For California Local members who are tired of the state's endless housing crisis, this week's edition of The Newsletter brings good news. And as always there's somethiing for everyone who would like to know what's up in their own neighborhood just below, in our carefully curated News Digest. And yes: A featured local nonprofit, and a recipe!
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By Eric Johnson
Published May 20, 2024
Construction of multifamily housing developments is set to skyrocket in the next half decade.
Image credit: Sundry Photography, Shutterstock
Here Comes the California Housing Boom
What You Should Know About the State's Ambitious Housing Plans, and How to Get Involved
Here at California Local we see what’s coming out of most of the newsrooms in ten Northern California counties and select important stories to include in our News Digest (see below). In doing so over the past couple of months, our friend and colleague Chris Neklason noticed two phrases appearing everywhere, as cities and counties raced to complete the “housing element” of their “general plans.”
We understand that not all of you are familiar with those two terms, and may not yet be aware that California is already experiencing the start of a housing boom. Folks in Santa Cruz, where Chris lives, are well aware of this fact, as downtown is in the midst of a dramatic transformation, and the same thing is happening here in Midtown Sacramento. In these two articles, Chris explains how this works, and how you can help shape the way it will all play out on the ground.
How California Manages Housing as a Public Resource
Like the 33 million acres of forest in California, the nearly 15 million units of housing in the state are tended and managed with future generations in mind. Meet the California Department of Housing and Community Development.
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Placer County's Homepage |
| Direct your browser to https://placer.californialocal.com/ to catch up on the latest news in California and Placer County. Bookmark the link and visit often, there's a lot happening in your community! | |
Recipe of the Week
Our friends at Sacramento Digs Gardening publish a recipe from their gardens every Sunday, which we feature here so you can start your week with some yum.
See more recipes in their Taste Spring! cookbook.
Savory cherry sauce perfect for grilling season
New! Savory cherry sauce with sweet onions goes great with pork, chicken
Get to Know a Group
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Watsonville Wetlands Watch |
Watsonville Wetlands Watch works to preserve, restore, and foster an appreciation of wetlands in the Pajaro Valley. It serves as an educational and volunteer program that teaches students about environmental changes and stewardship.
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From Our Media Allies |
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California State Parks Foundation Calls on the Legislature to Restore Library Parks Pass Funding |
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California State Parks Foundation responded to Governor Newsom's revised 2024-2025 budget and raised concern about the elimination of funding for a popular state park access program, the California State Library Parks Pass. |
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Community Bridges Celebrates New Downtown Mural |
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Dozens of people gathered in downtown Watsonville Friday afternoon to celebrate the completion of a new large outdoor mural at Community Bridges at the corner of Main Street and West Lake Avenue. |
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How to Find Home Insurance in Santa Cruz County |
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As thousands of Santa Cruz County homeowners are losing home insurance, a state official and insurance professionals this week offered advice for finding, keeping and affording policies. |
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Public Invited to Participate in Downtown Mural Project |
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Work continues on the installation of large tile panels in the eighth phase of the ongoing mosaic mural project, titled Watsonville Brilliante, which has covered much of the parking structure at the corner of Second and Rodriguez streets. |
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Scotts Valley Makes Progress on Parks Plan |
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Scotts Valley City Council held a special joint study session with the Parks and Recreation Commission on May 1 to envision the full scope of recreation options for the city. |
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How to Get Involved in Budget Hearings in Santa Cruz, Capitola, Scotts Valley, Watsonville |
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Local governments across Santa Cruz County are crafting their budgets for the coming fiscal year, with some due at the end of June. |
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Community Spirit Soars at Inaugural Ben Lomond Village Alliance Meeting |
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Last month the fledgling Ben Lomond Village Alliance was introduced to the community and businesses of Ben Lomond. |
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Cannabis Dispensary Approved at Former Emily’s Bakery in Santa Cruz |
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A proposed cannabis dispensary at the former Emily’s Bakery on Mission Street was approved by the Santa Cruz City Council on Tuesday despite school administrators’ arguments that it was too close to a high school and a middle school. |
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Introduction to Arana Gulch |
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Remnant of an ancient ecosystem in the middle of town. |
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River Rescuers |
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On the asphalt levee of the San Lorenzo River, a half mile from where the river mouth spills into the ocean, a huddle of mustard yellow shirts awaits instructions. |
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Jewel Theatre’s Upbeat Adieu |
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Country and western classic tunes rocked the theater on opening night of Always … Patsy Cline. |
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Giant Dipper Celebrates a Century of Thrills |
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The great roller coaster arose amid screams above the golden strand of the Santa Cruz Boardwalk—a tooth-loosener, eyeball-popper, and one long shriek. |
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Tri-County Collaborative Receives Grant |
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The $1.28 million will be used for education programs, data surveillance and services aimed at preventing fentanyl overdoses. |
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Recent Local News |
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• Pacific Station North Groundbreaking Held
On May 20, a groundbreaking ceremony was held on the now-cleared site of the former downtown Santa Cruz Metro station to celebrate the beginning of construction of a new transit hub and 128-unit affordable apartment complex.
(05/20/2024) → Lookout Local• Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History Executive Director to Depart
The board of the Museum of Art and History is beginning the search for a new executive director as current director Robb Woulfe announced his departure.
(05/20/2024) → Lookout Local• UC Santa Cruz Academic Workers Strike
On May 20, UCSC academic workers and students walked out of classes in protest of the UC system administration handling of pro-Palestinian demonstrations.
(05/20/2024) → Santa Cruz Sentinel• Researchers Document Tool Use by Sea Otters
UCSC researchers, with teams from the University of Texas and Monterey Bay, studied local sea otter use of tools such as rocks and other items.
(05/20/2024) → Lookout Local• New CASA Volunteers Sworn In
18 new volunteers were sworn in as as Court Appointed Special Advocates following their 35 hour training.
(05/19/2024) → Santa Cruz Sentinel• Capitola Wharf to Reopen
Following a $10.6 million construction project to rebuild, the Capitola Wharf is set to reopen on August 14.
(05/19/2024) → Santa Cruz Sentinel• Planning Commission Considers Food Bin Project
In its May 15 meeting, the City of Santa Cruz Planning Commission considered changes made to the five-story project and recommended approval by the City Council.
(05/17/2024) → Santa Cruz Sentinel• Resilience Parcel Tax Measure Signatures Submitted
Group behind Water and Wildfire Protection Act, which would add a $87 annual parcel tax in Santa Cruz County, has submitted signatures to the county clerk for certification.
(05/17/2024) → Lookout Local• Santa Cruz County Project Roomkey Study Released
A case study of the impact of the California Housing and Community Development's pandemic Project Roomkey program in Santa Cruz County was released.
(05/16/2024) → Santa Cruz Sentinel• Santa Cruz City Council Approves Dispensary
In its May 13 meeting, the Santa Cruz City Council voted 6-1 to approve a controversial medical marijuana dispensary on Mission and Laurel Streets.
(05/14/2024) → Lookout Local• Santa Cruz Downtown Library Project Images Released
In the May 14 City Council meeting, the economic development department shared updated renderings of the library/housing/parking project at Cedar and Lincoln Streets, with construction to begin in early 2025.
(05/14/2024) → Lookout Local• New Government Center Opening in Watsonville
In advance of the opening of the new Santa Cruz County government center on Westridge Drive in a few weeks, the Human Services Department announced it was moved in and ready to provide services.
(05/14/2024) → Santa Cruz Sentinel|
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Recent Statewide News |
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• Why UC Grad Students Are Going Out on Strike
The job action starting today at UC Santa Cruz isn’t about pay, but instead is in response to how UC deployed police to clear pro-Palestinian encampments on campuses.
(05/19/2024) → CalMatters• These California Schools Connect Kids to Community Services. Will They Survive Budget Cuts?
Gov. Gavin Newsom launched the community school initiative with $4.1 billion in grants to connect students and their families to medical care, counseling and other services.
(05/16/2024) → CalMatters• Should California Doctors Report Domestic Abuse to Police? Here’s How Physician Lawmakers Voted
Pending legislation would lift requirements for California’s doctors to report all domestic abuse cases to police. The Assembly’s three physicians had different opinions.
(05/16/2024) → CalMatters• California’s Lagging Economy Hinders Efforts to Close State Budget Deficit
As Gov. Gavin Newsom and state legislators spend the next few weeks fashioning a state budget that’s plagued by a multibillion-dollar deficit, they can’t count on a booming economy to make their task easier.
(05/16/2024) → CalMatters• California’s Staggering Budget Deficit Squashes Hundreds of Bills
The state’s multibillion-dollar shortfall shapes which spending bills survived the ‘suspense file’ hearings by the Assembly and Senate appropriations committees.
(05/16/2024) → CalMatters• $20 Billion: The Delta Tunnel’s New Price Tag
The centerpiece of California’s water wars pits Gov. Newsom against local communities and environmentalists. A new report says the benefits of the tunnel exceed the cost since other water supplies would cost more.
(05/16/2024) → CalMatters|
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Government Announcements |
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United States (05/17/2024) Reser's Fine Foods Announces Voluntary Recall of Single Batch of Aldi Macaroni 32 oz Salad with Use By Date of Jun/03/24 Due to Unlabeled Wheat Allergen |
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Reser's Fine Foods is voluntarily recalling a single item with a specific use by date, produced at a regional facility and distributed to ALDI. The product is the Aldi Deli Macaroni Salad 32 oz, with a Use By Date of Jun/03/24 due to an incorrect label. The incorrect label does not include an all
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United States (05/17/2024) United Supermarkets Advises Guests in New Mexico and Texas of Palmer Candy's Voluntary Recall of White Coated Confectionary Items Due to Possible Salmonella Contamination |
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United Supermarkets is advising guests about a recall by its supplier Palmer Candy of its white coated confectionary items due to possible Salmonella contamination. Palmer Candy was notified by its liquid coating supplier that there was a potential for contamination with Salmonella from an ingredie
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County of Placer (05/17/2024) Board of Supervisors to hold rezone public hearing on May 21 |
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The Placer County Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing for the Housing Element Sites Rezone program with a timed action item scheduled for 10 a.m. May 21.
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United States (05/17/2024) Irvington Seafood Recalls "Crabmeat: Jumbo, Lump, Finger, and Claw Meat" Because of Possible Health Risk |
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Irvington Seafood of Irvington, AL, is recalling its 1 lb. packages of "Crabmeat: Jumbo, Lump, Finger, and Claw meat" because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly
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United States (05/16/2024) Mars Petcare US, Inc. Voluntarily Recalls 315 Bags of PEDIGREE® Adult Complete Nutrition Grilled Steak & Vegetable Flavor Dry Dog Food, 44 lb. Bag Size |
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Mars Petcare US is voluntarily recalling 315 bags of PEDIGREE Adult Complete Nutrition Grilled Steak & Vegetable Flavor Dry Dog Food in the 44 lb. bag size only, due to the potential presence of loose metal pieces in the bag. The affected products have a Best By Date of March 4, 2025 and Lot Code 4
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United States (05/16/2024) Update to Palmer Candy Company Recall of White Confectionary Products Because of Possible Health Risk |
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The recalled confectionary items were distributed nationwide in Walmart, HyVee, Target, Dollar General, and to distributors in Alabama, California, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin and Wy
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Town of Loomis (05/16/2024) Summer Swim Days 2024 |
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The post Summer Swim Days 2024 appeared first on Loomis, CA.
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City of Auburn (05/16/2024) City of Auburn Annual Clean Up Day - Saturday, June 8th! |
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Recology Auburn Placer will pick up your curbside trash throughout the City of Auburn.
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County of Placer (05/16/2024) Discover & Discuss: Projects and programs shaping the future of North Lake Tahoe |
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Join county staff and community partners at this open-house style event on Thursday, May 30, at the North Tahoe Event Center in Kings Beach to learn more and provide feedback about impactful projects and programs in the region.
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United States (05/16/2024) Sun Noodle Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Egg in S&S Frozen Cup Saimin |
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Sun Noodle is recalling approximately 37,158 cases of S&S CUP SAIMIN manufactured from May 9, 2023 - May 8, 2024, because they may contain undeclared egg white powder. Any product produced prior to May 9th, 2023 should have already been discarded due to expiration dates. People who have an allergy o
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