Making Democracy Readable
A plain-English guide to what Santa Cruz County's local governments are deciding, and an easy way to have your say before they vote.
10
local governments and agencies covered
79
meeting agendas read
527
decisions explained in plain English
10
budgets, every figure sourced
Local decisions shape daily life. Following them shouldn't be a second job.
Your city council and county board decide whether housing gets built, how public safety is funded, whether your street gets repaved, and how high local taxes and fees are. But their agendas and staff reports can run to hundreds of pages of legal and procedural language, often posted only days before a vote.
We check each government's agenda portal twice a day, pull out the decisions that matter, and explain them, so you can follow along in a few minutes a week and speak up while it still counts.
Read our mission →- 1
We read every agenda straight from each government's official meeting portal.
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We explain each decision in plain English, with the arguments on both sides.
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You weigh in with a short email to the officials before they vote.
What you can do here
This Week
Every public meeting agenda, read for you. Each decision is explained in plain English and sorted into Major, Notable and Minor, so the big ones don't get buried.
Write to your officials
Pick a side on any item, add a sentence about why it matters to you, and get a short email to send from your own inbox before they vote.
Budget Portal
Where each government's money comes from and where it goes, from its current adopted budget. Every figure links to the page it came from.
Weekly Email
One email a week with the decisions coming up, most important first.
This week's biggest decisions
See everything this week →- MajorCabrillo Governing BoardMon, Nov 2, 6:15 PM· Schools & youthBoard to adopt Cabrillo's Strategic Plan 2030
The board would approve the district's Strategic Plan 2030, setting the college's goals and direction.
- MajorCabrillo Governing BoardMon, Nov 2, 6:15 PM· Government & transparency, Schools & youthApproval of faculty union contract for 2026-2027 and 2027-2028
The board would approve a negotiated agreement between the Cabrillo College Federation of Teachers and the district covering 2026-2027 and 2027-2028.
- MajorCabrillo Governing BoardMon, Nov 2, 6:15 PM· Housing, Planning & development, Schools & youthUpdate on student housing and childcare center project
The board would hear an update on the district's project to build student housing and a childcare center.
Who we cover
The main public boards in Santa Cruz County, plus the commissions and committees they publish, such as planning commissions.
County and cities
Schools
Get this in your inbox every week
One email a week with the decisions coming up, most important first. Choose the governments and topics you care about; you can change them or unsubscribe from any email.