In her weekly look at local business, Jessica M. Pasko reports on an artificial intelligence incubator the owners of downtown Santa Cruz’s Pleasure Pizza are cooking up, an internet accessibility milestone for Cruzio, September’s hotel occupancy numbers and more.
Jessica M. Pasko
Jessica M. Pasko has been writing professionally for almost two decades. She cut her teeth in journalism as a reporter for the Associated Press in her native Albany, New York, where she covered everything from plane crashes and arts & culture to state politics, including assisting with the coverage of former New York State Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s resignation. After getting her master’s degree at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, she moved to the West Coast and covered crime and breaking news for the Santa Cruz Sentinel. She has also worked for KION and written for a variety of local, regional and national publications on both coasts, including Evanston Patch, The Good Times, Santa Cruz Waves and many others.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
This week in Santa Cruz County business: Capitola Mall redevelopment inches forward; Driscoll’s pledges $5M for new campus farm store in SLO
The Capitola Mall’s future as a housing development is on the agenda for the city’s planning commission this week, Driscoll’s invests at Cal Poly and a commercial crabbing delay are all in focus in Jessica M. Pasko’s weekly survey of Santa Cruz County business.
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This week in Santa Cruz County business: Business owners’ input sought ahead of 2026 sporting events; Seabright Social files for bankruptcy
In her weekly survey of local business, Jessica M. Pasko notes Santa Cruz County’s efforts to attract some of the visitors headed to nearby Santa Clara for next year’s Super Bowl and World Cup, bankruptcy for a business affected by the Murray Street Bridge closure and much more.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
This week in Santa Cruz County business: Zero Motorcycles to move headquarters abroad; Windmill Cafe’s owner prepares to pass the torch
In her weekly look at local business, Jessica M. Pasko reports on Scotts Valley pioneer Zero Motorcycles moving its HQ to the Netherlands and why the owner of Live Oak landmark Windmill Cafe is moving on, plus numbers, names and events to know.
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Pending development prompts longtime Windmill Cafe owner’s retirement as she prepares to put business up for sale
“It’s with a heavy heart that I leave,” says Mary Apra of putting the Windmill Cafe on the market. The major development planned for the Live Oak property aims to maintain the historic building as a cafe.
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This week in Santa Cruz County business: National Starbucks closures hit two local stores; Joby’s next move in the Middle East
In her weekly overview of Santa Cruz County business, Jessica M. Pasko reports on the closure of Starbucks locations in Santa Cruz and Scotts Valley as part of a broader consolidation, Joby Aviation’s partnerships in the Middle East and Ashby Confections coming to Pacific Avenue.
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This week in Santa Cruz County business: Report finds surfing contributes $194M to local economy but faces uncertain future; wineries still feeling CZU effects
A study spearheaded by Save the Waves Coalition and Black Surf Santa Cruz details surfing’s big local economic impact and outlines major threats from climate change, Jessica M. Pasko reports in her weekly look at Santa Cruz County business.
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Santa Cruz County businesses turn to privately funded services as economic pressures mount and government support shrinks
Facing economic headwinds and shrinking tax revenues for local services, some Santa Cruz County merchants are embracing business improvement districts, opting to tax themselves to pay for extra amenities like street-cleaning, private security and marketing. New districts are in the works for wineries, Midtown and possibly the Westside.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
This week in Santa Cruz County business: New Midtown, wine districts; Joby joins FAA air taxi program; Capitola Mall redevelopment
Businesses in Midtown Santa Cruz and in local wine-producing areas are closer to creating districts aimed at improving public services and reviving commercial areas, Jessica M. Pasko reports in her weekly column.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
This week in Santa Cruz County business: Airspace makeovers for air taxis; summer tourism slump
In her weekly look at Santa Cruz County business, Jessica M. Pasko reports on a plan to connect rural airports in the Monterey Bay area, including Watsonville’s. She also covers a dip in summer tourism and highlights names, numbers and dates to know.