The Pajaro Valley Health Care District successfully purchased the Watsonville Community Hospital out of bankruptcy in August, ending two decades of for-profit ownership. The hospital is inviting the public to celebrate the individuals and organizations that helped make it happen and continue to help in its transition.
Government
Posted inPolitics & Policy
About ‘money, revenge’: Dutra, supporters fire back against what they say are ‘false, untrue accusations’
Watsonville City Council member and 4th District Santa Cruz County Supervisor candidate Jimmy Dutra says a civil lawsuit claiming he molested a 12-year-old when he was 30 is related to a six-year estate battle he recently finalized with his late father’s “disgruntled girlfriend.”
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Measure N’s empty home tax: Is new tool aiming to boost affordability handy or flawed?
If residents of the city of Santa Cruz vote to pass Measure N, residential property owners would be liable for a new annual tax of about $3,000-$6,000 if they don’t have their properties occupied for at least four months each year. It’s a new idea to get more housing units into play — and it has generated lots of controversy about how well it could work.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
The next Jan. 6 committee hearing is set. What have you missed?
The House Jan. 6 committee’s last hearing was over two months ago, delayed most recently by Hurricane Ian. With the next hearing set for Thursday, here’s a recap.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Cutting through the ‘style differences’: Kalantari-Johnson, Cummings in a battle for what defines progressive
In many ways, the battle between Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson and Justin Cummings for 3rd District county supervisor is helping define the modern makeup of Santa Cruz’s progressiveness, and whom the voters choose will ultimately help shape the story of its future. Homelessness, affordability, public safety and more are issues that drive their campaigns — but it’s also their style and pace that differentiates them.
Posted inLatest News
Biden to pardon everyone convicted on federal marijuana possession charges
President Joe Biden plans to ask governors to follow suit after announcing his plan to pardon all those convicted on federal marijuana possession charges. The announcement comes before elections that will decide whether Democrats keep control of Congress.
Posted inLatest News
California taxpayers to get refunds starting Friday to help with rising costs of gas
One-time payments ranging from $400 to $1,050 will arrive to 23 million Californians starting Friday. The state will spend $9.5 billion as part of the tax refund program.
Posted inLatest News
California homeless population grew by 22,000 over pandemic
The latest point-in-time count of California’s homeless population shows that it increased at roughly the same pace as previous years, although it appears to have disproportionately affected Latinos. Experts say homelessness interventions are paying off but “the inflow is killing us.”
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Lookout Update: Senior living facility planned along West Cliff Dr. returns to public hearing Thursday
Rescheduled from its initial Sept. 1 date, the 76-unit senior living facility proposed for a site along West Cliff Drive will go to the City of Santa Cruz Planning Commission on Thursday at 7 p.m. for presentation and public input. Are size, traffic, unit affordability and environmental impacts still a major point of contention as the project was downsized from its 2020 iteration?
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Your guide to Proposition 30 on the 2022 California midterm ballot
California voters will decide the fate of seven statewide propositions on Nov. 8. Here’s what you need to know about Proposition 30.