Santa Cruz – like all cities in California – is required to plan for thousands of units of housing: If we make it harder to go higher and denser downtown, builders will look to other areas – closer to other neighborhoods – to put multistory apartments.
Westside / Downtown
Hear from both sides of Santa Cruz’s Measure M in their own words
Editor’s note: Ahead of the March 5 primary election, Lookout editors wanted to give you a chance to hear directly from both sides of ballot initiative Measure M facing voters in the city of Santa Cruz. We gave them 500 words to answer. We hope their answers will provide one more outlet of information as […]
Yes on Measure M: Give the people a direct voice in Santa Cruz’s future
Measure M will bolster democracy by requiring a majority vote before the city’s general plan or zoning ordinance can be amended to allow buildings above existing height limits – limits that are already quite high, at five to eight stories in most of downtown and south of Laurel Street.
Growing like fungus: Inside Santa Cruz’s wild mushroom culinary community
The Santa Cruz region is home to hundreds of varieties of wild mushrooms, included around 20 prized culinary varieties. Ample rainfall and cool temperatures have spurred abundant harvests, inspiring the Monterey Bay area’s passionate mushroom community.
‘How do we eradicate hate?’: UCSC receives $500K to tackle Islamophobia, antisemitism and hate speech
UC Santa Cruz officials received $500,000 as part of a UC-wide initiative to eliminate hate and bias on its campuses amid escalating tensions stemming from the crisis in Israel and Gaza. Vice Chancellor of Diversity Anju Reejhsinghani hopes this will bring some much-needed healing to the campus.
High school sports roundup: Santa Cruz High, Aptos High capture SCCAL basketball titles
Tournament championships were on the line over the weekend in Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League basketball, with Santa Cruz High taking the boys crown and Aptos High winning on the girls side.
Carmageddon: Windstorm spares ongoing West Cliff repairs, but a new site of concern surfaces
Early February’s intense windstorm luckily did not affect the parts of West Cliff Drive under construction, but one site that Santa Cruz’s public works department has been monitoring continues to erode — and its placement poses a unique challenge for repairs.
Perfect for the winter chill: A guide to Santa Cruz summer fun ahead
The 100th birthday of the grand old Giant Dipper at the Beach Boardwalk and a record-breaking season of theater at Santa Cruz Shakespeare are among the things to look forward to in the summer of 2024.
Eaters Digest: California Ranch Burger at Pretty Good Advice
A housemade smash burger-style black bean patty is the foundation for Lily Belli’s lunchtime rec at downtown Santa Cruz newcomer Pretty Good Advice.
Best of Santa Cruz County food & drink events, Feb. 9-15
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.

