Quick Take:
Wild Poppies – a small local olive oil business – was created by two sisters, Kim Null and Jamie de Sieyes. Their...
Good Morning! It’s Wednesday, April 7, and we’ll have another day with intermittent clouds and a high of 66.
We’re waking up to news of a police-involved shooting in Aptos last night that resulted in a suspect being hospitalized. More on that, lower down.
The Downtown Santa Cruz area is going to look very different over the next decade with several new developments either underway or under consideration. Yesterday, we got updates on several of these, including the planned Pacific Avenue mixed-use buildings around the Downtown bus station and more details on a possible permanent Warriors stadium to replace the Kaiser Permanente Arena. During that same meeting, we also learned that the 418 Project will be moving to an iconic new location.
At the statewide level, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a full reopening date for the state on June 15. In order for that to happen, there are some requirements that must be met, so we have a breakdown of everything you need to know. Meanwhile, Newsom’s announcement comes at a delicate time for his own political standing as he faces a likely November recall vote.
Speaking of ‘Recall Newsom,’ we’re learning this morning that athlete-turned-reality star Caitlyn Jenner is eyeing a bid for governor.
Let’s start local:
Changing face of Downtown Santa Cruz
New design for ‘Pac Station North’ unveiled as Warriors outline vision for ‘do-it-all’ arena: Santa Cruz planners on Tuesday unveiled a new design for Pacific Station North, one half of a major, mixed-use development the city is planning for lower Pacific Avenue in and around the site of the existing Metro bus hub. Together, Pacific Station North and South will occupy more than two acres of land near the San Lorenzo River. Meanwhile, we also learned new details about a potential permanent home for the Santa Cruz Warriors that would replace Kaiser Permanente Arena. Read more details on both projects from our Isabella Cueto here.
Santa Cruz’s downtown 418 Project is on the move — will it need a new name? The 418 Project — a community-oriented performance-arts center so named because it’s been at 418 Front Street for almost 30 years — is on the move. How does “The 155 Project” grab you? Laura Bishop, The 418’s executive director, announced that the cultural center will be moving into the space that was once the Regal Riverfront Twin movie theater and, most recently, DNA’s Comedy Lab, at 155 South River Street. Read more from Wallace Baine here.
Will football return to Cabrillo College? Decision on program’s future draws near
Cabrillo College suspended its football program in May of last year, on the heels of one of the Seahawks’ best seasons in decades. It came in response to sanctions imposed on the program because a Seahawks coach had helped out-of-area recruits secure housing — a violation of Northern California Football Conference rules. With a two-year probation coming to an end, a decision about resuming the program is now drawing near. Read more from our Nick Ibarra here (and find out how many Cabrillo football alums have gone on to play in the NFL).
New Leaf Community Markets to ban single-use water bottles, beginning on Earth Day
Starting April 22, you won’t be able to buy single-use plastic or glass water bottles at New Leaf Community Markets. The grocery store chain says it will start efforts with still water in containers one liter or less “because opting for reusables is an easy individual choice to help lessen our collective environmental impact.” Read more here.
Police-involved shooting in Aptos: Suspect hospitalized after trading gunfire with sheriff’s deputies
Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office deputies shot a suspect in Aptos late last night in an incident in which the man fired at least one shot at them, the sheriff’s office said this morning. The gunfire broke out in the parking lot of the Aptos Village Square shopping center shortly after 10:50 p.m. as deputies were investigating “a suspicious vehicle” in the lot. Read more here.
COVID 2021 Updates
Everything you need to know about a full reopening of California by June 15: After more than a year of coronavirus-related closures, California has a reopening date: June 15. The target, announced yesterday, is the clearest indication yet that the hard-hit state may be entering its final phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. But amid the optimism, there are several variables at play. Read more here about what needs to happen to reopen by that date, what reopening would look like and what would happen if case numbers surged again from our partners at the LA Times.
‘Double mutant’ coronavirus variant found by Stanford researchers: A possibly worrisome variant of the coronavirus first identified in India — so new that it has no official name — has been found in California by scientists at Stanford University. Nicknamed the “double mutant,” the variant is sparking concern among some scientists because it contains two worrisome mutations in its genetic composition that have been identified among other variants of concern being tracked by the CDC. Read more from the LA Times here.
Around the state…
Gov. Caitlyn Jenner? Athlete-turned-celebrity reportedly interested in California’s top office: The Olympic decathlete-turned-reality TV star who announced in 2015 that she is transgender is considering a run for California governor, Axios reported yesterday. With Gov. Gavin Newsom likely facing a recall election this fall, a pop culture figure seeking the state’s top job has echoes of what happened 18 years ago, when Democrat Gray Davis became the first governor to be recalled in state history, and actor Arnold Schwarzenegger took the state’s reins. Read more from the LA Times here.
Newsom’s vow to reopen California is a high-stakes political gamble: Meanwhile, Newsom’s announcement yesterday for a full reopening of the state by June 15 comes with seemingly obvious political gains as he looks to the potential recall vote. But it’s not all upside. Newsom’s bold pronouncement about what he’ll do two months down the line — while infections are rising in other parts of the country and only 18% of Californians are fully vaccinated — also comes with a dose of political danger. Read more from our partners at CalMatters here.
Free banking in California? New bill tackles access and racial equity: Escalating overdraft charges. Minimum balances. High ATM, check-cashing and debit card fees. Banking can be expensive, especially for low-wage workers. A score of California lawmakers have signed on to a new bill designed to offer Golden State households free financial services, taking on the state’s powerful banks at a time when easier access to banking services could help families cope with the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more from the LA Times here.
Around the county…
Caught on camera: bobcat rescued in Bonny Doon, succumbs to injuries (KION-TV)
Head of local farmers market takes over Pinto Lake City Park (The Pajaronian)
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Have a great day!
Tulsi Kamath
Managing Editor