Santa Cruz County voters might have to decide this November if local roads are worth $10. The per-vehicle registration fee, which will face a vote at the Regional Transportation Commission next month before going on the ballot, would produce an estimated $2.2 million annually and need a two-thirds majority to pass.
Articles by Jacob Pierce
Where are the Santa Cruz Food Trucks?
When Fran Grayson’s friend was looking to sell a shiny chrome truck, Grayson thought it might be time to make the purchase herself and open up a restaurant on wheels. Grayson’s is one of just a small handful of food trucks in town, most of which—like Cruz n Gourmet, Raymond’s Catering and Babaloo—go to UCSC but don’t make stops in town proper.
Lompico Water Board Irked by Rogue Rep
What happens when an elected official—acting alone—says thanks but no thanks to tens of thousands of dollars for his financially struggling district to study an issue that a) is hugely important to that district and b) he vehemently opposes?
Home Economics of Walnut Commons
If all goes according to plan, Sue Lawson will leave her home in La Selva Beach, where she’s been 32 years, for a new place where she hopes to really get to know the people around her. Lawson intends to move into a proposed 19-unit housing complex that’s up for a city council vote July 24. It would include a community kitchen and activity room—all in the name of getting to know the people next door a little better. “This is why it’s called an intentional community,” the 74-year-old Lawson says. “We meet once a week, and our building isn’t even going to be built for a year and a half.”
Desal EIR Delayed Again
The environmental impact report for the Santa Cruz desal plant, originally due September 2011, has been delayed a second time. Now city staff has given up on estimating specific months and instead started ballparking seasons.
Chop Tops Blast Billy Audiences Away
It’s Thursday night, and Gary Marsh is waiting inside his band’s favorite bar, the Asti, rocking slicked-back hair and a gray collared shirt he could have borrowed off a car mechanic. Having just bought a Red Bull, Marsh—who goes by “Sinner” in the rockabilly-blasting Chop Tops—is sipping his nonalcoholic drink, ignoring my questions and gazing over my left shoulder at the bar’s front door. Now he’s just buying time.
Projected Water Swap Flows Reduced
New figures unveiled at a June 14 forum didn’t bode particularly well for a plan environmentalists hope could be an alternative to desalination. County water resources director John Ricker spoke at a forum hosted by the Engineers for Water Alternatives.
Blue Lounge Opens in Seabright
The weekly queer-friendly sweat-and-danceathon known as the Rainbow Room has given LGBT and straight booty-shakers alike a reason to get out of bed on Thursday afternoons for a couple of years now. So it was cause for some concern in partyish circles when the Seabright bar the Mad House, scene of all the fun, changed hands. You could almost hear the questions marks over the beats: “Will the Rainbow Room survive?”
Forum Explores Water Swap Scenario
Engineers for Water Alternatives is hosting a June 14 forum about conjunctive use, also known as water swapping, which is currently being studied by the county. The possible swap would involve pumping the San Lorenzo River’s surplus flows to other places in the county. The idea has made county water resource director John Ricker, who leads the study, quite popular with desal opponents—even though Ricker has doubts that this is the game-changer environmentalists have been awaiting.
In Heaven They’ll Never Close
The most recent casualty to Santa Cruz’s dive scene, the Avenue Bar and Cigars was the best place to watch overaged, underpaid prostitutes flash returning customers and new victims. Those who didn’t want to see anything illegal happen simply had to close their eyes and listen to the sweet, sweet sounds of “I’ll get you the money tomorrow!”
