ADVOCATING FOR A NATURAL, SAFE, AND SUSTAINABLE FUTURE SINCE 1957

Latest Highlander

Newsletter

Our most recent Issue:

July, 2025

 

Public

Meetings

Next public meeting is Wednesday, November 19, 2025 at 7:30pm

A Puma Project Update: The Latest on Our Awesome Mountain Lions

A Presentation by Chris Wilmers

In person at Bonny Doon Elementary School and virtually via Zoom

Zoom meeting login information

Chris Wilmers is a wildlife ecologist and professor at UCSC, where he leads the Santa Cruz Puma Project. In this talk, he’ll share his latest findings on mountain lions (pumas), the powerful yet elusive predators that play a key role in California’s ecosystems. Chris will present what he’s learned about their basic biology—what they eat, how they raise young, and how they move through their large home ranges, including Bonny Doon—as well as how they are challenged by living so close to people. From highways and housing to the simple presence of humans in the forest, he’ll show how these pressures shape puma survival and behavior, and what it means for conserving these iconic cats.

The RBDA

Advocates for You

ACTION ALERT – Broadband Survey

Staying Proactive in Getting You Connected

Please fill out this short survey to let our
Supervisor Cummings’ office know firsthand where there are deficiencies in internet and phone service in the Bonny Doon and Davenport areas. The survey will remain open until October 31st. More information from Supervisor Cummings can be found here.

Measure Q

The Santa Cruz County Safe Drinking Water, Clean Beaches, Wildfire Risk Reduction, and Wildlife Protection Initiative (Measure Q) was approved by voters in November 2024. It is funded by a tax of $87 per year on each parcel. Out of the $7 million estimated annual revenue, 40% will be allocated to Countywide environmental needs, 20% to incorporated cities (Santa Cruz, Watsonville, Scotts Valley, Capitola), 20% to unincorporated areas of the County for targeted improvements, and 20% to the Resource Conservation District of Santa Cruz County and a land stewardship partner.
In June 2025, the County held a series of 5 public meetings for public input on how to prioritize funds by project topic (such as watersheds or wildfire reduction) and location (such as individual watersheds). The public comment period ended July 3. More details about Measure Q are posted at
https://www.santacruzcountyca.gov/MeasureQ/About.aspx. This website will be updated in the coming months to announce the projects selected to receive funding.

Please support us!

The RBDA was founded in 1957 after a group of Dooners organized to successfully fight the creation of a trailer park near the corner of Martin and Pine Flat Roads. They realized they needed to have a formal organization to ward off unwanted development in Bonny Doon, including the subdivision of many areas into 1-acre parcels by a local realtor. In the years since, we’ve continued to actively advocate for Bonny Doon on many different issues. It’s time to renew your membership. Please support the RBDA…or join us if you’re not a member!

Our year in advocacy:

In 2024 we had great success reaching out to residents when the community was threatened by the Low- Impact Camping Ordinance legislation, generating many emails of protest from our active and concerned members. Over 100 residents showed up at the Supervisors meeting to condemn and ultimately kill the county ordinance!

The RBDA also hosted an incredibly popular public meeting on the escalating crisis in home insurance that drew an audience of over 150 concerned citizens. Joining that meeting were many important stakeholders including California’s Insurance Commissioner. This crisis has now been underscored ten times by the devastation our neighbors in Southern California are going through.

We were also active on many other issues of concern to our Bonny Doon community such as the UCSC expansion, Cotoni-Coast Dairies, cell and internet communications, the new Rail Trail and much more.

A Special Thanks to Our Sponsors

Sponsorships: $100 a year (6 issues).

Send check and text to: RBDA, P.O. Box 551Felton, CA 95018

FRANS LANTING STUDIO

Photography Workshops

108 High Road

Santa Cruz CA 95060

831-429-1331

www.lanting.com

MCHENRY VINEYARD

Estate Pinot Noir

Bonny Doon CA 95060 

www.mchenryvineyard.com

530-756-3202

WE DRIVE DOONERS!

24/7 Airport Shuttles, Medical Appointments, City Tours, Emergency Deliveries, and more. All our drivers and cars are pet friendly! Charges vary depending on the service provided, please call us for a price!

Mimi (up to 7 passengers) 310-721-1464

Jackie 831-295-7239

Eliyahu 831-247-9167

Kischka 831-465-6784

THE FLOWER LADIES

Flower Arrangements for Weddings & Special Occasions

www.theflowerladies.com

831-423-0261

HEIDI E. HART, President, CEO

California Dreaming Real Estate

Local / Non-Corporate

myagentheidi@gmail.com

831-247-9410