Pumpkin Patches Provide Alternative for Safe Fall Fun
Halloween 2020 will be different from any other Halloween we’ve experienced before. Come Oct. 31, streets once filled with candy-seeking children dressed up as ghosts and superheroes will be empty. While trick-or-treating is highly discouraged, there are still ways to have safe fall fun while…
Santa Cruz County Sees Surge in Poll Station Volunteers
With the November election less than two weeks away, Santa Cruz County has received 1,717 applications for the 430 available poll worker positions, according to Santa Cruz County Clerk Gail Pellerin. “We’re usually begging [for poll workers],” Pellerin said. “It’s now cool to be working…
Wildfires Force Removal of Hazardous Waste
After burning for 38 days and covering 86,500 acres in San Mateo and Santa Cruz county, the effects of the CZU Lightning Complex fire continue to linger, due to the potential for toxic exposure from hazardous substances in its aftermath. The state of California and…
The Real Cost of Plastic
In 2020, it’s hard to find an object that doesn’t contain plastic. But how and why did this material become so prominent and what are its lasting impacts? CHP Now takes a closer look at plastic and recycling in UCSC and Santa Cruz, California. All…
Restrictions Extended for Santa Cruz Street Vendors
A once familiar sight for many Santa Cruz residents will continue to be absent from West Cliff Drive’s sidewalks. On Aug. 14th, the city manager’s office issued an executive order prohibiting street vendors from operating there due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The prohibition was set…
Santa Cruz Police Department Receives $85,000 Grant
For a third year in a row, the Santa Cruz City Council approved a Santa Cruz Police Department (SCPD) grant on Oct. 13 to fund traffic enforcement efforts. The $85,000 grant — $10,000 more than last year — will be in effect until Sept. 2021….
Large RVs No Longer Allowed on Olive Street 100 Block, City Council Decides
At the request of business and homeowners of a dead-end block adjacent to the Mission St. CVS, the Santa Cruz City Council voted Sept. 22 to reconfigure the parking arrangement on the 100 block of Olive Street — forcing individuals who park their large recreational…
Ballot Boxes and VoteMobile: Santa Cruz Prepares for Nov. Election
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced a rethinking of voting procedures across the country. Santa Cruz County is also adapting to the catastrophic fire season as November approaches. Despite the setbacks, County Clerk Gail Pellerin remains optimistic about the upcoming election. “There’s a lot more enthusiasm…
PG&E Starts Fall Blackouts: How to be Prepared
Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) will be conducting planned power outages across the Bay Area in response to high winds that increase the risk of wildfires. Outages are expected to start at 8 p.m. tonight and conclude at 10 p.m. on Friday, affecting about 54,000 customers.
Santa Cruz City Council Candidate: Kelsey Hill
With the Nov. 3 election fast approaching, City on a Hill Press sat down with the Santa Cruz City Council candidates to talk COVID, racial justice, and more. Here’s what Kelsey Hill has to say. To view the rest of the City Council interviews look…