Hello hello, everyone. This is Wednesday, Oct. 8, and the forecast is for a mix of sun and clouds around Santa Cruz County after morning fog, with temperatures in the 60s and low 70s.
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Max Chun has a pair of stories from yesterday’s meetings of the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors. After a closed-door special session, District 1 Supervisor Manu Koenig told Lookout that the board has decided on a replacement for outgoing county executive officer Carlos Palacios, with the hire to be announced Wednesday or Thursday. At its regular meeting, meanwhile, the board took the first step toward allowing tow truck operators to immediately demolish the abandoned vehicles that they haul away, something officials say will allow the county to better enforce its parking rules even as some homelessness advocates argue against it.
In her weekly look around Santa Cruz County business, Jessica M. Pasko reports that Zero Motorcycles, a pioneer in the electric motorcycles field, is moving its headquarters from Scotts Valley to the Netherlands – a move Zero says will allow it to take advantage of the growing European market.
From Aptos Village, Lily Belli has an update on plans by Seaside’s Other Brother Beer Co. to open a satellite tap room, with one co-owner saying the former Doon to Earth tasting room will welcome customers “by the holidays.”
Local organizers are aiming to eclipse the crowds that came out to June “No Kings” protests against the Trump administration and its policies with Oct. 18 gatherings in Santa Cruz and Watsonville, Wallace Baine reports. “We are trying to be part of the movement to get 3.5% of the American population to turn out and register its unhappiness with what this authoritarian regime is doing,” one organizer says.
Let’s check out the Wednesday headlines.
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Board of supervisors advances abandoned vehicle demolition law, raising concerns from homeless advocates
Santa Cruz County supervisors pushed forward with a plan to allow quick demolition of abandoned vehicles after they’ve been towed. County officials say it will help with enforcing parking laws and encouraging those living in vehicles to receive help, but the plan has drawn criticism from homeless advocates who say it targets a vulnerable population. Read the story from Max Chun.
This week in Santa Cruz County business: Zero Motorcycles to move headquarters abroad; Windmill Cafe’s owner prepares to pass the torch
In her weekly look at local business, Jessica M. Pasko reports on Scotts Valley pioneer Zero Motorcycles moving its HQ to the Netherlands and why the owner of Live Oak landmark Windmill Cafe is moving on, plus numbers, names and events to know. Read it all here.
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Thank you for reading – until next time, be good.
Will McCahill