-
Jan 15, 2025 | 
goodtimes.sc | William S. Woodhams
In the aftermath of 150 feet of the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf falling into the ocean on Dec. 23—closing the iconic wooden structure for 10 days—questions are still swirling about whether the collapse was preventable. And with all eyes on Santa Cruz and our unique but battered wharf—who is to blame? In the first days city staff members blamed the jumbo swell that propelled Mavericks to record heights, litigation from a group called Don’t Morph the Wharf and even bird nests preventing repairs.
-
Nov 11, 2024 | 
richmondconfidential.org | Paul Ghusar |Riley Ramirez |Renee Bartlett-Webber |William S. Woodhams
“People of Richmond” is a regular series in which reporters pose a question to people in the community. Answers are presented verbatim, though sometimes edited for brevity. Q: What should Richmond do with the $550 million Chevron has agreed to pay over the next decade? “They could be major funders for the school district because schools are generally understaffed all the time. And there’s also not enough funds for kids to have their supplies.
-
Sep 23, 2024 | 
richmondconfidential.org | William S. Woodhams |Renee Bartlett-Webber |Paul Ghusar |Anasooya Thorakkattu
“People of Richmond” is a regular series in which reporters pose a question to people in the community. Answers are presented verbatim, though sometimes edited for brevity. Q 1: Have you noticed a difference in BART’s service now that the fleet has all new trains? “They have certainly got more aesthetic appeal which I appreciate. In terms of service being better, worse or same, I’d say same. I’m always struck by how few riders there are, which just shocks me.
-
Sep 4, 2024 | 
goodtimes.sc | William S. Woodhams
With a recent shakeup in leadership and efforts to put a bond measure on the November ballot that would provide housing for teachers, Live Oak School District is starting off the 2024 school year intent on restoring trust in light of recent controversies. New district superintendent Patrick Sánchez has now taken the reins, seeking to turn things around and avoid more cuts amid enrollment declines at the district’s six schools.
-
Jul 17, 2024 | 
goodtimes.sc | William S. Woodhams
A report raises questions about whether the City of Santa Cruz is properly tracking who lives in “inclusionary units”—those set aside as affordable housing—within the city to make sure preference is given to Santa Cruz residents. The timing is uncomfortable for the city as thousands of market-rate units have been approved and the supply of inclusionary units is set to expand.
-
Jun 26, 2024 | 
goodtimes.sc | William S. Woodhams
Some communities have been diligent in building more housing in the face of a statewide housing shortage. Others haven’t. The state has stepped in by seizing control from local jurisdictions and forcing through housing projects that locals might not have approved. State Assemblymember Gail Pellerin, whose district includes Santa Cruz and parts of Santa Clara County, shared her thoughts on the problem. The interview has been edited for clarity and more context has been added when needed.
-
Jun 26, 2024 | 
goodtimes.sc | William S. Woodhams
A bustling neighborhood and a new 3,200-seat arena for the Santa Cruz Warriors are part of a plan to transform Downtown Santa Cruz in the coming years. The city envisions wider sidewalks and a larger riverwalk, open-air dining on Pacific Avenue down to the beach and a pedestrianized Spruce Street in front of the future Warriors’ arena. Also, Laurel Street Extension is to be rerouted through the Front Street Residential Care Center.
-
Jun 12, 2024 | 
goodtimes.sc | William S. Woodhams
Almost 200 people attended an online community meeting on the proposed 260-unit Clocktower Center last Wednesday night. The building at 2020 North Pacific Avenue has attracted considerable attention from the media and galvanized pro and anti housing advocates in the community. The developer, Workbench, took the opportunity to present its case for why the housing crisis comes from a lack of supply. Most of the presentation was a quiz of the online audience.
-
Jun 7, 2024 | 
goodtimes.sc | William S. Woodhams
An Orange County Superior Court judge ruled in favor of the University of California and ordered a temporary stop to all striking activities by the United Auto Workers (UAW) through June 27. The ruling comes after the state labor board ruled twice in favor of the UAW 4811 which represents 48,000 post-graduate and graduate student workers in the UC system who went on strike over UCLA’s treatment of pro-Palestinian protestors.
-
Jun 5, 2024 | 
goodtimes.sc | William S. Woodhams
The Santa Cruz City Council unanimously approved a 48-unit housing project at the current site of the Food Bin and Herb Room on May 28 after the developer submitted plans for 59 units on the site. Eleven ADUs were removed from the project by the council because of how they were being created. Under state law, the developer presented the ADUs as “amenity space” for storage.
