Last winter’s storms, particularly in March, caused an estimated $17 million in damages to Santa Cruz County. Roads were washed out, neighborhoods were flooded and mudslides blocked access routes to homes and neighborhoods. Yet the damage wasn’t severe enough to be considered a federal emergency, and FEMA has informed Gov. Jerry Brown that it will not be contributing to repair the damage.
Articles by Danny Wool
First Alarm in Harvey West
First Alarm Security Service is already patrolling Downtown Santa Cruz and the Wharf. A new, four-week pilot program has it patrolling Harvey West Park as well. While routine police patrols will continue in the park, this will allow the SCPD to devote more officers to work on what it considers to be “serious crimes.” First Alarm staff patrol the park with handcuffs and radios, and they can detain suspects, but the police must be notified and make the actual arrests. In general, their role is to “detect, deter, observe and report.”
Little Information from Stab Wound Victim
An 18-year-old resident of Santa Cruz County says he was attacked by 10 people at a party.
PG&E Installing Smart Meters This Month
PG&E will be installing smart meters throughout Santa Cruz County starting at the end of June. The wireless meters, used to measure electricity consumption, are the subject of some controversy, and critics are vowing civil disobedience to prevent the installation.
Watsonville Rodeo Gets Reluctant Nod from Supervisors
The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 to back a rodeo slated for the County Fairgrounds near Watsonville. The event, proposed for October, is being promoted by the Santa Cruz County Deputy Sheriffs Association. It would be the county’s first rodeo since the 1970s.
Police Find Car Involved in Cyclist’s Death
Officers with the California Highway Patrol have located a 1998 burgundy Nissan Maxima they believe struck cyclist Zachary Parke, 25, in a fatal hit-and-run. CHP Officer Sarah Jackson expressed gratitude for leads submitted by the public that led to the identification of the vehicle.
Best Beach in California
With summer now here, people will inevitably be heading to the beach. Now the world knows what Santa Cruz natives have known for a very long time. This is one of the best beach towns in the entire United States, and the best beach town in all of California (Hear that, Long Beach? We don’t even need to add “Beach” to our name.).
TED Is Coming to Santa Cruz
There’s almost nothing as intellectually stimulating as a TED Talk. TED, short for “Technology, Entertainment, Design,” has been a chance for people to hear some of the greatest innovators and thinkers around describe everything from why we know so much less about the world than we think we do to what we can learn about ourselves from how we tie our shoes.
Tagging Abatement Project Stifled by Budget Cuts
In just the past year, the Graffiti Removal Project’s volunteers have removed over 200,000 square feet of graffiti across Santa Cruz County, generally within 72 hours of when it first appeared.
Eaton Street Bike Lanes Nearing Completion
The new sidewalks and bike lanes along Eaton Street should be completed next week.
