The rent is too damn high. I am running for Mayor of Santa Cruz because Santa Cruz is Not for Sale. For the past five years outside developers are building mostly high-end apartments with rents far outpacing locals’ financial ability to pay the exorbitant monthly rents. We have to bring some balance to the rental market and incentivize affordable housing over luxury development, and employ local union labor, prioritizing prevailing wage. UC Santa Cruz must also do their part and house all incoming students.
Support for Labor. The wages are too low and the rent is too high. I advocate for a higher minimum wage, support for project labor agreements, paying prevailing wage, and invest in vigorous apprenticeship programs. I’ve been a member of three labor unions and I am certain that our community is better and stronger when workers can work, and also live, in our community. It is up to the next city council and mayor to work closely with our labor union partners and build a city for everyone, not just the few who can afford the sky-high rent.
A crisis of democracy. I am running because we are experiencing a crisis of democracy in city government. Too many decisions are made behind closed doors. I plan to bring more transparency and openness to local government, listen to all voices, and minimize the use of “closed session” meetings where backdoor deals tend to happen.
Environmental protection. Santa Cruz sits within an ecological hotspot and as Mayor I plan to prioritize protecting and highlighting the resources that make our city so awesome to live in. Maintaining clean beaches, safeguarding our redwood forests, and stewarding our greenbelt open spaces like the Pogonip, Lighthouse Field, Arana Gulch, and the Moore Creek Uplands, will all be high up on the city’s agenda.
Download a PDF file of Chris Krohn’s Statement >
Phone: 831.454.6170
Email: Chris4Mayor2026@gmail.com
Web Site: Chris4Mayor2026.org