Greetings! It’s Friday, Sept. 5, and after a foggy, even drizzly morning around Santa Cruz County, we should see sunshine and temperatures as high as the mid-80s in the warmest mountain spots. Rinse and repeat through the weekend.
Before we dive in: With our partners at CalMatters, Lookout is hosting a screening of “Stripped for Parts: American Journalism on the Brink,” a film that chronicles the damage caused by hedge fund ownership of once-proud community newspapers. The Sept. 24 event at the Del Mar Theatre in downtown Santa Cruz will be followed by a panel discussion and kicks off our fundraising efforts for Lookout’s fifth anniversary. Get your tickets and more info here.
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Railbanking – building a pedestrian/bike trail over existing train tracks – is back on the radar for the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission as it faces a $72 million shortfall for planned rail trail segments, Max Chun reports. Though county voters rejected the idea with 2022’s Measure D, RTC commissioners will discuss it at their December meeting.
There’s a movement growing across the county against police use of license plate-reading cameras, Christopher Neely reports, with a newly formed group urging elected officials to reconsider their agreements with vendor Flock Safety.
Lily Belli takes us inside the revamped Johnny’s Harborside, where new chef Jeffrey Wall – formerly of Alderwood Santa Cruz – and new majority owner Ciera Kash are transforming the longtime harbor restaurant with a fresh menu, new systems and a renewed focus on consistency and hospitality.
And with the Santa Cruz County Fair returning next week, Tania Ortiz runs down what you need to know before going, from ticket prices and entertainment to job opportunities.
The Friday headlines also include what the California Highway Patrol is saying about the gas tanker crash and leak that snarled Highway 17 much of Thursday, plus Wallace Baine’s recommendations for the coming weekend on Santa Cruz County’s arts & entertainment scene. Let’s get after it.
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Rail trail cost overruns push RTC to revive railbanking debate
Faced with a $72 million shortfall for some sections of the Coastal Rail Trail, the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission on Thursday resurrected a plan to remove railroad tracks despite voters rejecting the idea in 2022. Commissioners aim to discuss railbanking in December, at the same meeting where they will decide whether to advance a $4.3 billion passenger train. Max Chun reports.
Movement against police use of Flock Safety cameras gains momentum in Santa Cruz County
As Watsonville weighs renewing its Flock Safety camera contract, a new coalition is urging local cities to cut ties with the surveillance vendor, citing immigration risks and civil liberties concerns. More here from Christopher Neely.
DAILY DIGEST
The weekend is on the horizon, and there’s more coming from Lookout to help get you there. That includes another serving from Lily Belli in the form of Eaters Digest, among the newsletters and breaking news alerts you can sign up for here. Upgrade your smartphone by downloading the Lookout Santa Cruz app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, and keep up with our award-winning local coverage by following Lookout on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Threads and Bluesky.
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Here’s to a smooth Friday all around, and a safe, relaxing weekend beyond.
Will McCahill