Don Lane

Don Lane is an American community organizer, university instructor, former elected official, and former nonprofit organization administrator in Santa Cruz, California. Lane spent many years working and managing the Saturn Cafe after graduating from the University of California, Santa Cruz in 1978. While operating the Saturn Cafe, Lane served the community in multiple capacities in the City of Santa Cruz and community groups; leading to his serving as Santa Cruz Mayor in 1992 and again in 2012 and 2015.

Early life and education In 1973, Lane arrived in Santa Cruz, California at the age of 17, to study politics and history at the University of California, Santa Cruz.

After completing a term as mayor of Santa Cruz in 1992, Lane took a hiatus from the council. He turned his attention to new projects. First he sold his majority ownership of the Saturn Café, and then worked as a campaign coordinator for Representative Sam Farr. He also played a key role in founding the Homeless Community Resource Center, which is now Housing Matters. In 1996, he co-founded and directed an organization called Youth Opportunities, a job training program for disadvantaged teens.

In 2008 Lane decided to run for Santa Cruz City Council again. He won a seat on the Council in 2008 and received enough votes to become mayor in 2012. He ran for reelection in 2012 and again won enough votes to serve a term as mayor—in 2015. During this term he served on the Economic Development Council, Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District Board of Directors and the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (SCCRTC). He also co-chaired the successful campaign in favor of Measure D, to improve transportation infrastructure and alternative transportation programs in Santa Cruz County. And he championed the effort to bring the Santa Cruz Warriors basketball team to the Santa Cruz Community.

In 2012, Lane and other community leaders launched Smart Solutions to Homelessness, an education and advocacy organization designed to promote long term solutions to the challenges of homelessness in Santa Cruz County. The organization terminated its activities in 2019, with the formation of the Housing for Health Partnership, which embodied many of the Smart Solutions principles.

Lane serves on the governing boards of Housing Santa Cruz County and Housing Matters (formerly the Homeless Services Center). From time to time, Lane is an instructor in public policy issues at UC Santa Cruz.

Personal life Lane lives with his wife Mary Howe, a retired UCSC electronics technician, who leads the Village Santa Cruz organization. His daughter is Tida Lane-Howe.