Seat Up for Grabs: District 6 City Council Election
The streets of Santa Cruz are filling up fast with RVs parked for days on end with nowhere to go, houseless camps residing in public spaces, and worried residents wondering if they’ll be able to make rent next month. With these concerns at the forefront...
The Two Candidates Running in Santa Cruz’s Inaugural At-Large Mayoral Election
For the first time in Santa Cruz history, voters will have a direct say in determining who their next mayor will be. Measure E, approved by voters on June 8, established at-large mayoral elections, along with a six-district map. Previously, the mayor was appointed annually...
The Cultural Arts and Diversity Resource Center and Chester Gregory Kick Start the New Year with Motown Classics
The drums kick us off. Enter the piano, along with a funky bass line. Bringing in the guitar lick, the soulful vocals uplift the song to where it needed to go. Welcome to Hitsville, USA. UC Santa Cruz’s Mainstage Theater will transform into a time...
Measure O: What is at Stake For Downtown Santa Cruz?
Fresh produce surrounded by smiling vendors, warm red walls of buildings, and homes of longtime families line the street. Even the parking lots hold sentimental value as you scour for the perfect spot ahead of another memorable day strolling around the city. This is Downtown...
Can Measures K and L Save Santa Cruz City Schools?
Failing infrastructure, outdated classrooms, and a teacher shortage are only some of the problems Santa Cruz City Schools (SCCS) are hoping to address with two new bond measures this November: Measure K and Measure L. While Measure K would raise funds for the local middle...
Measure N Could Open Doors for Housing Opportunities: Good Policy Or Too Invasive?
A $6,000 tax on empty single family homes could be implemented this November. But how would this affect Santa Cruz homeowners? If a simple majority votes to pass Measure N, also known as the Empty Home Tax, every homeowner in Santa Cruz will be required...
How Would Measure P Impact Taxes on Hotels and Short-Term Rentals?
Santa Cruz’s sunny beaches, rocky coast, breathtaking redwoods, and notorious Boardwalk have made the city into a desirable tourist destination. Attracting more than three million visitors annually, tourism employs nearly 8,000 people countywide and brings millions of dollars in revenue to the city. But at...
Nothing to Lose, Only Demands to Win
For three days in May 2017, Black students and supporters sat in the confines of an unventilated Kerr Hall to secure guaranteed housing for African, Black, and Caribbean (ABC) identifying students, along with other demands. UC Santa Cruz’s Black Student Union (BSU), known then as...
Ethnic Organization Leaders on Identity, Community, and More
For those entering UC Santa Cruz, finding a community with shared experiences and similar backgrounds can be essential. That’s where UCSC’s Big 5 ethnic organizations come in. They are just a handful of the ethnic and identity organizations on campus that provide safe spaces and...
How Santa Cruz is Governed, and How You Can Change It
The view from Santa Cruz stretches far along the coast, from Davenport down to Pajaro. Like the views, the nearby political results have far-reaching effects with your ballot covering Santa Cruz County in addition to its local city government. Both city and county governments are...