Despite an overall decline in crime, Santa Cruz residents have big concerns about downtown, voiced at Monday’s meeting of the city council’s public safety committee.
Reports of major crimes in Santa Cruz declined during the first six months of this year – and even traffic citations declined. But three downtown streets generated a big increase in nuisance crimes, many involving alcohol. Police say the three streets – pacific avenue, Dakota Ave. And Locust Street generated most of the 1500 nuisance crimes reported last year.
