PEOPLE FOR PUBLIC BANKING CENTRAL COAST
People for Public Banking Central Coast (PPBCC) is a group of local citizens leading an effort to establish a regional public bank for the California Central Coast. Because no city or county on the central coast is large enough to easily establish its own public bank, a regional public bank will best suit this conglomeration. Potential participating areas include Santa Cruz, Monterey, San Benito, San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara. The regional public bank would serve cities, counties and special districts (such as water districts), but would not be a retail bank for individual customers. PPBCC is a chapter of the California Public Banking Alliance.
PPBCC was started by a group of Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) members. We are strongly supportive of Black Lives Matter and other movements for racial, social and environmental justice. One of the primary motivations for the establishment of a public bank is to address social inequities in our communities; public banks keep local funds in our communities, rather than letting our dollars get siphoned out to corporate Wall Street banks.
CONTACTS
2022 Campaign Updates:
People for Public Banking Central Coast are optimistic that Santa Cruz County may soon issue an RFP for a Central Coast Public Bank viability study.
2021 Campaign Updates:
Our group includes activists who were previously involved with Public Bank Santa Barbara and People for Public Banking Santa Cruz. Since 2020, these two groups have joined forces with others including a dedicated group in Monterey, merging to become People for Public Banking Central Coast, with a goal of creating a public bank for the Counties of Santa Cruz, Santa Barbara, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, and San Benito.
The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution on February 11, 2020, supporting the concept of a Central Coast Public Bank, and reaching out to other jurisdictions throughout the region seeking support in creating a viability study. The City Council of Santa Cruz voted on March 24, 2020 for the mayor to send a letter in support.
In 2021, People for Public Banking Central Coast is continuing to reach out to elected officials and agencies throughout the region, including Central Coast Community Energy, requesting resolutions in support of the regional public bank effort.
People for Public Banking held a community outreach and education event for Sunday, May 31, 2020 in Santa Cruz. Originally planned for Santa Cruz, the event was moved online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It may be viewed here.
Our Facebook page is here and our website is peopleforpublicbanking.com.2020 Campaign Updates:
Santa Cruz County Supervisors unanimously decided, on February 11, 2020, to contact Central Coast counties and cities, asking them about their interest in participating in a viability study for a Central Coast Public Bank. They are also contacting Santa Clara County, asking them to consider including Santa Cruz County in their viability study.
More details are here.
People for Public Banking has scheduled a community outreach and education event for Sunday, May 3, 2020 in Santa Cruz. We are also contacting citizens’ groups and government officials in Santa Cruz, Monterey, San Benito, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Barbara Counties, encouraging them to respond affirmatively to the request from Santa Cruz County Supervisors.
Press: PUBLIC BANKING (BUILDING COMMUNITY WEALTH IN SANTA CRUZ, PART 4)