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The City of Santa Cruz announced Tuesday that it has won a lawsuit brought by industry groups over Measure Z, the sugar-sweetened beverage tax that voters approved in November 2024. The city expects an appeal.

This post is updated throughout the day to reflect the latest incidents. It was last updated at 10:02 a.m..

Here’s what’s happening on the roads this morning…

▼︎ new incidents   ▼︎ long-term incidents

Road incidents as of 10 a.m. on July 1

• Highway 9 is facing closures in both directions at Pool Drive in San Lorenzo Valley for bridge work. The closure is expected to end at 5:59 a.m. tomorrow.
   
• Highway 9 at Cascade Avenue in San Lorenzo Valley has one-way traffic due to ongoing work. This closure will last until August 31.
   
• Alternating lanes are closed on Highway 9 at Riverdale Park in San Lorenzo Valley because of bridge work. The closure is expected to end at 6:59 a.m. on April 30, 2027.
   
• A lane on North Highway 9 at Two Bar Road in San Lorenzo Valley is closed for bridge work. The closure will last until 6:01 a.m. tomorrow.
   
• 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 5:59 a.m. on July 3.
   
• A traffic hazard was reported on Highway 1 near Wilder Ranch State Park at 9:54 a.m. today. A vehicle traveling southbound continued past the area, but the hazard was in the northbound lane. The incident happened near Bonny Doon and Davenport.
   
• CHP helped with construction at the intersection of Highway 9 and Alameda Avenue in San Lorenzo Valley today.
   

Long-term projects

These have been going on for a while, but are still worth keeping in mind.

• A section of Coolidge Drive between High Street and Hagar Road is closed to northbound traffic from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. from June 29 through today for pavement work by County crews. The closure is in the Westside / Downtown area.
   
• Soquel Drive between State Park Drive and Trout Gulch Road in Aptos will be closed on July 4 from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. for the annual Aptos 4th of July Parade.
   
• Playa Boulevard will be closed between Palma Avenue and Benito Avenue in La Selva Beach on July 4 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. for the annual La Selva Beach 4th of July Parade.
   
• Pine St. (between Hwy 236 and Harmon St.) and Lomond St. (between Pine St. and Railroad Ave.) in Boulder Creek, San Lorenzo Valley will be closed for the Boulder Creek 4th of July Parade.
   

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 9 closures, lane reductions for bridge work appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to shelve a local ordinance regulating battery storage systems following a decision by the developer of a project proposed for outside Watsonville to seek approval through the state.

A new civil grand jury report faults the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission for decades of flawed planning on the coastal rail corridor. It says officials advanced proposals without adequately accounting for engineering, legal and financial realities, and recommends that the commission adopt stronger project evaluation and strategic planning processes.

Dozens of staff members and supporters rallied outside Santa Cruz’s Dominican Hospital on Tuesday to oppose proposed layoffs and reductions to part-time status affecting 22 nurse educators, monitor technicians and unit coordinators, arguing that the cuts would undermine patient safety and place additional burdens on front-line nurses.

Rob Brezsny’s Free Will Astrology for the week offers horoscopes for every sign, from Aries’ deeper wells to Pisces’ invitation to bloom more fully.

This week’s letters reflect on America’s 250th birthday, Second Harvest Food Bank’s role in nourishing the American Dream, and the debate over renaming Cesar Chavez Middle School.

On America’s 250th birthday, what is your wish for the country?

Good Times editor Brad Kava previews this week’s issue, from the 418 Project’s new director and Fourth of July events to local safety concerns, food, comedy and Street Talk.

Josie Cowden spotlights The Paring’s 2021 Red Wine from Lompoc, a crimson blend with notes of cedar, toast, coffee, tobacco and dark fruit.

James Durbin & The Lost Boys kick off the Fourth of July weekend on Friday with a free Lighthouse Field show featuring hard rock anthems, food trucks, beer, wine and holiday energy.

Elizabeth Borelli visits Glow Prescription Skincare in Capitola to learn about summer skin care, healthy aging and the Pilates Facial from aesthetician Milene Freire.

Siran Babayan profiles Joe Ortiz and his musical Escaping Queens, a story of family, food, music and survival from Queens to California.

DNA profiles comedian Beth Stelling, whose sharp stand-up, national TV credits and relentless work ethic bring her to Felton Music Hall.

Mark C. Anderson visits Bad Animal in Santa Cruz, where Chef Nick Hahn’s market-driven menu turns seasonal appetizers into bold, shareable flavor experiences.

A California law going into effect Wednesday bans the use of “sell by” labels on food packaging. Manufacturers selling food in California must now use two standardized labels — a “best if used by” label for peak quality and a “use by” label for product safety.

This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for its newsletters.

California librarians were stunned when a last-minute budget change stripped K-12 schools of a trove of research materials, potentially leaving thousands of students without resources to do reports, projects or homework assignments.

Without notice to schools or librarians, the Legislature last week canceled $5.5 million that pays online fees for the Encyclopedia Britannica, New York Times, PBS videos such as Ken Burns documentaries, scientific journals and thousands of other online materials used by students and teachers. The cut goes into effect on July 1, 2027.

“We had no idea this was coming,” said Greg Lucas, head of the California State Library, which helps oversee the program for California’s 10,000 public schools. “This will have a huge impact on California students.”

The program, called Compass, is an online database of research and curriculum materials that have been vetted by teachers and librarians. Compass is also available through public libraries, but the vast majority of users are at K-12 schools. Since the program launched in 2018, it’s received nearly 1 billion hits.

Students use Compass for classroom assignments as well as for recreation. Many of the materials are available in multiple languages. Among the more popular features are National Geographic Kids; Pebble Go Science, which includes hundreds of science activities for pre-kindergarten through second grade; and Alexander Street, which offers videos of cultural performances such as the Joffrey Ballet and the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Compass is especially important at a time when fewer schools have libraries — and librarians — to help students with research. Although nearly 90% of schools have physical space on campus for books, magazines and other research materials, only about a quarter of those spaces are staffed by librarians. The rest are staffed by volunteers, classified employees or not at all. California ranks 49th nationwide in school librarian staffing, with nearly 10,000 students for each librarian, according to research by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. 

Compass is available free to all schools in California. If schools were to subscribe individually to Compass materials, they’d spend more than $216 million annually, according to a State Library report. A typical medium-sized school district might pay $100,000 or more for the services, an expense lower-income districts are less likely to have money for.  

Losing the service raises concerns about internet access

Without access to Compass materials, students would likely rely on free resources online. But those materials tend to contain advertisements or track user data, a violation of state student privacy laws. They also are less likely to be vetted for accuracy, a particular danger in the age of artificial intelligence.

“Losing Compass is catastrophic for the state of California,” said Kate MacMillan, library services coordinator for Napa Valley Unified. “This service is a lifeline. I can’t believe the Legislature would let this happen.”

Funding for Compass was in earlier versions of the budget the Legislature debated over the past few months. But the final version eliminated Compass funding after July 1, 2027. Instead, it directs $5 million of the funding toward the state’s new dyslexia screener, and $60,000 for technical support of an online lesson-sharing platform called California Educators Together.

Legislators and staff members on the budget education committees contacted by CalMatters did not comment on why the money was cut. 

Meanwhile, librarians are launching an aggressive campaign to save the program. They’re emailing Newsom and the Legislature, and trying to bring attention to the issue.

Connie Williams, a retired school librarian and former head of the California School Library Association, said that losing Compass will exacerbate disparities in the state’s education system. Lower-income schools will lose crucial learning resources, while higher-income schools will be able to pay the subscription costs themselves, without state assistance.

“The disparity will be overwhelmingly glaring,” Williams said. “We’re leaving students at the mercy of whatever is free on the internet.”

It’s especially galling, she said, that this move comes as the state is promoting media and digital literacy in schools. In 2023 California enacted a law requiring schools to teach media literacy in all subjects, with a focus on teaching students to recognize fake news, determine if an information source is trustworthy and generally think critically about what they view and read online.

“We want students to think critically, put away their phones, know how to do research,” Williams said. “And we’re grabbing away some of the best learning tools we have.”

Have something to say? Lookout welcomes letters to the editor, within our policies, from readers. Guidelines here.

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In a letter to the editor, an Aptos resident applauds a recent Community Voices op-ed about Driscoll’s and pesticides.

Felton Fire leaders have proposed a charge on property owners to maintain an independent district. (Amaya Edwards —Santa Cruz Local/CatchLight Local)

FELTON >> Property owners in Felton Fire Protection District are considering a new annual charge that could help the embattled district secure a future with paid fire staff. The district has faced years of mounting pension debt, decreasing volunteers and a rotation of chiefs, leaving residents uncertain about its future.

Supporters — including Felton Fire leaders — say the proposed property assessment would be the most cost-effective option, and would provide the best response to 911 calls. But detractors question whether the proposed $1.7 million income boost is truly needed.

If the assessment fails, Felton Fire could dissolve or try again to pass a different tax or assessment. Felton Fire leaders said that without a cash infusion, the district could run out of money to pay staff and volunteers by 2028.

(function() { window.mc4wp = window.mc4wp || { listeners: [], forms: { on: function(evt, cb) { window.mc4wp.listeners.push( { event : evt, callback: cb } ); } } } })(); Stay informed on Santa Cruz County’s biggest issues. Santa Cruz Local’s newsletter breaks down complex local topics and shows residents how to get involved. Email address:
mc4wp.forms.on('subscribed', function(form) { // gtag.js if(form.id == '6954') { gtag('event', 'subscribe', {'event_category': 'newsletter_prompt', 'event_label':'top_of_story'}); } }); Leave this field empty if you're human: Key Takeaways

• Property owners can turn in mail-in ballots until July 24. Owners who would pay more get a bigger say. 
• If the tax isn’t approved, Felton Fire leaders could propose another way to raise money, or ask another agency to take over. 
• It’s unclear if other agencies would be willing to absorb Felton Fire, or how much residents would pay.
• Volunteer-driven response is currently meeting the community’s need, but is unsustainable, Felton Fire leaders said.
• Regardless of the vote outcome, emergency service will continue.

What is the assessment, and how do I vote?

The property assessment is proposed under state Proposition 218, which differs from elections for parcel taxes and bonds. Only property owners can vote, and each vote is weighted according to the amount they would pay — essentially, those who would pay more get a bigger say. The assessment requires 50% approval of the weighted ballots. 

Ballots were mailed out in late May and must be returned by July 24. They may be submitted:

• By mail, using a pre-paid envelope included with the ballot. Send to 131 Kirby St., Felton, CA 95018. 
• In person by July 24 at the Felton Fire district office at 131 Kirby St. in Felton.
• In person at a public hearing for the assessment, 6 p.m. July 24. 

Voters who want to change their vote or request a replacement ballot can call 831-335-4422.

Property owners who believe the assessment doesn’t comply with the California Constitution have until July 6 to submit a written objection. If the assessment is approved, it may only be challenged in court by those who have submitted a constitutional objection.

Who would pay, and how much?

The assessment must also be priced according to how much each property owner would benefit from the improved service. The assessments have been priced according to property use, property value, fire hazard and distance to the station.

Each ballot includes the amount of the property’s proposed assessment. A typical single-family home would be assessed $697.43 annually. The assessment can increase up to 3% a year to match inflation. A citizen panel would annually review Felton Fire’s finances and assessment spending.

All properties are legally required to pay the tax. But though homeowners could face a lien for non-payment, churches, nonprofits, or government buildings like schools would not.

What would the assessment pay for?

Felton Fire collects about $1.1 million annually through property taxes. The new tax would increase the district’s revenue to $2.8 million.

The district has long relied on volunteer firefighters. Until 2024, it also had a part-time administrator, a full-time chief and up to two full-time firefighters and two full-time captains. But the district can no longer afford the full-time employees, said Interim Chief Issac Blum, and is currently staffed entirely by volunteers. 

Volunteers receive a $120 stipend for a 12-hour shift. Blum receives up to a $2,500 stipend each month, though some months he has opted not to take it, he said. Blum said he usually works at the station four days a week, in addition to a full-time paid position at NASA Ames research center near Mountain View.

Blum said he intends to vacate his volunteer position at the end of the summer. The board is interviewing six candidates for the role, one of whom is set to receive a job offer after the assessment vote. If the board offered him the role, “I would have to think very hard about it,” he said. “What we want to ensure the next fire chief is the best person for the job.”

About $1.6 million of the expanded $2.8 million budget would go to training and salaries, including health care and retirement:

• A full-time chief and for $166,000 to $193,000 base pay. 
• Three fire captains.
• Six firefighters. The staffing plan also accounts for two on-call volunteer firefighters.  

The Proposition 218 assessment must be linked to the cost of a specific benefit to property owners. In this case, Felton Fire leaders say, the money would allow the re-hiring of three full-time firefighters and a full-time chief, ensuring faster response times and more firefighters responding. It would also pay for training and equipment.

District leaders previously considered a $700 parcel tax before pursuing the assessment.

What happens if the tax doesn’t pass?

If property owners reject the proposed assessment, the station will not immediately close, and 911 calls will still be answered. The station’s reserves are expected to be mostly depleted by an agreement underway to exit California’s CalPERS pension system, a move to make future hires less costly.

The reserves have enough money to also cover a $400,000 shortfall in this year’s budget and staff the station for one year with a slightly larger paid staff — a chief, two fire captains and an administrative assistant.

Without an assessment, the station may not have enough money to continue to maintain that staffing after 2028, Blum said.

If the assessment fails, Felton Fire leaders could propose a lower assessment, or renew efforts for a parcel tax. Director Erica Schwanbeck said she is unsure if she would propose another revenue measure or move towards dissolving. 

“I would hope that there’s a through road there” to continue without dissolution, “but I don’t know for how long.” she said.

Could another agency absorb Felton Fire?

If Felton Fire leaders are unable to find a sustainable way to provide emergency response, they could ask another fire agency to absorb the district. But no district would be obligated to take on Felton Fire’s coverage area.

A 2025 report from the Local Area Formation Commission of Santa Cruz County included a dozen possibilities for Felton Fire’s future. The report’s four top-ranked options are to be absorbed by another fire agency. 

One of those agencies is County Service Area 48, also known as Santa Cruz County Fire. The agency is part of the county government, though leaders have discussed becoming an independent fire district. CSA 48 has two existing assessments, which total about $367 for a typical single-family home. But if CSA 48 takes over Felton Fire, it could decide that the existing assessments won’t be enough to provide service to Felton residents, and propose an increase.

CSA 48 is in the process of absorbing Pajaro Valley Fire Protection District, which opted to dissolve after years of unsuccessful tax proposals. Pajaro Valley Fire Chief Dave Martone said the move is a win for residents, who will now have more robust emergency service. Martone did not take a position on the Felton assessment.

Former interim Aptos/La Selva Fire Chief Don Jarvis, a Pajaro Valley Fire District resident and past consultant for LAFCO, presented the South County dissolution as a cautionary tale for Felton Fire residents. Single-family homeowners will pay more to CSA 48 than what Pajaro Valley Fire proposed as an assessment. It’s unclear how much CSA 48 would charge Felton property owners if it absorbed the area. A county spokesperson declined to comment on whether CSA 48 would be willing to absorb Felton Fire, or how much it would charge.

The neighboring Zayante Fire Protection District could also offer to absorb Felton Fire. Zayante Fire Chief Jeff Maxwell said that neither he nor Zayante Fire’s board of directors have taken a position on the tax or the possibility of taking on Felton Fire’s service area, and that said Felton Fire leaders have not reached out to discuss the issue.

Blum said Zayante’s staffing model wouldn’t work for Felton Fire long-term. Zayante, which takes on fewer calls than Felton Fire, employs two daytime fire fighters and relies on volunteers at night. Like CSA 48, Zayante Fire leaders could decide they need to raise taxes to take on the expanded service, he said.

“Maybe we could tread water for a few years, but the reality is that it still does not provide a long-term solution for the Felton community,” Blum said. 

Ultimately, Felton Fire residents will not have a firm idea of how much a takeover would cost until the district signals an intent to dissolve.

LAFCO Executive Officer Joe Serrano had encouraged directors last year to start the dissolution process at the same time they pursued a new assessment, to create a “Plan B” in case it fails. That would have triggered a process for LAFCO to consult with neighboring fire agencies and create a report on the possible cost and viability of being absorbed by another agency. The directors opted not to start that process, leaving the other options unclear.

“It’s a little misleading to say that there’s other options out there,” Serrano said. “There are, but there’s no analysis, there’s no commitment, there’s nothing.”

Does Felton Fire need 24-hour paid staff?

Supporters of the assessment say that it assures an industry-standard three-person response to emergencies — and it makes a four-person response, with the assistance of a chief or volunteer, more likely.

Labor protection laws stipulate that with fewer than four people, fire fighters can enter a burning building only for search and rescue. With four people, two can enter to fight the fire from within while two stand outside.

Felton Fire has 25 volunteer fire fighters, including 21 with enough training to respond to calls, Blum said, but only three live in Felton. The rest may not be available on short notice.

Blum attributes the difficulty of recruiting local volunteers to the increasing gentrification of the San Lorenzo Valley with more commuters to Silicon Valley. Within a decade, “you’re going to see this transition all the way through the valley,” he said.

Maxwell, the Zayante Fire chief, said his agency has had success hiring daytime staff while relying on local volunteers for nighttime coverage. “I think it takes strong leadership to create an environment that is welcoming for those members of the community,” he said. “It’s absolutely not easy.”

Serrano said the fact that other agencies have survived on a smaller budget thus far doesn’t mean the model is sustainable long term.

“If you lose your legacy fire chief and you have to hire someone new, you know, they may not want to take a pay cut like the current fire chief is taking,” he said. “You can easily compare somebody, but at the end of the day, Felton Fire is struggling with its current model, and it’s looking for ways to address that.”

If voters approve the assessment but later push to reduce paid staffing, fees could be lowered with the vote of three board members.

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The post As Felton Fire faces mounting financial challenges, an assessment proposal divides residents appeared first on Santa Cruz Local.

The Bay Area will host one more World Cup match, which is slated for Wednesday at 5 p.m. — and it’s a big one. The U.S. men’s national team takes the pitch for a high-stakes knockout match against Bosnia-Herzegovina just a short drive up the road from Santa Cruz County. 

There are still last-minute tickets available at Levi’s Stadium through authorized resale sites, as FIFA’s primary sale has ended and the organization is no longer selling tickets. Those resale platforms are StubHub, SeatGeek and Vivid Seats.

However, jumping at the opportunity will be costly. To the surprise of no one, even the cost of the cheapest tickets dwarf most prices you’ll find for a typical sporting event. No single ticket is priced beneath a four-digit dollar amount.

On StubHub on Tuesday afternoon, tickets ranged from $1,407 to $3,487. Tickets from SeatGeek were similar, ranging from $1,386 to $5,852. Vivid Seats tickets started at $1,329 and reached all the way to $9,316 and above for the Category 1 and 2 seats — considered the best views in the house.

If those figures don’t scare you away, make your way to one of those providers as soon as you can. Tickets are going fast and there is only a limited number remaining.

Have news that should be in Lookout Briefs? Send your news releases, including contact information, to news@lookoutlocal.com.

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