Everybody should know that the cannabis business includes a fair number of fascists among its ranks, maybe even more than the average consumer-facing industry.
And of course tons of people who just voted for Donald Trump are avid weed-consumers. Just look at how many people have pot-themed pages among their Facebook likes right next to pictures of Marjorie Taylor Greene brandishing an assault rifle, or Trump’s mugshot.
But as with many of the people who voted for Trump because “he’s a businessman” or “he tells it like it is,” many of those people are likely to soon find out that they got way more than they bargained for.
Some of the execs at the big cannabis companies are probably high-fiving each other right now, since federal regulations of all kinds, including the weak-sauce restrictions on industry concentration, seem likely to be gutted. That spells trouble for smaller operations that are already struggling under the yoke of Big Weed.
But even Big Weed is subject to an “I never thought leopards would eat MY face” moment when the bros realize that hopes for federal legalization have been all but dashed, especially if the GOP takes both houses of Congress. They have the Senate, and, at this writing, it looks more likely than not that they’ll take the House, too. There’s nothing Big Weed desires more than federal legalization: you can’t truly be a domineering behemoth unless you can sell your wares across state lines.
That doesn’t necessarily mean legalization won’t happen, but even if it somehow does, the resulting legislation is likely to be completely fucked: again, especially for smaller players. Interestingly Project 2025, the “blueprint” for a second Trump administration written by his close allies and former (and future) staffers, and published by the ghoulish Heritage Foundation, contains no references to cannabis at all. But there’s tons of stuff in there about “dismantling the administrative state,” by eliminating whole swaths of regulatory agencies, including offices that investigate antitrust violations.
We probably don’t have to worry about that, though, since nationwide legalization seems more remote than it has since states started legalizing weed a decade or so ago. Up until last week it seemed like legalization was all but certain to happen in the coming few years. But this country’s “everyday Americans” have put the kibosh on that.
Though there are a fair number of GOP legislators, like the buffoonish and rapey Matt Gaetz of Florida, who favor legalization, the politics just don’t add up for it. In Marijuana Moment, William Garriott, a professor at Drake University in Des Moines and an expert on drug policy and pot legalization in particular, took note of what he calls the “red wall” that stands in the way of legalization. He noted that, on Election Day, voter initiatives to legalize failed in both Dakotas, as well as in Florida (even though Trump, who overwhelmingly won the state, announced he’d vote for it).
Twenty-six states still outlaw adult-use weed, and the congressional representatives in the vast majority of those states are unlikely to snub their constituents. While more than 70% of Americans now favor legalization, only slightly over half of Republicans do. And the Republicans who oppose it are often particularly exercised in their opposition.
Trump himself seems friendly toward legalization, as NPR News reported on Nov. 11. But the report, which extensively quoted optimistic statements from a flack from the U.S. Cannabis Council lobbying group, didn’t even mention legislation except in quoting Trump pledging to “work with Congress” on the issue. Congress of course would have to pass a measure for Trump to sign it. Or at least that’s how it worked in pre-2025 America.
In the meantime, the DEA’s re-scheduling that we all expected to happen (making pot a Schedule 3 drug rather than keeping it in Schedule 1 along with heroin: i.e., illegal in all situations) won’t come, if it does, until next year because the hearings were delayed until at least January or February. It seems like it might well still happen, but we can’t even bank on that anymore. We can’t really bank on anything.
That finds tasty expression with the debut of Nico’s Ice Cream in Santa Cruz (111 Locust St.) doing New Zealand–style ice cream that’s also called real fruit ice cream.
The straightforward formula involves a choice of fresh fruit (Nico’s prioritizes blueberries, strawberries and raspberries) plowed directly into soft ice cream (Tillamook vanilla is the house fave here) through a special Little Jem machine manufactured in New Zealand.
Drawing from two taste tests—I went for raspberry and blueberry on my visits—I can testify the Jem produces a swirl satisfying on the palate and the Gram, boosted by optional add-ons like Tajin spice and graham cracker dust. (Nico’s also does a vegan take with a Coconut Bliss base.)
As creator-owner-operator Nico Vergara told me when his Cannery Row spot was announced, “Part of the show is to see it all blended together.” nicosicecream.com
PEEL DEAL
The grand opening of Tanuki Dry Farmhouse Cider’s new shared home in the now-Sones Cellars/Tanuki Cider Tasting Room (334-B Ingalls St, Santa Cruz) happens 1-9pm Saturday, Nov. 16.
That’s where cidermaster Robby Honda will pour from his locally grown-and-sown catalog of single-varietal and six-strain ciders, wine grape-cider co-ferments, canned and corked ciders, and ciders from apple trees ranging from a dozen years to a dozen decades old.
The occasion will include oysters shucked by H&H Fish, live music from local performers, and art by FJ Anderson on the walls, tanukicider.com
BALLER APPETITE
The Santa Cruz Warriors leapt into a new season last weekend, splitting games with the Valley Suns at Kaiser Permanente Arena. Another home game, against the South Bay Lakers, tips 7pm Friday, Nov. 15. That has me hyped as a hoops head, but also as a fan of good food because of a) synergies with outfits like Penny Ice Cream (free scoop with 100 points scored) and Woodstock’s Pizza (10 percent off with code SeaDubs10), and b) The SeaDubs’ Swishes for Dishes program, which partners with Second Harvest Food Bank to donate 10 meals for each point the team scores, santacruz.gleague.nba.com
SPORE IN STORE
It is impossible to overstate Paul Stamets’ impact on mycology—he’s discovered new species, developed game-changing patents to remediate eco-disaster and pest invasions, authored books like Mycelium Running, and tutored millions on the healing power of psilocybin. That’s fitting, because the same can be said about the fungi kingdom he’s obsessed with, which he calls, “the neurological network of nature.” A few GA tix remain for his talk Nov. 14 at Golden State Theatre in Monterey, goldenstatetheatre.com
NUTRITIONAL NUGS
A special viewing of Food, Inc. 2, deepened by a discussion with co-writer/producer/investigative journalist Eric Schlosser, happens Nov. 23 at 418 Project (155 River St., Santa Cruz, $13-17), homelessgardenproject.org…Santa Cruz-based New Leaf Community Markets’ freshest branch is officially open in the former Lucky’s supermarket location at King’s Plaza Shopping Center (1475 41st Ave., Capitola), newleaf.com…Pete’s Fish House (231 Esplanade, Suite 102, Capitola) has started up lunch service noon-3pm Saturday-Sunday (4-5pm Pearl Hour and 5-8:30pm dinner are ongoing Thursday-Monday), petesfishhouse.com…Centrally located Cruz Kitchen and Taps (145 Laurel St., Santa Cruz) has closed after almost three years. Co-creator Mia Thorn’s emotional IG message is worth checking out for its raw appeal for community support, which includes, “I want to close…with dignity.”
Continuing to evolve their passion for combining Spanish culture and cuisine with a farm-to-table concept, Elan Emerson and her husband, Brett, opened Ibiza two months ago. Five years ago, they founded the popular Barceloneta; before that, they owned a successful Spanish restaurant in San Francisco. With more than 40 years of industry experience collectively, Elan says their move to Santa Cruz was inspired by great local farms and becoming part of downtown’s vibrant culture.
Now the Barceloneta space on Pacific Avenue is housing Ibiza, which Elan describes as bright and open, invoking a Mediterranean beach vacation. The affordable and approachable menu offers salads or housemade flatbread as a base, with added proteins like slow-cooked pork, panko-fried chicken and “transformative” herby falafel. Other favorites include shakshuka, a spicy tomato pepper stew with poached eggs and feta cheese, and pita chip “nachos” topped with baharat-spiced beef. The shawarma-spiced fries are a big hit, distinctly aromatic and deeply flavorful. “You won’t want to share them,” Elan says.
What does Ibiza mean to you and Brett?
ELAN EMERSON: It is the most fun we’ve ever had in the industry; the food and service is exactly what we’ve always wanted. It’s not fancy or fussy, it’s just a really good, delicious time. Our dog’s middle name is Ibiza and we also love the hippie party culture on the island and the Bohemian vibe—it has a lot of crossover with Santa Cruz and a similar feel. And we absolutely love our downtown location. Our restaurant is a perfect complement to the business culture here and we are thrilled and humbled to be a part of it.
Tell me about paella nights.
We have monthly pop-up dinners featuring a different paella paired with Spanish wine and housemade sangria. They are a really fun and special experience; it’s an event where we really take care of people. And the paella is always the star. We make huge 30-40 person portions and it is a great way to honor our fans and their love for our paella at Barceloneta. There are a lot of paella fans out there, and we are happy to showcase it and continue to make it accessible.
1541 Pacific Ave., Suite B, Santa Cruz, 831-900-5222; ibizasantacruz.com
Santa Cruz is a long way from Greece and Italy, but our ideal growing climate brings that essence closer than you might think. Between the coastal vibe, ocean breezes and food scene, it’s our own slice of the Mediterranean. And thanks to local makers, you don’t have to cross continents to score some top-quality olive oil, rich in flavor and loaded with health benefits.
A cornerstone of the Mediterranean diet, extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) packs serious health perks: it’s been linked to a reduced risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes and even some cancers. Its healthy fats—essential for brain function—help protect against cognitive decline. According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, those who add a generous pour of EVOO to their weekly diets could see a dramatic drop in risks for dementia and breast cancer.
When I hear people say the most delicious foods aren’t good for you, I have to wonder where they’re shopping. For me, EVOO is a culinary default, so I keep a range of price points handy. I save the fresh-pressed, high-end local bottles for drizzling and dressing, while my everyday olive oil is great for sautéing and marinating without the high price tag.
How to Shop for Olive Oil
Brad Asmus, olive oil expert and former owner of Pleasant Valley Olive Oil in Aptos, says most Americans haven’t tasted authentic olive oil. For decades, low-quality, mislabeled oils have flooded U.S. shelves.
A study by UC Davis found that 69% of imported oils labeled “extra virgin” in stores didn’t meet the standard, which leaves many consumers with a skewed sense of what olive oil should taste like.
When shopping, go for “extra virgin”—the only grade that preserves olive oil’s natural antioxidants and health-boosting compounds. True EVOO is cold-pressed; the heat and chemicals used in other grades strip away beneficial nutrients.
Fortunately, the Santa Cruz climate is an ideal spot for cultivating quality olives, and Asmus is happy to recommend some top-notch local producers.
Founders Steve and Marguerite Remde of Belle Farms, based in Watsonville since 1997, say that, like fine wine, olive oil’s taste is influenced by soil, climate, and careful farming. According to Belle Farms, fresh olive oil can range from “robust” and “fruity” to “grassy,” “buttery” or “peppery.” Their olives are hand-picked and cold-pressed within 24 hours of harvest.
Even the finest extra virgin olive oil doesn’t age like wine. Think of olive oil as you would fresh fruit juice—it’s best enjoyed soon after it’s made. Olive oil’s flavor and nutrition peak within six months of harvest, but supermarket oils often spend months on cargo ships, in warehouses and on store shelves.
If you like your oil with a twist, the True Olive Connection in Aptos carries a wide selection of infused and award-winning small-batch olive oils. Founded by Susan Pappas, and owned by Alisa Hart and Alasdair Dents since summer 2022, this spot offers EVOOs from Spain, Italy, Greece and Chile, as well as local mills. Each oil is carefully sourced and priority shipped for freshness.
This list is by no means inclusive, and if you have a recommendation I missed, post a comment on this article online. Most of our local specialty stores—like Shopper’s Corner, New Leaf and Staff of Life—carry regionally produced olive oils. I also recently discovered an EVOO (and balsamic vinegar) tasting station in the back of Toque Blanche, the cooking store on Pacific Avenue in Santa Cruz, and left with two bottles tapped from the can, sealed and labeled right on the spot.
As you explore Santa Cruz’s local olive oil scene, remember that quality olive oil is as vibrant and complex as wine. Whether you’re drizzling it on a bed of greens, in a sauté pan or as a dip for fresh focaccia bread, skip the supermarket knock-offs and treat yourself to the real deal. Your taste buds—and your health—will thank you for it.
Toque Blanche, 1527 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. mytoque.com
Elizabeth Borelli is a certified plant-based nutrition expert, professional life coach, yoga teacher and author of the upcoming book Tastes Like La Dolce Vita. Learn more at ElizabethBorelli.com.
Your recent article on animals suffering car encounters brings to mind those creatures killed even closer to home: our wondrous birds. There are many free-roaming cats which exact a terrible toll on our struggling avian friends. Bird numbers are down, in decline, and cats are estimated to take 1 to 4 billion birds a year. Owners equipping cats with brightly colored collars and bells (such as the “Birdsbesafe” collar) can really help (audubon.org/news/how-stop-cats-killing-birds and more here, allaboutbirds.org/news/faq-outdoor-cats-and-their-effects-on-birds/). Also, it will help distinguish feral cats from those cats who have “people” so the former can be spayed and neutered. But restraining your cat to your home is best for its health, its safety and this beautiful avian world around us which we are rapidly losing.
G. Bruno
GEN Z MUST LEAD NOW
In the wake of an election that has once again propelled Donald Trump to power, a palpable sense of urgency grips our nation—not just to act, but to lead. This is more than just a political setback; it signals that now, more than ever, it’s our turn to step up. History teaches us that every generation faces its crucible, a defining challenge that summons its collective spirit to action. Ours is no different, and the battlegrounds are dauntingly clear: climate change, soaring rents, global genocides and a fragile peace are not mere issues but calls to arms.
This moment must be our awakening, a catalyst for intense, action-oriented engagement. Our generation—interconnected, digitally native, and socially conscious—is uniquely equipped to challenge the status quo. We must channel our frustrations into mobilization, turning our online discourse into substantive real-world impacts.
It’s time for more than tweets of frustration or ephemeral protest marches. Why not us? Why shouldn’t we run for office, lead the charge, and make the decisions that steer our lives? We are the architects of new forums for dialogue, crafting platforms where truth outshines misinformation and where diverse voices aren’t just heard but are leading the narrative.
The plan is simple but ambitious: Dive into the fray. Run for office. Take those leadership spots we’ve been told to wait for because our challenges won’t wait. We need to channel our collective anxiety about the future into reimagining American politics, transforming our digital fluency into a tool for broad societal impact.
From advocating for climate resilience to demanding economic reforms, from championing civil rights to promoting global peace—our energy, our innovation, and our relentless spirit are imperative. We must step into the arena, not as spectators but as champions for humanity itself. This isn’t just about participating in democracy; it’s about transforming it.
We will be the ones historians write about—the young leaders who dared to step up when the world seemed stacked against us. Let this be the era where Gen Z doesn’t just inherit democracy but redefines it, driven by a relentless pursuit of justice and equity. Let’s harness this moment with everything we’ve got to forge a future that will not only be remembered for the challenges we faced but for the innovative and bold ways we overcame them.
Some people think the trend of buying vintage clothes is a way to help save the Earth; others think it just makes them look cool.
We go for both.
For decades Santa Cruz has been a capital for buying cool old things, gently used, as they say, but the competition has been better for consumers than for the businesses. Carefully curated vintage clothes are a big draw for downtown and a bunch of other locations around the county, a never-ending flea market, particularly after we have lost the great drive-in flea market that was a mainstay for years.
Fashion writer Morgan Guerra found great treasures downtown, from sweaters to rock band shirts, to boots and hats, masks, statement-making stuff that breaks wearers out of the mass-produced fast-fashion bland landscape.
Our stores are a tourist draw also. Where else besides Haight Ashbury here can you spend a day wandering shop to shop scoring one-of-a-kind treasures? We are to hippie cool what Carmel is to nose-up-in-the-air rich high fashion.
But do we have too much of a good thing? Is the competition killing business for individual stores? And is the seemingly endless construction choking shopping and making downtown a wasteland? Some say so.
Will there be a boom when residences are built and new people are able to do the downtown stroll? One would hope so. See what some of our vintage owners say in our cover story.
Who knew there was such a thing as New Zealand style ice cream? The new owners of Nico’s which just opened downtown with ice cream that blends fruit, are banking on it being a new draw. Read about it in Mark Anderson’s Dining column.
He also covers a special viewing of Food, Inc. 2 and a discussion with co-writer/producer/investigative journalist Eric Schlosser, happening Nov. 23, before a certain food-filled holiday.
This coming year is a big one for anniversaries (Good Times will celebrate its 50th) and the wonderfully collated Comic News has its 40th, defying the odds of a successful print publication. Check out DNA’s story about the great local funny news source.
Thanks for reading.
Brad Kava | Editor
PHOTO CONTEST
SEEING DOUBLE Reflection of the Walton Lighthouse in a puddle, photographed on an iPhone last month. Photograph by Brian Caulfield
GOOD IDEA
Santa Cruz officials stepped up two days after the election in which President-Elect Donald Trump vowed to deport millions of immigrants and refugees, to voice support for local undocumented immigrants and women. “We know this is going to be a very difficult time for our community. We know there’s going to be a lot of fear,” said Santa Cruz County Administrative Officer Carlos Palacios. “But we are here to let you know that we will support you. We will do everything in our power to continue to provide every service that we can to our community and continue as we have been in the past.”
GOOD WORK
Cabrillo College has been awarded a $150,000 grant from the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office to implement the Veterans Mental Health Demonstration Project. The two-year grant is one of ten awarded to community colleges statewide for the project term starting November 2024 through November 2026.
“The awarding of this Chancellor’s Office grant allows us to expand veterans mental health services, while creating professional development programs that enable all Cabrillo faculty and staff to participate in supporting our student veterans,” said Matt Wetstein, Cabrillo College president.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“Wrong does not cease to be wrong because the majority share in it.” —Leo Tolstoy
A state of temporary suffering or purification after death in order for souls to be cleansed before reaching heaven. It isn’t hell, but a constant feeling of dread while trying to reach the other—hopefully more beautiful and easier—side.
It’s a state of being all too familiar to Mike Brandon, lead singer and guitar player for the Mystery Lights, a New York via Salinas garage psych band playing the Catalyst Atrium on Wednesday, Nov. 13 with Ron Gallo. They’re currently touring on the September release of their third full-length album of the same name.
For Brandon, purgatory was a period when the band was just going through the motions, saying he “forgot the point” of music and performance as important, life-changing elements in people’s everyday struggle.
“Purgatory has a bigger meaning than what people might think,” he admits. “The Mystery Lights lay dormant for four years and we were kind of lost, not sure of what was next. We were in a purgatory state. Are we going to give in, staying lost, succumbing to the shadow and end? Or are we going to come together, expand our sound and elevate ourselves?”
Thankfully for fans of fuzzy guitar rock everywhere, the five-piece went through what Brandon calls “an interesting purification” of getting back to their roots.
“It’s supposed to be a fun time!” he remembers. “We’re trying to get up there and have a party with our friends in the crowd. When we got back to the basics of connecting with people and inspiring ourselves, it all became fun again.”
This Wednesday will be the first time in two years that the Mystery Lights have played their—original—hometown area and promises to be a show not to miss. The band started in 2004 when co-founding member and lead guitar player Luis Alfonso (“L.A”) Solano saw Brandon practicing at the Salinas Skatepark.
“He watched me do these crazy 360s off a box and not-but-almost landing them,” Brandon says. “He just thought I was a crazy kid and we ended up having mutual friends in common who introduced us.”
It’s a rare thing for a band who started two decades ago to only have three albums out in the wild. However, for the Mystery Lights quality is always better than quantity and Purgatory delivers all of the raw, psychedelic garage energy needed in these post-election times. By pure coincidence—or maybe cosmic design outside of the group’s hands—their albums seem to always be around an election or some major world event.
“The math is crazy,” says Brandon. “The first record [2016’s self-titled] came out when Trump won the first time. The second [2019’s Too Much Tension!] was before Biden won, but during the Trump reign. And now Trump gets elected again! I don’t know why it happens this way.”
The new album shows a band that has finely tuned their sound with their now permanent lineup of Brandon and Solano on guitars, Alex Amini on bass, Lily Rogers on keys/organ and Zach Butler on drums. While the group’s sound draws from massively pivotal bands from the dawn of rock ’n’ roll like the Kinks, the 13th Floor Elevators, Blue Cheer and the Nuggets collections, they also list acts like Television, Ramones and Watsonville punks Los Dryheavers as influences.
The result is a crunchy yet poppy sound straight outta the 1960s with darker, deeper, spiritual and psychological themes about facing one’s demons and the state of society instead of romance and wanting to hold hands. Like the title track with the lyrics “I truly tried my best/to cleanse the sins off my chest/Sometimes, see, it just don’t come out,” or the opening lines to the driving track, “In the Streets” (“He preferred life living out in the streets/He found more freedom livin’ out in the streets”). Then there’s “Trouble” which nails the message home with lines like “I create my pain/Embrace my insanity/For it’s my own/I call it home.”
However, it’s not all dark and gloomy. Songs like “Sorry I Forgot Your Name” have a playful edge to them with a universal, all-too-human theme.
The irony of Purgatory is that it finds the band at their very best in years. They have walked through the fire and come out better for it, ready to spread the message to fellow travelers that things can get better with perseverance, love and a little insanity.
The Mystery Lights play at 8pm on Wednesday, Nov. 13 at the Catalyst Atrium, 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. Tickets are $24.56. 831-713-5492.
Valencia Elementary School was closed Friday after numerous students were sickened by what is likely norovirus. The school will reopen Tuesday.
Pajaro Valley Unified School District notified parents in an email on Nov. 7.
“The purpose of the school closure is to stop the additional transmission of the virus,” the email states.
Families should keep their children home if they have any of these symptoms, and keep them home until 48 hours after symptoms have ended, Pajaro Valley Unified School District officials said.
According to PVUSD Impact and Resource Development Officer Andrea Carlos Willy, 236 students were absent on Thursday.
In a public alert from the Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency (HSA), 33 additional cases of gastrointestinal illness were reported in a workplace setting in late October, with no known connection between the two outbreaks.
There have been no known hospitalizations or deaths.
A school employee who asked not to be identified said that more than 80 students were absent on Wednesday, followed by well over 200 the next day.
The employee expressed concern that the school was not closed on Thursday, and that the employees were not warned the cause of the sickness was norovirus.
In a text message, PVUSD Superintendent Heather Conrtreras said that the district has been in contact with the HSA since Wednesday, and has monitored the situation with that agency’s guidance.
“We always take closing schools very seriously,” Contreras stated. “We also keep the health and safety of our students as a top priority. As we monitored the situation and as the numbers of student absences increased, we made the decision to close the school.”
Contreras added that school and county officials determined on Wednesday that “the number of absences reported for nausea and vomiting didn’t conclusively indicate a school closure, and that the deep cleaning and sanitization of the site that occurred during the night would work to contain and mitigate the spread.”
According to the HSA, viruses such as norovirus are easily transmitted via surfaces contaminated by stool or vomit, or close contact with an infected person. Schools and other places where many people are in close proximity with each other are therefore particularly vulnerable.
“Noroviruses are extremely contagious, since high viral loads are present in both stool and vomit, and only a few viral particles are required to transmit illness,” the HSA stated in a public service announcement.
Even after symptoms resolve, individuals are still highly infectious—especially during the first 48 hours, but up to two weeks after the symptoms resolve.
Treatment should include supportive care with fluids.
Advice from the Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency
Practice frequent handwashing with soap and water. Alcohol-based sanitizers are NOT effective against norovirus.
Always wash hands with soap and water • Before and after contact with an ill or suspected ill individual • After using the toilet • Before AND after preparing food • After touching potentially contaminated objects such as doorknobs, counters and keyboards
Use Contact and Standard Precautions when caring for ill or suspected ill individuals. • Stay home if you experience symptoms, and do not return to work until you have been symptom-free for 48 hours. • Clean and disinfect frequently. • Use disinfectants recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency. • Use a 1:10 dilution of bleach to water for surfaces soiled by bodily fluids. • Wash soiled linen in hot water and dry at the hottest setting possible.
The Santa Cruz Boardwalk Giant Dipper has drawn over 60 million thrill-seekers to scream while careening around the roller coaster’s hairpin turns. But more than 65,000 motorists a day know that roller coaster ride pales compared to the high-speed, white-knuckle turns it takes to get to and from Santa Cruz by driving over Highway 17.
On one of the most dangerous highways in the state, the stakes are high for people and even higher for animals. In 2012, Caltrans installed median barriers at a particularly treacherous piece of the road known as Laurel Curve that increased safety for people but made it even more difficult for deer, bobcats, foxes and mountain lions to cross.
Extensive roadkill data showed Laurel Curve to be the deadliest section Highway 17 for wildlife. In three years there were 12 recorded deer-vehicle collisions and four recorded mountain lion collisions, according to the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County.
In December 2022, Caltrans and the Land Trust built a wildlife tunnel under Highway 17 at Laurel Curve. It’s been more than a year since the Highway 17 wildlife crossing was completed, and on Nov. 9 at the Rio Theatre, Land Trust of Santa Cruz County representatives will share the results.
This event will feature ecologists and researchers Tanya Diamond and Ahíga Snyder from Pathways for Wildlife, with an introduction by Chris Wilmers, Ph.D., from the Santa Cruz Puma Project. The event is sold out, but a recording of the presentation, complete with footage of wildlife using the crossing, will be available at landtrustsantacruz.org in December.
Everything That Breathes Needs Three Things
Ahíga Snyder of Pathways for Wildlife says, “It’s a law of nature: if you don’t move, you don’t survive. It’s true for people and it’s true for animals. They are driven to mate, to find food and water, and to find territory.”
Land Trust of Santa Cruz County Conservation Director Bryan Largay agrees and adds, “The canary in the coal mine is the mountain lion; it’s a big animal so there aren’t very many of them. There are only 50 or 60 adult breeding mountain lions in the Santa Cruz Mountains and if they can’t cross Highway 17 to mate, inbreeding can lead to genetic defects.”
Explaining what those might be, Largay says, “Tails can get disjointed and kinked, and they’re more vulnerable to disease and not as effective at surviving. The kinked tail is a classic sign of inbreeding and lack of fitness.”
Largay says that an adult male lion has a territory of about 8,000 acres. “The forest of Nisene Marks would be the territory for one adult male, and the females have a territory of about 4,000 acres, so an area that size might support two female mountain lions and one male.
“One way lions die is being killed by older, bigger lions.” Largay explains. “When a young mountain lion starts to grow up, it must find its own territory because if it stays near where other adult mountain lions are, it’s likely to be attacked and killed.”
Mountain lions, deer, bobcats and foxes must be able to cross Highway 17 to survive, and have all been caught on camera trying to cross. Data from the Land Trust made it clear: a crossing was critical for providing a path for wildlife to safely travel between habitats—and for ensuring driver safety by keeping wildlife away from the highway.
The tunnel at Laurel Curve provides wildlife with a safe way to get to a mating ground across the highway. Research by the Santa Cruz Puma Project’s Wilmers shows extensive use of the area by mountain lions. Wilmers called Laurel Curve “the best opportunity for maintaining puma connectivity across Highway 17 in Santa Cruz County.”
The $12 million allocated for this wildlife crossing tunnel is a drop in the bucket compared to the total economic cost of wildlife-vehicle collisions in California. Over the past five years, vehicle collisions with wildlife have cost Californians an estimated $1 billion (newsweek.com/wildlife and pewtrusts.org ).
Land Trust of Santa Cruz Marketing and Communications Director Vicki Lowell tells me that on Nov. 9, UCSC puma tracker Wilmers will open the event and Land Trust Executive Director Sarah Newkirk will also make opening remarks. Two scientists from Pathways for Wildlife will show videos from the Laurel Curve Highway Tunnel and explain their findings.
Expert ecologists and researchers Tanya Diamond and Ahíga Snyder will share their year-one findings and footage of wildlife using the Highway 17 crossing. They will discuss the work of the Puma Project at the University of California Santa Cruz and Pathways for Wildlife that provided the necessary science.
The Puma Project is a partnership between UC Santa Cruz and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Lowell says, “The Puma Project put collars on mountain lions that collect movement and location data from each animal.”
That research offers insight into how these animals are affected by the humans that increasingly surround them. According to Wilmer, “We played recorded sounds of people talking and sounds of frogs. When mountain lions heard the frogs, they would look up for a second and then continue eating. When they heard a human voice, they would run away. People influence everything these animals do.”
TUNNEL OF LOVE Californians have spent $12 million for a tunnel under Highway 17 to save the lives of threatened animals. Pictured are workers in front of the tunnel. Photo: Land Trust of Santa Cruz County
Why Laurel Curve?
Largay, the Land Trust’s conservation director for 12 years, explains that the leap toward Laurel Curve was motivated by the Puma Project’s data from collared mountain lions. “Animals like to follow topography in the sense of approaching saddles. They’re not going to walk over the top of a mountain if they can walk over the saddle between two mountaintops, where it’s lower. It turns out that both deer and mountain lions really like forest cover.”
Laurel Curve consists of relatively large parcels of forest on either side of the highway, Largay says, and is the least developed area between the city of Scotts Valley and the summit of Highway 17. “The Land Trust protects 190 acres on the west side and 280 acres on the east side of Laurel Curve, for a total of 470 acres—sufficient acreage to create and sustain the wildlife corridor across Laurel Curve.”
Santa Cruz County approved Measure D in 2016, which the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission put on the ballot to fund the underpass. Local construction firm Graniterock built the crossing.
Largay says the primary toolkit for Land Trust Santa Cruz is to purchase land and acquire rights to an easement. “A conservation easement is typically a deed restriction where we purchase the rights to develop the property. At Laurel Curve, all three of the properties adjacent to that project are now owned by others with conservation easements on them.”
Animals love having good vegetation cover, and they also tend to follow trails, Largay says. “One of the cool things the Puma Project did is with all of their radio collars on mountain lions, they were able to track the motion of dozens of animals around the Santa Cruz Mountains over 15 years and then develop powerful statistical models of where they like to go.”
The Santa Cruz Puma Project has provided a map with the home range center of each collared animal tracked in 2017. Go to santacruzpumas.org/puma-tracker and select a mountain lion from the list on the right. Use the time slider above the map to animate the track to see where each puma ranged. The Puma Project says it’s just a rough guide, but it is fascinating to watch where each of these cats travel and migrate from one of our communities to another.
Pumas Don’t Want to Eat Your Pets
People who worry about their dogs or cats being eaten by a 140-pound mountain lion should know that this tunnel makes it less likely that mountain lions will kill their pets. Largay asserts, “It gives pumas a path to good quality habitat where they can eat deer. Chris Wilmers’ data sampled a lot of mountain lion scat, and 98 percent of the DNA in mountain lion scat in our area is deer. They’d much rather eat a deer.”
Director Largay contends that the Santa Cruz Mountains are like an island, and islands are where extinctions happen. “We want to connect the Santa Cruz Mountains to the mountain ranges next door, so that all sorts of different wildlife can move back and forth across the landscape,” he says.
He describes mountain lions as the canary in the coal mine. Because their numbers are so low, they will have genetic problems first. Other species are probably having genetic and habitat problems as well, such as badgers or western pond turtles. Those problems will just show up later.
“The key for all these species is for migration to be easier, so new animals can come into the Santa Cruz Mountains and bring genetic diversity,“ Largay says.
Another project in the works in neighboring San Benito and Monterey counties will open up more avenues for wildlife to leave their mountain island.
“In ecosystems and in genetics, with diversity comes stability and vigor. Caltrans and the Land Trust of Santa Cruz will create a crossing at Highway 101 for wildlife to safely journey between the Santa Cruz Mountains and the Gabilan Range, with a new crossing at Rocks Ranch,” Largay says.
GETTING THEIR STEPS IN There are only 50 or 60 adult breeding mountain lions in the Santa Cruz Mountains and if they can’t cross Highway 17 to mate, inbreeding can lead to genetic defects. An adult has a territory of 8,000 acres. Photo: Land Trust of Santa Cruz County
Driving Smarter, Slower
Over one million collisions occur yearly between cars and large wild animals in the U.S., causing approximately 200 human deaths, 26,000 injuries and at least $8 billion in property damage, according to a 2008 Department of Transportation report to Congress.
The Humane Society and the Animal Protection Institute estimate that 1 million animals die on the road every day in the U.S., about twice the number of animals killed by hunters. Largay says, “We’ve had over 800 deer crossings through the wildlife tunnel, and those are deer that aren’t on the highway.”
Slower is safer on Highway 17. I saw a bumper sticker on a car going exactly the speed limit that said, “Yes, I see you behind me. And no, I won’t speed up.”
The Land Trust of Santa Cruz offers these tips on how you can reduce the risk of accidents involving game:
Many animals are on the move at night or at dusk. Be especially careful then.
In addition to deer traffic, poor visibility in autumn increases the risk of accidents. Adjust your speed to the visibility conditions.
Drivers should take the danger sign “Wildlife Crossing” seriously, reduce speed and keep an eye on the edge of the road.
As soon as an animal comes into view, drivers should switch to dipped headlights so that the animals are not blinded.
Many animals travel in groups: if one animal appears, expect more.
Avoid radical evasive maneuvers with your car; crashes happen so fast.
Be safe out there, and in December check out the video footage of wildlife using the new Laurel Curve Highway 17 crossing at landtrustsantacruz.org.
Preliminary results posted Tuesday night by the Election Department showed that Kim De Serpa is ahead of Kristin Brown for the Santa Cruz County Supervisor District 2 seat.
As of 8:50pm, De Serpa has 50.53%% of the vote, compared to Brown, with 48.62%.
De Serpa has served on the Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees since 2010.
“I’m so grateful for the amazing support of my community and colleagues,” De Serpa said. “The best part of this campaign was meeting the wonderful people that care so much about our county. I will be an independent voice for District 2.”
De Serpa works as social services manager for the Salinas Valley Health Medical Center.
Brown joined the Capitola City Council in 2016. She served as mayor in 2020, and did so again in 2024, when she terms out.
She is vice president of government relations for the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, where she works with jurisdictions on issues such as housing development and transportation.
The pair made it through the March Primary Election, the top two vote-earners in a pool of five challengers to take the seat vacated by Zach Friend.
The Santa Cruz Boardwalk Giant Dipper has drawn over 60 million thrill-seekers to scream while careening around the roller coaster’s hairpin turns. But more than 65,000 motorists a day know that roller coaster ride pales compared to the high-speed, white-knuckle turns it takes to get to and from Santa Cruz by driving over Highway 17.
On one of the most...
