Tiny homes are increasingly California cities’ shelter option of choice — but how far they go in solving homelessness is a contentious question.
Civic Life
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Homelessness won’t simply go away; here are three possible approaches for Santa Cruz
Homelessness is California’s biggest crisis and a problem Santa Cruz County cannot seem to get a handle on, as hard as it tries. Don Lane, former Santa Cruz mayor turned housing advocate, offers three options and explains the benefits and drawbacks of each. If you are looking to understand this tangled issue quickly, this is your chance. Next week, he’ll focus on solutions and explain how Santa Cruz — city and county — are tackling the issue.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Sen. Laphonza Butler, caretaker of the late Dianne Feinstein’s seat, forgoes running for a full term in 2024
Sen. Laphonza Butler announced she won’t run for a full term in 2024. Her entry would’ve shaken up an already volatile race that includes three prominent Democrats.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
This week in Santa Cruz County business: Ag industry struggles, downtown visions, Michaels in Capitola
In her weekly roundup of news and notes from the Santa Cruz County business community, Jessica M. Pasko talks to agricultural commissioner David Sanford, updates downtown planning in Watsonville and Santa Cruz and checks in on local comings and goings.
Posted inFood & Drink
Permit woes silence popular live music at Woodhouse Brewing
Woodhouse Blending & Brewing has hosted multiple live music acts a week since it opened in 2020, earning it the Hip Hang Out of the Year NEXTies award in March. Now, after an anonymous complaint, the City of Santa Cruz has ordered all entertainment to stop until the business applies for an entertainment permit.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
County’s infrastructure leaves residents at ‘heightened flood risk’ as another abnormal winter looms
With the El Niño weather pattern now in effect, Santa Cruz County officials are keeping a wary eye on forecasts that could mean more pressure on the Pajaro River levee and other infrastructure that took a beating last winter. The breach that flooded Pajaro in March should be fixed soon, but other repairs won’t even start until next year.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
$65M in storm-related losses just one of many challenges ag chief sees for Santa Cruz County farmers
“It’s been a tough year,” David Sanford says of 2023 for Santa Cruz County farmers and farmworkers. Sanford, who took over as county agricultural commissioner earlier this from Juan Hidalgo, talks about how local growers are tackling the variety of issues stemming from climate change, the effects of inflation and more in a Q&A with Jessica M. Pasko.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Adam Schiff outpaces Barbara Lee, Katie Porter in fundraising for California Senate race
In the race to replace the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein, Rep. Adam Schiff continues to hold a strong lead over his rivals in fundraising, bringing in nearly $6 million in campaign contributions in the past three months.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
I lived through the last Gaza war; we need to stop the ruthless killing of innocents and stand up for peace
Dana G. Peleg, an Israeli peace activist who lives in Santa Cruz, can’t stop checking her phone. She is worried about her family in Israel, the lives of the Gazans threatened by Israeli bombs and the continued violence that will cause more generational trauma. Peleg served in the Israel Defense Forces, and the Hamas terrorist attacks stunned her and sent her into “the all-too-familiar emergency state of mind all Israelis know and hate.” Here, she lambasts the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and searches for a peaceful end to the conflict.
Posted inK-12 Education
Survey shows majority of PVUSD voters would support bond measure
Pajaro Valley Unified School District board members are considering whether to pursue a bond measure on the November 2024 ballot to fund repairs to schools and classrooms and potentially build staff housing. A survey shows they likely have the support they need.