Morning Lookout: Affordable housing for farmworkers and a composting crusade

Quick Take:

Supporting local Santa Cruz businesses continues to be more important than ever. When it comes to buying gifts this...

Good morning! It’s Thursday, Dec. 9, and Santa Cruz County will see partly sunny skies later today, though temperatures will barely scrape the 60s for many of us.

Here’s what I know this morning:

Agricultural workers have been largely ignored in affordable housing discussions, but a new housing development near Watsonville will dedicate nearly half of its units to farmworkers, Lookout’s Grace Stetson reports.
Grace also reported on the special election for Watsonville City Council, in which Vanessa Quiroz-Carter held a slim lead over Francisco Barba.
A state law that goes into effect Jan. 1 will require Californians to separate organic material from their other garbage a — a landmark reform that aims to transform the state’s throwaway culture.
And young Latinos are dying of COVID-19 at an alarming rate, and the effects could be felt for generations.

Let’s dig in:

Affordable housing development focused on farmworkers approved

Farmworkers at Lakeside Organic in Watsonville. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

Advocates say the Pippin Phase II project near Watsonville will provide sorely needed homes for agricultural workers, a group largely ignored in affordable housing discussions. Lookout’s Grace Stetson has the lowdown on the development here.

➤ MORE ON AFFORDABILITY: All of Lookout’s coverage in one place

Quiroz-Carter holds slim lead over Barba in Watsonville special election

Watsonville plaza on Dec. 15, 2020. — Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

Who wins the vacant seat could change the political balance on the seven-member council on several hot-button issues. Get the details here from Grace.

➤ BACKGROUND: Here’s what you need to know about the special election for Watsonville City Council (Lookout)

California goes to war with food waste

A man climbs on a pile of finished compost — Sharbel Eid, general manager, grabs a sample of finished compost at the Recology Blossom Valley Organics facility in Lamont. Credit: Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times

Those banana peels, pizza boxes and coffee grounds you throw away? Starting Jan. 1, local government will need to start composting them, in part to reduce greenhouse gases. Our partners at the Los Angeles Times look at the changes ahead.

➤ MORE CHALLENGES: California considers $500 fines for water wasters as drought worsens, conservation lags (Los Angeles Times)

Young Latinos’ COVID deaths could reverberate for generations

Registered Nurse April Lu, 31, is working with a non covid patient Providence Holly Cross Medical Center — Credit: Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times

The families of the young Latinos who have died during the pandemic will feel the loss for decades to come — not just the grief but the long-term financial hardships. Get an overview here from the Times.

➤ FROM MAY: Latinos are the most eager to get vaccinated, survey shows — but face obstacles (Kaiser Health News)

Now comes the hard part for California’s reparations task force

An aerial view of Bruce's Beach at sunset. — An aerial view of the Manhattan Beach property known as Bruce’s Beach, once one of the most prominent Black-owned resorts by the sea in the early 20th century. A recent state law authorized the return of the property to the descendants of a Black family that had been forced out. Credit: Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times

The panel has a monumental challenge: crafting a historic reparations proposal that earns the support of Black Californians and a majority of California lawmakers. The Times maps out next steps.

➤ BACKGROUND: California’s slavery reparations task force is convening — here’s what to know (Lookout)

Around the county …

➤ San Jose man arrested for allegedly maintaining sexual relations with minors (Santa Cruz Sentinel)
➤ Supervisors revamp rules for wireless communication facilities (The Pajaronian)
➤ One killed, another injured in rollover crash on Highway 129 (KSBW-TV)

That’s all for now, but Lookout has plenty in store today, including Best Bets for things to do around Santa Cruz County from Wallace Baine and Lookout’s dedicated Team BOLO. You can get those delivered to your inbox and smartphone by visiting the Lookout Newsletter & Text Center, and keep tabs throughout the day by bookmarking our website and following us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

And Lookout makes a great gift! Consider a Lookout membership for that special someone this holiday season — or treat yourself to one. Our content isn’t possible without community support.

Have a fantastic Thursday, and we’ll catch you back here tomorrow morning.

Will McCahill
Lookout Santa Cruz