CONGRESSWOMAN ANN ESHOO, OF THE 14TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT HAS ANNOUNCED THAT SOME CRITICAL FUNDING HAS BEEN APPROVED IN THIS AREA. THE CITY OF SANTA CRUZ, AND THE SANTA CRUZ METROPOLITAN TRANSIT DISTRICT, WILL RECEIVE 1-AND-A -HALF MILLION DOLLARS TO EXPAND THE MAIN BUS TRANSFER STATION, SUCH THAT A MULTI-MODAL, TRANSIT-ORIENTED FACILITY CAN BE CREATED. THE FUNDING WAS APPROVED AS PART OF THE CONSOLIDATED APPROPRIATIONS ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2005.

RESULTS OF THE COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT PROJECT (A 10-YEAR STUDY COMMISSIONED BY THE UNITED WAY OF SANTA CRUZ COUNTY) WERE RELEASED FOR 2003. THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS (AREA RESIDENTS FACE ), ARE CRIME, AND THE COST OF LIVING. IN 2003 ONLY 1 IN 5 SANTA CRUZ COUNTY HOUSEHOLDS COULD AFFORD TO BUY AN AVERAGE HOUSE. THE MEDIAN-PRICE OF A HOME IN 2003 WAS OVER $500,000, (WHICH HAS SINCE THEN INCREASED). WITH HOUSING SO EXPENSIVE, MANY RESIDENTS ARE DOING WITHOUT NECESSITIES LIKE FOOD. HEALTH CARE AND CHILD CARE ARE ALSO BEING SACRIFICED OFTEN. THE COUNTY HAS SEEN A DROP IN THE CRIMES OF ROBBERY AND AGGRAVATED ASSAULTS, BUT THE NUMBER OF HOMICIDES AND RAPES HAVE INCREASED. MORE KIDS STAYED IN SCHOOL, WITH THE HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUT RATE SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED, AS WELL AS DRUG AND CIGARETTE USE. THE FULL REPORT CAN BE SEEN AT
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A SENIOR MONTEREY COUNTY DEPUTY SHERIFF WILL RETIRE ON FRIDAY DECEMBER 3RD. CHIEF DEPUTY JOHN CALZADA HAS BEEN WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE FOR OVER 32 YEARS. HE IS NOW IN THE ENFORCEMENT OPERATIONS BUREAU, BUT HAS WORKED IN EACH OF THE 3 SHERIFF'S OFFICE BUREAUS. CALZADA STARTED WORK AT THE MONTEREY COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE IN JULY Of 1972, FOR THEN SHERIFF JACK DAVENPORT.

A REPORT ON FBI CRIME STATISTICS, PUTS SAN JOSE AT THE TOP OF THE SAFEST CITIES LIST. THIS IS THE 4TH YEAR FOR SAN JOSE TO TOP THE NATIONAL LIST FOR SAFEST LARGE CITIES . SAN JOSE MAYOR RON GONZALES GIVES A LARGE SHARE OF THE CREDIT TO WHAT HE CALLS, THE BEST POLICE DEPARTMENT IN THE COUNTRY. WHILE SAN JOSE STAYED ON TOP, SAN FRANCISCO DROPPED FROM SEVENTH, TO THE NINTH SPOT. IN US CITIES (WITH A POPULATION LESS OF THAN 500,000), SUNNYVALE WAS VOTED THE 5TH SAFEST.