Santa Cruz County Business, Economy & Jobs Digest

In its April 18 meeting, the City of Santa Cruz Planning Commission agreed to postpone a decision on rule changes to restaurant outdoor seating for 60 days.

The California Public Utilities Commission will consider on May 9 a new proposal that would change how Californians pay for electricity.

The Live Oak School District will consider hosting the farmers market at a school site, but the soonest that would happen is still months away.

The Santa Cruz County Small Business Development Center will be hosting the all day Small Business Summit on the Cabrillo College Campus

Laura Schmidt is resigning from her position as assistant city manager for the City of Santa Cruz, effective August, to consult in the private sector.

A coalition of timber businesses filed a lawsuit on Wednesday against the embattled Pacific Gas & Electric Co., alleging $225 million in damages caused by the 2021 Dixie Fire.

A California Republican’s bill would exempt low and middle income wildfire victims from solar panels requirements on rebuilt homes that didn’t have them when they burned down.

An item to discuss an emergency moratorium on new commercial cannabis businesses was removed from the Santa Cruz City Council April 9 meeting agenda.

Open since 1933, Bocci's Cellar is for sale for $1.1M.

Anti-tax groups in California have qualified a measure for the November ballot that would make raising state and local taxes much more difficult. It’s a showdown that’s been building for nearly five decades.

Not filling open positions in state government, cutting a school facilities program and several climate initiatives, delaying funding for public transit — these are some of the first steps that California officials plan to take to deal with a looming multibillion-dollar budget deficit.

Feedback is being solicited by the City of Santa Cruz for a new location for the downtown farmers market, which will be displaced when the library/parking garage project begins.

Plans for an 18 story building 192 feet tall were submitted to the City of Santa Cruz planning department.

Captains of fishing boats on the California coast are bracing for salmon fishing to be severely restricted — or possibly canceled for a second year.

According to emails obtained by CalMatters Capitol reporter Jeanne Kuang in response to a public records request, a range of employers have been trying to figure out if they must pay $20 ever since the law was signed late last September.

After failing to negotiate a new lease for the East Cliff Village shopping center location with owners San Jose based Swenson Builders, the Live Oak Farmers Market is looking for a new home.

Former Santa Cruz city council member and county supervisor Ryan Coonerty has been named as the new Executive Directory, taking over from Interim Executive Director Dave Vincent.

Joby Aviation announced it will be delivering the second and third of three aircraft produced at its Pilot Production Line in Marina as part of a contract with the U.S. Air Force.

Following two decades at the Ron Duncan announced his retirement, ending his tenure at the district, including nine as general manager.

The cannabis dispensary specializes in providing medical marijuana to patients with serious diseases and will be allowed to do business in the city of Santa Cruz after the Planning Commission approved its application.

The consumer price index shows services are mostly responsible for persistent inflation, but prices for food and other goods in California remain high.

The ballot measure to increase the sales tax paid in unincorporated areas of the county from 9% to 9.5% continues to gain votes.

The Measure M initiative to make zoning and general plan changes in Santa Cruz and raise the affordable housing inclusionary rate in the city is unlikely to pass, while the Measure L sales tax increase seemed headed for approval.

Republicans want to scrap the law, accusing Gov. Gavin Newsom of corruption in dealings with a Panera Bread franchisee who is a major campaign donor. McDonald’s franchisees are funding a committee that is attacking Democrats who supported the law and are seeking local office in the primary.

On March 1, the California Public Utilities Commission gave approval for driverless taxi company Waymo to expand service into Los Angeles and San Mateo counties.

Logistics has been an economic lifeline for the Inland Empire for decades. Now that the industry is hitting a downturn, the region is feeling the pain.

The Legislative Analyst’s Office projects the 2024-25 shortfall at $73 billion, putting more pressure on legislators and the governor to find savings.

One of the biggest properties on Cannery Row has a new identity, after several years dark. Tipsy Putt soft opened in the former Cannery Row Brewing Company.

California’s latest Master Plan for Aging underscores the need for policies to address the challenges aging populations face. But it fails to portray the realities for older adults in rural areas, who are at greater risk of poverty.

Members of the California Faculty Association approve a two-year agreement that the union and administration hammered out after a strike last month that lasted one day.

A pair of structures near the tip of Capitola’s embattled wharf must be torn down and city officials are seeking the public’s assistance in charting a vision for the locations moving forward.

Campaign finance disclosure statements show that real estate developers and contractors made the largest contributors to the campaign opposing Measure M while Measure M received support from Santa Cruz residents.