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Santa Cruz County Elections & Politics Articles



The Pajaronian logo LOCAL NEWS
Watsonville Hospital board approves budget, showing improved financial picture

Watsonville Community Hospital. Pajaronian file photo
Just two years ago, Watsonville Community Hospital was saddled with a $30 million debt and was facing bankruptcy and possible closure.

Image caption: California is a nationwide leader in the transition to clean energy, but Big Oil still wins most its battles in the legislature.
Big Oil is Still a Big Winner Even in 'Green' California

Two-thirds of the bills opposed by the oil industry this year were killed, thanks in part to an alliance with the building trades union, forcing Democrats to sometimes choose between jobs and the environment.

Santa Cruz Local logo LOCAL NEWS
Activists press Santa Cruz leaders to support Israel-Hamas ceasefire

Supporters of a Gaza ceasefire resolution spoke for about four hours at a Santa Cruz City Council meeting Tuesday. (Jana Silverman – Contributed)
SANTA CRUZ >> More than 100 people filled the Santa Cruz City Council chambers Tuesday to call …

Image caption: The existence of poverty in California is a policy choice, but there are other choices that could be made.
Poverty in California

Poverty in California was reduced by record levels during the COVID pandemic, but now those economic support programs have come to an end and poverty is on the rise again.

KSQD logo LOCAL NEWS
New Ballot Initiative Would Support Land Restoration in Santa Cruz County

Efforts are underway to qualify a new citizen's ballot initiative that would raise over $7 million a year for environmental restoration efforts, from wildfire and flood recovery to clean water and beaches. It's called the “Santa Cruz County Safe Drinking …

Santa Cruz Local logo LOCAL NEWS
San Lorenzo Valley voters describe needs from county supervisor candidates

Thirty-seven-year-old Melissa Ajuntas, right, moved to California from Texas for a safer and more inclusive community. She stands with her children, from left, Aleena Romero, 14, Misol Hernandez, 7, and Luna Hernandez, 4. (Natalya Dreszer — Santa Cruz Local)

Image caption: Kevin McCarthy (R-CA 20th), seen with Donald Trump (right), will resign from the Congress two months after fellow Republicans ousted him as House Speaker.
Race is On for Ousted Speaker Kevin McCarthy's House Seat

Rep. Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield announces he will leave Congress at the end of the year after fellow Republicans booted him as House speaker. Who might run for his seat? Could one candidate be former Rep. Devin Nunes?

Image caption: In a recent survey, less than half of California's likely voters approved of how the state legislature did its job.
Is Your Elected Representative Actually Representing You?

With few strict rules on what California lawmakers must do, politics, policy priorities and personal preferences determine how much they follow the wishes of voters who put them into office.

Image caption: California Gov. Gavin Newsom (L) and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis faced each other in person at last in an acrimonious Fox News debate Nov. 30.
Newsom, DeSantis Finally Square Off in Wild Fox News Debate

Governors Gavin Newsom (D-CA) and Ron DeSantis (R-FL) faced each other on a debate stage and traded blows, barbs, and zingers over the relative merits of their states in a Fox News debate that was nothing if not entertaining.

Santa Cruz Local logo LOCAL NEWS
Aptos, South County voters rank transportation and housing as top concerns

Freedom resident Vanessa Tamayo, 39, says she wants local government to help people find housing. She and her daughter, Sophia, attend the Santa Cruz County Fair on Sept. 15. (Natalya Dreszer — Santa Cruz Local)
APTOS >> Ahead of the …

Santa Cruz Local logo LOCAL NEWS
Bond measure on March ballot would benefit Watsonville hospital

A March 2024 bond measure would raise more than $100 million to buy the land and buildings at Watsonville Community Hospital. (Stephen Baxter — Santa Cruz Local)
WATSONVILLE >> Leaders of the Pajaro Valley Health Care District on Wednesday night …

Santa Cruz Local logo LOCAL NEWS
Sales tax hike returns to Santa Cruz ballot

Santa Cruz City Hall. (Kara Meyberg Guzman — Santa Cruz Local)
SANTA CRUZ >> Less than two years after Santa Cruz city residents voted down a proposed sales tax hike, the city council on Tuesday agreed to place a similar …

Image caption: California's school buildings aren't what they used to be, after years or neglect and disrepair that the legislature now struggles to reverse.
California's Crumbling Schools: Legislature Crafting Huge Construction Bond

Small, rural districts often struggle to pass local bond measures to pay for school construction and repairs. In some cases, leaking roofs, dry rot and broken air conditioners haven’t been fixed in years.

Image caption: California Gov. Gavin Newsom (left) and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (right) will face off in a Fox News debate on Nov. 30.
Newsom vs. DeSantis Fox News Debate Set for Nov. 30

Governors Gavin Newsom (D-CA) and Ron DeSantis (R-FL) are set to face off in a debate Nov. 30 with unexpectedly high stakes, as polls now show both underwater in voter approval ratings.

Image caption: Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas (right) waited until just before Thanksgiving to hit legislative leadership with a drastic overhaul.
Rivas Shakes up Legislative Leadership: Winners and Losers

Assembly Speaker Rivas puts key allies into leadership posts and shuffles the top posts on committees heading into the 2024 session of the Legislature. One big winner: pro-housing advocates.

Featured

California cities switch to more inclusive, district-based elections system.
Voting Rights...the Final Frontier
Pushed by activists, cities move from at-large elections to district races.
There are more than 300 community service districts in California.
Community Services Districts, Explained
Areas that the county overlooks can form their own local governments.
California continues to work on legislation that would make voting easier.
Voting Rites
And more bills are on the way to help you make your mark on Election Day.
The cycle of crime and homelessness is escalating, but it doesn't have to be that way.
Homelessness and Crime in California: Even More Complex Than You Think
What causes the cycle of homelessness and crime, and how to stop it.
The California Supreme Court has defined the state’s legal and political agenda for more than 170 years.
How the California Supreme Court Blazes Legal Trails
From its beginnings in the Gold Rush, the state Supreme Court continues to define the state today.
Translated from the Greek, “Democracy” means “people power.” How much power do the people have in California?
People Power! What Is Democracy, and How Does It Work in California?
The Goddess of Democracy is alive and well in California, but that hasn’t always been true.
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