This Week on the Central Coast
Downtown SC welcomes new and returning students, Monterey addresses high rent prices, Seaside does its part to bring more native plants to Monterey, and the state helps Garrapata make improvements
UCSC Students celebrate Downtown Day
After students spent more than a year out of the classroom, The Downtown Association and UCSC partnered up to welcome students back. The result of the partnership was the first ever Downtown Day. The special event was a mixture of activities meant to make new students feel welcome to the area and discover the many businesses in downtown Santa Cruz.
Activities included a scavenger hunt that led students to businesses like the Penny Ice Creamery, Snap Taco, and 11th Hour Coffee. Student clubs, such as Sabrosura Latin Dance Troupe and Cloud 9 A Capella, put on performances throughout the day. To finish the day off, the new Santa Cruz Cinema (where the Regal used to be) hosted a free screening of the Jordan Peele horror film, Us, which was set and filmed in Santa Cruz.
Due to the pandemic, downtown was mostly a ghost town. Recently, however, business has picked up considerably and Downtown Day was the perfect way to reintroduce students to the popular hangout spots. The event was so successful that organizers ran out of their 250 goodie bags by 3PM.
Monterey began discussing policies for struggling renters
On Wednesday, Monterey’s City Council held a “study session” to discuss renters’ concerns about being able to afford rent. It’s no secret that living in Monterey is expensive and the pandemic has made it even more difficult. “According to RentCafe.com, the current average rent in Monterey is $2,263 with rents increasing 6% over last year” With nearly two-thirds of people living in Monterey being renters, this is clearly an important issue to locals.
Which is why the council decided to use this study session as a starting point. Councilmember Tyler Williamson said “No way we are going to be able to figure out a solution to tenant’s issue within two hours. We need to let this be the beginning of the conversation.” Currently, rent can only increase according to the consumer price index plus 5%, but no more than 10% total. Williamson is hoping to negotiate to limit it to just the consumer price index, without the additional 5%. He would also like to create a rental registry, which he says “is going to be a space where we can create additional data sources, more accurate data, that future council can utilize to make data-driven decisions."
The issue is becoming even more urgent as government support programs designed to protect tenants from eviction are beginning to end.
A city park clean-up lead to a major pollinator conservation effort
In the summer of 2019, several nonprofits teamed up to host a clean-up of Seaside’s city parks. One volunteer, Laura Murphy, had a bigger plan: to create an environment that attracts endangered pollinators, such as honey bees and monarch butterflies. Thanks to a grant from Xerces Society, Murphy’s plan has come to fruition. The grant awarded Seaside with 2,000 starters of native plants to attract the pollinators.
Now, many of the parks in Seaside have converted non-native species of plants to natives. Some of those natives are now blooming, attracting many bees and butterflies. Murphy’s actions should serve as the perfect example of how a well-intentioned idea can create a positive change in our counties.
“Sustainable Seaside and FOSPA are hosting a tour of the pollinator gardens in eight of the city’s parks on Saturday Oct. 2, from 1-4pm (see Hot Picks, p. 26), with activities put on by each garden’s stewards.”
State budget grants $1 million to Garrapata State Park
Senator John Laird requested funding for Garrapata in order to “improve the park trail system for visitors, restore sensitive habitats, and protect archaeological sites.” The funds will be used to work on restoration projects along Highway 1, since some of the trails are showing signs of wear. The funding will also help rehabilitate sensitive habitats, such as those used by the Smith’s Blue Butterfly and the California Red-legged Frog.
Also this week…
Monterey county passed an indoor mask mandate, which requires all residents older than two years old to wear a face covering indoors. Those who are fully vaccinated can show proof of vaccination to avoid wearing a mask. The new requirement goes into effect October 29 only if the county’s transmission rate stays “substantial” or worse.
Santa Cruz’s Homeless Garden Project faces opposition to its proposed move to Pogonip. Most opposed to the move have stated that they support the HGP, but believe its too expensive for the city to move them into the new location.
Santa Cruz lifted its mask mandate when the CDC reported that the county had dropped to “moderate” transmission. The lifting does not change requirements for unvaccinated people and schools. The county also pointed out that there is currently no provision that would reinstate masks if transmissions were to go up again; the Public Health Office did not want residents to think face covering rules could change on a daily basis.
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Interesting issue. Liked the increased variety of subjects and diverse communities covered.