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Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz Metro passes on November sales tax measure, bets on citizen initiative instead

By Max Chun

The Santa Cruz Metro board of directors decided against advancing its own resolution to place a half-cent sales tax measure on the November ballot, citing cost concerns and little time to build and promote an effective campaign. The board will instead throw support behind the ongoing citizen’s initiative effort to place its own measure on a ballot by 2028.

Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

Live Oak Landing opens months after slated, set to offer interim housing and pathways to permanent housing

By Caly Luna Plowman

Housing Matters announced that their $5 million Live Oak Landing interim housing program was officially open Thursday morning and would be welcoming participants immediately, stating that construction had been finished months ago but there had been final permitting and occupancy approval delays. Advocates are hopeful that the project can help take people off the streets, but also expressed frustrations over the lack of transparency with its delayed opening.

Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

‘Where are we supposed to go?’: Watsonville’s new camping ban deepens anxiety for unhoused residents

By Tania Ortiz

For eight years, 58-year-old farmworker Alejandro Garcia has struggled to find a safe place to sleep in Watsonville. His anxiety is now compounding as the city implements new rules that ban camping along rivers and sloughs, allowing crews to clear encampments without warning.

Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

State energy commission determines New Leaf Energy’s application for Watsonville project ‘incomplete’

By Tania Ortiz

The California Energy Commission has determined that New Leaf Energy’s application for its proposed battery storage project in Watsonville is incomplete, and needs further information from the company.

Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

Carmageddon: SC Metro board holding public hearing on proposed ballot measure on Monday

By Max Chun

The Santa Cruz Metro board is holding a public hearing on its proposed ballot measure at 11 a.m. Monday, where it could decide whether or not to move it forward to the county board of supervisors in August.

OPINION: Housing Santa Cruz County should disclose its ties to Workbench: the public deserves transparency

By Kevin Norton

Who builds affordable housing in Santa Cruz County — and who decides which projects and policies deserve public support? After examining tax filings, annual reports and public records, local activist Kevin Norton says he uncovered organizational relationships that many residents may not know exist. He argues the findings raise important questions about transparency, governance and public trust in a housing system under enormous pressure.

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Best of Santa Cruz County events, July 13-16

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

Monday, Jul. 13

Tuesday, Jul. 14

Wednesday, Jul. 15

Thursday, Jul. 16

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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...