Young local workers once viewed service jobs as temporary steppingstones. Now, more than 80% told UC Santa Cruz researchers that they are open to unionizing, motivated by both economic pressures and a broader vision of workplace democracy.
Today’s Top Story
A significant story with interest across the county
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Ask Lookout: Is Santa Cruz County considering additional locations for battery storage facilities?
Santa Cruz County residents are concerned that the battery storage facility proposed outside Watsonville is not the only possible location within the county for battery storage. County officials and developers say the South County project is the only pending application and viable location.
Posted inEducation
Historic horse stable, home to rescue animals, faces eviction as UCSC moves to acquire coastal property
After five decades serving local horse owners and rescue animals, Coast Road Stables faces displacement as UC Santa Cruz and The Conservation Fund move forward with plans to purchase the 200-acre coastal property just north of city limits. With leases set to end by June 2026, boarders say they’ve been left in the dark — and are now scrambling to find alternatives for their animals, many of which are elderly or medically fragile.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Battery storage developer aims to advance Watsonville project before next summer, regardless of Santa Cruz County’s rules
Santa Cruz County supervisors postponed battery storage rules until August 2026, a delay that could push developer New Leaf Energy to sidestep local review and seek faster state approval for its $200 million project.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
Ribbon cut at La Bahia: Santa Cruz’s most opulent hotel set to welcome guests Sept. 8
After more than 40 years of planning and three years of construction, the La Bahia Hotel & Spa is set to officially open Sept. 8 on the Santa Cruz waterfront, bringing 155 rooms, two restaurants, a spa, rooftop pool and luxury amenities.
Posted inLatest News
City council OKs relief plan for Seabright, harbor businesses hurt by Murray Street Bridge closure
Santa Cruz city officials approved a plan to explore multiple aid measures for businesses affected by the three-year Murray Street Bridge construction, from free parking and business loans to a new bus route and a possible bike path on the nearby rail line.
Posted inLatest News
As Pajaro levee sweep begins, homeless workers face the painful task of displacing their own
As crews began to clear the Pajaro River levee encampment on Monday, some of the workers are homeless themselves — and struggle to reconcile their need for paid work with being on the other side of sweeps in the past.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
New database reveals at least 21 police misconduct, shooting, use of force cases in Santa Cruz County
A newly released police database includes at least 21 cases from Santa Cruz County of law enforcement agencies using force or involved in shootings, along with investigations into officer misconduct on and off duty.
Posted inEducation
At Santa Cruz High, years of construction drag on with no firm end in sight
Years of construction at Santa Cruz High, meant to modernize the historic campus, have instead created a maze of fencing and relocated programs that is testing the patience of students and teachers who say they dream of the day their school won’t feel like an endless work in progress.
Posted inHousing & Development
Santa Cruz County housing picture ‘almost a buyer’s market’ as inventory, sales continue rising
Inventory and sales were up in both July over the previous month and over July 2024 as the busy summer for Santa Cruz County’s housing market continues. Realtors say the market is shifting more in favor of buyers, even if it hasn’t quite gotten there yet. They look ahead to the fall, which is typically slower, to better gauge the economy and see if the Federal Reserve makes any major moves.