FEATURED COLUMNIST
Capitola Report Card for 2021 By Yvette Brooks, Mayor, City of Capitola
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s we near the end of the year, and my last month as Capitola’s mayor, I wanted to take the opportunity to reflect on this year’s accomplishments. I am so proud to have been able to get so much work done as our community experienced one of the most challenging years to date. This work could not have been done without the support of my fellow Council members; Vice Mayor Sam Storey, Councilwoman Kristen Petersen, Councilmember Jacques Bertrand, and Councilwoman Margaux Kaiser, as well as our City Manager Jamie Goldstein, our incredible staff, Police Department, and community. It has been an honor serving on your behalf as mayor and I look forward to another year on the City Council. Accomplishments his year has been full of surprises. A lot of us were impacted and still are dealing with the onslaught of the Coronavirus, losing our homes to the fires, job loss, financial hardships, and child care
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Capitola City Employees
shortages, but also, we have seen resilience in ways unimaginable. The City of Capitola’s staff has worked tirelessly to ensure our community came first, making streets safer, funding new programs, and investing in our children. It would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge the endless hours of our department heads
and their willingness to be creative and innovative. Here are just a few examples of accomplishments I had the privilege of supporting: Police Department • This year we welcome Andy Dally as our new Chief of Police.
• This past year, I had the opportunity to engage in conversations with outgoing Chief McManus about Capitola Police policies. We recognized the importance of ensuring transparency in police practices and participated with the Criminal Justice Council to review local police agencies’ policies. • The City of Capitola received a tobacco prevention grant and has been working with the Soquel Union Elementary School District and the County Health Department in creating a Tobacco Prevention Education Program at New Brighton Middle School, modeling a program I developed in high school titled “Teens Teaching Teens.” The City has allocated ten $100 stipends to participating students. • The Capitola Police Department got an early start to Racial and Identity Profiling Act reporting, reporting in July for a state mandate that begins in 2022. “Mayor Brooks” page 24
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