Homeless residents along the Pajaro River levee face displacement from planned sweeps for safety and levee repairs, leaving them anxious about limited housing options and what will happen to their belongings and pets.
Today’s Top Story
A significant story with interest across the county
Posted inHousing & Development
Can a new tax break for landmark buildings help save Santa Cruz County’s disappearing history?
Preservationists say Santa Cruz County’s adoption of a tax relief program for historic properties could help spur interest in saving buildings such as the Bayview Hotel in Aptos and Redman-Hirahara House in Watsonville. Some critics argue such laws mainly serve as a windfall for wealthy homeowners.
Posted inHousing & Development
Why Santa Cruz builds rentals, not condos — and what it means for first-time homebuyers
Santa Cruz is building more housing than ever — but almost none of it is for sale. Sky-high home prices and a state law meant to protect buyers are discouraging developers from building condos, closing off a key path to ownership.
Posted inLatest News
Deportation fears grow in Santa Cruz County as immigration raids, protests escalate across U.S.
As immigration raids and protests continue to escalate in Los Angeles and spread across the country, Santa Cruz County leaders say they are doing their best to keep residents’ fears at bay. Meanwhile, an ICE spokesperson tells Lookout: “There’s no secret that we’ll be out in the field.”
Posted inLatest News
RTC commissioners bristle at ‘daunting’ price tag for passenger train, sparking concerns about who will pay for it
Several regional transit commissioners balked Thursday at the price tag and ridership projections of a proposed passenger rail project that could require Santa Cruz County taxpayers to shoulder up to $148 million in annual costs and potentially trigger a sales tax hike to pay for it.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
‘No Kings’ and Juneteenth: Santa Cruz County’s eventful Saturday
Santa Cruz County will do its part in nationwide “No Kings” protests with rallies in Santa Cruz and Watsonville. Meanwhile, the long-planned Juneteenth celebration will go on in downtown Santa Cruz.
Posted inHealth & Wellness
‘People will die’: Local doctors, clinicians say Santa Cruz County health cuts pose big risk
Santa Cruz County doctors warn closing public lab and radiology services could endanger vulnerable patients, worsening chronic conditions and increasing ER visits. Despite pleas from front-line providers, Tuesday’s budget vote could cut vital safety-net health care infrastructure with little transition planning.
Posted inEducation
UCSC students say school failing to keep them safe from voyeur targeting dorm showers
Two UC Santa Cruz students say the university has failed to adequately respond to a series of voyeurism incidents in a campus dorm, including reports of someone filming students while they showered and stealing their clothing. Despite requests, students say the school hasn’t made timely or meaningful security upgrades.
Posted inHousing & Development
Vote clears way for Clocktower Center construction – but balcony disagreement could spell trouble
The Santa Cruz Planning Commission unanimously approved the downtown Clocktower Center project Thursday, but its rejection of developer Workbench’s request for more balcony space on lower floors opened the door to litigation.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Encompass closes one mental health site, another at risk as budget cuts loom
Encompass Community Services, Santa Cruz County’s largest nonprofit provider of behavioral mental health residential programs, says its Casa Pacific facility in Watsonville is at risk of closure as a result of funding cuts from the county. The nonprofit has already closed its Live Oak crisis mental health facility for the same reasons.