Santa Cruz County elected officials and activists are trying to reopen a playbook that helped safeguard Monterey Bay from offshore drilling in the 1980s amid Trump administration plans to restart oil and gas leases off the California coast as early as 2027.
The Trump presidency and Santa Cruz County
News and opinion coverage of reaction in Santa Cruz County to the election of Donald Trump to a second term as president, plus news from around California via Lookout’s content partners.
Posted inLatest News
Community Bridges launches emergency fund for families facing immigration detention and separation
Amid the Trump administration’s ongoing immigration crackdown, Santa Cruz County nonprofit Community Bridges has launched a new emergency family aid fund that aims to provide up to $2,500 to households facing the detention of or separation from a loved one.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
California Latinos take pride in casting ballots in person. ICE at polls could deter that
The Trump administration’s Justice Department announced on Friday that it will deploy personnel to monitor polling sites in five counties: Fresno, Kern, Los Angeles, Orange and Riverside on Election Day. Fresno, Kern and Riverside counties are majority Latino.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Trump’s DOJ is sending election monitors to California with voting on Prop 50 underway
The Trump administration’s Department of Justice will deploy election monitors to five California counties on Election Day, the department announced Friday, in what it describes as an effort to “ensure transparency, ballot security, and compliance with federal law.” The news comes as voters are already casting ballots on Proposition 50, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposal to […]
Posted inVisual Story
‘No Kings’ in photos: Pictures from Saturday’s rallies across Santa Cruz County
The streets of Santa Cruz and Watsonville were filled with protesters on Saturday for “No Kings” rallies against Trump administration policies. Lookout photojournalist Kevin Painchaud was on hand to capture the scene in both cities.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Inflatable animal costumes and Dolores Huerta take center stage as ‘No Kings’ protests bring 18,000 to streets of Santa Cruz County
An estimated 18,000 protesters turned out in Santa Cruz and Watsonville combined for “No Kings” rallies protesting the Trump administration’s deployment of National Guard troops and other federal policies.
Posted inLatest News
Millions take to streets across U.S. in ‘No Kings’ anti-Trump protests
Thousands upon thousands showed up for the second organized “No Kings” events in America’s largest cities from Atlanta, New York and Chicago to smaller metro areas and towns including Greensburg, Pennsylvania; Bismarck, North Dakota; and Hammond, Louisiana. More than 2,600 nonviolent demonstrations were planned.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Scenes from ‘No Kings’ protests across the country
Organizers expected more than 2,600 “No Kings” protests across the country on Saturday. From massive rallies in cities like Chicago and Washington, D.C., to a small handful of protesters in Medora, North Dakota, Lookout has gathered a selection of social media posts from across the United States.
Posted inHealth & Wellness
Encompass CEO Stopera resigns after tumultuous 6 months for county’s largest health and human services nonprofit
Encompass Community Services CEO Shellee Stopera announced she is stepping down after just six months on the job, a period marked by funding challenges and program closures.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
‘No Kings’ 2.0 expects to attract large crowds throughout county on Saturday; Dolores Huerta to speak in Watsonville
Organizers of the “No Kings” protests expect large numbers on the streets of Watsonville and Santa Cruz on Saturday to decry the Trump administration’s deployment of National Guard troops in American cities and other federal policies.