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County tests digital wallet for RV permits, secured by blockchain
Santa Cruz County is partnering with a Southern California app developer to offer residents the ability to apply for RV permits through a mobile app that uses blockchain technology for secure transactions. San Diego-based HUMBL is developing the digital wallet program at no cost to the county, which says the company won't have access to residents' financial information. Building permits, registering bicycles and reserving spots at county parks are other possible future uses.
Pajaro Valley Health Care District board to vote Wednesday on placing $105M bond measure on March ballot
The Pajaro Valley Health Care District board will vote Wednesday on a resolution that will place a $105 million bond measure on the March 5 ballot. If the measure is successful, the money will help fund purchasing the Watsonville Community Hospital buildings and the land they sit on as well as updating hospital equipment and renovations.
This week in Santa Cruz County business: County's digital wallet, downtown housing, Deloitte Fast 500
In her weekly roundup of news and notes from the Santa Cruz County business community, Jessica M. Pasko digs into the county's new plans to employ digital technology secured by the blockchain to allow residents to buy RV permits through their phones, statewide efforts to curb retail theft and the latest local business openings and closings.
Santa Cruz City Council delays vote on installing license plate readers over privacy concerns
The Santa Cruz City Council couldn't make up its mind Tuesday on whether to allow the police department to pursue a grant for automated license plate readers, which would take photos of all license plates that enter the city and drive on its main roads. The police department sees license plate readers as a useful tool; many in the community see them as an invasive, dystopian technology.
Look out and give back: 8 nonprofits working to better Santa Cruz County you should know about
It’s time to celebrate compassion and community impact! In Santa Cruz County, a vibrant tapestry of nonprofits is tirelessly working to uplift lives and enhance our community. From providing essential meals that nourish our older and displaced residents to preserving our ecological treasures, offering vital mental health support, and addressing housing needs, these eight nonprofits are the driving force behind positive change.
Islamophobic comments in local newspaper article about pro-Israel march spark public backlash
A local group of pro-Palestinian supporters has scheduled a news conference for Wednesday morning outside of the Santa Cruz office of Good Times to demand the weekly paper issue an apology for an article published online on Saturday. The article, which has since been updated online, was about a pro-Israel rally Friday and included Islamophobic statements.
One of Santa Cruz County's largest water sources is 'critically overdrafted'; fixes are on the way
More than 50,000 Santa Cruz County residents rely on the Mid-County Groundwater Basin, a water source the state of California has deemed "critically overdrafted" for nearly a decade. Now, two projects seek to help "drought-proof" the basin's water supply while reckoning with a newly unpredictable climate pattern — including an effort that aims to turn recycled wastewater into water that's safe to drink.
Cannabis burglaries are increasing in Santa Cruz County: Law enforcement must pay more attention to these crimes
The city and county of Santa Cruz have faced a string of 11 burglaries at cannabis facilities this year. The author — a licensed cannabis business owner — thinks the police and sheriff's office need to work harder to make arrests. "We aren't looking for special treatment. Legal cannabis is a relatively new industry and it is appropriate to have a certain level of oversight and regulation," he writes. "But we do want the community and law enforcement to take us seriously when our businesses are being targeted by groups of armed and dangerous criminals who appear to be acting with impunity."
Transforming lives, one smile at a time: Support equitable dental care in Santa Cruz County
Think going to the dentist is scary? Imagine not being able to. Take the story of Nancy White, a 68-year-old Santa Cruz resident facing a dire dental predicament due to financial constraints and the lack of dental insurance.* Unfortunately, her story isn’t uncommon. Many people from low-resourced families defer dental care—the cost is simply too prohibitive. This all changed when Nancy found her way to Dientes Community Dental Care.
Double your impact and support the hidden heroes behind Santa Cruz’s legendary trails
Trails in Santa Cruz are a special kind of magic. Hundreds of thousands of visitors flock to local parks to hike through towering redwoods, mountain bike across coastal terraces and take in the jaw-dropping views only Santa Cruz can provide. Santa Cruz Mountains Trail Stewardship (SCMTS) is the local nonprofit behind our trails’ care and expansion, and this holiday season, they need community support to bring more world-class to our home.
Empowering 22,000 vulnerable residents: Help deliver essential services to older adults, children & families
As we approach the end of the year and gather with our loved ones to celebrate the holidays, let’s take a moment to reflect on the remarkable challenges that this year has brought into the lives of many in Santa Cruz County and the broader Central Coast community. These challenges would have seemed insurmountable were it not for the unwavering support of our compassionate and giving community.
1,500 reasons to give: Adopt-a-Family brings holiday joy to Santa Cruz County children
Want to jump-start that feeling of holiday joy you had as a child? You are invited to join a cherished local tradition: giving the gift of joy through the Volunteer Center’s Adopt-a-Family program. Bringing joy to a child is one of the greatest feelings of all, that embodies what this season is all about.
Grey Bears is nourishing Santa Cruz County seniors, one bear hug at a time
Much like the seeds that blossom into the fruits they distribute, Grey Bears has evolved from its origins of gleaning overlooked produce in fields to address the urgent needs of malnourished seniors. The spirit of “waste-not-want-not” has not only shaped their healthy food program but has also inspired award-winning initiatives, including a thrift store and recycling program that further support their mission to feed seniors and the community.
Carmageddon: This week's delays and Metro's ramped-up UCSC campus service
In Metro's big pursuit of doubling ridership, the transit agency is improving service to the UC Santa Cruz campus. Last week, Metro secured 12 extra-long buses to carry more passengers per ride as it looks to keep wait times no longer than 15 minutes.
Rare plant spotted for first time in Santa Cruz County reveals hidden ecosystem reborn in fire
A hobby naturalist walking in the Santa Cruz Mountains discovered a patch of what turned out to be Humboldt County milkvetch, a rare plant that had never been spotted south of Mendocino County. Scientists believe the plant — known as a fire-follower because it often appears after a great disturbance to the landscape — actually has a far wider range than initially understood, but its seeds lay dormant here for decades until the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex fire. The discovery sheds light on how forestry practices that emphasized fire suppression have reshaped the landscape, reducing the biodiversity of plant life.
Levee agreement marks a watershed moment for the people of Watsonville and Pajaro
A federal, state and local agreement signed last week officially greenlights the construction of a new Pajaro River levee, a project the community has been waiting for since the 1950s. Local officials say the moment has been a long time coming.
Major downtown Santa Cruz rental housing projects near completion
As the year comes to an end, three housing projects in downtown Santa Cruz are nearly finished. The Cedar Street Family Apartments, an affordable housing complex, is set to welcome residents in February, while the market-rate Anton Pacific apartments aim for move-ins by the end of that month. The developers of Pacific Station South, also intended as affordable housing, expect the project to open in May or June.
'I'm doing it to know myself': Neuroscientist Katherine MacLean on the promise of psychedelics
Neuroscientist Katherine MacLean is set to discuss In her new book, "Midnight Water: A Psychedelic Memoir," at the Museum of Art & History at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 26. The memoir explores MacLean's personal experiences with psychedelics and their potential for healing after his sister's death. While MacLean sees psychedelics having medical and therapeutic applications, she emphasizes the importance of psychedelics' potential for creativity and spirituality.
Santa Cruz doesn't need taller buildings; it needs a vision for sustainable affordable housing
Longtime Santa Cruz resident Laura Lee believes the Santa Cruz downtown expansion plan "moves us in the wrong direction." She thinks the boom will impair views, cause traffic congestion, overwhelm public services and detract from the small-town way of life she cherishes. The expansion plan, she writes, has caused "a substantial portion of city residents" to lose confidence in city leaders: "We see them placing corporate profits above resident priorities."
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