Hello again, Lookout friends. It is Wednesday, April 17, another partly cloudy day that could see Santa Cruz County’s warmer spots hitting 80.
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Christopher Neely reports on the City of Santa Cruz’s proposal for a street sweeping pilot program in Seabright and parts of the Westside that homeless advocates say further targets those living in their vehicles. There’s a permit hearing later Wednesday morning, and the program still needs city council approval.
Hillary Ojeda has news on a final federal report on a 2022 midair crash over Watsonville Municipal Airport that killed three people, with the National Transportation Safety Board finding that pilot error was the most likely cause.
And Wednesday means local business from Jessica M. Pasko, who spotlights plans by the owners of a Santa Cruz gym to turn the former Midtown Rite Aid into a state-of-the-art fitness facility.
Before the headlines, a peek through the lens of Lookout photojournalist Kevin Painchaud:
Photo of the day
With summer on the horizon and with it the promise of big crowds, the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk’s new Dream Wheel is taking shape. Slated to open by Memorial Day, the new 65-foot-tall Ferris wheel sits across from the Giant Dipper in the spot formerly occupied by the swirling, classic rock-inspired Rock & Roll ride; the Boardwalk had been without a Ferris wheel since the previous one was dismantled in 2017.
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Does new Santa Cruz street sweeping program target unhoused residents?
A new proposal from the City of Santa Cruz to launch a street sweeping pilot in areas of the Westside and in Seabright has made houseless advocates skeptical that the city’s aim is to punish people living in their cars. More here from Christopher Neely.
Fatal 2022 midair collision at Watsonville airport ruled pilot error in final report
Pilot error was likely the cause of a midair collision that killed three people at Watsonville Municipal Airport in August 2022, the National Transportation Safety Board has found. The agency released its report March 28. Hillary Ojeda reports.
DAILY DIGEST
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May your Wednesday be a good one – I’ll see you back here Thursday.
Will McCahill