Robert Ratner talks about solutions to homelessness at a meeting at Garfield Park Branch Library in Santa Cruz in August 2023. Ratner is director of Santa Cruz County’s Housing for Health Division. (Stephen Baxter — Santa Cruz Local file) SANTA CRUZ >> A recent state report about two California cities’ homeless services spending echoes concerns raised in a 2023 Santa Cruz Local investigation about how money is spent on homeless services in Santa Cruz County. An April 9 California State Auditor’s Office report found that the cities of San José and San Diego have not tracked homeless se ..read more

Some Live Oak neighbors raise questions about a 173-unit housing proposal at Soquel Drive and Thurber Lane at a meeting Monday. (Jesse Kathan — Santa Cruz Local) LIVE OAK >> A Monday night meeting about a proposed five-building housing complex on Soquel Drive drew dozens of residents who lambasted developers about the project’s size, additional traffic and other concerns. The proposal is on about 6 acres at Soquel Drive and Thurber Lane. It includes: Five buildings from two to five stories tall. 173 apartments and 273 parking spaces. One-, two- and three-bedroom homes. All “wo ..read more

Editor’s note: The Santa Cruz City Council item on the Food Bin redevelopment will take place no earlier than 7:15 p.m. April 30, said Santa Cruz City Clerk Bonnie Bush. This story has been updated.  Santa Cruz Local newsletter briefs for the week of April 29: Housing and construction updates in Santa Cruz, Capitola, Live Oak County supervisors to revisit rail trail, consider North Coast projects Santa Cruz City Council to weigh Food Bin housing proposal Scotts Valley council to discuss parks master plan HOUSING Housing and construction updates in Santa Cruz, Capitola, Live Oak A 3 ..read more

A three-story, 40-unit apartment complex is proposed at 841 Capitola Road in Live Oak. (Workbench) LIVE OAK >> Two new housing developments in Santa Cruz County are set to exceed local height limits and could be approved without public input, county officials said this week.  Santa Cruz-based developer Workbench has submitted plans for a six-story apartment building on Paul Sweet Road in Live Oak and a three-story apartment building on Capitola Road in Live Oak.  Stay informed on Santa Cruz County’s biggest issues. Santa Cruz Local’s newsletter breaks down complex local t ..read more

Farmworkers pick strawberries near Watsonville in August 2020. (David Rodriguez — The Salinas Californian file) Key takeaways A Santa Cruz Local analysis found that potentially harmful pesticides were applied hundreds of times near South County schools from May 2022 to May 2023. It’s illegal to apply fumigant pesticides within a quarter-mile of a school during school hours. On parts of fields just outside of that distance, growers legally applied fumigants during school hours. Activists advocated for a phase out of pesticide applications to help protect children and farmworkers from resp ..read more

Santa Cruz Local newsletter briefs for the week of April 22: Affordable housing waitlist opens in Santa Cruz, with more on tap Watsonville City Council to tackle new shelters, climate adaptation Proposed county budget to be explained at Live Oak meeting Grant awarded to help house homeless in Santa Cruz HOUSING AND CONSTRUCTION Affordable housing waitlist opens in Santa Cruz, with more on tap Pacific Station South at 822 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz is expected to open this year. (For the Future Housing) Pacific Station South at 822 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz is expected to finish construction ..read more

The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission on Thursday reaffirmed its support for a paved path parallel to the train tracks through Capitola and Seacliff. (Stephen Baxter — Santa Cruz Local file) SANTA CRUZ >> The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission on Thursday reaffirmed its support for a trail parallel to the train tracks through Live Oak, Capitola and Seacliff — leaving the door open for passenger rail service. But the decision to accept state money and move forward with the rail-trail plans still rests with the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors ..read more

Segment 11 of the Coastal Rail Trail runs near New Brighton State Beach in 2021. (Stephen Baxter — Santa Cruz Local file) SANTA CRUZ >> At a special meeting Thursday, the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission could step toward takeover of a $68 million state grant awarded to Santa Cruz County to help construct the rail trail through Live Oak, Capitola and Seacliff. Transportation commissioners on Thursday are expected to vote on whether their staff should explore steps to transfer the grant. Commissioners are not set to vote on the transfer itself. In March, the ..read more

A proposed budget for 2025 cuts money for road repairs. Storms in 2023 caused about $140 million in damage to county-maintained roads, county staff said. (Jesse Kathan — Santa Cruz Local file) SANTA CRUZ >> The financial toll of natural disasters has become an unsustainable burden on the Santa Cruz County budget, county staff told the board of supervisors Tuesday. At an April 9 county supervisors meeting, county staff presented a draft budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1.  Stay informed on Santa Cruz County’s biggest issues. Santa Cruz Local’s newsletter breaks down ..read more

Storm damage prompts authorities to close West Cliff Drive near Woodrow Avenue in January 2023. (Stephen Baxter — Santa Cruz Local file) SANTA CRUZ >> The Santa Cruz City Council on Tuesday unanimously rejected a pilot program for one-way traffic on West Cliff Drive.  The plan would have converted the eastbound lane of West Cliff Drive from Bay Street to Natural Bridges State Beach into a two-way bike lane. Many lower Westside residents at the meeting strongly opposed the change, and some said they felt blindsided by the proposal. Stay informed on Santa Cruz County’s biggest i ..read more