Santa Cruz therapist Lisa Herendeen tries to walk the American public through a breakup with Donald Trump. Depression, shame, anger are all normal feelings after falling in love with a narcissist, she writes in this humorous piece.
Nov. 5 general election 2024
A Lookout View: Yes on Capitola, Scotts Valley and school bond measures
Yes, tax bites do mount up, bit by bit. Yet, they are essential to keep local governments and our schools moving forward, meeting these anxious times. The Lookout Editorial Board supports both Capitola’s and Scotts Valley’s tax increases, and those of the six local districts seeking approval.
De Serpa, Martinez widen money advantage in supervisor races
Kim De Serpa and Monica Martinez widened their fundraising advantage over Kristen Brown and Christopher Bradford, respectively, in their campaigns for the District 2 and District 5 seats on the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors, according to campaign finance reports that were due Thursday. In the District 2 race, De Serpa has cash on hand, while Brown reported spending slightly more money than she has brought in. In the District 5 race, Martinez has a nearly 3-to-1 fundraising advantage over Bradford.
Soda industry has spent more than $1.2 million to defeat Santa Cruz sugary drink tax
A campaign funded by some of the country’s biggest soft drink companies to defeat Measure Z, a proposed sugary drink tax in the City of Santa Cruz, has spent more than $1.2 million so far, according to campaign finance reports filed this week. With less than two weeks before the Nov. 5 election, supporters of the measure had reported spending only $43,000.
A Lookout View: Trina Coffman-Gomez for Watsonville City Council – she brings experience and housing knowledge
The Lookout Editorial Board endorses Trina Coffman-Gomez for Watsonville City Council. She has already served two terms from 2012 to 2020 and understands the city and its needs. Her opponent, incumbent and former mayor Jimmy Dutra, is too mired in controversy over a recent civil trial to effectively serve. Dutra did not respond to Lookout’s requests for an editorial board meeting.
A Lookout View: Yes on V – let’s add diversity and untapped community voices to Watsonville boards and commissions
The Lookout Editorial Board endorses Measure V, which would expand eligibility to serve on commissions and boards to all Watsonville residents, regardless of voting status. The board sees this as a vote for diversity, inclusion and part of the wave of the future for California cities and counties.
How inflation concerns could doom California’s proposition to increase minimum wage
Opponents of Proposition 32 to increase the statewide minimum wage to $18 an hour are running ads focused on the cost of living. Proponents are not reaching out to voters very much. And polls show declining support.
In unopposed Cabrillo College trustee races, name change is on back burner
Cabrillo College’s governing board will have four trustees starting new four-year terms once they’re sworn in this December. All four ran unopposed.
A Lookout View: Yes on Z – let’s stand up for community health
Measure Z, the “sugary drink tax,” has raised high emotion and big money in the city of Santa Cruz and is a potential litmus test for the state’s 2018 Keep Groceries Affordable Act. The Lookout Editorial Board endorses a yes vote. We think it’s good for overall community health and for the city’s needy coffers.
No on Prop 36: It is misleading and would take us back to mass incarceration
California’s Proposition 36 would undo all the good diversion and anti-recidivism work that has happened in communities since 2014’s Prop 47, argue community activists Angelee Dion, Julia Gratton and Pam Sexton. It would, they say, cost taxpayers tens of billions of dollars for prisons, court costs and local jails and slash millions from anti-recidivism, school-based prevention programs and services for survivors of crime. They urge a no vote.

