The Santa Cruz County Democratic Central Committee has endorsed Kristen Brown for District 2 county supervisor over her opponent, Kim De Serpa. The committee is also endorsing a “yes” vote on Measure Z (Santa Cruz’s 2-cent-per-ounce tax on the sale of sugar-sweetened drinks), Measure Y (Capitola’s sales tax rate increase to 9.25%) and Watsonville’s proposed charter amendments, which include removing a citizenship requirement to serve on the city’s boards and commissions. The committee is recommending a “no” vote on Measure U, a San Lorenzo Valley Water District proposal that would cap regular service charge increases to 2% per year until 2049.
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Trails to close for Santa Cruz Mountains work prepping for burns
Trails will close intermittently as the Resource Conservation District of Santa Cruz County is working through December on a 211-acre wildfire resilience project in the upper Aptos Creek watershed of the Santa Cruz Mountains that will in part set the stage for controlled burns by California State Parks staff.
Delays on Highway 1 likely Sept. 3-5 for pedestrian bridge work
Motorists will experience overnight delays of up to 10 minutes on a section of Highway 1 in Santa Cruz Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, Sept. 3-5, as work continues on a new pedestrian bridge. On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights from 9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m., a single lane of both northbound and southbound Highway 1 will be closed between 41st Avenue and Soquel Drive.
Metro offers free rides, ticket discounts to Santa Cruz County Fair
The Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District will offer free Metro fares and discounted tickets to the Santa Cruz County Fair at the Watsonville Fairgrounds Sept. 11-15.
Labor union council backs Santa Cruz County’s Measure Q
The Monterey Bay Central Labor Council is endorsing a “yes” vote on Santa Cruz County’s Measure Q, which would fund projects focused on building resilience to wildfires and other natural disasters through a special tax of $87 on each parcel of land located within the county (with some exceptions).
Highway 1 closures planned for Ironman 70.3 Santa Cruz triathlon
A rolling closure of portions of Highway 1 will take place Sunday, Sept. 8, to accommodate the biking portion of the Ironman 70.3 Santa Cruz triathlon.
Santa Cruz will pay stipend to volunteer board members
Beginning in January, volunteers who serve on city advisory boards in Santa Cruz will be paid a stipend of $75 a meeting. It’s part of an effort to increase participation from historically underrepresented groups, including Latinx residents and renters.
Aptos students ‘shaken’ by head-on crash of school bus
A school bus carrying 43 students from Aptos High School and Aptos Junior High was struck head-on by a Kia Forte in Watsonville Tuesday morning, injurying a student and the driver of the Kia. Affected students are being offered counseling, according to an official with the Pajaro Valley Unified School District.
Aptos High School student named to Pajaro Valley school board
Daniel Esquada, a 12th grade student at Aptos High School, will be appointed by the Pajaro Valley Unified School District board of trustees Wednesday as a student trustee.
Fundraiser, service set for Cabrillo College student killed in crash
An online fundraising campaign is raising money to support the family of Luke Salem, a Cabrillo College student and football player who was killed in a head-on crash Aug. 17 on Freedom Boulevard in Santa Cruz, and friends and family will gather Sept. 5 for a memorial service.

