Ahoy, mateys. It’s Wednesday, April 24 – shaping up to be a mostly cloudy one around Santa Cruz County, with temperatures in the 60s.
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Funds from a nationwide $50 billion opioid settlement are starting to find their way into Santa Cruz County, Max Chun reports, and with around $28 million coming over the next 18 years, city and county officials and organizations are developing ways to direct the money where it’s most needed.
Hillary Ojeda has an update on where county school districts stand in efforts to develop workforce housing as part of efforts to dent the local affordability crisis. Santa Cruz City Schools is out in front, hoping to break ground next year on a Westside development.
Jessica M. Pasko is here with her regular Wednesday roundup of local business, including Cruz Foam expanding the reach of its sustainable packaging and an update on outdoor dining in the city of Santa Cruz.
The day’s headlines also include food & drink news from Lily Belli – read on!
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As $28M in opioid settlement funds begin to flow in, county, city of Santa Cruz working on how to spend it
As opioid settlement funds began rolling into counties across the country, Santa Cruz is readying to spend its allotment. In a matter of weeks, the county and Community Foundation Santa Cruz County will begin seeking proposals for projects from community-based organizations working to fight the ongoing opioid crisis. Details here from Max Chun.
Santa Cruz County school districts ramp up plans to build teacher, staff housing
As school districts face challenges retaining staff and teachers due to the rising cost of living in Santa Cruz County, they’re also trying to push forward one potential solution: building and renting out their own workforce housing at below-market rates. Santa Cruz City Schools hopes to have workforce move into a development by 2027. Hillary Ojeda has an update.
DAILY DIGEST
That’s what I know as we hit the midpoint of the week. Stay current with Santa Cruz County goings-on via social media, where you can find Lookout on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads. We also offer breaking news alerts via email and text and a variety of other newsletters (coming Thursday, for example, is Weekender, Wallace Baine’s recommendation-packed roadmap to local arts and entertainment) – sign up for all that here.
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Be good, friends, and I’ll see you back here Thursday morning.
Will McCahill