Lookout Santa Cruz

In a letter to the editor, a Santa Cruz resident traces what she sees as Rep. Jimmy Panetta’s hawkish history and urges fellow voters not to reelect him.

The post Letter to the editor: Let’s not support war – say no to Panetta reelection appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

In a letter to the editor, a community member touts the record of Santa Cruz County Supervisor Felipe Hernandez.

The post Letter to the editor: Who really saved Watsonville Community Hospital? appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

Criminal proceedings against Robert David Worel, the man charged in last month’s fatal stabbing at the clocktower plaza in downtown Santa Cruz, were suspended Monday after a judge ruled that Worel is mentally incompetent to stand trial.

The post Fatal clocktower stabbing case suspended as suspect is deemed mentally unfit to stand trial appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

A controversial proposal in California to temporarily increase taxes on billionaires has enough signatures to qualify for the November ballot, a labor union backing the measure said Monday.

The proposal, backed by the Service Employees International Union Healthcare Workers West, would impose a one-time, 5% tax on individuals whose net worth exceeds $1 billion and who were living in the state as of Jan. 1, 2026. The goal is to generate $100 billion in revenue, which would largely be used to offset federal funding cuts to healthcare for low-income people.

“California’s health is at stake,” said Liz Perlman, executive director of a chapter of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, a major labor union. “Hospitals are closing and people will die. Why? So billionaires can get another tax cut that they don’t need.”

The California Secretary of State still has to verify the signatures and officially place the measure on the ballot. Backers say they collected more than 1.5 million signatures, well over the roughly 875,000 they needed.

If the measure goes before voters in November, it could prompt one of the costliest ballot fights ever and will draw national attention as a litmus test for voter attitudes on raising taxes on the rich. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders has already traveled to California to campaign for the idea.

Meanwhile, Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom and Silicon Valley tech moguls are adamantly opposed. They warn it will drive California’s wealthiest residents out of the state. Nearly half of California’s personal income tax revenue comes from the top 1% of earners. Some have already purchased properties out of state in case it passes.

“After playing with matches since October the SEIU has succeeded in lighting a ‘Tax the Rich’ wildfire by getting enough signatures,” said David Lesperance, a tax consultant who’s advised some of his wealthy clients who left California because of the proposal. “The many billionaire targets of their efforts have already responded by executing fire escape plans by relocating to other states.”

Brian Brokaw, a longtime Newsom adviser who is leading a political committee opposing the tax, said the measure was poorly constructed and would deal a huge blow to the state’s budget.

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“Enacting a so-called wealth tax in just one state wouldn’t target a small group — it would impact all 40 million Californians,” he said in a statement. “This proposal trades a short-term revenue bump for long-term losses.”

At least 25 billionaires listed among Forbes magazine’s 2025 rankings of the world’s 500 wealthiest people either lived in California or had some significant ties to the state, based on a review by The Associated Press. But determining whether they were full-time residents or just frequent visitors could turn into a matter of dispute, since many of them own property elsewhere.

The big tax and spending cuts law President Donald Trump signed last year will cut more than $1 trillion nationwide over a decade from Medicaid and federal food assistance.

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The post Billionaire tax proposal on track to qualify for California ballot, backers say appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

The Santa Cruz City Council will vote on whether to approve this year’s updates to the city’s active transportation plan, a guide for implementing projects, policies and initiatives that promote and improve walking, biking and mass transit.

The post Carmageddon: Santa Cruz City Council eyes updates to active transportation plan; Bike Santa Cruz County annual survey appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

Watsonville Hospital, a critical community lifeline, is under increasing financial strain and is actively seeking a major health care partner to help it evolve into a stronger regional hub. As those pressures grow, Lookout’s editorial board sought to better understand how leadership is managing the hospital, but found a level of transparency that falls short of what the public deserves. We see no indication of wrongdoing, but with physician shortages, aging infrastructure and heavy reliance on Medi-Cal funding, the stakes are rising quickly. Saving the hospital will require not only financial investment, but also trust, accountability and greater openness.

The post A Lookout View: Watsonville Community Hospital is too important to fail — but it can’t survive without transparency appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

Una Lookout View es la opinión de nuestra sección de opinión Community Voices, escrita por la editora de Community Voices, Jody K. Biehl, y el fundador de Lookout, Ken Doctor. Nuestro objetivo es conectar los puntos que vemos en las noticias y ofrecer una visión más amplia — todo con la intención de ver al condado de Santa Cruz enfrentar los desafíos del día y arrojar luz sobre los temas que creemos deben estar en la agenda pública. Estas opiniones son distintas e independientes del trabajo de nuestra sala de redacción y de su cobertura informativa.

El Hospital Comunitario de Watsonville no es solo otra institución en dificultades: es un salvavidas. Y hoy, ese salvavidas se está desgastando de maneras que deberían alarmar a cada residente, legislador y actor del sistema de salud en el condado de Santa Cruz. 

El hospital reportó 137 millones de dólares en ingresos en 2025, aproximadamente 23 millones por debajo de las proyecciones y por debajo de lo que el liderazgo dice que se necesita para mantener operaciones estables. Ahora busca activamente un socio estratégico y está tratando de concretar un acuerdo con un actor importante del sector salud como Sutter Health, el candidato más probable, u otras grandes organizaciones como Kaiser Permanente, UC San Francisco o Stanford. 

Este hecho subraya una realidad simple: en el entorno actual, uno de nuestros dos hospitales locales no puede estabilizarse ni modernizarse por sí solo.

En este contexto, la transparencia importa ahora tanto como el financiamiento. Este hospital es demasiado grande para fracasar y demasiado dependiente del apoyo público para ser opaco. 

Por eso nuestro consejo editorial se sintió decepcionado cuando, durante una reunión, el director ejecutivo del hospital, Steve Gray, rechazó nuestras solicitudes de materiales de auditoría, informes de acreditación y hallazgos de supervisión. Esa falta de divulgación es preocupante, no porque pruebe un problema, sino porque limita la capacidad del público para entender una de las instituciones más importantes de la región en un momento de verdadera vulnerabilidad.

Cuando una institución esencial para el público y respaldada por contribuyentes enfrenta presión existencial, la comunidad merece una visibilidad clara de su salud financiera, su estado regulatorio y su toma de decisiones, no solo garantías de que todo se está manejando bien.

Los riesgos son altos. Debido a que es uno de solo dos hospitales que sirven al condado de Santa Cruz, cualquier interrupción en Watsonville tendría efectos en cadena tanto en el norte como en el sur del condado, alargando aún más los tiempos de respuesta de emergencia, ajustando una capacidad ya limitada y reduciendo el acceso a atención crítica. Un sistema ya frágil sería empujado más cerca del límite.

Estas presiones no son aisladas. Sabemos que los hospitales rurales y aquellos que atienden a poblaciones de bajos ingresos en todo el país sufren por los recortes federales a los reembolsos de Medicaid/Medi-Cal. Para el Hospital de Watsonville, donde aproximadamente el 85% de los pacientes dependen de Medi-Cal, los recortes se traducen en 10 millones de dólares menos al año. Como Gray nos señaló, las tasas de reembolso pueden caer a centavos por dólar para la atención de Medi-Cal.

Los recortes federales no son el único problema en el Hospital de Watsonville. Los desafíos internos —agravados por décadas de negligencia bajo propiedad privada—, incluidos el mantenimiento diferido y la infraestructura envejecida, han aumentado la presión financiera, al igual que las jubilaciones, ahora generacionales, de numerosos médicos. El hospital, nos dijo Gray, actualmente no cuenta con médicos en obstetricia, neurología ni urología. Los pacientes que necesitan esos servicios deben acudir a otros lugares.

Estas carencias —junto con la infraestructura envejecida— significan que el hospital actualmente opera muy por debajo de su capacidad, con aproximadamente 29 de 106 camas ocupadas en promedio. Cuando lo escuchamos por primera vez, fue una cifra impactante, pero la explicación de Gray —y su base en la escasez de especialistas— es comprensible, nuevamente cuando se comparte de manera clara y directa con el público. Toda esa capacidad no utilizada es una ineficiencia que contrasta marcadamente con la saturación del departamento de emergencias en el Hospital Dominican, donde los pacientes reportan dormir en los pasillos porque no pueden conseguir una habitación. 

Esta historia se desarrolla en hospitales rurales de todo el país. 

Y sin embargo, para nosotros, esta no es simplemente una historia de declive. También es una historia de posibilidad. Con la inversión y la asociación adecuadas, creemos que el Hospital Comunitario de Watsonville podría convertirse en un centro regional moderno de servicio completo, capaz de atender a un valle agrícola de rápido crecimiento, de mayoría latina, que durante mucho tiempo ha funcionado como un relegado en el sistema de salud frente al norte del condado. Si se hace bien, podría ayudar a reescribir patrones regionales de atención obsoletos y anclar un sistema de salud más equitativo para el sur del condado.

Ese futuro, sin embargo, depende tanto de la confianza como del capital.

Muchos líderes comunitarios con los que hemos hablado valoran positivamente a Gray y su liderazgo durante un periodo difícil, y nosotros lo hemos encontrado accesible y comprometido. Ese apoyo es real y vale la pena reconocerlo. Pero la confianza en el liderazgo no puede reemplazar la transparencia en la gobernanza.

La historia reciente del hospital ayuda a explicar por qué la urgencia y la cautela coexisten. 

En 2022, el Hospital Comunitario de Watsonville salió de la bancarrota y volvió a la propiedad pública bajo el Distrito de Atención Médica del Valle de Pájaro mediante una combinación extraordinaria de intervención estatal, incluidos los esfuerzos destacados del senador estatal John Laird, organización local, apoyo filantrópico y financiamiento aprobado por los votantes. 

Fue un rescate poco común, pero nacido de la crisis tras años de inestabilidad, estructuras de gestión cambiantes e incertidumbre sobre el control. 

Esa historia hace que el momento actual sea aún más decisivo. El Hospital Comunitario de Watsonville sigue siendo indispensable, pero opera bajo presión financiera sostenida, brechas estructurales en la fuerza laboral y desigualdades sistémicas no resueltas en el financiamiento de la atención médica.

Los líderes locales, estatales y federales deben abordar esas desigualdades y presionar a posibles socios para que den un paso al frente. Y el liderazgo del hospital debe responder al público con una apertura acorde a la magnitud de su responsabilidad.

Porque si este hospital fracasa, las consecuencias no serán abstractas. Se medirán en atención retrasada, acceso reducido y vidas en riesgo.

El Hospital Comunitario de Watsonville es demasiado importante para fracasar. La única pregunta es si la región actuará con la urgencia —y la transparencia— que esa realidad exige.

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.

The post Una Lookout View: El Hospital Comunitario de Watsonville es demasiado importante para fracasar — pero no puede sobrevivir sin transparencia appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

The City of Santa Cruz will host “Touch-A-Truck” on May 20 from noon to 2 p.m. in the parking lot of Day’s Market in Seabright. 

Attendees can climb aboard the heavy machinery, ask questions and learn how all the work gets done.

Touch-A-Truck is part of National Public Works Week, a nationwide recognition of the professionals who support roads, water systems, storm drains, parks and other infrastructure. 

Attendees can also see operators in action during the fourth annual Equipment Road-e-o, a live skills competition that demonstrates the expertise and coordination required to operate heavy equipment safely and efficiently.

Both events, at 526 Seabright Ave. near the corner of Murray Street, are free and open to the public. Registration is not required, and walk-ups are welcome. 

See more information here. 

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

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

Political persecution, threats of violence and the seizure of sensitive documents might sound like a plot line for a heist or thriller movie. 

For California election officials tasked with enabling participatory democracy, these are now everyday realities — from Riverside County, where Sheriff Chad Bianco seized more than 650,000 ballots from his own county’s registrar of voters, to Shasta County, where threats of violence forced the longtime registrar to retire early.

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The integrity of the state’s voting systems will be under intense scrutiny this year with control of the U.S. House on the line, as Californians could play a decisive role in which party wins the majority. Yet while timely and decisive results are more crucial than ever, California is famous for its ploddingly slow vote count. 

That lengthy wait has increasingly sown distrust in the accuracy of California’s results, especially among Republicans, and particularly in races where a candidate leading on election day falls behind as more ballots are processed in subsequent days. 

“Every day matters,” said Kim Alexander, president of the nonpartisan California Voter Foundation. “Election security is about security in reality and also security in perception, and they’re both equally important.”

During a panel Thursday on election integrity, presented by CalMatters and the University of California Student and Policy Center, Alexander argued that election administrators are boxing themselves into a “false choice” if they sacrifice timeliness in the name of accuracy. When winners aren’t decided for days, sometimes weeks, the ensuing uncertainty leaves room for doubt to take root, speculation to grow and misinformation to spread. 

It took eight days in 2024 for The Associated Press to be able to declare Republicans had won control of the U.S. House, partly because of outstanding votes in California races, Alexander said. Two years earlier, it took nine days. In 2020, it took the AP seven days to determine that Democrats would retain the House, she said. Each time, outcomes in California swing districts played a decisive role.

“We’re creating a window of opportunity for people to make these claims,” Alexander said, referring to largely unfounded claims of systemic voter fraud and election rigging. “We have to acknowledge that.”

Fellow panelists defended California’s meticulousness as crucial to its election integrity. Assemblymember Gail Pellerin, Democratic chair of the Assembly elections committee and former Santa Cruz County registrar of voters, argued that county officials need time to verify voters’ signatures on vote-by-mail envelopes “so people don’t get disenfranchised for penmanship or for failure to sign.”

Assemblymember Gail Pellerin speaks with supporters in August 2023. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

“There’s nothing in law that says, ‘I need to meet your deadline,'” Pellerin said of media outlets and journalists who are eager to call races on election night. “What the law says is that I need to count the votes accurately, securely. I need to check them, and double-check them, and audit them, and then I certify them.”

Matt Barreto, director of the UCLA Voting Rights Center, noted that counties have 30 days post-election to certify their results and submit them to the secretary of state. That process, he said, should be completed as quickly as possible but “not at the expense of the county registrars doing their job effectively to make sure every vote is counted.” 

Catharine Baker, head of the UC Center, emphasized — pointedly to Pellerin — that counties need more money to make sure they’re sufficiently staffed and have the equipment they need to count efficiently. 

They all agreed that voters can do one thing to speed up the count: turn in their mail ballots early so counties can process them before election day.

Large partisan divide over election integrity

California voters are highly polarized in their views on the status of democracy in their state and country, largely along party lines.

A new survey from the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies found a third of Democrats said they are “extremely satisfied” or “very satisfied” with the way democracy works in California, while only 4% of Republicans said they felt that way. Conversely, more than two-thirds of Republicans are not satisfied at all, compared to 10% of Democrats. 

Those results are practically unchanged from voters’ responses in 2024, despite several major political events, including a presidential election that President Donald Trump won, a new presidential administration and a special election in California in which voters adopted more partisan gerrymandered congressional districts. 

“It speaks to the fact that in a lot of ways our democracy is stuck,” said Eric Schickler, a UC Berkeley political science professor and co-director of the institute. “Republicans have one perspective on what’s wrong — they make claims of voter fraud and slow ballot counts,” he said, “and Democrats have another, which is concerns about voter suppression.”

The poll also highlighted the partisan divide over a proposed ballot initiative from Republican Assemblymember Carl DeMaio of San Diego that would require Californians to show photo identification to vote. When asked whether they would support the measure, but without any context about who was for and against it, 56% of survey respondents said they strongly or moderately supported it, while 39% were strongly or moderately opposed. 

But those shifted the more information voters were given. When told that DeMaio was the main proponent of preventing fraud and that Democrats argue the measure is part of Trump’s agenda to keep people of color from voting, the support flipped, with only 39% supporting the measure and 52% opposed. 

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

The post California election officials face false choice: Count votes quickly or count them right appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

During his first few days as county supervisor, Felipe Hernandez said he vividly remembers shoveling and making sandbags for residents to help protect their homes from flooding. 

“I felt like I was in the Army again, shoveling so many sandbags,” Hernandez said. “That was my first day. I had water up to my knees on my first day.” 

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Santa Cruz County was beginning to get hit with a series of storms, leading to flooding throughout the area — including Watsonville — and the evacuation of hundreds of residents. 

“I had to be out there with my constituents that had been flooded, and that’s where I spent the majority of my first year [as supervisor],” Hernandez said of 2023. He told Lookout that a major lesson he learned from responding to that emergency was how to be a strong advocate for his community. 

Now, three years later, Hernandez is seeking to defend his District 4 seat, which represents most of the Pajaro Valley, Watsonville and Interlaken. His opponents in the June 2 primary are political newcomers Elias Gonzales and Tony Nuñez. 

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

Hernandez continues to face scrutiny from his constituents as the county continues to develop an ordinance meant to regulate battery storage plants. Some residents are taking issue with Hernandez’s not-so-clear stance on a battery project being proposed by Massachusetts-based developers New Leaf Energy, and for not attending any of the community-led meetings about the proposal. 

Fourth District Supervisor Felipe Hernandez speaks during a January news conference. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

Hernandez told Lookout that had he attended the series of community-organized meetings, he would have been “pushed into making a judgement call” on how he’ll vote on the project. “That’s what they want me there for, not just to listen,” he said. “They want me to make an opinion.” 

Taking a stance on the project before it came before the board of supervisors could exclude him from making a vote, Hernandez said. He wants to ensure that he can take a vote on the 90 Minto Rd. project, if it does end up in the hands of the county, he said. 

It’s unclear if there is a regulation that prohibits local officials from openly taking a stance on a project they could be voting on. In the past, Hernandez has cited the Brown Act as a reason why he could not openly state his stance on the New Leaf project. That piece of legislation – California’s open-meetings law – regulates how government meetings are conducted, however. 

But now that New Leaf has expressed its interest in seeking project approval through the California Energy Commission, Hernandez said he’s “going to be more open” about his thoughts. 

“I’m against the project, especially with [New Leaf] going with the state,” Hernandez said. “It really is a slap in the face after all the work we did with the ordinance.” 

New Leaf previously told Lookout that the company is still exploring whether it will take the state or the county route for approval. Hernandez, on the other hand, said that following a meeting with the state energy commission, the company and county staff in early April, signs are leaning toward the state route. 

District 4 County Supervisor Felipe Hernandez speaking at a board of supervisors meeting. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

Hernandez said he’s concerned that few projects have been denied at the state level. He said he’ll push for the state energy commission to include Santa Cruz County in its decision and use the county’s ordinance (which is currently at a standstill) as reference for safety standards. 

Community members organizing against the New Leaf project believe the state process will be more rigorous and will more readily take the public’s concerns into account. 

A spokesperson for the state energy commission previously told Lookout that local input, which also includes local government agencies, is part of the permitting process. 

Another issue Hernandez has tried to face head-on in his district is the ongoing immigration fears during President Donald Trump’s second administration. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have visited Watsonville at least 23 times since January 2025; nine of those visits occurred within the first two months of 2026. 

Hernandez currently co-leads a subcommittee to help prepare for possible impacts of immigration operations on county residents. He said he’s starting to investigate whether the county can invest more money into legal defense, Last year, the county set aside $100,000 to provide legal services for undocumented residents. 

“It’s important to protect those people. They’re human,” he said. “On top of being human, they provide food for our county and the rest of the United States. How can we turn our backs on them, it’d be inhumane to do that.” 

Hernandez said that he wants to develop “more creative ordinances,” but did not elaborate on what kinds he might propose. Last month, the county adopted an ordinance barring immigration officials from using its facilities for enforcement purposes. 

Should Hernandez be elected to a second term, he said he wants to continue investing in roads and more social services in South County. He credits his eight years on the Watsonville City Council for his constituent advocacy. His goal is to bring more projects into the community, he said.

At Lookout’s candidate forum April 15, Hernandez said the county has invested nearly $800 million in the community during his first term as supervisor. Some of those projects included opening a county office on Westridge Drive in Watsonville, starting repairs to the Pajaro River levee and fixing roads, he said. 

The facility on Westridge Drive was purchased by the county in 2021, according to a report by Santa Cruz Local. The effort to secure federal funding for the Pajaro River levee repairs was primarily led by Hernandez’s former colleague on the board, Zach Friend. 

Hernandez also said he wants to bring more parks into unincorporated areas of South County, which aligns with his vision of bringing more investments into the community. 

“District 4 only has two county parks, and it’s been 63 years since they’ve done [repairs] to Mesa Village Park,” he said. 

He also hopes to develop more spaces for young people in his district. He said it’s one of the things that has always been important to him. 

“Young people need things to do in Watsonville,” Hernandez said. “We have the highest concentration in the county, and there aren’t many things for them to do.”

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

The post District 4 County Supervisor Felipe Hernandez points to track record, experience in office as he makes bid for a second term appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

The proposed monument to women surfers in Pleasure Point is drawing both strong support and familiar resistance. But as a co-creator of Santa Cruz’s iconic “To Honor Surfing” statue, author Brian W. Curtis says he’s seen how meaningful public art can shape community identity. He believes the monument is thoughtfully designed and locally rooted and, since it’s privately funded, he says it won’t cost taxpayers anything. It’s time, he writes, to trust the vision and recognize the women who help define our surf culture.

The post I helped design the male surfer statue – here’s why the female surfer monument deserves to move forward 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.

Durante sus primeros días como supervisor del condado, Felipe Hernández recuerda vívidamente haber estado paleando arena y haciendo sacos para ayudar a los residentes a proteger sus hogares de las inundaciones.

“Sentía como si estuviera de nuevo en el Ejército, paleando tantos sacos de arena,” dijo Hernández. “Ese fue mi primer día. Tenía el agua hasta las rodillas en mi primer día.”

El condado de Santa Cruz comenzaba a ser golpeado por una serie de tormentas, lo que provocó inundaciones en todo el condado —incluido Watsonville— y la evacuación de cientos de residentes.

“Tenía que estar ahí con mis electores que habían sido afectados por las inundaciones, y ahí fue donde pasé la mayor parte de mi primer año [como supervisor]”, dijo Hernández. Comentó a Lookout que una de las principales lecciones que aprendió al responder a esa emergencia fue cómo ser un firme defensor de su comunidad.

Ahora, tres años después, Hernández busca defender su puesto en el Distrito 4, que representa la mayor parte del Valle del Pájaro, Watsonville e Interlaken. Sus oponentes en las primarias del 2 de junio son los recién llegados a la política Elías Gonzales y Tony Núñez.

Debido a que hay más de dos candidatos, las elecciones generales del 3 de noviembre servirán como una segunda vuelta entre los dos candidatos con más votos, a menos que uno obtenga la mayoría en las primarias.

Hernández sigue enfrentando el escrutinio de sus electores mientras el condado continúa desarrollando una ordenanza destinada a regular las plantas de almacenamiento de baterías. Algunos residentes cuestionan la postura poco clara de Hernández sobre un proyecto de baterías propuesto por la empresa New Leaf Energy, con sede en Massachusetts, y por no haber asistido a reuniones comunitarias sobre la propuesta.

Hernández dijo a Lookout que si hubiera asistido a esas reuniones organizadas por la comunidad, habría sido “presionado para tomar una decisión” sobre cómo votaría en el proyecto. “Para eso quieren que esté ahí, no solo para escuchar,” dijo Hernández. “Quieren que dé una opinión.”

Adoptar una postura antes de que el proyecto llegue a la junta de supervisores podría impedirle participar en la votación, explicó Hernández. Quiere asegurarse de poder votar sobre el proyecto de 90 Minto Rd. si llega a manos del condado.

Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

No está claro si existe una regulación que prohíba a los funcionarios locales expresar abiertamente su postura sobre proyectos en los que podrían votar. En el pasado, Hernández ha citado la Ley Brown como razón para no declarar su posición sobre el proyecto de New Leaf. Sin embargo, esa legislación —la ley de reuniones abiertas de California— regula cómo se llevan a cabo las reuniones gubernamentales.

Ahora que New Leaf ha expresado su interés en buscar la aprobación del proyecto a través de la Comisión de Energía de California, Hernández dijo que será “más abierto” sobre sus opiniones.

“Estoy en contra del proyecto, especialmente con [New Leaf] optando por el estado,” dijo Hernández. “Realmente es una falta de respeto después de todo el trabajo que hicimos con la ordenanza.”

Anteriormente, New Leaf dijo a Lookout que la empresa aún evalúa si buscará la aprobación a nivel estatal o del condado. Hernández, por su parte, indicó que tras una reunión a principios de abril con la comisión estatal, la empresa y personal del condado, todo apunta hacia la vía estatal.

Hernández expresó su preocupación de que pocos proyectos han sido rechazados a nivel estatal. Dijo que impulsará que la comisión estatal incluya al condado en su decisión y utilice la ordenanza del condado (actualmente estancada) como referencia para estándares de seguridad.

Miembros de la comunidad que se oponen al proyecto de New Leaf creen que el proceso estatal será más riguroso y considerará mejor las preocupaciones del público.

Un portavoz de la comisión estatal indicó previamente a Lookout que la participación local forma parte del proceso de permisos, que también incluye a agencias gubernamentales locales.

Otro tema que Hernández ha enfrentado en su distrito es el temor relacionado con la inmigración durante una segunda administración de Trump. Agentes del Servicio de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas (ICE) han visitado Watsonville al menos 23 veces desde enero de 2025; nueve de esas visitas ocurrieron en los primeros dos meses de 2026.

Hernández actualmente codirige un subcomité para prepararse ante posibles impactos de operativos migratorios en los residentes del condado. Dijo que está explorando si el condado puede invertir más en defensa legal. El año pasado, el condado destinó $100,000 para servicios legales para residentes indocumentados.

“Es importante proteger a esas personas. Son seres humanos,” dijo Hernández. “Además de ser humanos, proveen alimentos para nuestro condado y el resto de Estados Unidos. ¿Cómo podemos darles la espalda? Sería inhumano hacerlo.”

Hernández dijo que quiere desarrollar “ordenanzas más creativas”, aunque no detalló cuáles propondría. El mes pasado, el condado aprobó una ordenanza que prohíbe a funcionarios de inmigración usar sus instalaciones para fines de control migratorio.

Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

Si es elegido para un segundo mandato, Hernández dijo que quiere continuar invirtiendo en carreteras y más servicios sociales en el sur del condado. Atribuye sus ocho años en el Concejo Municipal de Watsonville a su defensa de los electores. Su objetivo es traer más proyectos a la comunidad, afirmó.

En un foro de candidatos de Lookout la semana pasada, Hernández dijo que el condado ha invertido casi 800 millones de dólares en la comunidad durante su primer mandato como supervisor. Algunos de esos proyectos incluyen la apertura de una oficina del condado en Westridge Drive en Watsonville, el inicio de reparaciones del dique del río Pájaro y la mejora de carreteras.

La instalación del condado en Westridge Drive fue adquirida en 2021, según un informe de Santa Cruz Local. El esfuerzo para asegurar fondos federales para las reparaciones del dique del río Pájaro fue liderado principalmente por el excolega de Hernández en la junta, Zach Friend.

Hernández también dijo que quiere impulsar más parques en áreas no incorporadas del sur del condado, lo que coincide con su visión de aumentar las inversiones en la comunidad.

“El Distrito 4 solo tiene dos parques del condado, y han pasado 63 años desde que se hicieron [reparaciones] en Mesa Village Park,” Hernández dijo.

También espera desarrollar más espacios para jóvenes en su distrito, algo que considera siempre importante.

“Los jóvenes necesitan cosas que hacer en Watsonville,” dijo Hernández. “Tenemos la mayor concentración en el condado, y no hay muchas opciones para ellos.”

The post El supervisor del condado del Distrito 4, Felipe Hernández, destaca su trayectoria y experiencia en el servicio público al buscar un segundo mandato appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

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

Tom Steyer, the billionaire environmental activist and self-styled progressive candidate for governor, is on track to run the most expensive gubernatorial campaign in state history, having already spent more than $132 million. 

He’s saturated the Internet and TV as special interest groups ramp up advertising of their own ahead of the June 2 primary and county officials prepare to mail out ballots. 

ELECTION 2026: Read more local, state and national coverage here from Lookout and our content partners

Campaign finance disclosures filed late Thursday show that through mid-April, Steyer continued to outspend his opponents twenty- to thirtyfold, mostly to blitz the state with television ads that began airing early in the race. Nearly all of the money came from Steyer personally, $105 million of which he poured into the campaign from January through April 18.

He’s already dwarfed the $73 million Gov. Gavin Newsom’s campaign spent fighting the recall election against him in 2021 and surpassed the amount Newsom’s political committee spent last fall to pass Proposition 50, the Democratic gerrymander effort with intense national interest. 

If Steyer continues at this rate, he is likely to come close to or exceed the $159 million record that former eBay executive Meg Whitman burned through — also largely of her own money — in her unsuccessful 2010 run for governor. 

The campaign finance filings show that his competitor, tech-backed San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, dominated his fellow Democrats in fundraising over the past four months, bringing in $13 million. Former Rep. Katie Porter raised $2.8 million in that period, while former Attorney General Xavier Becerra brought in $1 million, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa raised $707,000 and state schools Superintendent Tony Thurmond raised just $62,000. 

Katie Porter (second from left) speaks during a gubernatorial candidate forum hosted by the California Immigrant Policy Center, California Latino Legislative Caucus Foundation and ACLU California Action in Sacramento on April 14. Credit: Fred Greaves for CalMatters

On the Republican side, conservative television commentator Steve Hilton’s campaign said he raised $4.4 million while Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco raised $1.5 million. Both remain at the top of the polls. 

Steyer’s outsized spending is a flashpoint in a race defined by wealth, inequality and California’s affordability crisis. Progressives are eager to tax billionaires this year; the resulting backlash to those proposals has prompted wealthy Silicon Valley executives like Google’s Sergey Brin and venture capitalist Michael Moritz to spend in earnest this election year. 

Steyer is promising to rein in wealthy interests like them and corporations. He says he’ll implement publicly funded universal health care, reduce electricity bills and raise corporate property taxes to pay for state services. 

His own wealth is derived from a hedge fund where he once invested in fossil fuels and private prisons before pivoting toward liberal activism. It serves as both fodder for criticism from opponents across the political spectrum and an unlikely source of his own progressive credentials. He’s been able to convince several left-wing groups such as the California Nurses Association and the Bernie Sanders-founded political action committee Our Revolution that he “can’t be bought” by other special interests, earning him their endorsements. His ads have helped boost his standing among likely voters from relative obscurity to the top of the Democratic pack. 

Democrats still tied

Yet he’s hardly broken away, continuing to be essentially tied in recent polling with other Democrats just behind the two Republican front-runners, Bianco and Hilton. 

Instead, in the wake of fellow front-runner Rep. Eric Swalwell dropping out of the race this month over sexual assault and misconduct allegations from multiple women, it was Becerra who got a surge in support. The former Biden-era health secretary had been polling around 5% and fundraising poorly before getting a boost from small donors when Swalwell’s campaign imploded just two weeks ago. 

Becerra surged enough in polls to be included in the first of a series of televised debates on Wednesday night, during which he was eager to attack his opponents but faced criticism for lacking policy specifics and for giving Newsom an “A” grade “on effort” for his approach to homelessness. The number of Californians who are homeless has risen steadily during Newsom’s nearly eight years in office. 

Becerra will have to keep raising money to remain competitive. His campaign spent four times what he brought in between January and April 18, and he ended the cycle with just $507,000 as the race entered its most expensive stage. 

Porter, a former Orange County congressmember who has been stalling in the polls, raised less than she did in the second half of last year. But she still has $3.7 million on hand. 

Aside from Steyer, Mahan raised the most over the past four months. Little-known around the state, he is running on a platform of making state government more efficient. He has promised not to raise any taxes, to suspend the state gas tax and tie state agency leaders’ pay to performance. 

His campaign is funded by a who’s-who of Silicon Valley executives, billionaires and groups known to clash with Sacramento’s powerful labor unions. They’re also funding a pair of independent political spending committees supporting Mahan that raised $25 million and spent $19 million on ads through April 18. 

Other special interest groups are also ramping up their spending. A group opposing Steyer, funded by the state’s realtors, construction industry, electrical workers’ union and Pacific Gas & Electric, has spent $14 million on ads attacking Steyer’s prior investments. This week, PG&E and the California Chamber of Commerce poured in another $7 million. Steyer has proposed challenging PG&E’s monopoly status to lower Californians’ utility bills. 

Swalwell used campaign funds to pay attorney

The filings also revealed that Swalwell used campaign funds to pay one of the attorneys defending him against the misconduct accusations. 

His campaign paid $40,000 to Sara Azari, who sent media statements denying the accusations after he had already suspended his campaign and appeared on NewsNation, where she is a legal analyst, suggesting his accusers had “shame” or “regret” but that “doesn’t make it rape.” 

Swalwell had also used at least two other law firms to send cease-and-desist letters to the women and others alleging misconduct; those firms do not appear in his campaign finance statement. His gubernatorial campaign has returned at least $43,000 in donations since its implosion. 

Swalwell paid campaign funds to use his own campaign finance AI startup, and to cover about $22,000 in child care expenses, which he and his wife routinely did for years from his congressional campaign account. That is allowed under federal and California campaign finance law as long as the child care needs were campaign-related; Swalwell has been one of the biggest spenders in that category. 

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The post Billionaire blitz: Steyer’s $132 million campaign dwarfs rivals in California governor race appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

Top 10 exciting job opportunities in Santa Cruz County – Apply today!

Are you searching for your next career move in Santa Cruz County? Look no further! We’ve curated a list of the top 10 job opportunities recently posted to our job board, spanning various industries and roles. Whether you’re a recent graduate, seasoned professional, or someone seeking a fresh start, Santa Cruz has something to offer for everyone.

1. Finance Coordinator (Temporary) at Central California Alliance for Health (the Alliance)
2. Residential Community Service Supervisor at UC Santa Cruz
3. Principal Financial Analyst at UC Santa Cruz
4. Director of Product Success (National) at Lookout Local
5. Pediatric Dental Office Manager / Financial Coordinator at Alison K Jackson Children’s Dentistry
6. Principal Financial Analyst at UC Santa Cruz
7. Crop Production Assistant & Weekend Farm Steward at Homeless Garden Project
8. Executive Assistant to the Associate Vice Chancellor at UC Santa Cruz
9. Health Center Manager at The County of Santa Cruz
10. Conference Services Coordinator at UC Santa Cruz

Why work in Santa Cruz County?

Santa Cruz County boasts a vibrant community, picturesque surroundings, and diverse career opportunities. From academic roles at UC Santa Cruz to impactful positions in healthcare and local government, the perfect place to support both your professional growth and work-life balance.

Ready to take the next step?

Apply for these exciting job opportunities in Santa Cruz County today!

FIND MORE ON THE LOOKOUT JOB BOARD >> Looking to hire? Build your team with us

• List your open positions: Amplify your job listings to reach engaged Santa Cruz County job seekers – post your job today.
• Save with job bundles: Purchase a job board bundle of 4 or 8 listings and save 25%. Redeem your jobs anytime. Bundles never expire. Get Your Bundles Here.
• Exclusive discounts for Marketing Partners: Are you a Lookout Marketing Partner? Contact your representative today to access your exclusive discount.

Questions about the job board? Reach out to Brittany at brittany@lookoutlocal.com.

The post 10 Hot Jobs in Santa Cruz County: Week of April 24 appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

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

Road incidents as of 7:30 a.m. on April 24

• A black SUV and a white pickup were involved in a minor collision at SR129 and Murphy Xing in Watsonville/Pajaro at 6:51 a.m. today. A 35-year-old man had a head and back bruise but was conscious and breathing.
   
• A lane on westbound SR-152 at Clifford Drive/Ohlone Parkway in Watsonville/Pajaro is closed for asphalt paving. The closure will last until July 3 at 5:59 a.m.
   

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

The post Friday morning traffic: Minor crash at SR129/Murphy Xing; SR-152 lane closed appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

Elementary school principal Renee Golder, 48, and UC Santa Cruz senior Gabriella Noack, 24, are competing to win the Santa Cruz City Council District 6 seat, which covers part of Santa Cruz’s Westside and UC Santa Cruz. 

Incumbent Golder has been on the council for six years and assures voters that they “know what they’re gonna get” if she’s elected. She says she’s not a politician and unsuccessfully searched for the past two years for a replacement candidate to run this year. Despite her desire to not seek reelection, Golder feels called to do the job.  

ELECTION 2026: Read more local, state and national coverage here from Lookout and our content partners

“I want to serve my community, and I consider myself to be a problem-solver more than a leader,” she said. “That’s why I want to do this work.” 

Newcomer Noack offers District 6 voters a young voice who holds several opposing viewpoints to Golder on substantive issues, such as Flock Safety cameras. Driven to run in part by her background of being raised by both her adopted parents of an upper-middle-class background, and by her biological family — who faced incarceration and lower incomes — Noack has firsthand experience of the disparate access to opportunities people have based on the household in which they were raised.  

“If we were born into a different family or into a different place that had different social systems, we wouldn’t ever get the opportunity to be that same person,” she said. “Taking care of our social systems and taking care of my community, it inherently feels like taking care of myself and taking care of my [biological] family.”

The next District 6 councilmember will serve a four-year term representing the district’s approximately 10,500 residents, who reside between the oceanfront homes on West Cliff Drive to the northern portions of UCSC student housing. Of that population, about 6,200 registered voters will be asked to select either Golder or Noack for the race, unlike the mayoral race, which all registered voters in the city will have on their ballots. 

Lookout sat down with the candidates to learn more about their views on development and Flock cameras, their backgrounds and why they’re running for the position. 

A problem-solver seeking reelection

Golder, a longtime teacher and now principal of about six years, has worked for 20 years at Bayview Elementary School. She has two adult children and her husband, Mike, is a firefighter. She says her priorities since her first days on the council have been public safety and homelessness. 

Golder leans more conservative than her counterparts. She has also been a supporter of greenlighting affordable housing construction and she was part of the majority vote to end a contract with controversial license-plate reader firm Flock. 

She said she’s open to approving a contract for a different vendor to replace Flock, saying she would first like to see what the options are and gauge whether her constituents support it.

“I feel like any decision I make, I have to go with the information that’s given to me at the time. It’s not about my personal opinion, when I’m up there on the dais,” she said. “I’m not going to say I would never do anything.” 

Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

Golder said her feelings about city development are complicated. On the positive side, she is “so proud” of the city’s collaboration with Santa Cruz City Schools and UC Santa Cruz to get workforce housing up in her district. The school district broke ground on a workforce housing project earlier this year, and UCSC expects to open a workforce and student housing complex later this year. 

As for Golder’s concerns about development, she has been lobbying for more local control. California cities are under state mandates to develop thousands of new units by 2031 – including 3,736 for Santa Cruz. Because Santa Cruz is one of a handful of cities that are on track with building those units, Golder says, she and the city council have been lobbying the state to loosen its grip over development. For example, she said the city could have more control over parking and density bonuses. 

“We’d love to have a little more say in those things, and especially since we’re being proactive and good players,” she said. 

Golder said one of the issues that led her to seek a seat in the first place was the city’s response to homelessness. She said Santa Cruz is “cleaning up the mess” of what city leaders did decades ago: enabling large encampments. Golder says the poor health and safety and environmental damages in encampments make her angry, expressing dismay that anyone could be allowed to suffer like that. 

MAY 7: Hear from Santa Cruz mayoral, city council candidates in an election forum moderated by Lookout

The City of Santa Cruz, often with Santa Cruz police and nonprofit Housing Matters, carry out frequent encampment sweeps citing health and safety concerns. Critics have decried the sweeps, saying that the practice only exacerbates challenges for people experiencing homelessness. This year, advocates also have denounced the end of day services offered by Housing Matters. 

Golder said she understands the concerns and wants to provide care to people experiencing homelessness. But she thinks that should be addressed through a collaboration between nonprofits and county agencies. 

“What I would continue to do moving forward is continued collaboration with the county like we’ve been doing in order to most effectively spend the money that we have,” she said. “We’re a city, we don’t have a health and human services department. Any money that we’re putting out there for the homeless is coming straight from the general fund. It’s money that’s not being used to build a pool. It’s money that’s not being used for raises for SEIU.” 

Among her proudest accomplishments are her work on the council to repair West Cliff Drive after the 2023 storms, as well as her work to better align the city’s recreational offerings with interests at Santa Cruz schools at no cost to families. 

For example, previously some school-parent organizations fundraised to have a skateboard club to bring skateboards and ramps to the schools, but it wasn’t accessible to all kids. Now, through the city’s Parks & Recreation department, any child can, regardless of their income. 

Golder has endorsements from former and current city councilmembers including Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson, Ryan Coonerty and Cynthia Mathews. 

A hopeful youth 

What Noack lacks in years, she makes up for in life experience. Born in Baltimore, Noack was later raised in Sacramento by her adoptive parents. Growing up and taking trips along the coast, she fell in love with Santa Cruz’s culture and made it her goal to move here, study here and to raise a family here. 

After high school, she worked manual labor jobs — including stonemason, cook and ski lift operator — for two years to save money for college, which she started in 2022 at Cabrillo College. At Cabrillo, she was a volunteer peer tutor, and also a volunteer teacher in the Watsonville jail. 

UCSC senior Gabriella Noack is running for the Santa Cruz City Council District 6 seat. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

She later transferred to UC Santa Cruz, where she’s double-majoring in philosophy and sociology and is planning to graduate this spring. Through a UCSC program, she’s co-facilitating a technology program at local nonprofit Barrios Unidos that aims to teach vocational technology skills to people who were previously incarcerated. 

In addition to Noack’s drive to ensure fair access to opportunities to all Santa Cruzans, Noack has another idea motivating her to run for city council. Since late last year, she has seen peers transformed by hope following the victories of young leaders – New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and U.S. Olympic gold medalist Alyssa Liu. 

For a long time, Noack saw peers express “disillusionment with politics,” but she said Mamdani changed that. Liu transformed ice skating, a sport with rigid standards, into something she enjoyed. 

“That’s really how I feel about politics,” she said. “We’ve seen corruption, and it’s made a lot of people, especially in my generation, ignore politics. But I think my generation can be the change, and I want to be a part of that.”

Noack’s positions on the city’s response to homelessness and Flock cameras diverge from Golder’s. Noack said she would not accept another vendor to replace Flock. 

“I think that privately contracting out highly sensitive information to private companies that make a living off of mass surveillance isn’t prioritizing community safety,” said Noack. “No, I would not support another private contract with a different private [automated license-plate reader] system.” 

Last month, Housing Matters ended its day services program, such as showers and mailboxes, leading dozens of people to scramble for other providers. Addressing the area’s dwindling options for people experiencing homelessness, Noack said the city should provide more services and continue collaborating with local nonprofits. 

“I think we need to take this as a lesson, as saying we need government-provided services that can’t just go away without an explanation at the blink of an eye,” she said. “I think that more progressive taxing initiatives are a good way to create this wealth.” 

She’s also against encampment sweeps: “You’re just taking sleeping bags away from people who desperately need them.”

Noack says expanding affordable housing in Santa Cruz is her No. 1 priority. She wants to add more workforce housing and thinks the city should focus on hiring local construction companies, to put dollars back into the pockets of local workers so they can afford to live here. 

“When we’re building in Santa Cruz, if we’re prioritizing local labor, if we’re prioritizing local companies,” she said. “That means that we’re incentivizing our local economy that naturally is going to funnel back into Santa Cruz better.” 

Another priority is for the city council to revisit the city’s district maps. For example, she said that the District 6 map splits up UC Santa Cruz, which means that the university students, who make up a large portion of the city’s population, don’t have a single district that represents them. 

“It’s a huge problem,” she said. “It’s really important that we think about accurate voter representation.” 

Outside of school and volunteering, Noack works two jobs: at Companion Bakeshop farmers market stand and modeling for portrait drawings. She said she has a waitressing job lined up starting this summer, after graduation.

Noack has endorsements from Santa Cruz for Bernie, Get The Flock Out and SEIU Local 521. 

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

The post A Westside elementary school principal and a UCSC student face off for Santa Cruz City Council’s District 6 seat appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

After 28 years, Java Junction will close its River Street location on Monday. Owner Michael Spadafora cites steep rent increases, prolonged construction disruptions and conflicts with landlord Balboa Retail Partners and property manager JLL. The closure follows months of reduced sales tied to lost outdoor seating and limited communication about the project, said Spadafora. The café’s Seabright and Santa Cruz Harbor locations will remain open.

The post River Street’s Java Junction to close after 28 years, citing rent hike and construction impacts appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

Candidates in the June 2026 primary election filed their first pre-election campaign finance forms on Thursday. Local candidates and ballot measure committees are required to file campaign statements by specific deadlines, disclosing the contributions they have received and the expenditures they have made. 

Of those that filed their disclosures by Thursday night, Santa Cruz mayoral candidate and longtime politico Ryan Coonerty’s campaign received by far the largest total donation amount in the most recent fundraising period, at just over $50,000. District 4 county supervisor candidate Tony Nuñez was a distant second, with slightly more than $20,000 raised.

ELECTION 2026: Read more local, state and national coverage here from Lookout and our content partners

The reports are filed as Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) Form 460s and apply to all candidates and committees that have raised or spent at least $2,000 in a calendar year.

This first filing covers the period between Jan. 1 and April 18. The next pre-election filing is due on May 21, and covers the period from April 19 and May 16. A semi-annual deadline follows on July 31, and covers the period from May 17 through June 30.

The amounts listed are solely cash contributions from individual donors. They do not include loans or non-monetary contributions, and do not include cash expended so far.

Neither Santa Cruz County Superior Court judge candidate, Bryan Hackett and Alisa Thomas, filed a disclosure form by Thursday evening, so they are not included below.

Lookout will update this story with late candidate filings as they become available.

District 4 county supervisor

Tony Nuñez has raised $20,022.99 since the start of 2026. Notable donors include Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds CEO Dori Rose Inda, Pajaro Valley Prevention and Student Assistance CEO Jasmine Najera, Santa Cruz Port District Chair Reed Geisreiter, Community Bridges Chief Finance Officer Douglas Underhill, philanthropists Bill and Brigid Simpkins, Low Carbon executive Ed Colligan, former Pajaro Valley Health Care District board member Katie Gabriel-Cox, Gayle’s Bakery & Rosticceria owners Gayle and Joseph Ortiz, tech entrepreneur Guy Kawasaki, Watsonville High School Principal Joe Gregorio, and Community Foundation Santa Cruz County Communications Coordinator Josue Monroy.

Elias Gonzales has raised $5,878 since the start of 2026. Notable donors include former FoodWhat development director and Santa Cruz City Council candidate Kayla Kumar, Ecology Action program manager and local campaign manager Celeste Gutierrez, Santa Cruz mayoral candidate Chris Krohn, and Santa Cruz for Bernie.

Incumbent Felipe Hernandez did not file a disclosure form by Thursday night.

Santa Cruz mayor

Ryan Coonerty has raised $50,115 since the start of 2026, by far the most of any local candidate on the ballot. Notable donors include Sempervirens Fund Director of Government Relations Rachel Dann, Santa Cruz City Councilmember Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson’s 2024 committee, Santa Cruz Mayor Fred Keeley, Santa Cruz Symphony board president Linda Burroughs, former Scotts Valley city councilmember Jack Dilles, former Santa Cruz mayor Cynthia Mathews, longtime politico and Coonerty’s father, Neal Coonerty, Bookshop Santa Cruz owner and Coonerty’s sister, Casey Protti, Meta executive and Coonerty’s brother-in-law Michel Protti, Assemblymember Gail Pellerin, NHS owner Richard Novak, former county office of education administrator Carol Polhamus, county analyst Andy Schiffrin, city planning commissioner Pete Kennedy, Santa Cruz City Councilmember Renee Golder, developer Owen Lawlor, former Santa Cruz City councilmember Martine Watkins, Democratic Central Committee member Andrew Goldenkranz, Granite Construction Vice President of Government Affairs Don Roland, Bay Federal Credit Union CEO Carrie Birkhofer, former Scotts Valley city councilmember Jim Reed, Cushman and Wakefield managing director Reuben Helick, Lincoln, Nebraska, mayor Leirion Baird, and Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read’s committee Friends of Tobias Read.

MAY 7: Hear from Santa Cruz mayoral, city council candidates in an election forum moderated by Lookout

Ami Chen Mills has raised $6,664 since the start of 2026. Notable donors include Harm Reduction Coalition services coordinator Denise Elerick, Campaign for Sustainable Transportation co-chair Rick Longinotti and local activist Jasmeen Miah.

Chris Krohn has raised $5,652 since the start of the year. Early Santa Cruz for Bernie member and co-founder Jeffrey Smedberg is a notable donor.

Gillian Greensite has raised $4,689 since the start of 2026. Housing activist and emeritus UC Santa Cruz sociologist John Hall is a notable donor.

Joy Schendledecker has raised $2,650 since the start of 2026. Notable donors include housing activist and emeritus UC Santa Cruz sociologist John Hall, local activist Jasmeen Miah and Santa Cruz for Bernie.

Santa Cruz City Council District 4

Scott Newsome has raised $5,738 since the start of 2026. Notable donors include Bookshop Santa Cruz owner and Ryan Coonerty’s sister, Casey Protti, city planning commissioner Pete Kennedy, Democratic Central Committee member Andrew Goldenkranz and the Democratic Women’s Club of Santa Cruz County.

Hector Marin did not file a disclosure form by Thursday night.

Santa Cruz City Council District 6

Renee Golder has raised $11,659 since the start of 2026. Notable donors include Santa Cruz City Councilmember Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson’s 2024 committee, Santa Cruz mayoral candidate Ryan Coonerty, developer Owen Lawlor, former county office of education administrator Carol Polhamus, longtime commercial real estate agent William Ow, Santa Cruz Mayor Fred Keeley, former Santa Cruz mayor Cynthia Mathews, Play Bigger CEO and Save West Cliff founder Al Ramadan, Bookshop Santa Cruz owner and Ryan Coonerty’s sister, Casey Protti, and Pacific Wave Surf Shop.

Gabriella Noack did not file a disclosure form by Thursday night.

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

The post A look at local candidates’ first pre-election campaign finance disclosures of 2026 appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

An administrator from San Jose’s Moreland School District will be the new Live Oak School District superintendent starting July 1. 

Moreland School District Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services Jennifer Baldwin will be the new Live Oak School District superintendent starting July 1. Credit: Courtesy of Live Oak School District

Moreland Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services Jennifer Baldwin will replace Pat Sánchez, who was in the role since summer of 2024. 

“Jennifer has been described as a highly collaborative leader with exceptional integrity and a distributive leadership style,” governing board president Kristin Pfotenhauer said in a statement. “She has a history of team building around a unifying vision resulting in significantly improved student outcomes and strengthened morale for staff.” 

Baldwin, who lives in Santa Cruz, has 30 years of public education experience, ranging from teacher to assistant superintendent. She’s spent the past seven years at Moreland, where she was first the assistant superintendent of human resources and is currently leading educational services. She received a doctorate in educational leadership and innovation from Arizona State University.

“I am truly honored and excited to join Live Oak School District and serve a community so committed to students,” Baldwin said in a statement. “I look forward to partnering with our students, staff, families, and community to build on the district’s strong foundation and create meaningful opportunities for every student to succeed.”

Teachers union president Lauren Pomrantz said teachers are relieved that the school board has made a choice. She said she’s still learning about Baldwin, but heard a “glowing review” from the president of the Moreland teachers union.

“That’s always a good sign,” said Pomrantz, adding that teachers are happy that Baldwin is local and already has many contacts in Santa Cruz. 

Sánchez’s last day will be June 30. 

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

MORE LOCAL COVERAGE

The post Live Oak School District announces new superintendent appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

Capitola’s contract with Flock Safety for automated license-plate readers in the city will continue for another 24 months. Meanwhile, members of grassroots group Get The Flock Out say they’ll continue to let police and elected officials in Capitola and Watsonville, which also has a deal with Flock, know about their concerns with the Atlanta-based company.

The post Capitola automatically renews contract with Flock; anti-surveillance organizers see ‘long road ahead’ appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.