B. Sakura Cannestra, Author at Santa Cruz Local

About B. Sakura Cannestra

B. Sakura Cannestra is a politics and governance journalist based in San Jose. She previously reported for San José Spotlight and POLITICO California. She graduated from UC Berkeley in 2023 with a Master's of Journalism, where she also got her start as an undergraduate in 2016 covering the university and city of Berkeley for the Daily Californian.

‘Unacceptable’: Cabrillo College dental hygiene program on three-year state probation

By B. Sakura Cannestra|2026-04-30T13:31:41-07:00April 30, 2026|Tags: Cabrillo College, community college, dental hygiene, education, Featured, health care, Travaris Harris|

Regulators say program changed student grades and is understaffed

Ryan Coonerty holds early fundraising lead in Santa Cruz Mayor’s race

By B. Sakura Cannestra|2026-04-24T18:55:50-07:00April 24, 2026|Tags: campaign finance, elections, Featured, June 2 2026 election|

Campaign finances give first look at candidates’ funds

Anti-surveillance organizers want to engage leaders in Watsonville and Capitola, but efforts are slow-going

By B. Sakura Cannestra|2026-05-11T12:10:14-07:00April 19, 2026|Tags: Capitola Police Department, City of Watsonville, Featured, Flock Safety, ICE, Santa Cruz City Council, Santa Cruz Police Department, surveillance, Watsonville Police Department|

Local groups to converge in Watsonville to discuss data privacy and Flock Safety cameras

‘I don’t know what to do’: Santa Cruz homeless residents grapple with dwindling services

By B. Sakura Cannestra|2026-04-03T09:13:17-07:00April 3, 2026|Tags: B. Sakura Cannestra, Featured, homeless, homelessness, Housing Matters, Larry Imwalle|

Housing Matters’ Day Services closure cuts off bathrooms, showers, water

‘You’re not able to just close your door and teach’: PVUSD employees get layoff notices

By B. Sakura Cannestra|2026-03-25T13:58:03-07:00March 25, 2026|Tags: Alejandro Chavez, B. Sakura Cannestra, education, Featured, Kit Bragg, layoffs, Pajaro Valley Unified School District, pink slips, PVUSD, school budget|

With fewer instructors, teachers worry students will lose out

PVUSD takes first step towards school closures amid financial crisis

By B. Sakura Cannestra|2026-03-20T12:34:33-07:00March 19, 2026|Tags: Brandon Diniz, Featured, Gabriel Medina, Gerardo Castillo, Jessica Carrasco, Mads Realmuto, Misty Navarro, Pajaro Valley Unified School District, PVUSD, school closures|

School closure committee applications to open next week

Pleasure Point residents say ‘yes’ to female surfer statue — just not here

By B. Sakura Cannestra and Amaya Edwards|2026-03-25T08:58:40-07:00March 17, 2026|Tags: East Cliff, Featured, Pleasure Point, Steamer Lane, surf, Surfer statue, West Cliff Drive|

County to consider the proposal at April 3 meeting

Santa Cruz Mountains residents clash with PG&E over tree cutting

By B. Sakura Cannestra|2026-03-12T08:43:42-07:00March 12, 2026|Tags: Boulder Creek, CZU Lightning Complex Fire, Featured, Lompico, Monica Martinez, Pacific Gas & Electric Co., PG&E, San Lorenzo Valley, Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors, tree cutting|

Residents worried about possible landslides, environmental damage

Santa Cruz County bans federal immigration agents from using county property

By B. Sakura Cannestra|2026-03-11T12:14:38-07:00March 11, 2026|Tags: Featured, Felipe Hernandez, ICE, immigration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Monica Martinez, Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors|

Ban covers all county buildings, parking lots and open spaces

Santa Cruz County braces for state mental health funding shift

By B. Sakura Cannestra|2026-02-13T19:09:39-08:00February 14, 2026|Tags: County of Santa Cruz, Featured, Government, health, Proposition 1, Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency, Santa Cruz County Supervisors|

Homelessness, substance abuse prioritized, while overall funds are reduced

Santa Cruz County Supervisors reluctantly approve Live Oak housing project

By B. Sakura Cannestra|2026-02-11T16:04:15-08:00February 11, 2026|Tags: 841 Capitola Road, Builder’s Remedy, Featured, housing, Live Oak, Workbench|

Neighbors poised to sue over application timeline

Santa Cruz County supervisors meeting yields progress for veterans, immigrant resident protection

By B. Sakura Cannestra|2026-01-29T08:51:29-08:00January 29, 2026|Tags: B. Sakura Cannestra, climate change, Featured, immigration, Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors, veterans|

Committee formed to prepare for federal immigration enforcement