Santa Cruz County Monitor

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...

Santa Cruz County's proposed FY 2026–27 budget totals $1.29 billion and closes a $23 million gap using one-time funds while protecting core services...

No significant updates today.

No significant updates today.

Santa Cruz County recorded 15 new business registrations between May 11-15, spanning services, retail, and trades.

• Diverse registrations:...

UC Santa Cruz humanities students are using art, literature, and community internships to challenge incarceration via the VAST certificate and EXCEL...

A Santa Rosa man died May 18 after his vehicle left Highway 1 and plunged over a cliff north of Scott Creek.

• The 58-year-old was driving southbound...

Santa Cruz County supervisors approved a new Federal Immigration Enforcement Engagement and Oversight Policy that bars staff from assisting federal...

• Capitola City Council reallocates $200,000 from Bay Avenue improvements to study Capitola trestle trail use.
• Santa Cruz theaters launch summer...