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 inFood & Drink

Santa Cruz bars and restaurants sound alarm on city’s new rules for outdoor dining

by Jessica M. Pasko and Lily Belli

The City of Santa Cruz issued temporary permits for restaurants to shift to outdoor dining in a hasty response to the statewide COVID state of emergency, which forced the closure of indoor dining facilities during the pandemic. But starting as early as March, business owners will have to go through traditional permitting if they want to keep their outdoor dining spaces. Some restaurateurs say the slow, complicated and expensive process threatens their businesses.

Posted inBusiness & Technology

Downtown Santa Cruz to hike business assessment fee as city center sees post-pandemic rebound in foot traffic

by Jessica M. Pasko

With a big post-pandemic resurgence underway, the Downtown Association of Santa Cruz wants to hike by nearly 15% what district businesses pay to help support cleaning, safety services, the Downtown Ambassador program and more. A hearing before the city council is set for Sept. 26; if passed, the increase — the first in three decades — would go into effect in January.

Posted inBusiness & Technology

This week in Santa Cruz County business: Doug Erickson Q&A, Arrow Surf’s move, Ambient Photonics funding

by Jessica M. Pasko

In her weekly roundup of news and notes from the Santa Cruz County business community, Jessica M. Pasko hears from Santa Cruz Works founder Doug Erickson on the local tech scene, AI and more, delivers updates on a temporary change of scene for Arrow Surf & Sport and what’s new with Scotts Valley’s Ambient Photonics, plus local events and recommended reading.

Posted inBusiness & Technology

Santa Cruz Works’ Doug Erickson on how region’s affordable housing crisis affects local tech economy

by Jessica M. Pasko

The tech sector has been hit hard the past few years, and analysts anticipate that tech layoffs in 2023 will exceed the number in 2022. While recession fears continue to reverberate within the larger tech ecosystem, at the local level we’ve seen some significant growth activity. In an interview with Lookout business columnist Jessica M. Pasko, Santa Cruz Works founder Doug Erickson discusses how the region’s affordable housing woes have affected the growth of the local tech industry — and why AI is about to upend everything.

Posted inBusiness & Technology

Santa Cruz medtech company Capstan Medical raises $31.4 million in new funding round, looks to local expansion

by Jessica M. Pasko

Capstan Medical, founded in 2020, is developing a minimally invasive technology to treat mitral and tricuspid valve disease. The Santa Cruz company recently raised $31.4 million in a Series B fundraising round led by Palo Alto-based venture capital firm Eclipse. The funding will help with hiring in four key areas — software and controls engineering, mechanical engineering, clinical and operations.

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