• 

How should $7.5 million be spent on water, wildfire and land projects in Santa Cruz County?

By Nik Altenberg|2025-06-12T10:24:40-07:00June 9, 2025|Tags: climate change, environment, Featured, Mark Bingham, Measure Q, Nik Altenberg, Nov. 5 2024 election, wildfire|

Residents’ priorities gathered for Measure Q spending

• 

Balcony design could sink 8-story Clocktower project

By Nik Altenberg|2025-06-06T11:21:43-07:00June 2, 2025|Tags: City of Santa Cruz, Clay Toombs, Featured, housing, Nik Altenberg, Samantha Haschert, Santa Cruz Planning Commission, Tim Gordin, Workbench|

Developer, city staff spar over encroachment into public space

• 

Unhealthy tap water at farmworker housing prompts fixes

By Nik Altenberg|2026-05-11T12:03:08-07:00May 23, 2025|Tags: County of Santa Cruz, drinking water, environment, Featured, health, Housing Authority of the County of Santa Cruz, Nathan Salazar, Nik Altenberg, Pajaro Valley, PFAS, South County, water|

Installed filter system lacks county permits to operate

• 

Santa Cruz council to consider taller buildings, new Warriors arena downtown

By Nik Altenberg and Jesse Kathan|2025-05-12T16:33:36-07:00May 12, 2025|Tags: downtown expansion, downtown Santa Cruz, Featured, housing, Santa Cruz City Council, Santa Cruz Warriors|

May 13 vote on downtown expansion plan

• 

State legislators push for fixes at Hilltop apartments in Santa Cruz

By Nik Altenberg|2025-09-11T14:38:41-07:00May 9, 2025|Tags: City of Santa Cruz, education, Featured, Gail Pellerin, Greystar, Hilltop Apartments, housing, John Laird, Justin Cummings, Nik Altenberg, Renee Golder, UC Regents, UC Santa Cruz, University of California|

Laird, Pellerin, Cummings, Golder seek answers

• 

Labor leader Dolores Huerta calls for end to pesticides in Pajaro Valley

By Nik Altenberg|2025-05-07T06:30:44-07:00May 7, 2025|Tags: Agriculture, City of Watsonville, Dolores Huerta, Driscoll’s, environment, Featured, health, Nik Altenberg, pesticides|

Farmworkers detail cancer, other health harms

• 

4 housing rezones in Live Oak, Corralitos delayed by Santa Cruz County Supervisors

By Nik Altenberg|2025-05-01T16:20:21-07:00April 30, 2025|Tags: Builder’s Remedy, Featured, Government, housing, housing element, Nik Altenberg, Santa Cruz County Supervisors|

Unmet state deadlines could spell further loss of local control

• 

Free bus rides in Santa Cruz County on Tuesday

By Nik Altenberg|2025-05-01T10:34:21-07:00April 22, 2025|Tags: Earth Day, environment, Santa Cruz Metro, transportation|

Plus, a Watsonville Earth Day event April 27

• 

City orders fixes at UC-owned Hilltop apartments in Santa Cruz as problems mount

By Nik Altenberg|2025-05-12T16:11:49-07:00April 11, 2025|Tags: City of Santa Cruz, code enforcement, Featured, Greystar, Hilltop Apartments, housing, Nik Altenberg, renters, Student housing, UC Santa Cruz, University of California|

Tenants file state discrimination complaints, consider lawsuit

• 

New pesticide alerts draw praise, criticism in Pajaro Valley

By Nik Altenberg|2025-07-02T17:32:54-07:00March 28, 2025|Tags: City of Watsonville, Featured, health, Katie Bolin, Mary Gaukel Forster, Nik Altenberg, Pajaro Valley, pesticides, Rocio Ortiz, Yanely Martinez|

Teachers, students describe health problems

• 

Almar Ave. apartment proposal heads to Santa Cruz Planning Commission

By Nik Altenberg|2025-03-20T12:24:57-07:00March 19, 2025|Tags: Featured, housing, Mark Primack, Nik Altenberg, Santa Cruz Planning Commission, Student housing, students, UC Santa Cruz, Westside Santa Cruz|

6-story proposal is across street from approved 3-story complex

• 

Tips for Dreamers in Santa Cruz County as DACA faces uncertain future

By Nik Altenberg|2025-02-26T14:06:37-08:00February 25, 2025|Tags: DACA, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, Featured, Fidel M. Soto, ICE, immigration, Kate Hinnenkamp, Nik Altenberg, South County|

Renew documents, follow policy changes and consider a lawyer