What’s up, Lookout friends? It’s Friday, May 15, and the Santa Cruz County forecast is much the same as it’s been the past few days: morning clouds, sun later, highs in the 70s and low 80s. Rinse and repeat through the weekend, if perhaps a touch cooler.
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Another round of cuts to UC Santa Cruz’s language programs has faculty members up in arms, Hillary Ojeda reports. A year after eliminating German and Persian, the university is planning to cut all of its Arabic courses and is making reductions to French, Chinese, Japanese and Italian courses, they say.
In Lookout’s Community Voices opinion section, you’ll find the first in a series of endorsements from Lookout’s editorial board in the upcoming primary election. In the South County race for District 4 Santa Cruz County supervisor, the board recommends Tony Nuñez as a change from politics as usual.
With Capitola moving toward district-based city council elections, officials from the National Demographics Corporation detailed to councilmembers and residents what the process will entail during a meeting Thursday night. The presentation included an overview of the two ways the districts could be drawn up: four city council districts and an elected mayor, or five city council districts with a rotating mayor. Check back later for the full story from Tania Ortiz.
The Friday headlines also include a systemwide University of California strike averted and your cheat sheet to the ever-closer weekend. Hop aboard.
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Group of UCSC faculty fights to restore language programs, prevent pending cuts
UC Santa Cruz faculty members are pushing back against planned cuts to the university’s languages department, including the elimination of all Arabic courses next year. Administrators say the reductions are necessary due to budget constraints and declining enrollment, while faculty argue that the cuts harm cultural learning and student community spaces. Here’s the story from Hillary Ojeda.
OPINION: A Lookout View: Tony Nuñez for District 4 Santa Cruz County supervisor
Santa Cruz’s South County is facing a moment when residents are asking for more than routine governance – they are asking for leadership that is present, prepared and accountable in a direct way. In this race for District 4 county supervisor, Tony Nuñez stands out to the Lookout Editorial Board as the candidate offering a clear break from business-as-usual politics and a stronger focus on engagement, responsiveness and long-term community vitality. Read the board’s endorsement here.
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May your Friday be a good one, and here’s to a safe, relaxing weekend – we’ve earned it.
Will McCahill