The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office has received negative COVID-19 test results for all of its 300-plus inmates, a spokesperson said Thursday. But public defenders and inmate advocates say their faith in jail safety is still shaken.
Isabella Cueto
Follow Isabella Cueto on: Twitter. Isabella joins the Lookout team as a government accountability reporter, building on her experience covering local government for The State newspaper in Columbia, S.C.Before moving to South Carolina, Cueto was in her hometown of Miami. She served as editor-in-chief of the University of Miami’s award-winning student newspaper, and was an intern for WLRN public radio and Northwestern University’s Medill Justice Project, which investigates potential wrongful convictions. Cueto’s work has been recognized by the S.C. Press Association, the Society of Professional Journalists and the Florida Society of News Editors.She is bilingual, fluent in Spanish.Cueto understands how high-quality local journalism makes government more responsive and effective, its inner workings more accessible to the public. That is her aim as Lookout’s government accountability correspondent.“I’m thrilled to be a part of this visionary team and to build something special for the people of Santa Cruz,” she said.
Posted inCOVID 2022
‘Dumb and irresponsible’: Officials slam ‘large gathering’ that might have caused COVID-19 jail outbreak
Attendees of event test positive and negative as full scope of jail outbreak remains unclear. The gathering, a county supervisor said, “should not have happened.”
Posted inPandemic Life
Scotts Valley extends outdoor dining, fitness classes through end of May as pandemic drags on
New Leaf Community Markets brand manager Lindsay Gizdich said the store is moving from Pacific Avenue in order to have…
Posted inPolitics & Policy
County officials investigating if ‘party’ attended by sheriff’s employees led to COVID-19 jail outbreak
Illuminée Studio and other local businesses are staying strong during the pandemic thanks in part to Santa Cruz County…
Posted inCOVID 2022
Dozens infected as new COVID-19 outbreaks reported at multiple nursing homes countywide
Illuminée Studio and other local businesses are staying strong during the pandemic thanks in part to Santa Cruz County…
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Santa Cruz City Council moves ahead on wharf renovation plan
New Leaf Community Markets brand manager Lindsay Gizdich said the store is moving from Pacific Avenue in order to have…
Posted inPolitics & Policy
21 for ’21: Sibley Simon building a plan around affordability, homelessness
Sibley Simon, president of a nonprofit housing development company, is building 120 units of permanent supportive housing on the Housing Matters campus in Santa Cruz. It’s yet another step in his mission to achieve ‘functional zero’ on homelessness.
Posted inCOVID 2022
COVID-19 testing in Santa Cruz: Success story or debacle?
With some small-town triumphs — including help from some UC Santa Cruz scientists — and some frustrating roadblocks, COVID-19 testing in Santa Cruz County has been a little bit of both.
Posted inHealth & Wellness
Watsonville nursing home sued by family of resident who died during COVID-19 outbreak
New Leaf Community Markets brand manager Lindsay Gizdich said the store is moving from Pacific Avenue in order to have…
Posted inCOVID 2022
I think I might need a COVID-19 test. Now what?
Santa Cruz County has more than a dozen COVID-19 testing sites, each with different procedures. A new site opens Dec. 21. Here’s everything you need to know.