Santa Cruz County Monitor

A local resident argues Lookout Santa Cruz overlooked key criteria like integrity and empathy in endorsing Ryan Coonerty for mayor.

• Development...

Martinelli’s contract cancellations are dismantling a century-old apple industry in Pajaro Valley, leaving growers like Peter Knego and Jake Mann...

A free disaster preparedness event at the Aptos Grange on June 6 offers practical tips on wildfires, storms, and earthquakes for all ages. Experts...

Watsonville Community Hospital's CEO Stephen Gray will step down July 10, leaving the facility to navigate ongoing financial losses and a leadership transition during a period of state funding support.

Elementary students from the 3DE Club organized and led Santa Cruz's first student-run mayoral forum, posing substantive questions to Mayor Fred...

Jonathan Escobar overcame middle school bullying to become Pajaro Valley High's class president, rally organizer, and "spirit of the school,"...

Candidates offer sharply different homelessness strategies ahead of the June 2 primary.

• Forced treatment push: Coonerty, Greensite and Marin back...

• Watsonville Community Hospital gets $10.6 million state grant but holds under 10 days cash, needing a long-term partner after federal cuts.
• Sen....

Santa Cruz County voters can register, vote, or drop ballots at VoteMobile pop-ups this weekend ahead of the June 2 primary.

• May 30 locations:...

A pedestrian was killed in a hit-and-run near the clocktower at North Pacific Avenue and Water Street around 1:45 a.m. Saturday, with the driver later arrested on vehicular manslaughter and related charges.

Fiscal Planning and Government Proposals

• 🔥 County Budget Release: Santa Cruz County released its proposed FY 2026–27 budget totaling $1.29...

Housing Matters will cut family shelter rooms from 28 to 18 and recuperative care beds from 30 to 20, citing insufficient private donations to cover...

Two letters to the editor counter claims that Santa Cruz’s large mayoral race undermines democracy.

• Dorah Rosen rejects Mark Stephens’ concerns,...

PG&E has launched a major infrastructure project to strengthen grid reliability and capacity in rural South Santa Cruz County communities.

• Voltage...

Santa Cruz Regional 9-1-1 will mark its 30th anniversary with a community open house on June 18 from 2-5 p.m. at 495 Upper Park Road, featuring tours...

Santa Cruz County Parks proposes a pay-for-parking pilot at high-traffic sites to offset a $38,000 revenue drop from the loss of a one-time state...

Santa Cruz's high housing costs and state mandate for 3,000 new units expose clear divides among the five mayoral candidates on density, location, and...

The volunteer-run Santa Cruz Mountains Art Center in Ben Lomond faces mounting financial pressures from aging equipment, utility costs, and building...

AB 1924 passed the Assembly 77-1 with bipartisan support, requiring California to issue a statewide homelessness prevention strategy by July 1, 2027,...

Council will decide June 23 on placing amendments before voters.

• Residency rules: Mayor must live in city; councilmembers can finish terms after...