Morning Lookout: Abortion rights rally, former mayors speak and good trouble at UCSC
Hello, Lookout friends! Today is Wednesday, May 4, and we’ve got another mostly sunny day ahead, with highs in the 70s and 80s around Santa Cruz County.
Much to get to this morning:
- More than 200 Santa Cruzans turned out on short notice yesterday afternoon to protest the Supreme Court’s seemingly inevitable move to outlaw abortion, and Lookout’s Grace Stetson and Kevin Painchaud were on hand.
- Santa Cruz voters have the option of choosing an at-large elected mayor next month — a change from the current system of the position rotating among city councilmembers — and Lookout’s Max Chun talked to five former mayors about the possible change.
- And with UC Santa Cruz set for Friday’s dedication of John R. Lewis College, Lookout’s Hillary Ojeda talked to administrators and students about the milestone.
To the headlines!
Santa Cruzans react quickly to threat of Roe v. Wade overturning
On six hours’ notice, more than 200 people met at the Santa Cruz county courthouse Tuesday, protesting fast-moving restrictions across the country on abortion access — and the news that the U.S. Supreme Court is about to strike down the decision that has assured a women’s right to choose for 49 years. Grace Stetson reports.
➤ MORE FROM LOCAL ACTIVISTS: ‘It’s really unknown territory’: Longtime Planned Parenthood leaders look back — and forward (Lookout)
Wisdom Cole: Paving the way for a new generation of Black leaders
Wisdom Cole: Paving the way for a new generation of Black leaders
A four-year mayor? Santa Cruz’s past mayors weigh in
Is having a four-year mayor a good idea? The June 7 primary ballot will give voters the choice of whether to create an at-large elected mayor position who serves a four-year term, or to keep the role as it stands currently. Five of Santa Cruz’s previous mayors share their thoughts on the potential change. Here’s what they told Max Chun.
➤ RELATED: District maps decided upon for new-look Santa Cruz voting system; so what happens next? (Lookout)
➤ MORE LOCAL AND STATE POLITICS COVERAGE: Check out our Election 2022 section here
UCSC readies for ‘good trouble’ as it dedicates a college to John Lewis
John R. Lewis’ life and commitment to social justice, from the streets of Alabama to the halls of Congress, are legendary. Now, UC Santa Cruz’s College Ten takes on his name with a ceremony Friday, and charts new paths in social activism and positive social change. Hillary Ojeda talked to administrators and students.
➤ PREVIOUSLY: UCSC College Ten to be named in honor of civil rights icon John R. Lewis (Lookout)
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Pesto King comes to Mentone, cherry challenges and (rumors of) a new Garlic Festival?
In her latest food and drink newsletter, Lily Belli has news on big pesto happenings in Aptos, an update on local cherries and salmon, and breaks down an odd chapter in the Gilroy Garlic Festival saga. Find it all here.
➤ MORE FROM LILY: All of Lookout’s food & drink coverage in one place
25+ World class breweries on the Cali Coast collaborate for special beer pack release
25+ World class breweries on the Cali Coast collaborate for special beer pack release
With water running out, California sees no relief from drought thanks to La Niña
La Niña was expected to dissipate, but it could linger through the summer. That’s bad news for drought- and wildfire-prone California. Read more from our partners at the Los Angeles Times.
➤ FROM LAST MONTH: April storms make small dent in California’s drought, but it’s not enough (Los Angeles Times)
Happening tonight: A gathering of (AI) knuckleheads
What is AI? And where is it taking us? We talk with entrepreneur and gadfly G. Craig Vachon, who leads a panel discussion tonight at the Kuumbwa Jazz Center about the perils and promise of artificial intelligence. Here’s Wallace Baine’s Q&A with Vachon.
➤ WANT MORE WALLACE? Find all of his columns in one place
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Around the county ...
➤ Volunteer Center’s annual awards ceremony returns May 18 (The Pajaronian)
➤ Monterey Bay F.C. recruits Santa Cruz County players (Good Times)
➤ Cabrillo women’s beach volleyball team qualifies for state championships (Santa Cruz Sentinel)
➤ Police apprehend climber at top of San Francisco’s Salesforce Tower (SFGate)
That’s it for the moment — but with more Lookout goodies in the oven, you’ll want to keep tabs throughout the day by bookmarking our website and following us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. If you’re enjoying our coverage, please tell your family and friends about our Lookout Newsletter & Text Center, where they can sign up for all the newsletters and alerts we offer.
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Happy Star Wars Day, and May the Fourth be with you!
Will McCahill
Lookout Santa Cruz
