Some local candidates are running with a โno 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 โno party preference.โ For some, itโs because of their past professional experience, while for others, itโs to steer as clear as possible of party politics. Here’s the story from Max Chun.
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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 shouldnโt every month taste and feel this good? Read her Community Voices op-ed here.











