Good morning, one and all! It’s Monday, Dec. 1, and a brisk start is forecast to give way to a mostly sunny day around Santa Cruz County, with highs mainly in the 60s. A beach hazards statement – meaning possible rip currents and sneaker waves – remains in effect for local beaches into Wednesday, and with king tides returning, the National Weather Service also has issued a coastal flood advisory from Tuesday morning to Sunday afternoon.
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Tania Ortiz analyzed records from the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office and Watsonville Police Department and found that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have conducted operations in the county on at least 13 occasions in the past five months. Based on law enforcement records produced in response to public information requests, Lookout has counted at least 28 ICE courtesy notifications in the county since January of this year, though records from the Santa Cruz and Scotts Valley police departments remain outstanding.
In his weekly Carmageddon column, Max Chun previews this week’s meeting of the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission, where rail and trail will be the focus. A vote on whether to proceed with seeking state and federal funding for the rail project’s next steps is among what’s on a packed agenda.
The Monday headlines also include Wallace Baine’s look at how Santa Cruz’s Westside has blossomed from industrial disrepair into a thriving business district – let’s shake off the post-Thanksgiving cobwebs.
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ICE has visited Santa Cruz County at least 13 times since July, records show
In the past five months, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have visited Santa Cruz County at least 13 times, according to documents from the county sheriff and Watsonville police. This brings Lookout’s count of ICE notifications to local law enforcement agencies to a total of at least 28 since President Donald Trump took office and made immigration enforcement a priority. Tania Ortiz reports.
Carmageddon: This week’s RTC meeting will be packed with rail-trail business following ‘peace deal’ proposal
The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission meeting this week could be pivotal for the passenger rail project. Santa Cruz Mayor Fred Keeley and County Supervisor Manu Koenig plan to discuss their trail proposal, which is already running into opposition from Friends of the Rail and Trail. Here’s the latest from Max Chun.
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As the first Monday of December unfurls around Santa Cruz County, make sure you’re keeping up with Lookout’s continuing local coverage – including an update on what’s happening in county politics & policy via In the Public Interest, one of the many free newsletters and breaking news alerts you can sign up for here. Download the Lookout Santa Cruzt app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store to take it all with you right on your smartphone, and connect with Lookout on social media for the latest via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Threads and Bluesky.
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Thank you for reading – here’s to a smooth Monday for all of us.
Will McCahill