What’s happening, Lookout friends? Wednesday, Nov. 19, is unfurling around Santa Cruz County, and it’s forecast to be a mostly cloudy day, with highs in the 50s and rain arriving Wednesday night that’ll last into Thursday.
Members, don’t forget to RSVP for Lookout’s fifth anniversary party at the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History on Wednesday night from 6 to 8 p.m., enjoying local food and beverages and connecting with community members. We’ll have a special program reflecting on Lookout’s first five years and our vision for what’s next. We will end the event with some dessert and a toast to the next five!
And we’ll have some anniversary merch available (hint: think Killer Acid). Not yet a member? Become one today and come join us.
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Tuesday was a busy day indeed at various levels of local government, and we’ve got team coverage. At the county level, supervisors voted to delay moving forward with an ordinance on battery energy storage facilities, Tania Ortiz reports, directing staff to address safety and environmental concerns and return with an update in March.
From Tuesday’s Santa Cruz City Council meeting, Max Chun reports that a plan to build a temporary bike and pedestrian path along the rail line that parallels the Murray Street Bridge has been scrapped, with councilmembers citing legal and engineering issues and lack of funding. At the same meeting, Santa Cruz Police Chief Bernie Escalante told the council that his agency is pausing its participation in a statewide system that shares data from license plate cameras in order to review the program, saying the company it contracts with, Flock Safety, violated California state law earlier this year.
Hillary Ojeda spoke Tuesday with the brother of Danielle Staley, the Utah woman who’s the subject of a frantic search by her family and a Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s investigation after going missing earlier this month. Staley was last seen at Rio Del Mar State Beach, and her family is pleading for the public’s help in finding her.
The Wednesday headlines also include the latest on local business from Jessica M. Pasko, including the news that a business improvement district proposed for Santa Cruz’s Midtown neighborhood is on hold as officials push for more discussion. Onward.
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Citing safety concerns, Santa Cruz County supervisors delay new battery storage law for up to three months
The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors put off passing new rules regulating battery storage facilities for up to three months after elected officials raised concerns Tuesday with a proposed ordinance drafted by county staff. Tania Ortiz has the latest.
Santa Cruz City Council tosses plan to build temporary path along rail line next to Murray Street Bridge
The Santa Cruz City Council voted Tuesday to scrap plans for a temporary bicycle and pedestrian path over the rail line next to Murray Street Bridge, with councilmembers pointing to too many legal and engineering obstacles, along with a lack of available funding. The Murray Street Bridge is scheduled to be closed entirely until February and is expected to be under construction through early 2028. More here from Max Chun.
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Much to sort through as we hit midweek, so I shall let you get to sorting. With more on the way from Lookout, though, you’ll want to be sure you’re keeping up to date. Download the Lookout Santa Cruz app from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store to get all of our local coverage, breaking news notifications, games and more right on your smartphone, and get breaking news alerts and all of our free newsletters delivered right to you by signing up here. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Threads and Bluesky are where you can follow Lookout in the social media wilds.
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Have an excellent Wednesday!
Will McCahill