Watsonville City Council will decide whether to make changes to its camping ordinance, establishing “no encampment zones” in areas such the Struve Slough, the Pajaro River levee and other public spaces around the city.
Watsonville / Pajaro
Posted inFood & Drink
Lily Belli on Food: Hanloh delivery collab, Pleasure Point butcher moves, and summer neighborhood bounty
The latest in Santa Cruz County food & drink from Lookout correspondent Lily Belli.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Moss Landing battery plant cleanup enters tougher next phase, with demolition expected into 2027
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is gearing up to begin the next phase of its Moss Landing cleanup efforts, following a massive January 2025 fire that damaged a large portion of a battery storage facility.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Supervisors shelve battery storage ordinance after Watsonville project moves to state
The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to shelve a local ordinance regulating battery storage systems following a decision by the developer of a project proposed for outside Watsonville to seek approval through the state.
Posted inFood & Drink
Lily Belli on Food: Village Foods opens East Cliff storefront, Sante Arcangeli’s Aptos Village music series and a garden milestone
In her Tuesday newsletter, Lily Belli has updates on a brick-and-mortar for a food delivery service, summer tunes from a local winery, news on Grey Bears’ fundraising efforts and her family’s produce-filled season.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Driscoll’s should lead on pesticide reform – not debate childhood cancer statistics
A widely cited claim that Santa Cruz County’s childhood cancer rate is 38% above the state average is muddling the debate about pesticide reform, writes Watsonville activist and retired nurse Kathleen Kilpatrick. The number doesn’t prove pesticides cause cancer and shouldn’t be used that way, she writes. But correcting that statistic doesn’t change the broader body of evidence linking pesticide exposure to childhood cancer and other serious health harms. Driscoll’s, the largest berry marketer in the world, has the resources to reduce its use of the most hazardous pesticides and should publicly show its progress, not debate cancer numbers, she writes.
Posted inLatest News
Santa Cruz County has some of the strictest fireworks laws in California. Here’s what you need to know ahead of July Fourth
Starting July 3 at 8 a.m., the Santa Cruz Police Department will enforce a citywide safety enhancement zone. This means fines for violations of the city’s municipal code, including the illegal discharge of fireworks, will be tripled. With thousands expected to flock to Santa Cruz from around the Bay Area this long weekend, here’s what you need to know about the fireworks laws ahead of July Fourth.
Posted inLatest News
Monday evening traffic: Highway 9 closures for bridge work; July 4 parade road closures
Monday traffic trouble spots in and around Santa Cruz County.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Carmageddon: Metro board to hold public hearing for own sales tax measure for November ballot, separate from citizens’ initiative
To pursue as many potential paths to a local funding source as possible, the Santa Cruz Metro board discussed moving to put a half-cent sales tax on the November ballot on its own accord, while Friends of Santa Cruz Metro continues its push to gather enough signatures for a citizens’ initiative ballot measure. If the board does decide to put a sales tax on the November ballot, it will require a two-thirds majority.
Posted inEducation
Pajaro Valley Unified chief business officer resigns
Pajaro Valley Unified School District Chief Business Officer Gerardo Castillo announced his resignation this week after less than a year on the job. His departure comes as the district grapples with continued strains on its budget.
