Morning Lookout: Porter’s local campaign stop, building a law practice & farmers market success
Hello, Lookout friends. It’s Monday, Aug. 21, and Santa Cruz County could see gusty winds and maybe some raindrops as the remnants of Tropical Storm Hilary plow northward; otherwise it’ll be a mix of sun and clouds, with highs in the 70s and 80s.
Plenty new this Monday, and if you’re looking to check it out solo, this way.
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The campaign for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Dianne Feinstein is coming through Santa Cruz, and Christopher Neely sat down with Democratic Rep. Katie Porter ahead of her appearance Sunday at Vets Hall downtown.
Lookout’s How I Got My Job series returns, with Gabrielle Gillette tracing the story of how Gina Occhipinti Borasi built her personal-injury law practice from the ground up, including a stretch when she waited tables at the Crow’s Nest by night after lawyering by day.
Lily Belli rounds up the post-pandemic return of a breakfast pop-up series at Santa Cruz Community Farmers’ Markets, which raised more than $10,000 for some of its programs via the events.
The Monday headlines also include all that Wallace Baine heard and saw at Friday’s mixed martial arts card at Kaiser Permanente Area and columnist Claudia Sternbach on a gutting recent loss — read on for those after Sunday scenes from Lookout photojournalist Kevin Painchaud.
Photos of the day
Pajaro Valley Pride, a Watsonville-based nonprofit supporting the LGBTQ+ community, hosted its eighth annual Pride celebration on Sunday. This year’s theme, “Don’t be a Drag, just be a Queen,” was picked to honor drag queens — highlighting their contributions to LGBTQ+ history and culture and in light of the rising threats against drag performers, locally as well as across the country.
Katie Porter in Santa Cruz: ‘I went to Washington to write the rules’
Santa Cruz is on the campaign trail with Dianne Feinstein’s U.S. Senate seat up for grabs in 2024. With the March 5 primary coming up fast, Orange County Rep. Katie Porter got a standing ovation from a crowd of 175 on Sunday in downtown Santa Cruz. With her whiteboard and change-making mantra, Porter brings a generational mojo to the contest. In two days, Rep. Adam Schiff, her main opponent according to polls, meets and greets the local Democratic crowd. Christopher Neely interviewed Porter over coffee at Verve. Here’s what he heard and saw.
➤ IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST: Sign up here for Christopher Neely’s newsletter on local politics and policy, coming later Monday
How I Got My Job: Gina Occhipinti Borasi on redefining what it means to be a lawyer
Gina Occhipinti Borasi almost quit her pursuit of a career in law after feeling unable to be the shark lawyer she thought it was necessary to be to succeed as an attorney. After finding inspiration with a compassionate mentor, Occhipinti Borasi went on to become a successful personal-injury lawyer who leads with a person-first attitude. Gabrielle Gillette has a profile.
➤ HOW I GOT MY JOB: Plumbers to artists, science to banking, find all of Lookout’s series here
DAILY DIGEST
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Quick Take
Santa Cruz Community Farmers’ Markets raised more than $10,000 for its community food programs this year as its pop-up...
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Quick Take
Forget pro wrestling, the five-hour card — with 11 bouts — Friday night at the Santa Cruz Warriors’ arena is a...
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Quick Take
Lookout columnist Claudia Sternbach is mourning the loss of her friend of almost four decades, who took his own life...
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Santa Cruz County Job Board
That ought to be enough to get you started on this Monday, but trust me, there’s more coming from Lookout. In addition to In the Public Interest, Christopher Neely’s newsletter covering Santa Cruz County politics and policy, we’ll be debuting a weekly roundup from our county’s high school sports scene via Thomas Frey. You can keep track of all that by by following Lookout on social media — we’re on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads. And click here to sign up for all of Lookout’s other newsletters plus breaking news alerts via text and email.
Our content isn’t possible without community support, so if you’re not already, please consider becoming a Lookout member.
May the Monday reentry be a smooth one — I’ll see you on the flip side.
Will McCahill
Lookout Santa Cruz
