Agencies in Santa Cruz and Monterey counties received more than $3 million in state grants to stop illegal tobacco sales to minors. In Santa Cruz County, the sheriff’s office, Watsonville Police Department and Santa Cruz Police Department each received about $369,000 and $567,000 in funding. In Monterey County, the Monterey County Sheriff’s office, North Monterey County Unified School District and Carmel Unified School District each received $536,000 to $1.6 million. Each recipient will execute different strategies including hiring school resource officers, stronger enforcement of tobacco regulation and license inspections.
