Greetings! It’s Friday, Oct. 16, and the forecast calls for a sunny and warm end to the workweek in Santa Cruz County, with temps around 80 at the beach and into the upper 90s in the mountains.
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Santa Cruz ranks as the sixth-most-dangerous city in California for cyclists, according to a new analysis of state traffic safety data, Max Chun reports. “I think the uncomfortable truth is that unless we really aggressively go after all these interventions and put in the physical infrastructure in places we know are problematic, we’re going to see more people get hurt,” said a board member with Bike Santa Cruz County.
Tania Ortiz previews another wave of “No Kings” rallies set for this weekend across Santa Cruz County. “This ‘No Kings’ is very much focused on getting out the vote with the election coming up,” said one organizer. “This is our best chance to stop the tide of harms that are being done to us by this current administration.”
With students settling in on campus, Kate Lipsky has a guide for where to study, read or take a break at UC Santa Cruz. From quiet libraries and scenic meadows to a hidden hideaway under a bridge near McHenry Library, options abound.
Santa Cruz County students made small gains in math and English language arts in California standardized testing this year, Hillary Ojeda reports, but scores remain below statewide averages and pre-pandemic levels. As in California overall, most Santa Cruz County students are not achieving the state’s learning goals, a pattern that predates the pandemic.
The Friday headlines also include a cheat sheet to making the most of the weekend ahead – away we go.
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Santa Cruz ranks sixth among California’s most dangerous cities for cyclists, study shows
A study from a California-based law firm has ranked Santa Cruz the sixth-most-dangerous city in the state for cyclists. Active transportation advocates and professionals, despite not being intimately familiar with the study, say that the ranking reflects persistent gaps in bike infrastructure, even as safety improvements move forward. Details here from Max Chun.
‘No Kings’ rallies Saturday in Santa Cruz County: Where to go and how to vote early
Political organizers across Santa Cruz County are hoping to draw large crowds this weekend for a fourth round of “No Kings” protests that will focus on getting people to vote in the November midterm elections. Tania Ortiz has a preview.
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Keep it cool as you navigate your Friday, and here’s to a safe, relaxing weekend beyond. Thank you for reading.
Will McCahill