Reporter

Jessica York

Jessica A. York covers Santa Cruz County public safety, courts and homelessness for the Sentinel. She has been a working journalist, on both coasts, since 2004.

The Governor's office announced this week, projects to help get people off the streets and to give them access to the care they need.(Shmuel Thaler — Santa Cruz Sentinel file)

Growing Santa Cruz County homeless senior population struggles for resources

September 10, 2024 at 7:32 a.m.

"The population of older adults in Santa Cruz County is itself increasing, and with it, I fear, so will the disparities," Housing for Health Division Director Robert Ratner said.

Traffic cones circle the empty pool at the Best Western Surestay in San Jose, Calif., on October 30, 2021. As the city works to transform the temporary Roomkey hotel to a more permanent Homekey project, residents are upset with the slow process of repairs that has left large openings under several staircases since May. (Anda Chu/Bay Area News Group)

Santa Cruz County a case study on pandemic Project Roomkey

May 18, 2024 at 6:14 a.m.

A recently released assessment of Project Roomkey, the pandemic-era emergency homeless motel housing, highlighted Santa Cruz County as one of five community case studies.

A homeless person transports their belongings along Soquel Drive in Aptos during a rainy winter day this year. (Shmuel Thaler — Santa Cruz Sentinel)

State of Homelessness | Santa Cruz receives needed funding, still work to be done

August 5, 2022 at 9:10 a.m.

"What we are doing is working -- people are staying housed, but we're not keeping up with the need," Housing Matters Executive Director Phil Kramer said.

A homeless encampment along Highway 1 is cleared by Santa Cruz police, California Highway Patrol officers and a Caltrans crew. (Shmuel Thaler — Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Santa Cruz continues to grapple with homelessness challenges

July 9, 2021 at 6:30 a.m.

Santa Cruz County, with its miles of coastal access, temperate climate and acres of wooded areas, has long proven attractive – and barely affordable – to those both with access...

Adrian ‘A.J’ Gonzalez walks with attorney Larry Biggam in a Santa Cruz Superior Courtroom in July 2015 on suspicion of killing 8-year-old Madyson Middleton a few days before this appearance. (Dan Coyro — Santa Cruz Sentinel file)

Maddy Middleton’s killer pleads guilty to murder

April 27, 2021 at 10:53 a.m.

Immediately after his case was transferred to the Santa Cruz County juvenile court system, Adrian Gonzalez pleaded guilty Tuesday morning to the 2015 murder of 8-year-old Madyson Middleton.

The main entrance to UC Santa Cruz was again blocked by students supporting the wildcat grad student strike Thursday. A graduate student workers labor union and the UC system both filed unfair labor practice complaints related to the strike against each other this week.(Dan Coyro — Santa Cruz Sentinel)

UC Santa Cruz terminates 54 workers in pay-raise dispute

March 2, 2020 at 9:01 a.m.

Some 54 UC Santa Cruz teaching assistants were set to be dismissed Friday for refusing to comply with a university-imposed strike deadline.

Main Beach campers set up their tent Monday afternoon. The Santa Cruz City Council will consider a curfew for Main Beach at their Tuesday night meeting. (Dan Coyro — Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Homeless tents crowd a popular central California coast beach. So, the city implemented a curfew

September 12, 2019 at 9:07 a.m.

For the first time, Main Beach users will need to cut short their late-night visits to the popular boardwalk-adjacent city attraction as a new overnight curfew goes into effect this...

Roland ‘Beaver’ Edwards walks over Majors Creek, which runs through his Coastside Ranch property, back to his home overlooking his family’s Red, White and Blue Beach. Edwards and his siblings are asking $35 million for the 175-acre ranch. - Dan Coyro — Santa Cruz Sentinel

175 acre Santa Cruz ranch, former nudist beach campground, on the market for $35 million

August 23, 2018 at 12:00 a.m.

Roland “Beaver” Edwards, operator of the 175-acre Coastside Ranch off Highway 1, heads one of the few remaining privately operated North Coast ranches.The property, known for its access to the...

Roland ‘Beaver’ Edwards, co-owner of the Coastside Ranch which leads to Red, White, and Blue Beach, hopes the prospective buyer of the 175-acre ranch will conserve the property as a working ranch. Asking price is $35 million. - Dan Coyro — Santa Cruz Sentinel

Former North Coast nudist beach campground, Santa Cruz ranch on sale for $35M

August 23, 2018 at 12:00 a.m.

SANTA CRUZ >> Roland “Beaver” Edwards, operator of the 175-acre Coastside Ranch off Highway 1, heads one of the few remaining privately operated North Coast ranches.The property, known for its...

Jane Wohlhueter and Philip DeGreen brought their kids to the Zayante Fire Station after being evacuated from their home in Bear Creek Estates early Tuesday after the Bear Fire grew to more than 125 acres. (Dan Coyro -- Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Boulder Creek families weather Bear Fire, gather family and pets close

August 23, 2018 at 12:00 a.m.

BOULDER CREEK >> The sound from Philip DeGreen and Jane Wohlhueter’s front door at 4:30 a.m. Tuesday went something like this: “Thump thump thump. Phil and Jane, wake up!”The Boulder...

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