More stormy weather could make landfall ahead of this weekend, with another atmospheric river hitting the Bay Area and forecast to bring up to 5 inches of rain in the Santa Cruz Mountains and up to 3 inches at lower elevations.
Storms 2023: Road to Recovery
Posted inLatest News
Newsom, IRS give storm-walloped Californians until October to file tax returns
Following the IRS’ lead, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Thursday that most Californians won’t have to pay their state taxes until Oct. 16. The delay is available to residents in Santa Cruz and 50 other counties covered by a federal emergency declaration that followed recent storms.
Posted inLatest News
After delay, Caltrans estimates Highway 9 to reopen March 17
Wet conditions have hampered further progress on stabilizing a slope in Ben Lomond to allow for one-way traffic. Glen Arbor Road remains the available detour.
Posted inLatest News
Rainy weather delays Highway 9 reopening in Ben Lomond
The wet weather has delayed the plans to reopen Highway 9 in the Ben Lomond area on Saturday. Crews have not been able to make progress on clearing the landslide over the past few days because of safety concerns, Caltrans engineer Jake Bradbury told Lookout.
Posted inLatest News
What goes into clearing a landslide? On Highway 9, it’s a lot of hours, people and uncertainty
For nearly two months, dozens of Caltrans crew members have tirelessly worked in the Santa Cruz Mountains to reopen even one lane of Highway 9, which fell victim to a major landslide on New Year’s Eve. Recent rains caused more debris to crumble from the hillside, leaving much to do ahead of a hopeful March 4 reopening.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
California state law needs to change — let’s stop allowing building in areas we know are dangerous
Most disaster victims deserve our sympathy, says Lookout political columnist Mike Rotkin. But some storm disasters are predictable and avoidable. The state needs to take action to change laws that allow anyone to rebuild housing in areas that are so clearly unsuitable and dangerous for habitation, Rotkin writes. “Low-lying neighborhoods like Felton Grove, subdivisions built on unstable slopes like Love Creek and multimillion-dollar homes built too close to the bay regularly put their residents at risk and even lead to unnecessary deaths.”
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Letter to the editor: Thank you, Rio del Mar firefighters
Have something to say? Lookout welcomes letters to the editor, within our policies, from readers. Guidelines here. To the editor: Thank you doesn’t begin to express my appreciation to Central Fire’s Rio Del Mar station firefighters who came to our rescue after a 170-foot eucalyptus tree crashed through our home in the middle of the […]
Posted inLatest News
Seacliff State Beach pier to be demolished; public farewell set for Saturday
The pier that has connected the SS Palo Alto — aka the Cement Ship — to the shore at Seacliff State Beach will be demolished later this month after January’s storms rendered it unsalvageable, according to California State Parks. A public farewell will be held Saturday at the Aptos landmark.
Posted inFood & Drink
Lily Belli on Food: Cooking for Capitola a smashing success, Burger Week is nigh & Valentine’s rib-eye
This week, Lily recaps the team effort by Capitola and Soquel chefs and their staffs that raised $40,000 to help workers affected by post-storm restaurant closures, previews Santa Cruz Burger Week and reveals a meaty splurge. All-star fundraiser Cooking for Capitola raises $40K for restaurant employees “When a disaster comes, chefs have a great opportunity […]
Posted inFood & Drink
All-star fundraiser Cooking for Capitola raises $40K for restaurant employees
“When a disaster comes, chefs have a great opportunity to step up and help out the community,” Anthony Kresge said of the event he organized with fellow chefs from Capitola and Soquel. “It was good to see an event like that after all the disasters and the pandemic — a celebration of community.”