The Santa Cruz Planning Commission unanimously approved the downtown Clocktower Center project Thursday, but its rejection of developer Workbench’s request for more balcony space on lower floors opened the door to litigation.
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Posted inPolitics & Policy
Encompass closes one mental health site, another at risk as budget cuts loom
Encompass Community Services, Santa Cruz County’s largest nonprofit provider of behavioral mental health residential programs, says its Casa Pacific facility in Watsonville is at risk of closure as a result of funding cuts from the county. The nonprofit has already closed its Live Oak crisis mental health facility for the same reasons.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
As budget clock ticks, still no plan B to Santa Cruz County’s proposed layoffs and health service cuts
With a final budget vote looming for Santa Cruz County supervisors, the only health services funding proposal on the table so far is the original, which includes 12 layoffs as part of the elimination of more than 74 full-time positions, service reductions and closure of medical facilities.
Posted inLatest News
PG&E delays restart of Elkhorn battery facility after identifying equipment malfunctions
Pacific Gas & Electric is delaying reopening its Elkhorn battery storage facility after identifying equipment malfunctions. In May, the utility company had announced plans to restart operations at its facility on June 1, after being offline since January following the massive fire at a neighboring facility in Moss Landing.
Posted inWatsonville / Pajaro
After two bodies found at Pajaro River levee, Watsonville councilmember’s grave suspicion raises new questions
Watsonville City Councilmember Casey Clark suspected there might be bodies buried on the Pajaro River levee after encountering a memorial during a walk. His suspicions have only increased as Monterey County detectives discovered two bodies on the levee in the past two months.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Cities across Santa Cruz County confront looming budget deficits as costs rise and revenues slow
Santa Cruz, Watsonville, Scotts Valley and Capitola all face mounting budget pressures, with several cities predicting budget deficits now and into the future. The cities are pinning their hopes on development projects, from luxury hotels to new downtown construction, as pension costs rise and sales tax revenues plateau.
Posted inLatest News
Santa Cruz Pride’s 50th-anniversary celebration culminates in vibrant parade down Pacific Avenue
Santa Cruz Pride capped off its 50th-anniversary celebration with a downtown parade Sunday morning. Hundreds of Santa Cruz residents lined up along Pacific Avenue decked out in Pride colors to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community.
Posted inLatest News
Nearly 1,000 gather at Main Beach to create ‘Resist!’ human banner protesting Trump administration
Around 1,000 people gathered Saturday morning at Santa Cruz Main Beach to spell out the word “Resist!” The event, organized by Indivisible Santa Cruz County, aimed to protest the Trump administration and celebrate Santa Cruz Pride’s 50th anniversary.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Santa Cruz’s soda tax to be decided by court following lawsuit
The American Beverage Association filed a lawsuit Wednesday challenging the city of Santa Cruz’s new, voter-approved sugar-sweetened beverage tax, setting the stage for a court battle that could determine the fate of similar taxes across the country.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
For Santa Cruz’s most vulnerable, this peer-run clubhouse is a lifeline. Now the county could take it away.
The Mental Health Client Action Network has, for decades, helped people reclaim their lives through a peer-run, clubhouse-style service center. Now, MHCAN might not make it through summer as a tight budget has the Santa Cruz County government threatening to pull funding, a decision that would permanently shutter the organization.