Santa Cruz Local

We explain the results of an unprecedented workplace misconduct investigation involving four Santa Cruz City Council members: two accusers and two accused. We talk to Councilmembers Drew Glover, Donna Meyers, Chris Krohn and Mayor Martine Watkins. We also correct some misinformation that's been spread on social media.

It's the eve of Santa Cruz Local's first membership drive. We share with you the survey results on what our listeners like and what they think we could improve about Santa Cruz Local. We hear from one of our few younger listeners about why he wants to get involved in local civics. Finally, we answer your questions about how membership works and how you can join. For more info, visit www.santacruzlocal.org

A controversial development at 190 West Cliff Drive advances. We hear from some of the 200-plus people who packed Santa Cruz City Hall on Thursday for the planning commission meeting. We update you on plans for the intersection of Bay Street and West Cliff Drive. And we get into the nitty-gritty of state and local policy that shapes the balance of affordable and market rate housing development.

The City of Santa Cruz wants to create an online survey of landlords and tenants. It's an attempt to get reliable data on rents, evictions, housing types and other elements of the city's rental market. The city council majority wants to make the survey mandatory. We share with with you what landlords and tenants make of it. Plus: an update on the city's corridor plan, a push toward district elections, what's up with 5G cell towers and the status of a state bill that would bring $16 million of affordable housing funding to Santa Cruz.

California is getting into the heart of wildfire season. We learn that parts of the Santa Cruz Mountains have a higher potential of wildfire than did Paradise, where last year we saw the deadliest wildfire in state history. We want to draw on some lessons from the Camp Fire. We talk to several people who live in Bonny Doon and San Lorenzo Valley. We hear what they’ve been doing to prepare for a potential catastrophic wildfire. Lastly, we give you tips on how you can prepare.

Why is Santa Cruz Local a private company? Why did we leave the Sentinel? How are we approaching the City of Santa Cruz HR investigation into two city council members?

Santa Cruz Local co-hosts Kara Meyberg Guzman and Stephen Baxter discuss these questions and more. It's the second episode of 'Meet Santa Cruz Local,' a miniseries giving a behind-the-scenes look at how and why we give you local news.

We share with you our mission and motivation, our decision making and ethics, and our feedback from listeners.

A formal investigation, launched by the City of Santa Cruz's Human Resources Department, has looked into possible workplace misconduct by council members Chris Krohn and Drew Glover. An initial document shows that most of the allegations against Krohn have not been substantiated. However, the final report is not yet complete. We share with you what we know so far.

Who are we and why are we making a podcast on Santa Cruz's public institutions? How are we funded? What is the state of local media in Santa Cruz? Co-hosts Kara Meyberg Guzman and Stephen Baxter talk about their motives behind creating Santa Cruz Local. We share the results of our listener survey on what local news you'd like to see more of. And we meet one Santa Cruz Local listener and hear her constructive criticism. This is part one of a miniseries on our relationship with you, our listeners. Sign up for our newsletter at santacruzlocal.org to participate in our new survey and learn how you can join our growing community of civically-engaged Santa Cruz locals.

We talk with Santa Cruz City Councilmembers Chris Krohn and Drew Glover about a recall campaign that has been mounted against them. They respond to allegations of bullying and petitioners' concerns about how they handled a homeless camp closure.

Congresswoman Anna Eshoo, whose district includes Davenport, the North Coast and the San Lorenzo Valley, held a town hall meeting Saturday. Her constituents were pushing her to the left. We break down where she stands on impeachment, Medicare for All and border policy.