https://www.aptosnrg.org/blog daily 0.75 2023-11-17 https://www.aptosnrg.org/blog/redwood-roots monthly 0.5 2022-01-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/a40ebbc2-43c0-4c9d-8f00-d54674bf4ad1/tempImageu3ZAs5.jpg Blog - Redwood Roots https://www.aptosnrg.org/blog/the-wrong-side-of-the-tracks monthly 0.5 2022-01-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/c87240cc-4e8d-4030-9e7b-d9b3aae4c566/Screen+Shot+2022-01-21+at+9.15.19+AM.png Blog - The wrong side of the tracks - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/59d2093d-378b-49d3-a2a4-236d7da152bf/wrong+side+of+the+tracks.jpeg Blog - The wrong side of the tracks - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.aptosnrg.org/blog/nimby monthly 0.5 2022-01-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/d9f19383-fc94-4234-8257-a4eec9ff01e5/Private+Property+-+Madeline+Trail.jpeg Blog - NIMBY - Make it stand out Local NIMYs install Private Property sign on State Park (public) property, in an effort to curb public use of Madeline Trail https://www.aptosnrg.org/blog/make-no-little-plans monthly 0.5 2022-01-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/56384479-a662-4f4e-8fa2-1697f9ddeb43/BUR_02.jpg Blog - Make no little plans - Make it stand out 1909 Plan of Chicago https://www.aptosnrg.org/blog/painting-a-mural monthly 0.5 2022-01-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/47a3981e-fd04-411d-932e-afdfd4d168ba/Rio.jpg Blog - Painting a mural - Make it stand out Canvas awaiting Tay’s artwork https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/73601fc2-2367-4f1b-b148-113f96ca8522/Painting+a+Mural.jpeg Blog - Painting a mural - Make it stand out At the confluence of Valencia Creek & Aptos Creek, there once existed much more than a mural https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/c93524cd-efec-4be9-be35-774ca85d1dae/Stop+Destroying+the+Planet.jpeg Blog - Painting a mural - Make it stand out The consumed corpse of a felled giant https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/0eabdaef-ddbf-40d5-87ef-99a494d5189f/Rice+House.jpg Blog - Painting a mural - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/38553391-996c-45cc-9cd4-c22faa2f04ef/Confluence+of+Corridors+NRG+Logo.png Blog - Painting a mural - Make it stand out Confluence of Corridors - the motivation for NRG’s logo https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/92ec5b21-9350-41d6-9782-4ac3c800db5d/A+Very+Sick+Nurse+Log.jpeg Blog - Painting a mural - Make it stand out A very sick nurse log in The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/8f85a66e-121b-4e36-99c1-91318ac37302/Follow+the+Light.JPG Blog - Painting a mural - Make it stand out Don’t just stand there screaming with tunnel vision. There’s light at the end of that tunnel, and your community will meet you there. https://www.aptosnrg.org/blog/a-necessary-evil monthly 0.5 2022-01-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/fc75a783-53de-42eb-90bd-f3f235a4928c/A+Very+Small+Part+of+the+World.jpeg Blog - A necessary evil - Make it stand out Your phone is a very small part of the world. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/a2d68e8b-3391-42df-b7da-0fb9578a1443/CZU.jpeg Blog - A necessary evil - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/1643337493741-B8EKEYRWQPK01FGKTO1K/unsplash-image-QQhAQHWvTYk.jpg Blog - A necessary evil - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.aptosnrg.org/blog/a-sad-state-of-affairs monthly 0.5 2022-01-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/838bf5d9-ef5c-4720-9ed5-dc6c0571f0df/Soquel.jpeg Blog - A sad state of affairs - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/1643002829889-K6ABPB1BLKIZY61VOFOT/unsplash-image-_UIVmIBB3JU.jpg Blog - A sad state of affairs - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/5cb96870-1c4c-47a8-869d-0c0f4df6b4eb/Soquel+Dr+Buffered+Project.png Blog - A sad state of affairs - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/33c9e5cc-faab-462b-bc2c-d4063b606a89/John+encounter+3.jpg Blog - A sad state of affairs - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/3dd29d6c-d10e-4061-98f2-7fc26ff03e61/IMG_8774.jpeg Blog - A sad state of affairs - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/c87240cc-4e8d-4030-9e7b-d9b3aae4c566/Screen+Shot+2022-01-21+at+9.15.19+AM.png Blog - A sad state of affairs - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/3aa41f04-71e2-431a-8904-0f638e5eecf7/Santa+Cruz+-+Soquel+Base+Map.jpeg Blog - A sad state of affairs - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/0d79cd6a-c66b-4a06-88fc-ea1cf47b4348/flipped+out.jpeg Blog - A sad state of affairs - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/bbab3a78-be71-42ac-b318-b8669fc17e40/walk+the+bikes.jpeg Blog - A sad state of affairs - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/b718c6fd-3a57-437e-800a-b78d3a5078b5/John+encounter+1.jpg Blog - A sad state of affairs - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/a460e9c1-6774-4c2f-9cbf-d1572d1a8e4d/John+encounter+2.jpeg Blog - A sad state of affairs - I didn’t ask John why he rides his electric wheelchair instead of driving a car or taking public transit. In fact, to be honest, it didn’t even occur to me to ask him this. Why? Well, to me it seemed very natural. The ability to move and travel freely & independently within a community was a fundamental part of my upbringing in a cookie-cutter neighborhood on the outskirts of a small & quaint historic town. I lived a safe walking distance to town even in elementary school, and it was a formative part of my childhood. My dad was also a primary motivation behind the lifestyle, mindset, and perspective on community I’ve come to develop & appreciate. Photo Credit: my 4 year old son https://www.aptosnrg.org/blog/it-matters-not-where-youre-from monthly 0.5 2022-02-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/ceaafc55-92f4-40b2-bfe2-0ad72e37676c/apple.jpg Blog - It matters not where you’re from… - Make it stand out Apples became the leading industry in Aptos in the 1890s when logging depleted the forests https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/e11a2ed6-9cd4-4fbf-a777-7499c813f8cc/The+Forest+of+Loma+Prieta.png Blog - It matters not where you’re from… - Make it stand out The Forest of Loma Prieta, where men & redwoods were exploited then discarded https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/cd7abf28-b626-47a8-a2f8-6aa082ba778c/Castro.jpg Blog - It matters not where you’re from… - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/705fffe7-ade5-4505-8b86-88b0bb6ffe60/Aptos+Creek+HW1.jpeg Blog - It matters not where you’re from… - Make it stand out HW 1 over Aptos Creek https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/61cd1ad6-af62-476b-82ba-6d41dcd2532f/Race+and+Ethnicity+-+Santa+Cruz+County+-+screenshot.png Blog - It matters not where you’re from… - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/c1675bd1-6fe0-4384-a9a2-4424116059ee/Won%27t+You+Be+My+Neighbor.jpeg Blog - It matters not where you’re from… - Make it stand out Won’t you be my neighbor? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/c7dfe50c-b59a-4a6e-8e1e-364769c10cfa/sand+dollars.jpg Blog - It matters not where you’re from… - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.aptosnrg.org/blog/dont-turn-around monthly 0.5 2022-01-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/a0bbd507-b4e1-4b5f-9453-70720268b33b/Don%27t+turn+around.jpeg Blog - Don’t turn around - Make it stand out Valencia Creek consumed, polluted, and neglected https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/1455c90b-d65d-448b-896a-8163859eb174/The+path+of+our+fallen+Advocate.jpeg Blog - Don’t turn around - Make it stand out The path of our fallen giant, our Advocate. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/600188b9-2cac-4bfb-bf16-b4b69bc58ab0/Nature+is+a+Bitch.jpg Blog - Don’t turn around - Make it stand out Wreckage from the traumatic CZU fires of Aug 2020 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/1ec79568-200c-4e69-9878-0ded4d26274d/Resist.jpg Blog - Don’t turn around - Make it stand out A sign hung within the wreckage of the 2020 CZU fires, begging you to Resist. https://www.aptosnrg.org/blog/your-home-is-a-vehicle monthly 0.5 2022-02-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/1d783c2a-fa77-4e8e-b9fb-a4982588ca27/Valencia+Park.jpeg Blog - Your home is a vehicle - Make it stand out Potential site of Valencia Park & Aptos Knoll Tiny Homes https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/a0a0b1e0-62c6-4025-bad7-01e6060d7934/wonderful.jpeg Blog - Your home is a vehicle - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/29737e19-87c6-4374-9a1c-2f5ad9a46e8c/cabrini-green.JPG Blog - Your home is a vehicle - Make it stand out Chicago’s Cabrini-Green neighborhood in July 2012 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/d9f19383-fc94-4234-8257-a4eec9ff01e5/Private+Property+-+Madeline+Trail.jpeg Blog - Your home is a vehicle - Make it stand out Madeline Trail is not private property, it is public property. Subsequently, this unauthorized sign was removed shortly after installation. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/20e7750d-fd6c-482f-8bd4-32a3da08a303/Hong+Kong+1412.JPG Blog - Your home is a vehicle - Make it stand out Occupy Central HongKong, Nov 2011 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/5f8b0b69-1dd6-4e8d-845d-d39952b2119b/Aptos+Blue.jpeg Blog - Your home is a vehicle - Make it stand out Where are the gangs? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/e97801d6-09a9-4a1f-bc33-1a5564f5b7ff/courtside.jpeg Blog - Your home is a vehicle - Make it stand out Aptos Rancho Rd entrance to Nisene Marks State Park https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/cf7dca26-6355-4384-9c08-79356a2ab080/Hong+Kong+502.JPG Blog - Your home is a vehicle - Make it stand out A democratic candidate poster in Hong Kong, Nov 2011 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/9b50486c-f3b5-4d0b-9116-ca9906de44f7/IMG_2447.jpeg Blog - Your home is a vehicle - Make it stand out One of our neighbors in Aptos https://www.aptosnrg.org/home daily 1.0 2021-11-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/1632260172818-G7V03D2Z3PVUH7PUM6AW/IMG_6748.jpeg Nisene Rio Gateway - Complete Streets Our roads are meant for people but were designed for cars https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/1633019037266-95596UUHE1Y5M9F0ISGP/IMG_2094.jpeg Nisene Rio Gateway - Habitat Restoration Our natural spaces depend on responsible stewardship https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/1632260888735-UK8CA708OFQJTNNH9UXW/IMG_3418.jpeg Nisene Rio Gateway - Expansive Trail Network Our community is healthiest when connected to nature https://www.aptosnrg.org/take-action daily 0.75 2021-11-08 https://www.aptosnrg.org/about daily 0.75 2021-11-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/1633131054560-UUH9P6SRIOUAOI392WR2/IMG_5483.jpeg About - Aptos is a special place that needs a bit of love. Aptos is an unincorporated community at the center of Santa Cruz County, California. https://www.aptosnrg.org/team daily 0.75 2021-11-02 https://www.aptosnrg.org/complete-streets daily 0.75 2021-10-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/1633009456737-GYIO5CN2SGY4P5PP9T8I/IMG_6796.jpeg Complete Streets - Complete Streets We build shockingly audacious & expensive vehicular infrastructure across every reach of the globe. Yet some yawn or stomach claims of impossibility when considering improved pedestrian access in our small communities. Aptos, at the center of Santa Cruz County, is somewhat of a transportation nightmare, home to the “mother of all chokepoints” - The Aptos Strangler! Massive transportation development projects are being planned, like rail transit & highway widening. Meanwhile, our surface streets are in poor condition and lack basic accommodations for pedestrians, like sidewalks or even signs & pavement markings. We can do better than this. It won’t be easy. But it isn’t impossible. Let’s bring complete streets to Aptos! https://www.aptosnrg.org/expansive-trail-network daily 0.75 2021-10-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/1635627043255-9ARXPZRT117M7JX83TE7/Expansive+Trail+Network.png Expansive Trail Network - Expansive Trail Network Aptos features many spectacular trails - through the forest & along the coast. Visitors come from all around to enjoy our parks & pathways. Unfortunately, traffic & parking congestion often inhibit access, even for local residents. By expanding & connecting our trail network, we can foster vehicle-free enjoyment of all that Aptos has to offer, from redwoods to sea and vibrant business districts in between. We believe that all people have an inherent right to enjoy and interact respectfully with their natural environment. We encourage exploration, but also urge explorers to be respectful. NRG’s proposed trail network is not yet complete, so some routes are unimproved & unmaintained. Explore at your own risk. And, most importantly, please help us bring this trail network to fruition! https://www.aptosnrg.org/habitat-restoration daily 0.75 2021-10-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/1633019193874-9RA4KUCRQHITVZUA7IDR/IMG_1122.jpeg Habitat Restoration - Habitat Restoration Coast redwood, the tallest species on the planet, can survive for thousands of years… or be felled in an instant. Sadly, our ancient redwood forest was clear-cut over a 40 year period beginning in 1880, but is now recovering & protected as The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park. Unfortunately, our forest community faces new threats. Decades of fire suppression and inadequate forest management have created a massive stockpile of combustible fuel that now poses extreme risk. Pollutants & debris are contaminating our waterways. Invasive species, primarily ivy, are overtaking & decimating our riparian & woodland habitats. Restoring the precious habitats in Aptos will be a massive ongoing effort, but we all share the responsibility of stewardship. Remember the words of the Lorax: “UNLESS someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” https://www.aptosnrg.org/initiatives daily 0.75 2022-02-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/1635446561170-JHUOL4CO42ACWGKBEPHA/tempImageHxw6i7.gif Initiatives https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/1635446638158-HADKBPR3RGF9KU6HNDJK/tempImageyLTQ7V.gif Initiatives https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/1638817977098-P0J80DYPB40Y4N1T2FJF/unsplash-image-_UIVmIBB3JU.jpg Initiatives https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/1639805183572-AFZV1LWDVU7MBXBWUQJ2/unsplash-image-hI5AgNih6XQ.jpg Initiatives https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/1645658196387-VLIPV83LV6FXCFJUPLBO/Aptos+Creek+Runway.jpeg Initiatives https://www.aptosnrg.org/rio-flats-mural daily 0.75 2023-05-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/1637615570377-ZPQWOZBSU5O2MV43N6LW/IMG_2058.jpeg Rio Flats Mural https://www.aptosnrg.org/gateway-park daily 0.75 2021-12-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/0048d77b-d4e7-4e98-80c4-2927ae891834/IMG_3311.jpeg Gateway Park - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.aptosnrg.org/aptos-creek-road daily 0.75 2022-02-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/7af85eb6-acc0-4d6c-b20d-bc6aa579578e/IMG_8429.jpeg Aptos Creek Road - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/c104c147-109d-40f6-8ccc-69d098c1f3db/Mangels+Hairpin.jpeg Aptos Creek Road - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/11821509-f44f-44e2-a95d-9c31b9bd5405/flipped.jpeg Aptos Creek Road - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/d536d07e-95ba-42e1-a347-c6044ba3f2cb/Aptos+Creek+Runway.jpeg Aptos Creek Road - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.aptosnrg.org/media-coverage daily 0.75 2021-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/1635888523583-5CG2C5MF5HXSOUOXP1D1/NiseneMarksSafety_teaser.jpg Media Coverage https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/1635888758291-HVTB0FU9AK40V47A96UB/NiseneRioGateway_teaser.jpg Media Coverage https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/1635888555951-IBKF4FL7SWD0CXF77P8Q/00A1AptosCreekLight_IMG_0906.jpg Media Coverage https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/1635888407335-L06IIU8B1JGC7474AEOD/01NiseneMarksTraffic_cover.jpg Media Coverage https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/1635888490341-LARVX8XZ3A7NX3T5A5FW/00A1NiseneNoParking_teaser-1170x1170.jpg Media Coverage https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/1635888719684-4HAEDPGZSGLVT4GQ4RI2/AptosVillagePark_map.jpg Media Coverage https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/1635888611643-AB0LPH36SFLZ2HGJWMK6/STC-L-NISENE-0408-2.jpg Media Coverage https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/1635888638507-CQUI97IZP1MZMI5X6LVE/santacruzsentinel-portfolio.jpg Media Coverage https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/1635888901228-XPYSS15J5NIMNO1673PV/STC-L-SAFETY-1007.jpg Media Coverage https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/1635888860494-0XSWQDZ8IAT0P98NDBO6/00NiseneTrapped_teaser.jpg Media Coverage https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/1635888364225-I8FHPV60C6NZVFPGJURF/santacruzsentinel-portfolio.jpg Media Coverage https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/1635888048403-INVHD1H6COJCEVHKV297/Zach-Friend-Mug-2019.jpg Media Coverage https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/1635888456082-K5Q6EDRZ2LXV0D8RWOLJ/00NiseneMarks_teaser.jpg Media Coverage https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/1635887986502-S9P1R111OZX4MBXLXIWX/SoquelDrProject_PHASE-2B-with-comments-clr.jpg Media Coverage https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/1635888672350-NYU21T7CT7S00QSI2TDB/NisenePavedRoad_roadworkers-IMG_3675.jpg Media Coverage https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/1635888792526-I9V53SKOOJ30O1FHH1YY/santacruzsentinel-portfolio.jpg Media Coverage https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/1635888817546-NW90AN3P8XLF5GS92SZJ/NiseneRioGatewayLaunches_IMG_4409.jpg Media Coverage https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/1639271752236-NW2N242812YXZTSLMLX9/STC-L-NRGRAIL-1210.jpeg Media Coverage https://www.aptosnrg.org/donations daily 0.75 2021-12-23 https://www.aptosnrg.org/aptos-handshake daily 0.75 2022-01-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/3e0aa677-5f48-4e91-af92-f479adbabd6b/the+taller+they+grow+the+harder+they+fall.jpeg Aptos Handshake - Who’s side are you on anyway? NRG is and has always been adamantly neutral in the vicious debate over the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line. We have always encouraged bipartisan collaboration because we are one community, and you can’t spell community without unity! Our focus is on common ground solutions and productive, respectful engagement. NRG enthusiastically supports development of the Coastal Rail Trail and respects the latest guidance & direction of SCCRTC. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/49f0b27d-3df6-4b1f-a4ce-91da65848b74/Aptos+Handshake+Venn+Diagram.png Aptos Handshake - Don’t be fooled This is not a 2-sided issue. It’s a complex, contentious, multi-sided issue. But you’re smart, you can understand this. NRG isn’t asking you to trust us, we’re asking for your attention. Learn more, then trust yourself. Once you feel like you have a handle on it, spread the word, even if you disagree with NRG’s neutral stance. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/93e95583-e627-43e1-b8c6-0ae4ce6f2ab3/Segment+12+HW+1+Trail+Bridge.png Aptos Handshake Multi-use trail bridge adjacent to existing tracks https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/5eb1b2bb-5b99-4a1d-b17a-4dc70f57ed04/UCS.png Aptos Handshake https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/b0539c7f-df56-45b2-85b3-06a77dde3802/Strava+Heatmap.png Aptos Handshake https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/49a5539f-b11f-4fd0-8644-d322b876a08f/IMG_8966.jpeg Aptos Handshake - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/1639404047003-KLLQBRS5CR1VNM6SDSWT/unsplash-image-P-KESVNvA84.jpg Aptos Handshake - We can’t have our cake and eat it too Rail preservationists want to keep freight active. Greenway wants uber-wide trail-only. We can’t have our cake and eat it too. Besides, this is an ice cream cake! Every year it sits idle it melts a little more. Let’s not let another birthday go by with more contention & stagnation. Let’s put the cake in the fridge and find another dessert to enjoy now, like railbanked trail+transit! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/08294eda-2373-450e-b32b-a800a0ce68b2/Don%27t+Look+Up.jpeg Aptos Handshake - Don’t Look Up They don’t want you to https://www.aptosnrg.org/complete-streets-vision daily 0.75 2022-01-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/1bf61b96-3ae9-43a8-b2fb-66f5b248aa6a/1c+Aptos+Rail+Trail+%26+East+Village+Route.png Aptos NRG Complete Streets Vision - Make it stand out Aptos East Village https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/1abe33fc-cfbb-4819-9ee4-dd070d4a5499/1a+Aptos+West+Village.png Aptos NRG Complete Streets Vision - Make it stand out Aptos West Village https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/b06b3ad3-4e96-42c2-a7cc-5e9eadfc3465/1b+Aptos+Rail+Trail+%26+Camino+del+Rio.png Aptos NRG Complete Streets Vision - Make it stand out Aptos Village & Camino del Rio https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/4d858706-1fa1-4f6a-bc0b-d5bc9bc09886/County+Bldg.jpg Aptos NRG Complete Streets Vision - How are we going to bring this vision to the streets? Much of this could be included in the next phase of the Soquel Drive Improvement Project, but we aren’t likely to see this happen in the near term without addressing shortfalls in the County Budget… https://www.aptosnrg.org/what-budget daily 0.75 2022-01-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/7d1be22e-5af0-404a-a402-a9cce1c3e636/IMG_5423.jpeg What Budget? - Is Aptos even a town? Reports of our Township are greatly exaggerated. According to our iconic sign, Aptos has been a town since 1893! This date is historically accurate, but the designation can be misleading. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/89935d98-68a8-4bb7-b1b3-b9611a828c3e/Population.png What Budget? - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/fa8eb876-b262-4973-9c6a-bc257da6427b/Aptos+Townships.png What Budget? - The community of Aptos is split between Townships 11S01E & 11S01W. Where’s Town Hall? It doesn’t exist. Who’s our mayor? We don’t have one. See, the Township from 1893 is a Survey Township not a Civil Township. Aptos has remained unincorporated, so the entirety of our local representation falls on the shoulders of a single elected official: 2nd District County Supervisor. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/718c18a1-565f-493c-8573-8d9cfdade88b/Population+Distribution+Pie.png What Budget? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/b9fe63fd-418b-4c71-874c-0bd3e9638300/cement+ship.jpeg What Budget? - Why does this matter? City of Santa Cruz receives annual revenue of approx. $104M, Watsonville receives approx. $157M, Scotts Valley receives $14M, and Capitola receives $22M. Revenue for the Town of Aptos? Currently $0.00 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/b6fa9056-aa81-49dc-a605-6ae10f0f59de/revenue+per+capita.png What Budget? - If Santa Cruz County had the same annual revenue per capita as Monterey County, we’d have an extra $219M per year in our coffers! For comparison, this is about 10x higher than Measure D annual revenue of ~$22M. Based on assessed road conditions, here in District 2 alone we currently need ~$82M to repair or maintain our unincorporated roads. And since it is much cheaper to maintain a road in good condition than to repair and rebuild a road in poor condition, this cost is likely to grow unless we quickly tackle this deferred maintenance. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/42b84e79-232b-4bd0-895d-ea7df6b4d764/county+revenue+by+source.png What Budget? - Where does money come from? It certainly doesn’t grow on trees! But we can make a pie of it! Over half our county’s revenue comes from State & Federal aid. 20% comes from Taxes and 12% from Charges for Services. How much of this pie goes to Dept of Public Works? About $87M, with ~$2.8M (3%) from Measure D and ~$76M (87%) from State & Federal aid. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/8e3ba979-387b-40ce-b3e0-fa5f4070c335/flipped+car.jpeg What Budget? - Unincorporated District 2 alone needs ~$82M just to repair or maintain existing roads! Public Works estimates ~$267M is currently needed countywide for local roads. Since Public Works only brings in ~$87M per year, it would take about 3 years to fund today’s need for maintenance & repairs. Since seasonal damage & degradation seem likely to outpace mitigation efforts, we seem to be moving one step forward two steps back… In order to flip this thing back around and truly fix dangerous roadway conditions, we’re going to need fundamental change. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/15576760-0ae4-4449-bf89-74bea31b74c1/County+Revenue+Per+Capita+by+Source+%28Santa+Cruz+Co+%26+Monterey+Co%29.png What Budget? - Compared to Monterey County, Santa Cruz County brings in more revenue per capita in Taxes and State & Federal Aid. However, Monterey County collects significantly more revenue per capita via “Charges for Service", “Other Financing Sources,” and “Use of Money & Real Property.” The net effect is that Santa Cruz County annual revenue is $805 less per capita. Multiplied by our population of ~272k, this represents an annual $219M opportunity cost! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/07bc5da7-3512-4b10-bbb4-e4bce0ee1afe/1c+Home+Value+Comparison.jpg What Budget? - Is Santa Cruz County really broke? SCC Government is starved of funds, and many residents are desperately struggling with housing affordability. Meanwhile, Santa Cruz County remains a great place to place great wealth. But is a fair share being shared? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/be6e6fb3-108c-49f6-bbce-031bea9f7fd0/IMG_0913.JPG What Budget? - Of Money and Men Monterey County annually receives $590 per capita in taxes, while Santa Cruz County brings in $610, or 3% more. But with 16% higher median household income & 44% higher median home value - shouldn’t our tax revenue per capita be even higher? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/c3064dad-b45b-4a9d-8dee-fecb1af41476/County+Bldg.jpeg What Budget? In order to fix our roads, we might first have to fix the budgetary shortcomings of our local government https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/1641964900995-TSJFBET5PH2JFSOGBP7O/unsplash-image-05XcCfTOzN4.jpg What Budget? - Thanks to Prop 13, median assessed home value is substantially lower than market value. This helps long-time residents stay in their long-time homes, which is a good thing! Compared to Monterey County, Santa Cruz County median home market value is 44% higher but median home assessed value is only 15% higher. Since property tax is based on assessed value, we might expect Santa Cruz County to collect about 15% more property tax revenue per capita than Monterey County. Instead, Santa Cruz County receives ~26% less per capita in property tax revenue than Monterey County! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/ef46bcf1-5f0a-4c7e-bedb-c084422e6d3b/Property+Tax+Allocation.png What Budget? - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.aptosnrg.org/tldr daily 0.75 2022-01-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/49f0b27d-3df6-4b1f-a4ce-91da65848b74/Aptos+Handshake+Venn+Diagram.png TL;DR - Don’t be fooled This is not a 2-sided issue. It’s a complex, contentious, multi-sided issue. But you’re smart, you can understand this. NRG isn’t asking you to trust us, we’re asking for your attention. Learn more, then trust yourself. Once you feel like you have a handle on it, spread the word, even if you disagree with NRG’s neutral stance. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/eeba5219-ffbe-4016-8a4a-402c3cb94335/Watsonville.jpg TL;DR https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/6becf17e-d505-45b0-9737-bedbbd4b0380/Forget+Freight.png TL;DR - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/d7179c2e-43bb-4b4f-820a-e1dd7cb9ec68/TIGm+vision+for+Branch+Line.jpg TL;DR - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/3e18280e-ede5-46cc-9e4d-caf18918613c/Rail+Technology+Summary+2.png TL;DR https://sccrtc.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/RailTransitStudy_FullDoc.pdf https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/1639405891876-ZJGE7Z99PPFVURXPKODD/unsplash-image-T9CXBZLUvic.jpg TL;DR https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/c015b7b3-6cf1-44a8-8b87-2e3ea8977288/Greenway+Ballot+Initiative+-+Proposed+Modifications+%28primary%29+2.jpeg TL;DR https://www.yes-greenway.org/initiative https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/ea9e5a30-147d-4a89-a99a-b9d36acdfd4b/MBSST+Master+Plan+-+Type+3+-+multi-use+trail+bridge+adjacent+to+existing+tracks.png TL;DR Multi-use trail bridge adjacent to existing tracks https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/801b8d50-93b0-4a85-9830-1fb212075aa3/trail-network-concept.png TL;DR https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/5eb1b2bb-5b99-4a1d-b17a-4dc70f57ed04/UCS.png TL;DR https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/93e95583-e627-43e1-b8c6-0ae4ce6f2ab3/Segment+12+HW+1+Trail+Bridge.png TL;DR Multi-use trail bridge adjacent to existing tracks https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/6ce387f1-3610-417b-8f9b-6800441faaea/IMG_8148.jpeg TL;DR Multi-use trail bridge adjacent to existing tracks https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/b0539c7f-df56-45b2-85b3-06a77dde3802/Strava+Heatmap.png TL;DR https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/49a5539f-b11f-4fd0-8644-d322b876a08f/IMG_8966.jpeg TL;DR - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/1639404047003-KLLQBRS5CR1VNM6SDSWT/unsplash-image-P-KESVNvA84.jpg TL;DR - We can’t have our cake and eat it too Rail preservationists want to keep freight active. Greenway wants uber-wide trail-only. We can’t have our cake and eat it too. Besides, this is an ice cream cake! Every year it sits idle it melts a little more. Let’s not let another birthday go by with more stagnation. Let’s put the cake in the fridge and find another dessert to enjoy now, like railbanked trail+transit! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/d3a4413f-9d20-45fe-98e1-2442fc83ed09/Greenway+modified+for+Trail%2BTransit.png TL;DR - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/a6f1dec4-b034-4657-94c6-51bafa071766/METRO+fare.jpg TL;DR - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/33a10ef0-e380-425d-882d-25a3d91315d2/SURF-BRT2.jpeg TL;DR - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/f69cdfc6-1eab-4832-a265-1fb1f0e5428b/bus.jpeg TL;DR Multi-use trail bridge adjacent to existing tracks https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/ef76c5a8-38c8-410f-aae8-1f971cebdbc4/Greenway+width+analysis.jpg TL;DR - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/095048f6-61a0-49b5-9343-26ced353f338/courtesy-city-of-monterey.jpg TL;DR Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/1640483195956-4HUNT3T4H5GEI0IRK340/3a+Fight+for+the+Future+-+Rail+%26+Trail.png TL;DR https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/1640482976769-03UVNFUB2G68I56168PQ/1+Stagnant+Status+Quo.png TL;DR https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/1640483290084-F5CPRAQZ845IFJ46HWHQ/3c+Fight+for+the+Future+-+Low+Cost+Split+Trail.png TL;DR https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/1640483244522-9NTBUASNGYNOB5BYHYPH/3b+Fight+for+the+Future+-+Trail+Highway.png TL;DR https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/1640483167514-H4KJ9ZT3MVUR4WXJ951L/2+Interim+Common+Ground+-+Trail-with-Tracks.png TL;DR https://www.aptosnrg.org/aptos-creek-road-stay-tuned daily 0.75 2022-02-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/c104c147-109d-40f6-8ccc-69d098c1f3db/Mangels+Hairpin.jpeg Aptos Creek Road (Stay Tuned!) - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/d536d07e-95ba-42e1-a347-c6044ba3f2cb/Aptos+Creek+Runway.jpeg Aptos Creek Road (Stay Tuned!) - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/7af85eb6-acc0-4d6c-b20d-bc6aa579578e/IMG_8429.jpeg Aptos Creek Road (Stay Tuned!) - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.aptosnrg.org/affordability-easement daily 0.75 2022-03-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/0eabdaef-ddbf-40d5-87ef-99a494d5189f/Rice+House.jpg We Can't Afford It - (Un)Affordable Housing The traditional approach to easing runaway home prices is to build more homes and build some as “affordable housing.” This is good practice, but it is insufficient to address the runaway nature of an unconstrained market. As long as the roof over your head is a vehicle of someone else’s wealth, there will never truly be equity in housing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/02111664-ffb5-40a3-b460-484a6fe08aeb/aptos+depot.jpg We Can't Afford It - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/1646326007266-2JXT4N4GFW8TGSWM2K0I/unsplash-image-y-9-X5-4-vU.jpg We Can't Afford It - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/498af701-cc61-4282-8648-f97d574ddc28/AE+up.jpg We Can't Afford It - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/614a432cc728f176a885e897/5f8b0b69-1dd6-4e8d-845d-d39952b2119b/Aptos+Blue.jpeg We Can't Afford It - This hypothetical parallel universe isn’t the only hypothetical parallel universe. For example, in another universe Dr. Smith sold her home in 2009 to Mr. Jones for $550k. She walked away with the same $400k that she would’ve gotten from the AEA, but she then moved out of the home. Mr. Jones, having purchased the home at a terrible time in the housing market, ultimately weathered The Great Recession and sold the home in 2021 for $1.5M, securing an annualized ROI of 7.2%.