More than 300 people gathered Sunday to grieve and honor Thairie Ritchie, the prominent local civil rights activist who set himself on fire Jan. 20 atop Santa Cruz’s Black Lives Matter street mural. As Ritchie faces a “a long and challenging recovery,” several speakers recalled his activism and renewed demands for the City of Santa Cruz to release more information about the incident.
Santa Cruz
Posted inLatest News
Prominent local civil rights activist set himself on fire near Santa Cruz City Hall; the motive is unclear
In a shocking public event, a local activist set fire to himself in downtown Santa Cruz, just hours after both the second Donald Trump inauguration and the well-attended MLK March in Santa Cruz. Little is so far known beyond what happened on the day itself.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Amid national ‘sanctuary cities’ concerns, Santa Cruz City Council ponders what to do – privately
Santa Cruz, a sanctuary city since the 1980s, has traditionally recommitted to the policy when deportation rhetoric from the White House has ticked up. The city has so far kept quiet under the new Trump administration – and in mid-January held sanctuary city discussions behind closed doors.
Posted inHousing & Development
Santa Cruz real estate lobby opposes proposed affordable housing tax measure
The Santa Cruz County Association of Realtors’ unexpected opposition throws shade over the proposed Workforce Housing Solutions Act, an affordable housing tax measure designed to raise $5 million annually through a parcel tax and a tax on sales of luxury homes in the city of Santa Cruz.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Determining what went wrong during Santa Cruz Wharf collapse will be long process, city says
Santa Cruz officials are investigating the Dec. 23 wharf collapse, which caused nearly $19 million in damage. The city has approved a recovery package and is planning a structural analysis to determine future steps.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
As soda tax lawsuit looms, Santa Cruz officials are trying to ‘build our war chest’
In Santa Cruz, triumphing against Big Soda to pass the country’s first sugar-sweetened beverage tax since 2018 was only the first hurdle. Now, the city faces a looming legal challenge, and financial backing isn’t as certain as some had hoped.
Posted inLatest News
Cold front and intense winds to sweep through Santa Cruz County
Strong winds and low overnight temperatures are expected across Santa Cruz County on Saturday through Tuesday. The cold front could affect sensitive residents and be hazardous for people who are unhoused.
Posted inLatest News
Animal shelter opens registration for low-cost spay or neuter, vaccines and microchips
Registration is open for low-cost spay or neuter surgery, core vaccines and a microchip for up to 200 pets, offered by the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter, from Feb. 14-16.
Posted inLatest News
No injuries after Volkswagen camper van catches fire on Highway 1
A Volkswagen Westfalia camper van was consumed by fire at Highway 1 and River Street in Santa Cruz on Monday morning. No one was injured.
Posted inLatest News
Cal/OSHA confirms it is investigating Santa Cruz Wharf collapse
The state agency responsible for holding employers accountable for workplace safety has launched an investigation into the Dec. 23 Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf collapse, a spokesperson for Cal/OSHA confirmed.