Monday traffic around Santa Cruz County.
Latest News
Posted inLatest News
Morning Lookout: SoLa’s first big development; next steps for Capitola rail trail; San Vicente Redwoods’ living laboratory
Santa Cruz County headlines from Lookout for the morning of Monday, April 21.
Posted inHousing & Development
Texas-based developer’s eight-story proposal could kick off Santa Cruz’s downtown expansion
Downtown Santa Cruz is set for big changes in the coming years with a new, expanded downtown envisioned south of Laurel Street. A Texas-based developer wants to be the first one in the new neighborhood.
Posted inLatest News
Carmageddon: How does Capitola City Council’s vote change rail trail plan?
Following the Capitola City Council’s vote against constructing a trail alongside Park Avenue, the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission and county planners will have to pursue a previously approved — but more expensive — trail alignment. Although much remains the same for the trail plans in the Capitola area, county and RTC staff will need to work with city staff to understand the exact implications of the council’s interpretation of city law.
Posted inLatest News
Ahead of Earth Day, peek inside the living laboratory where redwoods meet modern science
At San Vicente Redwoods near Boulder Creek, scientists use sonic technology to study fungal decay in fire-damaged trees while Indigenous leaders restore traditional forest management practices, creating a unique conservation laboratory.
Posted inLatest News
Photo essay: Ocean Street protests and Earth Day celebrations converge in Santa Cruz
In Santa Cruz, a protest against the Trump administration and Earth Day celebrations drew hundreds to parallel downtown events on Saturday.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Kuumbwa’s nostalgic look back and the inevitable passing of ‘old’ Santa Cruz
On May 2, the Kuumbwa Jazz Center celebrates its 50th anniversary with an exhibit of photos, posters and archival material that chronicle its early years. On May 3, the public will remember the late Ralph Abraham. Both events mark the inevitable passing of the Santa Cruz culture first established in the 1960s and ’70s.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Nostalgia isn’t a housing policy – we need to build in Santa Cruz today because of past policies
Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson, vice mayor of the City of Santa Cruz, wants to set the record straight on the city’s housing policy and accusations that the city is selling out to developers. “What we’re doing now isn’t about chasing profits, it’s about making up for lost time,” she writes, including years of the city council saying “no” to new housing. “Let’s be clear: Building more affordable housing is not a betrayal of our community’s values,” she writes. “It’s a recommitment to them. It’s about inclusion, equity, and making sure this town doesn’t turn into a playground for the wealthy alone.”
Posted inLatest News
Lookout PM: Watsonville Community Hospital grapples with Medicaid cuts, Eaters Digest, Park Avenue trail voted down, and Downtown Plan Expansion advances
Welcome to Friday night’s Lookout PM. Be sure to sign up for our breaking news email alerts here and take advantage of our breaking news texts by signing up here. At Watsonville Community Hospital, federal Medicaid cuts cast shadow over progress Watsonville Community Hospital leaders reported improved finances and plans for upgrades and an expansion of the ER […]
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Closing a street to cars may feature in Santa Cruz City Council downtown economic plan later this month
Each week for nearly the past year, a grassroots group has met at a Santa Cruz beer house with one goal: closing some downtown Santa Cruz streets to cars. The group has gotten support from business owners, employees and downtown patrons, and now, city leaders are mulling whether to bring the idea up for a vote that could eventually reshape how locals and visitors experience the city center.