In order to put more money toward affordable housing solutions, advocates want to follow steps taken by voters in Oakland and Vancouver by taxing homeowners who do not live in their homes for at minimum 120 days per year.
Grace Stetson
Posted inHousing & Development
‘There needs to be collective ownership’: City’s new homelessness point person on work, solutions
Santa Cruz officials named Larry Imwalle the city’s new homelessness response manager Oct. 5. As he get into the job, he spoke to Lookout about what he thinks needs to be done to address the issue at both the government and community levels.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Police Chief Andy Mills saying farewell to the ‘jewel’ that is Santa Cruz: ‘This is just an amazing city’
After four years leading the Santa Cruz Police Department, Chief Andy Mills is moving closer to his grandchildren in San Diego by taking the job of chief in Palm Springs.
Posted inHousing & Development
A tale of two affordable housing projects: Contentious in Santa Cruz, smooth in Watsonville
The 831 Water Street project, which would have 50% of its units classified as affordable housing, is very contentious in Santa Cruz. But a similar development in Watsonville was approved without much in the way of outcry.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Prosecutors: Up to $114K needed to restore Black Lives Matter mural
Prosecutors and defense attorneys sparred Thursday morning over the potential $114,000 cost to restore the Black Lives Matter mural in downtown Santa Cruz. Judge Syda Cogliati gave the defense two weeks to provide its own estimate, but indicated the figure must be enough to completely fix the mural.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Race for District 3 Supervisor heats up as Cummings joins Kalantari-Johnson in announcing candidacy
After Ryan Coonerty announced he will step back from the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors in 2022, the race is on for the Third District seat he’s held since 2014. Two current Santa Cruz city councilmembers, Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson and Justin Cummings, have announced their intent to run for the position; here’s what each plans to bring to the role.
Posted inCOVID Today
Santa Cruz County reports third COVID-related death of a vaccinated individual
A man in his 90s with several underlying conditions was the county’s 216th fatality since the coronavirus pandemic began; the news came just days after health officials announced Santa Cruz County’s first two deaths from COVID-19 of fully vaccinated residents.
Posted inRecreation & Sports
Get out of your car and ride: Biketober hits Santa Cruz for third year
For its third annual Biketober event, Ecology Action is encouraging novice and experienced cyclists to get out on the road, even if just for one ride, throughout the month of October.
Posted inHousing & Development
Legislators seeking ideas to help solve housing crisis for farm and hospitality workers
Two assembly members, one of whom represents part of Santa Cruz County, are continuing a statewide tour next week aimed at finding ways for legislation to help solve the state’s housing crisis. The invite-only meetings are with housing advocates and stakeholders, but a public report based on the findings will be published later in October.
Posted inHousing & Development
Q&A: Director of county office of response, recovery and resilience talks about the CZU rebuilding process
Dave Reid is in charge of making the process of rebuilding as easy as possible for those who lost their homes in the wake of the CZU fire. The director of the Santa Cruz County Office of Response, Recovery and Resilience said he understands families’ frustrations and is looking for ways to help.