In advance of a key hearing on the project today, Lookout sat down with leaders on both sides of the Rail Trail debate to discuss their perspectives on the project that has stoked fierce dialogue for decades.
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 inHousing & Development
Major residential, commercial riverfront development goes before Santa Cruz City Council today
The “Riverfront Project,” in the works for more than two years, is up for a final City Council vote. If approved, 175 condos, new commercial space and parking could be coming to downtown.
Posted inHousing & Development
Santa Cruz City Council approves major, mixed-use Riverfront development
Two council members voted against the Front Street project, saying it lacked enough affordable units to be rented to lower-income people. But other council members saw it as a way to add a mix of housing and link the downtown business district to the San Lorenzo River.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Judge extends order, letting San Lorenzo Park homeless camp remain until Jan. 20
Judge Susan van Keulen this week further ended a temporary restraining order that prevents the city of Santa Cruz from shutting down the San Lorenzo Park homeless encampment. She is still weighing what long-term action to take.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Central Coast representatives call for Trump’s removal after Capitol riots
New Leaf Community Markets brand manager Lindsay Gizdich said the store is moving from Pacific Avenue in order to have…
Posted inHealth & Wellness
The inequities of COVID: Why has South County been impacted so disproportionately?
Who were Miri Villalobos and Santiago Tehandon? Two members of a Watsonville community that has absorbed 45% of Santa Cruz County’s COVID-19 death toll despite accounting for just 18% of its population.
Posted inPandemic Life
Santiago Tehandon, 80, retired Watsonville maintenance technician, food bank volunteer dies of COVID-19
In March 2020, Tehandon was named “Hunger Fighter of the Year” by the U.S. House of Representatives, and was honored by the city of Santa Cruz and the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors in response. He died of COVID-19 related complications on Christmas Day.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Judge extends ban on breaking up San Lorenzo homeless camp for a week
“This is a community that has strong interests on both sides, and that is not lost on the court,” Magistrate Judge Susan van Keulen said Wednesday afternoon of the San Lorenzo Park situation.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Judge orders Santa Cruz to stop clearing San Lorenzo Park homeless encampment
The city of Santa Cruz was sued by homeless residents and the Santa Cruz Homeless Union on Wednesday morning over the city’s order demanding an encampment at San Lorenzo Park be cleared before Jan. 6. A judge approved the restraining order later in the day.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
21 for ’21: Leslie Conner expects to begin seeing the fruits of her labor
Leslie Conner, CEO of Santa Cruz Community Health Centers, can’t wait to break ground on a new 20,000-sq. ft. clinic in Santa Cruz County that will be connected to housing and other services. It will be her 10-year anniversary at the nonprofit.