Tragedy at Steamer Lane
The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that UC Santa Cruz student Alli Singh, 19, was killed after the car she was in drove off West Cliff Drive and into the bay at Steamer Lane — reported Aug. 16. Lookout
Protests for Midtown Housing Proposal
A controversial preliminary housing proposal at 1214 Soquel Avenue in Midtown Santa Cruz calls for a six-story, 173-unit senior living facility with ground-floor shops and 61 parking spaces. Designed by Workbench, the project has sparked neighborhood concern regarding scale and ministerial approval rules. Santa Cruz Local
County Budget & Fiscal Distress
Fallout continues from the county’s early-August fiscal distress declaration: officials cited cuts to federal and state funding as the basis for placing a one-cent sales tax measure on the November ballot, with the increase set to run five years if approved. CBS News
Road Safety Push
Santa Cruz’s Transportation and Public Works Commission reviewed the city’s road safety action plan, with staff recommending the council approve it, pursue speed limit reductions on certain streets, and establish a road safety task force. Lookout
Business Closing
Stockwell Cellars will close its Westside Santa Cruz tasting room Sept. 1 after a decade, as owners Eric Stockwell and Suzanne Zeber-Stockwell shift toward wine distribution and a smaller, wine-club-focused model, citing a broader downturn in wine consumption and rising costs. Lookout
New Businesses
Several new businesses registered with the county clerk this week, including Baseline Aerial Services, JM Tomas Cleaning, and Wildframe Creative.
