Episodes
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Ep 104 How homeless services money is spent in Santa Cruz County 8.2.23
Santa Cruz Local recently published a three-part investigation into how public money is spent on homeless services in Santa Cruz County. In today’s episode, we’ll discuss why we took on this investigation and several of the key takeaways from our reporting. We also hear from some key leaders in...
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Ep 103 Meet the Capitola City Council candidates 11.04.22
In today’s episode we meet the five candidates for Capitola City Council. They are Yvette Lopez Brooks, Joe Clarke, Enrique Dolmo Jr., Gerry Jensen and Alexander Pedersen. The five candidates are running for three seats. They appear before Capitola voters on the Nov. 8 ballot. We explain what a...
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Ep 102 Meet the candidates for Santa Cruz mayor 11.4.22
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 8. For the first time, Santa Cruz voters will choose a mayor. We meet the two candidates: Joy Schendledecker and Fred Keeley. We explain the new format for Santa Cruz City Council elections and the new mayoral role. Then we press the candidates on the issues…
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Ep 101 Meet the Santa Cruz City Council District 6 candidates 11.4.22
We meet two candidates for Santa Cruz City Council: Renee Golder and Sean Maxwell. They’re running for the District 6 seat on the Nov. 8 ballot. You’ll vote in the District 6 council race if you live in these areas: areas of the Lower Westside west of Younglove Avenue and Columbia Street; areas...
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Ep. 100 Meet the Santa Cruz City Council District 4 candidates 10.25.22
We meet three candidates for Santa Cruz City Council: Hector Marin, Gregory Hyver and Scott Newsome. They’re running for the District 4 seat on the Nov. 8 ballot. You’ll vote in the District 4 council race if you live in these areas: Downtown; Beach Flats; part of the Upper Westside, east of Bay...
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Ep. 99 Meet the Scotts Valley City Council candidates 10.24.22
In the Nov. 8 election, Scotts Valley voters will choose two city council members. In today’s episode we’ll learn about the role of a council member. Then we’ll meet the three candidates: Derek Timm, Allan Timms and Jim Reed. Santa Cruz Local presses the candidates on the issues important to…
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Ep 98 Ahead of Nov. 8 local election, Santa Cruz County residents share priorities 9.27.22
Santa Cruz Local wants you to decide what the local candidates talk about as they compete for your vote in the Nov. 8 election. This year, Santa Cruz Local’s team conducted nearly 300 interviews and collected 150 survey responses from Santa Cruz County residents. Here is what residents told us…
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Ep 97 District 3 Santa Cruz County supervisor candidates address voters' priorities 4.26.22
In the June 7 primary election, North Coast and Santa Cruz residents will choose a new District 3 representative on the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors. We hear from residents about their priorities for the election. Then we meet candidates Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson, Justin Cummings and…
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Ep 96 How Santa Cruz County could solve chronic homelessness 12.17.21
Bakersfield and Kern County, California, solved chronic homelessness in part through better coordination of service providers, shared housing databases and a fearless approach to experimentation and results monitoring. Despite Santa Cruz County’s housing shortage, there are lessons from Kern…
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Ep. 95 Homeless and formerly homeless residents discuss solutions in Santa Cruz County 11.19.21
We hear from four Santa Cruz County residents: a 25-year-old caregiver in Santa Cruz, a 54-year-old janitor in Watsonville, a father of three in Santa Cruz and a 24-year-old sales associate in Capitola. They share their experiences with homelessness and the keys to getting housed. This episode is...
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Ep 94 Reshaping mental health crisis response in Santa Cruz County 6.11.21
Responses to mental health crises are set to change in Santa Cruz County with a new 988 system as an alternative to 911. Non-police responses are expected to be dispatched through the system, and advocates say the 24-hour, non-police system is overdue. Santa Cruz Local’s Stephen Baxter talks to...
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Ep 93 'Nobody wants to be out here': Homeless residents share views on proposed law 4.11.21
Tuesday, the Santa Cruz City Council will consider a proposed law that aims to prevent large homeless camps by limiting where and when people can camp and requiring most tents to be removed each morning. We explain the proposal. And we hear from three Santa Cruz residents who are homeless. We…
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Ep 92 Student mental health and stress in Santa Cruz County, part 2 3.26.21
The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed a need for mental health services in Santa Cruz County’s public schools. We hear from a director at the Santa Cruz County Office of Education about virtual mentoring, an approach that has shown promise in addressing student mental health needs. We discuss how it...
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Ep 91 Were some COVID deaths preventable in Santa Cruz County senior homes? 3.23.21
Were some COVID-19 deaths preventable in Santa Cruz County long-term care facilities? This episode investigates why some senior homes — which had more than half of the COVID deaths in the county — waited for vaccines through January while others received vaccines. Separately, the episode includes…
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Ep 90 Student mental health and stress in Santa Cruz County, part 1 3.23.21
Many students in Santa Cruz County feel stressed and disconnected after months of online-only school. We hear from three Aptos High students about their social and emotional well-being needs. A program administrator responds to these stories and shares tips on how adults can help. This episode is...
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Ep 89 Public education money, COVID and the power of Santa Cruz County school boards 1.31.21
This episode is the first in Santa Cruz Local's Distance Learning series. Today we explore how the state's public education system is organized and funded, and how decisions are made. Many of you wanted to know: How can students, parents and teachers make their voice heard in such a huge,...
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Ep 88 Prescribed burns and wildfire in Santa Cruz County 12.20.20
In the wake of the CZU Lightning Complex Fire in Santa Cruz County, this episode explores forest management policies in the state and county. It also looks at the role of prescribed burns in land management in the county, and a new Central Coast Prescribed Burn Association. Support local…
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Ep 87 Vote Nov 3, Santa Cruz City Council race 10.18.20
Santa Cruz Local presses the Santa Cruz City Council candidates on the priorities we heard from residents: housing and homelessness. We meet eight of the nine city council candidates: Martine Watkins, Sandy Brown, Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson, Kelsey Hill, Kayla Kumar, Maria Cadenas, Elizabeth…
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Ep 86 Vote Nov 3, Watsonville City Council 10.14.20
Santa Cruz Local presses the five Watsonville City Council candidates on the priorities we heard from residents: affordable housing development, city-sponsored youth programs, the high cost of rent and more. We break down the differences between District 2 candidates Aurelio Gonzalez and Vanessa...
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Ep. 85 Vote Nov. 3, the Santa Cruz County District 1 supervisor race 10.5.20
If you’re a voter in Live Oak, Pleasure Point, Soquel, western Capitola or the Santa Cruz Mountains north of Soquel, you’ll vote on the District 1 Santa Cruz County supervisors race. But even if you don’t live in the district, this race still matters to you. The decisions of the board of...
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Ep. 84, Vote Nov. 3: The Scotts Valley City Council race 9.29.20
Santa Cruz Local has interviewed and surveyed about 50 Scotts Valley residents in recent months to hear their priorities for the Scotts Valley City Council race. Today, we press the candidates — John Lewis, Donna Lind, Jack Dilles and Randy Johnson — on the concerns of residents. Listen to the...
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Ep. 83 Santa Cruz County Supervisor Bruce McPherson discusses CZU Lightning Complex Fire 8.24.20
We hear from Santa Cruz County Supervisor Bruce McPherson with an update on the CZU Lightning Complex Fire. McPherson’s district covers San Lorenzo Valley, which has been hard hit by the fire. McPherson shares an update on the fire response. He also describes his tour Monday of San Lorenzo Valley...
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Ep 82 How has COVID-19 hurt Santa Cruz County's most vulnerable? 7.31.20
COVID-19 shutdowns have hurt many locals on the brink of poverty because of the county’s high cost of living. About 40% of Santa Cruz County residents have received some food assistance since the COVID-19 shelter orders began in March, according to Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County…
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Ep. 81 Reducing harm in Santa Cruz County law enforcement(7.14.20)
Residents’ recent calls to reduce police presence and funding in Santa Cruz County come at the same time police say they are overburdened with calls for mental health care and homelessness. We explore the aftermath of two recent, fatal police shootings in our county that involved mental health —...
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Ep 80 How To Be Social But Safer During The Pandemic 6.26.20
Santa Cruz County on Monday recorded its largest single-day increase of confirmed COVID-19 cases. Local health leaders say the uptick is worrisome but expected, as businesses reopen. We hear advice from infectious disease expert and UC Santa Cruz professor Marm Kilpatrick on small ways people can...
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Ep 79 Santa Cruz Downtown Library Decision Looms 6.19.20
A big decision is on tap Tuesday for the Santa Cruz City Council: Should the downtown library be renovated, or should a new, larger library with a parking garage and at least 50 affordable housing units be built on nearby city land? Santa Cruz Local talks to library and city leaders, activists…
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Ep. 78 Start By Listening. What We Heard From Lower Ocean, Beach Flats. 6.11.20
Santa Cruz Local's Stephen Baxter and Kara Meyberg Guzman start their reporting for the upcoming Nov. 3 elections by listening to residents and watching city council meetings. We see the biggest local races as the city councils for Watsonville, Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley and Capitola and the...
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Ep. 77 Santa Cruz Local Answers, part 5. Tough decisions- Child care during a pandemic 6.7.20
Parents and child care providers worry about the risk of transmission of COVID-19. Santa Cruz Local's Jerimiah Oetting answers your questions about child care rules in Santa Cruz County during the coronavirus emergency: How can we expect young children in daycare to socially distance? What is the...
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Ep 76 Santa Cruz Local Answers, part 4 - What's the plan for antibody testing? 5.24.20
Santa Cruz Local's Jerimiah Oetting answers your questions about antibody testing: What is it? Is it available in Santa Cruz County? How reliable are the tests? And is the county pursuing antibody testing? This is the fourth installment of 'Santa Cruz Local Answers,' where Jerimiah tackles your...
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Ep. 75 Santa Cruz Local Answers, part 3 - What's the status with Project Roomkey? 5.7.20
Santa Cruz Local's Jerimiah Oetting answers your questions about Project Roomkey, the state effort to provide hotel rooms to vulnerable parts of the homeless population. Where is Santa Cruz County at with the project? How much money did the state provide? How many rooms are there, and who...
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Ep. 74 How deep is Santa Cruz County's economic downturn? 5.3.20
Santa Cruz County’s health officer limited beach hours and hotel visitors in her latest revision to the COVID-19 shelter order. How deep are the county’s economic problems, with the prospect of far fewer tourists? How do shelter orders impact a county where the largest share of jobs are in…
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Ep 73 Dr. Catherine Sonquist Forest answers COVID FAQs 5.1.20
Dr. Catherine Sonquist Forest answers frequently-asked questions on COVID-19. How long do we have to wait for a vaccine and treatment? Can I get an antibody test and what does that mean? Can people without COVID symptoms spread the disease? Does social distancing and wearing masks work? Sonquist...
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Ep. 72 Santa Cruz Local Answers - How can UCSC help with COVID testing? 4.22.20
Santa Cruz Local's Jerimiah Oetting answers a listener's question on what UC Santa Cruz is doing to help with COVID testing. This is the second installment of 'Santa Cruz Local Answers,' where Jerimiah tackles your coronavirus-related questions. Submit your questions to...
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Ep 71 Santa Cruz Local Town Hall with Drs. Larry DeGhetaldi, David Ghilarducci 4.19.20
Santa Cruz Local hosted its first town hall meeting Friday, April 17 on Zoom. Our guests: Dr. Larry DeGhetaldi, Sutter Health Palo Alto Medical Foundation Santa Cruz division president, and Dr. David Ghilarducci, Santa Cruz County’s deputy health officer. Some takeaways: Santa Cruz County can…
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Ep. 70 State and local factors to lift coronavirus shelter order 4.17.20
Details emerged this week from California and Santa Cruz County leaders on what it will take to lift the shelter orders. The county still lacks about 50 ventilators it needs for a potential peak of 100 severe COVID-19 cases, county health leaders said. That peak could come as late as June. Santa...
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Ep. 69 Meet Santa Cruz Local part 7- Our 2020 vision 4.14.20
Santa Cruz Local is seeing its fastest growth since its launch in August. Co-founders Kara Meyberg Guzman and Stephen Baxter take you behind the scenes. We share where we're heading with the company. One of the biggest things that sets Santa Cruz Local apart is our commitment to community...
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Ep. 68 Progress on the COVID-19 battle in Santa Cruz County 4.10.20
At a news conference Thursday, Santa Cruz County health officials said they were encouraged by the relatively low numbers of COVID hospitalizations in our county. However, the county still only has a maximum intensive care unit capacity of 50 beds. Dr. Gail Newel said she plans to extend her...
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Ep 67 New Santa Cruz City Council members sworn in 4.9.20
We share tape from a special Santa Cruz City Council meeting that took place Tuesday. Mayor Justin Cummings spoke about coming together after the March 3 election. New city council members Katherine Beiers and Renee Golder also gave statements after they were sworn in through a video conference...
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Ep 66 Introducing Santa Cruz Local Answers- Your Questions On Testing 4.9.20
Santa Cruz Local's Jerimiah Oetting answers your questions on coronavirus testing: Who gets tested? What is the process? How long does it take? Why is testing limited in Santa Cruz County and when will that change? Jerimiah talked to a medical leader, a scientist and others to get some answers....
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Ep. 65 'Everything's homework now' 4.5.20
Santa Cruz County public schools are shut down through the end of the academic year, to limit the spread of the coronavirus. Families, teachers and school administrators have been forced to adapt quickly. Santa Cruz Local co-hosts Stephen Baxter and Kara Meyberg Guzman focus on two questions:...
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Ep. 64 Santa Cruz County COVID-19 hospital demand projected to exceed capacity 4.2.20
Santa Cruz County health officials said Thursday that hospitals remain relatively quiet, but they anticipate COVID-19 patients to top a “surge capacity” of 50 intensive care unit beds this month or in May. Santa Cruz Local hosts Kara Meyberg Guzman and Stephen Baxter explain the top five…
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Ep 63 Global lessons for Santa Cruz in the COVID-19 response 3.26.20
Santa Cruz County's lockdown may last for months. We have to wait for one of three things: a vaccine, a treatment or herd immunity. A vaccine or treatment could take a year or more. Herd immunity — when enough people have recovered from the disease are now resistant — could also take a while.…
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Ep 62 Santa Cruz County medical capacity to face coronavirus test 3.19.20
The time for coronavirus testing for the general public was in February, says Santa Cruz County epidemiologist Will Forest. The real question is how well can the county’s medical centers expand to meet expected demand. What may determine that is how well residents follow the county health…
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Ep. 61 Santa Cruz County orders residents to stay home
To stem the spread of the coronavirus, Santa Cruz County Health Officer Gail Newel ordered residents to stay in their homes for three weeks and not leave unless necessary. The mandate starts early Tuesday. It follows six Bay Area counties with similar measures. Hear Newel explain how the order...
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Ep. 60 Coronavirus spreads in Santa Cruz County 3.13.20
Santa Cruz County has seven confirmed cases of the coronavirus as of Thursday night. County leaders now have evidence that the virus has spread within the community. Lives are disrupted by many closures and cancellations, including an announcement Thursday that Santa Cruz County public schools…
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Ep 59 Unofficial election results, two Santa Cruz council members recalled 3.4.20
Despite a concerted effort to stop the recall of Santa Cruz City Council members Chris Krohn and Drew Glover, the pair seemed to be ousted from the council in Tuesday's election, according to unofficial results from the county. The results (which have all precincts reporting but do not include…
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Ep. 58 Santa Cruz City Council recall, Chris Krohn's seat
There are two recall votes happening in the City of Santa Cruz right now. This episode focuses on one of the races, for Councilmember Chris Krohn’s seat. We hear from Krohn and the candidates vying to replace him: former Santa Cruz mayors Katherine Beiers and Don Lane. The candidates discuss...
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Ep. 57 Vote March 3: Santa Cruz City Council recall, Drew Glover's seat 2.9.20
We press the candidates for Santa Cruz City Council on what we heard are your concerns: homelessness, housing, the environment, jobs and discord on the city council. We hear from Drew Glover, Renee Golder and Tim Fitzmaurice. We explain what a recall is and why it's on your ballot. We also…
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Ep. 56 Vote March 3: The District 1 Supervisor race 2.6.20
Our work on the People's Agenda continues. Candidates for the District 1 supervisor race discuss plans for homelessness, the rail corridor, traffic, housing and jobs. We hear from incumbent John Leopold and challengers Manu Koenig, Mark Esquibel and Benjamin Cogan. If you’re a voter in Live Oak,...
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Ep. 55 Vote March 3: The District 2 Supervisor race
We press Santa Cruz County Supervisor Zach Friend and challenger Becky Steinbruner on what we heard are your top issues: homelessness, traffic, the environment, housing and the rail corridor. Friend and Steinbruner are the candidates in the District 2 county supervisor election that will take…
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