Budgets, a vision for a one-way West Cliff Drive, a cannabis moratorium and e-bike restrictions: Political leaders at multiple levels of government in Santa Cruz County have their hands full this week.
Watsonville / Pajaro
Posted inEducation
Enrollment decline, budget worries add urgency to consolidation talk across Santa Cruz County’s 10 school districts
The backlash over Live Oak School District’s budget cuts has renewed questions among teachers, parents and even some trustees over whether Live Oak – and other school districts like it – should be folded into neighboring districts to save money. The idea also has its critics.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
The Shapers: Nane Alejandrez has been lending a hand and changing lives for 50 years
From his Santa Cruz home base at Barrios Unidos, Daniel “Nane” Alejandrez has been working for almost 50 years to make lives better for children and families, as well as people trying to make better lives for themselves after incarceration.
Posted inEducation
Pajaro Valley groups sue state, Monterey ag commissioner over pesticide use near schools
Several Pajaro Valley organizations, including a local teachers union and the Center for Farmworker Families, filed a lawsuit this week challenging the approval of pesticide permits that they say have caused harm to the majority-Latino communities.
Posted inHealth & Wellness
Watsonville hospital celebrates a $116M bond election win — now comes the hard part
Watsonville Community Hospital can now move forward after both Santa Cruz and Monterey counties certified election results showing the hospital’s $116 million bond measure passed with 68.04% of the vote. First priority is purchasing the hospital buildings and the land they sit on.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
In the Public Interest: How did Santa Cruz become the second California city to require pay equity for local competitions?
Santa Cruz County politics and policy news and notes from Christopher Neely.
Posted inFood & Drink
Best of Santa Cruz County food & drink events, March 29-April 4
Lookout food & drink correspondent Lily Belli highlights top events happening around Santa Cruz County in the coming week, plus more listings from Lookout’s BOLO events calendar.
Posted inHealth & Wellness
Former Watsonville hospital CEO John Friel remembered as a loving family man dedicated to saving the hospital
John Friel was 46 when he first came to save Watsonville Community Hospital in 1991 as CEO tasked with helping to rebuild after the Loma Prieta earthquake. Friel died on March 21 at 79 after battling an illness.
Posted inHealth & Wellness
‘This is a big loss’: John Friel, former Watsonville hospital CEO and health care district chair, passes away
John Friel, a former Watsonville Community Hospital CEO and district board chairman, died Thursday after battling illness. He was 79. Hospital leaders say his passing is a “big loss.”
Posted inPolitics & Policy
In the Public Interest: Surfers, lawmakers push back against proposal to expand marine protections in Santa Cruz County
IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST Surfers, lawmakers push back against proposal to expand marine protections in Santa Cruz County Shawn Dollar, a born-and-bred Pleasure Point resident, is known around the globe as a big-wave surfer whose ability to navigate the intimidating swells of Mavericks and Cortes Bank has earned him trophies and world records. Locally, Dollar […]