A dramatic shift in Santa Cruz County’s homeless population, with more being counted in Watsonville this year than the city of Santa Cruz, has officials scrambling to provide more shelter beds and services in the southern part of the county. Watsonville will consider a tiny home village project at its city council meeting on Tuesday, and is convening a community meeting on the broader issue of action to confront homelessness on Oct. 5.
Santa Cruz
Posted inPolitics & Policy
St. George rent cap draws initial support from Santa Cruz City Council as threat of lawsuit looms
The 70 low-income tenants at the St. George Residences in downtown Santa Cruz might no longer be priced out of their homes after a city council proposal to cap rent hikes there passed on first reading Tuesday. The city council will take a final vote on Sept. 24. The owner of the building is threatening to sue.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Santa Cruz backs ban on other communities bringing homeless to city
In a unanimous vote Tuesday, the Santa Cruz City Council threw initial support behind a new law that would ban agents of other governments from dropping homeless people off within the city of Santa Cruz boundaries. The city council will vote in two weeks on final approval.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
‘Millions’ expected to pour into campaigns over Santa Cruz’s sugary drink tax
The battle of Measure Z, Santa Cruz’s proposed tax on sugar-sweetened beverages, is cooking up to be an expensive one with interests as big as the Coca-Cola Co. pouring money into stopping it. And if they can’t get Santa Cruz voters to defeat the tax in November, corporate opponents are expected to challenge the measure in court.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Conversation with an accidental caving legend — the guy who drew the map of Santa Cruz’s notorious ‘Hell Hole’
Daniel DeLong manages to score an interview with the elusive Binky the Wonderdog, known for having made the hand-drawn map used by hundreds to navigate the depths of IXL, Santa Cruz’s infamous cave and the source of much local mythology. The cave, located in Wilder Ranch, is known for its narrow, claustrophobic passages, steep drop-offs and hall of sculptured faces. It’s not for the faint-hearted. You’ve been warned.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Santa Cruz remains committed to compassionate homeless solutions, despite Supreme Court decision
The City of Santa Cruz is not changing its homeless policies in the wake of the Supreme Court’s Grants Pass decision and Gov. Gavin Newsom’s executive order to clear homeless encampments. Rather, it is moving forward with programs that increase affordable housing, offer shelter and provide outreach, writes City Manager Matt Huffaker. Here, Huffaker outlines the city’s programs, efforts and grants, which he says have led to a 36% decrease in homelessness in Santa Cruz over the past year.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Judge won’t block Santa Cruz soda tax ballot language former candidate says is misleading
Former Santa Cruz City Council candidate Hector Marin says he’s appealing a judge’s dismissal of his lawsuit challenging the wording of November ballot language for a proposed city sugary drink tax. He claims that a list of potential uses for revenue from the tax that will appear on the ballot — youth and senior programs, for example — is misleading because it will actually be considered general fund revenue that could be used for any city expense.
Posted inLatest News
Santa Cruz Mayor Keeley says he is cancer-free after a year of treatments
Santa Cruz Mayor Fred Keeley was diagnosed with bladder cancer in July 2023. One year of treatments later, he said he is officially cancer-free. The 74-year-old mayor didn’t miss a single Tuesday city council meeting over the course of his treatment and recovery.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
Local business leaders join Visit Santa Cruz County board of directors
Tim McDonald, Keiki McKay, Herman Wuysang, Owen Lawlor and Jess Brown have been named to the Visit Santa Cruz County board of directors.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
New Santa Cruz assistant city manager brings climate action experience
Santa Cruz’s new assistant city manager is a city native who comes to the job with experience in implementing numerous climate action and environmental initiatives. Michelle Templeton was previously assistant city manager in Santa Clara, holds a degree in environmental studies, and “has managed collaboration across all city departments to achieve sustainability and climate action […]