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.
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: 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.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
A Boulder Creek tech startup is using drones and AI to detect the next big wildfire
Ember Flash Aerospace is developing and testing an AI-powered system of sensors, cameras and drones aimed at taming California’s intensifying fire seasons, an effort that grew from regular meetings of a group of Boulder Creek residents in the aftermath of the CZU fire.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
This week in Santa Cruz County business: Ember Flash’s wildfire technology born out of CZU fire experience; Verve employees push for union
A Boulder Creek-based company working to improve wildfire detection and notification is in the spotlight this week for Jessica M. Pasko, whose survey of Santa Cruz County business also includes unionization efforts at Verve Coffee Roasters and a push to better connect rural Central Coast airports.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
This week in Santa Cruz County business: La Bahia prepares for opening, Santa Cruz offers new storefront beautification grant, next steps for Soif 2.0
In her weekly survey of local business, Jessica M. Pasko looks ahead to the first guests finally checking in to the beachfront La Bahia Hotel & Spa, spotlights a new program to boost downtown Santa Cruz storefronts, and more numbers, names and dates to know.
Posted inFood & Drink
At former Caffe Pergolesi site, a new incarnation of Soif takes shape
Two former employees of Soif Wine Bar and Merchant are moving closer to opening their new wine bar and retail shop in the former home of Caffe Pergolesi in downtown Santa Cruz. The project faces a hearing before a city committee next month.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
New Leaf to open expanded Santa Cruz store next month
New Leaf Community Markets is slated to open its new store in the Gateway Plaza on River Street in Santa Cruz on Sept. 27. The location will be more than three times the size of the downtown space it vacated last fall.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
This week in Santa Cruz County business: Darco’s closing after 53 years, Hook Outlet opens on Westside, farewell to county’s digital wallet program
A longtime Santa Cruz stationery and printing store will shutter at week’s end, Jessica M. Pasko reports in her weekly look at local business. She’s also got word on The Hook Outlet opening its doors at Mission and Laurel and a variety of news, notes and numbers.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
This week in Santa Cruz County business: Woodstock’s union moves forward, Joby’s big acquisition, replacement eyed for Ella’s at the Airport
In her weekly look at local business, Jessica M. Pasko has the latest on unionization efforts at downtown Santa Cruz’s Woodstock’s Pizza, a Joby Aviation acquisition and Watsonville considering proposals to take over its airport restaurant.