Good morning, dear readers. It is Friday, April 26, bringing a grab-bag weather forecast for Santa Cruz County, with chances of drizzle in the early hours dissolving into sunnier and windy as we head toward evening.
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Hillary Ojeda starts us off, reporting on a new analysis that finds that in recent years, the Monterey Bay region has built just a fraction of the housing needed for the farmworkers who form the backbone of local agriculture. “It’s hard not to be disappointed given the intense need,” one official told Hillary.
The weekend is coming into view, and Wallace Baine is in the house with recommendations for fun stuff to do all over Santa Cruz County along with news and notes from our buzzing arts and entertainment scene – including a renowned author talking music on KSQD.
Max Chun also has an update on the continued post-CZU fire recovery at Big Basin Redwoods State Park – but that’s coming later, so please check back around lunchtime.
Headlines are coming right up, but first, Lookout photojournalist Kevin Painchaud was in Midtown on Thursday night, catching up with a fellow you might know from “The Office”:
Photo of the day
Actor, producer and writer Rainn Wilson watches a time-lapse video with Casey Coonerty Protti, Robyn Pearson and Chorel Centers of Bookshop Santa Cruz as Wilson signs copies of his new book, “Soul Boom: Why We Need a Spiritual Revolution.” Wilson spoke to a sold-out crowd at the Rio Theatre on Thursday night.
Monterey Bay region falling far short of homebuilding targets to address farmworker overcrowding
A 2018 report estimated that the Pajaro Valley and Salinas regions needed more than 45,000 additional housing units for farmworkers, but a new analysis finds that just 4,500 beds for farmworkers and 300 permanent homes have been added since. More here from Hillary Ojeda.
Weekender: Honoring Tammi Brown, poetry Hive style, Franzen talks tunes
Wallace Baine surveys the world of Santa Cruz County arts and culture, delivers recommendations for things to do this weekend and beyond and spotlights a tune that will stick with you. Check out Wallace’s latest newsletter.
DAILY DIGEST
That’s the lay of the land for early Friday, but as I mentioned, there’s more ahead from Lookout. Not only will we have that Big Basin update from Max Chun, but Lily Belli takes a bite out of the local food & drink world with her latest Eaters Digest. Sign up here for that and all of Lookout’s other newsletters (including our specially curated Sunday Reads, for example, and, coming Monday, local politics and policy from Christopher Neely with In the Public Interest), plus breaking news alerts via email and text. We’ll be blasting it all out on social media, too, where you can find Lookout on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads.
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I hope you have an excellent Friday, and cheers to a safe, relaxing weekend beyond.
Will McCahill