Originally, the cup charge was supposed to take effect on July 1, 2020. But then the pandemic hit, prompting the county to delay the launch until the start of 2021. Now, with the pandemic still ongoing, another delay is being pitched.
Patrick Riley
Follow Patrick Riley on: Twitter. Patrick Riley is Lookout Santa Cruz’s county government accountability reporter. He comes to Lookout from Florida, where he covered Collier County government for the Naples Daily News. Before that, he covered breaking news, cops, courts and the city of Bonita Springs, also for the Daily News.He can be reached at patrick@lookoutlocal.com.
Posted inK-12 Education
PVUSD trustees to consider censuring former president Georgia Acosta after superintendent saga
The censure proposal also lists issues that predate the controversial ouster of Superintendent Michelle Rodriguez. It alleges that Acosta has missed 26 board meetings, among other things.
Posted inLatest News
Santa Cruz police investigating officers accused of racism during response to alleged nightclub assault
A blog post this week by a Black Muslim woman details an alleged violent attack by security guards at the Catalyst Club on Santa Cruz’s Pacific Avenue — and a “rude, callous, patronizing and racist” response by police.
Posted inEnvironment
Rep. Jimmy Panetta, other lawmakers aim to free up $120M-plus to protect monarch butterfly from extinction
A pair of Democratic lawmakers — including U.S. Rep. Jimmy Panetta, whose district includes Santa Cruz County — introduced two bills Wednesday to tap federal dollars to help protect the struggling species.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
Watsonville Community Hospital suffered financial losses, ‘could have been in trouble’
SPECIAL REPORT: The company that bought Watsonville Community Hospital in 2019 abruptly stopped managing it last month….
Posted inHousing & Development
$16M rent relief program for Santa Cruz County tenants, landlords launches — but not without snafus
To apply or verify eligibility for the rent relief program, applicants can visit HousingIsKey.com. While the program was meant to fully launch Monday, some local community partners say the effort did not go smoothly.
Posted inHealth & Wellness
Prep football community seeks answers on testing guidelines as weekend games, scrimmages get postponed
Amid confusion by sports league officials and parents over testing requirements and who is supposed to interpret them, Santa Cruz County health officials are saying they have “no oversight or orders related to return-to-play issues for high school sports.”
Posted inPolitics & Policy
‘Fantastic news’ that ‘buys us time’: City, Santa Cruz County leaders react to Biden’s $1.9 trillion stimulus
Santa Cruz County government expects $53 million from the new federal stimulus, while Congressman Jimmy Panetta’s office says the county’s four municipalities will get $37.9 million more.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
The ADU, tiny home push: Concept of pre-approved plans, ’30-minute’ permit process move forward unanimously
The march toward ADUs and tiny homes becoming more viable options to add to Santa Cruz County’s housing inventory continued at Tuesday’s board of supervisors meeting.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
By 2024, Santa Cruz County aims to decrease number of homeless households by more than 25%
A pair of items approved by Santa Cruz County supervisors Tuesday are the latest in a flurry of homelessness-related measures that have come before county and municipal leaders. But finding funding will be key.