On Tuesday, the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors approved the CZU Rebuild Directive, which removes a geological hazard evaluation requirement but required another document stating the evaluation had not been done. Owners say this clause will affect property values, and officials are looking into possible adjustments.
Grace Stetson
Posted inCOVID 2022
County health officials announce new COVID-19 death
Santa Cruz County health officials announced Thursday morning that a resident died recently due to COVID-19. It was the fourth reported COVID-related death in the county since early August; all four were unvaccinated.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
With California’s recall in the rearview, here’s how Santa Cruz County voted
Santa Cruzans came out in full force on Tuesday to vote no against the gubernatorial recall of Gavin Newsom. Here are some of the specific breakdowns for the county and how Santa Cruz County compared to neighboring counties and the state.
Posted inLatest News
A clause for concern: CZU victims express fear over verbiage included in proposed geological revision
The board of supervisors agreed to hear more information on the topic in two weeks and encouraged homeowners to flesh out their concerns further. “If you feel strongly that this is going to have an impact on the value of your homes, I would suggest coming back with some evidence from real estate professionals,” Manu Koenig said.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Proposed change to Santa Cruz mixed-use library plan exposes deep divides
On Monday, two groups sent a proposal to Santa Cruz City Council asking it to reevaluate spending $2.29 million on the library master architect contract. But some affordable housing advocates say the proposal will take away affordable units from downtown under the guise of more open space for Santa Cruzans.
Posted inLatest News
Will CZU survivors get relief? Supervisors set to reevaluate geologic surveys for those trying to rebuild
Following the Aug. 10 board meeting, Supervisors Bruce McPherson and Ryan Coonerty directed the County Planning Department and the Office of Response, Recovery and Resilience to provide some options at the Sept. 14 meeting, which would allow CZU fire survivors to rebuild without having to mitigate potential geologic hazards that existed on their property before the fire. What will happen on Tuesday?
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Talking SB 35 & 831 Water Street: City officials address community concerns over state-mandated growth
The state passed SB 35 in September 2017 with the goal of creating more affordable housing. Now, the proposed development at 831 Water Street has become an example of how the state’s demands and a local community’s wants might not find alignment. Santa Cruz city leadership addressed the unknowns and attempted to answer questions on how SB 35 projects could affect the future of Santa Cruz County.
Posted inK-12 Education
Aptos High tragedy: Campus police program back on table; sheriff says suspects have gang affiliation
On Tuesday afternoon, Aptos High School was locked down for nearly three hours after a student was fatally stabbed and two others were taken into custody in an attack officials said was gang-related. County and school leaders convened in a virtual community meeting Thursday to discuss safety measures for the school moving forward.
Posted inHousing & Development
SB 9 & 10 have now passed in the state Assembly & Senate — so what’s next?
Senate Bills 9 and 10, which would allow for increased density in single-family-zoned areas, are poised to be signed into law. But some say they will do little to change the housing stock in Santa Cruz County, while others say adding housing will further strain the county’s infrastructure.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Where Santa Cruz’s final mission bell now tolls not the question — just its tragic history, what it stood for
Just 24 hours before its scheduled removal, the mission bell at Soquel and Dakota avenues was stolen. Chair Valentin Lopez of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band says it’s important to talk about the historical significance of the bell, and he is working with the MAH to best assess how to represent this tragic and unknown history.