In his weekly newsletter covering Santa Cruz County politics and policy, Christopher Neely previews a pair of Lookout election forums this week, digs into what Measure M might and might not mean, talks to voters in the Santa Cruz Mountains about what they’re looking for in their new District 5 county supervisor and more.
Westside / Downtown
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Measure M — Santa Cruz’s height limit and affordability measure — is the Measure of Much Debate, Many Questions and Murky Answers
We won’t know the true impact of Measure M unless it goes active. Here’s what we do know on its key questions: height, affordability and the possible dilemma of the 7-foot fence. On March 5, voters in the city of Santa Cruz will have to decide how to cast their ballots.
Posted inEducation
UCSC students raise campus transit concerns in three-hour town hall
In the wake of a fatal bus crash and a damaging California Highway Patrol report that called UC Santa Cruz transit operations “an imminent threat to public safety,” students shared their frustrations at a town hall meeting Friday.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Long-debated oversized vehicle law seeks five-year enforcement horizon
Director of Community Development Lee Butler said the approval allows the city to enforce the ordinance for five years, rather than one, before it needs to renew the coastal development permit again. He said staff made this decision in coordination with the California Coastal Commission to provide the city more time to make adjustments and address issues that will inevitably come up.
Posted inEducation
CHP says UC Santa Cruz transit service ‘imminent danger to public safety’ after shuttle inspections
The California Highway Patrol classified UC Santa Cruz’s transit service as an “imminent danger to public safety” after conducting inspections in the wake of December’s bus crash on campus. UCSC officials say they’re making improvements.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Santa Cruz planning commission mulls renewing city’s oversized vehicle ordinance permit Thursday
If the planning commission approves the permit at its meeting Thursday night, the City of Santa Cruz will have more than three months to address any appeals that may be filed between Thursday and May 11, when the existing permit is set to expire.
Posted inEducation
Santa Cruz Metro floats plan to take over UCSC campus loop bus service
As UC Santa Cruz faces increasing pressure from students and union workers to improve its bus system, campus and Santa Cruz Metro officials say they’re in talks to do just that. Outgoing Metro CEO Michael Tree says the talks are very preliminary for Metro to take over the campus loop buses.
Posted inEducation
UCSC plan to scrap housing priority process for a lottery raises alarm among students
Many UC Santa Cruz students are concerned they won’t get on-campus housing next year after officials eliminated its priority-based housing selection process. Campus officials say students shouldn’t lose hope.
Posted inFood & Drink
‘Books shouldn’t gather dust’: Chef David Kinch to sell personal culinary library at Bad Animal
World-renowned chef and Santa Cruz resident David Kinch will sell his personal collection of culinary books at downtown’s Bad Animal on Feb. 3 and Feb. 4.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Santa Cruz City Council votes to cut down 120-foot downtown redwood tree
A 120-foot redwood tree at the corner of Walnut Avenue and Lincoln Street will meet its end after the Santa Cruz City Council voted to chop it down. The decision didn’t come without some sparks, however.