UC Santa Cruz faculty are urging campus administrators to pause planned parking fee increases and conduct a formal review after saying they were not consulted before the changes were announced.
Westside / Downtown
Santa Cruz Fire Department gets a new fire engine
Santa Cruz Fire Station 61 held a “push-in” ceremony Wednesday to celebrate its newest vehicle, a compact and highly maneuverable four-wheel-drive wildland engine designed for responding quickly to fires in rough terrain.
When leniency fails: The cost of ignoring repeat violence in Santa Cruz County courts
One year after she was attacked near her home close to Wilder Ranch, Amanda Timoney has lost faith in the justice system. Repeated judicial leniency toward her attacker has left her frustrated and afraid. It has also, she argues, allowed preventable harm to continue. She says the courts repeatedly released the same person despite a pattern of violent crimes. She emphasizes that homelessness is not a crime, but contends that public safety must take priority when someone repeatedly commits violence. Here, she calls for more judicial accountability.
Pescavore founder’s trial moved to April; hearing to dismiss 14 charges set for next week
A Santa Cruz judge moved Clarice Owens’ jury trial to April 6 so her attorneys can review newly subpoenaed documents. Hearings later this month will address a motion to drop several charges against the seafood entrepreneur and lower her bail.
Santa Cruz City Council takes first step to rezone Coral Street for expanded temporary housing, homeless services
The Santa Cruz City Council voted to rezone the Coral Street area to allow expanded homeless services and temporary housing, taking the first step toward creating a Coral Street Overlay District envisioned in a 2023 plan for a centralized services campus. A final vote is set for March 24.
Pogonip Pizza debuts near UC Santa Cruz with bold toppings and a nod to Santa Cruz bike culture
Fourth-generation restaurateur Ryan Thompson opened Pogonip Pizza on Santa Cruz’s Upper Westside in February, bringing creative California-style pies with seasonal, locally sourced toppings to a neighborhood he described as a food desert.
This week in Santa Cruz County business: Wonderfil’s mission to reduce single-use plastics, Tesla dealership coming to Capitola, Joby-Archer feud heats up
A Westside startup making inroads in cutting down single-use plastics, a new tenant in Capitola’s King’s Plaza Shopping Center and the latest chapter in an electric air taxi rivalry are all included in this week’s look at Santa Cruz County business from Jessica M. Pasko.
Lily Belli on Food: Damage from fatal Capitola Village fire shuts restaurants; chefs coming to Bookshop; Aptos Vineyard closing tasting room
News, notes and coming events from the Santa Cruz County food & drink scene are in focus in Lily Belli’s Tuesday newsletter.
Santa Cruz County business filings: Week of March 10
Businesses operating in Santa Cruz County must register with the county clerk. Lookout Santa Cruz reviews the public filings from local businesses to report on new businesses starting in the area.
Most local races set for June primary election; Santa Cruz mayoral filing period ends Wednesday
The candidate field for the June primary is nearly set, now that all filing deadlines for offices up for election have passed (except for the Santa Cruz mayor’s race, which closes on Wednesday). Here’s how it shakes out.

