🌱 Patch AM: Why some UC Santa Cruz students are ending up in garages

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In today's newsletter:

• Why some UC Santa Cruz students are ending up in garages
• What you should know about the proposed Santa Cruz Mountains SVP housing
• How you can use UC Santa Cruz's newly rebuilt scenic running loop

Also on today's calendar: Santa Cruz Elks Lodge Fall Festival and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: Do you know what the two sides of a circle are? 🤔 (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®. Based on analysis by Ookla® of Speedtest Intelligence® data 1H 2026. 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.
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Weather forecast:

• Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high of 81 and low of 55 degrees.
• Friday: Mostly sunny and comfortable, temps: high: 79, low: 54.
• Saturday: Mostly sunny and pleasant, with a high of 71 and low of 52 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. UC Santa Cruz students are sleeping in garages as rents soar (ksbw.com) — UC Santa Cruz students and families are grappling with soaring Santa Cruz rents, demolition of aging family housing and uncertainty about where they'll live next. New campus housing projects, city-backed partnerships and a voter-approved housing tax are adding thousands of beds and some protections, but many students still face steep rent hikes, cramped living situations and tough choices about staying enrolled.
   

2. Sheriff opposes proposal to house convicted rapist Michael Cheek in Santa Cruz Mountains (santacruzsentinel.com) — Santa Cruz County's sheriff is urging a local court to reject a proposal to house twice-convicted rapist Michael Cheek in a remote Santa Cruz Mountains home near schools and family areas. Residents can submit written comments before the October 30 hearing, as officials warn that terrain, poor access and limited cell coverage could hinder monitoring and emergency response.
   

3. UC Santa Cruz reopens running path around Upper East Field (santacruzsentinel.com) — UC Santa Cruz has reopened its freshly rebuilt half-mile running path around Upper East Field, and it's open not just to students and staff but to the wider Santa Cruz County community. A $500,000 donation funded major repairs and new all‑weather surfacing, restoring a popular route known for its sweeping Monterey Bay views and daily use by runners and walkers.
   

4. California's Slow Coast Travel Post (buckmastershow.com) — Santa Cruz features prominently as the jumping-off point for a scenic road trip along the "Slow Coast" stretch of Highway 1 up to Half Moon Bay. The writer highlights Santa Cruz Wharf, West Cliff Drive, Natural Bridges, and nearby Mission San Juan Bautista, offering visitors practical ideas for lodging, dining, and coastal stops that showcase the area's natural beauty.
   

📸 Around Santa Cruz

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Santa Cruz

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★ Featured events ★

Saturday September 26
• Santa Cruz Elks Lodge Fall Festival →
  Santa Cruz Elks Lodge #824, 150 Jewell St, Santa Cruz
  12:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Friday September 25
• Santa Cruz Speed Dating at Mission West Bar →
  Mission West, 2405 Mission Street, Santa Cruz
• "Califia's Children: Alternative Spiritual Movements in California" →
  Small Theater, 155 River Street South, Santa Cruz
• Nashville Nights - Featuring Thompson Square →
  Chaminade Resort & Spa, 1 Chaminade Lane, Santa Cruz
Saturday September 26
• Capitola Beach Festival: Toy Takeover! →
  Capitola Village, Capitola
  8:00 am
• Simplify To Thrive Online Workshop →
  9:00 am
• Oktoberfest Santa Cruz →
  Messiah Lutheran Church, 801 High St, Santa Cruz
  12:00 pm
Friday October 2
• Fire & Grace & Flamenco with Special Guests Fanny Ara and Ian Scarfe →
  UCSC Music Center Recital Hall
  7:30 pm
Saturday October 10
• Santa Cruz Bake & Gather →
  Midtown Community Center, 115 South Morrissey Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA 95062
  1:30 pm
• Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour →
  Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz
  7:00 pm
Wednesday October 14
• Santa Cruz Film Festival →
  Santa Cruz, CA, 95060
  6:00 pm
Thursday October 15
• Santa Cruz Film Festival →
  Landmark's Del Mar Theatre, 1124 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz

📣 Santa Cruz Shout Outs!

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Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

 

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• El Capulin Nursery — (831) 840-9195
• Illusive Comics & Games, LLC — (408) 985-7655

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• We saw the sweetest thing at Costco Monday: 5 groups of 3-4 young men or women conferring and checking their lists as they shopped for supplies and equipment for their dorm or apartment.
  We spoke with 3 men and they confirmed that was what was going on for them. They had a microwave oven in their cart. Rans told them about his… (Nextdoor Santa Cruz Gardens)
• Me and my Fiancé are up here on swanton blvd on the Westside and this sweet boy just walked up to us.
  He was tired and hungry. I fed him and gave him water. We walked him around up here trying to find where he came from but no one is out here looking… (Nextdoor Extreme East Side)

• Pyramid Global Hospitality posted a job opening for Housekeeping Houseman, Chaminade Resort & Spa in Santa Cruz. Apply here.
• Santa Cruz Regional 911 posted a job opening for Public Safety Dispatcher II - Lateral in Santa Cruz. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Santa Cruz here.

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: The inside and the outside ! (Thank you James M. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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