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A conflagration of candidates competing for three open positions—judgeship, assemblymember and state senator—gathered on the stage at San Lorenzo Valley High School’s Performing Arts Center on Thursday, February 6th to share their visions and voices with local voters. Sponsored by the Valley Women’s Club, the Press Banner and other local entities, a total of eight men and women rotated through a series of statements and questions, each addressing their strengths and desire to hold their office of interest. 

So much for doing your taxes on a postcard.

26-year old George Leece is a U.S. Army Veteran. He served from 2013 to 2017, including one deployment to Afghanistan, but after his four-year contract was up, Leece wanted to earn his bachelor's degree in electrical engineering. He enrolled at UCSC and decided to put his experience in the military to good use as a veterans' advocate. Leece joined the Veterans Service Office (VSO) as an intern two years ago, and in that time, he has represented all veterans of all ages and all eras. (The VSO is a county office, and they facilitate between the county and the Veterans Administration.) For a young man with a deployment behind him and his whole life ahead of him, Leece is an interesting mix of youth, knowledge, experience and a desire to do the right thing.

The Scotts Valley Falcons Varsity Boys Basketball team faced off at home against the SLV Cougars in SCCAL action, Last Friday, January 31st, winning the game 72-43.

Ella Giguiere scored a season- high 29 points and the Falcons moved into a tie for second place in the SCCAL with their win .

On January 28, 2020, the Santa Cruz City Council approved a resolution to demote the investigation and arrest of individuals twenty-one (21) years of age and older involved with the adult personal use, possession, and cultivation of entheogenic psychoactive plants and fungi listed on the Federal Schedule 1 to be amongst the lowest priorities for the City of Santa Cruz.  The decision was made after two previous Council meetings on November 10th and December 2nd.  This past week’s meeting began with half an hour of public comment, followed by a council discussion, and concluded with a unanimous passing of the resolution, with a few amendments.

To all of the readers of last week’s article about the City of Scotts Valley’s fiscal emergency and Measure Z: thank you. The City was pleased with the engagement on this article and I’m happy to provide additional information based on some questions.