Constitutional Government

International influence over local government

Agenda 21, adopted in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 at the U.N. Conference on Environment and Development, has had profound influence on local public policy. The objective of this document is to integrate environmental protection, economic development, and social equity under the management of global authorities.

Freedom of mobility

To the extent that government assumes authority for building infrastructure, Santa Cruz County politicians have openly worked toward limiting transportation infrastructure to support what they call a "smart-growth" political agenda. "Smart growth" policies have openly and successfully resisted infrastructure improvements, resulting in a transportation infrastructure that is inadequate for meeting the needs of Santa Cruz County residents and insufficient for supporting a growing local economy.