Community Corner
Santa Cruz Holiday Parking Fees Fund Litter Cleanup Program
For the ninth season, the city saved all parking fees collected in the week leading up to Christmas to help pay for litter cleanup teams.
SANTA CRUZ, CA — Parking fees provided the funds to award a local nonprofit more than $22,000 this week, which will help the organization pay salaries for part-time litter cleanup workers.
Santa Cruz Mayor Fred Keeley announced the $22,568 donation to Hope Services during a City Council meeting Tuesday, on behalf of the city and the Downtown Association's "Parking for Hope" program.
For the ninth year running, the funds were generated between Dec. 18 and Dec. 25. Drivers paid their usual parking rates over the 8-day period, but the city set aside all proceeds to fund Hope Services. Officials said the total also includes each 35-cent fee levied by the ParkMobile app.
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Hope Services offers training and support to adults with developmental disabilities who have helped keep downtown streets uncluttered for the last 24 years. The "Downtown Litter Abatement Crew" staffs five part-time workers.
"We are extremely grateful for this holiday program that makes such a difference in the lives of our Downtown Litter Abatement Crew members," said Heather Perez, the program's manager. "This contribution will cover more than half of their working hours this year."
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The Parking for Hope initiative has generated more than $240,000 since its inception.
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