Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

Some local candidates are running with a โ€˜no party preferenceโ€™ designation. Why?

As the June 2 primary inches closer, voters might notice that some candidates on Santa Cruz County ballots have their affiliation listed as โ€œno party preference.โ€ For some, itโ€™s because of their past professional experience, while for others, itโ€™s to steer as clear as possible of party politics. Here’s the story from Max Chun.


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Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

OPINION: How the Vegan Chef Challenge built community and made me less lonely in Santa Cruz

What would happen if Santa Cruz County chefs went all-in on plant-based creativity? Writer Liza Monroy, who has been a vegan for almost eight years, got a tiny glimpse of that fantasy last month, when the Vegan Chef Challenge turned dining out into a monthlong celebration of plant-based food. Suddenly she discovered a bounty of choices, and restaurant outings felt less lonely. In faux-crab cakes and tofu bahn mi, she found community, connection and some unforgettable meals. Now she is asking a bigger question: Why shouldnโ€™t every month taste and feel this good? Read her Community Voices op-ed here.


Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz


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