During a recent Santa Cruz City Council meeting, members discussed the city’s response to two civil grand jury reports, focusing on inclusionary housing and public safety issues, particularly concerning rape and domestic violence. The council had previously established a working group to refine their responses, which were presented for approval.

Council Member Brown expressed gratitude for the additional time taken to revise the responses and acknowledged the contributions of city staff. However, public comments highlighted significant concerns regarding the adequacy of the council's responses. Former grand juror Gillian Greenside criticized the council for what she perceived as a defensive stance, arguing that their responses did not adequately reflect the public interest or address the grand jury's recommendations effectively.

Greenside specifically pointed out that the city’s response to the inclusionary housing report failed to ensure compliance with city code, which mandates prioritizing local residents and workers. She urged the council to actively track compliance rather than relying on developers and property managers.

Additionally, Greenside raised alarms about the lack of data on reported rapes, particularly those involving strangers, since 2016. She called for the reinstatement of community alerts for such incidents, suggesting that the council's current approach neglects its duty to prioritize public safety.

Despite the criticisms, the council moved forward with a motion to approve the revised responses, which passed with some dissent. Council Member Brunner indicated opposition to the approval, acknowledging the effort put into the revisions but expressing dissatisfaction with the overall response quality. The meeting underscored ongoing tensions between public expectations and the council's accountability in addressing critical community issues.