Businesses operating in Santa Cruz County must register with the county clerk. Lookout Santa Cruz reviews the public filings from local businesses to report on new businesses starting in the area.
Eastside / Live Oak / Pleasure Point
Eastside Santa Cruz, Live Oak and Pleasure Point neighborhoods
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Yes, it’s time to get ready for the election year ahead: What’s up and who’s running
With seats up for grabs on all of Santa Cruz County’s city councils, the county board of supervisors, the California Assembly and the U.S. House of Representatives, plus a new governor to be elected and statewide ballot measures, 2026 figures to be another active election cycle.
Posted inFood & Drink
Newsmakers 2025: Seabright, harbor business owners reflect on challenging year, community support and their fears for 2026
Business owners Michael Spadafora and Patrice Boyle reflect on a tumultuous year for their businesses as the Murray Street Bridge closure slashed summer traffic, left them struggling to survive and exposed what they describe as a lack of communication and meaningful help from the city.
Posted inLatest News
Carmageddon: RTC seeking input on coastal resilience project; Watsonville police get grant for bike, pedestrian safety
The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission is seeking input on a coastal resiliency project along Highway 1 on the county’s north coast, with a workshop on the project set for the end of January. Meanwhile, the Watsonville Police Department received a state grant for bicycle and pedestrian safety efforts.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Beyond the Super Bowl and the semiquincentennial: Your big sneak peek at 2026 entertainment events to come
You made it through a harrowing 2025 and a half-decade of challenge. Now, put aside your fears of catastrophic climate change, the collapse of American democracy, and AI data centers stretching from sea to shining sea — for just a moment — and plan some fun in the year ahead.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Santa Cruz houses 73% of homeless shelter beds in the county. That has to change.
Santa Cruz shoulders an outsized share of the county’s shelter beds, safe-parking sites and day services, despite making up less than a quarter of the population, writes local activist Kevin Norton.
Posted inRecreation & Sports
Booming girls’ flag football sees Aptos showcase next week
It’s a seven-on-seven game with less of the bruising action of regular football. As the sport takes off locally and around the country, a Santa Cruz County team takes on one from Monterey County.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Photo gallery: Looking back on 2025 through photos
Lookout staff photographer Kevin Painchaud gets a front-row view of the events, people, and food that make Santa Cruz such a unique and special place to live. He chose his favorite photos he captured in 2025.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
This week in Santa Cruz County business: Looking back at the businesses that opened in 2025
While 2025 saw many beloved businesses shutter, the year also welcomed many new ones, from retailers to restaurants, entertainment to fitness, all helping shape that uniqueness that is the Santa Cruz County business economy. As we close out the final day of the year, here’s a glance at some of the businesses we gained.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
Santa Cruz County business filings: Week of Dec. 30
Businesses operating in Santa Cruz County must register with the county clerk. Lookout Santa Cruz reviews the public filings from local businesses to report on new businesses starting in the area.