Tag: California
Residents continue to express frustration with PG&E’s Wildfire Safety Program
With a slew of questions from the community, PG&E came up short with answers after a disorganized public outreach meeting that was planned at a day’s notice. The public meeting was held Wednesday afternoon at the Ben Lomond Fire Department, but the session turned somewhat rancorous after it became clear that no new, locally-oriented information about PG&E’s tree cutting for the Community Wildfire Safety Program was going to be available.
More about Measure A: Understanding School Finance
More about Measure A: Understanding School Finance
Tackling the state props: Part III
(Editor’s Note: This is Part III of a three-part series on state-wide propositions on the November Ballot. Part I covered Prop. 1 through 4 (Oct. 12 edition), Part II covered Props. 5, 6 and 10 (Oct. 19 edition).
Measure G: Half-cent sales tax increase proposed in unincorporated areas of...
Measure G proposes a hike in sales tax of one-half cent per dollar spent in the unincorporated areas of the county. The measure was put on the ballot by a unanimous vote of the CountyBoard of Supervisors. A key argument of county budget officials proposing the increase is because about half of the county’s residents live in unincorporated areas, primarily in Live Oak, Aptos and San Lorenzo Valley, the county provides a good number of municipal services usually provided by incorporated cities-and the county needs to catch up with the sales tax revenues collected in the four incorporated cities to provide “critical unmet needs” in the unincorporated areas.
Planting Bulbs in The Santa Cruz Mountains
There’s not a year that goes by that I don’t plant some new bulbs in the fall. I may battle squirrels, deer and shade but come spring it’ll all be worth it. Daffodils and narcissus are safe but what would spring be without all the other gorgeous bulbs to welcome in the season?
Measure H: Santa Cruz County’s Affordable Housing Bond
The housing affordability crisis across the state has inspired several measures on the Nov. 6 ballot. A local response is Measure H, which if approved will authorize the county to issue up to $140 million in general obligation bonds, generating an estimated $8.6 million annually to fund affordable housing throughout the county. The total price tag for the principal and interest of these 35 year bonds is estimated at about $274 million-almost double the face value of the proposed bond issue.
All-volunteer community response network celebrates 10 years of keeping Santa Cruz...
With the wide variety of natural disasters that can occur year-round in the Santa Cruz Mountains there continues to be a heightened importance to keep residents informed and ready to prepare for floods, mudslides, earthquakes, etc.
Tackling the State Props: Part II
Editor’s Note: This is Part II of a three-part series on state-wide propositions on the November Ballot. Part I covered Proposition 1 through 4 (Oct. 12 edition). Part II covers Propositions 5, Proposition 6 and Proposition 10, and Part III will cover Propositions 7, 8, 9 and 11.
Fall Color Happens Here, Too
Inspired by a website called “Dude, Autumn Happens Here, Too” (https://www.californiafallcolor.com/ ) I set off last week to see the quaking aspen groves in the Sierra. As I drove up Highway 4 and over Ebbetts Pass the aspen groves came into view. Markleeville and Monitor Pass displayed some nice color, too. As I enjoyed the fall display I wondered if they would be as beautiful for future generations or if our impact on the environment would cause these glorious trees to change in any way.
Wildfire between Felton and Scotts Valley quelled
A wildfire that broke out between Felton and Scotts Valley midday Friday was quickly contained at 2.3 acres, as firefighters sought to quell flames...
