Lookout Santa Cruz

This post is updated throughout the day to reflect the latest incidents. It was last updated at 7:01 a.m..

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

▼︎ new incidents   ▼︎ long-term incidents

Road incidents as of 7 a.m. on May 29

• There was roadway flooding with standing water near Emeline and Morrissey on Highway 1 South in the Eastside / Live Oak area. Caltrans was notified to put up warning signs about the flooded road. This was reported on May 28.
   
• There are alternating lane closures on both northbound and southbound Highway 9 at Pool Drive in San Lorenzo Valley because of bridge work. The closures are expected to end at 6:59 a.m. on April 30, 2027.
   
• South Highway 1 at Park Avenue in Capitola / Soquel is facing closures for roadway excavation. The closure is expected to end at 7:01 a.m. on August 19.
   
• There is one-way traffic on Highway 9 at Cascade Avenue in San Lorenzo Valley because of ongoing work. The closure is expected to end at 7:01 a.m. on August 31.
   
• There is a traffic break and closure on Highway 17 at Mt Hermon/Glen Canyon in Scotts Valley because of utility work. This closure will last until 10:30 a.m. on May 31.
   
• A lane on eastbound SR-152 at Union Street in Watsonville / Pajaro is closed for utility work. The closure will end today at 2:01 p.m.
   

Long-term projects

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

• Main St. will be fully closed at 9460 Central Ave. in Ben Lomond, San Lorenzo Valley, during work hours today and tomorrow while crews replace a pole anchor and span guy.
   

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 Friday morning traffic: Flooding on Hwy 1, lane closures on Hwy 9 & 17, Main St. closed appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

The Santa Cruz City Council conducted a public hearing this week on proposed city charter amendments to update and clarify language, and to make a number of other changes to comply with state law. Staff is expected to return in June with a resolution to put the proposed changes to voters on the November ballot.

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

Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton are holding on to the lead in the latest poll ahead of the California governor election. 

That’s according to the Public Policy Institute of California, which surveyed 986 likely voters earlier this month. Nearly a quarter of those surveyed (23%) said they’d vote for Becerra, followed by Hilton at 20%, Tom Steyer at 15%, Chad Bianco at 13% and Katie Porter at 12%.

Some Californians are watching governor polls in part to decide how they’ll vote. The state’s open primary allows the top two vote-getters to advance to November regardless of party, and for several months Republicans Hilton and Bianco appeared to have a shot at locking Democrats out of the ballot.

Becerra, the former state attorney general and health secretary to former President Joe Biden, began to pull ahead after U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell dropped out of the race amid allegations of sexual misconduct. 

• Jonathan Underland, spokesperson for Becerra’s campaign: “Becerra has built real momentum — strong poll numbers backed by working Californians who are energized and ready.”

Steyer’s campaign in a written statement contested the PPIC survey’s findings, saying it missed recent movement toward the liberal billionaire. The campaign pointed to its own internal tracking and another poll conducted for Hilton.

Aside from the governor’s race, the PPIC survey held clues about how voters feel ahead of midterm elections that will decide which party controls Congress in the final two years of President Donald Trump’s second term. Three-quarters of likely voters said the country is headed in the wrong direction — the highest percentage in over two decades, according to PPIC.

Though it’s not surprising that the majority of the Democrats polled — 92% — agreed with this sentiment, 50% of Republicans also felt the same way. The percentage of Republicans who said the country was heading in the right direction also declined sharply — from 64% in a February PPIC poll to 49%. 

A solid majority — 64% — of likely voters said they would vote for the Democratic candidate in their local U.S. House race if the midterm elections were held today. Only 35% of likely voters said they would vote for the GOP candidate.

Those numbers are warning signs for Republicans as they try to hold on to their majority in the U.S. House of Representatives.

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The post Who’s ahead in the California governor’s race? appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

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

Despite making up one-fifth of the state’s voting population, most Gen Z Californians won’t vote in the June 2 primary, which is stacked with several gubernatorial candidates.

The primary election tees up the ballot in November, which will also host other high-profile races and issues, such as the rest of the executive candidates, as well as propositions like the billionaire’s tax. 

Generation Z, or those aged 14 to 29, makes up nearly 21% of eligible California voters, but their historical turnout is disproportionately low compared to the general voting population. 

Young voters aren’t necessarily checked out. Rinu Nair, the president of the History and Civic Engagement Club at De Anza College in Cupertino, said that the student club’s meeting on the gubernatorial race drew the most participants of any meeting this year: 20. But students were often disillusioned by each candidate having a history of controversial actions. 

“There’s an interest, but also that feeling of, ‘Am I doing what I want to do? Can my vote even make a change?’” Nair said. “[Young people] don’t feel represented in politics but they feel like it’s a duty they have to do.” 

In a statewide survey published by the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies in May, voters aged 18 to 29 polled similarly to all voters on reasons why they may not vote in the primary election. But a few reasons jumped out in particular.

Of young voters who said they were unlikely to vote, 47% said they are not well-informed enough on the issues and candidates, compared to 38% of total unlikely voters. Another difference was that 31% of young voters said they were too busy, compared to 19% of all unlikely voters. 

Cost of living and inflation, healthcare and housing costs are the top three issues Gen Z voters are tracking leading up to the 2026 midterms, according to 2026 survey data from the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement, a nonpartisan research organization based at Tufts University in Boston. Jobs and unemployment and immigration ranked fourth and fifth among survey respondents respectively.

How candidates are – or aren’t – addressing the youth vote

CalMatters reached out to gubernatorial candidate front-runners to learn more about their methods for engaging youth voters. Steve Hilton, Chad Bianco, Tony Thurmond and Matt Mahan’s teams did not respond.

Antonio Villaraigosa said in an interview that he hired a diverse staff of people primarily aged 22 to 26 to help him connect better with youth voters. Katie Porter and Tom Steyer said they have visited many college campuses across the state in an effort to connect with young voters.

Maiya De La Rosa, the president of California Young Democrats, a youth organizing group affiliated with the state Democratic Party, said that Xavier Becerra has visited and formed relationships with more Young Democrats chapters across the state than any other candidate, having visited 30 chapters since July 2025. She said that the organization endorsed him because of that strong relationship as well as his policies. 

The California College Democrats, an organization of students that mobilizes around Democratic candidates and advocates progressive policies, similarly endorsed Becerra in March. 

“He’s made a really big effort to put college students at the front of his campaign,” said Daniel Guerrero, the organization’s president and incoming senior at UC San Diego. “We believed in his message, and it’s been really rewarding to see everyone else see what we saw in him, especially in the young community.”

Steyer and Becerra have both been using short videos and partnerships with content creators to reach young audiences. Both are caught up in a controversy over content creators allegedly failing to disclose that campaigns had paid for their endorsements. The influencers often posted endorsements without disclaimers that they had been paid. 

According to each candidate’s endorsement pages (except Hilton, who does not have one), Becerra has the most endorsements from youth groups – 15 total, mostly consisting of Young Democrats and College Democrats chapters.

Steyer has three youth group endorsements and Thurmond has one. Peter Opitz, a representative for Porter, said she is endorsed by UAW and Teamsters, which contain unions that represent workers and educators in higher education. 

A strong social media presence has been integral to reaching young voters – and any voter – in a race where it’s difficult to stand out.

Even so, California Assemblymember Alex Lee, who has endorsed Steyer, said in an interview that he believes social media strategy comes second to good policy, and that Democrats often get criticized for being boring online. 

“Zohran Mamdani’s popular not because he’s good at Instagram alone, but because he campaigned on free childcare, housing and a rent freeze,” Lee said, who was 25 years old when he was elected. “You can pump so much money into viral cringe, but it will not resonate with people.” 

Seated next to Steve Hilton (left) and Xavier Becerra, Tom Steyer (right) speaks during a gubernatorial forum in Sacramento on April 14. Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr. / CalMatters

At a televised debate held at Pomona College in April, as candidates squabbled for speaking time, hundreds of students tuned in from a nearby dining hall where the debate was being livestreamed. They giggled at Hilton’s British accent, hollered over the shade thrown on stage and kept a close eye on the crowded field for standouts.

Throughout the debate, as candidates like Villaraigosa directed their responses to “the young students at Pomona,” groans erupted from students watching the livestream. Rising junior at Pomona College Sarah Russo said the candidates’ comments felt overly performative. 

“It belittled us and infantilized us,” Russo said in a talkback session with other students after the debate.

Incoming Pomona College junior Alex Benach said no one candidate really stood out. “The whole field of candidates trying to have that viral moment watered [the debate] down,” they said.

Despite the debate being held at a college campus, students attending said that the candidates failed to address key priorities for youth in college, including the job market, AI and federal crackdowns on campuses for alleged anti-semitism and equity issues.

Youth turnout is low, but young voters are hardly apathetic

No matter the kind of election – gubernatorial or general – youth turnout is historically lower than other age groups, said Mindy Romero, director of the Center for Inclusive Democracy at the University of Southern California, a hub for civic and electoral engagement research. In the 2024 general election, 42.5% of eligible voters aged 18 to 24 cast a ballot, compared to 62% of all eligible voters in California, according to a July 2025 report from the center. 

While young people do not show up to vote as much as older voters, it’s “not because they’re apathetic,” emphasized Romero. Rather, it is because youth feel disconnected from the political process.

From the 2010 to 2018 primary elections in California, eligible youth voter turnout ranged from as low as 3.6% in 2014 to 17.1% in 2016, according to California Civic Engagement Project data. In comparison, total eligible voter turnout ranged from 18.4% in 2014 and 33.5% in 2016. 

Likely voter modeling often shows campaigns that youth voters aren’t worth investing in due to historically low turnout. However, that same lack of investment is what can lead to low youth turnout itself – and create what Romero calls a “vicious cycle” of campaigns failing to engage youth voters because they believe it’s not worth it. 

From left, candidates Tony Thurmond, Chad Bianco, Tom Steyer, Steve Hilton, Xavier Becerra, Katie Porter, Matt Mahan and Antonio Villaraigosa stand on stage for the CBS California Gubernatorial Debate at Bridges Auditorium on the campus of Pomona College in Claremont on April 28, 2026. Credit: Jules Hotz for CalMatters

When they do focus on young voters, candidates primarily target college campuses, usually skewing towards four-year university students, which means non-college goers, low-income voters and people of color are less likely to receive their outreach, according to Romero. 

“The political and social context in which young people have come of age has made them not see government as a helpful thing that they have a say in, but rather a government that is not as responsive, gridlocked, and about spewing hate and not serving,” Romero said. “Generally speaking, young people don’t have a lot of positive to look to. They’ve seen only negative.”

Young people also might be more skeptical after seeing such negativity, whereas older generations have memories of a more civil past, giving them the perspective of a government that could function in a non-partisan way. 

“Young people are tapped in politically, that’s undeniable,” said Christopher Smith, a student at Evergreen Valley College who attended a Steyer event. “Anybody who claims that is not true is not listening to young people enough.” 

Romero suggested that the competitiveness of the race could push more young people to vote, but the turnout would still be unrepresentative of the actual youth population. In the UC Berkeley IGS Poll, 56% of respondents across all age, race and party demographics said that a low youth turnout was a “major concern” for a representative democracy in California. 

The UC Berkeley IGS poll also showed that 48% of young voters who said they were unlikely to vote said access to an “unbiased and trusted source of election news” would increase their chances of voting. A quarter of them said more convenient voting would also increase that likelihood.

Andrew Luong, a De Anza College student at the Steyer rally, said he feels that it’s partially on young people to educate themselves and vote. “In the governor’s race, I know young people care about it, but don’t care to learn more about it,” he said. 

Among young Democrats, De La Rosa said she has seen youth voter engagement increase “significantly.” She recalled how when she was president of California College Democrats in 2020, phone banking events would turn out about 20 people. Now, in a phone banking event for Becerra, 60 people came.

Students drop off their ballots at the Price Center at UC San Diego on Nov. 4, 2025. Credit: Ariana Drehsler for CalMatters

Young progressive leaders say some youth are looking for a candidate to stand up to Trump.

“In a time where young people have been at the forefront of the attacks from the Trump administration, having someone who’s been there and has already gone up to bat to fight the Trump administration is really, really important,” Guerrero said.

Where candidates stand on Gaza, affordability

In April, Steyer made his first stop of “A California You Can Afford” bus tour a few blocks away from San Jose State University, where he made his progressive bid to a majority middle-aged crowd. 

A handful of people who appeared below 30 years old were present. That’s not to say young people don’t support him – a Democratic Party poll conducted May 14 through 16 shows he and Becerra both garnered the support of 23% of respondents aged 18 to 34. Meanwhile, 17% of respondents aged 18 to 34 said they still were undecided.

CalMatters spoke to college students at the bus tour, many of whom said that the genocide in Gaza was a moral touchpoint for them. 

Nair attended the event to learn more about Steyer. She said that she’s still unsure of who to vote for. 

“The fact that he wasn’t willing to take a solid stance on the Gaza question, that was more than enough for me,” Nair said. “I do hold my politicians to a higher standard than some do, and that was enough for me to not feel convinced.”

Smith said that young voters especially care whether a candidate believes Israel has committed genocide. 

In exclusive video interviews with CalMatters, eight candidates currently in the race were asked whether they considered Israel’s actions in the war in Gaza a genocide. None of the candidates went that far. Porter and Becerra criticized Netanyahu’s actions, while Hilton simply responded “no.”

In these interviews, CalMatters also asked candidates what is the single biggest thing they would do to make life more affordable in California. Five of the eight candidates said they would focus on combatting high housing costs, primarily with plans to make it easier to build. Hilton and Villaraigosa said they would first bring down the price of gas, while Bianco said overregulation was California’s primary affordability issue.

When asked about their greatest hope for youth in particular, the most common answer among candidates was making sure California remains a state where people want to settle permanently.

Kahani Malhotra and Chrissa Olson are contributors with the College Journalism Network, a collaboration between CalMatters and student journalists from across California. CalMatters higher education coverage is supported by a grant from the College Futures Foundation.

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

The post What would get Gen Z to vote in California’s primary? These candidates are trying appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

In its 45th season, Cabrillo Stage continues to earn a reputation for producing huge, splashy musicals with incredible production value right here in Santa Cruz County. Whether it’s the blockbuster hit “In the Heights” or a smaller juke box powerhouse like “Beehive,” local audiences have come to expect nothing but the best from this local gem. Under the continued artistic leadership of Andrea Hart, this summer hits the stage with the force of a disco ball struck by divine inspiration with the soulful musical based on the smash hit ‘90s movie: “Sister Act.” 

“It’s a show where strangers become sisters, where confidence blooms and where music transforms a community from the inside out,” says Hart. “You’re going to leave the show wanting to raise your voice high!” 

The play centers on the confident, outspoken, and electric nightclub singer, Deloris Van Cartier, played by Karriyma Pekary (last seen at Cabrillo Stage as Vanessa in “In the Heights”). After witnessing a murder, Deloris is whisked away to witness protection in the most unlikely of places: a convent. What begins as a reluctant hiding spot quickly becomes a springboard for transformation as Deloris is nudged into leading the convent’s struggling choir. Her arrival ignites a burst of energy and joy that helps the sisters discover confidence, harmony, and the thrill of singing out loud and proud. 

Actors Carlos Gonzàlez and Marcus Cato introduce themselves at the first rehearsal of “Sister Act.” Credit: Bari Miller

The secret sauce of Cabrillo Stage’s success is the exciting combination of fan favorite actors returning for another summer alongside exciting debuts from new talent. And this cast is packed with both. Sofia Rosas and Melissa Martinez (“In the Heights”), Jennifer Taylor Daniels (“Beehive”), and Mindy Pedlar (“Wizard of Oz”) play members of the lively convent community. They are joined by newcomers Tory Gordon, Kiki Lipsett, Sandi Lewandowski, and Tessa Miles Rosen, to name a few. Other returning local favorites include Bobby Marchessault and David Jackson, who play Deloris’ past and future loves. This outstanding cast is already in rehearsals at Cabrillo with a creative team of sought-after Santa Cruz stars. Rebecca Haley Clark is directing for the first time at Cabrillo Stage after helming “Master Harold and the Boys” for Santa Cruz Shakespeare last summer. Daniel Goldsmith returns as music director, having led the impressive 21-piece orchestra for “Sweeney Todd” last summer, and Babe Payne, previously seen on stage in “Grease,” joins as choreographer. 

With a musical score by Tony- and eight-time Oscar winner Alan Menken (Newsies, Beauty and the Beast, Little Shop of Horrors) brought to life by this team of visionaries, there is no doubt you will be on your feet dancing along by the end of the show. Daniel Goldsmith will also conduct the 11-piece live band that is sure to blow the roof off the beautiful Cabrillo Crocker Theater. 

Whether you are coming for the music, the story, the cast, or the team, you can be sure your experience will be full of laughter, joy, and a soul-lifting love for our local theater community. 

Tickets are on sale now. View the whole performance schedule HERE.

The post Cabrillo Stage celebrates 45 seasons with soulful hit “Sister Act” appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

This Saturday, the Diversity Center is hosting prom for those who might not have been able to fully enjoy the quintessential high school experience. Held at London Nelson Community Center from 4 to 7 p.m., the Retro Rainbow is an LGBTQ+ party for older adults featuring burlesque, drag, a DJ, food and a “Glam” theme. Tickets are free, and registration is encouraged. – Lily Belli

Here are more local events you might be interested in this weekend:

Thursday, May 28

• 19th Annual Music In May: Spotlighting El Sistema Youth Orchestra | 7 p.m. @ Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History | Free
• UCSC Opera: “Orpheus in the Underworld” | 7:30 p.m. @ UC Santa Cruz Music Center Recital Hall | $29
• Mason Jennings | 8 p.m. @ Felton Music Hall | $31.89

Friday, May 29

• CreativeMornings Release Day Party | 8 a.m. @ Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History | Free
• Boardwalk Behind-The-Scenes Tour | 9 a.m. @ Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk | $28.52
• Food Truck Friday & the Swag Tones | 5 p.m. @ Skypark | Free
• Midtown Santa Cruz: Friday Summer Block Parties | 5 p.m. @ 1111 Soquel Ave.
•  Hawaiian Weekend Celebration | 5 p.m. @ Chaminade Resort & Spa | $25
• “Soy, simplemente soy” – Frida Kahlo-inspired paint & sip | 6 p.m. @ Watsonville Center for the Arts | $45
• GZA | 8 p.m. @ The Catalyst | $46-$52
• The Darts *record release show* w/ SERVICE + The Hellflowers | 8 p.m. @ Moe’s Alley | $22.59

Saturday, May 30

• Summer’s Here West Cliff Outdoor Market | 10 a.m. @ West Cliff Lighthouse Parking Lot | Free 
• Redwood Mountain Faire 2026 | Noon @ Roaring Camp Railroad | $17-$255 + parking
• Music for the Animals Fundraiser | Noon @ Santa Cruz Cider Company / Buena Vista Brewing Co. | Free
• 2026 Retro Rainbow | 4 p.m. @ London Nelson Community Center | Free
• Buddhist Celebration: Saka Dawa | 6 p.m. @ Land of Medicine Buddha | Free
• MOTHFEST 2026: Tribute to Dan Lamothe ft. Rezurex, Dark Ride, Bones Shredder & A Band Of Orcs | 8 p.m. @ Moe’s Alley | $15-$20
• Pradabagshawty | 8 p.m. @ The Catalyst | $25.48

Sunday, May 31

• Watsonville Community Bike Ride / Paseo en Bicicleta por Watsonville | 11 a.m. @ East Lake Village Shopping Center | Free
•  Capitola Art & Wine Kickoff Party | 2 p.m. @ Bargetto Winery | $65-$75
• The Deep Read: A Conversation with Merlin Sheldrake | 4 p.m. @ Quarry Amphitheater | Free
• Stella Heath & The Billie Holiday Project | 8 p.m. @ Felton Music Hall | $63.20

The post Best of Santa Cruz County entertainment, arts & food events this weekend, May 28-31 appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

Watsonville police arrested a 21-year-old man Wednesday morning after they say he admitted to posting a threat on social media to commit a mass shooting at a Pajaro Valley Unified School District graduation ceremony.

Watsonville Police Department spokesperson Michelle Pulido said that the department utilized two search warrants. One was for Instagram, which allowed officers to identify the suspect, and a second for his home, where they arrested him.

“We want to assure the community that there are no active threats at this moment, and school safety remains a top priority for us,” the department said in a release. 

Police say a citizen reported the threat to the department on May 9 and officers immediately notified PVUSD administrators. Weeks later, on Wednesday morning, detectives and the Santa Cruz County Anti-Crime Team served a search warrant on the 700 block of Rodriguez Street and arrested the suspect on criminal threats charges. Police say he had no guns registered to him and none were located.  

They said he admitted to the online threat to “rage-bait the community.” 

Pulido said that the department will have officers stationed at the graduation ceremony, which it does every year. She reiterated that there is no active threat.

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

MORE LOCAL COVERAGE

The post Watsonville police make arrest after online threat to graduation ceremony appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

This post is updated throughout the day to reflect the latest incidents. It was last updated at 7:01 a.m..

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

▼︎ new incidents   ▼︎ long-term incidents

Road incidents as of 7 a.m. on May 28

• A big rig jackknifed and hit an oak tree, blocking all lanes at the transition from northbound Highway 1 to northbound Highway 17 (the Fishhook) near the onramp to northbound Highway 17 in the Eastside / Live Oak area. No one was hurt. Traffic was moved to the right side so a tow truck could get through. Caltrans was called for a possible closure and to remove the tree. The incident was reported today.
   
• A semi truck spun out while trying to make a U-turn at Highway 1 S and Bay Porter in Capitola / Soquel at 5:26 a.m. today. The truck ended up against the wall, scraping about 20 feet of the K-rail. There was smoke from the main cabin and a possible fuel spill of around 20 gallons. No one was hurt. The incident caused lane closures and brought out fire crews and Caltrans.
   
• There is a traffic break and closure on Highway 17 in both directions at Mt Hermon/Glen Canyon in Scotts Valley because of utility work. This closure is expected to last until 10:30 a.m. on May 31.
   
• There are alternating lane closures on both northbound and southbound Highway 9 at Pool Drive in San Lorenzo Valley because of bridge work. The closures will continue until 6:59 a.m. on April 30, 2027.
   
• There is a one-way traffic closure on Highway 9 at Cascade Avenue in San Lorenzo Valley because of ongoing work. The closure is expected to end at 7:01 a.m. on August 31.
   
• South Highway 1 at Park Avenue in Capitola / Soquel is facing closures for roadway excavation. The closure is expected to end at 7:01 a.m. on August 19.
   
• A lane on North Highway 17 at Granite Creek Road in Scotts Valley is closed for utility work. The closure will last until 6:01 a.m. on May 31.
   
• A lane is closed on westbound SR-152 at Beck Street in Watsonville / Pajaro for curb, gutter, and sidewalk work. The closure will end at 2:59 p.m. today.
   
• A traffic hazard was reported today in the southbound lane at El Rancho Dr and Carbonera Dr in the Eastside / Live Oak area. Road crews were notified and may need a chainsaw to clear the hazard.
   
• A traffic hazard was reported at the intersection of Highway 17 and Sims Rd in the Eastside / Live Oak area at 6:53 a.m. today. The incident involved a single vehicle, but it was not a collision. The hazard was described as a part on the offramp.
   

Long-term projects

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

• Roadwork by KIM Corporation is happening on Alameda Ave., Berkeley Way, Fern St., Riverside Rd, and Larkspur St. in San Lorenzo Valley as part of the 2026 Pavement Management Project. Some roads will have partial or full closures at different spots.
   
• Roadwork will be taking place on Irwin Way in San Lorenzo Valley as part of the 2026 Pavement Management Project. This will cause both partial and full road closures in different areas.
   
• Main St. will be completely closed at 9460 Central Ave. in Ben Lomond, San Lorenzo Valley from May 29 to May 30 during work hours while crews replace a pole anchor and span guy.
   

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 Thursday morning traffic: Big rig crash blocks Hwy 1/17 Fishhook; lane closures appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

Lifelong residents near the proposed battery storage facility on Minto Road outside Watsonville talked with Lookout about their concerns over the project, with some saying that they’ve thought about moving out of the area if the project gets approved.

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.

Durante casi cinco décadas, Anthony Olmeda ha vivido en la intersección de Meidl Avenue y Minto Road. La casa que comparte con su esposa y su perro pertenecía antes a su madre, y antes de mudarse allí vivía en la casa de al lado.

“Crecimos aquí,” dijo Olmeda.

De hecho, muchos de los residentes de Meidl Avenue, Dick Phelps Road y Minto Road, en las afueras de Watsonville, han vivido allí la mayor parte de sus vidas, echando raíces y creando hogares para ellos y sus familias.

El tranquilo vecindario de clase trabajadora está rodeado por un huerto de manzanas y varios campos de berries. Los jardines delanteros están bien cuidados y decorados; algunos ahora muestran letreros en apoyo a ciertos candidatos a supervisor del condado que participan en las elecciones primarias del 2 de junio. Por las tardes, los niños pequeños montan sus bicicletas y scooters o salen a caminar con sus padres antes de que se ponga el sol.

Es un lugar que Olmeda y otros nunca habían considerado abandonar. Pero eso cambió cuando el vecindario se enteró de los planes para construir una instalación de almacenamiento de baterías a menos de una milla de distancia, en 90 Minto Road.

Los residentes quedaron sorprendidos, especialmente después del enorme incendio en Moss Landing que destruyó lo que entonces era la segunda planta de almacenamiento de baterías más grande del mundo. El incendio dañó la sala de turbinas de una planta eléctrica de gas construida en la década de 1950 que había sido convertida para albergar casi 35,000 baterías.

“De hecho, me enteré [del proyecto] a través de mis vecinos,” dijo Olmeda. “Cuando dijeron Minto Road, pensamos: ‘¿Qué?’”

Anthony Olmeda, nativo de Watsonville, vive a menos de un cuarto de milla del emplazamiento propuesto para una instalación de almacenamiento de baterías. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

La empresa desarrolladora New Leaf Energy, con sede en Massachusetts, presentó una solicitud ante el condado de Santa Cruz en diciembre de 2024 para construir una instalación de almacenamiento de baterías de 200 millones de dólares, apenas semanas antes del incendio de Moss Landing.

Los sistemas de almacenamiento de baterías son una fuente de energía renovable que se ha vuelto crucial para el plan de California de alcanzar energía 100% limpia para 2045, ya que permiten almacenar el exceso de energía solar y eólica cuando la demanda es alta. El proyecto de Minto Road busca reducir los apagones en la zona y apoyar la red eléctrica local con energía renovable, según Max Christian, desarrollador senior de New Leaf.

Los desarrolladores retiraron su solicitud ante el condado el 7 de mayo, según el sitio web del condado, y ahora buscan la aprobación del proyecto a través del proceso “opt-in” de la Comisión de Energía de California. Esto permite a los desarrolladores evitar el proceso local de permisos debido a una ley de 2022 que otorgó a la Comisión de Energía de California la autoridad para aprobar proyectos de energía renovable.

New Leaf ya ha presentado su nueva solicitud al comisión estatal de energía el 27 de mayo. El proyecto ya figura en el sitio web de la comisión, donde los miembros de la comunidad ya pueden comenzar a enviar comentarios públicos.

Durante casi un año y medio, los residentes del sur del condado han puesto el proyecto y a New Leaf bajo la lupa, formando varias organizaciones comunitarias con el objetivo de impedir que esta instalación de almacenamiento de baterías sea aprobada.

“Hablas con cualquiera aquí y están en contra,” dijo Olmeda, y tiene razón. La mayoría de los residentes que hablaron con Lookout dijeron estar en contra del proyecto.

Un letrero que pide detener las instalaciones de almacenamiento de baterías de litio cuelga de la cerca del patio de un residente. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

Ante la posibilidad de que el estado apruebe el proyecto de New Leaf, Olmeda y sus vecinos están contemplando por primera vez la idea de mudarse de su querido vecindario debido a sus preocupaciones sobre la instalación propuesta.

A dos casas de la vivienda de Olmeda, Robert Lyons contó a Lookout que muchas de las casas del vecindario, incluida la suya, fueron construidas en la década de 1920, una época en la que cada hogar tenía su propio pozo con acceso directo a agua de manantial. Lyons dijo que la mayoría de las propiedades tienen amplios patios delanteros y traseros, ideales para quienes disfrutan de la jardinería, como su esposa.

Lyons, también originario de Watsonville, ha vivido en Meidl Avenue durante décadas. Se mudó a su casa en 1975.

Algunas de las mayores preocupaciones de Olmeda y Lyons respecto al proyecto se centran en la seguridad y la ubicación.

Aunque apoya las energías renovables, Lyons dijo que no le agrada la idea de instalar una planta de almacenamiento de baterías en el huerto de manzanas de 16 acres al final de Minto Road, que está a menos de un cuarto de milla de su casa y de otras viviendas. New Leaf planea usar una parte del huerto donde, según Christian, el suelo ya no es apto para plantar manzanos. El resto de la propiedad seguirá funcionando como huerto por la familia propietaria.

“Todos estarían de acuerdo en que otro gran problema del proyecto es la ubicación,” dijo Lyons. “Hay miles de personas viviendo aquí, dentro de una o dos millas del sitio.”

Sería una lástima perder esas tierras agrícolas, añadió Lyons. Según él, muchos de esos árboles tienen más de 100 años. “La tierra en esta zona es extremadamente fértil, y creo que es una de las más fértiles del mundo,” afirmó Lyons.

Robert Lyons, quien ha vivido en Meidl Avenue en Watsonville desde 1975, dice que abandonar su vecindario sería una decisión difícil de tomar. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

A pocas cuadras del sitio propuesto para la instalación de baterías se encuentran Pinto Lake Park y la escuela primaria Amesti, dijo Olmeda.

“Hay niños, hay una escuela,” comentó Olmeda. “No tiene sentido.”

Christian había dicho anteriormente a Lookout que el sitio de Minto Road era perfecto para el proyecto de New Leaf porque se encuentra en un gran terreno agrícola y junto a una subestación de Pacific Gas & Electric.

New Leaf llevó a cabo un proceso de mitigación de riesgos para evaluar posibles peligros para las residencias cercanas y establecer formas de reducirlos, como el diseño de contenedores pensado para suprimir llamas inmediatamente y una zona de amortiguamiento de más de 300 pies entre la instalación y edificios cercanos, incluidas viviendas, explicó Christian por correo electrónico.

Olmeda y Lyons creen que existe una alta probabilidad de que el proyecto sea aprobado por la comisión estatal de energía. Sin embargo, algunos organizadores comunitarios han dicho a Lookout que el proceso estatal será más riguroso para New Leaf.

“Creo que todos aquí van a empezar a pensar: ‘Me voy a mudar’,” dijo Lyons.

Lyons añadió que le preocupa que el valor de su vivienda disminuya y que los costos del seguro aumenten debido a tener una instalación de almacenamiento de baterías a menos de una milla de distancia.

Más allá del valor de la propiedad y los costos del seguro, también le preocupan los efectos a largo plazo del incendio de Moss Landing. “Quiero ver cuáles serán finalmente las consecuencias de ese gran incendio”, dijo.

Aunque los impactos ambientales y de salud de ese incendio aún no se han determinado completamente, investigadores de los Laboratorios Marinos Moss Landing de la Universidad Estatal de San José estimaron que cerca de 55,000 libras de metales pesados contaminaron el suelo en un radio de una milla alrededor de Elkhorn Slough tras el enorme incendio.

“Todos tendríamos que abandonar nuestras casas si algo sucede,” dijo Olmeda. Después del incendio de Moss Landing, las autoridades del condado de Monterey emitieron una orden temporal de evacuación para residentes cercanos que duró un día.

La residente de toda la vida Yolanda Pérez, quien vive en Schapiro Knolls, una comunidad de viviendas de bajos ingresos en Minto Road, dijo que muchos de sus amigos y familiares le han recomendado mudarse de su apartamento.

El complejo de apartamentos tiene 88 unidades, ocupadas principalmente por familias de bajos ingresos, muchas de las cuales trabajan en la agricultura y la hotelería.

“Mucha gente me pregunta sobre el proyecto y cómo me siento al respecto,” Perez le dijo a Lookout. “También me han dicho que no podemos dejar que [New Leaf] ponga una planta de baterías aquí.”

Pero, a diferencia de Lyons y Olmeda, Pérez dijo que preferiría seguir viviendo en Minto Road porque es un lugar tranquilo y cómodo, y porque ha echado raíces en este vecindario a pesar de sentirse asustada y preocupada por los riesgos de seguridad. Añadió que no sabría cómo reaccionar, ni mucho menos cómo prepararse, si llegara a ocurrir un incendio.

Yolanda Pérez, residente desde hace mucho tiempo, expresó su preocupación por los riesgos de seguridad en caso de que se aprobara un sistema de almacenamiento de baterías en Watsonville. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

New Leaf ha sostenido que las baterías que utilizará para su instalación propuesta son más seguras que las usadas en Moss Landing. Las baterías que se incendiaron el año pasado eran conocidas como baterías NMC, fabricadas con níquel, manganeso y cobalto. Este tipo de batería, a escala industrial, es más volátil y propenso a sufrir “thermal runaway,” una reacción en cadena que provoca sobrecalentamiento y puede causar incendios o explosiones.

Las baterías que New Leaf planea usar son baterías LFP, consideradas la opción preferida de la industria y fabricadas con litio, hierro y fosfato. Según Christian, este tipo de batería es más ligera, más económica y menos propensa al “thermal runaway.”

Sin embargo, los residentes y organizadores comunitarios siguen siendo escépticos ante esas afirmaciones. “¿Realmente van a existir nuevos químicos seguros?” preguntó Lyons.

En última instancia, la decisión de abandonar el vecindario sería muy difícil, dijo Lyons. “Tengo muchísimas pertenencias, además de recuerdos de haber vivido aquí.”

Una de las razones por las que Olmeda y muchos de sus vecinos disfrutan vivir en las zonas rurales del sur del condado es porque están alejados del bullicio de la ciudad.

Olmeda dijo que la única manera en que se sentiría tranquilo con una instalación de almacenamiento de baterías en su patio trasero sería si New Leaf les pagara a él y a sus vecinos para mudarse.

“Que nos compren las propiedades y nos dejen mudarnos,” dijo Olmeda. “Y entonces pueden hacer lo que quieran.”

Aunque el proyecto aún no ha sido revisado por la comisión estatal de energía, estos residentes dijeron a Lookout que están listos para hablar en las audiencias públicas cuando sean programadas y que continuarán asistiendo a reuniones comunitarias para mantenerse informados.

“Todos los vecinos están descontentos con esto,” dijo Lyons. “Son personas trabajadoras. Solo están tratando de sobrevivir y pagar sus cuentas.”

The post ‘Crecimos aquí’: Algunos residentes de toda la vida dicen que el proyecto de almacenamiento de baterías cerca de Watsonville podría obligarlos a mudarse appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

Local activist Kevin Norton says the City of Santa Cruz might be onto something much bigger than initiating a neighborhood microgrant program. He says the program – approved May 12 – could help rebuild neighborhood connection, an urgent and underreported issue in our community. Norton points to the high levels of dissatisfaction among American parents, and argues that rising loneliness, car-centered development, economic stress and declining social trust have quietly eroded the “village” Americans once relied on. He believes immigrant communities may hold important clues for how to rebuild and argues that rebuilding neighborhood connection is urgent.

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

Campaign donations are both a measure of popular support and a sign of which candidates special interests believe they can influence. Ahead of the June 2 primary, CalMatters analyzed campaign finance data in the California governor’s race. Here are five takeaways on where the money is coming from and where it’s going.

Outside money is shattering records

It’s a record-breaking election when it comes to spending by corporations and special interest groups trying to influence who becomes the next governor. 

Outside groups, which unlike candidates can receive unlimited donations, reported spending $79 million so far — more than double the amount spent through the November 2018 general election, when Gavin Newsom won his first term. 

Billionaire Tom Steyer is the biggest target: A political spending committee called California Is Not For Sale, funded by the state realtors association, the California Chamber of Commerce, Pacific Gas & Electric and the state’s electrical workers’ union poured $32 million into ads opposing him. 

Steyer has vowed to lower electricity bills by challenging PG&E’s monopoly in much of Northern California. He’s also promised to pursue a ballot measure that would raise revenue for public services by requiring more accurate property tax assessments on business properties, a move that could upend the commercial real estate market. 

Some of the same groups spending against Steyer are running ads for Xavier Becerra. Those groups — along with organizations representing doctors, contractors and several labor unions — have spent $13 million through PACs to boost Becerra. 

Chevron, McDonald’s, dialysis giant DaVita and one of the state’s largest oil drillers, California Resources Corp., are funding one of the largest pro-Becerra groups, with each of them contributing $500,000. Meta and AirBnB chipped in about $1 million each and health insurance corporation Centene, which runs California-based HealthNet, put in $100,000.

Steyer is reveling in the spending against him, pointing to it as proof he’d stand up to utilities and big business. A climate activist, Steyer has highlighted Becerra’s support from Chevron. 

The progressive unions California Nurses Association and United Domestic Workers have spent a comparatively modest $1.4 million on mailers and digital media boosting Steyer. Outside groups have also spent $1.8 million opposing Republican front-runner Steve Hilton, a former Fox News host and British political strategist.

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The second-highest outside spending went to boost Mahan, the San Jose mayor and moderate Democrat who entered the race late to much fanfare from Silicon Valley.

California’s tech billionaires urged Mahan, a Watsonville native, to run and backed him with millions in donations and two independent spending committees. They were enamored with his platform of government efficiency and opposition to new taxes — positions that would shield them from the Legislature’s push to regulate tech and raise taxes on the wealthy.

Donors included venture capitalists Michael Moritz and Brian Singerman, DoorDash CEO Tony Xu, Intuit founder Scott Cook, Google co-founder Sergey Brin and Los Angeles developer and former mayoral candidate Rick Caruso.

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The committees spent nearly $22 million on ads supporting Mahan, significantly more than the $9 million his campaign has spent. But the money wasn’t enough to overcome his significant disadvantage in name recognition as the first-term mayor of a city that doesn’t get much attention. Strategists told the committees’ backers they needed at least $45 million to make a difference. 

One of the PACs, California Back to Basics, last week returned $1 million from Netflix CEO Reed Hastings; Hastings cryptically posted on X that he hadn’t asked for the money back. The refund was an acknowledgement that the committee hadn’t succeeded in raking in a final $10 to $15 million the billionaire backers hoped to raise in the last weeks of the campaign, committee spokesperson Matt Rodriguez said.

Steyer spending breaking its own records

Yet despite his opponents’ deep-pocketed donors, no one has matched the $213 million Steyer has spent on his own campaign, allowing him to blanket the airwaves with ads, pay influencers to post videos with him and send billboard trucks to drive around gas stations highlighting Becerra’s Chevron support. 

That makes his the most expensive primary campaign in California gubernatorial history, exceeding that of former eBay executive Meg Whitman, a Republican who spent about $94 million in the June 2010 primary — about $142 million in today’s dollars — spending tens of millions more before losing to Jerry Brown in the general election.

From left, candidates Tony Thurmond, Chad Bianco, Tom Steyer, Steve Hilton, Xavier Becerra, Katie Porter, Matt Mahan and Antonio Villaraigosa at a gubernatorial debate on the campus of Pomona College in Claremont on April 28. Credit: Jules Hotz for CalMatters Swalwell donors flocked to Becerra

DaVita, the California Medical Association and the California Professional Firefighters Association all supported former Rep. Eric Swalwell’s gubernatorial bid before he dropped out over sexual assault allegations. 

They were among the biggest Swalwell backers to quickly switch to Becerra, who has enjoyed surging support from social media and the Democratic establishment. 

Small donors made a similar leap. The CalMatters analysis found that after Swalwell dropped out, more than 500 of his campaign donors went on to contribute to Becerra’s campaign. No other candidate received that much support from former Swalwell donors. 

Swalwell, who has also since resigned from Congress, continues to use his gubernatorial campaign to pay more than $313,000 to attorney Sara Azari, who is defending him against the allegations. He has also refunded about $250,000 to nearly 50 donors.

Republican Steve Hilton had the most donors

The Republican front-runner amassed the highest number of campaign donors in the race: more than 20,000. Nearly a quarter of them live outside California. 

The former Fox News host seeks to slash state environmental regulations, build housing on undeveloped suburban land and cut income taxes for the middle class. He received a slight uptick in donations after President Donald Trump endorsed him on April 6. 

Katie Porter, the Democratic former congressmember from Orange County and consumer protection attorney, had the second-highest number of donors, with more than 15,000. 

She also has the highest share of donors outside California, reflecting her relative national fame from her headline-grabbing time grilling corporate CEOs in Congress. 

But fundraising stalled for the onetime progressive darling, who touts her reliance on grassroots donors and refusal to take corporate contributions. From April 18 through May 19 she brought in less money than Mahan. 

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California’s community colleges represent the largest higher education system in the country — more than 2 million students, or 60 times the undergraduate population of UC Berkeley. But walking around a community college campus, it’s often hard to tell. 

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, cafeterias and local coffee shops are quieter, fewer students are sitting on the quad and, with less foot traffic, the grass is lush. Even after campuses returned to in-person classes, many students are still working from their dining room table: About 40% of all community college classes are online, according to Melissa Villarin, a spokesperson for the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office. 

The state’s community colleges are funded based largely on the number of students they enroll, and since students prefer online courses, there’s an incentive for schools to expand them.

Ask students or professors about the merits of online education, and they’ll often say it’s more accessible, especially for students who have kids or are working a full-time job. The same argument is often true at the University of California and California State University campuses, which offer considerably more online courses than before the pandemic, though far fewer than the community colleges. 

Ask students or professors about the problems of online education, and they’ll point to any number of familiar complaints: a lack of engagement, a sense of loneliness, impersonal lectures, and the temptation to move the Zoom window aside and click on something else. In online classrooms where the majority of students keep their cameras off, bots and scammers have become a systemwide problem: they use artificial intelligence and other algorithms to mimic real students, submit assignments and steal financial aid. Even real students are using AI to submit online assignments, while teachers are using it to grade.

Researchers say it’s hard to know how the quality of online education compares to in-person courses because it’s subjective and because of the wide diversity of courses and  teaching methods. 

In Lupe Archundia’s microeconomics class at San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton, all the lectures were pre-recorded, in some cases more than a decade ago. The professor gives students the answers to the quizzes — before they take the test — and all the quizzes are in a multiple-choice format that a computer grades. 

“I am a 39-year-old woman,” Archundia said. “It’s not like I just finished high school and I want easy test answers.”

Archundia has two kids and a full-time job as a secretary, so she studies in the evenings, turning her dining room table into a standing desk with the help of a few cardboard boxes. She wants a bachelor’s degree to help her move up in her career.

In the beginning of the course, she said she would study for three hours before completing each quiz, but once she discovered the professor had made the answers available, she started cutting corners. She said there are still certain concepts, such as elasticity, that she doesn’t fully understand, even though she aced the online exam. 

She feels conflicted about it. “I’m responsible, too,” she said. 

What the research does — or doesn’t — say

The research into online education is generally inconclusive. One 2025 study found that students consistently perform worse in online classes than in-person ones, though the gap is decreasing. Online courses also make it easier for students to hold a job while in school and complete their degree in the long term, said Di Xu, a professor at UC Irvine’s School of Education. 

When asked about students’ concerns with online education, Alex Breitler, a spokesperson for Delta College, said these classes expand “access to higher education for working adults, parents, caregivers, and other students balancing significant responsibilities,” including many students who “simply would not be able to pursue college without online options.”

Tina Rocha sorts through her classwork at her home in Stockton. Rocha is a student at San Joaquin Delta College, where many of her classes are online. Credit: Larry Valenzuela / CalMatters

Delta is not alone — the idea that online courses increase access is a common refrain among college officials. Xu pointed to one empirical study of an online master’s program at Georgia Tech that proved this point, though the  students are very different from those at California’s community colleges, where many are seeking short-term career training or an associate degree.

What researchers do know is that online education has inherent challenges. It requires “self-directed learning skills,” including a “very high level of self-time management,” said Xu. “In an in-person environment interaction happens naturally,” she said. “But in an online environment, especially asynchronous, that opportunity needs to be embedded. Otherwise, the student will feel very lonely.” 

The majority of online classes at California’s community colleges are asynchronous, meaning that the content is all pre-recorded and students can study at their own convenience. Students prefer asynchronous classes too, even compared to online courses where the instructor is live,  according to a survey by the RP Group, an education research nonprofit.

Archundia said she always opts for in-person classes but there are few available, especially for the English classes she wants to take and during the evening hours that she’s available. Her dream is to become a writer, and she wants to switch her major to English, instead of her current major, business administration, though she isn’t sure what classes are necessary to make that happen. 

In April, when she reached out to a college counselor for help selecting classes, the next available appointment was about three weeks later. Archundia still hasn’t been able to find an appointment that works with her work schedule.

Lupe Archundia shows an email exchange with the San Joaquin Delta College counseling office on her laptop at a Panera Bread in Stockton. Credit: Larry Valenzuela / CalMatters

One-on-one advising and support structures, such as guidance counselors, are essential for online students, said Rebecca Ruan-O’Shaughnessy, the director of program and strategy at College Futures Foundation and a former executive at the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office — but schools also need to adapt. 

Online courses are fundamentally different, and schools need to redesign their courses, not just retrofit them, she said. She pointed to some programs that have new and promising approaches to online education, such as shortening the length of the class or trying to integrate adults’ work experience given so many online students have a full-time job. 

“That is the difficult part for community colleges and other institutions,” Ruan-O’Shaughnessy said. “Frankly, they don’t have the incentive to do that level of work, because that’s a lot of work.”

Breitler, with Delta College, acknowledged that counseling appointments are often booked “weeks in advance” because of high demand. He said the college is trying new solutions, such as letting students submit questions to counselors online and creating drop-in hours where an appointment isn’t needed. 

Cyndi Cunningham enrolled at Palomar College in San Marcos, on the northern edge of San Diego County, in 2022, after the pandemic forced her local shopping mall to close temporarily, making her longtime retail job suddenly seem precarious. Starting college for the first time, she was taking general education and introductory courses, mostly online, and struggled to pay attention and manage her time. “I only ended up taking one class in person per semester — not because I didn’t want to take in-person classes — but because I couldn’t find them,” she said. “I felt like I wasn’t learning; I was just kind of doing tasks.”

She saw professors cutting corners too: Two of her classes in Chicano studies were taught by the same professor, and she once noticed he was using the exact same lecture in both classes. 

Cunningham has since transferred from community college to Cal State San Marcos, where she’s majoring in ethnic studies and plans to become a high school teacher. “Even engaging with other students is so much different in person than on a discussion board,” she said. “I realized more how much of a disservice the online classes did.”

To an extent, online classes can save costs for colleges because they don’t require a physical space and they can enroll many more students, said Xu. But she said adding support systems — such as specialized counseling for students or professional development for faculty — can create additional expenses. Online education “has the potential to save a lot of cost,” she said, but only if colleges are “willing to sacrifice a lot of the quality elements that are important for students.” 

Foreign language courses are particularly costly for universities, said Julia Simon, a professor of French at UC Davis and the chair of a task force on languages for the university. Language courses are typically small, meet regularly, and many less popular languages enroll only a handful of students. Facing a structural budget deficit, the university recently asked her task force to develop a plan for slashing courses in the event of cuts. 

Meanwhile, she said both the nearby community colleges and the UC system are expanding online foreign language classes, which can operate at a larger scale. Sacramento City College, for instance, is offering four French classes in fall 2026 — all of them are online and fully asynchronous.

“It’s an enormous problem,” she said. In her view, the students who take online courses lack the same opportunities to practice their speaking and miss out on vital cultural lessons that don’t fit in a strict language-learning curriculum. Once they enter UC Davis, they’re unprepared, she said. “We can’t make them repeat courses they’ve already had.” 

She said she’s considering creating a set of conversation classes that would amount to remedial education. 

‘It all depends on the professor’

California legislators and education officials have poured millions into improving online education since the pandemic and have introduced new rules meant to encourage more interaction between faculty and students. All across the state, faculty routinely train on ways to improve their online instruction, and colleges have hired staff members to help with online course design and scheduling.

But the 2024 survey by the RP Group found that among faculty who had taught at least one online course, the majority still preferred in-person instruction. 

A whiteboard on which Tina Rocha writes her daily schedule and school work. Credit: Larry Valenzuela / CalMatters

Tina Rocha’s creative writing professor at San Joaquin Delta College recently took a sabbatical, learning how to improve teaching for people with learning disabilities. It paid off, said Rocha, who is 55 and started college in 2024 after recovering from three back-to-back strokes in 2020. Because of her disability, she occasionally needs reminders from the instructor to submit assignments. Sometimes she asks for accommodations to avoid certain noises or lights that distort her vision and make her twitch, she said, but her professor is understanding and accommodating. Online education can be a “wonderful alternative,” she said.

Rocha studies every night at her dining room table, which is often scattered with her notebooks.  A calendar hangs from her wall, with notes covering every corner of white space, and a white board sits at the entrance to her home, listing out in color-coded lines each of the week’s responsibilities. 

“It all depends on the professor,” she said. Her online film class this semester has been much worse than her creative writing course, she said. The film professor has a lava lamp in the background that reflects psychedelic patterns on the ceiling. When Rocha asked him to turn it off, he said he tried but was unable to, without offering an explanation. Now, to prevent symptoms, she places a sticky note on the screen whenever the professor starts talking. 

Rocha said she tried to switch to an in-person film class but was too late. Only online classes were available.

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Santa Cruz County agricultural officials are urging residents to check recently purchased grape plants after the invasive glassy-winged sharpshooter insect was discovered on grapevines sold at Costco stores across the San Francisco Bay Area.

The Santa Cruz Costco store was among those that received these grape plants from a wholesale nursery store in Fresno County, according to a Santa Cruz County media release. 

The insect, a type of leafhopper, can spread Pierce’s disease, which threatens grapevines and other agricultural and ornamental plants.

Anyone who purchased grape plants from Costco on or after April 21 is advised to not move or dispose of the plant, cover the plant securely with two garbage bags, and contact the Santa Cruz County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office at 831-763-8080 or Agc002@agdept.com for inspection instructions. 

In a media release, David Sanford, Santa Cruz County’s agricultural commissioner, said his agency is working closely with Costco, as well as state and local partners, to identify affected plants and safeguard agriculture. 

This issue involves grape plants intended for planting, not grapes sold for consumption.

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

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Summer is arriving in Santa Cruz County, and with it, Santa Cruz County is gearing up for a sunny set of engaging events. June’s lineup is all about local flavor, community connection and celebrating the people and places that make Santa Cruz County special. From exclusive tastings to trivia nights and networking events, we’re excited to gather with readers, members and partners out in the community.

We’re proud to partner with local organizations to highlight events that reflect the heart of Santa Cruz County. It’s all part of our mission to make local news a living, breathing part of community life.

And we couldn’t do it without our Marketing Partners, who help us spotlight key happenings across the county. Interested in joining our Media Sponsorship program? Contact Duffy Barrett at duffy@lookoutlocal.com.

See you out in the community this month!

Private VegFest tasting tour with Lily Belli | June 6

Join Lookout’s food and drink correspondent, Lily Belli at 10:30 a.m. until noon, for a curated tasting experience at VegFest, featuring standout bites, sips and stories from festival vendors before the crowds arrive.

Trivia Night with Wallace Baine at Abbott Square | June 10

Wallace might have retired, but he’s still got the trivia! Bring your friends and test your local knowledge for a fun evening of trivia, conversation and community gathering at Abbott Square beginning at 6:30 and ending around 8 p.m.

Business After Hours with the Santa Cruz Area Chamber of Commerce | June 11

Tour the Lookout office, meet the team and connect with local professionals, business leaders and community members during this special after-hours networking event hosted with the chamber of commerce from 5-7 p.m..

Juneteenth Celebration | June 13

Join community members to celebrate Black liberation and freedom on Juneteenth for the 35th year at Laurel Park behind the Louden Nelson Community Center. This year’s event theme is resilience and will include soul food, craft booths, music, dance and poetry from the diaspora. Make sure to check out the ancestors altar and to arrive in time for the parade in the park starting at noon and including a live brass and drum band with an Honorary Grand Marshal. 

Santa Cruz Symphony “Movie Night”  | June 13

The Santa Cruz Symphony is proud to present their special annual POPS concert and benefit. Make sure to arrive early for a street party with live music, food trucks, and costumes in front of the Civic Auditorium at 5 p.m. Doors to the event will open at 6 p.m. and movie selections which will start around 7:30 include Pirates of the Caribbean, Titanic, Lord of the Rings, Interstellar, Avengers, and more. Make sure to reserve your tickets on the Symphony website before they sell out. Students are eligible to purchase discounted tickets 90 minutes prior to each regular symphony concert as long as they present their student identification. 

Community Bridges – Farm to Fork Gala | June 27

Indulge in a night packed with regional wine, seasonal cuisine and a silent auction with Community Bridges for their Farm to Fork Gala from 5-9 p.m.. This event will bring together supporters, partners and community champions to celebrate the impact of Community Bridges ten different programs and the community that helps to make the organization’s work possible. 

Sip for Second Harvest | June 28

Join Second Harvest for a celebration of community, compassion and charity at the beautiful Seascape Beachside Resort in Aptos from 1-4 p.m.. Sip on some fine wine, beer and cider alongside live music and delicious light appetizers. All proceeds benefit Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Cruz County in providing healthy food and nutrition education to neighbors in need of the County. 

Galicia Stack Lozano is a student at UC Santa Cruz and an intern at Lookout Santa Cruz through the Humanities EXCEL program led by the UC Santa Cruz Humanities Division with strategic support from The Humanities Institute

The post Lookout in the Community: Where to gather, celebrate and connect this June appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

By Mat Weir

June is just around the corner and that means a couple of things in Santa Cruz. First, summer is almost here. Second, get ready for tourists to swarm our beaches. Third, it’s time for the City of Santa Cruz and Event Santa Cruz’s Midtown Fridays Summer Block Parities! 

A staple in Midtown Santa Cruz since 2021, the Summer Block Parties are a great way for Santa Cruzans to come together, in the open air and celebrate something we all love: Santa Cruz!

“It’s become my favorite event of the year,” says Event Santa Cruz’s Matthew Swinnerton and organizer of annual weekly parties. “It’s such a cool experience and I’ve never seen more pure joy at any of our events.” 

Every year Event Santa Cruz takes over the parking lot at 1111 Soquel Ave., and transforms it into a one-stop party shop with food, artisan vendors and music. Swinnerton even brings the cozy, at-home vibes with chairs, palm trees, astroturf and stringed lights. It’s not just an event, it’s a weekly gathering place for friends, family and new acquaintances to enjoy life. 

This year kicks off on Friday, May 29th with Santa Carla’s favorite vampires, James Durbin & the Lost Boys with openers JAM and the Buttered Biscuits. The party continues each week with an exciting and eclectic mix of music from bands like Trestles, Fire Peach and The Rumba Madre. Yearly attendees will recognize some of groups from past years such as Ancestree and the Ripatti and Rose Band. 

“It’s such a great community event that didn’t exist before Covid,” says guitar player, songwriter and singer Dylan Rose. “It’s super fun! The days are always beautiful, there’s tons of people and everyone is ready to party.” 

Rose is a veteran Midtown Fridays Summer Block Party alumni. He’s one of the very few who has performed every year whether it’s with his band or as part of James Durbin and the Lost Boys. Last year attendees got a special treat when he performed a couple of Black Sabbath songs in honor of Ozzy Osbourne who had just passed. 

“Matthew Swinnerton has really thrown himself into the Santa Cruz Music Scene and bolstered it, especially coming out of Covid,” Rose says. “He’s got a really good read on what people actually want.” 

Then there are newcomers to the party like funk rapper Amp Melo. Born and raised in Santa Cruz but now living in San Jose, Amp Melo brings the party in a way only someone with both feet on either side of the hill can. He raps about real life, what it’s like to grow up in the Bay living paycheck to paycheck along with turning things up with his infectious jams. 

“I’m taking things a little deeper in the funk direction,” he says, citing artists like Rick James and Zapp & Roger as inspiration. “Creating grooves that make people move more.”

And move is just what attendees will do when he brings his band with live keys, flute, bass–and yes, a DJ too. 

While this is his first year performing the Midtown Fridays Summer Block Party, Amp Melo is also the manager for Santa Cruz reggae sons, The Expendables, and was there when the band played the 2023 season finale. 

“It was so cool and felt organic,” he says. “People came out to a gig like they would back in the day. People want to be outside and experience something instead of being on their phones all the time. It was a moment like I remember growing up.” 

This year’s season closes out on August 28th with returning favorites, Alex Lucero Band. 

Of course, music is only one of the weekly attractions. 

Every year dozens of local jewelry makers, crafters and artists come out to showcase their wares. And what party isn’t complete without some tasty treats? 

Whether it’s hot dogs, arepas, or tacos, the Midtown party always has a ton of savory and sweet flavors ready to be experienced. And yes, before you ask, one of the yearly favorites is returning, Cracked Cookies. 

“It’s always such an exciting night for the community,” says Chef Matt Lemons, the man behind the addictive desserts. “There’s also a nice culture among the vendors so it’s great to return and see familiar faces.” 

Just like the parties themselves, Cracked Cookies were born out of the Covid pandemic lockdowns. At the time Lemons was a chef at a restaurant that had a dessert similar to the cookies he would be famous for. It was a regular customer who told him they would eat it at room temperature instead of warm as intended.

“The light bulb clicked on and I started working on the R&D to stabilize it,” he remembers. 

Once he figured out the recipe he packaged them in groups and BAM! the Cracked Cookie was born. Along with favorites like The Original, The S’more and The Churro cookies, Lemons always brings a rotating cast of new, limited and seasonal flavors. But be warned, they are so addicting the line always forms early and never dissipates until all the cookies are gone so the best advice is to hit Lemons’ booth first to ensure maximum party time. 

For Swinnerton, booths like Cracked Cookies or novelties like the beach balls, glow sticks and other accouterments he brings every year are what the Midtown Fridays Summer Block Parties are all about.

“At every event I want to do something people do not expect,” he says. “I always tell the bands, ‘Let’s make a moment’ because I want these to be something special people will remember.”

EVERY FRIDAY MAY 29 – AUGUST 28 5:00 PM – 8:30 PM Midtown Santa Cruz • 1111 Soquel Ave 2026 LIVE MUSIC LINEUP

May 29 – James Durbin and The Lost Boys (Opening Band JAM and the Buttered Biscuits)
June 5 – TBA
June 12 – Salsa By The Sea with Dj It’s Dancing Time
June 19 – Ribsys Nickel
June 26 – Soul Good Entertainment Take Over ft Skinny Hendrixx & The Earthtones
July 3 – Santa Cruz Latin Collective
July 10 – Hijinx
July 17 – Ancestree
July 24 – Ripatti Rose Band
July 31 – Amp Melo with Special Guest
August 7 – Trestles
August 14 – Fire Peach
August 21 – The Rumba Madre
August 28 – Alex Lucero Band – Finale

The post Midtown Fridays are back: Santa Cruz’s favorite summer block party returns appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

This post is updated throughout the day to reflect the latest incidents. It was last updated at 7:42 a.m..

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

▼︎ new incidents   ▼︎ long-term incidents

Road incidents as of 7:30 a.m. on May 27

• South Highway 1 at Park Avenue in Capitola / Soquel is facing closures because of road excavation work. The closure will last until August 19.
   
• Highway 9 at Cascade Avenue in San Lorenzo Valley has one-way traffic due to ongoing work. This closure is expected
   
• A lane on eastbound SR-152 at Union Street in Watsonville / Pajaro is closed for utility work. The closure will last until 2:01 p.m. on May 29.
   
• A lane on westbound SR-152 at Beck Street in Watsonville / Pajaro is closed for curb, gutter, and sidewalk work. The closure will last until 2:59 p.m. tomorrow.
   
• Alternating lanes are closed on South Highway 1 at Grant Street in Eastside / Live Oak because of bridge work. The closure is expected to end at 6:01 a.m. today.
   
• There is one-way traffic on SR-129 at the Salsipueda Creek Bridge in the Watsonville/Pajaro area because of bridge work. The closure is expected to end at 6:01 a.m. today.
   

Long-term projects

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

• Roadwork by KIM Corporation is taking place today on Alameda Ave., Berkeley Way, Fern St., Riverside Rd, and Larkspur St. in San Lorenzo Valley as part of the 2026 Pavement Management Project. There will be partial and full road closures at different spots.
   
• Roadwork is happening on Irwin Way in San Lorenzo Valley as part of the 2026 Pavement Management Project. This will cause some areas of the road to be partially or fully closed at different times.
   
• Main St. will be completely closed at 9460 Central Ave. in Ben Lomond from May 29 to May 30 during work hours while crews replace a pole anchor and span guy.
   

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: South Hwy 1 at Park Ave. facing closures until Aug 19 appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

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Less than a week from the June 2 primary election, Felipe Hernandez, the incumbent in the District 4 Santa Cruz County supervisor seat, finds himself in the middle of a controversy after removing a campaign sign that wasn’t his. 

But there is some disagreement around whose sign he took.

In a video posted to Instagram by the Watsonville Brown Berets on May 23, Hernandez is shown removing campaign signs at an undisclosed location in Watsonville. While he is seen removing some of his own signs, the video shows him removing one that doesn’t appear to be his. The Brown Berets’ social media post says the sign belongs to one of his opponents, Elias Gonzales. 

Hernandez, in the video, is seen placing what appears to be a green campaign sign with black detailing in between two of his navy blue and white campaign signs. Gonzales’ campaign signs are green with a black bird, resembling the one on the City of Watsonville’s flag, and his name in black lettering. 

View this post on Instagram

Hernandez told Lookout on Tuesday afternoon that the sign he took was not Gonzales’, but rather that of California gubernatorial candidate Xavier Becerra. He said that he wanted to move his campaign signs, along with Becerra’s, to “a more visible location” from where they were near Green Valley Road in Watsonville. 

Hernandez added that he received permission from Becerra’s local campaign team to move the signs to a different location.

Becerra’s campaign team did not respond to Lookout’s request for comment by publication time. 

The Becerra sign Hernandez said he moved is a teal color with a photo of the gubernatorial candidate on the left, he said, while the black bird on Gonzales’ green campaign sign is on the right. The quality of the video makes it unclear what exact color and design of the sign Hernandez is seen taking. 

“It’s definitely not Elias’ sign,” Hernandez said, and added in a separate statement to Lookout that all of Gonzales’ signs at the location near Green Valley Road are still there. He maintains that the only signs removed were his own and Becerra’s. 

A campaign sign for gubernatorial candidate Xavier Becerra that Felipe Hernandez said he moved. Credit: Felipe Hernandez

Gonzales’ campaign team declined to comment on the incident, saying they want to focus their attention on getting the best representation for District 4. 

Hernandez said he believes these allegations stem from critics not having “anything to criticize beyond” and who are just nitpicking any of his actions, especially nearly a week out from the primary election.

“Those kinds of things are going to happen during campaigning,” he said. “Unfortunately, it’s part of the political landscape.” 

Hernandez is looking to defend his District 4 seat, which represents most of the Pajaro Valley, Watsonville and Interlaken, on the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors from Gonzales and Tony Nuñez, who are political newcomers. 

Because there are more than two candidates, the Nov. 3 general election will serve as a run-off between the top two vote-getters, unless one candidate wins a majority of the primary vote. 

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

The post Why did County Supervisor Felipe Hernandez take a campaign sign that wasn’t his own? appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

The Pajaro Valley Unified School District governing board has postponed discussion of a controversial proposal to relocate students from Renaissance High to Duncan Holbert School and disperse Duncan Holbert’s special education program after parents, staff and students urged trustees to reject the plan.

In her weekly look at local business, Jessica M. Pasko examines the effects of downtown Santa Cruz’s vibrancy ordinance, notes a continued population decline in the city and passes along numbers, names and dates to know.