Construction is already underway at the site where the developers, including Santa Cruz Seaside Company and the company that owns the Dream Inn, plan to build an upscale venue with 155 rooms and two restaurants. Late 2024 is the target date for the hotel, as yet unnamed, to open along Beach Street.
Business & Technology
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Santa Cruz Starbucks workers rally, strike over ‘unfair labor practices’ and ‘union busting’ efforts
Santa Cruz continues to be at the center of unionizing efforts among workers for the coffee giant. Young organizer Joseph Thompson remains at the center of those efforts.
Posted inLatest News
Labor unions are hot, but their moment might not last
Experts acknowledge the newfound excitement around labor but caution that unions, which have suffered decades of declining membership, are unlikely to turn the tide.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
As retail itself morphs, downtown Santa Cruz fine-tunes approach to filling empty spaces
COVID made running a business in downtown Santa Cruz even harder on top of all the pre-existing impacts of online shopping. Today, 15 empty storefronts remain, down from about 30 that opened up after the pandemic hit. The city is working on new ways to get more businesses — particularly women- and minority-owned ones — into those spots.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
Thinking outside of the (big) box: Capitola Mall leans into local
A half-century after opening, the Capitola Mall still hosts familiar national chain stores like Macy’s, Target and Kohl’s. But with a redevelopment on the horizon, 50% of the mall’s businesses are now locally owned.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Citing a mental health crisis among young people, California lawmakers target social media
Legislators are considering two bills that address online addiction among children by taking aim at website features such as push notifications and targeted posts. But Big Tech is fighting the effort, saying companies are already taking steps to protect children.
Posted inCoast Life
‘What would we do without these people?’ A Q&A with ‘furious’ farmworker advocate Ann Lopez
When she turned from biologist to sociologist and human rights advocate 25 years ago, Ann Lopez realized how dire the situation was for humans born into a caste system that put them on a path toward what she considers to be agrarian slavery. COVID, climate change and affordability have worked against change, but that hasn’t slowed her fight for justice.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
California’s strawberry fields might not be forever. Could robots help?
Climate change, new regulations, drought: It’s getting harder to grow strawberries in California. One robotics startup is betting on a revolutionary change.
Posted inEnvironment
California hopes to fight global warming by pumping CO2 underground. Some call it a ruse
California is embracing carbon capture and storage technology to fight global warming, but critics say it will only increase oil production.
Posted inRecreation & Sports
The NFL games you’ve been watching on your phone are going behind a paywall
NFL+ will give fans access to local games and other league-related programming on mobile devices and tablets for $4.99 a month.
