What’s good, Lookout friends? Tuesday, March 24, is here, and mostly sunny skies are again in the forecast for Santa Cruz County, with a temperature spread of mid-70s to mid-80s.
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Now that we’ve cooled down a bit, Lily Belli checked in with local growers on the effects of last week’s heat wave on their crops. Strawberries, the county’s biggest moneymaker, came out pretty much OK, and the unusual warmth could even prove to be a boon to the wine industry.
Scrubbing the name of César Chávez from documents, programs and more is on the agenda Tuesday for the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors, Tania Ortiz reports, after allegations of sexual abuse by the late labor leader surfaced last week. Keeping references to Chávez in county materials “would be inconsistent” with the county’s commitment to supporting survivors of sexual violence, according to a staff report.
And in Lookout’s Community Voices opinion section, Cabrillo College professor Skye Gentile says recent meetings of the school’s board of trustees have offered students a real-time lesson in poor communication and bad leadership. The meetings, she writes, have allowed students to see examples of tokenism and microaggressions and to discuss the importance of timing, apologies and public accountability.
Before we hit the headlines, a heads-up on our election forum set for April 15:
Join Lookout at the Watsonville Civic Plaza from 6 to 8 p.m. for a panel discussion ahead of the June 2 primary. Lookout’s Community Voices opinion editor, Jody K. Biehl, will host and moderate the event and will include time for questions from the audience. Hear from the 4th District county supervisor candidates – Elias Gonzales, Tony Nuñez and incumbent Felipe Hernandez – as they vie for your vote. RSVP for free here.
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Santa Cruz County strawberries weathered heat wave, with potential upside for vineyards
A record March heat wave caused only minor damage to early strawberry crops in Santa Cruz County, with most fruit and other produce left largely unharmed thanks to proactive irrigation. The warm temperatures could even benefit local wine grapes by accelerating early growth and improving conditions for a strong harvest later in the season. Here’s more from Lily Belli.
County officials proposing to remove any references to César Chávez following sexual assault allegations
The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors will move to rename César Chávez Day and replace any references to the late labor leader after assault allegations against him surfaced in a New York Times investigation. Details here from Tania Ortiz.
DAILY DIGEST
Our local coverage is rolling along through the day here at Lookout, and among what’s on the menu is more from the Santa Cruz County culinary scene in the form of Lily Belli on Food – one of the many free newsletters and breaking news alerts you’d do well to sign up for here. Download the Lookout Santa Cruz app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store to take us along wherever you and your smartphone may roam, and keep up via social media, where you can follow Lookout on Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram and/or Threads.
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Thank you for reading, and have an excellent Tuesday.
Will McCahill