California’s recovery from the COVID-19 recession strengthened in August as employers added 104,300 jobs. Unemployment remains high, however, at 7.5% statewide — with Santa Cruz County standing at 6.3% in the latest figures.
COVID Economy
Posted inBusiness & Technology
Out of time: California legislators won’t extend eviction ban
The California eviction moratorium is scheduled to end after Sept. 30, but legislators aren’t planning to extend the protections for renters.
Posted inLatest News
Will CZU survivors get relief? Supervisors set to reevaluate geologic surveys for those trying to rebuild
Following the Aug. 10 board meeting, Supervisors Bruce McPherson and Ryan Coonerty directed the County Planning Department and the Office of Response, Recovery and Resilience to provide some options at the Sept. 14 meeting, which would allow CZU fire survivors to rebuild without having to mitigate potential geologic hazards that existed on their property before the fire. What will happen on Tuesday?
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Talking SB 35 & 831 Water Street: City officials address community concerns over state-mandated growth
The state passed SB 35 in September 2017 with the goal of creating more affordable housing. Now, the proposed development at 831 Water Street has become an example of how the state’s demands and a local community’s wants might not find alignment. Santa Cruz city leadership addressed the unknowns and attempted to answer questions on how SB 35 projects could affect the future of Santa Cruz County.
Posted inHousing & Development
SB 9 & 10 have now passed in the state Assembly & Senate — so what’s next?
Senate Bills 9 and 10, which would allow for increased density in single-family-zoned areas, are poised to be signed into law. But some say they will do little to change the housing stock in Santa Cruz County, while others say adding housing will further strain the county’s infrastructure.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
Newsom’s stimulus left out many retirees, veterans and disabled Californians. Will they vote to recall him?
Californians who get by on government benefits and don’t file taxes aren’t getting state stimulus checks. Republican recall candidates are trying to capitalize on their anger.
Posted inK-12 Education
Happy Masks became a COVID must-have. That sparked a back-to-school frenzy
Happy Masks’ face coverings for kids are a back-to-school sensation amid heightened COVID-19 anxiety — but good luck buying one. “It felt like I was trying to get tickets to the Rolling Stones,” said one mom after a recent failed attempt.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
State stimulus checks arrive in Californians’ bank accounts ahead of recall election
The Newsom administration has announced that $600 stimulus payments are being delivered to millions of Californians as ballots are being cast on whether to recall the governor from office.
Posted inEducation
Some UCSC students struggle to return to campus as affordable, available housing remains elusive
With UCSC resuming classes for the 2021-2022 school year in a few weeks, many incoming and returning students are finding themselves at a loss for housing options. As one returning student shared, “I can’t focus on my job, I can’t sleep — this is completely awful.”
Posted inCOVID Today
Why Gail Newel reversed course on a mask mandate, and how the ‘infectious variant’ factors in
After weeks of saying a mask mandate would not be effective, Santa Cruz County Health Officer Gail Newel reversed course and issued the reinstated order to go into effect at midnight tonight. Why the change — and what could this mean about Delta’s future in Santa Cruz?