The City of Santa Cruz is seeking an environmental activist age 24 or younger to join its new Sustainability and Resiliency Committee, which will advise the city council on climate issues.
Santa Cruz
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Bonnie Lipscomb named new Santa Cruz deputy city manager
Bonnie Lipscomb, City of Santa Cruz economic development and housing director, is moving into a new role as deputy city manager. She will focus on citywide initiatives, policy development and organizational leadership.
Posted inHousing & Development
Water Street affordable housing project draws supporters and detractors with familiar concerns
A Wednesday evening meeting focused on a proposed housing development for 525 Water St., at the corner of Market Street in Santa Cruz, brought out a mix of supporters and opponents. Supporters expressed gratitude for the addition of new affordable housing while opponents raised issues with parking and traffic impacts, as well as building aesthetics.
Posted inHousing & Development
Santa Cruz will explore conversion of downtown library into housing and permanent farmers market
The Santa Cruz City Council voted unanimously to explore the potential of converting the existing downtown library lot into a mixed-use development with a public plaza for the downtown farmers market.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Santa Cruz County seeks community input on natural disaster preparation
Santa Cruz County is seeking community opinions as it updates its Hazard Mitigation Plan to reduce losses from natural disasters, with preparedness events in English and Spanish set for the coming month.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
No test, few arrests: Law enforcement officials diverge over county’s cannabis lounge plans
As the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors considers allowing cannabis consumption lounges, impaired driving and public safety have become central concerns for some community members. Police officers throughout the county have different opinions on just how big an issue high driving really is.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Why more housing means more money for Santa Cruz schools
Santa Cruz schools don’t have to be dependent on federal funding, writes Kyle Kelley, the vice president of the Santa Cruz City Schools district board. We can take a simple action to get more money to our schools: build more housing. Here, he explains how local schools can benefit from increased property tax revenue: “When local property taxes bring in more money than what the state provides to schools directly, the schools get to keep the additional funds. That extra money – known as ‘basic aid’ – goes directly to our classrooms.”
Posted inHousing & Development
Santa Cruz will regain some local control in deciding fate of unique Westside housing development
A major Westside Santa Cruz development is moving forward — but without a clear plan. For the first time in years, city officials have the power to shape or reject the project, reigniting debates over housing, local control and UC Santa Cruz’s impact on neighborhoods.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Letter to the editor: Be careful which housing petition you sign – don’t fall for the realtors
In a letter to the editor, a Santa Cruzan urges fellow residents to support the Workforce Housing Solutions Act rather than a proposed measure from local real estate agents that might look similar.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Is the end of the Santa Cruz progressive era upon us?
Chris Krohn, a former Santa Cruz mayor and city councilmember, sees a shift he doesn’t like in city politics. Gone, he believes, are the days of grassroots, progressive fights for social services, parks, a women’s commission, pedestrian amenities and the greenbelt. “Santa Cruz,” he writes, is beginning to buckle under the weight of the current for-profit credo of “build-baby-build,” which he insists is “the local flavor” of the Trump mantra “drill-baby-drill.” The current council, he writes, “has been rapidly selling off our city’s seed corn.”