The Santa Cruz Capital Improvement Program for 2013-2015 gives an idea of the work being done to keep Santa Cruz functioning for the next few years. Mostly consisting of repairs and upgrades to the city’s infrastructure, the CIP is responsible for making sure that everything works properly and that the city adapts quickly to changing.
conditions. Some projects in the budget for next year include the planning stages of the
proposed Desal plant, a total overhaul of the Arana Gulch area, and the replacement of
incandescent bulbs in street and stop lights with LEDs.

Federal government agencies recently reported that student loan debt has exceeded credit card debt at $1 trillion. This change is alarming for the health of the economy and the future of the UC. Radical changes are needed to address student needs and the accessibility of public education in California.


When the recession hit, Las Vegas felt the pressure. Now, as the house of cards tries to keep its balance, what does the city look like amid a time of financial reassessment? Turns out pretty much the same — just with fewer buildings.

Every year after Labor Day, the neighborhood surrounding the Boardwalk transforms from a bustling pool of congestion to a near ghost town. But even this year’s summer season — which traditionally brings with it lots of Boardwalk area bustle — was significantly more quiet than in previous years.

According to a monthly data release from the Employment and Development Department of the California government, the Santa Cruz unemployment rate was 13.6 percent for the month of March 2009. This figure is 2 percent higher than the statewide average and 4.6 percent higher than the national average. The number has increased over the last few months and is higher than last year’s estimate for the period, at 8.3 percent. As a result, over 20,000 citizens are unemployed in Santa Cruz County.