A road in Florida flooded by the massive rains brought by Hurricane Helene.
As I write this, people across the southeast states are reeling from the devastation wrought by Hurricane Helene.
As an emergency communications geek, I follow a number of emergency service professionals on social media, and the information coming out of Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee is both dire and inspiring.
Yes, inspiring. Even before the winds and rain had died down, neighbors and professionals leapt into action to perform swift water rescues, dig survivors out of mudslides and destroyed buildings and do house to house welfare checks in their neighborhoods. With power, cell phone, landlines and internet down, Ham Radio operators hastily organized networks to help coordinate relief efforts throughout the affected regions.
And right now, people across the country are gripped with an desire to reach out and help .
This week, The Newsletter contemplates that human impulse to cooperate and give support and aid to our fellows, and how we've organized our society around it.
How We Take Care of Each Other
For all of our flaws, there is an essentially decent part of human nature that compels us to render aid to the afflicted and unfortunate.
We celebrate our humaneness with the first two articles of what will be an ongoing series documenting "service clubs" whose names may be familiar— organizations that are doing good in our communities.
The Changing Nature of Doing Good
The legacy of ‘service clubs’ such as Soroptomists and Rotary lives on in a new generation of social clubs and volunteer organizations.
• Earthquake Rattles Aromas
Information about the 4.2-magnitude earthquake centered in Aromas.
(09/28/2024) → Lookout Local
• Candidate Profile: Margaux Morgan
A look at Margaux Morgan, running for reelection to the Capitola City Council in the November election.
(09/28/2024) → Santa Cruz Sentinel
• Summary of West Cliff Roadnap Meeting
A summary of the September 26 virtual meeting about the City of Santa Cruz West Cliff Five Year Roadmap.
(09/27/2024) → Santa Cruz Sentinel
• Give Your Feedback: Mobile Outreach Syringe and Narcan Distribution
The public is invited to give feedback to the Harm Reduction Coalition of Santa Cruz County about a possible mobile outreach program to distribute clean syringes and Narcan in an effort to reduce overdose deaths.
(09/27/2024) → Lookout Local
• SEIU and County Reach Tentative Agreement
On September 27, the Service Employees International Union Local 521 announced a tentative deal with the County of Santa Cruz for a new labor contract, which must still be ratified by members.
(09/27/2024) → Lookout Local
• Santa Cruz County Election: Measure Q: Water and Wildfire Protection Tax
A look at Measure Q, the Water and Wildfire Protection Tax on the November ballot and comments from those in favor of the measure and some surprising opposition.
(09/26/2024) → Lookout Local
• Health Care District Votes to Buy Watsonville Hospital Building
In their September 25 meeting, the Pajaro Valley Health Care District board voted to purchase the Watsonville hospital facilities and land.
(09/26/2024) → Lookout Local
• Candidate Forum: Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors 2nd District
A summary of the September 23 forum for the candidates running for the District 2 seat on the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors in the November election.
(09/26/2024) → Santa Cruz Sentinel
• Insurance Commissioner (Virtually) Meets With Bonny Doon Homeowners
A summary of a September 25 online meeting with California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara and Bonny Doon homeowners impacted by the insurance crisis.
(09/25/2024) → Lookout Local
• A Look at Capitola’s Measure Y
An explanation of Measure Y, an increase of the Capitola sales tax from 9% to 9.25%, on the November ballot.
(09/25/2024) → Lookout Local
• A Look Scotts Valley's Measure X Business License Tax
An explanation of the Scotts Valley business license tax Measure X on the November ballot.
(09/25/2024) → Lookout Local
• Candidate Profiles: Pajaro Valley Unified School District Trustee Area 6
Meet the candidates running for the Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees Area 6 seat in the November election.
(09/25/2024) → Lookout Local
• Supervisors Focus on Unhosted Rentals
In their September 24 meeting, the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors approved a subcommittee to examine the increasing number of housing units not occupied by the owner, purchased for the purpose of short term rentals.
(09/24/2024) → Lookout Local
• Santa Cruz Approves Rent Ordinance
In their September 25 meeting, the Santa Cruz City Council approved an ordinance capping rent increases at the St. George Hotel and other local city-assisted housing.
(09/24/2024) → Lookout Local
• SCCRTC Seeks Advisory Board Members
Applications are open for seats on the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission Elderly and Disabled Transportation Advisory Committee.
(09/24/2024) → Lookout Local
• Applications Open for Free Wood Chipping
Applications are open through October 31 to Santa Cruz County residents for reimbursement of wood chipping costs under the Resource Conservation District of Santa Cruz County's Neighborhood Chipping Program.
(09/24/2024) → Lookout Local
• Vomiting, Cramps and Lethargy: As Heat Rises, California Kids Are Sweltering in Schools With No Air Conditioning
An estimated 1 in 5 schools has no air conditioning and another 10% need repair. Underfunded schools struggle to keep classrooms cool as heat waves intensify. “It’s a hot mess,” one teacher says.
(09/30/2024) → CalMatters
• Late Payments to Nonprofits Hamper California’s Fight Against Homelessness
Homeless service providers are scaling back and taking out loans as they wait for late payments from the government.
(09/30/2024) → CalMatters
• California Bans Legacy Admissions at Colleges. The End of Affirmative Action Is a Reason Why
California’s private nonprofit colleges will no longer be able grant students an admissions advantage if their parents donated to or went to the same college after Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law this morning banning the practice.
(09/30/2024) → CalMatters
• Newsom Plan on Gas Prices Clears First Hurdle
Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposal to combat gasoline price spikes appears headed to a long-awaited Assembly floor vote next week after passing out of committee on September 26.
(09/27/2024) → CalMatters
• Election Guide: Proposition 2 $10 Billion Education Bond
The Mercury News guide to the Proposition 2 $10 billion bond to build and repair public schools.
(09/27/2024) → The Mercury News
• Economists Like Newsom’s Plan to Help Control Gas Prices. Refiners Don’t.
The governor wants new gas reserves to dampen seasonal price spikes. Refiners say the move would raise prices and require new storage tanks.
(09/26/2024) → CalMatters
• Will New Laws Improve Housing for CA Farmworkers?
Many California farmworkers have long lacked safe and affordable places to sleep — an issue thrown into sharp relief after last year’s mass shooting in Half Moon Bay, which left seven agricultural workers dead.
(09/25/2024) → CalMatters
• Election Guide: Proposition 36 Anti-Crime Measure
The Mercury News guide to the anti-crime and ant-drug dealing measure Proposition 36 on the November ballot.
(09/25/2024) → The Mercury News
• Cal State Campuses Brace for ‘Severe Consequences’ as Budget Gap Looms
Cal State officials are projecting a 2025-26 budget hole of about $400 million to $800 million. They are warning of layoffs and academic cuts.
(09/24/2024) → CalMatters
• New California Law Gives Tenants More Time to Respond to Eviction Notices
Tenant advocates say giving renters 10 days to respond to eviction notices, up from 5, will help those who live in rural areas and have trouble finding legal help. Some landlords argue it will increase their costs.
(09/24/2024) → CalMatters
• Only 1 in 5 California Community College Students Makes It to a University, Audit Says
Community colleges are designed to help students get an associate degree and transfer to a four-year university. Most community college students never graduate or transfer, a state audit found.
(09/24/2024) → CalMatters
• A New California Law Will Scrub Most Medical Debt From Credit Reports
About 4 in 10 Californians are believed to be carrying medical debt, which can harm their chances of landing a mortgage or an apartment if it shows up on credit reports.
(09/24/2024) → CalMatters
A road in Florida flooded by the massive rains brought by Hurricane Helene.
