New Houseless Ordinance Clears First Council Reading, Awaits Final Approval
A new city ordinance that would ban outdoor overnight sleeping in much of Santa Cruz and tightly regulate it elsewhere cleared the Santa Cruz City Council’s initial readthrough this Tuesday, putting it on track to become law two weeks from now. “My understanding is this…
Barrios Unidos Hosts Santa Cruz Community to Celebrate Black History Month
This article features a short video from City on a Hill Press’s video team, CHP Now. A DJ blasts “Everybody Loves the Sunshine” by Roy Ayers. The walls of Barrios Unidos’ new community center are covered with acrylic paintings of historical Black figures. Over their…
Santa Cruz County Health Agencies Prepare for Vaccine Distribution before Predicted COVID-19 Surge
As of Feb. 19, there are 14,438 cases of COVID-19 in Santa Cruz County, including 172 deaths and 13,605 recovered. For updated information on vaccine eligibility, please check the Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency (HSA) website. As of Feb. 17, UC Santa Cruz has…
Santa Cruz’s Hottest New Comedy Club is a Parking Garage
On the Friday before Valentine’s Day, most people were focusing on a romantic weekend with their significant other or themselves. I, on the other hand, was taking my girlfriend up the urine-speckled ramp to the top of the Church Street parking garage. On top of…
Santa Cruz County Anticipates Mid-March COVID-19 Surge
As of Wednesday Feb. 19, there are 14,438 cases of COVID-19 in Santa Cruz County, including 172 deaths and 13,605 recovered. For updated information on vaccine eligibility, please check the Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency (HSA) website. As of Wednesday Feb. 17, UC Santa…
Spared of Major Debris Flow Damages, Concerns Remain in the Santa Cruz Mountains
In the span of five months, thousands of Santa Cruz County residents have left their homes, fearing fires, floods, winds, and mudslides, unsure when they’d return. Over 60,000 Santa Cruz County residents were evacuated during the CZU Lightning Complex fires last August. Then, two weeks…
Housing Matters Awarded With $2.5 Million to Take On Family Houselessness
Housing Matters, the largest nonprofit in Santa Cruz County working on solutions to houselessness, was awarded a $2.5 million grant on Dec. 9 from the Day 1 Families Fund. The grant is earmarked for family houselessness services. Housing Matters explained the grant money will be…
Facing COVID-19 Vaccine Shortages, Santa Cruz County Announces Vaccine Distribution Plans for Phase 1B
As of 10 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 30, there are 13,321 cases of COVID-19 in Santa Cruz County, including 148 deaths and 11,326 recovered. For updated information on vaccine eligibility, please check the Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency (HSA) website. Santa Cruz County is…
Bookshop Santa Cruz Employees Seek Union Representation
As the sun set on Pacific Avenue on Jan. 12, a distanced group of about 40 people gathered in front of Bookshop Santa Cruz as speakers spoke through a megaphone. The employees of Bookshop Santa Cruz, donned red-emblazoned t-shirts, organized this rally to garner support…
Santa Cruz City Council Update Jan. 26, 2021
Every other Tuesday, Santa Cruz’s elected officials gather on a Zoom call to discuss the city’s legislative future. In a new series from City on a Hill Press, we will give you the rundown of what happens at virtual City Hall. In this week’s meeting,…