Lookout PM: Santa Cruz City Council votes to end Flock Safety contract, Murray Street Bridge to reopen one-way by end of January, Bad Animal’s new restaurant

City council votes to end Santa Cruz’s contract with Flock Safety

By Max Chun

The Santa Cruz City Council voted 6-1 to end the city’s contract with Flock Safety at its Tuesday meeting following data breaches, community pushback, and a recommendation from three councilmembers that the city pull out of the contract.

Murray Street Bridge to reopen one-way ahead of schedule by the end of January

By Lily Belli

Following a seven-month closure that restricted all vehicle, bicycle and pedestrian traffic across the Murray Street Bridge, the city plans to reopen the bridge one-way for cars and bikes, with full pedestrian access in both directions at the end of January, about a month ahead of the original February timeline.

Lily Belli on Food: Reporting the Pescavore story; Bad Animal’s bistro pivot; chowder cook-off on horizon

In her Tuesday newsletter, Lily Belli writes about the monthslong work on a story about a Santa Cruz seafood entrepreneur who’s facing stalking charges, notes the opening of French-forward Bad Animal Bistro and previews a coming local culinary favorite.

Cabrillo College board approves Jenn Capps as Matt Wetstein’s successor

Cabrillo College’s next president faces a myriad of near-term challenges. Jenn Capps comes to Cabrillo from Cal Poly Humboldt; she will earn an annual salary of $306,000, according to her contract.

Cabrillo trustees redesignate funds from pandemic-era tax credits amid budget squeeze

By Grace Chinowsky

Cabrillo College’s board voted Monday to redirect more than $7 million in one-time tax credit revenue to early retirement incentives, construction projects, general reserves and more.

OPINION: No trees, no voice: How the City of Santa Cruz is greenlighting development without the public

By Gillian Greensite

After Santa Cruz’s planning commission approved doing away with public hearings for some large affordable housing projects and moved a special zoning area forward, activist Gillian Greensite warns that the public could not only be robbed of its voice but of some of the city’s heritage trees, too.