Good morning! It’s Monday, Nov. 2, and a partly sunny day is on the way around Santa Cruz County, with highs ranging from the mid-60s to low 70s. A beach hazards statement is in effect through Tuesday evening, with strong rip currents and an increased risk of sneaker waves.
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Lily Belli starts us off with a look at the boom in downtown Santa Cruz, where 29 new businesses have opened their doors since January 2025. The vast majority of the businesses are owned by locals, entrepreneurs who are creating experiences that can’t easily be replicated online.
The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission is aiming to map out how to spend funds generated by 2016’s Measure D sales tax for the next five years, Max Chun reports in his weekly Carmageddon column. Proposed allocations include for the Highway 1 widening project, rail trail segments and funds for Community Bridges’ Lift Line.
UC Santa Cruz’s corpse flower bloomed Sunday, Hillary Ojeda writes, drawing thousands to the arboretum to behold the stench. Lookout photojournalist Kevin Painchaud was among those on hand to document it, part of a busy weekend that also saw him capturing Halloween festivities all over the county.
The Monday headlines also include a milestone for the Women on Waves surf festival and Community Voices opinion on the upcoming election – read on.
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29 new businesses have opened in downtown Santa Cruz since 2025. Here’s why.
Downtown Santa Cruz has welcomed 29 new businesses since January 2025, with locally owned shops and restaurants helping revive a commercial district that struggled with nearly 40 empty storefronts post-pandemic. New housing, increased foot traffic and city programs designed to attract businesses are helping fuel the growth, with 11 more businesses on the horizon. Lily Belli has the story.
Carmageddon: RTC to consider how to spend Measure D funds over next five years
At its Thursday meeting, the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission will hold a discussion and public hearing to decide how to allocate Measure D funds over the next five years. Max Chun has a preview.
DAILY DIGEST
With Election Day tomorrow (check out Lookout’s free coverage here), now’s the time to make sure you’re keeping up with it all. Sign up here for breaking news alerts via email and all of our other newsletters – all free. Download the Lookout Santa Cruz app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, and make sure you opt into breaking news notifications. We’re also blasting out our mix of Santa Cruz County news and views on social media, where you can follow Lookout on Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram and Threads.
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May your post-time-change Monday be a smooth one – thanks for reading.
Will McCahill