What’s good, Lookout friends? It’s Thursday, July 16, and the gradual cooldown continues around Santa Cruz County, with the forecast calling for sunny skies and temperatures ranging from 70s at the beach to mid-80s in the mountains.
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The future of West Cliff Drive leads things off, with Max Chun reporting that the City of Santa Cruz is hoping to start construction in 2027 on a project to move a stretch of the existing roadway along Lighthouse Field State Beach about 60 feet inland – a form of managed retreat.
Mat Weir previews a multi-band benefit concert that’s become a Santa Cruz tradition, with Purrrrrrfest – aiming to raise funds to help the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter find homes for black cats – set for Saturday at the Blue Lagoon downtown.
In Lookout’s Community Voices opinion section, a pair of local clean-energy advocates write that with artificial intelligence data centers poised to transform California’s electric grid, they might also rescue rooftop solar from years of political backlash. Angela Lipanovich, an attorney, and Jenny Folkesson, a computer scientist, argue that the AI boom exposes flaws in the “solar cost shift” debate and presents a chance to lower electricity costs by pairing data-center investment with distributed solar and battery storage.
Also among the headlines is the nonprofit Homeless Garden Project clearing the last big hurdle to owning the Westside Santa Cruz farm it has called home for decades – let’s check it all out.
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City of Santa Cruz eyes 2027 construction for partial West Cliff Drive roadway, path relocation
The City of Santa Cruz is working to wrap up permitting and land acquisition processes for a project that involves relocating a section of West Cliff Drive farther inland to improve public safety and coastal access well into the future as coastal erosion remains a chief concern. Max Chun has the latest.
Purrrrrrfest returns: Santa Cruz metal bands rock out to help black cats
Santa Cruz’s annual Purrrrrrfest returns Saturday to the Blue Lagoon, bringing four local metal bands together to raise money for the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter’s Bogey Fund, which helps black cats find homes. The quirky benefit concert has grown into a beloved community tradition now in its sixth year. Read Mat Weir’s preview here.
DAILY DIGEST
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A good Thursday to all, and thank you for reading.
Will McCahill