Santa Cruz County Local News: Elections & Politics


All Local Elections & Politics News articles contributed by our local media allies and other local newsrooms.

California Local Pin Marker From The Sacramento Bee...

06/22/2023
Robert Rivas tells anyone who will listen that his rise from farmworker housing on the rural Central Coast to Assembly Speaker is wholly unexpected. But many who have watched the Democrat’s climb from an outgoing high-schooler to a San Benito County supervisor to the holder of one most powerful political offices in the state are not surprised.

California Local Pin Marker From CalMatters...

06/21/2023
Most of what Californians experience with homelessness occurs along public spaces and city streets. But what happens when a city council member loses her home? Ojai’s Suza Francina is finding out.

California Local Pin Marker From The Sacramento Bee...

06/20/2023
California lawmakers are poised to consider HR 47, which would rename room 317 in the Capitol as the “Speaker Anthony Rendon Press Room.” The resolution highlights Rendon’s lengthy time as speaker—the longest since California set term limits for state lawmakers.

California Local Pin Marker From CalMatters...

06/20/2023
Legislators threatened to reject Newsom’s infrastructure package if he won’t remove the Delta water tunnel. The issue could be ammunition as the budget deadline looms.

California Local Pin Marker From California Local...

06/16/2023
Image for display with article titled California’s Next Abortion Battleground: ‘Crisis Pregnancy Centers’

Abortion rights advocates say the centers mislead vulnerable women about their pregnancy options.

Santa Cruz Local logo From Santa Cruz Local...

06/16/2023
Image for display with article titled Campaign Finance Probe Remains Unresolved in Santa Cruz County

A campaign finance investigation into Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson in the 2022 Santa Cruz County supervisors race remains unresolved in part because of the state’s 1,300 case backlog.

California Local Pin Marker From California Local...

06/15/2023
Image for display with article titled Renters’ Rights: How California Advocates Chip Away at Landlords’ Outsized Influence

Landlord lobbying groups spend millions in Sacramento but renters are making some gains.

The Pajaronian logo From The Pajaronian...

06/15/2023
Image for display with article titled Challenger to Vie for Koenig’s Supervisor Seat

Lani Faulkner, a biotechnology researcher and public transportation advocate, will challenge Santa Cruz County Supervisor Manu Koenig when his District 1 seat comes up for reelection.

Good Times logo From Good Times...

06/14/2023
Image for display with article titled Supervisors Approve Budget

Santa Cruz County’s new budget is in the billions despite growing deficit that is expected to reach $24 million in coming years.

Good Times logo From Good Times...

06/14/2023
Image for display with article titled Lani Faulkner Launches Supervisor Campaign

A longtime biotechnology researcher and public transportation advocate is challenging Santa Cruz County Supervisor Manu Koenig when his seat goes up for reelection.

California Local Pin Marker From CalMatters...

06/14/2023
California’s state budget is the product of a multi-month, multi-step process that involves the governor, the Legislature, lobbyists, interest groups and the public. Here are the key dates along the way.

California Local Pin Marker From CalMatters...

06/14/2023
The arguments made by the Los Angeles Unified School District to fight a 2021 lawsuit attempting to reopen schools sparked a campaign to enshrine a constitutional right to a high-quality education. Let the politics begin.

California Local Pin Marker From California Local...

06/13/2023
Image for display with article titled Is Housing a Human Right? California Voters Could Decide

Democratic lawmakers want the right to housing enshrined in the state constitution.

California Local Pin Marker From California Local...

06/13/2023
Image for display with article titled California’s COVID Unemployment Reckoning Goes National in New Book

How technological and political failures blocked payments and enabled fraud.

California Local Pin Marker From CalMatters...

06/12/2023
Democratic leaders in the Legislature unveiled their California budget agreement, but Gov. Newsom must sign off for a final deal. There are some significant differences with what Newsom proposed in May.

California Local Pin Marker From CalMatters...

06/11/2023
The state’s 2023-24 budget has been subject to a lot of political wrangling this year as California faces a $31.5 billion spending gap. The constant push and pull of balancing the budget means that if one program, agency or proposal receives funding, something else could lose out. The Legislature is expected to pass its budget [...]

California Local Pin Marker From California Local...

06/08/2023
Image for display with article titled Newsom’s Gun Regulation Hail Mary: Could His Constitutional Amendment Actually Happen?

Saying ‘I don’t know what the hell else to do,’ governor proposes amendment to regulate guns nationwide.

California Local Pin Marker From California Local...

06/08/2023
Image for display with article titled California Caste Discrimination Bill Sets Off New Immigration Controversy

Legislation to ban centuries-old system of discrimination divides South Asian community

California Local Pin Marker From California Local...

06/05/2023
Image for display with article titled How California Developers Exploit Affordable Housing Laws to Strong-Arm Cities

Developers use a loophole to push through thousands of new apartments.

California Local Pin Marker From CalMatters...

06/04/2023
In May, a video featured a young woman named Brooklyn imploring viewers to tell the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation about the importance of EarnIn, part of a relatively new app-based industry that provides cash advances to people based on their wages.