Hello again, dear readers. It is Monday, Jan. 27 – a chilly start will give way to a sunny day, with temperatures mostly in the 50s around Santa Cruz County.
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The closure of the Rip Curl store in downtown Santa Cruz is the confluence of local and national issues, Jessica M. Pasko reports. A store manager cited concerns about employee safety and theft, while Rip Curl’s parent company pointed to consolidation amid a spike in closures across the U.S.
Tania Ortiz polled Watsonville elected officials on where their focus will be in 2025, and heard some familiar things: economic development, a strategic plan for homelessness in the city and a long list of infrastructure upgrades.
Max Chun’s Carmageddon feature focuses this week on the upcoming overhaul of the Bay Street corridor on Santa Cruz’s Westside. Pedestrians and cyclists will see their journeys get safer, but residents worry about disappearing parking spots.
Hillary Ojeda has an update from Pajaro Valley Unified School District, which last week approved a deal to bring aboard a student teacher from a Christian university in Iowa, an agreement delayed by one trustee’s concerns.
The Monday headlines also include a farewell to Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston, a central figure in Santa Cruz’s literary community for more than 50 years, and how officials are thinking about Santa Cruz’s sanctuary city policy amid threats from the Trump administration – onward.
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Theft concerns, retail’s downward national trend make Rip Curl latest downtown Santa Cruz closure
Rip Curl joined O’Neill, Forever 21 and New Leaf among retailers vacating Pacific Avenue locations in recent months. A Rip Curl manager cited local safety issues, while others pointed to national trends. “These are the headwinds we’re facing,” one downtown Santa Cruz owner said. “If you don’t support your local businesses, they will close.” Jessica M. Pasko reports.
Revitalizing downtown, homelessness and roadwork: Watsonville leaders talk 2025 priorities
It’s a list that doesn’t surprise. Watsonville elected officials want more services and housing for the homeless, initiatives to bring more retail and boost local business and upgrades to roads and water/sewer systems in 2025. Here’s what they told Tania Ortiz.
DAILY DIGEST
Plenty to get you going as we embark on the final week of January, and there’s more coming from Lookout you’ll want to stay tuned for. That includes In the Public Interest, Christopher Neely’s weekly survey of Santa Cruz County politics & policy – one of the many newsletters and breaking news alerts you can sign up for right here. The new Lookout app, now available for download in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, is an excellent way to keep current with our award-winning local coverage, as are our social media channels, where you can connect with Lookout on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads.
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Have a good Monday!
Will McCahill