Santa Cruz’s plans to enforce strict parking restrictions to facilitate street sweeping face scrutiny from the California Coastal Commission on Thursday amid claims it unfairly affects those living in their vehicles. Proponents argue it’s a crucial environmental measure; critics warn it enacts “hostile architecture” against the unhoused.
homelessness
Posted inPolitics & Policy
One issue Trump and Newsom agree on? California homelessness
Experts predict funding cuts and policy changes in Donald Trump’s second administration. But Trump and California Gov. Gavin Newsom appear to agree on encampment sweeps.
Posted inLatest News
It’s hard to vote in California when you’re homeless. Why it matters when their voices are silenced
Homeless Californians face many barriers to casting a ballot, even in elections that affect their lives. Some counties and nonprofits are trying to boost turnout.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Neighbors fight ‘tiny village’ as Watsonville struggles to help homeless
Neighbors are fighting a 34-unit “tiny village” shelter for the homeless proposed for land at Westview Presbyterian Church in Watsonville, saying they already fear “homeless-related crime” in the area. The church’s pastor believes the shelter will keep people off the streets and eliminate some of the impacts from the homeless that residents are concerned about.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Watsonville turns to residents for ideas to address homelessness
The Watsonville City Council held the second in a series of community forums Saturday looking for solutions to a significant increase in homelessness. Earlier this year, an annual point-in-time count found more people experiencing homelessness in Watsonville than the city of Santa Cruz, which has significantly more shelter beds and services devoted to the issue.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Neighbor appeals approval of ‘tiny village’ housing for Watsonville homeless
A Watsonville neighbor’s appeal is asking the city to rescind approval of the zoning application for a “tiny village” project that would provide housing for the homeless on land at Westview Presbyterian Church. City officials approved the application by Santa Cruz and Monterey counties despite concerns by members of the city council, saying a state law promoting affordable housing growth supersedes local control over the project.
Posted inLatest News
‘Beyond cruel’: Newsom retaliates against L.A. suburb for its ban on homeless shelters
The mayor of Norwalk said the city enacted its far-reaching ban on shelters and other low-income housing and businesses out of frustration with the state. As Gov. Gavin Newsom escalates his pressure campaign on cities to help solve the state’s homelessness crisis, Norwalk could lose eligibility for state housing and homelessness grants.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Late payments to nonprofits hamper California’s fight against homelessness
California homeless service providers are scaling back and taking out loans as they wait for late payments from governments at the state, county and city levels.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Letter to the editor: Where should the unhoused go?
In a letter to the editor, a Santa Cruz resident pushes Lookout columnist Mike Rotkin for more specifics on homelessness.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
City of Santa Cruz is doing well on homelessness, but needs to address gaps, including broken shelter showers
Lookout politics columnist and former five-time mayor of Santa Cruz Mike Rotkin is a bit annoyed by what he is reading in Lookout and other publications about homelessness. He thinks the city is doing a good job overall, but says it could tend more carefully to needed repairs in shelters, particularly showers. The homeless problem in Santa Cruz is not a lack of beds or affordable housing, he writes. It’s bigger.
