Santa Cruz’s Measure Z is poised for victory despite a $1.7 million campaign by the beverage industry. The apparent triumph has signaled a potential revival of soda tax initiatives nationwide and challenges to Big Soda’s influence.
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Posted inPolitics & Policy
Fire districts weigh options after $243 million in bond measures fail
Fire chiefs for Scotts Valley and Central Fire say bond measures to pay for new stations and equipment struggled to garner enough support on crowded Santa Cruz County ballots. While Measure Q could open up millions in grants for fire districts for wildfire prevention projects, chiefs say that process is complex and uncertain.
Posted inLatest News
Carmageddon: With winter approaching, who pays for road repairs in Santa Cruz County?
With road repairs still in the pipeline all over Santa Cruz County, officials are constantly in talks with federal agencies in charge of funding road repair. As it turns out, the two main agencies that public works officials negotiate with differ quite a bit, and often dictate how quickly a road gets fixed.
Posted inEducation
Cabrillo College plans cuts amid $4.3 million budget deficit
Cabrillo College is trimming its budget as pandemic-era funding ends and costs rise. President Matt Wetstein said there are no immediate plans for layoffs, but the college will cut about 70 of its 1,394 classes as it opts not to replace some retiring faculty.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Hey, widows and widowers: Should I stay here in my beloved Aptos home or move on, create something new?
Lookout columnist Claudia Sternbach unexpectedly lost her husband to cancer in February. She loves her Aptos home, but wonders if she should sell it and move closer to her daughter in Los Angeles. Will moving to a new place help her start over or make her feel unmoored? She ponders aloud and asks the community for help.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
State of resistance? What is California’s role in the new American reality?
What is to happen in deep-blue California now that red-state power in Washington has been restored? We sat down with two of California’s sharpest thinkers, writer Steve Kettmann and sociologist Manuel Pastor, to look into some scenarios.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Watsonville planning commission to hear appeal of ‘tiny village’ homeless shelter next month
At its Dec. 3 meeting, the Watsonville Planning Commission plans to hear an appeal filed by a resident asking the commission to rescind its zoning approval of the “tiny village” shelter for the homeless on the Westview Presbyterian Church property.
Posted inFood & Drink
Eaters Digest: Bent Dime Lemoncello
A local collaboration between bartender Enrico Zampieri and winemaker Les Wright of 37th Parallel Winery in Scotts Valley is Lily Belli’s go-to to break up the parade of holiday wine and to refresh the palate amid heavy foods.
Posted inFood & Drink
Best of Santa Cruz County food & drink events, Nov. 22-28
Lookout food & drink correspondent Lily Belli highlights top events happening around Santa Cruz County in the coming week, plus more listings from Lookout’s BOLO events calendar.
Posted inLatest News
Morning Lookout: A UCSC med school, Santa Cruz housing tax proposal and farewell to Mackenzies Chocolates
Santa Cruz County news headlines from Lookout for Friday, Nov. 22.