THE HERE & NOW: Where does the line get drawn for what needs to change? Mission bells could lead to Mission Street. And from there you start getting into deeper dark places within California’s history.
Government
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Watsonville citizens clear on favorite downtown features. Could six new neighborhoods be in their future?
A survey asking Watsonville residents what they want out of their downtown area came back with the farmers’ market and city plaza rising above other favorites. Now, a planning firm will take that feedback and brainstorm.
Posted inCOVID 2022
‘Such a burnout’: As workloads rise, nurses hope new testing guidelines, vaccines, bring relief
As COVID-19 surges, nurses in Santa Cruz County are being stretched to their limits. And getting tested for many has been just as challenging as it has for the general public. Will new testing protocol and a vaccine lesson the burden?
Posted inEnvironment
Monarch population continues to plummet, but feds still opt to delay endangered species protection
The number of monarchs observed on the West Coast has plummeted from millions in the 1980s to fewer than 10,000 this year. Only 500 butterflies were observed in Natural Bridges during this year’s Thanksgiving count.
Posted inCOVID 2022
County ICU bed capacity shrinks, but hospitals are ready to deploy surge beds
Santa Cruz County has just a handful of available ICU beds remaining. Local hospitals are planning to expand their capacity, but it won’t be easy.
Posted inHealth & Wellness
Santa Cruz County homeless deaths hit all-time high in 2020
The number of deaths in the county also went up by about 13% compared to last year, but homeless people died at more than five times the rate of the rest of the county population.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
21 for ’21: Bonnie Lipscomb helping city’s economy adapt and change amid pandemic
Bonnie Lipscomb and her team at the City of Santa Cruz’s Economic Development office had to set aside business-as-usual and create new models to help businesses survive 2020.
Posted inCoast Life
‘We’re so close’: After decades, Cotoni-Coast Dairies land inches closer to public opening
By fall of 2021, the long-awaited public opening of the 5,800-acre Cotoni-Coast Dairies National Monument is expected to happen. Miles of new trails, picnic areas, and beautiful vistas will be available to the public for the first time.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Capitola City Council approves free Village parking through Christmas Day, restores employees’ pay
The city government’s financial outlook — while worse than last year at this time — has improved to the point that council members restored some spending cuts related to the pandemic.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Capitola’s first Latina mayor takes office, council now majority women
New Leaf Community Markets brand manager Lindsay Gizdich said the store is moving from Pacific Avenue in order to have…