Morning Lookout: Flock camera debate in Watsonville; All About Theatre’s ‘Dear Evan Hansen’

Good morning, folks. It’s Thursday, Aug. 20, and shaping up to be more clouds than sun in many parts of Santa Cruz County, with highs in the low 70s by the bay, upper 80s in mountain spots that catch more rays.

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The successful campaign to remove Flock Safety license plate readers from Santa Cruz is giving momentum to activists trying to persuade Watsonville to do the same, Tania Ortiz reports. Though the city renewed its contract with the controversial company last year, one councilmember is now saying that his perspective on the cameras is beginning to change.

In her latest theater review, Jana Marcus spotlights All About Theatre’s ongoing production of “Dear Evan Hansen.” Now playing at the Colligan Theater in Santa Cruz, AAT takes on this emotionally complicated story with strong vocals, some terrific performances and a technical design that steals the show, she writes.

In Lookout’s Community Voices opinion section, Kevin Gallagher, who works with the unhoused on Coral Street, writes that the frequent sweeps of the homeless population near the Housing Matters campus might be making the tents disappear, but they’re not solving anything. Rather, he says, they’re just pushing vulnerable people out of sight.

The Thursday morning headlines also include a plea of not guilty for the Santa Cruz teen charged with murder in last month’s stabbing outside the Capitola Mall. Let’s go.

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Watsonville Flock debate gains momentum as councilmember rethinks support

After Santa Cruz ended its contract with Flock Safety, activists are stepping up efforts to persuade Watsonville to do the same — and at least one councilmember who previously supported the surveillance cameras is beginning to have second thoughts. Tania Ortiz has the story.

➤ Para leer el artículo en español, haga clic aquí.

Plugged in, yet all alone: All About Theatre connects with ‘Dear Evan Hansen’

All About Theatre takes on the emotionally complicated “Dear Evan Hansen” with strong vocals and a spectacular technical design that brings its story of loneliness, belonging and our digitally connected lives vividly to the stage. Here’s what Jana Marcus saw.

➤ MORE ON LOCAL STAGES: Check out her past reviews here

DAILY DIGEST

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Thanks for reading – now get out there and make it a great Thursday.

Will McCahill