Good morning, Lookout readers. It’s Friday, Jan. 17, and a mostly sunny day is forecast for Santa Cruz County, though cooler than it’s been, with 60 the likely high mark.
JUMP TO … Neighborhood Roundup | Latest News | Opinion | Briefs | Event Calendar | Job Board | Puzzles
A very busy morning, so let’s get to it. A fire was still burning at the Vistra Moss Landing Power Plant as of 7 a.m., prompting health warnings for residents in south Santa Cruz County and road closures, evacuations and school closures in north Monterey County.
The process of filling former mayor Yvette Brooks’ seat on the Capitola City Council took a turn Thursday, Ruby Lee Schembari and Christopher Neely report, with the council deciding to fill the seat via an open application process rather than choose between two unsuccessful 2024 candidates.
Jessica M. Pasko has news on the downtown Santa Cruz spot vacated last fall by New Leaf Community Markets, reporting that a national retailer has signed a letter of intent to move in – though a confidentiality clause could keep the new tenant’s identity secret until March.
Budget cuts are on the way in Pajaro Valley Unified School District, Tania Ortiz reports, with the $5 million trim the governing board approved at its meeting this week affecting elementary school staffing and student mental health services. Tania also has news on next steps for PVUSD’s ethnic studies program, so read on for that, too.
Max Chun has an update on the mobile home parks encroaching on the branch rail line in Live Oak, with county officials still debating whether the parks’ owners or its residents should bear the costs of moving structures in the way of the coming rail trail ahead of a June deadline.
Lily Belli, whose Eaters Digest newsletter will be winging its way to inboxes later Friday, brings word on new food options at a pair of downtown Santa Cruz kiosks – the Oaxacan-focused Gabrielita Tamaleria, from the owner and chef of nearby Gabriella Café, and Crepe Cones, serving up sweet and savory offerings near Bookshop.
Before the headlines, a snapshot from downtown Santa Cruz:
After nearly two years of discussion and negotiation, a group of Santa Cruz politicians and housing advocates on Thursday began circulating a petition for a measure to fund housing that it hopes to place on the ballot in November.
The group officially introduced the petition for what it’s calling the Workforce Housing Solutions Act with a sizable event outside the new, 65-unit affordable housing complex at 525 Cedar St. in downtown Santa Cruz.
The proposed funding measure could raise around $5 million per year, deriving revenue from a pair of new taxes: an annual $96 tax on every individual parcel throughout the city and a 0.5-2% real estate transfer tax tacked onto home sales greater than $1.8 million.
The petition will need nearly 4,000 signatures from city of Santa Cruz voters over the next 180 days to qualify for the November ballot. – Christopher Neely
The Lookout Santa Cruz app is available now in both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Learn more here.
Santa Cruz County issues health warning as blaze erupts at Moss Landing Power Plant
A large fire at a power plant and battery storage facility in Moss Landing prompted Santa Cruz County health officials to warn residents Thursday night to stay indoors and close their windows. Tamsin McMahon and Kevin Painchaud with the story.
Capitola will fill vacant city council seat through open application process after public pushback
Instead of choosing between two recently unsuccessful city council candidates, the Capitola City Council opted Thursday to switch gears and fill a vacant seat through an open application process. The council will make the final selection on Jan. 30. Ruby Lee Schembari and Christopher Neely report.
DAILY DIGEST
About 10 pounds of news in a 5-pound bag, so I’ll let you get to unpacking it. We’re not nearly done for the day at Lookout, though – among what’s still out there this Friday is the latest helping of Lily Belli’s Eaters Digest, just one of the many newsletters and breaking news alerts you can sign up for here. Another great way to stay current with our award-winning Santa Cruz County coverage is with our brand-spanking-new Lookout app, now available for download in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, and there’s also good old social media, where following Lookout on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and/or Threads will keep you up to date, too.
Our content isn’t possible without community support, so if you’re not already, please consider becoming a Lookout member.
One final note before I go – we’ll be observing the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday on Monday, so this newsletter will return Tuesday. In the Public Interest, Christopher Neely’s newsletter covering Santa Cruz County politics & policy, will move from Monday to Tuesday next week as well.
Have a good Friday, and a safe, relaxing weekend beyond.
Will McCahill