The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors unanimously supported a ban on filtered cigarettes in an initial vote Tuesday, but said it would not be enforced until at least two of the county’s four cities follow suit.
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Santa Cruz County supervisors target cigarette ban in attempt to curb pollution
Santa Cruz County is moving toward a ban on the sale of filtered cigarettes in unincorporated areas, focusing on their environmental impact rather than health risks. If approved this month by county supervisors, the enforcement of the ordinance would begin in 2027.
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County supervisors’ response to CZU recovery investigation ‘does not align’ with reality, District 5 candidates say
The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors is deflecting criticism from a civil grand jury report accusing the county of mishandling recovery from the 2020 CZU wildfire. The two candidates running in this November’s election for an open District 5 supervisor seat — Christopher Bradford, a fire victim, and Monica Martinez — criticized the board’s response this week and called for more accountability and expedited rebuilding.
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Watsonville asks voters to allow service on city boards regardless of immigration status
If Measures V and W are passed in November, Watsonville’s city charter will be updated to eliminate gendered references and other outdated language, and residents who aren’t U.S. citizens will be able to serve on city boards and commissions.
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Watsonville OKs ‘tiny village’ for homeless over objections
Monterey and Santa Cruz county officials can now apply for a building permit for a proposed tiny home village for the homeless on the Westview Presbyterian Church property in Watsonville. But some councilmembers said a project update at Tuesday’s city council meeting left them with more questions than answers.
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Dramatic shift in homeless from Santa Cruz to Watsonville has officials scrambling to provide services
A dramatic shift in Santa Cruz County’s homeless population, with more being counted in Watsonville this year than the city of Santa Cruz, has officials scrambling to provide more shelter beds and services in the southern part of the county. Watsonville will consider a tiny home village project at its city council meeting on Tuesday, and is convening a community meeting on the broader issue of action to confront homelessness on Oct. 5.
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As homeless population shifts from Santa Cruz to Watsonville, officials aim to invest in South County services
Santa Cruz County officials on Tuesday pointed to a shift in the population of people experiencing homelessness from Santa Cruz to Watsonville and said that a new shelter and other services were needed in the southern part of the county before homeless encampments could be targeted as encouraged by an executive order by Gov. Gavin Newsom.
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St. George rent cap draws initial support from Santa Cruz City Council as threat of lawsuit looms
The 70 low-income tenants at the St. George Residences in downtown Santa Cruz might no longer be priced out of their homes after a city council proposal to cap rent hikes there passed on first reading Tuesday. The city council will take a final vote on Sept. 24. The owner of the building is threatening to sue.
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Santa Cruz backs ban on other communities bringing homeless to city
In a unanimous vote Tuesday, the Santa Cruz City Council threw initial support behind a new law that would ban agents of other governments from dropping homeless people off within the city of Santa Cruz boundaries. The city council will vote in two weeks on final approval.
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‘Millions’ expected to pour into campaigns over Santa Cruz’s sugary drink tax
The battle of Measure Z, Santa Cruz’s proposed tax on sugar-sweetened beverages, is cooking up to be an expensive one with interests as big as the Coca-Cola Co. pouring money into stopping it. And if they can’t get Santa Cruz voters to defeat the tax in November, corporate opponents are expected to challenge the measure in court.