Lookout Santa Cruz

Un apagón causado por un problema de equipo en una subestación de Pacific Gas & Electric cerca del Hospital Dominican en Live Oak dejó a casi 18,500 residentes del condado de Santa Cruz sin electricidad la tarde del viernes.

El servicio eléctrico se restableció a las 4:15 p.m., según la portavoz de PG&E, Stephanie Magallon.

El apagón, reportado por primera vez a las 3 p.m., se extiende a lo largo de la costa del condado, desde Davenport hacia el sur hasta Aptos. Los residentes de Capitola y Pleasure Point no se vieron afectados por el apagón.

Magallon dijo a Lookout que las cuadrillas trabajan para cambiar a una fuente de energía diferente para determinar qué causó el problema en la subestación en Houts Drive.

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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.

Ha pasado más de un año desde que el presidente Donald Trump regresó al cargo y comenzó una campaña agresiva de deportación dirigida a los aproximadamente 11 millones de residentes indocumentados del país.

La población estudiantil inmigrante de Cabrillo College está sintiendo el impacto. 

La profesora y consejera de Cabrillo, Adela Naranjo-Bernabe, dijo a Lookout que notó una disminución en la participación en programas dirigidos a estudiantes indocumentados, y tiene conocimiento de al menos dos estudiantes que se autodeportaron.

En Cabrillo, el número de estudiantes indocumentados que solicitan ayuda financiera a través de un programa estatal ha disminuido significativamente desde que Trump asumió el cargo en enero de 2025. De 2023-24 a 2024-25, el número de solicitantes cayó 18%, de 209 a 171. Hasta ahora este año, ha habido solo 163.

“Tienen miedo de pedir ayuda – a veces ayuda financiera – porque creen que está vinculada a su capacidad a largo plazo para arreglar su estatus”, dijo Naranjo-Bernabe. “Dicen: ‘No queremos exponernos. No queremos que nadie tenga nuestra información personal’”.

Desde 2016 hasta el otoño pasado, Naranjo-Bernabe supervisó el Programa de Recursos DREAM del colegio, pero dejó el cargo para dedicarse a la enseñanza. Dijo que sigue en contacto con muchos de los estudiantes a quienes ayudó y contó a Lookout sobre su mayor ansiedad. La nueva coordinadora, Kim Leyva, asumió el cargo en febrero y, aunque todavía está aprendiendo los detalles del puesto, coincidió con Naranjo-Bernabe en que los estudiantes tienen mucho miedo.

“Hay mucha más ansiedad e incertidumbre”, dijo Leyva, y agregó que los estudiantes están preocupados por la seguridad de sus familias y su futuro.

El estudiante de Cabrillo College Omar dijo a Lookout que, aunque obtuvo la ciudadanía después de crecer como indocumentado en Watsonville, los esfuerzos de la administración federal por apuntar incluso a ciudadanos naturalizados lo tienen en alerta.

“Ser inmigrante, un error realmente puede costarte toda la vida”, dijo. “Y no existe esa tranquilidad de poder caminar cómodamente por la calle o conducir”.

Omar es un seudónimo; solicitó el anonimato por temor a ser objetivo de agentes del Servicio de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas de Estados Unidos (ICE).

El Programa de Recursos DREAM del colegio se estableció en 2016 para proporcionar una variedad de servicios a estudiantes indocumentados, estudiantes que tienen familiares indocumentados y estudiantes con estatus protegido bajo la Acción Diferida para los Llegados en la Infancia de la era de Obama. A los niños que llegan a Estados Unidos sin documentación a menudo se les llama “Dreamers”, de ahí el nombre del programa del colegio.

Acción Diferida para los Llegados en la Infancia

DACA es el programa federal de Acción Diferida para los Llegados en la Infancia establecido por el expresidente Barack Obama. Después de años de batallas legales e intentos de Donald Trump de desmantelarlo, el programa ya no acepta nuevos solicitantes. Sin embargo, alrededor de medio millón de personas que ya tenían DACA todavía son elegibles para renovar su estatus. DACA proporciona protección contra la deportación y autorización de trabajo a inmigrantes que llegaron a Estados Unidos cuando eran niños. A los niños nacidos en el extranjero que llegan a Estados Unidos sin documentación se les llama “Dreamers”

Leyva dijo que los estudiantes indocumentados y los estudiantes de estatus mixto, a pesar de sus temores, son trabajadores y resilientes.

“Cargan con mucho estrés invisible en este clima político”, dijo. “Muchos se preocupan por la seguridad, la estabilidad de sus familias y su futuro. Estas preocupaciones pueden afectar la salud mental y la concentración académica. Los estudiantes indocumentados intentan navegar tiempos inciertos mientras acceden a la misma educación que todos los demás”.

El programa DREAM de Cabrillo proporciona una amplia gama de servicios, desde tutoría y servicios legales hasta ayuda con asistencia financiera. Leyva dijo que sus días recientemente han incluido reunirse con estudiantes para ayudarlos a presentar solicitudes para un programa estatal de ayuda financiera, la Solicitud de la Ley DREAM de California. El programa estatal nunca comparte la información de los estudiantes con agencias federales.

Los estudiantes indocumentados que califican para el programa de California son elegibles para subvenciones estatales y universitarias, exenciones de cuotas universitarias y becas privadas. Los estudiantes también son elegibles para pagar matrícula estatal, en lugar de las tarifas de matrícula mucho más altas que se cobran a los residentes de fuera de California.

Naranjo-Bernabe dijo que este es el programa que mostró una caída estimada del 25% en las solicitudes de estudiantes de Cabrillo en comparación con el período previo a Trump.

Leyva dijo que está enfocada en asegurar que los estudiantes conozcan la financiación estatal y que se sientan seguros para solicitarla. Envía un boletín semanal por correo electrónico con una variedad de información y noticias, y ha coordinado talleres de ayuda financiera para estudiantes.

Leyva también está trabajando en añadir nuevos elementos al programa DREAM, como una pasantía llamada la Beca de Incentivo de Servicio Dreamer. Bajo la iniciativa, los estudiantes reciben pago por trabajo voluntario con departamentos del colegio u organizaciones sin fines de lucro fuera del campus.

Los estudiantes que trabajan 150 horas durante un semestre pueden recibir $2,500 — para un total de 300 horas y $5,000 por año académico. Leyva espera lanzar el programa a mediados del otoño o al inicio del semestre de primavera de 2027. Lo está modelando a partir de San Jose City College, donde decenas de estudiantes están participando.

Leyva quiere que los estudiantes sepan que, a pesar de las serias amenazas provenientes de la administración federal, existe un sistema de apoyo y recursos seguros y accesibles para ellos en Cabrillo College.

“Aquí estamos”, dijo. “Estoy lista para ayudarlos cuando estén listos para venir a verme”.

Coordinadora de Recursos DREAM Kim Leyva

Leyva trabaja en el Centro de Watsonville de Cabrillo College en el Edificio B, Oficina B104, los lunes y martes de 8:30 a.m. a 5 p.m. Los miércoles y jueves, Leyva trabaja en el campus de Aptos en el Centro de Estudiantes Multiculturales, salón SAC 133, de 7:30 a.m. a 4 p.m. Atiende sin cita y recomienda hacer citas. El correo electrónico de Leyva es kileyva@cabrillo.edu y el número de su oficina para ambas ubicaciones es 831-786-4724. 

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A power outage caused by an equipment issue at a Pacific Gas & Electric substation near Dominican Hospital in Live Oak left nearly 18,500 Santa Cruz County residents without power Friday afternoon. 

The outage, first reported at 3 p.m., stretches along the county’s coastline, from Davenport south to Aptos. Residents of Capitola and Pleasure Point were not affected by the outage. 

PG&E spokesperson Stephanie Magallon told Lookout that crews are working to switch to a different power source to determine what caused the issue at the substation on Houts Drive. 

Power was expected to be restored later in the afternoon, Magallon said.

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This post is updated throughout the day to reflect the latest incidents. It was last updated at 7:31 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 April 17

• A lane on westbound SR-152 at Clifford Drive/Ohlone Parkway in Watsonville and Pajaro is closed for asphalt paving. The closure is expected to last until July 3 at 5:59 a.m.
   

Long-term projects

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

• Emergency sewer repairs are happening on Soquel Drive near Rancho Del Mar in Aptos. Traffic will be shifted, and there may be lane closures and some delays during work hours, depending on the weather.
   

Disclosure: Traffic incidents are partially generated by artificial intelligence. We are constantly working to improve the accuracy and quality of our AI-generated content. However, there may still be errors or inaccuracies. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us.

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More than a year into President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown, undocumented students at Cabrillo College are increasingly avoiding campus services and financial aid programs due to fear of exposing personal information. College staff report declining participation and heightened anxiety among students, even as the school expands resources to reassure and support them.

The post Out of fear, fewer undocumented Cabrillo students seeking services more than a year into Trump immigration crackdown appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

Hector Marin has become a recognizable name throughout Santa Cruz over the past four years. He’s twice run for Santa Cruz City Council, first against Greg Hyver and current District 4 City Councilmember Scott Newsome in 2022, and again in 2024, when he challenged District 2 City Councilmember Sonja Brunner.

Although he lost both races, Marin is embarking on his third campaign, once again facing off against Newsome, who is running for his second term. 

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Marin told Lookout he loves the city and wants to serve the public. What keeps him running for District 4 – covering downtown and part of the Westside bounded by High Street to the north and Bay Street to the west – is simple, he said: the cost of living.

“As a renter, it’s very unstable in terms of housing and making sure we have a permanent place to call home,” he said. Marin teaches English language development and special education at Harbor High School, and said that his students and their families face the affordability problem constantly. “This story is reflective of many stories that our children and local working families are going through.”

Marin said he’s focused on being a “unifying voice” in the community, and that he strives to bring the general public together to find solutions to the city’s most pressing issues, such as affordable housing. He is also aiming to host more events for the public, such as community cleanup days.

Santa Cruz City Council candidate Hector Marin (right) answers a question posed by Lookout moderator Jody K. Biehl during a 2024 forum. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

On affordable housing, Marin said he will advocate to ease the requirements for fully affordable housing projects, reduce red tape and push for rent stabilization that works for both the renter and the property owner.

More broadly, Marin said he wants to establish “cultural overlay zoning districts” so that local establishments or businesses that are popular or historical can be preserved.

Marin said he’s learned that the city will need both market-rate and affordable housing to make the city more affordable, but also that he wants to make sure there are more tangible paths toward ownership for Santa Cruzans. That could include rent-to-own units, like condos, for people to work toward owning their own property in a community with extremely high home prices.

“I’m also the only candidate calling for mixed-income housing,” he said. The Downtown Plan Expansion, he said, encourages housing separation, with lower-income residents and higher-income residents housed in different buildings. “No matter what your socioeconomic status is, you can still be in our community and you are still welcome.”

Marin said he also wants to prioritize creating a “clean, safe and inclusive Santa Cruz.” To do that, he said he’d like to start a program he calls the Santa Cruz Volunteer Corps. The program would bring together community members and partner with nonprofits to continuously clean up and beautify the city. He also wants to introduce educational workshops for youth cyclists and e-bike riders, along with stricter regulations of the powerful electric bikes. 

With nonprofit Housing Matters’ day services now officially closed, Marin said getting replacement services set up for the unhoused community is a major issue. While some temporary replacement facilities have been established, long-term fixes remain uncertain. He advocates building permanent 24-hour bathroom facilities throughout downtown, with city workers and community safety officers regularly monitoring the areas.

“If there’s a lack of day-center services for unhoused community members, we will see the impacts downtown, and our downtown residents will feel unsafe,” he said. “The city has to step in proactively, provide money and collaborate with the county Office of [Response, Recovery and] Resiliency.”

Marin said he supports the current city council’s January move to exit its contract with Flock Safety and halt use of its automated license plate readers. He said his commitment to helping and protecting local immigrant residents is a major factor in keeping him involved politically. He said District 4 has a large Latino population, particularly in the Beach Flats area, and that the district’s representative needs to take that seriously. He said he wants to make sure the city council and the city manager communicate frequently to stay on top of local federal immigration enforcement, and that federal immigration officers are “prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law” if they try to wrongfully arrest a community member.

Should he be elected, Marin said he will immediately set up meetings with his constituents and host town halls for residents to bring their concerns and issues directly to him. 

He said this will be a continuation of his work in the community, including his teaching job and the various events he has helped host, such as a community toy drive in Beach Flats, a Mexican Independence Day celebration and more.

“We want local government to be a place that goes to you and takes initiative, and we want to get people excited and energized about local government,” Marin said. “That’s what this is about, and that’s what we’ll bring in our city council tenure.”

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

Democrats are searching for a hero to save them in the California governor’s race.

So far, no one in party leadership has come to the rescue.

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Despite Rep. Eric Swalwell’s exit from the race this week, the Democratic field remains unwieldy, with seven major candidates still splitting the field less than three weeks before ballots are sent. Each of them refuses to bow out, regardless of their polling numbers, in the hope they can capture some of the voter attention that Swalwell’s demise drew to the race.

Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, the face of the party in California, is not interested in elevating a successor. Democratic Party Chair Rusty Hicks, who faces criticism for not using his position to cull the field, has relied on party-commissioned polls and vague pleas for candidates to “honestly assess” their campaign’s viability, refusing to openly pressure anyone to drop out. 

Even former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi — known for urging then-Rep. Adam Schiff to run for Senate and former President Joe Biden to drop his reelection bid — won’t intervene.

“People have reached out to me saying, ‘Your mom has to do something!’” said Christine Pelosi, daughter of the San Francisco congresswoman and herself a candidate for state Senate. 

“I said, ‘You know what? She doesn’t, though,’” the younger Pelosi said. “She already did that with Biden and [former Vice President Kamala] Harris. She’s not going to — don’t look to her to do that again.”

Gone is the heyday of the San Francisco-based political machine, a network of political talent that dominated state politics for decades and produced titans such as Pelosi and Newsom, both of whom are moving on from California politics. 

Now that pipeline has run dry, and this year there is no obvious heir to Newsom for the party to coalesce behind. No current statewide officeholder joined the fray, and both presumptive favorites — Harris and U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla — opted not to run. 

That has made top Democrats loath to weigh in on the state’s first truly open Democratic primary in 16 years. In 2018, Newsom, then the lieutenant governor, was widely viewed as the most likely successor to former Gov. Jerry Brown, another product of the San Francisco political machine.

The 2026 race is also only the second time an open field has competed under the top-two primary system, adopted 16 years ago to the chagrin of both parties. That means two Democrats or two Republicans could advance to the general election and lock the other party out. 

Newsom reiterated his lack of interest this week when he issued a statement that said in part, “I have full confidence that voters will choose a candidate who reflects the values and direction Californians believe in.” 

Too much democracy for Democrats?

While grassroots activists have for decades decried the king-making of insider machine politics, the alternative — an abundance of candidates with no clear frontrunner — has proved unappealing too. 

The resulting decision paralysis has resurrected calls for a strong leader to step in.

“This has been incredibly frustrating, not to mention scary, with the idea that we could end up with two Republicans,” said RL Miller, a longtime delegate and chair of the party’s environmental caucus. “I really do believe that there has been a failure of leadership at the top.”

Miller theorized that party leaders were overcorrecting after years of backlash following the 2016 presidential election, in which establishment Democrats disregarded the grassroots support for Sen. Bernie Sanders and instead anointed Hillary Clinton. 

As more Democratic gubernatorial candidates entered the fray in the past year, Miller said she thought leadership had the “admirable intent” of letting delegates winnow the field themselves. 

But anxieties were already spiking before the Democrats’ endorsing convention in February, where none of the nine candidates vying for the gubernatorial nod amassed more than 25% — far short of the 60% needed. Hicks faced repeated questions then about whether he would step in, but insisted it wasn’t his role.

“By the party convention, the alarm bells had been ringing for months,” said Miller, who has consistently voted against Hicks in internal party elections.

California Democratic Party Chair Rusty Hicks addresses the media in Sacramento in 2023. Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr. / CalMatters

After the convention, Hicks released an open letter urging that “every candidate honestly assess the viability of their candidacy and campaign,” and “if you do not have a viable path to make it to the general election” not to file to run. Only one listened, former Assemblymember Ian Calderon, who was polling around 1% or less. 

Later, Hicks announced the party would conduct ongoing polls on the race and release them every seven to 10 days through early May, when ballots are sent. 

Hicks’ defenders said he was right to abstain from picking favorites. Christine Pelosi said it would be “inappropriate” for the chair to weigh in on the candidates after delegates at the party convention chose not to endorse anyone. 

Hicks’ calls for candidates to “consider their viability” was a “somewhat extraordinary and surprising” move, said Paul Mitchell, the architect of the gerrymandered congressional maps that voters approved via Proposition 50 to boost congressional Democrats in the upcoming election. 

“It maybe wasn’t surprising for people who think that the Democratic Party chair is like a backroom dealer that’s going to knock heads or something like that,” Mitchell said. “But that’s not the chair’s role in California right now.”

Top-two primary adds to tension

Both Mitchell and Christine Pelosi blamed the top-two system for much of the drama. The slim possibility that two Republicans could emerge from the primary has spurred many of the calls for leadership to weigh in. 

Mitchell argued that since President Donald Trump put a thumb on the scale by endorsing former Fox News host Steve Hilton, there’s less risk that both Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco would end up on the November ticket, alleviating some of the pressure on Democrats. 

“If it wasn’t a top two, people wouldn’t care,” said Christine Pelosi. “You wouldn’t have the added agita of ‘there’s only two Republicans and there’s a bunch of Democrats.’”

Notably, the state GOP failed to endorse a candidate at its recent convention, indicating that Trump’s nod might not hold as much sway as Democrats assume.

Still, if Hicks is trying to convince rank-and-file Democrats he’s doing enough, it’s not working. 

Amar Shergill, the former leader of the party’s progressive caucus, suggested that its weak, decentralized leadership was by design so monied interests could exert more control over who gets elected.

“Rusty Hicks is furniture that folks with real power use at their discretion,” Shergill said. 

“There’s no sort of anger or animosity towards him as a person,” he said. “If it wasn’t Rusty, it would be somebody else. This is just the political situation right now.”

In an interview, Hicks told CalMatters that he is “doing what is required” to ensure a Democrat wins the race. But when pressed repeatedly, Hicks would not elaborate on what that work entails, if he believes what he’s done so far is working or if he should have had a stronger hand in culling the field, as his critics have suggested.

“I’m not interested in opening up the playbook as to what we will or will not do in the coming days and weeks,” he said.

CalMatters’ Yue Stella Yu contributed to this report.

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Earlier this year, tickets to see SZA perform at the Crypto Arena in Los Angeles were selling for $600 the day before they officially went on sale at $35 a piece. In San Francisco, tickets to see Sam Smith at the newly renovated Castro Theater went on sale for $120, only to be quickly snatched up by scalpers and resold for upward of $600. 

Those are some of the stories that California lawmakers are citing as they advance two plans to change the ticketing landscape. One caps the extent to which resellers can mark up the original ticket price while the other prohibits resellers from selling tickets they don’t yet own. 

Democratic Assemblymembers Issac Bryan of Culver City and Matt Haney of San Francisco are each carrying bills that they say would protect consumers from fraudulent and deceptive ticket sales. 

Both measures are backed by the ticket market’s dominant seller, Live Nation, which owns Ticketmaster. Its support has some worried that the bills will help the company crush its competitors and jack up prices. A federal jury in New York this week found that the company illegally acted as a monopoly in a victory for, among others, California Attorney General Rob Bonta, who with colleagues in other states sued the company two years ago and kept going after federal prosecutors settled. Live Nation is now awaiting penalties.

Despite these headwinds, the ticket bills are sailing through the Legislature.

Supporters say the legislation has nothing to do with the antitrust case against Live Nation and helps consumers. Opponents disagree.

“The state Legislature should really be standing up for consumers instead of advancing bills that are there to help a monopoly that has been caught on record calling its fans stupid and has bragged about robbing them blind,” said Jose Barrera, national vice president for the far west region at the League of United Latin American Citizens, a civil rights advocacy group. 

Ticketmaster’s competitors in the online resale market are lobbying against the measures, a sign that they view the proposals as a threat to their business. 

Jack Sterne, StubHub’s head of policy communications, wrote to CalMatters, stating, “Passing laws that hand the Ticketmaster monopoly more power and don’t actually make tickets more affordable is the last thing California’s leaders should do.”

But Stephen Parker, executive director of the National Independent Venue Association, which is co-sponsoring the bills, argues that they will regulate the marketplace to better protect fans by limiting price gouging and encouraging the face value — or below face value — exchange of tickets. 

“Ultimately, that is what these bills will do, in addition to making sure that the tickets are actually real,” he said. “That is a good thing for California consumers. It’s a good thing for artists and it’s a good thing for these small businesses and nonprofits that make up the independent stages across the state.”

A Live Nation spokesperson said in a statement to CalMatters, “The resale lobby constantly tries to change the subject by pointing fingers at Ticketmaster, even though it has less than 25% of the resale market. This has nothing to do with anyone’s monopoly, but rather is about protecting fans from scalpers and the resale sites that cater to them.”

The company has spent roughly $165,000 on lobbying efforts this legislative session, including to support Bryan’s bill. 

‘Unlikely allies’

Bryan’s Assembly Bill 1349 would ban the sale of speculative tickets — or tickets that are not in the possession or ownership of the people who list them online. In an April hearing, Bryan said the bill protects consumers from predatory mark ups.

“This bill is so important that, after our introduction, it brought unlikely allies together,” Bryan said, according to the CalMatters Digital Democracy database. “In fact, this bill brought the Giants and the Dodgers together, brought the National Independent Venue Association and Live Nation together. ​​It brought Kendrick Lamar and Kid Rock together. It brought Isaac Bryan and Donald Trump together.”

Several secondary ticket sellers are fighting the measure, including StubHub, SeatGeek and Vivid Seats. The three companies have spent roughly $1.1 million dollars on lobbying efforts this legislative session, which included opposition to Bryan’s bill. 

People watch fireworks during Bad Bunny’s halftime show from a parking garage outside Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara on Feb. 8, 2026. Credit: Jungho Kim for CalMatters

Opponents including Robert Herrell, executive director for the Consumer Federation of California, argue that the bill strengthens Live Nation Ticketmaster’s grip on the ticketing and live entertainment industry. According to them, the measure would give Live Nation complete control over the ticket even after it has been purchased — meaning, for example, that consumers could lose the ability to sell it or give it away.

“There’s no consumer choice in the matter,” said Herrell. “They can keep people out of shows if they want to. There have been situations where, if you bought a ticket on the secondary market, you’ve been denied entry into a show.” 

Proponents say Herrell and other opponents are mistaken. They say they are not trying to prevent transferability but rather, they want to protect fans from speculative costs.

“We want those rooms full,” said Ron Gubitz, executive director of Music Artists Coalition, which is co-sponsoring both bills. “So you have to be able to transfer a ticket. We just want it to be in a way that’s safe, trustworthy and not creating this run on the market that exists now.”

Gubitz pointed to a recent Bruno Mars concert, where tickets were on StubHub for $400 to $2,000 before they were on sale through Ticketmaster.

“That’s crazy,” he said. “That’s a speculative ticket that Bryan’s bill is trying to stop. That shouldn’t happen. It’s not fair to anybody, except for the secondary [market]. It seems great for them.”

Price caps in a free market

Haney’s Assembly Bill 1720, also known as the California Fans First Act, would put a 10% cap on resale event ticket markups, inclusive of the ticket fees. In other words, a reseller could not charge more than 10% higher than the original ticket price.

In an interview with CalMatters, Haney said artists, independent venues and downtowns are currently being “screwed over and exploited” by scalpers and brokers.

“We can’t allow the status quo to continue if we want to ensure Californians have access to affordable tickets to see their favorite artists or if we want independent venues or the broader landscape of musicians and artists to thrive in our state,” he said.

Haney rejected the idea that his bill would strengthen the Live Nation Ticketmaster monopoly, saying that the company is one of the biggest operators and profiteers of the secondary ticket market and would therefore be subject to the same restrictions as any other platform or broker. 

“I don’t think it’s a free market to allow folks to come in and buy up all these tickets and then create scarcity and then you’re now required to buy your ticket at a much higher price from someone who had nothing to do with the event,” he said. “This is not something we would ever allow for airplane tickets or even dinner reservations.”

The bill has been criticized by opponents like Diana Moss, vice president and director of competition policy at Progressive Policy Institute, who said price caps notoriously distort the market, describing them as “anti-consumer, anti-competitive and anti-artist.”

“If you shut down the resale market with price caps then guess what? Ticket buyers have no place to go but right back to Ticketmaster,” said Moss. “If [Live Nation] succeed[s] in decimating the resale market, then they steer millions and millions of fans back to their own ticketing platform where they charge monopoly ticket fees and where fans are hostage to their glitchy online platform and all of their data, privacy and security concerns that we always hear about in the news.”

Those concerns didn’t stop the bill from passing out of the Assembly Committee on Arts, Entertainment, Sports and Tourism last week with a 6-1 vote. The bill also passed out of the Assembly Committee on Privacy & Consumer Protection on Thursday with a 9-4 vote.

Cayla Mihalovich is a California Local News fellow.

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By Haneen Zain

Since joining UC Santa Cruz in 2007, Enrico Ramirez-Ruiz has pushed the boundaries of astronomy and astrophysics. The UC Santa Cruz professor has won a number of awards for his research of the cosmos, mentorship of students, and groundbreaking research including a Packard Fellowship, NSFCAREER Award, and more. In 2020, he was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and in 2022 he received the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring. 

“Science and storytelling are not separate. They are both ways to understand the world and our place in it.” – Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics Enrico Ramirez-Ruiz, UC Santa Cruz

Ramirez-Ruiz studies some of the most powerful explosions since the birth of the universe. He uses simulations to explore the cataclysmic death of stars that give rise to many of the elements of the periodic table. His work tests ideas at the edge of human experience, challenging how we imagine the universe and our place within it. 

Ramirez-Ruiz will host the second annual Landesman Lecture in conversation with slam poet, performance coach, and author Jasmine Schlafke. The duo will blend science, poetry, and storytelling to explore our deepest origins and shared humanity. 

“I have deep admiration for Jasmine and the way her powerful poems and performances bring ideas to life,” Ramirez-Ruiz said. “She has a remarkable gift for weaving stories that awaken empathy, spark connection, and touch the heart, showing how art can make the world feel closer and more meaningful. Together, we hope to bridge science and art, revealing how wonder and shared experience can emerge through the strength of storytelling.”

Schlafke, better known by her stage name Queen Jasmeen, is a poet, slam coach, diversity trainer, and a doula from Santa Cruz. Her first book, Crowned, published in 2019 is a widely respected expression of the complexity of compounded identities, reflecting on mental health, race, teen parenting, womanhood, ministry, and more. Currently, she works as a privately contracted poetry and performance coach and is a proud single mother of two grown children.

The Landesman Lecture Series is made possible by the generosity of Edward (Ed) and Miriam Landesman, UC Santa Cruz faculty retirees whose philanthropic gift supports this lecture.

“We hope the lecture series will bring together UCSC students and faculty, as well as community members of all ages,” Edward said. “We hope that students will be inspired to pursue studies in science or math, and if not, they would appreciate the role of science and mathematics in society.”

The Landesman Lecture Series is made possible by the generosity of Edward (Ed) and Miriam Landesman, UC Santa Cruz faculty retirees whose philanthropic gift supports this lecture.

The Landesmans established the lecture series as a means to not only inspire students, but to increase accessibility to the sciences. Ramirez-Ruiz hopes the lecture gives attendees a perspective beyond themselves. 

“I hope attendees leave with a sense of being part of something far greater, a story that stretches across the cosmos and binds us through our shared humanity,” Ramirez-Ruiz said. “Through both science and art, I want people to feel the thrill of curiosity, the joy of discovery, and the wonder that comes from connecting to the world around them, carrying that inspiration into their own lives and communities.”

The post Acclaimed astrophysicist and electric slam poet blend science and storytelling in upcoming UCSC lecture appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

Pajaro Valley Unified School District officials say it will cost more than $100,000 to rename Cesar E. Chavez Middle School as they move forward with the process following recent sex abuse allegations against the late civil rights leader. Trustees voiced support for the change but raised concerns about the expense, the risks of naming schools after individuals and the possibility of spending funds on a campus that could later face closure.

The post Renaming Watsonville’s Cesar Chavez Middle School could cost $100,000, district says appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

With the weekend nearly here, check out things to do around Santa Cruz County with a recommendation from Lily Belli and a specially curated list from Lookout’s BOLO events calendar.

The post Best of Santa Cruz County arts & food events this weekend, April 16-19 appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

Team BOLO (Be On The Lookout) is gathering and curating all of Santa Cruz County’s biggest and best happenings from now until forever — or at least until the latest gigs are officially announced.

Latest additions are marked as NEW below.

Use the following links to see the major events happening by month:

• April
• May
• June
• July
• August
• September
• October
• December

And away we go with Down The Line …

April

April 16: Satsang, Moe’s Alley

April 17: George Kahumoko & Kimo West, Kuumbwa Jazz Center

April 17: Cobrah, The Catalyst

April 18: Bee Gees tribute, The Rio

April 18: Emmylou Harris, Santa Cruz Civic

April 18: Drain, Quarry Amphitheater

April 18: Throwing Muses, Moe’s Alley

April 19: Roy Rogers & the Delta Rhythm Kings, Moe’s Alley

April 19: Gillian Welch/David Rawlings, Quarry Amphitheater

April 20: Gary Bartz, Kuumbwa Jazz Center

April 20: Aziz Abu Sarah & Moaz Inon, The Rio

April 22: Drew & Ellie Holcomb, The Rio

April 22: Jane Smiley, Bookshop Santa Cruz

April 23: Tommy Emmanuel, The Rio

April 23: Jane Monheit, Kuumbwa Jazz Center

April 24: “A Change is Gonna Come,” Kuumbwa Jazz Center

April 25: KT Tunstall, Felton Music Hall

April 25: Poi Rogers/Grey DeLisle, Kuumbwa Jazz Center

April 26: Mariachi Festival, Crocker Theater

April 27: Sullivan Fortner Trio, Kuumbwa Jazz Center

April 28: Karen Tei Yamashita, Bookshop Santa Cruz

April 30: Kuumbwa Jazz Honor Band, Kuumbwa Jazz Center

May

May 1: Scottish Fish, Kuumbwa Jazz Center

May 2: Santa Cruz Symphony: “Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony,” Santa Cruz Civic

May 2: Karla Bonoff, Felton Music Hall (RESCHEDULED FROM NOV. 8)

May 2: Martha High’s Funky Divas, Kuumbwa Jazz Center

May 2: Peach Pit, Quarry Amphitheater

May 2: Cruzapolooza 2, The Catalyst

May 3: Santa Cruz Symphony: “Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony,” Mello Center

May 3: Pat Metheny, The Rio

May 4: Gregorio Uribe, Kuumbwa Jazz Center

May 4: Crystal Wahpepah, Bookshop Santa Cruz

May 6: Lucia, Kuumbwa Jazz Center

NEW: May 6: Martha Conway, Bookshop Santa Cruz

May 7: Hiromi’s Sonicwonder, Kuumbwa Jazz Center

May 7: “Corked,” The Rio

May 7: North Mississippi Allstars, Felton Music Hall

May 7: Sophie Wood Brinker, Bookshop Santa Cruz

May 8: Sports, The Catalyst

May 8: Glen Phillips, Felton Music Hall

May 8: Brothers Comatose, Moe’s Alley

May 8: Benny Bennack III, Kuumbwa Jazz Center

May 8-9: Cabrillo spring dance concert, Crocker Theater

May 9: David Sedaris, Santa Cruz Civic

May 9: Protoje, The Catalyst

May 10: Jim Messina, The Rio

May 10: San Francisco Scottish Fiddlers, Crocker Theater

May 11: Reyna Grande, Bookshop Santa Cruz

May 13: TOPS, Felton Music Hall

May 13: Mac Barnett, Bookshop Santa Cruz

May 13: Albaye Cissoko & Cyrille Brotto, Kuumbwa Jazz Center

May 14: Caroline Davis, Kuumbwa Jazz Center

May 14: Rose City Band, The Crepe Place

May 14: Gripper, Khan & Buttery, The Rio

May 15: Cornelia Murr, Felton Music Hall

May 15: The Heavy Heavy, Moe’s Alley

May 15: Robyn Hitchcock, The Crepe Place

May 16: Amy Winehouse tribute, The Rio

NEW: May 16: Steely Dead, Felton Music Hall

May 17: Willie Nile, Felton Music Hall

May 17: Bobby McFerrin, Kuumbwa Jazz Center

May 17: Cimafunk, Moe’s Alley

May 18: Kurt Rosenwinkel, Kuumbwa Jazz Center

May 20: Veronica Swift, Kuumbwa Jazz Center

May 21: Unknown Mortal Orchestra, The Catalyst

May 21: Peter Erskine, Kuumbwa Jazz Center

May 22: Andre Nickatina, The Catalyst

May 23: Grandaddy, The Rio

May 28: Allah-Las, The Catalyst

May 29: Frankie Moreno, Kuumbwa Jazz Center

May 29: GZA, The Catalyst

May 30: Olas Perdidas, Kuumbwa Jazz Center

May 31: Billie Holiday tribute, Felton Music Hall

May 31: Pete Seeger singalong tribute, Kuumbwa Jazz Center

May 31: Merlin Sheldrake, Quarry Amphitheater

June

June 1: Thelonious Monk tribute, Kuumbwa Jazz Center

June 4: Emi Makabe, Kuumbwa Jazz Center

June 5: Agent Orange, Moe’s Alley

June 5: The Hu, The Catalyst

June 6: Le Bouef brothers, Kuumbwa Jazz Center

June 6: The Montvales, The Crepe Place

June 7: Dogs in a Pile, Felton Music Hall

June 10: Quintron & Miss Pussycat, The Crepe Place

NEW: June 10: Ruth Ozeki, Bookshop Santa Cruz

June 11: Nicole Zuraitis, Kuumbwa Jazz Center

June 11: Rayburger, The Catalyst

June 12: Monolord, The Catalyst

June 12: The Smithereens, Moe’s Alley

June 13: Santa Cruz Symphony: “Movie Night,” Santa Cruz Civic

June 13: Santa Cecelia, Moe’s Alley

June 15: Jason Marsalis, Kuumbwa Jazz Center

June 17: Barbara Higbie & Teresa Trull, Kuumbwa Jazz Center

June 18: Mary Gauthier, Kuumbwa Jazz Center

June 18: GayC/DC, Moe’s Alley

June 21: Death Angels, The Catalyst

June 22: Santa Cruz Guitar Co. tribute, Kuumbwa Jazz Center

June 25: “Wild Women of the ’60s,” Kuumbwa Jazz Center

June 28: Billy Childs, Kuumbwa Jazz Center

June 29: Luciana Souza & Marcel Camargo, Kuumbwa Jazz Center

July

July 7: Taj Farrant, Moe’s Alley

July 8: TAE & the Neighborly, Kuumbwa Jazz Center

July 9: Beth Stelling, Felton Music Hall

NEW: July 9: Mads Tolling, Kuumbwa Jazz Center

NEW: July 13: Maruja Limon, Kuumbwa Jazz Center

NEW: July 13: White Denim, Moe’s Alley

July 14: Nation of Language, Felton Music Hall

July 16: RJD2, Felton Music Hall

July 17: Hot Buttered Rum/Tea Leaf Green, Felton Music Hall

July 18: Kr3ture, Felton Music Hall

July 20: Keshav Batish, Kuumbwa Jazz Center

July 23: James McMurtry, The Rio

July 27: Ray Obiedo’s Latin Jazz Ensemble, Kuumbwa Jazz Center

July 28: Yilian Cañizares, Kuumbwa Jazz Center

August

Aug. 1: Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, Quarry Amphitheater

NEW: Aug. 3: Kim Nalley, Kuumbwa Jazz Center

NEW: Aug. 6: Sylvia Cuenca’s Bridging Generations, Kuumbwa Jazz Center

Aug. 7: Bria Skonberg, Kuumbwa Jazz Center

Aug. 12: John-Robert, The Crepe Place

NEW: Aug. 13: Marina Crouse, Kuumbwa Jazz Center

Aug. 15: Snail, The Rio

Aug. 15: Ani DiFranco/Valerie June, Santa Cruz Civic

Aug. 16: The Blues Project, Moe’s Alley

Aug. 17: Jazz Mafia, Kuumbwa Jazz Center

NEW: Aug. 19: Bill O’Connell Trio, Kuumbwa Jazz Center

Aug. 20: Jon Dryden, Kuumbwa Jazz Center

Aug. 26: Duane Betts, Felton Music Hall

Aug. 26: Built to Spill, The Rio

Aug. 27: Simon Phillips, Kuumbwa Jazz Center

Aug. 31: Eagles of Death Metal, The Catalyst

September

Sept. 5: Clinton Fearon & the Boogie Brown Band, Moe’s Alley

Sept. 5: Public Image Ltd., The Rio

Sept. 9: PawPaw Rod, The Catalyst

Sept. 10: Nduduzo Makhathini, Kuumbwa Jazz Center

Sept. 12: Black Uhuru, Moe’s Alley

Sept. 14: John Pizzarelli, Kuumbwa Jazz Center

Sept. 17: The Growlers, The Catalyst

Sept. 17: Sarah Elizabeth Charles, Kuumbwa Jazz Center

Sept. 23: Brass Queens, Kuumbwa Jazz Center

Sept. 29: Aldous Harding, The Rio

Sept. 30: Cyrille Aimee & Mathis Picard, Kuumbwa Jazz Center

October

Oct. 2: Soda Blonde, The Crepe Place

Oct. 2: Fruit Bats, The Rio

Oct. 4: Mike Dawes, Felton Music Hall

Oct. 6: Kishi Bashi, The Rio

Oct. 14: Bonnie Raitt, Santa Cruz Civic

December

Dec. 8: Buck Meek, Moe’s Alley

HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF BOLO

Sign up for Lookout’s Weekender newsletter, sent every Thursday afternoon.

If you’re planning or producing your own event, click CREATE AN EVENT on the calendar.

Questions, comments, concerns? Email bolo@lookoutlocal.com.

The post Down The Line: All the biggest and best shows, gigs & events ahead in Santa Cruz County appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

Santa Cruz County is getting a burst of creativity this April 16–26 with the inaugural Ripple Effect Arts Festival—11 days of performances, visual art, music, poetry, fashion, and unexpected creative moments popping up across the county. 

This festival highlights the remarkable depth of artists and creative work rooted in our community. In Santa Cruz County, the arts stand alongside the redwoods, the ocean, and the Boardwalk as one of the region’s defining treasures. 

It all kicks off Thursday, April 16 in downtown Santa Cruz with the beloved Dancing in the Streets (5–9 p.m.), where multiple stages, hundreds of dancers, and a packed Cooper Street turn downtown into one big outdoor stage. 

From there, the festival spreads out across theaters, galleries, studios, and community spaces countywide – inviting people to wander, discover something new, and experience the local arts scene up close. Timed with California’s Arts, Culture and Creativity Month, the festival positions Santa Cruz County as a place where arts and culture are central to the region’s identity. 

The festival wraps on Sunday, April 26 with a closing celebration at The Grove Event Venue next to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. The evening features live music, art, and community gathering, headlined by New York–based artist Helado Negro, alongside local musicians, artists, and dancers. The event runs from 5:30–9:30 p.m., with an early VIP reception. 

Get your tickets and explore the full lineup!

The post Ripple Effect Arts Festival: 11 days of art, music & creativity across Santa Cruz County appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

Santa Cruz is set to kick off a high-energy celebration of movement Thursday as Santa Cruz Dance Week brings back its “Dancing in the Streets” event downtown.

One of the male Senderos dancers smiles at his dance partner. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz Senderos dancers rehearse ahead of their performance on Thursday evening at the “Dancing in the Streets” event in downtown Santa Cruz. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

The event is free, and participants are encouraged to bring comfortable shoes, an open mind, and a willingness to move.

Steel and Grace pole dancers practice their moves in Harvey West Park. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz A Steel and Grace performer spins on a pole during practice at Harvey West Park in preparation for their performance at the “Dancing in the Streets” event set for Thursday evening in downtown Santa Cruz. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

The performances will be from 5 to 9 p.m. at Cooper Street and Pacific Avenue, with Afrobeats performing until 10 p.m. at Abbott Square. Dance Week begins Thursday and runs through April 24.

Members of Tannery World Dance limber up before rehearsing the routine that they will perform during the “Dancing in the Streets” event on Thursday evening in downtown Santa Cruz. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

Thursday’s event transforms downtown Santa Cruz into an open-air dance floor, inviting the community to watch, dance and celebrate a wide range of dance styles. From salsa and hip-hop to contemporary and folklórico, local performers and instructors will showcase the diversity and creativity of the local dance scene.  

Members of Pleasure Point Dance practice their moves ahead of Thursday’s street performance in downtown Santa Cruz. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

The performances serve as a preview for the full week of dance programming, which includes classes, performances and workshops across Santa Cruz County.

Organizers say the all-ages Dance Week showcases accessibility and connection, breaking down barriers between performers and the public while highlighting the vibrancy of Santa Cruz County’s arts community.

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

MORE LOCAL COVERAGE

The post ‘Dancing in the Streets’ kicks off Santa Cruz Dance Week on Thursday appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

Here’s what’s happening on Santa Cruz County roads this morning…

▼︎ new incidents   ▼︎ long-term incidents

Road incidents as of 7 a.m. on April 16

• North Highway 1 at Park Avenue in Capitola is facing closures for K-rail installation. The closure is expected to end at 4:59 a.m. today.
   
• A lane on westbound Highway 152 at Clifford Drive/Ohlone Parkway in Watsonville is closed for asphalt paving. The closure is expected to last until July 3.
   

Long-term projects

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

• Crews are doing emergency sewer repairs on Soquel Drive near Rancho Del Mar in Aptos. Traffic will be shifted, and there may be lane closures and some delays during work hours, depending on the weather.
   
• Glenwood Cutoff will be completely closed at 121 Glenwood Cutoff in Scotts Valley today from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. while crews work on a pole overhead.
   

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: Lane closures on Highway 152, Glenwood Cutoff closed 1-3 p.m. appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

Watsonville mainstay El Frijolito has opened a second location, Tacos El Frijolito, offering a takeout-only menu of Mexican staples near the Highway 1 corridor. The expansion builds on the family-run restaurant’s nearly 40-year history and recent remodel of its original downtown location.

The post Watsonville’s El Frijolito adds takeout-only taco spot near Highway 1 appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

➤ Para leer el artículo en español, haga clic aquí.

The three candidates competing for District 4 Santa Cruz County supervisor shared their visions to improve South County on Wednesday night, discussing hot-button issues such as battery storage, housing and affordability during a Lookout forum. 

One thing all three candidates – Tony Nuñez, Elias Gonzales and incumbent Felipe Hernandez – agreed on is that South County residents have historically been underserved by county government. 

“I think you can pick multiple areas in which South County is underserved,” said Nuñez, who currently serves as the marketing and communications manager for nonprofit Community Bridges, as well as the board chair of the Pajaro Valley Health Care District, which operates Watsonville Community Hospital.

District 4 county supervisor candidate Tony Nuñez speaks during Wednesday’s candidate forum. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

He told the nearly 70 South County residents in attendance that there’s a lack of economic investment and understanding about what the community wants and needs. One of the ideas Nuñez would like to introduce is a program to help community members start their own businesses.

Gonzales said he wants to invest in the region’s youth, such as showing them different career paths, like apprenticeships that can lead to jobs in the trades. He also suggested creating a county office focusing on youth needs.

MORE ON THE DISTRICT 4 RACE: Find Lookout’s coverage here

“Watsonville has not been invested in and we continue to be the stepchild,” said Gonzales, who is associate director of movement building for Hollister-based nonprofit Youth Alliance, which provides support services for students and their families. 

As the incumbent, Hernandez said that throughout his first term representing District 4, the county has invested more than $800 million in the community. Those projects include opening a county office on Westridge Drive in Watsonville, starting repairs to the Pajaro River levee and fixing roads. 

The ongoing issue of the battery storage project proposed for outside Watsonville was a prominent point of discussion. Both Nuñez and Gonzales said they were against the 90 Minto Rd. project steered by Massachusetts-based developer New Leaf Energy. 

“I’ve met with more than 600 local residents over the last month and a half,” Nunez said, “and several of those residents have been organizers against this plan, and all of the concerns … have been around public health.” 

“How is this going to impact the public health of the people living there,” he asked, “and how is this going to impact the public health of the people living throughout the region?” 

Hernandez did not share his stance on the project, saying it would violate the Brown Act if he were to discuss his position before the project came to the board of supervisors for approval. 

He did say, however, that whether the developers seek approval through the state’s energy commission or at the local level, he would want to ensure the project meets safety standards laid out in the county’s ordinances meant to regulate such facilities. 

New Leaf confirmed to Lookout earlier this month that it is indeed exploring the state route for project approval, as well as keeping the county route open. County officials told Lookout that they have yet to determine its next steps on its draft ordinance. 

“And so we want to make sure that even if they go through the state process, I’m still going to be pestering this company,” Hernandez said. 

Incumbent District 4 County Supervisor Felipe Hernandez speaks during Wednesday’s Lookout candidate forum. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

The candidates discussed ways to keep themselves accountable if elected to represent District 4, which includes most of the Pajaro Valley, Watsonville and Interlaken. 

Nuñez said he’ll have a listening tour within his first 100 days in office to hear from residents about what changes they’d like to see. 

“My palabra is very important to me,” Gonzales said. “It’s how people hold me accountable and how I hold myself accountable.” 

Gonzales said he wants to build connections with the community, modeling the work he’s been doing for years in the nonprofit sector. 

During the portion of the forum when candidates could ask each other questions, Hernandez was on the defensive several times. He responded to criticisms that he hasn’t been showing up to meetings of the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission by saying he’s at every board meeting and sharing what he’s been doing on social media. He was also grilled by Nuñez about where the aforementioned $800 million was invested in South County. Hernandez listed numerous projects, such as the new county offices in Watsonville, repairs to Green Valley Road and improvements to social services. 

The candidates also discussed homelessness in South County and ways to address the issue or, in Hernandez’s case, what he’d continue doing. 

Hernandez brought up the 34-unit “tiny village” in Watsonville, which is a joint project between Santa Cruz and Monterey counties aimed at addressing homelessness along the Pajaro River levee. He said he’d like to develop similar projects, and also convert old hotels into residential treatment centers. 

Nuñez told the audience he would support local organizations, such as Community Bridges, in their efforts to help prevent homelessness by intervening during “just cause” evictions. 

“If we prevent homelessness through eviction protection,” Nuñez said, “I think one of the great things is that it not only saves the public dollars, but we have been able to fund the majority of that work through private philanthropy and foundations.” 

Gonzales said it’s important to change the narrative around the unhoused community, and start looking at services to help those with ongoing mental health issues. 

“A lot of the folks that are incarcerated are dealing with mental health issues, right?” he said. “How are we actually acknowledging those mental health issues?” 

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

The post District 4 county supervisor candidates make case to voters during Wednesday night forum appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

The site of the long-shuttered Outdoor World on River Street in Santa Cruz is finally undergoing its transformation into a new development. 

On Tuesday, bulldozers tore down the aging building to make room for a long-planned affordable housing project.

The project, approved by the City of Santa Cruz in 2024, will include 50 units of affordable housing across six stories plus one manager’s unit. There will also be 1,000 square feet of commercial and retail space. 

Eligibility for affordable housing is currently defined as a household making 30-60% of median income, which in Santa Cruz is about $115,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. 

San Jose-based developer For the Future Housing is leading the development. You can find more information on the city’s project page.

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

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The post Outdoor World building razed for affordable housing project appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

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

The California governor’s race has become a guessing game, but Santa Cruz County should look past the polls in choosing who will be best for our community. 

The candidates leading statewide surveys are not necessarily the ones best aligned with our region’s priorities – and if we focus only on who is ahead right now at this delicate, volatile moment, we risk overlooking who actually fits our needs.

The latest political storylines, polling data and election prediction tools are ranking the top gubernatorial candidates. But the crowded field tells a different story: voter approval is split across 10 major candidates, and 25% of voters remain undecided. Recent sexual assault allegations against front-runner Rep. Eric Swalwell are shaking up the race, and state Democratic party Chair Rusty Hicks warned that a crowded Democratic field could splinter the vote under California’s “jungle primary” system, where the top two candidates advance regardless of party, raising the possibility that two Republicans could move on from the June 2 primary.

CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR’S RACE: Read more coverage here from Lookout and our content partners

That is why the early polling leaders should not drive Santa Cruz County’s decision-making.

Recent surveys from Emerson College, UC Berkeley and the Public Policy Institute of California  – done before the stories emerged about Swalwell – showed Swalwell with a slight edge, followed closely by Republican candidates Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco, along with Tom Steyer and former Rep. Katie Porter. Trailing below the 5% threshold are Antonio Villaraigosa, Xavier Becerra, Betty Yee, Tony Thurmond and San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan. 

These are scientific polls, snapshots in time, based on samples of 500 to 1,600 respondents with margins of error around 3%.

Prediction markets offer a different perspective. Platforms such as Kalshi and Polymarket now show Swalwell has tanked since the allegations surfaced and Mahan is jumping in betting odds in some cases, with fluctuating positions that reflect perceived electability rather than voter preference. These markets are driven by traders trying to win money, not by voters expressing support, and their outcomes can shift daily based on participation and sentiment.

So who would best represent Santa Cruz County?

The answer starts with our priorities: economic vitality, job creation, affordable housing, addressing homelessness and climate resilience. Voter registration data reinforces the political reality – 59% of Santa Cruz County voters are Democrats, 13% are Republicans, and 20% are no-party-preference voters who tend to lean Democratic. Regardless of statewide polling trends, it is highly unlikely a Republican candidate will carry this county.

That makes the choice clearer. The best candidates for Santa Cruz County are not the ones leading the polls, but the ones most aligned with these priorities.

Two candidates stand out: Betty Yee and Matt Mahan

Betty Yee has strong ties to Santa Cruz County, beginning her career on the staff of former Assemblymember Sam Farr and working closely with Santa Cruz Mayor Fred Keeley when he was Farr’s chief of staff. She brings deep experience with California’s budget process and would be prepared to address the state’s fiscal challenges from Day 1. Today, California faces a growing wealth gap that has persistently affected Black and brown families disproportionately and now is being felt by middle-income families. 

For college graduates entering the workforce upon graduation, entry-level jobs are fewer in number, and those for which they can compete are outnumbered by graduates and workers who have been displaced. The rapid development of artificial intelligence and its deployment and recent layoffs due to AI have elevated concerns about the security and stability of future jobs. As governor, I can see Yee  increasing opportunities for economic mobility by working with regional, local and business leaders to create quality jobs that are stable, safe and pay living wages and benefits — jobs that meet regional and local workforce needs especially in high-demand fields. 

San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan speaks during a March forum in Monterey for gubernatorial candidates. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

Matt Mahan, a Watsonville native, brings a different, but equally relevant perspective. Raised in a working-class family, he commuted to school in San Jose before graduating from Harvard University, teaching and building a career in technology. As mayor of San Jose, he has focused on housing and homelessness with data-driven policies that show measurable improvement. Mahan’s mission is to make California an affordable place to live, work and raise a family. 

As governor, I believe he  will attack new taxes, red tape and lawsuits that drive up housing costs. He will hold local governments accountable for following state laws, and not stand in the way of new homes getting built. 

Mahan wants to get better value for our tax dollars, by delivering more affordable homes for each dollar spent and by supporting first-time home-buyers in a way that allows the state to recoup its money when the house is sold.

Mahan is receiving both political and financial support from the tech sector and well-heeled individuals from Southern California. This election’s most prolific donors have been some of the state’s wealthiest families, who have largely coalesced around Mahan.

Mahan has taken a “tough love”  approach to homelessness in San Jose by prioritizing emergency interim housing and tiny homes and pushing unhoused people to accept shelter. His views align broadly with the successful strategy of the current Santa Cruz City Council and directly with those of leading Santa Cruz mayoral candidate Ryan Coonerty, who has served as an advisor to Mahan. 

Meanwhile, billionaire Tom Steyer, who is running for governor with a largely self-funded campaign, commands by far the largest war chest. Neither Yee nor Mahan currently leads in statewide polling. But that is precisely the point. 

Santa Cruz County should not base its decision solely on early survey results or shifting betting markets. It should focus on which candidates understand and are prepared to act on the issues that define daily life here.

There is a narrow open path for Yee or Mahan to get one of the top two slots for a run-off in November. The real challenge is to cut through the inside political dialogue that only political and policy folks like me closely follow a campaign at all stages of the election process. 

The key to this election is a majority of voters are not paying attention now and the polls show a highest percentage of voters are undecided at this stage of the primary election. I think at least one Democratic candidate will break out of the pack and hit 20% of the votes, which would be enough to get into a run-off. My intuition tells me a moderate Democrat can capture those middle voters. 

That is why Betty Yee and Matt Mahan are not only the best candidates for Santa Cruz County, but also the only Democrats who I believe resonate with statewide voters.

Casey Beyer.

The next governor must be in sync with our region’s economic and environmental needs. Santa Cruz County needs a partner in Sacramento who understands the business community, supports affordable housing, expands access to financial programs, strengthens education, addresses homelessness, and protects natural resources. 

If you are thinking one of the top candidates – Steyer and Porter at this point –  is your choice, just know that they lean to the far left of the California mainstream political spectrum. If (a big if) a Republican is in the run-off, the more liberal-leaning Democrat might not be able to win.

It is still early in the race, and much can change before Election Day – new polling, financial disclosures, endorsements and inevitable campaign missteps. We’ve seen that with Swalwell.

But the core question should remain unchanged: not who is leading today, but who is best prepared to represent Santa Cruz County tomorrow.

The post What Santa Cruz County should look for in California’s next governor – the poll leaders aren’t right for us appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

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.

Los tres candidatos que compiten por el puesto de supervisor del condado de Santa Cruz para el Distrito 4 compartieron sus visiones para mejorar el sur del condado el miércoles por la noche, abordando temas polémicos como el almacenamiento de baterías, la vivienda y la asequibilidad.

Algo en lo que los tres candidatos —Tony Núñez, Elías Gonzales y el actual titular Felipe Hernández— coincidieron es que los residentes del sur del condado han sido históricamente desatendidos por el gobierno del condado.

“Creo que se pueden identificar múltiples áreas en las que el sur del condado está desatendido,” dijo Núñez, quien actualmente se desempeña como gerente de marketing y comunicaciones para la organización sin fines de lucro Community Bridges, así como presidente de la junta del Distrito de Atención Médica del Valle de Pájaro, que opera el Hospital Comunitario de Watsonville.

Tony Nuñez. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

Dijo a los casi 70 residentes del sur del condado presentes que existe una falta de inversión económica y de comprensión sobre lo que la comunidad quiere y necesita. Una de las ideas que Núñez desea implementar es un programa para ayudar a los miembros de la comunidad a iniciar sus propios negocios.

Gonzales dijo que quiere invertir en la juventud de la región, por ejemplo, mostrándoles diferentes trayectorias profesionales, como aprendizajes que puedan conducir a empleos en oficios. También sugirió crear una oficina del condado enfocada en las necesidades de los jóvenes.

“Watsonville no ha recibido inversión y seguimos siendo como el hijo olvidado,” dijo Gonzales, quien es subdirector de construcción de movimientos en la organización sin fines de lucro Youth Alliance, con sede en Hollister, que brinda servicios de apoyo a estudiantes y sus familias.

Elias Gonzales. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

Como titular, Hernández señaló que durante su primer mandato representando al Distrito 4, el condado ha invertido más de 800 millones de dólares en la comunidad. Esos proyectos incluyen la apertura de una oficina del condado en Watsonville en Westridge Drive, el inicio de reparaciones en el dique del río Pájaro y la mejora de carreteras.

El tema en curso del proyecto de almacenamiento de baterías propuesto para Watsonville fue un punto destacado de discusión. Tanto Núñez como Gonzales dijeron que se oponen al proyecto en 90 Minto Rd., impulsado por los desarrolladores con sede en Massachusetts, New Leaf Energy.

“He hablado con más de 600 residentes locales en el último mes y medio,” dijo Núñez. “y varios de esos residentes han sido organizadores en contra de este plan, y todas las preocupaciones… han girado en torno a la salud pública.”

“¿Cómo va a impactar esto la salud pública de las personas que viven allí?” dijo Nunez. “¿y cómo va a afectar la salud pública de las personas en toda la región?”

Hernández no compartió su postura sobre el proyecto, señalando que violaría la Ley Brown si discutiera su posición antes de que el proyecto llegue a la junta para su aprobación.

Sin embargo, Hernandez sí dijo que si los desarrolladores buscan la aprobación a través de la comisión estatal de energía o a nivel local, querría asegurarse de que el proyecto cumpla con los estándares de seguridad establecidos en las ordenanzas del condado destinadas a regular este tipo de instalaciones.

Felipe Hernandez. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

New Leaf confirmó a Lookout a principios de este mes que está explorando la vía estatal para la aprobación del proyecto, al mismo tiempo que mantiene abierta la opción del proceso a nivel del condado. Funcionarios del condado dijeron que aún no han determinado los próximos pasos respecto a su borrador de ordenanza.

“Y queremos asegurarnos de que, incluso si pasan por el proceso estatal, voy a seguir presionando a esta empresa,” dijo Hernández.

Los candidatos discutieron formas de mantenerse responsables ante la comunidad si son elegidos para representar al Distrito 4, que incluye la mayor parte del Valle de Pájaro, Watsonville e Interlaken.

Núñez dijo que realizará una gira de escucha durante sus primeros 100 días en el cargo para conocer de los residentes qué cambios desean ver.

“Mi palabra es muy importante para mí,” dijo Gonzales. “Es cómo la gente me exige rendir cuentas y cómo yo mismo me responsabilizo.”

Gonzales dijo que quiere construir conexiones con la comunidad, basándose en el trabajo que ha realizado durante años en el sector sin fines de lucro.

Durante la parte del foro en la que los candidatos podían hacerse preguntas entre sí, Hernández estuvo a la defensiva en varias ocasiones. Respondió a las críticas de que no ha estado asistiendo a reuniones del RTC diciendo que está presente en cada reunión de la junta y que comparte lo que hace en redes sociales. Hernandez también fue cuestionado por Núñez sobre dónde se invirtieron los mencionados 800 millones de dólares en el sur del condado. Hernández enumeró varios proyectos, como las nuevas oficinas del condado en Watsonville, reparaciones en Green Valley Road y mejoras en servicios sociales.

Los candidatos también discutieron la falta de vivienda en el sur del condado y las formas de abordar el problema, o en el caso de Hernández, lo que continuaría haciendo.

Hernández mencionó la “aldea de pequeñas viviendas” de 34 unidades en Watsonville, un proyecto conjunto entre los condados de Santa Cruz y Monterey destinado a abordar la falta de vivienda a lo largo del dique del río Pájaro. Dijo que le gustaría desarrollar proyectos similares, así como convertir hoteles antiguos en centros residenciales de tratamiento.

Núñez dijo al público que apoyaría a organizaciones locales, como Community Bridges, en sus esfuerzos por prevenir la falta de vivienda interviniendo durante desalojos con “causa justa.”

“Si prevenimos la falta de vivienda mediante la protección contra desalojos,” dijo Núñez, “creo que una de las grandes ventajas es que no solo ahorra dinero público, sino que la mayor parte de ese trabajo se ha financiado mediante filantropía privada y fundaciones.”

Gonzales señaló que es importante cambiar la narrativa sobre la población sin hogar y comenzar a enfocarse en servicios para ayudar a quienes enfrentan problemas continuos de salud mental.

“Muchas de las personas que están encarceladas enfrentan problemas de salud mental, ¿verdad?” dijo Gonzales. “¿Cómo estamos reconociendo realmente esos problemas de salud mental?”

The post Los candidatos para la contienda de supervisor del condado del Distrito 4 presentan sus propuestas a los votantes durante un foro el miércoles appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.