A group of South County residents concerned with a proposal for a 200-megawatt battery storage facility on an apple orchard just outside of Watsonville held a community meeting Monday evening. Residents expressed their disapproval of the project and say they want more transparency from county officials.
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Posted inPolitics & Policy
Santa Cruz City Council approves downtown expansion, but further limits building height to 85 feet
After nearly five years of community discussion and debate, the Santa Cruz City Council on Tuesday approved the city’s Downtown Plan Expansion, a vision that promises to reshape the built environment of a city facing the mounting pressures of growth.
Posted inHousing & Development
‘I’m interested in making Santa Cruz relevant again’: Mayor Fred Keeley discusses monumental downtown vote
As Santa Cruz weighs a major downtown expansion and a new housing measure, Mayor Fred Keeley faces a defining week. Years of planning come to a head as the city debates growth, change and what kind of future it wants to build.
Posted inHealth & Wellness
Proposed Medicaid changes could threaten care access for 80,000 in Santa Cruz County, health leaders warn
Plans by congressional Republicans to trim billions from Medicaid and introduce work requirements could destabilize hospitals and health clinics across South County and the Pajaro Valley, where nearly 80% of patients rely on Medi-Cal or Medicare programs.
Posted inWatsonville / Pajaro
Watsonville appoints David Brletic new community development director
The City of Watsonville has tapped David Brletic as the new community development director. Brletic, who officially began his role Monday, will lead the city’s community development department which oversees planning, zoning and building projects.
Posted inLatest News
Lawyer: Santa Cruz resident’s immigration case a ‘cautionary tale’ under Trump 2.0
Michael Mehr, one of the immigration lawyers who helped with the release of Cliona Ward, says the green card holder’s case represents a significant shift in how federal immigration officials are handling residents returning from abroad who have past criminal records, even those with minor offenses.
Posted inCapitola & Soquel
In Capitola, city council resignations are rare. Two in one year is unprecedented.
In a town where mid-term resignations are rare, Capitola has seen two in five months. With tensions rising and a council seat now empty again, city leaders will soon have to decide how to move forward.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Laird walks tightrope with bill to limit financial fallout from sex abuse lawsuits
State Sen. John Laird is advancing a bill aimed at easing the financial burden of sexual abuse lawsuits on public institutions, while adjusting legal standards for older claims — an effort to balance justice for survivors with the stability of local budgets.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Addis’ ambitious bill would force oil companies to pay for historic, and future, climate damage
After a tenure marked by climate disasters, Assemblymember Dawn Addis is pushing bold environmental legislation — including a revived “Polluters Pay” bill that would charge oil companies for climate damages — as California seeks new ways to fund its climate resilience.
Posted inLatest News
Santa Cruz resident Cliona Ward released from Washington detention center
Cliona Ward, a longtime Santa Cruz resident, was released Wednesday afternoon from a detention center in Tacoma, Washington. Ward was detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials at San Francisco International Airport on April 21.