Santa Cruz County first responders, National Weather Service warn of beach hazards amid back-to-back rescues
The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office, the National Weather Service and local fire agencies are warning the public to beware of dangerous ocean conditions that have led to several water rescues and one fatality.
Cal Fire and assisting agencies have responded to five ocean rescues in the 1-mile stretch between Yellow Bank Beach to Bonny Doon Beach in the northern part of the county in the past 30 days.
“That’s much more than normal,” Cal Fire spokesperson Cecile Juliette told Lookout on Thursday afternoon.
While the region has already experienced several days of large swells and dangerous beach conditions, the National Weather Service says beach hazards are expected through at least 9 p.m. Thursday. The agency warns of sneaker waves and strong rip currents and advises that people stay off jetties, piers, rocks and other infrastructure adjacent to the water.
“Remain out of the water to avoid hazardous surf and NEVER turn your back on the ocean,” the NWS said in a statement.
The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office and City of Santa Cruz also warned the community about warmer temperatures and beach hazards through the weekend. For information on Santa Cruz County coastal beach conditions and hazards, click here.
The sheriff’s office urges beachgoers to watch for sneaker waves and changing surf conditions as powerful waves can quickly and without warning surge much higher and farther up the beach than expected. It encourages swimmers to stay in shallow waters and to swim near staffed lifeguard towers when possible.
On Wednesday, during the most recent Cal Fire water rescue, Santa Cruz County Volunteer Fire Captain Kyle Breton said on X, formerly Twitter, that two women were swept out into the ocean by a rising tide at Yellow Bank Beach. One has since died and the second is in critical condition, according to Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s spokesperson Ashley Keehn.
“Both of these patients, we believe, were originally sleeping right at the Keyhole,” Breton said, referencing an opening visitors use to access Yellow Bank Beach. “Which is an area that we’re finding catches people unaware [as] the tides come in.”
He said that about eight rescue swimmers helped and they were able to get both of the women out, one to Yellow Bank Beach and the other to Panther Beach, from which they were transported to local hospitals.
Keehn told Lookout that the agency isn’t releasing the identities at this time.
Breton said first responders are noticing that beachgoers are going through the Keyhole to get to Yellow Bank Beach and are getting trapped there when the tides come in. Breton wants the public to understand that risk when visiting the beaches.
The Santa Cruz city and Central fire districts, as well as the sheriff’s office, assisted in the rescues.
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Santa Cruz County joins California lawsuit against proposed federal ICE site near Gilroy
➤ Para leer el artículo en español, haga clic aquí.
Santa Cruz County is joining a lawsuit filed by California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Santa Clara County earlier this week that seeks to block a planned federal immigration enforcement facility near Gilroy.
The proposed facility would be located just outside Gilroy, nearly 11 miles south of a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) field office in Morgan Hill, according to a report from San José Spotlight. The lawsuit alleges that the project was “undertaken without required local review and permitting process.”
Despite the proposed facility being located in Santa Clara County, it could affect communities throughout the Central Coast.
Immigration agents have visited Santa Cruz County at least 39 times since January 2025, including the arrest of a Watsonville resident in January 2026. Federal officials have thus far not conducted a large-scale enforcement operation in the county and have conducted only targeted arrests.
“Santa Cruz County communities are deeply connected to those throughout the region,” County Supervisor Monica Martinez said in a media release Thursday.
County leadership intends to participate in ongoing efforts, including joining the lawsuit, “to understand, prepare for and fight back against the impacts of federal immigration enforcement activities,” said Martinez.
Earlier this year, the board of supervisors approved an ordinance barring ICE agents from using county-owned facilities, such as parks, buildings and parking lots, for enforcement purposes.
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El condado de Santa Cruz se une a una demanda de California contra un propuesto centro federal de ICE cerca de Gilroy
Esta traducción fue generada utilizando inteligencia artificial y ha sido revisada por un hablante nativo de español; si bien nos esforzamos por lograr precisión, pueden ocurrir algunos errores de traducción. Para leer el artículo en inglés, haga clic aquí.
El condado de Santa Cruz se está uniendo a una demanda presentada a principios de esta semana por el fiscal general de California, Rob Bonta, y el condado de Santa Clara, la cual busca impedir la construcción de una instalación federal de control migratorio cerca de Gilroy.
La instalación propuesta estaría ubicada en las afueras de Gilroy, aproximadamente a 11 millas al sur de una oficina regional del Servicio de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas de Estados Unidos (ICE) en Morgan Hill, según un informe de San José Spotlight. La demanda sostiene que el proyecto fue llevado a cabo “sin los procesos obligatorios de revisión local y obtención de permisos.”
Aunque la instalación propuesta estaría ubicada en el condado de Santa Clara, podría afectar a comunidades de toda la Costa Central.
Agentes de inmigración han visitado el condado de Santa Cruz al menos 39 veces desde enero de 2025, incluyendo el arresto de un residente de Watsonville en enero de 2026. Hasta ahora, las autoridades federales no han llevado a cabo una operación de control migratorio a gran escala en el condado y únicamente han realizado arrestos selectivos.
“Las comunidades del condado de Santa Cruz están profundamente conectadas con las de toda la región,” afirmó la supervisora del condado, Monica Martínez, en un comunicado de prensa emitido el jueves.
La dirigencia del condado tiene la intención de participar en los esfuerzos en curso, incluida la adhesión a la demanda, “para comprender, prepararse y responder a los impactos de las actividades federales de control migratorio,” señaló Martínez.
A principios de este año, la Junta de Supervisores aprobó una ordenanza que prohíbe a los agentes de ICE utilizar instalaciones propiedad del condado —como parques, edificios y estacionamientos— para fines de control migratorio.
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Best of Santa Cruz County entertainment, arts & food events this weekend, June 11-14
With the weekend nearly here, check out things to do around Santa Cruz County with a recommendation from Lily Belli and a specially curated list from Lookout’s BOLO events calendar.
Down The Line: All the biggest and best shows, gigs & events ahead in Santa Cruz County
Team BOLO (Be On The Lookout) is gathering and curating all of Santa Cruz County’s biggest and best happenings from now until forever — or at least until the latest gigs are officially announced.
Latest additions are marked as NEW below.
Use the following links to see the major events happening by month:
And away we go with Down The Line …
JuneJune 11: Nicole Zuraitis, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
June 11: Rayburger, The Catalyst
June 12: Monolord, The Catalyst
June 12: The Smithereens, Moe’s Alley
June 13: Santa Cruz Symphony: “Movie Night,” Santa Cruz Civic
June 13: Santa Cecelia, Moe’s Alley
June 13: Sin Sisters: Pride, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
June 15: Jason Marsalis, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
June 17: Barbara Higbie & Teresa Trull, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
June 18: Mary Gauthier, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
June 18: GayC/DC, Moe’s Alley
June 18: Lucinda Williams, The Rio
June 19: Phish tribute, Felton Music Hall
June 19: Israel Vibration, Moe’s Alley
June 20: The Joy of Zimbabwean Music, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
June 20: The Verve Pipe, Felton Music Hall
June 21: Death Angels, The Catalyst
June 22: Santa Cruz Guitar Co. tribute, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
June 24: Wallace Baine, Bookshop Santa Cruz
June 25: “Wild Women of the ’60s,” Kuumbwa Jazz Center
June 25: Khemmis, Felton Music Hall
June 27: Santa Cruz Roller Derby, Santa Cruz Civic
June 27: Andre Nickatina, The Catalyst
June 28: Billy Childs, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
June 29: Luciana Souza & Marcel Camargo, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
JulyJuly 7: Taj Farrant, Moe’s Alley
July 7: Angelica Glass, Bookshop Santa Cruz
July 8: TAE & the Neighborly, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
July 9: Beth Stelling, Felton Music Hall
July 9: Mads Tolling, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
July 10: Fleetmac Wood, Felton Music Hall
July 10: Alice Howe & Freebo, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
July 10: Cabrillo Stage opening night: “Sister Act, the Musical,” Crocker Theater
July 11: Depeche Mode tribute, Felton Music Hall
July 11: Santa Cruz Shakespeare opening night: “Much Ado About Nothing,” Audrey Stanley Grove
July 12: Santa Cruz Shakespeare opening night: “Macbeth,” Audrey Stanley Grove
July 13: Maruja Limon, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
July 13: White Denim, Moe’s Alley
July 14: Nation of Language, Felton Music Hall
July 16: RJD2, Felton Music Hall
July 16: Tony Lindsay Quintet, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
July 17: Hot Buttered Rum/Tea Leaf Green, Felton Music Hall
July 18: Kr3ture, Felton Music Hall
July 18: Water Tower, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
July 18: Babe Rainbow, The Rio
July 19: Leah Song, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
July 19: Los Tranquilos, Felton Music Hall
July 20: Keshav Batish, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
July 20: Pink Ladies of the Sonnets, Audrey Stanley Grove
July 21: Ocean Vuong, The Rio
July 23: James McMurtry, The Rio
NEW: July 26: Sue Foley, Moe’s Alley
July 27: Ray Obiedo’s Latin Jazz Ensemble, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
July 27: Chloe Chapin, Bookshop Santa Cruz
July 28: Yilian Cañizares, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
July 28: Santa Cruz Shakespeare opening night: August Wilson’s “Fences,” Audrey Stanley Grove
July 29: Monophonics, Moe’s Alley
July 30: Peter Asher & Jeremy Clyde, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
July 31: Maria Muldaur, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
July 31: Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music: “On Freedom,” Santa Cruz Civic
AugustAug. 1: Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, Quarry Amphitheater
Aug. 1: Eileen Jewel, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Aug. 1: Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music: “Defiant Dreams,” Santa Cruz Civic
Aug. 2: Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music: Family Concert, Santa Cruz Civic
Aug. 3: Kim Nalley, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Aug. 3: Heart tribute, Audrey Stanley Grove
Aug. 6: Sylvia Cuenca’s Bridging Generations, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Aug. 7: Bria Skonberg, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Aug. 7: ALO, Felton Music Hall
Aug. 8: Shawn Colvin, The Rio
Aug. 8: Mickey Avalon, Felton Music Hall
Aug. 8: Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music: “Control,” Santa Cruz Civic
Aug. 9: Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music: “Hope As Our Banner,” Santa Cruz Civic
Aug. 10: David Bowie tribute, Audrey Stanley Grove
Aug. 12: John-Robert, The Crepe Place
Aug. 13: Marina Crouse, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Aug. 14: Death & Saxes, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Aug. 14: The Polish Ambassador, Felton Music Hall
Aug. 14: Atmosphere, Quarry Amphitheater
Aug. 15: Snail, The Rio
Aug. 15: Ani DiFranco/Valerie June, Santa Cruz Civic
Aug. 16: The Blues Project, Moe’s Alley
Aug. 17: Jazz Mafia, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Aug. 17: Nina Simon, Bookshop Santa Cruz
Aug. 19: Bill O’Connell Trio, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Aug. 19: Steve Hawk, Bookshop Santa Cruz
Aug. 20: Jon Dryden, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Aug. 21: Oliver Tree, Quarry Amphitheater
NEW: Aug. 22: Earthless, Moe’s Alley
Aug. 24: Keyon Harrold, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Aug. 25: La Luz, Felton Music Hall
Aug. 26: Duane Betts, Felton Music Hall
Aug. 26: The Kirtan Love Experience, The Rio
Aug. 26: Built to Spill, The Rio
Aug. 27: Simon Phillips, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Aug. 28: Tim Flannery & the Lunatic Fringe, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Aug. 29: Greyboy All-Stars, Moe’s Alley
Aug. 31: Eagles of Death Metal, The Catalyst
SeptemberSept. 1: Rehash, The Catalyst
NEW: Sept. 3: Paula Arai, Bookshop Santa Cruz
Sept. 4: Santa Cruz Shakespeare opening night: Noel Coward’s “Private Lives,” Audrey Stanley Grove
Sept. 5: Clinton Fearon & the Boogie Brown Band, Moe’s Alley
Sept. 5: Public Image Ltd., The Rio
NEW: Sept. 6: Tommy Castro & the Painkillers, Moe’s Alley
Sept. 7: Tom Petty tribute, Audrey Stanley Grove
Sept. 9: PawPaw Rod, The Catalyst
NEW: Sept. 9: Laurie R. King, Bookshop Santa Cruz
Sept. 10: Nduduzo Makhathini, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Sept. 11: Santa Cruz Shakespeare opening night: Jason Robert Brown’s “The Last 5 Years,” Audrey Stanley Grove
Sept. 12: Black Uhuru, Moe’s Alley
Sept. 14: John Pizzarelli, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Sept. 15: “Smoke Cabaret,” Laurie Rivera, Audrey Stanley Grove
Sept. 17: The Growlers, The Catalyst
Sept. 17: Sarah Elizabeth Charles, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
NEW: Sept. 19: Rayland Baxter, Moe’s Alley
Sept. 20: Vieux Farka Toure, Felton Music Hall
Sept. 22: Al DiMeola, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
NEW: Sept. 22: Welcome Week Rave, Santa Cruz Civic
Sept. 23: Brass Queens, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Sept. 24: Bill Frisell & Harmony Five, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Sept. 28: Linda Ronstadt tribute, Audrey Stanley Grove
Sept. 29: Aldous Harding, The Rio
Sept. 30: Cyrille Aimee & Mathis Picard, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
OctoberOct. 1: El Khat, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Oct. 2: Soda Blonde, The Crepe Place
Oct. 2: Fruit Bats, The Rio
Oct. 3: The Bends, Felton Music Hall
Oct. 4: Mike Dawes, Felton Music Hall
NEW: Oct. 5: Hiromi, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Oct. 6: Kishi Bashi, The Rio
Oct. 8: Rickie Lee Jones, The Rio
NEW: Oct. 8: Ben Flocks, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Oct. 10: Damien Jurado, Felton Music Hall
NEW: Oct. 10: Banff Center Mountain Film, The Rio
NEW: Oct. 11: Yellowjackets, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
NEW: Oct. 12: Somi, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Oct. 14: Bonnie Raitt, Santa Cruz Civic
Oct. 14: Acoustic Alchemy, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
NEW: Oct. 14: Alborosie & Shengen Clan, Moe’s Alley
Oct. 15: Bumpin’ Uglies, The Catalyst
Oct. 23: Black Flag, Felton Music Hall
Oct. 26: Fonville & Fribush, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
NEW: Oct. 29: Laura Anglade, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
NovemberNEW: Nov. 1: Andrew Duhon, Moe’s Alley
Nov. 7: Henry Diltz: Behind the Lens, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Nov. 8: Southern Culture on the Skids, Moe’s Alley
NEW: Nov. 9: Alex Cameron, The Crepe Place
Nov. 12: Jake Xerxes Fussell, Felton Music Hall
Nov. 14: Nick Shoulders, Felton Music Hall
Nov. 14: Jon Spencer, Moe’s Alley
DecemberDec. 8: Buck Meek, Moe’s Alley
Dec. 17: Pokey LaFarge, Felton Music Hall
April 2027April 23: Fashion Teens, The Rio
HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF BOLOSign up for Lookout’s Weekender newsletter, sent every Thursday afternoon.
If you’re planning or producing your own event, click CREATE AN EVENT on the calendar.
Questions, comments, concerns? Email bolo@lookoutlocal.com.
The post Down The Line: All the biggest and best shows, gigs & events ahead in Santa Cruz County appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.
Thursday morning traffic: Closures along Highways 1, 9, 152
This post is updated throughout the day to reflect the latest incidents. It was last updated at 8:01 a.m.
Here’s what’s happening on Santa Cruz County roads this morning…
▼︎ new incidents ▼︎ long-term incidents
Road incidents as of 8 a.m. on June 11- A 5-foot-wide Comcast communication line fell and blocked both lanes of the road at 1500 Smith Grade in Bonny Doon. The road was completely closed, and fire and utility crews responded. The incident was reported yesterday.
- South Highway 1 is facing closures at Park Avenue in Capitola because of road excavation work. The closure is expected to last until Aug. 19.
- Highway 9 at Cascade Avenue in Brookdale has one-way traffic due to ongoing work. This closure is expected to last until Aug. 31.
- There will be alternating lane closures on Highway 9 at Pool Drive in Boulder Creek because of bridge work. This is scheduled to continue until April 30, 2027.
- A lane on westbound Highway 152 at Clifford Drive/Ohlone Parkway in Watsonville is closed for asphalt paving. The closure is expected to last until July 3.
- Lompico Road at 12320 in Felton will be closed to vehicles today during work hours from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m. while MGE Underground replaces a crossarm and cutouts.
- The California Highway Patrol helped with construction work at the intersection of Highway 9 and Highway 236 in Boulder Creek today.
These have been going on for a while, but are still worth keeping in mind.
- River Road at 618 River Rd. in Boulder Creek will be closed to vehicles on June 11 from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m. while crews repair a connector and replace a broken crossarm.
- Thurber Lane near 4672 Thurber Lane in Santa Cruz will be fully closed from June 8-12 during work hours (8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.) for tree trimming and vegetation management by county crews.
- Single lane closures are in place on Soquel Drive between Huntington Drive and Jaunell Road in Aptos from today through June 12, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. while county crews do overhead tree trimming.
Disclosure: Traffic incidents are partially generated by artificial intelligence. We are constantly working to improve the accuracy and quality of our AI-generated content. However, there may still be errors or inaccuracies. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us.
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See which Santa Cruz County communities backed Becerra, Steyer and Hilton
Tom Steyer beat Xavier Becerra in more white, college-educated areas in the 2026 California primary, but the tables turned in Latino-majority neighborhoods, according to Lookout’s analysis of Santa Cruz County’s unofficial results and U.S. Census Bureau data.
Latino supporters helped deliver Becerra, a former health secretary under President Joe Biden, a spot alongside Republican candidate Steve Hilton in November. In California’s open primary, the top two vote-getters face off in the general election regardless of party.
Santa Cruz, Santa Barbara and San Francisco were Steyer strongholds in the primary, but their support wasn’t enough to save the billionaire’s campaign. “It’s now clear that we do not have the votes necessary to advance to the general election,” Steyer said Tuesday.
Votes in Santa Cruz County show a divide between the Democratic candidates, with both Becerra and Steyer each taking around a third of the vote as of Tuesday. Hilton took 15% of votes and fellow Republican Chad Bianco took nearly 5%. Lookout’s analysis, which covers more than 75% of votes counted, focused on the top two candidates from either party.
Steyer, a hedge fund founder-turned-climate activist, had the biggest share of votes in 15 of 28 communities, but opened sizable leads in only four areas.
In the city of Santa Cruz, for instance, Steyer won around 40% of the vote against Becerra’s 32%. Margins were thin in other communities, such as Aptos and Boulder Creek.
Becerra widely outperformed Steyer in areas with higher Latino populations. In Watsonville, the county’s second-most populous city, Becerra took around 41% of the vote versus Steyer’s 22%. Additionally, Becerra secured 41% of the vote in Interlaken and 36% in Freedom.
Becerra also had an edge in Rio Del Mar and Twin Lakes, which have majority-white populations.
In the city of Santa Cruz, for instance, Steyer won around 40% of the vote against Becerra’s 32%. Margins were thin in other communities, such as Aptos and Boulder Creek.
Hilton, a British-born former Fox News host, found the most support in high-income and white areas. He got 26% of the vote, his highest share by community, in Mount Hermon, which had a median income of $158,000 and was 81% white between 2020 and 2024, according to the U.S. Census.
The strongest showing for Republicans was also in Mount Hermon, with 34% of the vote going to Hilton and Bianco, followed by Corralitos with 32% and Aptos Hills-Larkin Valley with 30%.
Hilton faces a daunting challenge in California’s Nov. 3 general election. No Republican has won statewide office since Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2006.
And with Steyer out of the race, Becerra is now favored to become California’s first Latino governor. Becerra has enjoyed a meteoric rise: He polled in the single digits before disgraced former congressman Eric Swalwell dropped out.
“The underdog stayed in the fight,” Becerra told supporters on the June 2 election night.
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‘No Kings’ returns Sunday with smaller local gatherings, rally in Felton
On President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday, millions of people nationwide took to the streets for “No Kings” marches, and June 14, 2025, became one of the largest single days of protest in U.S. history.
Now, a year later, many organizing groups are looking toward smaller, more localized community-building events as a form of protest.
Trump’s birthday falls on Flag Day, and this year in Washington, D.C., there will be simultaneous celebrations of his 80th birthday and the nation’s 250th anniversary in a big bash called UFC Freedom 250. Alongside brand partner Crypto.com, the White House will host mixed martial arts fights this Sunday on the South Lawn.
Since Trump announced his celebratory plans last July, watchdog groups have filed lawsuits attempting to halt the event, citing illegal use of public parkland and a lack of required environmental reviews. Despite this, both the UFC and the Trump administration have continued preparations, and the bouts are slated to go on.
Ezra Levin from the nonprofit organization Indivisible said Trump’s plans are meant to draw attention to himself and away from widespread political dissent.
“But we are not going to give him that birthday present, we’re not going to give him the attention he craves,” Levin said on a Facebook post.
In response, Indivisible and No Kings have teamed up with Jane Fonda and the Committee for the First Amendment for a night of localized organizing throughout the country, calling it a “night to build community.” Sunday’s 90-minute concert event will take place in New York City from 4 to 6 p.m. PDT, and will feature singers such as Rufus Wainwright and Bette Midler.
Local groups are encouraged to watch the event’s livestream and hold watch parties or rallies. Kelly Menehan from Indivisible Santa Cruz County (ISSC) said that although she has not heard of any public watch parties, the chapter is encouraging its members to have gatherings with friends and neighbors.
However, not all Santa Cruz County advocacy groups are choosing to commemorate No Kings in a more intimate fashion. In Felton, ISCC is holding a Flag Day rally from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Julia Monahan, a team leader with ISSC, said that the rally is meant to be another option for people who want to peacefully protest outside instead of just watching a livestream. She did say, however, that the event is ending before the concert begins, so participants can still watch it if they so choose.
Have news that should be in Lookout Briefs? Send your news releases, including contact information, to news@lookoutlocal.com.
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UC Santa Cruz’s nationally known college system is here to stay
UC Santa Cruz’s famed residential college system is not disappearing — it remains central to the university’s identity and mission, writes Paul Koch, interim campus provost and executive vice chancellor. But as the campus grows and changes, the colleges must evolve to better serve today’s students, he writes. He argues that new staffing models will strengthen, not weaken, the system and explains how a broad community conversation on the colleges will continue into the next academic year. The challenge, he insists, is preserving what makes the colleges special while creating a roadmap for their future.
How a George Floyd-inspired California law accidentally weakened police accountability
This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for its newsletters.
In 2020, with the death of George Floyd still dominating the national conversation over police accountability, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law taking away responsibility for investigating fatal police shootings from local authorities and putting it in the hands of the state attorney general.
Lawmakers reasoned that an independent outside agency would bring more credibility — as well as speed and investigative firepower — to the process while eliminating potential conflicts of interest that can arise when police or local district attorneys have to investigate agencies they work closely with.
Police accountability advocates enthusiastically endorsed the legislation that authorized the switch. Then-Assemblymember Rob Bonta championed it, too. When Bonta became attorney general the following year, he pledged to complete all investigations within 12 months.
He hasn’t come close. The department has yet to close a single investigation within one year.
In fact, a CalMatters investigation found that Bonta’s office has 13 use-of-force investigations that have exceeded three years or longer – well past the statute of limitations for many of the crimes an officer or a deputy could conceivably be charged with short of murder.
The average fatal shooting investigation takes Bonta’s team nearly two years and five months to complete. Just eight of 41 closed cases took less than two years.
The delays take away another potential enforcement tool as well: Once a case extends beyond three years, an officer cannot be decertified, meaning they cannot be prevented from working for other law enforcement agencies.
The time lag leaves families of potential victims waiting for justice and leaves officers in limbo as they wait to be charged or exonerated.
“In my experience, three years is an awful long period of time, especially if you’re starting to come upon statutes of limitations,” said Anne Marie Schubert, the former Sacramento County district attorney who unsuccessfully ran for attorney general in 2022.
Schubert said she was surprised to see that the last case closed by the program was on a shooting in 2023.
“Is it resources?” she asked. “Is it experience? That’s a question I’d want to know.”
To date, not a single officer has been prosecuted by Bonta’s office, and no officer has been referred for decertification or even discipline after a police shooting investigation.
Bonta blames the backlog on a lack of funding and other priorities from the Legislature. His predecessor, Xavier Becerra, made the same argument just before the law took effect when he requested twice as much money for the investigations than the Legislature provided. On its first investigation, Justice Department employees complained in internal emails that they were undermanned.
Bonta’s office also says nothing in the law prevents local authorities from conducting their own parallel investigations.
Credit: CalMatters
But the CalMatters investigation found that as a practical matter, local authorities take a hands-off approach once Bonta’s office steps in.
“If the case meets the criteria under [the police shooting law] and DOJ confirms they are taking over the investigation, we do not do a parallel criminal investigation of our own or do a criminal investigation of our own after DOJ concludes their investigation,” said Capt. Brian Cole, who oversees the detective division at the Redding Police Department. “They have complete criminal jurisdiction of the matter.”
‘I didn’t see him again alive’That happened with a Redding case that began on Christmas Day 2022, when David Couch was taken to jail. Since then, Jeanelle Couch spent three and a half years trying to find out exactly what happened to her son.
By the time David Couch, 31, was released on Feb. 8, 2023, Jeanelle Couch said her son was experiencing a manic episode.
According to a lawsuit Jeanelle later filed, David was given the wrong medication for his bipolar disorder for his entire jail stay. He told her he had spent the majority of his time in solitary confinement, another allegation in the lawsuit.
“He was happy to see us and he asked if we remembered him,” she said about the day he went home. “When I got up the next morning to go to work, he talked to me for a long time and I said, ‘oh, honey, I’m so sorry, I got to go to work now.’
“And then I didn’t see him again alive.”
Jeanelle Couch holds photos of her son, David Couch, while standing in Cascade Park in Redding. Credit: Larry Valenzuela / CalMatters
That afternoon, David sat in his car in his mother’s driveway in a small residential neighborhood in Redding.
At 5:25 p.m., the California Highway Patrol received a call of a driver southbound on Interstate 5 who was brandishing a gun. The make, model and plates matched David’s car.
Nine minutes later, CHP officer Ryan Cates pulled into Couch’s driveway.
According to dashboard camera footage, Couch was sitting in his white Ford sedan with the driver’s side door open.
“Show me your hands!” Cates called out. “Put your hands up!”
Couch emerged in a brown hooded sweatshirt, khaki pants and a gray baseball cap, the dashcam footage shows. He was wearing a backpack and gripping his cell phone with both hands. Couch also had a pair of knives strapped to his jacket, according to a Justice Department investigation, but didn’t touch them. Couch took eight steps toward Cates, who had his gun in his right hand, pointed at Couch.
Their initial conversation is inaudible.
Cates raised his gun, holding it now with both hands. Couch came toward him. The dashboard camera was able to record more of their argument, which involved Couch saying to leave him alone, then calling Cate obscenities and saying “shoot.” A struggle ensued that was not visible on camera. At least twice, Couch called Cates a slur.
“Get on the ground,” Cates said. “I will shoot you right now.”
According to a Department of Justice report issued last week, Couch then got ahold of Cates’ Taser.
Still frames from a California Highway Patrol video depicting the altercation between David Couch, at right, and Officer Ryan Cates. The progression of action is from left to right. Credit: Via California Department of Justice
Couch continued to berate Cates, calling him a “dirty cop.” The two slid back into view, with Cates holding Couch against the hood of the car, Couch’s face bathed red in the patrol car’s dashboard lights. Cates attempted to put handcuffs on Couch, but Couch slipped to his right and out of view of the dashboard camera again.
“Give me a .45 [caliber handgun] and I’d f–k you up!” Couch yelled at Cates.
Cates would later tell Justice Department investigators that he believed Couch was trying to take his handgun.
Then, there were several audible clicks. Couch taunted Cates, asking “it’s not working?” A second later, Cates fired four shots. The entire encounter lasted exactly one minute.
“I am uninjured,” Cates said into his police radio. “Suspect down, multiple gunshot wounds.”
Couch lived for nine days. He died on Feb. 17, 2023.
According to Couch’s sister, “David was shot so many times he was no longer recognizable.” In an online fundraising appeal for the family, the sister, Lauren Metzger, added that, “We can’t understand why this happened, but we do know he did not have a gun anywhere around his person when he was discovered laying in the street by my parents and his best friend.”
For the nine days David Couch survived, a five-agency team convened to investigate the shooting, led by the Redding Police Department. Then, when Couch died, the Department of Justice shooting investigation team took over, and the local team ended its inquiry.
A view of the city of Redding from Cypress Avenue . Credit: Larry Valenzuela / CalMatters
More than three years have passed. Cates returned to work, according to the California Highway Patrol. His lawyer did not respond to messages from CalMatters.
Shasta County and the state of California have denied responsibility in the federal lawsuit filed by Couch’s family in the Eastern District of California. In its response, Shasta County said Cates is entitled to qualified immunity, which limits the civil liability of government officials, usually police officers.
The investigation from the Department of Justice took 1,199 days. It found “there is insufficient evidence to support a criminal prosecution of Officer Cates.”
Shorthanded from the startGiving the state justice department more power to investigate law enforcement shootings was hailed as a big win for the police accountability movement when Newsom signed the law in 2020.
Former Assemblymember Kevin McCarty of Sacramento had proposed the legislation several times before. The fatal shooting of Stephon Clark by Sacramento police in 2018 lent momentum to McCarty’s effort – Clark’s family was outraged that Schubert, then the district attorney, didn’t press charges against officers in his killing.
George Floyd’s killing by a Minneapolis police officer in May 2020 emboldened a bipartisan push for police reform laws that ultimately carried McCarty’s bill through the Legislature and on to Newsom’s desk.
But within days of receiving their first case, the Justice Department’s shooting investigation teams knew they were undermanned.
“There were dozens of tasks and assignments that the … special agents could not accomplish because of limited staffing,” the department wrote in a budget request submitted to the Legislature in 2022.
Even before the shooting teams deployed, there were early warnings that the Justice Department might have bitten off more than it could chew.
The department asked for $26 million to pay for the new shooting investigation teams. The Legislature allotted half of that, about $13 million.
Former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra at a gubernatorial forum in Sacramento on April 14. Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr. / CalMatters
The allocation “is significantly lower than our estimates and not enough resources to stand up professional teams to perform these new investigative and prosecutorial duties,” former Attorney General Xavier Becerra wrote to McCarty in January 2021, six months before the law took effect.
The department originally wanted four investigative teams — one each in Sacramento, Fresno, Los Angeles and Riverside. Instead, it got two, one north and one south.
One year into the program, shooting investigations were already lagging behind Bonta’s self-imposed timeline of one year.
In response, at the time, Bonta said: “We got the funding that we got, and we’re going to make it work. We have no choice. We have to find a way.”
Investigations first stretched past one year, then two years, and in 2025, a case reached beyond three years.
The California Department of Justice did not make anyone available for an interview about its backlog of police shooting investigations. In a written statement, an unnamed spokesperson said Bonta personally reviews every investigation.
(function(){function e(){window.addEventListener(`message`,function(e){if(e.data[`datawrapper-height`]!==void 0){var t=document.querySelectorAll(`iframe`);for(var n in e.data[`datawrapper-height`])for(var r=0,i;i=t[r];r++)if(i.contentWindow===e.source){var a=e.data[`datawrapper-height`][n]+`px`;i.style.height=a}}})}e()})();“All investigations are unique in their complexity, and some may take longer than others to investigate and reach a conclusion.” the statement read.
“We’re continuously identifying ways to tighten timelines and improve our processes. It’s a balancing act — but it’s one we’re actively managing. Improvements are already taking hold. In the last two and a half years, we closed 9 times as many cases as were closed in the first two and a half years that the law was operational, and we remain committed to improving.”
Police chiefs want faster investigationsMany law enforcement leaders are growing impatient.
“Police chiefs across the state have consistently raised concerns and advocated for a timelier process, yet progress has been minimal,” said Sean Thuilliez, president of the California Police Chiefs Association.“When transparency is not accompanied by timeliness, the system risks falling short for everyone—eroding confidence, deepening mistrust, and prolonging uncertainty.
Law enforcement and conservative prosecutors were, perhaps predictably, opposed to losing local shooting investigations to the state. But even prosecutors who were pursuing police accountability were nervous about removing locals from the process.
With the state in control, local citizens have less power to protest or pressure their local leaders.
“Local concern, local protests, local interest is felt by local prosecutors,” said Cristine Soto DeBerry, who created a unit investigating police officers at the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office, where she was chief of staff. She is now the executive director of the progressive advocacy group Prosecutors Alliance.
“The very real pain of family and community members that experience that absolutely has an impact on a prosecutor and their willingness to take this crime seriously.”
Jeanelle Couch said that even though the DOJ investigation is over, she’s still hopeful about the lawsuits her family filed against the state, the county and the officer who killed her son.
“I want light on it,” Couch said. “That’s what I want. Just, justice.”
What does justice look like to her?
She looked at the ground.
“Now? I don’t know.”
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Farm to Fork returns as Community Bridges meets a defining moment for families and seniors
What began as a gathering rooted in local food, fine wine and shared purpose has grown into one of Community Bridges’ signature traditions: an evening where generosity becomes nourishment, care and connection for thousands of neighbors.
On Saturday, June 27, 2026, Community Bridges will host the 11th Annual Farm to Fork Gala from 5 to 9 p.m. at Seascape Golf Club, 610 Clubhouse Drive in Aptos. The evening will bring together supporters, partners and community champions for seasonal cuisine, fine regional wines, live and silent auctions, and exclusive experiences in a beautiful coastal setting.
This year’s theme — celebrating local food, wine and community impact — reflects what Farm to Fork has always made possible: a joyful gathering with a serious purpose. Every ticket, sponsorship, donation and auction bid helps sustain Community Bridges’ network of 10 programs serving children, families and seniors across the Central Coast.
A community safety net in a changing momentFor nearly 50 years, Community Bridges has delivered essential services, expanded equitable access to resources, and advocated for health and dignity across every stage of life. Since 1977, the organization has grown into a family of 10 vital programs across more than 20 sites, providing local residents with access to transportation, healthy food, health care, senior adult day health care, crisis support, case management, early education, tutoring and family education.
That work has never been more important.
H.R. 1 is already reshaping the public benefits that many local families, older adults and people with disabilities rely on. CalFresh recipients may receive less money for food, more people will need to meet work or community engagement requirements, many lawfully present immigrants are losing eligibility, and California will need to pay more to administer the program and cover some benefits.
The impacts are also unfolding in Medi-Cal, where changes to eligibility rules, renewal timelines and enrollment processes could create new barriers for people who depend on health coverage and community-based care.
For Community Bridges, these changes are not abstract. They show up when a family is unsure whether they still qualify for food assistance. They show up when an older adult risks losing coverage because of paperwork or renewal changes. They show up when caregivers, seniors and people with disabilities need trusted help navigating a system that is becoming harder to understand.
Community Bridges meets that moment with compassion, integrity and support, helping neighbors access food, health care navigation, transportation, crisis support and the services they need to remain stable.
Seniors are feeling the pressureThe growing need is especially visible among older adults.
Santa Cruz County is already home to more than 72,000 residents over age 59, representing 26% of the total population, and that share is expected to grow to nearly 30% by 2030. County leaders have also identified significant challenges around health care access, caregiver stress, loneliness, housing affordability, transportation and emergency preparedness for older residents.
That need is especially urgent at Elderday Adult Day Health Care, which helps older adults and people with disabilities remain safe, supported and connected while continuing to live at home. Elderday provides coordinated care for adults with complex medical conditions through nurses, therapists, dietitians, social workers, transportation, personalized meals and daily activities. The program also gives family caregivers critical respite, helping loved ones stay at home with greater stability and dignity.
At a time when H.R. 1 is changing Medi-Cal eligibility and renewal rules — and adding broader federal pressure to Medicare reimbursement policy — community support for Elderday is vital. Any disruption in eligibility, coverage continuity, reimbursement or administrative requirements can directly affect the care that seniors, adults with disabilities and family caregivers rely on every day.
Meals on Wheels for Santa Cruz County strengthens this continuum of care by helping older adults stay nourished, connected and independent through home-delivered meals, dining sites and wellness checks for isolated seniors. The program serves adults 60 and older who are homebound and struggle to meet their nutritional needs, while drivers check in on isolated elders and connect them to other services when needed. Due to funding cuts at all levels, Meals on Wheels began screening for eligibility as of April 1, 2025, to prioritize limited resources for seniors most in need.
Together, Elderday, Meals on Wheels and Lift Line — the Community Bridges Seniors & Transportation Division — form a local safety net that helps older adults stay healthy, nourished, and connected. Last, Community Bridges recorded 14,419 days of elder care, 207,021 senior meals served, 178,815 home-delivered meals and 109,489 door-to-door rides.
Farm to Fork gives the community a direct way to protect these essential programs at a moment when older adults and caregivers need them most.
A community response to a community challengeThe need for local, compassionate support is growing, as community-based organizations are being asked to do more with less certainty around public funding.
That is why Farm to Fork matters.
Every ticket, sponsorship, donation and auction bid helps Community Bridges continue showing up for neighbors who are navigating uncertainty, rising costs and changing public benefits. The evening celebrates the growers, donors, volunteers, businesses, advocates and community champions who believe that no child, family or older adult should have to face hardship alone.
When a senior spends the day at Elderday in a safe and welcoming community, that is dignity. When a caregiver receives respite, that is support. When a meal arrives at the door with a wellness check, that is compassion. When neighbors gather to fund the programs that hold the safety net together, that is community.
Join the celebrationThe 11th Annual Farm to Fork Gala is an invitation to meet this moment together.
Guests will enjoy a memorable evening of seasonal cuisine, fine regional wines, live and silent auctions, and exclusive experiences at Seascape Golf Club. Tickets are listed at $150 to $1,200, with opportunities to attend, sponsor, donate or contribute auction items.
11th Annual Farm to Fork Gala
Saturday, June 27, 2026
5–9 p.m.
Seascape Golf Club, 610 Clubhouse Drive, Aptos
Contact: donations@cbridges.org or 831-688-8840 ext. 205
Celebrate local food, fine wine and the power of community. Help Community Bridges protect our participants and strengthen the safety net our neighbors rely on today and will need tomorrow.
The post Farm to Fork returns as Community Bridges meets a defining moment for families and seniors appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.
Local players earn All-PCAL First, Second Team honors | High school baseball
The annual list of All-Pacific Coast Athletic League baseball teams was released June 1, which included 14 players from the four high schools in Watsonville.
St. Francis High junior Nicky Fantl and sophomore Noah Magan both earned all-league first team honors in the Gabilan Division, while teammate freshman Angel Urabe Chavez and Monte Vista Christian junior Mikie Melenudo each earned second team honors.
Watsonville High senior Mathew Silva and junior Jeremiah Mendez, along with Pajaro Valley senior Steve Martinez each earned All-PCAL First Team honors in the Cypress Division.
Watsonville’s Brody Barto and Mauricio Estrada, and PV’s Roy Sanchez-Diaz each earned all-league second team honors.
St. Francis sophomore Jacob Fonseca, MVC junior Chris Bautista, PV’s JC DeLuna and Watsonville’s Timothy Ruelas each were named to the Richard Chamberlin All-Sportsmanship Team in their respective division.
Below is a complete list of the 2026 All-PCAL baseball teams.
Pacific Coast Athletic League 2026 all-league teams Gabilan Division Individual AwardsMost Valuable Player: Matt Maxon (Sr.), Carmel
Co-Pitchers of the Year: Zach Gonzales (Jr.), Palma and Johnny Money (Jr.), Monterey
First TeamMatt Maxon (Sr.), Carmel
Alex Hirschfield (Jr.), Carmel
Dean Brian (So.), Carmel
Sean Carr (Sr.), Carmel
Matt Alioto (Sr.), Palma
Zach Gonzales (Jr.), Palma
Rocco Razzeca (Sr.), Palma
Jordan Quezada (Sr.), Hollister
Braden Barone (Sr.), Hollister
Ethan Sanchez (Sr.), Soledad
Noah Magana (So.), St. Francis
Nicky Fantl (Jr.), St. Francis
Johnny Money (Jr.), Monterey
Second TeamKenny Sanchez (So.), Carmel
John Beretti (Sr.), Carmel
Wyatt Bakker (Sr.), Palma
Damien Lopez (Jr.), Palma
Dylan Rocchi (Jr.), Palma
Ami Lopez (Jr.), Hollister
Layton Smith (So.), Hollister
Evan Mendoza (Jr.), Hollister
Connor Rose (Sr.), Monterey
Angel Urabe Chavez (Fr.), St. Francis
Zachary Velasquez (Sr.), Salinas
Juan Esparza (Jr.), Soledad
Daniel Valenzuela (Sr.), Soledad
Mikie Melenudo (Jr.), Monte Vista Christian
Richard Chamberlin All-Sportsmanship TeamMichael Melnick (Sr.), Carmel
Aiden Veliz (Sr.), Palma
Aiden Velarde (Sr.), Monterey
Jacob Fonseca (So.), St. Francis
Gavin Rainey (Sr.), Salinas
Daniel Garcia (So.), Soledad
Chris Bautista (Jr.), MVC
Jordan Quezada (Sr.), Hollister
Elgie Bellizio All-Sportsmanship teamSoledad
Mission Division Individual AwardsMost Valuable Player: Angel Barajas, Alisal
Pitcher of the Year: Jacob Hall, Stevenson
Offensive Player of the Year: Brody Edmunds, Pacific Grove
First TeamHuck Blanton, North Monterey County
Cecil Short, Rancho San Juan
Brody Edmunds, PG
Jacob Hall, Stevenson
Angel Barajas, Alisal
Andrew Jeska, PG
Reggie Bell, Stevenson
Phinn Thomas, Stevenson
Brody Gates, NMC
Roman Garcia, Alvarez
Aiden Munoz, RSJ
GP Serato, Alisal
Fabian Gonzalez, Alvarez
Second TeamJosiah Ramos, Alisal
Jonah Karsa, Stevenson
Ryder Allen, NMC
Issac Ortiz, RSJ
Daniel Saldana, RSJ
Kenny Pajas, Greenfield
Issac Sanchez, PG
Julian Valadez, RSJ
Taj Davis, PG
Northrop Kirk, PG
Cody Victoriano, Alvarez
Xavier Estrad, Alisal
Julian Barajas, NMC
Richard Chamberlin All-Sportsmanship TeamFrancisco Hernandez, Greenfield
Kai Clarkson, PG
Brady Mugan, Stevenson
Benny Vera, RSJ
Fredy Torres, Alisal
Devin Pedersen, Alvarez
Jayden Harris, NMC
Elgie Bellizio All-Sportsmanship teamPacific Grove
Cypress Division Individual AwardsMost Valuable Player: Josh Degroodt, North Salinas
Offensive Player of the Year: Jacoby Chavez, King City
Pitcher of the Year: Joel Pina, King City
First TeamJoel Pina, King City
Jacoby Chavez, King City
Joaquin Sabala, King City
Josh Degroodt, North Salinas
Julian Gabriel, North Salinas
Johnny Benabides, North Salinas
Markus Camacho, North Salinas
Mathew Silva, Watsonville
Jeremiah Mendez, Watsonville
Kaleb True, Marina
Noah Villalobos, Gonzales
Steve Martinez, Pajaro Valley
Gabriel Rodriguez, Seaside
Second TeamRoman (RJ) Ayon, King City
Dylan Conatser, King City
Pablo Aguirre, King City
Ernesto Aguirre, KIng City
Andres Cervantes, North Salinas
Izaiah Gonzalez, North Salinas
Esteban Solorzano, North Salinas
Brody Barto, Watsonville
Mauricio Estrada, Watsonville
Leonel Alvarado, Marina
Juan Arriola, Gonzales
Roy Sanchez-Diaz, Pajaro Valley
Gabriel Moulton, Seaside
Richard Chamberlin All-Sportsmanship TeamAxel Chavez-Torres, King City
Julian Gabriel, North Salinas
Timothy Ruelas, Watsonville
Liam Sampaolo, Marina
Moises Castro, Gonzales
JC DeLuna, Pajaro Valley
Mason Flynn, Seaside
Elgie Bellizio All-Sportsmanship teamSeaside
Inside Renaissance High: students photograph their school amid threat of closure
High schoolers at Renaissance participated in a photojournalism project about their school.
LA SELVA BEACH >> When news first broke last month that Pajaro Valley Unified School District administrators planned to close Renaissance High School this summer and relocate students to Duncan Holbert Preschool, the outrage was swift.
Teachers, students and parents urged the board of trustees to reject the proposal at a May 20 meeting. Most meeting attendees spoke of the challenges in relocating disabled preschoolers with such short notice. The board rejected the plan for now, but multiple trustees said at the meeting that Renaissance should be considered for closure.
Amid money troubles and declining enrollment, district leaders have said PVUSD needs to close schools to help fix the budget. A committee of parents, teachers and union representatives was established to make recommendations about which schools to close — it meets regularly and is tasked with coming up with recommendations for school closures by November.
Renaissance High is a continuation school for students who failed many of their classes and now need to make up credits or were expelled from other schools, including for truancy.
People think we’re a school for criminals, or people who want to disobey, even though it’s the complete opposite. It’s for people that really need these opportunities and don’t really get them in other schools.
—Acciri, rising senior at Renaissance High School
Ariel Stonebloom, a biology teacher at Renaissance, said there’s often a stigma around these students. But many of them have failed or ditched classes because of family responsibilities, including caregiving for a sick parent, babysitting their siblings or working to help their parents make ends meet.
In an effort to capture the student experience at one of the county’s most critical schools, Santa Cruz Local collaborated with two of Stonebloom’s classes last month on a photo essay. The goal: to show the school through students’ eyes so that district leaders, residents and others who care about PVUSD issues could better understand the importance of this unique learning environment.
On May 21, about two dozen students shared six disposable film cameras and responded to prompts like:
- Photograph one place on campus where you feel safe.
- Photograph a person, place or thing that challenged you.
- Photograph one thing you don’t want to forget.
From left, Janella, Maria and Ariel Stonebloom.
Students and teachers play volleyball during lunch break.
Electives teacher Jason Solis and rising senior Jairo.
Students spent the one-hour class period roaming campus and popping in on their friends, favorite teachers and the best spots on campus to capture scenes in response to the prompts. Santa Cruz Local came back to Renaissance on June 2 to discuss the photos with students. Many of the seniors had already graduated, but several students reviewed the photos and wrote reflections.
During the class exercise, several students described liking Renaissance High more than their previous schools because of its small size. There were 92 students this past school year, and the school has a capacity of about 200 students. Students said that at Renaissance, students know all the teachers and teachers know all the students.
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“Here, we could communicate more. I feel like some teachers are my friends, and over there it’s just like strangers,” said Jairo, a rising senior who previously went to Watsonville High School, which he felt was “just too much” and “full of trash, gangsters, cars honking.”
Jairo described the above photo as “me and my favorite teacher” and wrote that he wants to “show people they can talk to their teacher like friends.”
Teacher Debbie Singleton’s sweatshirt.
Social studies teacher Jennifer Puente.
Emiliano takes a selfie with a teacher.
Rising senior Acciri also chose a photo of electives teacher Jason Solis to write about, and said he is “a very helpful teacher” and “an amazing flag football coach.”
She described the Renaissance community as helping her with social skills and giving her more opportunities for job training.
“It’s a very cool school, because it gives you many opportunities — it helps you with finding jobs,” she said. “I think many people should keep coming to the school because it’s really helpful and it has also helped me with talking with other people since everybody knows each other.”
Acciri debunked some stereotypes about Renaissance students: “People think we’re a school for criminals, or people who want to disobey, even though it’s the complete opposite. It’s for people that really need these opportunities and don’t really get them in other schools.”
She said other schools are so big, that the students that need the most support often won’t get it.
“Many teachers don’t really pay attention to you, because it’s so many other people,” she said.
When asked what she looked forward to after high school, Acciri said she hoped to go to college, but if that doesn’t happen then “working, because I want to help my mom with the bills.”
Sitting with Acciri was Nancy. The two didn’t know each other before Renaissance, but are now friends.
Nancy chose the photo of math teacher Pat Demera to write about.
“During a whole year that I been in this school Pat has helped out many students. He’s always willing to help if you need help,” wrote Nancy, a rising senior. “If you don’t find me somewhere just go to his class, I’m always there,” she said.
Math teacher Pat Demera.
Hairo, who graduated this month, and biology teacher Ariel Stonebloom.
From left, Arturo, mental health clinician Matt Merill, Juan, Jairo, Isaiah and Nino. The school district laid off all 13 mental health clinicians in the district and Merrill worked his last day at Renaissance this month.
Juan wrote about the above photo, “I chose this photo because it shows friendship and represents safety and a place where people feel welcome.”
Of the 162 photos students took, many were of the natural spaces on campus, including the garden.
Renaissance High is tucked away in La Selva Beach, a few blocks from the ocean on a rural road. Stonebloom said when new students arrive at Renaissance, many times they will take a couple weeks to adjust and then — they relax.
“They actually come to school because they want to be here,” Stonebloom said. “Students that came because of credit deficiency because of ditching, will come to school consistently for the first time in their high school careers because they love it [at Renaissance].”
Maria sits near the field.
Nico walks on a path by the school’s field. Students showed a Santa Cruz Local reporter where to look for snakes in a spot where they go to sun and keep warm.
The entrance to the school’s garden.
In addition to teaching biology, Stonebloom stewards the garden. She said the garden is important to students, and it’s something that would likely not exist at another campus. Indeed, in both classes that did the photo project, students immediately suggested the garden as the first place to photograph.
Stonebloom said Renaissance is “quiet and nice and it’s an environment where they can be their whole selves in a way that is challenging in a traditional school environment.”
Several students, when asked why they liked Renaissance, said it was quiet.
“I really like nature,” Janette, a rising senior, wrote in Spanish about the above photo. “I want other people to know that this place is very pretty and calm, and the nature makes the school special.”
Alondra walks through the garden.
The garden is colorful and overgrown.
Corn and strawberries grow in the garden. ‘Each plant is full of memories,’ said Acciri.
Students in Ariel Stonebloom’s second period class.
What do you think of Renaissance High? #wpforms-31797 { --wpforms-field-size-input-height: 43px; --wpforms-field-size-input-spacing: 15px; --wpforms-field-size-font-size: 16px; --wpforms-field-size-line-height: 19px; --wpforms-field-size-padding-h: 14px; --wpforms-field-size-checkbox-size: 16px; --wpforms-field-size-sublabel-spacing: 5px; --wpforms-field-size-icon-size: 1; --wpforms-label-size-font-size: 16px; --wpforms-label-size-line-height: 19px; --wpforms-label-size-sublabel-font-size: 14px; --wpforms-label-size-sublabel-line-height: 17px; --wpforms-button-size-font-size: 17px; --wpforms-button-size-height: 41px; --wpforms-button-size-padding-h: 15px; --wpforms-button-size-margin-top: 10px; --wpforms-container-shadow-size-box-shadow: none; } Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.Are you a current or former student, parent or teacher at Renaissance High School? Share a memory with us for a future story about the school. *- Yes, you can share my name and publish my comments on Santa Cruz Local.
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Learn about membership Santa Cruz Local’s news is free. We believe that high-quality local news is crucial to democracy. We depend on locals like you to make a meaningful contribution so everyone can access our news. Learn about membershipThe post Inside Renaissance High: students photograph their school amid threat of closure appeared first on Santa Cruz Local.
Wednesday morning traffic: Highway 1, 9, SR-152 lane closures; tree work delays
This post is updated throughout the day to reflect the latest incidents. It was last updated at 8:31 a.m..
Here’s what’s happening on the roads this morning…
▼︎ new incidents ▼︎ long-term incidents
Road incidents as of 8:30 a.m. on June 10- Highway 9 at Pool Drive in San Lorenzo Valley will have alternating lane closures because of bridge work. This will continue until April 30, 2027, at 6:59 a.m.
- Highway 9 at Cascade Avenue in San Lorenzo Valley has one-way traffic due to ongoing work. This closure will last until August 31.
- South Highway 1 is facing closures at Park Avenue in Capitola / Soquel because of road work. The closure will last until Aug 19 at 7:01 a.m.
- A lane on westbound SR-152 at Clifford Drive/Ohlone Parkway in Watsonville and Pajaro is closed for asphalt paving. The closure will last until July 3 at 5:59 a.m.
- Single lane closures are scheduled on Soquel Drive between Huntington Drive and Jaunell Road in Aptos from June 11 to June 12, between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., for overhead tree trimming by County crews.
- A white Honda HRV and a black Kia Rio were involved in a collision at Beach Rd and Thurwacher Rd in Watsonville / Pajaro. No one was hurt, and the cars were still in the road, but no tow trucks were needed. The people involved were told to move their vehicles. The incident was reported today.
- CHP helped Caltrans with maintenance work at the intersection of State Route 152 and Pennsylvania Drive in Watsonville/Pajaro today.
These have been going on for a while, but are still worth keeping in mind.
- Thurber Ln near 4672 Thurber Ln in Santa Cruz will be fully closed from June 8-12 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. each day for tree trimming and vegetation management by county crews.
- Mill St. between Main St. and Highway 9 in Ben Lomond will be closed to vehicles from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on 6/6, 7/4, 8/1, 9/5, and 10/3 for the Ben Lomond Village Market event. Traffic control and detour signs will be posted.
- River Rd at 618 in San Lorenzo Valley will be closed to vehicles on June 11 during work hours from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. while crews repair a connector and replace a broken crossarm.
- Lompico Rd will be closed to vehicles at 12320 Lompico Rd in San Lorenzo Valley on June 11 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. while crews replace a crossarm and cutouts.
Disclosure: Traffic incidents are partially generated by artificial intelligence. We are constantly working to improve the accuracy and quality of our AI-generated content. However, there may still be errors or inaccuracies. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us.
The post Wednesday morning traffic: Highway 1, 9, SR-152 lane closures; tree work delays appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.
As Martinelli’s pulls back, local schools and nonprofits rally to support Pajaro Valley apple growers
After Martinelli’s announced it would not renew contracts with local apple growers, one Pajaro Valley farmer has been flooded with calls, ideas and offers from community members eager to help replace the major buyer. While potential partnerships with school districts, nonprofits and other local organizations show promise, growers say finding markets large enough to absorb the thousands of tons of apples once sold to Martinelli’s remains a significant challenge.
This week in Santa Cruz County business: Events aim to boost visitors to Seabright amid latest Murray Street Bridge closure; air corridor project underway; Joby-Archer lawsuit developments
With the Murray Street Bridge set to be closed through September, business owners and community leaders have plans to bring visitors to the neighborhoods around the Santa Cruz Harbor this summer. Jessica M. Pasko’s weekly look at local business also includes updates on a project to connect four regional airports, including Watsonville’s; legal jabs between air mobility rivals; and plenty more names, numbers and dates to know.
Letter to the editor: We must maintain Medi-cal benefits
In a letter to the editor, the CEO of Central California Alliance for Health underlines the importance of Medi-Cal for all current members and urges readers to push their state representatives to maintain current coverage statuses.
Santa Cruz women have more freedom than ever — so why can’t we get away from the beauty mirror?
In a county known for barefoot hippies, natural beauty and anti-establishment culture, Santa Cruz women still feel intense pressure to curate how they look, says writer and radio host Suki Wessling. She reflects on Botox appointments over the hill, Zoom beauty filters, punk-rock rebellion and a lively Santa Cruz Feminist Society debate about beauty, aging and self-expression. Her argument: Even here, women are spending too much time staring into the digital mirror — and not enough time simply living.
Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton will face off in California governor’s race
The race for California governor this fall will be a battle between a Democrat promising to cement the state’s status as a stronghold of liberal policies and a Republican pledging to dramatically reverse course in the nation’s most populous state.
Republican Steve Hilton, a former Fox News commentator backed by President Donald Trump, has won enough votes to advance to the general election, The Associated Press determined Tuesday. He’ll face Democrat Xavier Becerra, a former state attorney general and health secretary under President Joe Biden.
The winner will succeed Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom to lead the state that is home to roughly 39 million people, Hollywood, a booming tech industry and a vast farming region that helps feed the nation. By itself California represents one of the largest economies in the world.
The next governor will have to take on stubborn issues including a high cost of living, housing shortages and homelessness.
Democrats outnumber Republicans in CaliforniaHilton is banking his campaign on voters being frustrated enough to do something they have not done in two decades: elect a Republican to statewide office. The last time that happened was when Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger won a second term in 2006. Hilton has campaigned as an outsider who would bring change after more than 15 years of one-party rule.
“If you’re happy with the way that California is being run, Xavier Becerra is your guy,” Hilton said in a recent interview. “If you want change, vote for me.”
But simply having an “R” next to his name stacks the odds against Hilton, since Republicans make up just about 25% of registered voters compared with Democrats’ 45%. Trump’s endorsement likely boosted Hilton with GOP voters during the primary but could be a major liability in the general election.
Becerra was a chief architect of the state’s resistance to Trump during the first years of his presidency after then-Gov. Jerry Brown, a Democrat, appointed him attorney general in 2017. In that role Becerra filed at least 120 legal actions against the federal government.
Becerra has made pushing back against Trump’s incursions a central piece of this campaign, as the president has repeatedly gone after the state during his second term including by curbing a signature plan to reduce planet-warning emissions from cars, withholding aid for wildfire recovery and suing over state policies supporting transgender student-athletes.
“Donald Trump is doubling down on decline and counting on people being too fearful, distracted or gullible to fight back,” Becerra told a crowd on primary night. “As governor I will never back down from the threats of small cowards in big offices.”
Results conclude a chaotic primaryIt took nearly a week to determine the general election matchup for governor due to California’s notoriously slow vote-counting process. Ballots are mailed to every eligible voter and they are counted if they are postmarked by Election Day and arrive at an election office within seven days. Counties process and count mail ballots in roughly the order they are received, so the last ones returned are the last ones counted.
The AP determined Friday that Becerra had won enough votes to advance to November. Hilton had been vying for a second spot against Democrat Tom Steyer, a billionaire hedge fund manager turned climate activist who poured $215 million of his personal fortune into the campaign and blasted Californians’ screens with ads.
California gubernatorial candidate Tom Steyer speaks during an election night event June 2 in San Francisco. Credit: Noah Berger / Associated Press
Steyer steadily narrowed Hilton’s lead for second place every day since Election Day on June 2. But he was never on track to fully close the gap. The AP advanced Hilton to the general election on Tuesday after determining there weren’t enough outstanding votes for Steyer to catch Hilton.
Election data shows that large numbers of Democratic voters held onto their ballots until the final days of the election. That helped explain why Steyer did better than Hilton in the votes counted after Election Day.
Steyer conceded Tuesday and urged his supporters to back Becerra.
“It would be a travesty for Steve Hilton to win the governorship, and Californians must unite behind Xavier Becerra to ensure he does not,” he said in a statement.
Affordability is a central issueHow to make the state more affordable was a major theme throughout the primary. Hilton promised to make Californians’ first $100,000 free of income tax, create a loan program for first-time homebuyers and freeze in-state tuition at public colleges. Becerra, meanwhile, said he would declare states of emergency to address high energy costs and housing shortages and to freeze home insurance rates.
The two have one thing in common: They both come from immigrant backgrounds.
Hilton moved to California from the United Kingdom in 2012 and became a citizen in 2021. Back in the U.K., he was an adviser to Conservative Party officials including former Prime Minister David Cameron.
California Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton gestures after speaking at a news conference at the San Mateo County Elections office on June 5 in San Mateo. Credit: Jeff Chiu / Associated Press
Hilton has poked fun at his British accent by comparing himself to the Austria-born Schwarzenegger.
“I know that some of you may be watching and saying, ‘Who is this guy with a funny accent?’” he said on election night. “Well you know there was actually an immigrant who was governor of California not that long ago.”
Becerra was born to Mexican immigrant parents in Sacramento and also raised there. He said his family’s story mirrored his “underdog” campaign for governor.
“Like my parents, I never gave up,” he told supporters on election night. “I never stopped believing in the beaconlike goodness of California. And thankfully, neither did you.”
Becerra would be the state’s first Latino governor since the late 1800s.
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Ray Myers named Pajaro Valley High’s newest head football coach
The Ray Myers era is officially under way at Pajaro Valley High this week after he was formally introduced as the new head football coach Tuesday afternoon.
The longtime local defensive coordinator was already in full spirits by sporting the green, silver and black colors at Grizzly Stadium prior to a meeting with some of the incoming players.
“Being a coach basically is just an extension of the classroom,” Myers said. “It’s just another chance for me to teach and help impact people’s lives. Not just in the classroom, but on the field, too. It’s a great opportunity for that.”
Myers, 42, will replace Casey Neligh after he was pink-slipped by the Pajaro Valley Unified School District following three seasons (2023-25) at the helm.
Neligh led the Grizzlies to the program’s first-ever winning season after they finished with a 6-4 overall record. They were runners-up in the Pacific Coast Athletic League’s Santa Lucia Division with a 5-1 record in league play.
Pajaro Valley Athletic Director Joe Manfre said he opened the position not thinking he’d find somebody extremely qualified for the position in such a short period.
That’s when Myers’ name popped up on the EDJOIN website.
“I was like ‘holy moly,’” Manfre said. “The Myers name carries a lot of weight in the city of Watsonville and Santa Cruz County.”
Myers has been a physical education teacher at Pajaro Middle School for the past 18 years. He received his master’s degree in strength and conditioning, and taught a weightlifting class for the Cabrillo College football team the past four years.
Myers played his first three years of prep football at Monte Vista Christian in Watsonville, followed by his senior season at Gilroy High and two years at Cabrillo College.
In 2007, Myers got his first gig as a defensive line coach at Soquel High under his dad, Ron, who spent 47 years on the football sidelines, and was the mastermind behind the Black Death defense at Watsonville High in the 80s.
“I think it’s kind of cool that Ray’s wanted to step into that space, and make a name for himself a little bit, too,” Manfre said.
Myers was promoted to defensive coordinator for six more years until he jumped ship with his dad for his second stint at Watsonville from 2014-19.
He took two years off during the Covid-19 pandemic before making a return to his alma mater at Cabrillo College as a defensive line coach for four years (‘22-25).
Myers now will have a chance to lead a program for the first time in his career, and he’s bringing his mentor, Ron, along for the ride as one of his assistant coaches.
“I feel like [Ray Myers] brings a wealth of knowledge, and he’s a teacher too. He knows how to deal with kids,” Manfre said. “I think it’s going to be a really good fit.”
Myers will become a physical education teacher at Pajaro Valley, and run a weightlifting class for the football team. He said a benefit to being an on-campus coach is having contact with players for constant grade checks.
Myers also mentioned building relationships with teachers on campus is critical because he wants to make sure students are passing classes outside of athletics.
“The goal for us, and it always has been, is if you play four years of football you’re going to be able to graduate to be eligible to do that,” Myers said.
Myers can already see the bigger picture, which starts with recruiting as many student-athletes as possible to join the Grizzly football program.
After that, he’s hoping to create a pipeline to send those same players to the next level whether it’s at Cabrillo or another school of their choice.
“I want it to be a positive experience for them,” Myers said. “I want to have that positivity spread to the school. [Casey Neligh] did a great job with the program. I’m not inheriting a program that is down, it’s a program that is on its way up, and he’s done a really good job of getting the place ready.”