COMMUNITY NEWS
Koenig Ousts Leopold’s Cycling Reps By Jondi Gumz
W
hen First District Supervisor Manu Koenig, newly elected on a platform of change, wanted his appointees to serve on the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission Bicycle Advisory Committee, he followed the agency’s bylaws and asked for permission from his fellow commissioners. Grace Voss and her alternate Janneke Strause, both appointed by Koenig’s predecessor John Leopold, objected and asked to complete their three-year terms. Koenig’s platform called for a vote to see whether people want a passenger train or a bike and pedestrian trail on the under-used rail corridor from Santa Cruz to Watsonville. Leopold favored a passenger train with a trail alongside and his appointees shared his views. The vote to replace the committee members passed 7-5 with commissioners Randy Johnson, Jacques Bertrand, Bruce McPherson, Kristin Petersen, Greg
Caput, and Patrick Mulhearn, voted yes with Koenig. All but Mulhearn are elected officials. Mike Rotkin, Andy Schiffrin , Sandy Brown, Eduardo Montecino, and chair Aurelio Gonzalez voted no. Brown and Montecino are elected officials. Caput said he respected Koenig’s right to be able to put whoever he chooses there. He agreed it’s political, adding, “That’s the field we deal with.” Gonzalez said volunteers should be able to finish their First District Supervisor Manu Koenig talks to the board about replacing his predecessor’s appointees. terms. Voss is editor of the Santa Cruz bike-related issues, including projects, their fellow commissioners. Nomination County Cycling Club newsletter. Strauss funding applications and legislation. in the past. was the executive director of Bike Santa The Advisory Committee is chaired Schiffrin asked the bylaws be Cruz County, by Amelia Conlen of Ecology Action. amended to allow for individual appointThe 11-member Bicycle Advisory The RTC bylaws allow commis- ments, replacing the current process of Committee provides input to the Regional sioners to choose their committee individual nomination, then confirmation Transportation Commission on many representatives by obtaining consent of by the full commission. n
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16 / April 15th 2021 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com
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