The Santa Cruz City Council chose two different maps that will be put to voters on June 7. Santa Cruzans will for the first time vote for a single representative based on the area where they live within the city. They will also decide between the current rotating mayoral system and an independently elected mayor who would serve a four-year term.
Grace Stetson
Posted inRecreation & Sports
Will Warriors stay? Community input on downtown expansion will help decide whether they do and, if so, where
A temporary facility that has outlived its usefulness for the Santa Cruz Warriors and a city actively updating its downtown footprint has pushed a longstanding discussion to the forefront. The Kaiser Permanente Arena will host a drop-in event Wednesday night to show the community three different potential plans for use of the Warriors’ current site and other locations that a permanent arena could be built.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
YES Greenway files police report for defaced campaign signs; opposition calls it a desperation move
The contentious debate between the two groups — one for a pedestrian greenway, with the other for rail and trail — became more heated on Tuesday, with YES Greenway accusing its opponents of vandalism. No Way Greenway says there is no proof and that it’s the group’s latest “dirty trick.”
Posted inPolitics & Policy
The tremors of the Santa Cruz housing market: Why our affordability reporter is on the hunt yet again
Just days before signing a long-term lease, this housing reporter lost her rental and had to scrounge for a new home. Follow Grace on her ongoing journey to find an affordable place to live in Santa Cruz.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Lookout Update: Santa Cruz City Council maintains oversized parking ordinance
On Tuesday, the Santa Cruz City Council rejected recommendations from the city’s planning commission on changes to the long-sought ordinance.
Posted inHousing & Development
How many homes are for sale in Santa Cruz County? Just 130 — one of the lowest numbers in 10 years
The pressure on would-be buyers is only increasing, with 33 to 50% of the homes on the market attracting all-cash offers.
Posted inWatsonville / Pajaro
Watsonville council will decide Tuesday whether to hire new city manager from Gonzales
Watsonville City Council will consider Rene Mendez for its vacant city manager role, following a three-month search that began after new Santa Cruz City Manager Matt Huffaker vacated the role.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
A tale of two recoveries: Rebuilding frustrates CZU families; officials say they’re ahead of the curve
With building costs up 20-30% from pre-pandemic levels, red tape, updated building codes, construction price hyperinflation and the recurring nightmare of personal loss have combined to stymie efforts to get Santa Cruz County residents back into houses in areas devastated by the 2020 CZU blaze.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
‘There’s no way you can hide from it’: Discussing California’s housing crisis with Conor Dougherty
When New York Times economics correspondent Conor Dougherty first moved back to San Francisco from the East Coast in 2014, he saw one major issue that related to everything: housing availability and affordability. Now, eight years later and covering housing on top of economics, Dougherty comes to Santa Cruz to discuss the continued concerns surrounding housing both locally and nationally.
Posted inHousing & Development
What does $6 million-plus buy in Santa Cruz County?
Four homes on the local housing market now top $6 million. Let’s take a look at them.