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Santa Cruz Local’s June election guide is here

By Jesse Kathan|2026-05-09T22:27:14-07:00May 10, 2026|Tags: 2026 elections, City of Santa Cruz, election, Featured, Jesse Kathan, June 2 2026 election, Monterey County, Monterey County Board of Supervisors, Santa Cruz City Council, Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors|

You told us what to ask candidates in Santa Cruz, South County and Pajaro. Here’s what they said.

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Housing development behind Peace United Church grows in size

By Jesse Kathan|2026-04-27T14:30:10-07:00April 27, 2026|Tags: Featured, housing, Jesse Kathan, UC Santa Cruz, Workbench|

New application now calls for 47 units

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Seven-story affordable housing proposed next to Palomar Inn

By Jesse Kathan|2026-04-18T19:49:17-07:00April 17, 2026|Tags: 1032 Pacific Ave, Dell Williams, downtown Santa Cruz, Featured, housing, palomar inn, Ryan Coonerty|

Property is owned by mayoral candidate's wife

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Santa Cruz could trade voting power for prettier developments

By Jesse Kathan|2026-03-27T16:27:59-07:00March 23, 2026|Tags: architecture, City of Santa Cruz, development, downtown Santa Cruz, Featured, housing, Jesse Kathan|

City Council to discuss Tuesday

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Santa Cruz County poised to cancel contract with mental health nonprofit

By Jesse Kathan|2026-03-23T14:51:31-07:00March 23, 2026|Tags: Featured, homelessness, Jesse Kathan, mental health, Mental Health Client Action Network, MHCAN, Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors|

Also: CORE funding, youth commission

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Half-cent sales tax for Santa Cruz County buses proposed for November ballot

By Jesse Kathan|2026-03-20T12:51:33-07:00March 19, 2026|Tags: 2026 elections, buses, Featured, James Sandoval, Jesse Kathan, Manu Koenig, Melinda Orbach, Nov. 3 2026 election, public transit, sales tax, Santa Cruz Metro, Shebreh Kalatari-Johnson, transportation|

Money would avert service cuts and 100 layoffs

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Santa Cruz City Council approves Coral Street zoning changes

By Jesse Kathan|2026-03-12T13:45:32-07:00March 10, 2026|Tags: Coral Street, development, Featured, Jesse Kathan, Santa Cruz City Council|

New buildings could be up to 8 stories

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County leaders to discuss locking out immigration agents

By Jesse Kathan|2026-03-09T15:13:14-07:00March 9, 2026|Tags: Featured, ICE, immigration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Jesse Kathan, Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors|

Sheriff’s data sharing to undergo audit

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PVUSD could soon discuss closing schools — months after a push to consider it

By Jesse Kathan|2026-03-07T10:51:19-08:00March 7, 2026|Tags: Carol Turley, education, Featured, Gabriel Medina, Heather Contreras, Joy Flynn, Mads Realmuto, Misty Navarro, Nora Yerena, Pajaro Valley Unified School District, PVUSD, school closures|

Discussion comes alongside proposal for bond measure

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UC Santa Cruz student to challenge city Councilmember Renée Golder

By Jesse Kathan|2026-03-06T17:56:46-08:00March 6, 2026|Tags: district 6, elections, Featured, Jesse Kathan, June 2 2026 election, Renee Golder|

Also: One more joins mayoral race, Justin Cummings secures another term

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A Santa Cruz nonprofit offered to step in for an embattled mental health organization. Not everyone is on board.

By Jesse Kathan|2026-03-04T14:21:22-08:00March 4, 2026|Tags: Alicia Kuhl, Evan Morrison, Featured, Jesse Kathan, Mental Health Client Action Network, people first, Yana Jacobs|

People First could temporarily run MHCAN’s programs

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Three more join race for Santa Cruz Mayor

By Jesse Kathan|2026-03-27T16:32:05-07:00March 4, 2026|Tags: Ami Chen Mills, Chris Krohn, Featured, Gillian Greensite, Joy Schendledecker, June 2 2026 election, Ryan Coonerty, Santa Cruz Mayor|

Field now includes repeat candidates and recalled council member