Top o’ the morning to you. It’s Thursday, July 18, and after the usual early clouds in some parts of Santa Cruz County, we’re looking at sunny skies and temperatures ranging from the 70s at the shore to mid-90s in the mountains.
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Max Chun starts off a busy morning with an announcement from Apple that has some at Santa Cruz City Hall scratching their heads: The tech giant says it’s funding a housing project that aims to break ground this year in the city, but Mayor Fred Keeley is among those saying that doesn’t ring any bells.
Max also has the news from the Westside that two people died earlier this week after being swept out to sea by waves – prompting another reminder from first responders to never turn your back on the ocean.
From Soquel Drive in Aptos, Hillary Ojeda has another installment of our Ask Lookout series, getting an update on the pedestrian bridge at Cabrillo College damaged in January. It’ll still be a while before it’s back open, she finds.
Laurie Love pops the cork on her latest biweekly column, leading with a Q&A with Wells Shoemaker, the retiring owner/winemaker at Aptos’ Salamandre Wine Cellars. She also has word on a rare tasting opportunity on the Westside and highlights a wealth of local wine events.
The rail trail is again the topic in Lookout’s Community Voices opinion section, with transportation activist Jack Brown writing that he’s skeptical about how and where a rail line and trail are going to work after seeing the Regional Transportation Commission’s latest plans.
Much to get to this Thursday, so let’s delay no further.
Apple says it’s funding a housing project in Santa Cruz later this year — but local officials say ‘it’s news to us’
Apple’s newsroom announced an anticipated 2024 groundbreaking for a housing project in Santa Cruz that it is funding through its new Bay Area housing initiative, but details are few. The initiative’s goal is to help developers deliver “high-quality units faster and for significantly less” than current Santa Cruz costs. Max Chun reports.
Ask Lookout: What’s the status of the damaged Cabrillo College pedestrian bridge?
Cabrillo College’s pedestrian bridge over Soquel Drive was badly damaged in January and has been closed since. College spokesperson Kristin Fabos said engineering analyses, insurance negotiations and renovations will take time before it can be used again. Hillary Ojeda has the latest in our Ask Lookout series.
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Lots to sort through as Thursday unfurls – and, yes, there’s more coming from Lookout. Among those offerings is Wallace Baine’s Weekender, a recommendation-packed dispatch from Santa Cruz County’s thriving arts and culture scene. You can get Weekender and all of Lookout’s other newsletters, plus breaking news alerts via text and email, delivered right to you – just sign up here. And please give us a follow out on social media, where you’ll find Lookout’s award-winning local coverage on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads.
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Catch everyone back here Thursday morning – meantime, be good.
Will McCahill