Top o’ the morning to you, dear readers. It’s Thursday, Dec. 5, and the mild stretch continues for Santa Cruz County, with the forecast calling for mostly sunny skies and temperatures in the 60s and lower 70s.
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Max Chun starts a busy morning with a dispatch from a community meeting Wednesday at which neighbors voiced concerns about a 157-unit housing project proposed off Graham Hill Road near Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park. Traffic, water and environmental concerns were top of mind, he reports.
Christopher Neely, meanwhile, reports on a proposal to replace BMX bike ramps at Santa Cruz’s Depot Park with pickleball courts, with a meeting bringing out residents on both sides and highlighting changing and varied local recreation needs.
In Watsonville, Tania Ortiz talked to residents of District 6 about what propelled Jimmy Dutra’s reelection to the city council despite being found liable of sexual abuse in a civil lawsuit. One voter said she was aware of the lawsuit against Dutra, but voted for him based on what she believes he’s already done for the community.
Ahead of his Weekender newsletter, coming later Thursday, Wallace Baine details the spotlight cast on late Santa Cruz artist and illustrator Gene Holtan, whose work is being paired with poetry by longtime mentee Gary Young in two downtown events.
And in Lookout’s Community Voices opinion section, the Santa Cruz woman who entered a man in October’s Women on Waves surf contest gives her perspective and writes about aiming to clarify rules on transgender athletes competing in non-coed events.
To the headlines …
Residents raise concerns over 157-unit housing project near Henry Cowell
A major housing development planned between Scotts Valley and Santa Cruz drew more than 60 residents to a community meeting Wednesday, where they raised concerns that ranged from traffic and water usage to school and nature impacts. The project is in the application submittal phase, and there are currently no estimates for timeline or total cost. Max Chun was on hand.
Proposal to replace Santa Cruz BMX ramps with pickleball courts pits pedals vs. paddles
In Santa Cruz, the growing demand for pickleball courts has collided with the city’s lone BMX park, at Depot Park. At a community meeting Wednesday, pickleball players and BMX riders discussed the future of the space, sparking a broader conversation about balancing recreation needs for all generations. More here from Christopher Neely.
DAILY DIGEST
A full plate for your Thursday – but wait, there’s more coming from Lookout. Among what’s still on the menu is the aforementioned Weekender, Wallace Baine’s recommendation-packed shimmy through Santa Cruz County’s hopping arts & entertainment scene. Sign up here for that and all of Lookout’s other newsletters, plus breaking news alerts via email and text. And if there’s scrolling in your future, please do give Lookout a follow on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads to stay current with our mix of local news and views.
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Have an excellent Thursday!
Will McCahill