After an increasing number of both unplanned and planned outages countywide over the past few months, PG&E representatives hosted two virtual community forums to address customer concerns. With the new “fast trip” setting, some outages have been sparked by birds, squirrels and vegetation, leading to hours of no power and no explanation for customers.
Max Chun
Max Chun is the general-assignment correspondent at Lookout Santa Cruz. Max’s position has pulled him in many different directions, seeing him cover development, COVID, the opioid crisis, labor, courts and much more.Having grown up on the Westside and attended Santa Cruz High School, Max earned a bachelor’s degree in politics at Occidental College in Los Angeles in 2019. While there, he discovered an unexpected but welcome passion for journalism. While in college, he worked as part of the distribution team for the Culver City-based nonprofit documentary film company Brave New Films. During and after the pandemic, he worked at Verve Coffee Roasters’ Seabright location, blessing locals and tourists alike with top-tier latte art while getting his start in a professional journalism setting with Lookout.
Max joined Lookout in its early days and became our first home-grown local reporter more than a year ago. His community connections and savvy have served us as his hometown undergoes multifaceted change.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
‘The energy to adapt quickly’: Some had it, some didn’t as downtown Santa Cruz slowly comes back to life
Business closures related to the pandemic hit downtown Santa Cruz hard: Approximately 30 retail shops have closed their doors since March 2020. But 15 new businesses have opened, while several others have reopened, moved to the area or are coming soon.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Panetta urges passage of infrastructure bill at chamber event: ‘Important not to bargain against ourselves’
U.S. Rep Jimmy Panetta said the passage of a $3.5 trillion infrastructure bill is vital to the nation’s recovery and detailed some of his specific proposals. He spoke Thursday at a Santa Cruz Chamber of Commerce luncheon.
Posted inPandemic Life
The Giant Dipper rides again, with Santa Cruz County’s health officer in the first car
Santa Cruz County Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel was aboard the first ride of the Giant Dipper in 2021 — the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk’s nod to her work amid the pandemic. The amusement park opened Thursday at 25% capacity.