Of the 175 miles of trails in Santa Cruz and San Mateo counties affected by last summer’s blaze, only 7.5 miles have reopened so far. As the public anxiously waits to regain access to places like Big Basin and parts of Henry Cowell, crews from around the state and county are hard at work removing hazards and making trails safe for use.
San Lorenzo Valley
Posted inBusiness & Technology
Why red-hot Boulder Creek & the 95006 are bucking expectations: Tech influx began with social, political unrest
Looking for refuge in the redwoods, many “people in Silicon Valley wanted to get out of the cities. I’ve been working here since 2004 … and this is the busiest year we’ve ever had,” said one local realtor. A closer look at how and why a fire-ravaged zone remains one of the county’s hottest real estate markets.
Posted inLatest News
‘This is my children’s future’: Angry fire survivors dig in against potentially damning clause, vow to fight
On Tuesday, the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors approved the CZU Rebuild Directive, which removes a geological hazard evaluation requirement but required another document stating the evaluation had not been done. Owners say this clause will affect property values, and officials are looking into possible adjustments.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
‘Where do we go from here?’: Activists will hold community forum to address racial, social issues
Activist Thairie Ritchie is hosting a discussion Saturday, seeking to engage the larger community about the traumatic issues Santa Cruz County residents have had to deal with this year. It will be held from 1 to 6 p.m. at Mission Plaza in Santa Cruz.
Posted inLatest News
A clause for concern: CZU victims express fear over verbiage included in proposed geological revision
The board of supervisors agreed to hear more information on the topic in two weeks and encouraged homeowners to flesh out their concerns further. “If you feel strongly that this is going to have an impact on the value of your homes, I would suggest coming back with some evidence from real estate professionals,” Manu Koenig said.
Posted inLatest News
PG&E sheds light on Ben Lomond power outage, what was tripping the ‘fast trip’ tech: It was squirrels
Thousands of Ben Lomond residents were angry at PG&E over the weekend as power went out. A spokesperson for the utility company told Lookout on Monday that squirrels biting or touching a line triggered the new “fast trip” mechanism.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Judge acknowledges unpopularity of sexually violent predator’s Bonny Doon placement, but wants to hear more
Santa Cruz Superior Court Judge Syda Cogliati continued the hearing about “sexually violent predator” Michael Cheek’s proposed placement on Wild Iris Lane to Oct. 14. Outside the courthouse Tuesday, community members made their feelings clear with signs such as “Keep Michael Cheek away from our families.”
Posted inPolitics & Policy
A test of ‘Bonny Doon Strong’: Why a ‘sexually violent predator’ should not be this community’s next battle
As 30% of its population continues to either rebuild, mitigate damage or choose where else to go next, the state of California, via a private company called Liberty Healthcare, has dropped another bomb on the community of Bonny Doon. A Santa Cruz judge can bring sanity to the situation Tuesday, but the recommended placement illustrates that this is a system in need of overhaul.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
Coming together ‘when tragedy strikes’: SLVers gather at Brookdale Lodge to measure the loss, face the future
THE HERE & NOW: Besides the latest in music and movies, columnist Wallace Baine catches up with the Santa Cruz Mountains…
Posted inLatest News
‘Hero of the neighborhood’: How a Bonny Doon neighbor’s resolve helped save a Santa Cruz musical treasure
The name Boomeria comes not from the dramatic churchy sounds that emanate from the pipe-organ, but from the man, Preston Boomer, who built not only the organ but the bizarro playland that surrounds it. It was the 90-year-old’s neighbor Alexis “Lexi” Seath who took it upon herself to save “the Chapel” she grew up next to.
