Authorities offer tips on homeowners insurance, wildfire protection

1 p.m. Tuesday, May 14 / Online and at 701 Ocean St., Room 525, Santa Cruz
California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara is expected to speak to the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors at their May 14 meeting about how homeowners can get insurance and homeowners’ rights if insurance policies are not renewed.

Insurers like State Farm and Allstate have stopped writing new homeowners insurance policies in Santa Cruz County and have dropped thousands of policy holders.

At the meeting, supervisors are also set to consider official support of SB 1060, a state bill that would require insurers to consider steps homeowners or communities take to reduce fire risk, like creating defensive space, in the risk models that determine the availability or cost of home insurance.

To participate: Join the Santa Cruz County Supervisors meeting on Zoom or call 669-900-6833 , meeting ID 817 3220 2363. To comment ahead of the meeting, email BoardOfSupervisors@santacruzcountyca.gov by 5 p.m. Monday. The meeting will be streamed on Facebook.

6 p.m., Tuesday May 14 / 251 Kings Village Rd., Scotts Valley
At a separate meeting May 14, Scotts Valley Vice Mayor Derek Timm will moderate a panel about homeowners insurance with United Policyholders, Kassidy Insurance Brokers and the Realtors Association.

A wildfire preparedness workshop also will take place with presentations from Cal Fire, Firewise and Scotts Valley Fire.

—Jesse Kathan
To participate: Attend at 251 Kings Village Road, Scotts Valley.