Costa–Hawkins Leaves Gaps in Rent Freeze
*Name changed to protect identity. After Santa Cruz City Council voted unanimously in favor of an emergency rent freeze on Feb. 13, about 22-24 percent of renters in Santa Cruz were immediately protected from rent hikes higher than 2 percent, at least until this fall....
Addressing the Connection
The Santa Cruz community is no stranger to the housing crisis — issues of high rent, tenants’ rights and a disproportionately high houseless population frequently appear in City Council meeting agendas and public discussions. Less frequently discussed are the accompanying issues of mental health within...
Regents Table Tuition Increase
After strong student opposition in Wednesday’s public comment period at the UC Board of Regents meeting, the vote for a 2.7 percent tuition increase has been postponed. Following a statement from UC President Janet Napolitano, regents agreed to revisit this issue at a later meeting....
Santa Cruz Strives for ‘Beloved Community’
“I’m just here to remind you, that Dr. King was more than a dreamer. He was a visionary, he was an agitator of the status quo.” Brenda Griffin, president of the Santa Cruz chapter of the NAACP, spoke these words to the buzzing crowd gathered...
Marching Forward with Women’s Rights
In the days following the 2016 election, women and their allies across the country prepared for a nationwide march one day after the inauguration of Donald Trump. When Maria Boutell, a women’s rights advocate and resident of Santa Cruz, heard the hum of national preparations...
Q&A with Gavin Newsom
Gavin Newsom, current lieutenant governor of California, is running for governor in the 2018 state elections. He spoke to a crowd of over 100 on Dec. 9 at the Santa Cruz Police Department. After his speech, Newsom answered questions from the attendees and City on...
Reclaiming a Holiday
Instead of turning a blind eye to the colonialism of Thanksgiving, about 70 people gathered last week to bring indigenous representation to the holiday through a discussion of indigenous issues and food at this year’s Indigethanx event. “People have such a misconception of what actually...
Phases of Homesickness
Each time I’ve left home, I’ve become more independent and also more rooted in my communities — as it turns out, the two are not mutually exclusive. I’ve learned that the stages between feeling homesick and finding community again can be remarkably similar. I’ve also...
From Farm to College
Situated near the base of campus at UC Santa Cruz, the Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems (CASFS) teaches students and apprentices about sustainable farming and grows a variety of produce items each year. CASFS sells a portion of this to UCSC Dining Services...