Good morning Santa Cruz! We're back in your inbox this morning to keep you in the loop with what's happening in and around town. Grab a cup of coffee and read on. ☀️
In today's newsletter:
Also on today's calendar: 52nd Annual UCSC Print Sale 2026 and 5 more events.
Today's riddle: What did the carpenter ant say when he walked into the bar? 🤔 (Answer below!)
From our Partner Today's Santa Cruz Patch AM is brought to you in part by T-Mobile. After investing billions to light up their network from big cities to small towns, T-Mobile is America's best mobile network in the US, according to Ookla Speedtest. We thank T-Mobile for their support in helping to keep communities like ours connected and for making today's Santa Cruz Patch AM possible. Find a T-Mobile store near Santa Cruz.
Weather forecast:
1. CZU Lightning Complex fires weren't first of its kind, UC Santa Cruz researchers say (mercurynews.com) — Researchers at UC Santa Cruz say the devastating 2020 CZU Lightning Complex fires were not unprecedented, finding evidence of earlier large wildfires in Santa Cruz County’s redwood forests tied to land-use practices. Their new story maps highlight how past logging, fire suppression, and development increased today’s risks, and urge more collective, government-supported fire mitigation so all Santa Cruz residents—not just homeowners—can better prepare.
2. County Supervisors Review Long-Term Strategic Plan (tpgonlinedaily.com) — Santa Cruz County supervisors are weighing a 2026–2032 strategic plan that could add more than 2,500 housing units, cut serious traffic crashes, and expand mental health and homelessness services. The draft roadmap also targets more family-wage jobs, better access to county services, and careful use of AI in government. Residents can still influence the final version expected later this summer.
3. Santa Cruz businesses prepare for Murray Street Bridge closure (ksbw.com) — Starting June 10, the Murray Street Bridge in Santa Cruz will close again through September, forcing longer detours for commuters and cutting off easy access to harbor-area businesses. H&H Fresh Fish is opening a second Westside location to offset big losses, while the city plans Seabright events like vintage and Saltwater markets to keep customers coming. Residents say they’re adjusting routes and making extra effort to shop local.
4. Ryan Coonerty jumps out to majority of vote in early results for Santa Cruz mayor (santacruzsentinel.com) — Early results show Ryan Coonerty with a strong majority in the Santa Cruz mayor’s race, potentially avoiding a November runoff if his lead holds. Local readers can see how each candidate is polling and where they stand on housing, development, downtown vibrancy, surveillance technology, and homelessness-focused organizing across Santa Cruz neighborhoods and UC Santa Cruz.
5. Soquel, Santa Cruz dealt tough losses in NorCal Regional playoffs (santacruzsentinel.com) — Santa Cruz High and Soquel High baseball both saw their seasons end Tuesday after long road trips to CIF NorCal Regional quarterfinals near Sacramento. Soquel surrendered an 8-0 lead in a 9-8 heartbreaker to Elk Grove, while Santa Cruz managed just two hits in a 5-0 loss to top-seeded Roseville. Coaches still see big growth and future promise for their young rosters.
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Ok Santa Cruz! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: Is the bar tender here? (Thank you W. M. for sending it in!)Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what’s happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.
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