Community Voices

Home to Lookout’s opinion forum.

Editorials

A Lookout View: ‘Build back better’ sounds great. But who is paying and when?

President Joe Biden and Gov. Gavin Newsom outside Zelda's On The Beach in Capitola Village.

Editorials

A Lookout View: ‘Build back better’ sounds great. But who is paying and when?

Quick Take

Editorial: Yes, Santa Cruzans are resilient, but this next recovery is fraught with challenges and questions. They begin...

Opinion from Community Voices

Highway 1 futility: Why you might soon be spending more time in traffic

Traffic on Highway 1 between Morrissey Boulevard and Soquel Avenue has not abated with the addition of an exit-only lane.

Opinion from Community Voices

Highway 1 futility: Why you might soon be spending more time in traffic

By Rick Longinotti

Quick Take

Activist Rick Longinotti warns Highway 1 commuters about two county projects he believes will make traffic around Santa...

Opinion from Community Voices

Eight things you know about homelessness that are wrong

The Benchlands during September's clearing of the homeless encampment along the San Lorenzo River.

Opinion from Community Voices

Eight things you know about homelessness that are wrong

By Don Lane

Quick Take

Housing advocate Don Lane has worked on issues of homelessness for three decades. Here, he addresses the eight...

Opinion from Community Voices

Santa Cruz Water 101: Why we are still in drought

Opinion from Community Voices

Santa Cruz Water 101: Why we are still in drought

By Mike Rotkin

Quick Take

Lookout political columnist Mike Rotkin explains why the atmospheric bomb cyclones that flooded parts of Santa Cruz...

Opinion from Community Voices

Was the president’s visit to Santa Cruz County worth it?

Opinion from Community Voices

Was the president’s visit to Santa Cruz County worth it?

By Tom Honig

Quick Take

Veteran journalist and former Santa Cruz Sentinel editor Tom Honig reflects on President Joe Biden’s visit to Santa Cruz...
Opinion from Community Voices

Santa Cruz County should not be using a pesticide banned in 34 countries — that is environmental racism

Opinion from Community Voices

Santa Cruz County should not be using a pesticide banned in 34 countries — that is environmental racism

By Erika Alfaro

Quick Take

Erika Alfaro, a Santa Cruz resident and pediatric nurse case manager, was one of dozens from across California who...
Community Voices

Alec Baldwin, I get you — it’s time to call bull on those who say guns are safe

Community Voices

Alec Baldwin, I get you — it’s time to call bull on those who say guns are safe

By Claudia Sternbach

Quick Take

Lookout columnist Claudia Sternbach understands Alec Baldwin, at least a little. At least his stunned, nauseated...
Opinion from Community Voices

What NYT omitted about life in the Santa Cruz Mountains: Neighbors with chainsaws

Opinion from Community Voices

What NYT omitted about life in the Santa Cruz Mountains: Neighbors with chainsaws

By Daniel DeLong

Quick Take

Daniel DeLong lives in the Santa Cruz Mountains, where packing a chainsaw is often just part of mountain life. His young...
Opinion from Community Voices

Skimboarding might be surfing’s little brother in Santa Cruz, but it’s given me family across the world

Opinion from Community Voices

Skimboarding might be surfing’s little brother in Santa Cruz, but it’s given me family across the world

By Evan Quarnstrom

Quick Take

Santa Cruz’s skimboarding community “might be relatively small,” writes Evan Quarnstrom, “but our small town plays an...
Opinion from Community Voices

Mitigating climate change starts with you: It’s time to pay attention to our ocean and its kelp forests

Opinion from Community Voices

Mitigating climate change starts with you: It’s time to pay attention to our ocean and its kelp forests

By Dan Haifley

Quick Take

With climate change in the spotlight thanks to the January 2023 storms, local environmental activist Dan Haifley reminds...
Community Voices

After the storms, let’s applaud those who went above and beyond

Community Voices

After the storms, let’s applaud those who went above and beyond

Quick Take

Lookout wants to hear stories about Santa Cruz County residents helping each other during the storm siege that began New...
Editorials

A Lookout View: President Biden, please come to Santa Cruz County and visit those who need help the most

Editorials

A Lookout View: President Biden, please come to Santa Cruz County and visit those who need help the most

Quick Take

Editorial: As the governor and the president visit storm-torn California, where they visit is a meaningful act. Beyond...
Letters to the Editor

What a damn shame to demolish the Circle Church

Letters to the Editor

What a damn shame to demolish the Circle Church
Opinion from Community Voices

2023 storms lesson: Santa Cruz County needs a better, more inclusive emergency response plan

Opinion from Community Voices

2023 storms lesson: Santa Cruz County needs a better, more inclusive emergency response plan

By Joy Schendledecker

Quick Take

Community organizer and former Santa Cruz mayoral candidate Joy Schendledecker sees a glaring problem with our...

Community Voices

Editorial: Yes, Santa Cruzans are resilient, but this next recovery is fraught with challenges and questions. They begin...

Activist Rick Longinotti warns Highway 1 commuters about two county projects he believes will make traffic around Santa...

Housing advocate Don Lane has worked on issues of homelessness for three decades. Here, he addresses the eight...

Lookout political columnist Mike Rotkin explains why the atmospheric bomb cyclones that flooded parts of Santa Cruz...

Veteran journalist and former Santa Cruz Sentinel editor Tom Honig reflects on President Joe Biden’s visit to Santa Cruz...

Erika Alfaro, a Santa Cruz resident and pediatric nurse case manager, was one of dozens from across California who...

Lookout columnist Claudia Sternbach understands Alec Baldwin, at least a little. At least his stunned, nauseated...

Daniel DeLong lives in the Santa Cruz Mountains, where packing a chainsaw is often just part of mountain life. His young...

Santa Cruz’s skimboarding community “might be relatively small,” writes Evan Quarnstrom, “but our small town plays an...

With climate change in the spotlight thanks to the January 2023 storms, local environmental activist Dan Haifley reminds...

Lookout wants to hear stories about Santa Cruz County residents helping each other during the storm siege that began New...

Editorial: As the governor and the president visit storm-torn California, where they visit is a meaningful act. Beyond...

Community organizer and former Santa Cruz mayoral candidate Joy Schendledecker sees a glaring problem with our...