Santa Cruz is the least affordable rental market in the nation, and Measure C could give the city 10 times more power to prevent evictions and build affordable housing. These views are distinct and independent from the work of our newsroom and its reportingThe ballot facing Santa Cruz residents on Nov. 4 feels unusually mean-spirited. Opponents of C say this might add significant burdens to a buyer, slow a sluggish market or keep folks from selling homes. The unnecessary messiness threatens to torpedo the real good Measure C could do. The argument comes back to that big, ugly statistic: Santa Cruz is the highest rental market in the country.