Santa Cruz seafood entrepreneur faces felony stalking, 34 additional charges after years of alleged harassment
Santa Cruz entrepreneur Clarice Owens, once featured on NBC’s “Today” show, is facing charges of felony stalking and 34 misdemeanors after prosecutors allege she harassed and threatened dozens of neighbors, colleagues and business partners. Court records describe a pattern of doxing, violent threats and repeated violations of restraining orders involving at least 90 people and businesses, even after multiple court warnings and arrests. Behind the public image of a growing brand, the business has fallen into serious debt, faced eviction and lawsuits and ultimately unraveled as the criminal case escalated. Read the story from Lily Belli.
I WANT TO … Become a Lookout member | Download the Lookout app | Browse latest news | Get other Lookout newsletters | Solve a puzzle | Find local events | Advertise
OPINION: We can stop ICE terror: It’s time to organize
The Trump administration governs through fear, particularly in the way it handles immigration, writes UC Santa Cruz researcher Veronica Hamilton. The tactics are leaving immigrant families and workers terrified and vulnerable, she says. Labor unions and organized workers have the power and experience to resist ICE intimidation and protect communities. From schools to hospitals to work sites, collective action has already shown it can keep people safe. The antidote to terror is organization, she writes — and the time to build it is now. She is moderating a Labor Against ICE panel at UCSC on Tuesday at 5 p.m. Read her Community Voices opinion piece here.
OPINION: Mass surveillance is not public safety – Santa Cruz must cancel its Flock contract
Mass surveillance cameras operated by the private company Flock Safety are spreading across Santa Cruz County, putting residents’ privacy, safety and constitutional rights at risk, warns a group of activists working to get the cameras removed. The danger is particularly acute in Watsonville, which has the highest number of cameras and the largest immigrant community in our county. Documented data breaches, misuse by law enforcement and illegal data sharing show these systems cannot be used responsibly, they write. The group urges the Santa Cruz City Council to cancel its Flock contract and choose community trust and civil liberties over unchecked surveillance. The council meets on Tuesday. Read the group’s Community Voices opinion piece here.
10 hot jobs in Santa Cruz County: Week of Jan. 9
Looking for a new job in Santa Cruz County? Explore the top 10 exciting job opportunities across industries like education, health care and more. Your next career move starts here!
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
