Phil Kramer News Today

Ahead of opening arguments in a far-reaching U.S. Supreme Court case Monday that would decide if it is unconstitutional for jurisdictions to criminally oust people from homeless encampments without shelter options, the city of Santa Cruz has been awarded a two-year $4 million state homeless encampment resolution grant.

The third annual Old City Wedding Stroll is on April 24th. Registration closes April 23rd at 10 a.m. Couples can explore vendors and venues.

"The first Santa Cruz city landmarks list was compiled in 1950 by the Chamber of Commerce, citing 20 buildings that had promotional appeal in drawing tourists to Santa Cruz County," writes columnist Ross Eric Gibson. "Elsewhere development pressures were sweeping away buildings, neighborhoods and farms to favor freeways, urban renewal, slum clearance and suburban sprawl."

Bringing a Fresh Twist to Dining

Santa Cruz county leaders unveiled their latest and largest affordable housing project of its kind in the county. The focus, offering permanent housing to some of the most vulnerable, unhoused people living in the community.

Ahead of a construction groundbreaking predicted for this summer, U.S. Rep. Jimmy Panetta highlighted Tuesday what is set to become Santa Cruz County's largest permanent supportive housing project.

"Rowland Rebele, who died Saturday at 93, came to stand for the very best things about this community," writes the Editorial Board. "Rebele, who made his fortune running (and selling small community newspapers), moved to Aptos relatively later in life, in 1979, and quickly became both a benefactor to local nonprofits and arts and culture – and a huge figure in providing help for people experiencing homelessness."

Franklin Democratic Mayor Phil Kramer is being challenged by former Mayor Brian Levine, a Republican, who also served as Somerset County commissioner.

Coming out of a punishing winter and the end of the coronavirus pandemic's state of emergency, Santa Cruz County's homeless population has remained highly visible and yet significantly dwindled, according to results of a recent study.

These are the political players thriving in the City of Brotherly Love.