The League of Women Voters is about the same age as women’s right to vote.
Last week’s newsletter was all about power, and the forms of energy that fuel it. This week we’re concerned with the fuel that drives democracy: the power of the people.
By now, most residents of Santa Cruz County should have received their ballots for the Nov. 8 general election. In addition to seven propositions and many statewide offices, there are a number of competitive races, including two supervisorial seats, two slots on the Scotts Valley City Council and three on the Capitola City Council, and the city of Santa Cruz’s first direct election for mayor and first district elections.
Give Yourself an Edge
Where can one find accurate information about these races and many others, including races for positions on school board of trustees and boards of special distrcits? The Santa Cruz elections page is a fine starting point, offering information on where to drop off ballots or vote on Election Day. To dig deeper, head to VotersEdge.org, a site offered by the League of Women Voters. Who are the League, or the LWV> Find out more in Tamara Warta’s article about the century-old organization.
A League of Our Own
Founded in 1920, the year that suffragettes triumphed, the League of Women Voters now protects the entire electorate’s rights.
Fuel for Thought
The election isn’t the only thing on our radar. Gas prices are always front of mind. And speaking of gas and oil, watch out for Jonathan Vankin’s final two articles in his energy seres, which will look at the gas and coal industries in California.
The system essentially captures toilet waste in sealable containers without need for water or connective sewer networks. Blanketed by sawdust to reduce odor, the waste is collected in biodegradable bags and transported to centralized composting facilities.
(10/17/2022) Santa Cruz Sentinel
Aviv Elor, Ash Robbins and Michael Powell are bringing physical therapy into the home via their virtual reality telehealth platform, Immergo VR.
(10/17/2022) → Read the full Lookout Local report
Aptos Creek Road, the main entrance to the Forest of Nisene Marks State Park, has seen a large surge of traffic since the pandemic. What hadn’t changed, until now, was the poor condition of this narrow single-lane access route.
(10/15/2022) Times Publishing Group
SCOTUS is set to rule on race-based programs in college admissions. Since 1996, affirmative action in college admissions has been banned in California; an amicus brief filed by the University of California states that other efforts have failed to bring representative racial diversity to its student body.
(10/13/2022) The Californian
With Bodie Shargel out of the race for the Santa Cruz City Council District 4 seat, three contenders remain. Campaign finance disclosure statements show low fundraising numbers for all three political newcomers with service worker Hector Marin raising the most.
(10/12/2022) → Read the full Santa Cruz County Sentinel report
There’s a new wine tasting room in Scotts Valley called Inversion Wines, featuring wares from very small vineyards in the far reaches of the Santa Cruz Mountains.
(10/10/2022) → Read the full Edible Monterey Bay report
Stephen Siefke alleged in a civil suit filed last week, and in an interview with Lookout Santa Cruz, that 4th District supervisor candidate Jimmy Dutra, then 30, sexually assaulted him 12 years ago.
(10/10/2022) → Read the full Lookout Local report
