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Credit: Max Chun / Lookout Santa Cruz

Former Santa Cruz mayoral candidate Gillian Greensite endorses Ryan Coonerty

By Max Chun

Gillian Greensite, a longtime local activist and mayoral candidate in the primary election, officially endorsed Ryan Coonerty for Santa Cruz Mayor on Thursday. She said that she believes Coonerty is the best choice for the city leadership role, that she and Coonerty hold common ground on overbuilding, and likes his idea of posting a public dashboard with data on city progress across multiple areas.

Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

Watsonville City Council candidates find common ground on downtown, housing and the city’s future

By Tania Ortiz

Candidates for Watsonville’s District 5 and 7 city council seats discussed a variety of issues impacting the city, including Flock Safety cameras, infrastructure and economic development during a Lookout election forum.

Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

Weekender: Open Studios, Porchfest, Gourmet Grazing

By Lookout Santa Cruz staff

Your cheat sheet for eating well and going out this weekend around Santa Cruz County.

Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz strawberries had a $61 million year. Here’s what drove the surge

By Lily Belli

Santa Cruz County’s agricultural economy grew 2.8% in 2025, driven largely by a 27% jump in strawberry value to nearly $279 million, while other major crops saw more mixed results.

Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

Incumbent Misty Navarro faces Mads Realmulto in PVUSD Trustee Area VII race

By Hillary Ojeda

Incumbent Misty Navarro and district parent Mads Realmuto are competing for the Trustee Area VII seat on the Pajaro Valley Unified School District governing board. Navarro was appointed to the seat in October 2024, after Jennifer Holm resigned from the board.

Credit: via Pixabay

Santa Cruz County reinstates mask requirement in skilled nursing facilities, infusion centers

By Alia Yee Noll

Santa Cruz County will reinstate its seasonal mask requirement in all skilled nursing facilities and infusion centers beginning Nov. 1, requiring employees, visitors and other non-patients to wear face masks indoors.

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Best of Santa Cruz County events, October 2-4

Here are some events you may be interested in this weekend:

Friday, Oct. 2

Saturday, Oct. 3

Sunday, Oct. 4

Add an event to our calendar

Max Chun is the general-assignment correspondent at Lookout Santa Cruz. Max’s position has pulled him in many different directions, seeing him cover development, COVID, the opioid crisis, labor, courts...