Good morning! Monday, Nov. 17, is upon us, bringing continued rain around Santa Cruz County and perhaps even a thunderstorm. Tuesday is looking drier, but there’s more precipitation in our forecast.
Members, don’t forget to RSVP for Lookout’s fifth anniversary party at the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History this Wednesday, Nov. 19, from 6 to 8 p.m., enjoying local food and beverages and connecting with community members. We’ll have a special program reflecting on Lookout’s first five years and our vision for what’s next. We will end the event with some dessert and a toast to the next five!
And we’ll have some anniversary merch available (hint: think Killer Acid). Not yet a member? Become one today and come join us.
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With the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors set for a hearing Tuesday on the county’s proposed battery energy storage ordinance, Tania Ortiz spoke to a rep for the Massachusetts-based company seeking to build a storage facility outside Watsonville. “It looks to be a good ordinance that would help ensure the proper siting and safety” for these facilities, said Max Christian 0f New Leaf Energy in giving the new rules a thumbs-up.
Max Chun returns with his Carmageddon column, this week looking at how county and state transit officials are preparing Santa Cruz Mountains roads for the coming winter. District 5 County Supervisor Monica Martinez hosted an information session last week for residents, who heard about longer-term projects on mountain roads, too.
Battery energy storage is also the topic in Lookout’s Community Voices opinion section, where County Supervisor Felipe Hernandez praises the ordinance he and his colleagues will hear about Tuesday, writing that the new rules prioritize safety, transparency and local control.
The Monday headlines also include Wallace Baine’s story on a new book from big-wave surfer Kyle Thiermann that’s both a memoir of growing up in the surf community in Santa Cruz and a practical guide to getting to know your parents better … onward.
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Battery storage developer backs Santa Cruz County’s proposed new rules ahead of Tuesday vote
New Leaf Energy, the developer behind the proposed battery storage facility near Watsonville, tells Lookout that the company is hopeful the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors will move ahead on new regulations for battery plants on Tuesday. Tania Ortiz has more.
Carmageddon: As winter arrives, Santa Cruz County, Caltrans work to prep mountain roads
County and state agencies are planning a slate of road work for the Santa Cruz Mountains in preparation for a wet winter. Crews will clear ditches, ready plows and also continue working on a series of improvements to better protect cyclists and pedestrians. The latest in local traffic and transit from Max Chun.
DAILY DIGEST
More on Santa Cruz County politics & policy is among what’s coming from Lookout as the day unfolds – In the Public Interest hits inboxes later Monday, and that’s just one of the many free newsletters and breaking news alerts you can sign up for here. Download the Lookout Santa Cruz app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store to get all of our award-winning coverage right on your smartphone, and if you’re the social media type, connect with Lookout on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Threads and Bluesky.
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Thank you for reading – be safe out there this Monday.
Will McCahill