News Stories

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Explainer: Public pension debts in Santa Cruz County

By Jesse Kathan|2025-05-01T11:00:21-07:00August 9, 2024|Tags: budgets, City of Capitola, City of Santa Cruz, City of Scotts Valley, City of Watsonville, County of Santa Cruz, explainer, Featured, Jesse Kathan, Jim Reed, Mali LaGoe, Marcus Pimentel, pensions, public employees, salaries|

Despite reforms, local governments struggle with underfunded retirement payouts

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Scotts Valley City Council to weigh business tax measure Aug. 7

By Nik Altenberg|2024-08-13T16:54:25-07:00August 5, 2024|Tags: business, City of Scotts Valley, Featured, newsletter briefs, Nik Altenberg, Nov. 5 2024 election, Scotts Valley City Council|

Money could help close city budget gap

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National Night Out events in Capitola, Scotts Valley, Santa Cruz, Boulder Creek, Watsonville

By Nik Altenberg and Stephen Baxter|2024-08-16T15:52:14-07:00August 5, 2024|Tags: Boulder Creek, City of Capitola, City of Santa Cruz, City of Scotts Valley, City of Watsonville, Featured, Law enforcement, newsletter briefs|

Free games, demonstrations on Tuesday, Aug. 6

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Capitola voters to weigh sales tax hike

By Tyler Maldonado|2024-08-13T16:54:30-07:00August 1, 2024|Tags: city budget, City of Capitola, Featured, Jamie Goldstein, Kristen Brown, Nov. 5 2024 election, pensions, sales tax, taxes, Tyler Maldonado, Yvette Brooks|

Projected budget shortfall blamed on inflation, pension costs

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Soda tax heads to Santa Cruz city ballot

By Tyler Maldonado|2024-08-13T16:54:33-07:00August 1, 2024|Tags: City of Santa Cruz, Featured, Fred Keeley, Martine Watkins, Nov. 5 2024 election, Santa Cruz City Council, Tony Condotti, Tyler Maldonado|

Litigation risk follows council member’s court win

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Highway 1 cost overruns to be discussed by Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission

By Jesse Kathan|2024-08-13T16:54:37-07:00July 29, 2024|Tags: Caltrans, Featured, Highway 1, Jesse Kathan, Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission, Sarah Christensen, transportation|

Meeting set for Thursday, Aug. 1

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Capitola council advances plan for new off-leash dog park

By Tyler Maldonado|2024-08-13T16:54:40-07:00July 26, 2024|Tags: Alexander Pedersen, Andrew Dally, Capitola City Council, Featured, Jamie Goldstein, Joe Clarke, Kristen Brown, Margaux Keiser, Margaux Morgan, Noble Gulch Park, Yvette Brooks|

Jade Street community center renovation heads to bid

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How (and why) to run for school board in Santa Cruz County

By Jesse Kathan|2025-05-01T11:00:25-07:00July 25, 2024|Tags: education, explainer, Featured, Government, Jesse Kathan, Kris Munro, Nov. 5 2024 election, school boards, school districts, Tricia Webber|

Aug. 9 deadline for 32 seats

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Better jobs, affordable housing on the minds of Aptos voters

By Jay Leedy|2024-08-13T16:54:45-07:00July 25, 2024|Tags: affordable housing, District 2 Santa Cruz County Supervisor, employment, Featured, housing, Jay Leedy, jobs, Kim De Serpa, Kristen Brown, Zach Friend|

Some residents propose empty-home tax

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Capitola council to discuss dog rules, community center, new police chief

By Nik Altenberg and Jay Leedy|2024-08-13T16:54:50-07:00July 22, 2024|Tags: Capitola City Council, Capitola Police Department, City of Capitola, Featured, Jade Street Park, Jay Leedy, Nik Altenberg|

Plus: Your thoughts on fixing county roads

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Homelessness dips in Santa Cruz, rises in Watsonville

By Jesse Kathan|2024-08-13T16:54:54-07:00July 19, 2024|Tags: chronic homelessness, Featured, homelessness, Jesse Kathan, Robert Ratner, Santa Cruz County|

The 2024 point-in-time homeless census in four charts

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Scotts Valley voters want housing, family needs addressed

By Jay Leedy|2024-08-13T16:54:56-07:00July 18, 2024|Tags: City of Scotts Valley, Featured, Jay Leedy, Jim Reed, Nov. 5 2024 election, Santa Cruz Local community engagement, Scotts Valley City Council|

More businesses, improved bike transit wanted