ICE has visited Santa Cruz County at least 13 times since July, records show
By Tania Ortiz
In the past five months, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have visited Santa Cruz County at least 13 times, according to documents from the county sheriff and Watsonville police.
Carmageddon: This week’s RTC meeting will be packed with rail-trail business following ‘peace deal’ proposal
By Max Chun
The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission meeting this week could be pivotal for the passenger rail project. Santa Cruz Mayor Fred Keeley and County Supervisor Manu Koenig plan to discuss their trail proposal, which is already running into opposition from Friends of the Rail and Trail.
City of Santa Cruz delays Flock camera discussion until January
By Max Chun
The Santa Cruz City Council has pushed off plans to revisit its contract with Flock Safety for automated license plate readers until January, rather than its originally planned date of Dec. 9.
Colorado-based nonprofit tapped to temporarily run Santa Cruz County Head Start after Encompass exit
By Hillary Ojeda
Encompass Community Services will hand off Santa Cruz County’s Head Start program to Denver-based Community Development Institute Head Start, which is expected to arrive Monday to begin reopening services that have been shuttered since Oct. 31.
STATEWIDE UPDATES
Misinformation spreads as Trump moves to cut aid for some California students
The Trump administration is suing California, asking the state to end its policies allowing students without legal status to access in-state tuition and financial aid. But the administration’s legal argument is weak, according to top legal experts.
California is about to cut power company profits to historic lows. Your bill will barely drop
California utilities regulators are bringing down “return on equity” payments to power company shareholders. It’s the lowest profit margin in 20 years for Pacific Gas & Electric and Southern California Edison, but it will be hard to notice in your payments.
How fear of Trump’s immigration blitz is changing life in California farm towns
Tax receipts are down almost 30% in one California farm town, where immigrants are afraid to go out and some longtime workers are weighing self-deportation during the second Trump administration.
LOOKING AHEAD
Santa Cruz City Council: No meeting this week. The council is next scheduled to meet on Dec. 9.
Santa Cruz City Planning Commission: No meeting this week.
Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors: No meeting this week. The board meets next on Dec. 9 at 9 a.m. in the Capitola City Council chambers.
Santa Cruz County Planning Commission: No meeting this week. The commission meets next on Dec. 10 at the County Government Center in Santa Cruz.
Watsonville City Council: Tues., Dec. 2, at 6 p.m. in chambers at 275 Main St., Watsonville.
The Watsonville City Council will vote on whether to approve cleaning up on a vacant lot along Airport Boulevard. The lot has accumulated trash, abandoned furniture and homeless encampments despite the city’s attempts to work with the property owner. If approved, the site would be declared a public nuisance and the property owner would be required to clear up the property.
Watsonville Planning Commission: No meeting this month.
Capitola City Council: No meeting this week. The council meets next on Dec. 11.
Capitola Planning Commission: Thurs., Dec. 4, at 6 p.m. in the city council chambers, 420 Capitola Ave., Capitola.
The Capitola Planning Commission will vote on whether to approve amendments to the Capitola Municipal Code to make way for mixed use redevelopment on Capitola Mall properties located between Clares Street, 41st Avenue and Capitola Road. The vote could be postponed until January.
County Latino Affairs Commission: Wed., Dec. 3, at 6 p.m. at United Way of Santa Cruz County, 4450 Capitola Rd., Capitola.
The commission will decide on whether to ask the board of supervisors to explore creating a sanctuary ordinance. Members of the commission are urging elected officials to pass laws that affirm the county’s sanctuary status. The commission will also hear a report from the sheriff’s office about county law enforcement involvement with immigration arrests.
Scotts Valley City Council: Wed., Dec. 3, at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall, 1 Civic Center Dr., Scotts Valley.
The council will hold a public hearing on whether to amend the accessory dwelling unit (ADU) ordinance to fully comply with state law by changing the maximum height standards, as recommended by the Planning Commission.
Scotts Valley Planning Commission: Thurs., Dec. 4, at 7:30 p.m. City Hall, 1 Civic Center Drive, Scotts Valley.
Public hearing on the Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) and vote on a recommendation to adopt the 2025 Scotts Valley Town Center Specific Plan.
