The City of Scotts Valley seeks to update and modify its business license tax for the first time in over 30 years via Measure X, which would introduce a new base rate and a sliding scale based on gross receipts that will determine the amount each business will pay annually. There is no formal opposition to the measure. Taxes on the city’s smallest businesses would jump from $90 to at least $150, while larger businesses could pay upward of $6,000 depending on their annual revenue. The changes would bring in an estimated additional $750,000 in local tax revenue.
Scotts Valley
Posted inBusiness & Technology
Ambient Photonics takes on the battery with its low-light solar tech
Headquartered in Scotts Valley, Ambient Photonics has a mission to reduce consumer dependency on single-use, disposable batteries. The replacement? Small solar cells that can harvest and store energy under low-light conditions, making them well-suited for small appliances such as computer mice or keyboards.
Posted inLatest News
Free wood chipping offered for fire-prone Santa Cruz County areas
The Resource Conservation District of Santa Cruz County is offering to reimburse the cost of wood chipping for residents who want to clear land in areas at risk for wildfires. The Neighborhood Chipping Program is accepting applications through Oct. 31 and aims to “incentivize the creation of defensible space around homes in high wildfire risk areas.”
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Despite different backgrounds, Monica Martinez and Christopher Bradford aim to ‘fight the status quo’ in District 5
In the first of two Lookout Santa Cruz County supervisor candidate forums, District 5 hopefuls Monica Martinez and Christopher Bradford spoke Wednesday about the many issues affecting mountain communities, from failing roads and tight budgets to the seemingly never-ending rebuilding process following the 2020 CZU fires. Both positioned themselves as outsiders hoping to bring change to county government.
Posted inFood & Drink
Lily Belli on Food: Fall business openings, Adorable expansion and county’s pie champ
Food & drink news and notes from around Santa Cruz County via Lookout correspondent Lily Belli.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
CZU convinced Christopher Bradford that county government needs fundamental change
Despite a long career exclusively in the private sector, Boulder Creek resident Christopher Bradford is running an underdog campaign for District 5 Santa Cruz County supervisor. After he and his family lost their home in the 2020 CZU fires, Bradford’s experience with intransigent county bureaucracy convinced him he needed to lend his talents to making government work better for his neighbors.
Posted inFood & Drink
Farmers market darling Adorable French Bakery opens bistro locations in Scotts Valley and Soquel
Eight-year-old Adorable French Bakery serves 5,000 customers at 22 farmers market locations throughout the Bay Area, including three in the county, from its Santa Cruz production facility. Last week, it opened brick-and-mortar locations in Scotts Valley and Soquel, with plans to expand with lunch and dinner bistro service within a month.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
This week in Santa Cruz County business: Midtown business district considered; Paystand grows in Canada
Santa Cruz officials are mulling the establishment of a business improvement district, which funds projects via fees or assessments on area businesses, in Midtown, Jessica M. Pasko reports in her weekly roundup. Meanwhile, Scotts Valley-based Paystand is expanding into Canada, the Big Lots in South County is closing, and Adorable French Bakery has opened at the former Malone’s Grille on Scotts Valley Drive.
Posted inFood & Drink
Lily Belli on Food: Adorable French Bakery replaces Malone’s in Scotts Valley, farmers market fun and a paella pop-up
News, notes and recommendations from the world of Santa Cruz County food & drink via Lookout correspondent Lily Belli.
Posted inFood & Drink
Santa Cruz pizza guide: Does our pizza-obsessed county have its own style?
Santa Cruz County is home to more than 70 places to buy pizza, and can boast a higher pizza-per-capita ratio than New York City and Chicago. Our little coastal community’s pizza obsession is rooted in California culinary history, but modern chefs are putting their own spin on things with local ingredients and fresh takes on regional styles. Local pizza makers weigh in on whether Santa Cruz has developed its own style.