What’s good, Lookout friends? It’s Wednesday, July 2, and it’s another day of fog -> sun for Santa Cruz County, with the usual 60s-to-80s temperature range.
JUMP TO … Neighborhood Roundup | Latest News | Opinion | Briefs | Event Calendar | Job Board | Puzzles
Lily Belli starts us off with news that businesses around the Santa Cruz Harbor and in the nearby Seabright neighborhood are suffering from the closure of the Murray Street Bridge. With work expected to continue into 2028, many anticipate having to cut hours or employees to stay afloat.
From downtown, Wallace Baine reports on the opening of a new museum store at the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History. The store will have more offerings reflecting the museum’s mission to embrace art and history, part of the MAH’s new director’s efforts to whittle down debt.
A clean needle distribution program in Santa Cruz County previously halted by the courts amid resident and police opposition has been reinstated by California health officials under tightened restrictions, Max Chun reports. Still, Santa Cruz’s police chief says he has some reservations.
Jessica M. Pasko has her Wednesday look around local business, this week reporting on Joby Aviation’s successful first piloted electric air taxi flight in Dubai, an entrepreneur certification program at UC Santa Cruz and more.
The hump-day headlines also include a shark encounter that’s shut down water access at Rio Del Mar State Beach – onward.
Were you forwarded this newsletter? Sign up here to receive Morning Lookout in your inbox every weekday.
‘Our oxygen is getting cut off’: Seabright and harbor businesses struggle as Murray Street Bridge shuts down
Seabright and Santa Cruz Harbor-area business owners are reporting steep declines in sales following the full closure of the Murray Street Bridge, a key artery for commuters, tourists and locals. With the shutdown expected to last through early 2026 — and partial closures continuing into 2028 — many fear the long detour could permanently change the flow of business in the neighborhood. Lily Belli reports.
In face of financial headwinds, MAH looks to expand revenue with new museum store
The Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History is entering a new fiscal year with a new museum store. With that venture and others, the MAH is hoping to generate new revenue streams to offset a lingering post-COVID debt. Details here from Wallace Baine.
DAILY DIGEST
A packed Wednesday indeed as we head toward the long holiday weekend, and you’ll want to stay tuned for what’s still coming from Lookout. Sign up here for breaking news alerts and for all of our other newsletters, keep tabs via social media by following Lookout on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Threads and Bluesky, and download the Lookout Santa Cruz app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
Lookout Trivia Night is back this evening at Abbott Square, hosted by the inimitable Wallace Baine – reserve your spot for this free event here.
Our content isn’t possible without community support, so if you’re not already, please consider becoming a Lookout member.
Until we meet again, thanks for reading.
Will McCahill