LOOKOUT PM: An AI panel discussion, a helping of ‘Eaters’, and goats galore

By Max Chun

Source: Lookout Santa Cruz

Happy weekend, folks!

First off, thanks to all of our members who came to our office for the open house yesterday evening. It was great to see you all outside of our computer screens, for once, and we’re very grateful for your continued support!

We have a full slate of staff content today, including the latest editions of Eaters Digest and Student Lookout, along with the unusual pairing of goats and artificial intelligence.

But first, some quick city news ⬇️

City of Santa Cruz takes the interim tag off, names Bernie Escalante police chief 👇 ... Lookout's @chaxmun caught up with the #SantaCruz native last fall when he was named interim: https://t.co/iclKlcTsvF https://t.co/gleyMnxwu5
— Lookout Santa Cruz (@LookoutSCruz) April 29, 2022

Now, to Friday’s headlines ...

ICYMI: Dive into Santa Cruz’s new opinion forum

Brand new!: If you didn’t already know, we officially launched our opinion section yesterday. We have much to say, and much to say to each other. Community Voices is a space to say it. See editor Jody K. Biehl’s intro and the inaugural pieces here.

➤ Community Voices guidelines

EATERS DIGEST: Bargetto’s new winery, Sandor Katz coming to Bookshop and Santa Cruz’s British chippy

Aptos resident Kelly Spellman at the Blossom's Farmstore & Coffeeshop.

Eats on the horizon: New projects from John Bargetto and Luna Sea Vodka, and travel across the pond with Scrumptious Fish & Chips and Mentone. It’s all here as Lily Belli delivers another scoop of Eaters Digest. See all that Lily Belli has to offer.

➤ Lily Belli on Food: Gilroy Garlic Festival canceled, Phil’s Fish House moving and mountain markets reopen

The latest: Check out Santa Cruz’s top bookshops and some great events including a May Day celebration at the base of UCSC’s campus. See the newest edition of Student Lookout here.

CLICK HERE FOR STUDENT ACCESS

Affordable Housing Month gets into the affordability nitty-gritty

On affordability: Grace previews Affordable Housing Month and shares a list of 15 events in May focus on what it will take to put a dent in the affordability crisis in Santa Cruz County. More from Grace here.

➤ The tremors of the Santa Cruz housing market: Why our affordability reporter is on the hunt yet again

A gathering of (AI) knuckleheads

State Sen. Richard Pan prepares to announce a bill that adds COVID vaccines to California's list of required shots for K-12

The future is now: What is AI? And where is it taking us? We talk with entrepreneur and gadfly G. Craig Vachon, who leads a panel discussion Wednesday at the Kuumbwa Jazz Center about the perils and promise of artificial intelligence. Read the whole Q&A by Wallace Baine.

Ask Lookout: Have you seen — or herd — about the goats roaming the UC Santa Cruz campus?

People on the UC Santa Cruz campus watch goats graze as part of fire prevention efforts.

Slugs and Goats: Hillary went up to UCSC’s campus to check out the approximately 300 goats roaming the area. Read the Ask Lookout and watch Kevin Painchaud’s video here.

➤ ‘We’re really growing students’: Cabrillo horticulturist Heather Blume is in full bloom this season