Santa Cruz Local

In today’s episode we meet the five candidates for Capitola City Council. They are Yvette Lopez Brooks, Joe Clarke, Enrique Dolmo Jr., Gerry Jensen and Alexander Pedersen. The five candidates are running for three seats. They appear before Capitola voters on the Nov. 8 ballot. We explain what a council member does. Then we press the candidates on the issues important to Capitola residents. Read the transcript with links to our related stories. https://santacruzlocal.org/ Read Santa Cruz Local’s Election Guide: https://tinyurl.com/ep-103-guide Santa Cruz Local’s Election Guide for Capitola City Council: https://santacruzlocal.org/election/2022-nov-08/capitola-city-council/ Santa Cruz Local is supported by its members. Join us! Keep local journalism strong with a membership today. https://tinyurl.com/ep-103-membership Make a one-time donation to Santa Cruz Local’s newsroom: https://tinyurl.com/ep-103-donate Support Santa Cruz Local on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/santacruzlocal Subscribe to Santa Cruz Local’s email newsletter for free. We’re in your inbox twice a week. https://tinyurl.com/ep-103-newsletter

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 8. For the first time, Santa Cruz voters will choose a mayor. We meet the two candidates: Joy Schendledecker and Fred Keeley. We explain the new format for Santa Cruz City Council elections and the new mayoral role. Then we press the candidates on the issues important to Santa Cruz residents. Read the transcript with links to our related stories. https://santacruzlocal.org/ Read Santa Cruz Local’s Election Guide. https://tinyurl.com/ep-102-election-guide Santa Cruz Local’s Election Guide for Santa Cruz City Council: https://tinyurl.com/ep-102-sc-guide Santa Cruz Local is supported by its members. Join us! Keep local journalism strong with a membership today. https://tinyurl.com/ep-102-membership Make a one-time donation to Santa Cruz Local’s newsroom. https://tinyurl.com/ep-102-donate Subscribe to Santa Cruz Local’s email newsletter for free. We’re in your inbox twice a week. https://tinyurl.com/ep-102-newsletter Support Santa Cruz Local on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/santacruzlocal

We meet two candidates for Santa Cruz City Council: Renee Golder and Sean Maxwell. They’re running for the District 6 seat on the Nov. 8 ballot. You’ll vote in the District 6 council race if you live in these areas: areas of the Lower Westside west of Younglove Avenue and Columbia Street; areas along Western Drive; and a western part of the UC Santa Cruz main campus. We explain what a council member does. Then we press the candidates on the issues important to Santa Cruz residents. Read the transcript with links to our related stories. https://santacruzlocal.org/ Read Santa Cruz Local’s Election Guide. https://tinyurl.com/ep-101-election-guide Santa Cruz Local’s Election Guide for Santa Cruz City Council with map of District 4: https://tinyurl.com/ep-101-map Santa Cruz Local is supported by its members. Join us! Keep local journalism strong with a membership today. https://tinyurl.com/ep-101-membership Make a one-time donation to Santa Cruz Local’s newsroom. https://tinyurl.com/ep-101-donate Support Santa Cruz Local on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/santacruzlocal Subscribe to Santa Cruz Local’s email newsletter for free. We’re in your inbox twice a week. https://tinyurl.com/ep-101-newsletter

We meet three candidates for Santa Cruz City Council: Hector Marin, Gregory Hyver and Scott Newsome. They’re running for the District 4 seat on the Nov. 8 ballot. You’ll vote in the District 4 council race if you live in these areas: Downtown; Beach Flats; part of the Upper Westside, east of Bay Street and south of High Street; and areas along Mission Street generally east of Laurent Street. We explain what a council member does. Then we press the candidates on the issues important to Santa Cruz residents. Read the transcript with links to our related stories. https://tinyurl.com/ep-100-transcript Read Santa Cruz Local’s Election Guide. https://tinyurl.com/election-guide-ep-100 Santa Cruz Local’s Election Guide for Santa Cruz City Council with map of District 4: https://santacruzlocal.org/election/2022-nov-08/santa-cruz-city-council/ Santa Cruz Local is supported by its members. Join us! Keep local journalism strong with a membership today. https://tinyurl.com/ep-100-membership Make a one-time donation to Santa Cruz Local’s newsroom. https://tinyurl.com/ep-100-donate Support Santa Cruz Local on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/santacruzlocal Subscribe to Santa Cruz Local’s email newsletter for free. We’re in your inbox twice a week. https://tinyurl.com/ep-100-newsletter

In the Nov. 8 election, Scotts Valley voters will choose two city council members. In today’s episode we’ll learn about the role of a council member. Then we’ll meet the three candidates: Derek Timm, Allan Timms and Jim Reed. Santa Cruz Local presses the candidates on the issues important to Scotts Valley residents. Read the transcript with links to our related stories. https://tinyurl.com/ep-99-transcript Read Santa Cruz Local’s Election Guide. https://tinyurl.com/SCL-election-guide Santa Cruz Local is supported by its members. Join us! Keep local journalism strong with a membership today. https://tinyurl.com/ep-99-membership Make a one-time donation to Santa Cruz Local’s newsroom. https://tinyurl.com/donate-ep-99 Support Santa Cruz Local on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/santacruzlocal Subscribe to Santa Cruz Local’s email newsletter for free. We’re in your inbox twice a week. https://tinyurl.com/ep-99-newsletter

Santa Cruz Local wants you to decide what the local candidates talk about as they compete for your vote in the Nov. 8 election. This year, Santa Cruz Local’s team conducted nearly 300 interviews and collected 150 survey responses from Santa Cruz County residents. Here is what residents told us they want from local government, in order of frequency: - Affordable housing development - Help paying rent - Solutions to homelessness - Better wages and jobs - More bike and walk infrastructure In today’s episode, we’ll hear from residents about why they care about these issues. We’ll hear voices not normally heard by local government or local media. Read the transcript with links to our related stories. https://tinyurl.com/ep-98-transcript Read Santa Cruz Local’s Election Guide. https://tinyurl.com/SCL-guide Santa Cruz Local is supported by its members. Join us! Keep local journalism strong with a membership today. https://tinyurl.com/ep-98-membership Make a one-time donation to Santa Cruz Local’s newsroom. https://tinyurl.com/ep-98-donate Support Santa Cruz Local on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/santacruzlocal Subscribe free to Santa Cruz Local’s email newsletter. We’re in your inbox twice a week. https://tinyurl.com/ep-98-newsletter

In the June 7 primary election, North Coast and Santa Cruz residents will choose a new District 3 representative on the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors. We hear from residents about their priorities for the election. Then we meet candidates Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson, Justin Cummings and Ami Chen Mills and press them on residents’ concerns. We hear from the candidates on their plans to: Develop affordable housing. [21:17] Expand rent assistance programs. [27:47] Address homelessness. [34:59] Attract employers and create higher-paying jobs. [43:25] Repair roads, expand law enforcement and improve cellphone service on the North Coast. [50:10] Prioritize bike and walk projects and improve public transit. [57:07] We also press Justin Cummings and Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson on their voting records on the Santa Cruz City Council. [1:03:40] Read the transcript with links to our related stories. https://tinyurl.com/ep-97-transcript Read Santa Cruz Local’s Elections Guide with information on this and other races. https://tinyurl.com/SCL-guide Santa Cruz Local is supported by its members. Join us! Keep local journalism strong with a membership today. https://tinyurl.com/ep-97-membership Make a one-time donation to Santa Cruz Local’s newsroom. https://tinyurl.com/ep-97-donate Support Santa Cruz Local on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/santacruzlocal Subscribe free to Santa Cruz Local’s email newsletter. We’re in your inbox twice a week. https://tinyurl.com/ep-97-newsletter Editor's note: This podcast has been updated to correct the year that Ami Chen Mills left the executive director role at the Center for Sustainable Change.

Bakersfield and Kern County, California, solved chronic homelessness in part through better coordination of service providers, shared housing databases and a fearless approach to experimentation and results monitoring. Despite Santa Cruz County’s housing shortage, there are lessons from Kern County that start with making housing searches more efficient for the unhoused. In Santa Cruz Local Ep. 96, Kara Meyberg Guzman travels to Bakersfield to learn the successes and limitations of the area’s approach to homelessness. Former Santa Cruz Mayor Don Lane and Santa Cruz County leaders discuss strategies to solve homelessness that center on permanent housing. Read the transcript: https://tinyurl.com/transcript-SCL-96 Read more in Santa Cruz Local’s Solutions to Homelessness series: https://tinyurl.com/solutions-ep96 Santa Cruz Local is supported by its members. Join us! Keep local journalism strong with a membership today. https://tinyurl.com/ep-96-membership Make a one-time donation to Santa Cruz Local’s newsroom. https://tinyurl.com/donate-scl-96 Support Santa Cruz Local on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/santacruzlocal

We hear from four Santa Cruz County residents: a 25-year-old caregiver in Santa Cruz, a 54-year-old janitor in Watsonville, a father of three in Santa Cruz and a 24-year-old sales associate in Capitola. They share their experiences with homelessness and the keys to getting housed. This episode is part of Santa Cruz Local’s Solutions to Homelessness Series. Read the transcript: https://tinyurl.com/ep95-transcript Support local journalism with a Santa Cruz Local membership: https://tinyurl.com/podcastSCLmembership Support Santa Cruz Local on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/santacruzlocal Sign up for Santa Cruz Local’s free email newsletter. We’re in your inbox twice a week: https://tinyurl.com/SCL-podcast-signup Read more stories in Santa Cruz Local’s Solutions to Homelessness Series: https://tinyurl.com/SCLhomeless-series

Responses to mental health crises are set to change in Santa Cruz County with a new 988 system as an alternative to 911. Non-police responses are expected to be dispatched through the system, and advocates say the 24-hour, non-police system is overdue. Santa Cruz Local’s Stephen Baxter talks to Assemblymember Mark Stone, advocate Jeffrey Arlt and others about the mental health crisis response in the county now and its shortcomings. Some potential solutions may come from Santa Cruz County’s Mobile Emergency Response Team at 1-800-952-2335 and Alameda County’s Community Assessment and Transport Team. Support local journalism with a Santa Cruz Local membership: santacruzlocal.org/membership/ Subscribe to Santa Cruz Local's free newsletter. mailchi.mp/santacruzlocal/forward Read the transcript to this episode: https://santacruzlocal.org/2021/06/11/podcast-reshaping-mental-health-crisis-response-in-santa-cruz-county/ Santa Cruz Local’s mental health crisis resources page: https://santacruzlocal.org/resources/crisis/ Call MERT: 1-800-952-2335 Read more in Santa Cruz Local’s Police Reform Series: Podcast Ep. 81: Reducing harm in Santa Cruz County Law Enforcement : https://santacruzlocal.org/2020/07/15/podcast-ep-81-reducing-harm-in-santa-cruz-county-law-enforcement/ How Alameda County addresses mental health crisis response (May 20, 2021): https://santacruzlocal.org/2021/05/20/how-alameda-county-addresses-mental-health-crisis-response/ New committees address police reform in Watsonville, Santa Cruz County (Feb. 19, 2021): https://santacruzlocal.org/2021/02/19/new-committees-address-police-reform-in-watsonville-santa-cruz-county/ Data special: Trends in Watsonville crime, police work, funding (April 1, 2021): https://santacruzlocal.org/2021/04/01/data-special-trends-in-watsonville-crime-police-work-funding/ Police Reform Series: State bill sets stage for new mental health crisis hotline (May 13, 2021): https://santacruzlocal.org/2021/05/13/state-bill-sets-stage-for-new-mental-health-crisis-hotline/

Tuesday, the Santa Cruz City Council will consider a proposed law that aims to prevent large homeless camps by limiting where and when people can camp and requiring most tents to be removed each morning. We explain the proposal. And we hear from three Santa Cruz residents who are homeless. We hear their stories: their goals, their barriers and their thoughts about the proposed law. Support local journalism with a Santa Cruz Local membership: https://santacruzlocal.org/membership/ Subscribe to Santa Cruz Local's free newsletter. https://mailchi.mp/santacruzlocal/forward Read the transcript to this episode, with a map of where camping would be allowed: https://santacruzlocal.org/ Read Santa Cruz Local’s story on the proposal and residents’ views: https://santacruzlocal.org/2021/03/10/santa-cruz-city-homeless-rules-to-be-reconsidered-in-april/ Comment to the city council on the proposal: Email citycouncil@cityofsantacruz.com by 5 p.m. Monday. Zoom link for the city council meeting 5:30 p.m. Tuesday: https://zoom.us/j/94684401344 Call into the meeting: 1-833-548-0276 and enter the meeting ID 946 8440 1344. Read the draft law: https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/20612766-santa-cruz-homeless-law-draft-ordinance-20210413 Read recent public comment on the proposed law: https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/20612764-santa-cruz-homeless-law-public-correspondence-20210409

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed a need for mental health services in Santa Cruz County’s public schools. We hear from a director at the Santa Cruz County Office of Education about virtual mentoring, an approach that has shown promise in addressing student mental health needs. We discuss how it works and where it falls short. This episode is the third in Santa Cruz Local’s Distance Learning Series. Listen to part one of this series: Ep. 89 Public education money, COVID and the power of Santa Cruz County school boards https://santacruzlocal.org/2021/01/31/podcast-public-education-money-covid-and-the-power-of-santa-cruz-county-school-boards/ Listen to part two of this series: Ep. 90 Student mental health needs in Santa Cruz County, part 1 https://santacruzlocal.org/2021/03/23/podcast-student-mental-health-and-stress-in-santa-cruz-county-part-1/ Support local journalism with a Santa Cruz Local membership: https://santacruzlocal.org/membership/ Subscribe to Santa Cruz Local's free newsletter. https://mailchi.mp/santacruzlocal/forward Santa Cruz Local members, read the transcript to this episode: https://santacruzlocal.org/ Take Santa Cruz Local's survey on education: https://santacruzlocal.org/schools Santa Cruz County mental health resources: Call or text 211 or visit https://www.211santacruzcounty.org/mental-healthx/ For counseling: Pajaro Valley Prevention and Student Assistance, 831-728-6445 or https://www.pvpsa.org/ For counseling: Encompass, 831-429-8350 or https://www.encompasscs.org/youth_services_counseling Anyone who is contemplating suicide or has lost someone to suicide can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255.

Were some COVID-19 deaths preventable in Santa Cruz County long-term care facilities? This episode investigates why some senior homes — which had more than half of the COVID deaths in the county — waited for vaccines through January while others received vaccines. Separately, the episode includes a conversation with contributing reporter Jerimiah Oetting and Santa Cruz Local's Kara Meyberg Guzman and Stephen Baxter about whether new housing means more water demand in Santa Cruz County. Read the stories: "Vaccines came slowly for the most vulnerable in Santa Cruz County": https://santacruzlocal.org/2021/03/03/vaccines-came-slowly-for-most-vulnerable-in-santa-cruz-county/ "Does more housing mean more water demand in Santa Cruz County?": https://santacruzlocal.org/2021/02/15/does-more-housing-mean-more-water-demand-in-santa-cruz-county/ Support local journalism with a Santa Cruz Local membership: https://santacruzlocal.org/membership/ Subscribe to Santa Cruz Local's free newsletter. https://mailchi.mp/santacruzlocal/forward Santa Cruz Local members, read the transcript to this episode: https://santacruzlocal.org/

Many students in Santa Cruz County feel stressed and disconnected after months of online-only school. We hear from three Aptos High students about their social and emotional well-being needs. A program administrator responds to these stories and shares tips on how adults can help. This episode is the second in Santa Cruz Local’s Distance Learning series. Listen to part one of this series: Public education money, COVID and the power of Santa Cruz County school boards https://santacruzlocal.org/2021/01/31/podcast-public-education-money-covid-and-the-power-of-santa-cruz-county-school-boards/ Support local journalism with a Santa Cruz Local membership: https://santacruzlocal.org/membership/ Subscribe to Santa Cruz Local's free newsletter. https://mailchi.mp/santacruzlocal/forward Read the transcript to this episode: https://santacruzlocal.org/2021/03/23/podcast-student-mental-health-and-stress-in-santa-cruz-county-part-1/ Take Santa Cruz Local's survey on education: https://santacruzlocal.org/schools Santa Cruz County mental health resources: https://www.211santacruzcounty.org/mental-healthx/ Pajaro Valley Prevention and Student Assistance: 831-728-6445 or https://www.pvpsa.org/ Connect to a mental health provider: Call 211. Anyone who is contemplating suicide or has lost someone to suicide can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255.

This episode is the first in Santa Cruz Local's Distance Learning series. Today we explore how the state's public education system is organized and funded, and how decisions are made. Many of you wanted to know: How can students, parents and teachers make their voice heard in such a huge, complicated system? We hear from former county superintendent Michael Watkins and state Sen. John Laird on the governor's school reopening plan and how to get involved. Support local journalism with a Santa Cruz Local membership: https://santacruzlocal.org/membership/ Subscribe to Santa Cruz Local's free newsletter. We're in your inbox two to three times a week: https://mailchi.mp/santacruzlocal/forward Santa Cruz Local members, read the transcript to this episode: https://santacruzlocal.org/ Take Santa Cruz Local's survey on education: https://santacruzlocal.org/schools Learn how to participate in the state senate budget subcommittee on education: https://sbud.senate.ca.gov/subcommittee1 Email state Sen. John Laird: senator.laird@sen.ca.gov

In the wake of the CZU Lightning Complex Fire in Santa Cruz County, this episode explores forest management policies in the state and county. It also looks at the role of prescribed burns in land management in the county, and a new Central Coast Prescribed Burn Association. Support local journalism with a Santa Cruz Local membership: https://santacruzlocal.org/membership/ Subscribe to Santa Cruz Local's free newsletter. We're in your inbox two to three times a week: https://mailchi.mp/santacruzlocal/forward Santa Cruz Local members, read the transcript to this episode: https://santacruzlocal.org/ Learn about Nature Conservancy training burns: https://tinyurl.com/trex21 Contact the Central Coast Prescribed Burn Association: drorao@ucanr.edu, https://calpba.org/

Santa Cruz Local presses the Santa Cruz City Council candidates on the priorities we heard from residents: housing and homelessness. We meet eight of the nine city council candidates: Martine Watkins, Sandy Brown, Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson, Kelsey Hill, Kayla Kumar, Maria Cadenas, Elizabeth Conlan and Sonja Brunner. Voters will pick four. Read the transcript: https://santacruzlocal.org/2020/10/18/podcast-vote-nov-3-santa-cruz-city-council/ Read Santa Cruz Local’s elections guide: https://santacruzlocal.org/elections/ Support Santa Cruz Local’s journalism with a membership: https://santacruzlocal.org/membership/ Subscribe to Santa Cruz Local’s free email newsletter: https://santacruzlocal.org/free-newsletter-local-news/

Santa Cruz Local presses the five Watsonville City Council candidates on the priorities we heard from residents: affordable housing development, city-sponsored youth programs, the high cost of rent and more. We break down the differences between District 2 candidates Aurelio Gonzalez and Vanessa Quiroz-Carter, District 6 candidates Jimmy Dutra and Tony Gomez, and District 1 candidate Eduardo Montesino. View the maps of the Watsonville City Council districts: https://santacruzlocal.org/elections/ Read the transcript: https://santacruzlocal.org/2020/10/14/podcast-vote-nov-3-watsonville-city-council/ Read Santa Cruz Local's elections guide: santacruzlocal.org/elections/ Support Santa Cruz Local’s journalism with a membership: santacruzlocal.org/membership/ Subscribe to Santa Cruz Local’s free email newsletter: santacruzlocal.org/free-newsletter-local-news/

If you’re a voter in Live Oak, Pleasure Point, Soquel, western Capitola or the Santa Cruz Mountains north of Soquel, you’ll vote on the District 1 Santa Cruz County supervisors race. But even if you don’t live in the district, this race still matters to you. The decisions of the board of supervisors affect the entire county. We press incumbent John Leopold and challenger Manu Koenig on the priorities we heard from District 1 residents. A map of Santa Cruz County's District 1: https://beta.documentcloud.org/documents/7016018-Supervisorial-District-1 Read the transcript: santacruzlocal.org Read Santa Cruz Local's elections guide: santacruzlocal.org/elections/ Register for Santa Cruz Local’s upcoming candidate forums: santacruzlocal.org/events/ Support Santa Cruz Local’s journalism with a membership: santacruzlocal.org/membership/ Subscribe to Santa Cruz Local’s free email newsletter: santacruzlocal.org/free-newsletter-local-news/

Santa Cruz Local has interviewed and surveyed about 50 Scotts Valley residents in recent months to hear their priorities for the Scotts Valley City Council race. Today, we press the candidates — John Lewis, Donna Lind, Jack Dilles and Randy Johnson — on the concerns of residents. Listen to the candidates’ views on housing, supporting local business, stabilizing the city budget, school funding and policing. Read the transcript: https://santacruzlocal.org/2020/09/29/podcast-vote-nov-3-scotts-valley-city-council/ Visit Santa Cruz Local’s elections webpage: https://santacruzlocal.org/elections/ Register for Santa Cruz Local’s upcoming candidate forums: https://santacruzlocal.org/events/ Read more about Scotts Valley’s recent police reforms, including data on vehicle stops: https://santacruzlocal.org/2020/09/17/scotts-valley-police-offer-reforms-vehicle-stop-data/ Support Santa Cruz Local’s journalism with a membership: https://santacruzlocal.org/membership/ Subscribe to Santa Cruz Local’s free email newsletter: https://santacruzlocal.org/free-newsletter-local-news/

We hear from Santa Cruz County Supervisor Bruce McPherson with an update on the CZU Lightning Complex Fire. McPherson’s district covers San Lorenzo Valley, which has been hard hit by the fire. McPherson shares an update on the fire response. He also describes his tour Monday of San Lorenzo Valley and what damage he saw. Read more stories on the wildfire: https://santacruzlocal.org/ Find resources, shelter, and how to help: https://santacruzlocal.org/wildfire/ Episode transcript: https://santacruzlocal.org/ Support Santa Cruz Local with a membership: https://santacruzlocal.org/membership/ Sign up for Santa Cruz Local’s free email newsletter: https://tinyurl.com/SCLsignup

COVID-19 shutdowns have hurt many locals on the brink of poverty because of the county’s high cost of living. About 40% of Santa Cruz County residents have received some food assistance since the COVID-19 shelter orders began in March, according to Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County staff. We hear from four people on the margins, from San Lorenzo Valley to Watsonville. We hear how COVID shutdowns have changed their lives and what solutions they’d like to see. Join Santa Cruz Local's email newsletter: mailchi.mp/santacruzlocal/forward Support local journalism with a Santa Cruz Local membership: www.santacruzlocal.org/membership Episode transcript: https://santacruzlocal.org/2020/07/31/how-has-covid-19-hurt-santa-cruz-countys-most-vulnerable/

Residents’ recent calls to reduce police presence and funding in Santa Cruz County come at the same time police say they are overburdened with calls for mental health care and homelessness. We explore the aftermath of two recent, fatal police shootings in our county that involved mental health — and how harm could be avoided. Looking toward solutions, we examine a program in Oregon that dispatches mental health care workers to crises without police. We talk to a Santa Cruz County 911 dispatcher and law enforcement leaders about the advantages and disadvantages of crisis response without police. Join Santa Cruz Local's email newsletter: mailchi.mp/santacruzlocal/forward Support local journalism with a Santa Cruz Local membership: www.santacruzlocal.org/membership Episode transcript: www.santacruzlocal.org

Santa Cruz County on Monday recorded its largest single-day increase of confirmed COVID-19 cases. Local health leaders say the uptick is worrisome but expected, as businesses reopen. We hear advice from infectious disease expert and UC Santa Cruz professor Marm Kilpatrick on small ways people can be safer as they venture out. And we share what we know so far about the recent uptick, how the virus moves, and the county’s shortcomings with contact tracing. Join Santa Cruz Local's email newsletter: mailchi.mp/santacruzlocal/forward Apply for Santa Cruz Local's Business Advisory Circle: santacruzlocal.org/apply-advisory/ Take our voter survey: www.santacruzlocal.org/votersurvey Support local journalism with a Santa Cruz Local membership: www.santacruzlocal.org/membership Episode transcript: https://santacruzlocal.org/2020/06/26/podcast-ep-80-how-to-be-social-but-safer-during-the-pandemic/

A big decision is on tap Tuesday for the Santa Cruz City Council: Should the downtown library be renovated, or should a new, larger library with a parking garage and at least 50 affordable housing units be built on nearby city land? Santa Cruz Local talks to library and city leaders, activists and architects about the $27 million question.  Join Santa Cruz Local's email newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/santacruzlocal/forward Apply for Santa Cruz Local's Business Advisory Circle: https://santacruzlocal.org/apply-advisory/ Take our voter survey: https://www.santacruzlocal.org/votersurvey Support local journalism with a Santa Cruz Local membership: http://www.santacruzlocal.org/membership Episode transcript (members only): www.santacruzlocal.org

Santa Cruz Local's Stephen Baxter and Kara Meyberg Guzman start their reporting for the upcoming Nov. 3 elections by listening to residents and watching city council meetings. We see the biggest local races as the city councils for Watsonville, Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley and Capitola and the District 1 supervisor runoff. As we kick off a county-wide listening tour, we share what we heard at our first stop: the Nueva Vista Community Resources food bank in the Lower Ocean neighborhood of Santa Cruz. Take our voter survey: www.santacruzlocal.org/votersurvey Read the transcript: https://santacruzlocal.org/2020/06/11/vote-nov-3-part-1-start-by-listening/ Get Santa Cruz Local's free email newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/santacruzlocal/forward Support local journalism with a Santa Cruz Local membership: www.santacruzlocal.org/membership

Parents and child care providers worry about the risk of transmission of COVID-19. Santa Cruz Local's Jerimiah Oetting answers your questions about child care rules in Santa Cruz County during the coronavirus emergency: How can we expect young children in daycare to socially distance? What is the county doing to ensure these facilities are safe? This is the fifth installment of "Santa Cruz Local Answers," where Jerimiah tackles your coronavirus-related questions. Submit your questions: www.santacruzlocal.org/coronavirus Read the transcript: https://santacruzlocal.org/2020/06/07/tough-decisions-child-care-during-a-pandemic/ Get Santa Cruz Local's free email newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/santacruzlocal/forward Support local journalism with a Santa Cruz Local membership: www.santacruzlocal.org/membership

Santa Cruz Local's Jerimiah Oetting answers your questions about antibody testing: What is it? Is it available in Santa Cruz County? How reliable are the tests? And is the county pursuing antibody testing? This is the fourth installment of 'Santa Cruz Local Answers,' where Jerimiah tackles your coronavirus-related questions. Submit your questions to www.santacruzlocal.org/coronavirus. Or email a question to answers@santacruzlocal.org. Get Santa Cruz Local's free email newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/santacruzlocal/coronavirus Support local journalism with a membership: www.santacruzlocal.org/membership Read the transcript to this episode: www.santacruzlocal.org

Santa Cruz Local's Jerimiah Oetting answers your questions about Project Roomkey, the state effort to provide hotel rooms to vulnerable parts of the homeless population. Where is Santa Cruz County at with the project? How much money did the state provide? How many rooms are there, and who qualifies? Jerimiah talks to a Project Roomkey resident, county officials and homeless service providers. This is the third installment of "Santa Cruz Local Answers," where Jerimiah tackles your coronavirus-related questions. Submit your questions: www.santacruzlocal.org/coronavirus or email answers@santacruzlocal.org. Get Santa Cruz Local's free email newsletter: mailchi.mp/santacruzlocal/coronavirus Support local journalism with a Santa Cruz Local membership: www.santacruzlocal.org/membership Read the transcript to this episode: https://santacruzlocal.org/2020/05/07/whats-the-status-of-project-roomkey/

Santa Cruz County’s health officer limited beach hours and hotel visitors in her latest revision to the COVID-19 shelter order. How deep are the county’s economic problems, with the prospect of far fewer tourists? How do shelter orders impact a county where the largest share of jobs are in leisure and hospitality? We hear from California economist Chris Thornberg and Santa Cruz County Chamber of Commerce CEO Casey Beyer.

Dr. Catherine Sonquist Forest answers frequently-asked questions on COVID-19. How long do we have to wait for a vaccine and treatment? Can I get an antibody test and what does that mean? Can people without COVID symptoms spread the disease? Does social distancing and wearing masks work? Sonquist Forest is a Santa Cruz County resident and a medical professor at Natividad Hospital in Salinas. Read Santa Cruz Local's story on new COVID rules, effective late Friday night: https://santacruzlocal.org/2020/04/30/santa-cruz-county-covid-progress-prompts-new-rules/ Send us your COVID questions: Email answers@santacruzlocal.org or take our survey www.santacruzlocal.org/coronavirus Get our free email newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/santacruzlocal/coronavirus Support local journalism with a Santa Cruz Local membership: www.santacruzlocal.org/membership Read the transcript to this episode: www.santacruzlocal.org

Santa Cruz Local's Jerimiah Oetting answers a listener's question on what UC Santa Cruz is doing to help with COVID testing. This is the second installment of 'Santa Cruz Local Answers,' where Jerimiah tackles your coronavirus-related questions. Submit your questions to www.santacruzlocal.org/coronavirus , by email or voice memo to answers@santacruzlocal.org, or by voice mail to 831-222-0460. Read the transcript to this episode: www.santacruzlocal.org Subscribe to Santa Cruz Local’s free newsletter: mailchi.mp/santacruzlocal/forward Yes, I support local journalism! Count me in as a Santa Cruz Local member: www.santacruzlocal.org/membership

Santa Cruz Local hosted its first town hall meeting Friday, April 17 on Zoom. Our guests: Dr. Larry DeGhetaldi, Sutter Health Palo Alto Medical Foundation Santa Cruz division president, and Dr. David Ghilarducci, Santa Cruz County’s deputy health officer. Some takeaways: Santa Cruz County can maybe expand to 60 intensive care beds, but models predict 100 will be needed at a peak in May or June. The plan is to transport patients to hospitals out of county. Dr. Ghilarducci said the shelter-in-place orders are a blunt but effective tool. He expects the economic shutdown to last until the county has broad, widespread testing. Meanwhile, the local hospital system has lost most of its revenue since hospitals have cut elective surgeries. Some front-line workers have seen cuts in pay. Listen to the full town hall call, where Santa Cruz Local co-hosts Kara Meyberg Guzman and Stephen Baxter ask your contributed questions. Transcript: https://santacruzlocal.org/2020/04/19/santa-cruz-local-town-hall-medical-leaders-talk-hospital-capacity/ Subscribe to Santa Cruz Local’s free newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/santacruzlocal/forward Yes, I support local journalism! Count me in as a Santa Cruz Local member: www.santacruzlocal.org/membership Attend Santa Cruz Local’s members-only solutions meetup 8 a.m. Tuesday April 21: https://santacruzlocal.org/event/members-only-solutions-meetup/

Details emerged this week from California and Santa Cruz County leaders on what it will take to lift the shelter orders. The county still lacks about 50 ventilators it needs for a potential peak of 100 severe COVID-19 cases, county health leaders said. That peak could come as late as June. Santa Cruz summer traditions remain up in the air, including the Wharf to Wharf footrace, Junior Lifeguards and visits to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Read the transcript to Thursday's news conference: www.santacruzlocal.org Attend the Santa Cruz Local Town Hall 12:30 p.m. Friday April 17: https://santacruzlocal.org/event/santa-cruz-local-town-hall/ Support local journalism with a Santa Cruz Local membership: www.santacruzlocal.org/membership Sign up for Santa Cruz Local's free email newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/santacruzlocal/coronavirus

Santa Cruz Local is seeing its fastest growth since its launch in August. Co-founders Kara Meyberg Guzman and Stephen Baxter take you behind the scenes. We share where we're heading with the company. One of the biggest things that sets Santa Cruz Local apart is our commitment to community listening. We discuss our business goal for April ㅡ reaching 600 active members ㅡ and how that sets us up to better listen. Become a Santa Cruz Local member: www.santacruzlocal.org/membership Upgrade your membership tier: www.santacruzlocal.org/account Attend Friday's Santa Cruz Local Town Hall: www.santacruzlocal.org/events

At a news conference Thursday, Santa Cruz County health officials said they were encouraged by the relatively low numbers of COVID hospitalizations in our county. However, the county still only has a maximum intensive care unit capacity of 50 beds. Dr. Gail Newel said she plans to extend her shelter-in-place order past May 3. Santa Cruz Local co-hosts Kara Meyberg Guzman and Stephen Baxter explain their key takeaways from the conference. And they ask the health officials your questions. Transcript: www.santacruzlocal.org Submit your questions. We'll ask them at the next health department news conference. www.santacruzlocal.org/coronavirus

We share tape from a special Santa Cruz City Council meeting that took place Tuesday. Mayor Justin Cummings spoke about coming together after the March 3 election. New city council members Katherine Beiers and Renee Golder also gave statements after they were sworn in through a video conference call.

Santa Cruz Local's Jerimiah Oetting answers your questions on coronavirus testing: Who gets tested? What is the process? How long does it take? Why is testing limited in Santa Cruz County and when will that change? Jerimiah talked to a medical leader, a scientist and others to get some answers. This is the first installment of 'Santa Cruz Local Answers,' where Jerimiah tackles your coronavirus-related questions. Submit your questions to www.santacruzlocal.org/coronavirus . Read the transcript to this episode: www.santacruzlocal.org

Santa Cruz County public schools are shut down through the end of the academic year, to limit the spread of the coronavirus. Families, teachers and school administrators have been forced to adapt quickly. Santa Cruz Local co-hosts Stephen Baxter and Kara Meyberg Guzman focus on two questions: What’s working for students and parents with distance learning? And what can we do to help kids get comfortable with the new normal? Transcript: www.santacruzlocal.org Sign up for our free email newsletter: mailchi.mp/santacruzlocal/coronavirus Support our journalism with a membership: www.santacruzlocal.org/membership Donate to the Live Oak Education Foundation for Chromebooks for Live Oak students: http://www.liveoakedfoundation.org/

Santa Cruz County health officials said Thursday that hospitals remain relatively quiet, but they anticipate COVID-19 patients to top a “surge capacity” of 50 intensive care unit beds this month or in May. Santa Cruz Local hosts Kara Meyberg Guzman and Stephen Baxter explain the top five takeaways from a news conference Thursday with county health officials. The full news conference with reporters’ questions follows their introduction. Transcript: www.santacruzlocal.org Sign up for our free newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/santacruzlocal/coronavirus Support our journalism with a membership: www.santacruzlocal.org/membership

Santa Cruz County's lockdown may last for months. We have to wait for one of three things: a vaccine, a treatment or herd immunity. A vaccine or treatment could take a year or more. Herd immunity — when enough people have recovered from the disease are now resistant — could also take a while. Local experts agree: A lockdown is needed to save our hospital system from being overwhelmed. But what if there's another way? What can Santa Cruz County learn from countries that are suppressing the coronavirus without long, drastic lockdowns? Read our transcript and related links: https://santacruzlocal.org/2020/03/26/global-lessons-for-santa-cruz-in-the-covid-19-response/ Subscribe to our free newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/santacruzlocal/coronavirus Support our work with a membership: santacruzlocal.org/membership Donate protective gear to Watsonville Community Hospital: 831-763-6040 Donate protective gear to Dominican Hospital: 831-462-7712, https://www.dignityhealth.org/bayarea/locations/dominican/about-us/press-center/coronavirus

The time for coronavirus testing for the general public was in February, says Santa Cruz County epidemiologist Will Forest. The real question is how well can the county’s medical centers expand to meet expected demand. What may determine that is how well residents follow the county health officer's order to stay home. We talk to Santa Cruz Mayor Justin Cummings and leaders from Sutter Health, Santa Cruz Community Health Centers and others about what’s next. Spoiler alert: This could be just the start of mandatory stay-at-home orders. Our coronavirus resource page: www.santacruzlocal.org/COVID-19 Read the transcript: https://santacruzlocal.org/2020/03/19/santa-cruz-county-medical-capacity-to-face-coronavirus-test/ Support our work: www.santacruzlocal.org/membership

To stem the spread of the coronavirus, Santa Cruz County Health Officer Gail Newel ordered residents to stay in their homes for three weeks and not leave unless necessary. The mandate starts early Tuesday. It follows six Bay Area counties with similar measures. Hear Newel explain how the order protects the community, at a press conference Monday at the county government building. Read our related story here: https://santacruzlocal.org/2020/03/16/santa-cruz-county-orders-residents-to-shelter-in-place/ Sign up for our newsletter here: https://santacruzlocal.org/free-newsletter-covid-19/ Get informed, find resources and how to help here: https://santacruzlocal.org/covid-19/ Tell us what questions you have about the local response to the coronavirus: www.santacruzlocal.org/coronavirus

Santa Cruz County has seven confirmed cases of the coronavirus as of Thursday night. County leaders now have evidence that the virus has spread within the community. Lives are disrupted by many closures and cancellations, including an announcement Thursday that Santa Cruz County public schools will be closed next week. We talk to county epidemiologist Mikala Caton about the county’s testing capacity. We hear tips on how to be prepared, not scared: what you need to know to stay healthy and prevent the virus' spread. Survey and transcript: https://santacruzlocal.org/2020/03/13/coronavirus-spreads-in-santa-cruz-county/

Despite a concerted effort to stop the recall of Santa Cruz City Council members Chris Krohn and Drew Glover, the pair seemed to be ousted from the council in Tuesday's election, according to unofficial results from the county. The results (which have all precincts reporting but do not include many vote-by-mail and same-day registration ballots) show that Krohn and Glover will be replaced by 87-year-old former mayor Katherine Beiers and elementary school educator Renee Golder. In the Santa Cruz County Supervisor District 1 race, incumbent John Leopold will face a November runoff against challenger Manu Koenig. Santa Cruz Local hosts Kara Meyberg Guzman and Stephen Baxter talk about these and more county election results.

There are two recall votes happening in the City of Santa Cruz right now. This episode focuses on one of the races, for Councilmember Chris Krohn’s seat. We hear from Krohn and the candidates vying to replace him: former Santa Cruz mayors Katherine Beiers and Don Lane. The candidates discuss homelessness, jobs, the environment, housing and discord on the city council. Our questions come from our 10-day  listening tour around the community.

We press the candidates for Santa Cruz City Council on what we heard are your concerns: homelessness, housing, the environment, jobs and discord on the city council. We hear from Drew Glover, Renee Golder and Tim Fitzmaurice. We explain what a recall is and why it's on your ballot. We also discuss who's funding the recall campaign.

Our work on the People's Agenda continues. Candidates for the District 1 supervisor race discuss plans for homelessness, the rail corridor, traffic, housing and jobs. We hear from incumbent John Leopold and challengers Manu Koenig, Mark Esquibel and Benjamin Cogan. If you’re a voter in Live Oak, Pleasure Point, Soquel, western Capitola or the Santa Cruz Mountains north of Soquel, you’ll vote on this race. But even if you don't live in the district, this race still matters to you. The decisions of the board of supervisors affect the entire county. Read the full transcript at www.santacruzlocal.org .

We press Santa Cruz County Supervisor Zach Friend and challenger Becky Steinbruner on what we heard are your top issues: homelessness, traffic, the environment, housing and the rail corridor. Friend and Steinbruner are the candidates in the District 2 county supervisor election that will take place March 3. The district covers Aptos, Corralitos, Freedom, La Selva Beach, Pajaro Dunes, eastern Capitola and other areas. This is part three of our local elections series "Vote March 3."

In January, we interviewed more than 200 voters from Santa Cruz, Live Oak, Aptos, La Selva Beach, Corralitos, Soquel, the Summit, Capitola and the surrounding areas. Our goal: Listen to ordinary people's priorities for the upcoming March 3 local election. We tried to find voices that you don't normally hear in city council or board of supervisors meetings. We share with you what we learned from our interviews and our online survey. Based on what we heard, we wrote a list of questions that we asked the candidates for Santa Cruz City Council and the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors. For transcript, photos and our newsletter: https://www.santacruzlocal.org Register to vote in California or change your party, your address or your name: https://www.registertovote.ca.gov/ Check your registration and voter history: http://sccounty01.co.santa-cruz.ca.us/ElectionSites/

This is part six of our series about us and our company. We take you behind the scenes of our local news startup and show you how we make decisions. In this episode, you meet Natalya Dreszer, our community engagement intern. Natalya shares how she came to Santa Cruz Local and why she’s doing this work. Plus, we share how and why we want your help to create stories that are meaningful and valuable to you. Read our community engagement mission statement: santacruzlocal.org/community Sign up for our newsletter: santacruzlocal.org Locals, our last Open Newsroom Office Hours on the elections is 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday Jan. 19 at the Pleasure Point staircase at the end of 33rd Avenue. Come meet us and share your priorities for the election!

We answer your questions on how to vote in Santa Cruz County. Then we break down what's on your ballot in the March 3 primary election. And we explain our approach to reporting on the local elections. Spoiler alert: It's all about you. We're hosting a dozen community events in the next two weeks. Meet us in person and tell us what you want the local candidates to talk about. www.santacruzlocal.org/events Fill out our online survey about the elections: www.santacruzlocal.org/votesurvey Register to vote in California or change party/address/name: www.registertovote.ca.gov Check your registration and voter history: https://sccounty01.co.santa-cruz.ca.us/ElectionSites/ Editor's Note: A previous version of this episode mentioned a vote for more fire service in County Service Area 48. That ballot has been mailed separately to voters in that area and will be tallied in January. It does not appear on the March 3 ballot.

Happy holidays! Santa Cruz Local co-hosts Kara Meyberg Guzman and Stephen Baxter update you on what Santa Cruz Local has been up to last few weeks. We let you in on our plans for covering the March 2020 local election. And we reflect on our first few months as a membership-driven local news organization. Thank you to all our listeners, readers and members for helping us build this organization and community. Sign up for our newsletter here: https://mailchi.mp/santacruzlocal/podcast

Tuesday's Santa Cruz City Council meeting was the last with Martine Watkins as mayor. In a ceremony, the city council swore in Justin Cummings as the new mayor for 2020. Donna Meyers will be vice mayor. Cummings is Santa Cruz’s first black male mayor. It was a difficult year for the city council — accusations of disrespectful behavior between councilmembers, an investigation into workplace misconduct by two councilmembers, an ongoing recall campaign against those same councilmembers, and a decision for the council to undergo mediation. Mayor Martine Watkins, Cummings and Meyers all gave speeches Tuesday with ideas on how the city can heal and move forward. We're sharing the audio recording because we thought it was worth a listen. For a full report on Tuesday's meeting, visit santacruzlocal.org.

Much of Santa Cruz’s affordable housing development is dependent on market-rate developers. In December, the Santa Cruz City Council will consider an increase in the number of affordable housing units that developers are required to build. It’s called an inclusionary rate, and the city council may raise it from 15% of new units to 20%. The city needs to set the rate high enough that it forces the maximum number of affordable units. But the rate shouldn’t be so high that the costs scare away developers. Likely the debate will come down to whether the city should do an economic study. We break down the value and shortcomings of economic studies and what’s at risk. We talk to a developer and discuss some economic factors that go into developers’ decisions to build.

There's a flip side to Santa Cruz's housing shortage. Wages here are relatively low. That's a big reason why many can't afford to rent or buy homes. We hear about trends in jobs in our county. And we hear from Hector Juarez and Cynthia Chase, two Santa Cruz residents with similar dreams, and how our local economy has shaped their lives.

Tenants in Santa Cruz will see new protection from arbitrary evictions. The Santa Cruz City Council passed an emergency eviction law Tuesday that enacts part of a new state law immediately. Also, the council may change the number of affordable units that developers are required to build. It's called an inclusionary rate, and the city's looking at increasing it from 15% of units in new development to 20%. Some councilmembers worry that will create less development, and thus, fewer affordable units. Lastly, we hear an update on 190 W. Cliff, the 89-unit condominium project across the street from the Dream Inn.

After much debate, the Santa Cruz City Council approves 190 W. Cliff, an 89-unit condominium project across the street from the Dream Inn. In other news, the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors allows rural landowners to vote on a tax for increased fire and medical service. Plus, more news from around the county.

After the Loma Prieta earthquake destroyed much of downtown Santa Cruz in 1989, city leaders and residents came together to rebuild the downtown in a deliberate way. A 36-member committee formed a plan for development which continues today. On the quake’s 30th anniversary, Santa Cruz Local talks to some of the key players and explains how Pacific Avenue came to be. Editor's note: The Loma Prieta earthquake was a magnitude of 6.9 on the moment scale, the scale most commonly used to describe large quakes. This episode lists the quake’s magnitude as 7.1, which was its surface-wave magnitude, not a commonly-used metric for large quakes.

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a raft of bills in the past week aimed at solving the housing crisis in California. Several of the new laws try to streamline new housing projects and make it harder for cities to block new development. Santa Cruz Local looks at how the new laws might play out in the City of Santa Cruz. Editor's note: This episode has been updated to correct a description of the types of housing to which AB1482 applies. AB1482's just-cause eviction rules do not apply to the majority of single-family homes.

We start with what you need to know about planned power outages in Santa Cruz County. Then we update you on Tuesday's Santa Cruz City Council and the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors meetings. The council rejects a censure of Councilmembers Chris Krohn and Drew Glover for violating a city respectful conduct policy. We update you on plans for a new Kaiser Permanente medical clinic downtown. Plus, an idea for a point-of-sale real estate report dies. We share why the city punted on changes to rental inspection requirements. Meanwhile, the county board of supervisors takes on homelessness. The board also delays a decision on erosion protection for coastal properties. LINKS: www.pgecurrents.com , www.co.santa-cruz.ca.us/Departments/EmergencyServices.aspx

The Community Advisory Committee on Homelessness is a group that will advise the Santa Cruz City Council on its homeless policies. It's focusing on health, transitional campgrounds and public outreach. We report on its Tuesday meeting and potential solutions. Plus, an update on the push toward district elections in Santa Cruz.

An effort failed Tuesday to formally reprimand Councilmembers Chris Krohn and Drew Glover for workplace misconduct. In an emotional meeting, the council took steps toward a new ethics policy and mediation among councilmembers. The council also took on new rules for marijuana dispensaries and syringe waste bins. Editor's note: The title of this episode has been updated. The previous title, 'Santa Cruz City Council censure vote fails,' was misleading.

Santa Cruz Local co-founders Kara Meyberg Guzman and Stephen Baxter recap the launch party and the membership drive. We share some feedback from members. Then we take you behind the scenes, as we discuss the direction of our company.

Two state housing bills, AB411 and SB330, are poised to impact Santa Cruz. AB411 would bring $16 million to the city to fund affordable housing projects. SB330 may foil the city council's effort to prevent higher density on Soquel Avenue, Mission Street and Ocean Street. The two bills are on the governor's desk, awaiting his decision. We break down what you need to know about these and other noteworthy state housing bills.

In the past few weeks, a homeless camp has grown to about 30 tents on Santa Cruz's Main Beach. But it's not good for tourism. The beach, between the boardwalk and the wharf, is a big tourist draw for the city, and tourism is a lifeblood of the local economy. The Santa Cruz City Council was compelled to install a curfew. But no one is satisfied. The curfew doesn't begin to provide a long-term solution for Santa Cruz's homeless people. Also: We share what you need to know about the council's decisions (or lack of) on the DeLaveaga Golf Course and the Harvey West Pool.

Santa Cruz is one of dozens of cities across California that's received a threat of a lawsuit if it doesn't shift its city council to district elections. We break down the pros and cons of district elections. We talk with a state group that’s behind this push for district elections. We hear about the Santa Cruz City school board that just went through the process. And we hear about some maps of how Santa Cruz has voted in the last two city council elections. Visit santacruzlocal.org and click on this episode to see the maps.

There are six major development projects in early stages of planning in downtown Santa Cruz. If they're built, it would mark the biggest boom of housing development in downtown Santa Cruz in decades. Where did this surge come from? We talk to developers, shop owners and city leaders about affordable housing and smart planning. (Interviews include: Jessie Bristow and Jon Lee of Swenson, Santa Cruz Planning Director Lee Butler, Santa Cruz Bookshop owner Casey Coonerty-Protti, Andy's Auto owner Michael Mekis and Santa Cruz City Councilmember Chris Krohn)

The Santa Cruz City Council keeps the Louden Nelson Community Center's bathrooms locked to outsiders. Staff say it's safer and cleaner. Hear why some say it's unfair to homeless people. Also, the "Corridor Plan," which would allow denser housing along major roads in the city, is killed on Tuesday. It was on hold because it was too controversial. Hear why some councilmembers object. Warning: This episode contains graphic content.

We explain the results of an unprecedented workplace misconduct investigation involving four Santa Cruz City Council members: two accusers and two accused. We talk to Councilmembers Drew Glover, Donna Meyers, Chris Krohn and Mayor Martine Watkins. We also correct some misinformation that's been spread on social media.

It's the eve of Santa Cruz Local's first membership drive. We share with you the survey results on what our listeners like and what they think we could improve about Santa Cruz Local. We hear from one of our few younger listeners about why he wants to get involved in local civics. Finally, we answer your questions about how membership works and how you can join. For more info, visit www.santacruzlocal.org

A controversial development at 190 West Cliff Drive advances. We hear from some of the 200-plus people who packed Santa Cruz City Hall on Thursday for the planning commission meeting. We update you on plans for the intersection of Bay Street and West Cliff Drive. And we get into the nitty-gritty of state and local policy that shapes the balance of affordable and market rate housing development.

The City of Santa Cruz wants to create an online survey of landlords and tenants. It's an attempt to get reliable data on rents, evictions, housing types and other elements of the city's rental market. The city council majority wants to make the survey mandatory. We share with with you what landlords and tenants make of it. Plus: an update on the city's corridor plan, a push toward district elections, what's up with 5G cell towers and the status of a state bill that would bring $16 million of affordable housing funding to Santa Cruz.

California is getting into the heart of wildfire season. We learn that parts of the Santa Cruz Mountains have a higher potential of wildfire than did Paradise, where last year we saw the deadliest wildfire in state history. We want to draw on some lessons from the Camp Fire. We talk to several people who live in Bonny Doon and San Lorenzo Valley. We hear what they’ve been doing to prepare for a potential catastrophic wildfire. Lastly, we give you tips on how you can prepare.

Why is Santa Cruz Local a private company? Why did we leave the Sentinel? How are we approaching the City of Santa Cruz HR investigation into two city council members? Santa Cruz Local co-hosts Kara Meyberg Guzman and Stephen Baxter discuss these questions and more. It's the second episode of 'Meet Santa Cruz Local,' a miniseries giving a behind-the-scenes look at how and why we give you local news. We share with you our mission and motivation, our decision making and ethics, and our feedback from listeners.

A formal investigation, launched by the City of Santa Cruz's Human Resources Department, has looked into possible workplace misconduct by council members Chris Krohn and Drew Glover. An initial document shows that most of the allegations against Krohn have not been substantiated. However, the final report is not yet complete. We share with you what we know so far.

Who are we and why are we making a podcast on Santa Cruz's public institutions? How are we funded? What is the state of local media in Santa Cruz? Co-hosts Kara Meyberg Guzman and Stephen Baxter talk about their motives behind creating Santa Cruz Local. We share the results of our listener survey on what local news you'd like to see more of. And we meet one Santa Cruz Local listener and hear her constructive criticism. This is part one of a miniseries on our relationship with you, our listeners. Sign up for our newsletter at santacruzlocal.org to participate in our new survey and learn how you can join our growing community of civically-engaged Santa Cruz locals.

We talk with Santa Cruz City Councilmembers Chris Krohn and Drew Glover about a recall campaign that has been mounted against them. They respond to allegations of bullying and petitioners' concerns about how they handled a homeless camp closure.

Congresswoman Anna Eshoo, whose district includes Davenport, the North Coast and the San Lorenzo Valley, held a town hall meeting Saturday. Her constituents were pushing her to the left. We break down where she stands on impeachment, Medicare for All and border policy.

The future of Santa Cruz’s homeless policy is going to be guided by a new committee. It’s called the Community Advisory Committee on Homelessness, and it was created on Tuesday night by the Santa Cruz City Council. We break down what you need to know about Tuesday's meeting, including a proposal for rental housing data collection and the city's new 5G cell tower policy. Plus, some news about Santa Cruz Local.

Cindy Larive will become UC Santa Cruz’s new chancellor next month. As the university’s top official, her decisions will shape the campus and its growth. So, she’ll also have a big impact on the City of Santa Cruz and its housing crisis. That’s why we want to get to know her. We visit her at her home in Riverside. We also break down UC Santa Cruz's pressures to grow and the challenges Larive will face.

You may remember that the Santa Cruz City Council was putting together a task force on tenant protections. It was a step toward potential new housing laws in the city. On Tuesday, a consultant returns to the council. His findings? The atmosphere is too toxic for a task force to succeed. In Tuesday's meeting, the council goes in a different direction. We brief you on what you need to know about Tuesday's city council meeting.

The City of Santa Cruz now has a projected $3.9 million deficit. The Santa Cruz City Council on Tuesday took major steps toward balancing the budget. Hear what cuts and revenue strategies the city is considering before the final budget adoption, expected June 11. Also, we hear a letter to the editor about our needle exchange episode.

Santa Cruz County has an injection drug use problem and a needle litter problem. We look at Santa Cruz County's needle exchange program and how it compares to other programs in the state. What can Santa Cruz County's health department learn from San Francisco's needle cleanup program? What are the trends with Santa Cruz County's injection drug use? How can Santa Cruz County get more inject drug users into treatment? We hear from Supervisor Ryan Coonerty, county health officer Dr. Arnold Leff, San Francisco Department of Public Health program manager Eileen Loughran, Santa Cruz County Sheriff-Coroner's Office forensic pathologist Dr. Stephany Fiore, Janus of Santa Cruz Director of Medication-Assisted Treatment Amanda Engeldrum Magana and Harm Reduction Coalition of Santa Cruz County co-founder Denise Elerick.

The City of Santa Cruz’s plan to build a new library and parking garage downtown has gone astray since the new city council took office. Some people believe that the city doesn’t need another downtown garage. The council has listened. The plan isn’t dead. It’s just on hold while the city takes another look at other concepts for the new library, but without the garage. Meanwhile, the clock is ticking. If the council doesn’t come up with a plan for a new library within the next year, the city risks losing the $27 million provided by Measure S, the tax for local library construction that voters approved in 2016.

The City of Santa Cruz has a $3.2 million deficit. That’s smaller than in years past, but it’s still not good news. What that means for you is that in the short term, you’re going to be seeing some cuts to city services. You won’t be seeing any large improvement projects for things like parks, the Civic Auditorium, and the wharf. And come election time next year, you’re probably going to be voting on some kind of tax increase. We’ll discuss what cuts the city is considering, and how we got here.

A U.S. district court decision on Monday allows the City of Santa Cruz to permanently close the Ross Camp come Friday. We zoom out and tell you about how the City of San Jose closed a homeless camp along the Guadalupe River last month. And we give you the success story of Lauren Dixon, a 24-year-old Santa Cruz resident who clawed her way out of homelessness last year. What can Santa Cruz learn from these stories?

For months, the City of Santa Cruz has struggled to close the Ross Camp, a homeless camp at Highway 1 and River Street. Here's the latest chapter: a U.S. district court will decide whether the city can legally close the camp. We talk with Santa Cruz Police Chief Andy Mills and City Attorney Tony Condotti on how the court hearing went on Friday in San Jose. We also hear from Food Not Bombs co-founder Keith McHenry, who is part of a group that sued the city over the camp's pending closure. He says closing the camp doesn't give a real solution to the people living there.

Senate Bill 50, a controversial housing bill working its way through California's Legislature, had some major revisions Wednesday. We break down what the revised bill would mean for Santa Cruz County residents. In a nutshell, we may see more four-unit apartment buildings in residential neighborhoods where they were previously excluded.

The City of Santa Cruz reopens the Benchlands homeless camp by the San Lorenzo River on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the 1220 River Street homeless camp in Harvey West is set to reopen by April 30. It's all part of a new plan to close the Ross Camp by Highway 1. However, the Ross Camp's closure is on hold, awaiting a U.S. district court decision expected Friday. The court is expected to hear a lawsuit filed against the city by a group living at the Ross Camp. We break down what you need to know from Tuesday's Santa Cruz City Council meeting. Transcript is on our website, santacruzlocal.org.

Santa Cruz County's history of no-growth policies have shaped today's local housing crisis. Now, we're at a crossroads with new state leadership that wants to spur development. We break down SB 50 - a proposed bill that would limit cities' ability to block apartment projects. We tell you where in the county SB 50 would affect. We also tell you how local cities are doing with their housing goals (spoiler alert: not great). At the end, we talk about Santa Cruz's pending Ross Camp closure and how to submit "audio letters to the editor."

On Tuesday the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors took a step toward redeveloping the Cemex cement plant in Davenport. The privately owned plant has been closed since 2010 and it sits on 172 acres on the rugged North Coast of Santa Cruz County. There have been ideas thrown about converting the land into something that resembles the Costanoa Lodge near Ano Nuevo. Or perhaps a manufacturing plant for Santa Cruz air-taxi startup Joby Aviation. But Davenport is a town of about 400 people -- and many people there are worried that redevelopment could ruin the natural environment that makes the area so great.

The closure of the Ross homeless camp has been delayed yet again by the Santa Cruz City Council. At Tuesday night’s meeting, the council canceled the April 17 closure and declined to set a new date. The council also formally threw out the idea of creating a new homeless camp by Depot Park. And to the relief of many residents, the council paused its search for new sites for homeless camps in city neighborhoods or parks.

On Tuesday, in an open letter to the community, Santa Cruz City Manager Martin Bernal writes that the city is no longer pursuing a "safe sleeping" homeless camp. The plan for a 50-bed shelter next to Depot Park is most likely dead. What does this mean for the closure of the Ross Camp by Highway 1 and River Street? We talk to city spokeswoman Eileen Cross, City Attorney Tony Condotti and Rayne Marr, the county's homeless services coordinator.

Since the start of the Measure M campaign in 2018, one thing has been missing from Santa Cruz's debate on rent control and eviction rules: data from neutral sources that detail the city's rental market. Santa Cruz Local wanted to change that. Music by Podington Bear at soundofpicture.com

A property buyout was approved at Highway 1 and River Street on Tuesday at the Santa Cruz City Council meeting. The city plans to use eminent domain to acquire land belonging to Central Home Supply, which would force the business to move. The buyout is part of the city's plan to improve safety and traffic at one of its most congested intersections. We hear from Rusty Santee, co-owner of Central Home Supply, who objects.

Santa Cruz City Council creates a new 50-bed homeless camp in a Washington Street parking lot by Depot Park. The new camp will be managed, and will have rules, such as no drugs or criminal activity. We hear from the owner of Perrigo's Auto Body Shop, who says the camp will destroy his business. Also, what you need to know about the council's homeless shelter crisis declaration.

Santa Cruz City Council again schedules the closure of a homeless camp at River Street and Highway 1 — this time it's set for April 17, and it's supposed to coincide with the reopening of the nearby 1220 River Street homeless camp. The city also pinpoints six sites for another homeless camp. We visit the current camp and talk with homeless people about conditions there, and possible solutions.

Santa Cruz City Council delays the closure of the homeless camp behind the Ross Dress For Less on River Street, until the city can find a better place for the 200 people living there. Also, to the relief of many Westside residents, a ban on overnight parking on Delaware Avenue will remain in place. We break down the Feb. 26 city council meeting for you.