The Douglas iris is a wildflower native to central and northern California and parts of southern Oregon.
(Blogpost extra: In a last-minute addition to this edition of The Newsletter, I share some thoughts on today's eclipse. See below.)
The first time I recall encountering a field of Douglas irises, which may have been at Wilder Ranch State Park just north of Santa Cruz, I looked around for the ruins of a homestead. It didn't occur to me that these could be wildflowers—I figured they had to be remnants of some long-ago-planted garden.
I grew up ten miles from Manhattan in New Jersey, which is known as the Garden State, and deserves that nickname outside the brutalized swath that is the Turnpike. But the woods that flanked the Hackensack River and surrounded the Oradell Reservoir, my childhood nature refuges, had nothing to compare with the Douglas iris. Or the California poppy. Or, to my knowledge, the Calochortus lily (see below). All of California is special in my eyes, and Santa Cruz maybe especially so.
I write as always from my beloved home in the urban forest that is Midtown Sacramento, and take you today to another of my hometowns.
A Spring Guide, a Garden, and a Bunch of Pretty Murals
Even if you aren't planning to visit Santa Cruz this spring, you might enjoy this virtual visit.
Santa Cruz Murals
Santa Cruz County is home to amazing murals. One amazing person is working to document them in one place.
• Fatal Caltrain Collision With Trespasser Investigated
A person trespassing on Caltrain tracks early Sunday died after being hit by a train. Authorities have not determined what caused the collision or why the person was on the tracks.
(04/07/2024) → The Mercury News
• This Bay Area City Is Using AI to Detect Homeless Camps. Will Others Follow Suit?
Across the country, cities have begun experimenting with artificial intelligence to map potholes, reduce traffic and fight wildfires. In San Jose, officials are now harnessing the rapidly evolving technology with another goal in mind: detecting homeless encampments.
(04/07/2024) → The Mercury News
• How Every Vote — Even These Odd Ones — Counted in the Bay Area’s Historic, Dead-Heat House Primary
To understand the mind-boggling, consequential power of just one vote in this year's historic District 16 congressional primary, take a stroll through downtown Saratoga, the heart of Santa Clara County's Precinct No. 4692.
(04/06/2024) → The Mercury News
• Two United Airlines Planes Clip Wings at SFO
None of the 105 passengers or five crew members on the plane, United Airlines Flight 2181, an Airbus A319, was injured. The flight was arriving from Reno and headed next from San Francisco to Fort Lauderdale, flight records show. The other plane was parked.
(04/06/2024) → The Mercury News
• Out With the A’s … in With the B’s: Expansion Ballers Eager to Prove Baseball Can Still Thrive in Oakland
The Oakland Ballers are an independent team, unaffiliated with Major League Baseball, and they hope to incorporate some of the Savannah Bananas’ silly spirit into what they’re doing.
(04/06/2024) → The Mercury News
• 49ers Offer to Settle Litigation
In an attempt to end five years of litigation, the 49ers made an offer of of $18M and other concessions to resolve two ongoing legal actions.
(04/05/2024) → Silicon Valley Voice
• Apple Files Layoff Notice
Apple has filed a disclosure with the state Employment Development Department stating an intention to layoff 600+ local Silicon Valley employees in May.
(04/04/2024) → The Mercury News
• Opposition to Mountain View Middle School Schedule Change
Parents and students are voicing opposition to a new middle school schedule which would cut time for electives.
(04/04/2024) → Mountain View Voice
• Homeless Tiny Home Site to Expand
Planning is underway to expand the homeless tiny home facility at 5898 Rue Ferrari in South San Jose with an additional 124 beds, a laundry area and community center.
(04/04/2024) → The Mercury News
• Mountain View Unveils Vision Zero Plan
Mountain View is considering a number of recommendations to reduce injuries and eliminate traffic fatalities in the city by 2030.
(04/04/2024) → Mountain View Voice
• Stanford University Announces New President
Stanford University named business school dean Jonathan Levin as its new president.
(04/04/2024) → The Mercury News
• New Affordable Housing Development Planned for San Joes
A San Jose-based modular apartment firm is teaming up with a South Korean real estate company to build 700+ units of affordable housing to a 3.2 acre site at 7 Topgolf Drive in north San Jose.
(04/04/2024) → The Mercury News
• Los Altos to Raise Fees
The Los Altos City Council approved a new fee schedule for building, engineering and planning services after discovering it had been undercharging by up to $1.9M annually.
(04/03/2024) → Los Altos Town Crier
• Santa Clara High School Honored
Mission Early College High School was honored by the State Department of Education with the California Exemplary Dual Enrollment Award.
(04/02/2024) → Silicon Valley Voice
• Palo Alto City Council Votes on El Camino Real Improvements
The Palo Alto City Council voted 6-1 on a bundle of improvements, including elimination of some parking, to improve safety on El Camino Real.
(04/02/2024) → Palo Alto Online
• California Fails to Adequately Help Blind and Deaf Prisoners, US Judge Rules
Thirty years after prisoners with disabilities sued the state of California and 25 years after a federal court first ordered accommodations, a judge found that state prison and parole officials still are not doing enough to help deaf and blind prisoners.
(04/08/2024) → California Healthline
• Business Groups and Lawmakers Battle Over Ballot Measure to Limit California Tax Increases
Anti-tax groups in California have qualified a measure for the November ballot that would make raising state and local taxes much more difficult. It’s a showdown that’s been building for nearly five decades.
(04/08/2024) → CalMatters
• Opinion: I've Covered California's Homeless Since Before the Word Was Used. This Is What I Learned
I thought my journalism and others’ could change policy, perhaps even inspire a New Deal-style response equal to the challenge. Such was my naiveté.
(04/06/2024) → Los Angeles Times
• These Californians Just Got Protection From Big Rent Hikes
Tenants in many new privately owned, low-income units will be protected from double-digit increases. So will some in existing units, after a state committee on affordable housing imposed a rent cap.
(04/05/2024) → CalMatters
• CA Budget Deal Gets Early Start on Deficit
Not filling open positions in state government, cutting a school facilities program and several climate initiatives, delaying funding for public transit — these are some of the first steps that California officials plan to take to deal with a looming multibillion-dollar budget deficit.
(04/05/2024) → CalMatters
• Bill to Mandate ‘Science of Reading’ in California Schools Faces Teachers Union Opposition
The move puts the fate of AB 2222 in question, but supporters insist that there is room to negotiate changes that can help tackle the state's literacy crisis.
(04/04/2024) → EdSource
• Photographers Capture Spectacular Streaking Lights of Southern California
It quickly became clear that Elon Musk’s SpaceX was responsible for the show. The lights were a Falcon 9 rocket carrying 22 new Starlink satellites into orbit. The rocket blasted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base at 7:30 p.m., and it’s trail was visible from Los Angeles to Joshua Tree National Park.
(04/02/2024) → SF Gate