OPINION: Renee Mello, president of the Santa Cruz County Association of Realtors, argues that Measure B is a transparent, citizen-led effort to fund affordable housing and climate projects. She criticizes Measure C as an “insider” initiative engineered by Santa Cruz City Hall to skirt the two-thirds supermajority required for special taxes.
Housing & Development
Posted inHousing & Development
Why California’s historic housing law gave activists a new reason to battle the bus
Opponents to dense housing developments in Los Angeles turned their attention to transit after Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law encouraging construction near bus and rail lines.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Our neighborhood is fighting back against Workbench’s out-of-scale project
OPINION: Live Oak neighbors are pushing back against developer Workbench’s plan for a five-story, 57-unit apartment building at 841 Capitola Rd. They say the project would tower over their homes and properties, eliminate mature trees, and worsen parking and traffic.
Posted inLatest News
Santa Cruz nonprofit Housing Matters to end homeless day services, sparking staff backlash
Housing Matters plans to close day services at its Coral Street campus as the organization shifts its focus to shelters and the upcoming opening of a permanent supportive housing project. The news sparked widespread concern among the nonprofit’s employees, with some saying they are worried about what the changes will mean for the area’s homeless community.
Posted inHealth & Wellness
Santa Cruz County’s aging population struggles with housing, health care and social isolation, new survey finds
A new survey of 3,200 Santa Cruz County residents aged 40 and older finds that 40% fear being priced out of the area, while one-quarter say they must leave the county for basic medical care.
Posted inHousing & Development
As weather cools, Santa Cruz County housing market shows signs of heating up
Santa Cruz County’s housing market largely stayed the course in September, with many houses on the market and plenty of sales closing. However, with trade tensions and the government shutdown lingering, real estate professionals say conditions could change rapidly.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
For affordable housing and a humane Santa Cruz – vote yes on Measure C
OPINION: Santa Cruz’s beauty and desirability drive up housing costs — and the market alone won’t build homes for teachers, bus drivers or grocery clerks, writes UCSC professor emeritus Christopher Connery. Measure C, he says, offers a fair, modest step toward fixing that; he urges a yes vote.
Posted inHousing & Development
Newsom signs law overhauling local zoning to build more housing
After weeks of waiting, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill that will allow midrise apartment buildings near major transit stops in California’s biggest metro areas.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Board of supervisors advances abandoned vehicle demolition law, raising concerns from homeless advocates
Santa Cruz County supervisors pushed forward with a plan to allow quick demolition of abandoned vehicles after they’ve been towed. County officials say it will help with enforcing parking laws and encouraging those living in vehicles to receive help, but the plan has drawn criticism from homeless advocates who say it targets a vulnerable population.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
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.