,” one student said. “I actually felt like the school was failing me and my other classmates, to actually protect us.”

Moving the program forward

Cabrillo is working to address the eight violations identified by the state board earlier this year. Inspectors have visited Cabrillo six times since the board was created in 2019 — once in 2019, three times in 2024 and twice this year.

Harris said all conversations over the past weeks between the college and the state board have been positive, and that the board complimented them for the work they’ve done so far to address the violations. He said the college is working on hiring a second full-time faculty for the program to address the staffing gap.

“I fully expect that some of the violations will be resolved as a result of the work we’ve done to give them the information that they requested and also our great conversations,” Harris said.

Anthony Lum, executive officer for the state board, agreed that Cabrillo appears to be “diligently” addressing the violations. The state’s dental hygiene clinical exam was eliminated in 2024, so Lum stressed the importance of holding educational programs to a high standard.

“We rely on the individual schools to uphold their professionalism, ethical boundaries, and procedures to graduate high quality students,” Lum said.

The program’s 20 students graduated on Monday, and Lum said the board confirmed that all students completed requirements and are eligible to apply for a California dental hygiene license.

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Categories: Local News - Santa Cruz