Advocacy
This section will include current advocacy issues and tidbits as they relate to preservation in Santa Cruz County, Statewide and include Federal issues as well.
Federal Advocacy
Urgent Action Needed
The current administration is attempting to severely gut much of the protections for historic buildings and sites through the changes to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) is advancing a sweeping and damaging proposal to rewrite the regulations for Section 106 of the NHPA. If implemented, these new rules would dramatically diminish the effectiveness of the NHPA and the current legal protections for historic and cultural places.
Since the enactment of NHPA 60 years ago, Section 106 has been the foundational requirement for federal agencies to “take into account” the effects of their actions on historic properties and places, enabling public participation and comment in the process, empowering state and local governments and Tribal communities to have a voice in the process, and often improving the project and enhancing the outcome.
These new regulations will lead to more delays and more litigation as federal agencies and applicants try to navigate compliance without the well-known and well-used consultation process, which often leads to negotiated win-win outcomes.
“The ACHP’s proposed changes to Section 106 will eviscerate the preservation of our shared civic and cultural heritage in the United States.”
Brent Leggs, President and CEO of the National Trust for Historic Preservation
What can you do?
View the recording of the webinar we hosted on Thursday, July 30, discussing these devastating changes.
Write to your governor to share how these changes impact historic properties in your location.
Write to your members of Congress and consider contacting the district office during the August recess to make your voice heard.
Be prepared to send comments to the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation when the comment period opens.
More information here at the National Trust for Historic Preservation https://savingplaces.org/we-are-saving-places
Statewide Advocacy
Urgent Action Needed
The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) has announced the closure of the National Archives at San Francisco and its adjacent Federal Records Center, located in San Bruno, California, within three years. Save OUR National Archives (SONA) has learned from sources that the move of records from these facilities could begin as soon as August 2026!
The closure of the National Archives at San Francisco, which houses records for northern California, most of Nevada, Hawaii, and the Pacific Islands, removes historical materials from their places and communities of relevance. The effective loss of access to these artifacts - and the history they contain - would be a terrible blow to historians, researchers, families, and students, and ultimately be detrimental to our communities and overall American History.
With concerns that records may be moved soon, Save Our National Archives (SONA) is asking for the public’s help to oppose these closures, to stop the re-location of historic records, and to keep these facilities open to the public.
There are various ways to advocate to stop the relocation of these important historic records at the SONA website: https://www.saveournationalarchives.org/
They also have a Facebook page as well: https://www.facebook.com/people/Save-Our-National-Archives-SONA/61591576467894/
Find out more here about advocacy at California Preservation Foundation: https://californiapreservation.org/advocacy/
Section 106 in California
Once these places are gone, they are gone.
Help ensure that the systems protecting our shared history are strengthened—not quietly dismantled.
For nearly 60 years, Section 106 has helped protect California’s—and our nation’s—historic places. That protection is now at risk.
Time and Time again, Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act has stood between a federal decision and an irreversible loss. Every bridge, every housing project, every Main Street rebuilt with federal dollars has had to pass through one basic test: stop, look, and consider what’s about to be affected before it’s gone for good.
That test is now being dismantled. This is not a bureaucratic footnote. It’s the difference between a nation that considers what it builds on, and one that moves forward without looking back.
Section 106 doesn’t stop development. It requires federal agencies to consult with Tribal Nations, State and Tribal Historic Preservation Officers, local governments, preservation organizations, property owners, and the public — so harm to historic buildings, neighborhoods, archaeological sites, cultural landscapes, and Tribal cultural places can be avoided, minimized, or addressed before it’s too late.
In California, that consultation has shaped better outcomes for transportation, housing, renewable energy, water infrastructure, broadband, disaster recovery, and military projects for nearly six decades. This proposal would take that voice away.
Find out how you can take action here:
Santa Cruz County Advocacy
Attend this free webinar from California Preservation Foundation on Oct 29, 2026: Public Participation Matters! A Beginner’s Guide to Local Government Meetings
Local planning commissions, city councils, historic preservation commissions, and other public bodies make decisions every day that shape our neighborhoods, historic resources, housing, and community character — but many people don’t know how to participate effectively in those conversations.
This introductory program is designed for beginners and explores how local public participation works, where to find meetings and agendas, and the many ways community members can engage — whether speaking at a meeting, submitting written comments, or simply observing to learn the process.
The session will also discuss why public participation matters, particularly as communities navigate increasing housing pressures, preservation concerns, and changing local priorities. Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of how public meetings function and practical strategies for participating in a way that feels approachable and effective.
Register here:
https://californiapreservation.org/events/public-participation-beginners-guide-local-govt/
County of Santa Cruz Historic Resources Commission
The County of Santa Cruz Historic Resources Commission meets three times a year. The next meeting is scheduled for September 21, 2026 at 9:30 am. https://cdi.santacruzcountyca.gov/Planning/PolicyPlanning/HistoricResources/HistoricResourcesCommission.aspx
City of Santa Cruz Historic Preservation Commission
The City of Santa Cruz Historic Preservation Commission meets as projects come up. The next meeting is scheduled for Sept 16, 2026 at 7pm at City Council Chambers (809 Center Street) : https://ecm.cityofsantacruz.com/OnBaseAgendaOnline/Meetings/Search?dropid=4&mtids=113