A relaxing nap can be a good way to spend the holiday which honors workers.
We give thanks to all the people who worked over the three day weekend taking care of the rest of us loafers.
And special thanks to organized labor, which has brought us the five day work-week, safer workplaces, fair pay and continues to fight for worker rights in general. Their work is never done.
In this week's newsletter we're also taking a break, and will be back in action next week with a look at the unusual number of city council elections being cancelled for want of candidates running against incumbents, and a reflection on how California is burning oil to make water.
In the meantime, enjoy the recipe of the week and catch up on all the news and government announcements from last week, below.
• Santa Cruz County Fentanyl Deaths Decreasing
Data from the office of the Santa Cruz County Sheriff indicates a decrease in local fentanyl-related deaths in 2024.
(08/29/2024) → Lookout Local
• Metro Rides Free or Discounted to Santa Cruz County Fair
Free and discounted fairs and a special bus route to the Santa Cruz County Fair are being offered by Santa Cruz Metro September 11-15.
(08/29/2024) → Lookout Local
• Measure Q Gains Labor Support
On August 29, backers of Santa Cruz Measure Measure Q to fund wildfire and climate resiliency and infrastructure announced the support of the Monterey Bay Central Labor Council.
(08/29/2024) → Lookout Local
• Santa Cruz City Manager on Homeless Response
A letter from Santa Cruz City Manager on the city's approach to homelessness and homeless encampments.
(08/28/2024) → Lookout Local
• Criminalizing Homelessness Topic of Capitola Meeting
A Housing Matters hosted meeting held on August 27 at the Capitola Branch Library covered how the nonprofit sees the effects of criminalization of homelessness.
(08/28/2024) → Santa Cruz Sentinel
• Harvey West Pool Reopening Set for Summer 2025
The Santa Cruz City Council voted unanimously to approve $400,000 in funding necessary for the reopening of the Harvey West Pool by Memorial Day 2025.
(08/28/2024) → Santa Cruz Sentinel
• North Highway 1 Closures On September 8 for Ironman 70.3
Highway 1 between Western Drive in Santa Cruz and Pigeon Point Road in San Mateo County will be closed on parts of September 8 to make way for the biking leg of the 70.3 Santa Cruz triathlon.
(08/28/2024) → Lookout Local
• Watsonville City Council Approves City Plaza Gazebo Restoration
In their August 27 meeting, the Watsonville City Council approved moving forward with a complete restoration of the City Plaza gazebo.
(08/28/2024) → Santa Cruz Sentinel
• New Watsonville City Manager Announced
Learn more about Tamara Vides, the new Watsonville City Manager.
(08/27/2024) → Lookout Local
• Digital NEST Celebrates 10th Year
A look at Digital NEST as it celebrates a decade of service to Central California youth.
(08/27/2024) → Lookout Local
• Capitola Wharf Prepares for Reopening
The recently restored Capitola Wharf is preparing to reopen soon, and a community work day is scheduled for September 7 to install some crowdfunded final items.
(08/26/2024) → Lookout Local
• COVID Surging, Health Officials Recommend Updated Vaccine
As COVID cases surge, health officials are recommending people take advantage of a recently approved and updated vaccine when it becomes available.
(08/26/2024) → Lookout Local
• California’s Economy Lags Behind Other States, Here’s Why It’s So Sluggish
California’s unemployment rate, 5.2% of its labor force in July, is no longer the nation’s highest after months of having that dubious distinction.
(09/02/2024) → CalMatters
• Gavin Newsom Calls Special Session on Gas Prices
Unable to jam through bills he says will lower California gas prices, Gov. Newsom calls the Legislature back into session.
(08/31/2024) → CalMatters
• More Affordable Housing Funds Could Come With New Labor Requirements
The Legislature is willing to guarantee $500 million annually to affordable housing developers, but with a caveat.
(08/30/2024) → CalMatters
• California’s Inequality Hotspots
A large apartment complex in San Rafael’s majority-Latino Canal neighborhood. Latino families in Marin County are far more likely than white families to have trouble making ends meet, a new report finds.
(08/30/2024) → CalMatters
• California Emergency Alerts Warn You About Fires and Extreme Weather. How to Sign Up in Your County
Early warning systems save lives during disasters, but a recent FEMA survey found that only a third of people are signed up. Use this resource to find your county’s emergency alert sign-up page.
(08/29/2024) → CalMatters
• From Inmate Release to Immigrant Housing Aid, California Bills Spur End-of-Session Fireworks
Some Democrats are pushing bills that could put their colleagues on the hot seat in an election year. The authors say they’re representing their constituents and there’s never a perfect time for votes.
(08/28/2024) → CalMatters
• 1 in 6 CHP Jobs Are Vacant — Despite Historic Raises and Newsom’s Hiring Campaign
California Highway Patrol officers received historically high raises in 2022 and 2023, but it continues to face a high vacancy rate of 16%.
(08/28/2024) → CalMatters
• These Middlemen Say They Keep Drug Prices Low. California Lawmakers Don’t Buy It
Pharmacy benefit managers attempt to negotiate cost savings for insurers. California is considering new rules that would require them to pass their discounts on to consumers.
(08/27/2024) → CalMatters
• Lawmakers Say Newsom Staff ‘Inflated’ Cost of Failed Health Care Bills
A trio of California Democratic lawmakers say they’re frustrated by high cost estimates that helped kill their health care legislation. Did the Newsom administration inflate the numbers to quietly kill the bills?
(08/26/2024) → CalMatters
• Millions of Californians Have Medical Debt. It Wouldn’t Hurt Your Credit Under Proposed Rules
About 4 in 10 Californians are carrying medical debt. Lawmakers are advancing a bill that would prevent that debt from affecting credit scores.
(08/26/2024) → CalMatters
A relaxing nap can be a good way to spend the holiday which honors workers.
