Pig News

What were the latest local developments in Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Luis Obispo counties through out 2020 and 2021?

"Sleepy" John Sandige and Michael Gaither interviewed our local leaders, medical personnel, and those working on the front lines who kept our county safe, healthy and running through those, ahem, memorable months.

We're putting this series on hiatus for a bit, but we wanted to go out big. Our final story of 2021 was an exclusive visit with Santa Claus. Listen in on the full post, and check out the entire series is available here in the archive.

Photo Credit: "The Dunes" photo by Phillip Lima.

The Santa Claus Interview - December 2nd 2021

Interview Archives:

1. 1. Interviews from November 2021

      Amanda Curaza and Payton Carty for Operation Surf (Veteran's Support)
      

      Dr. David Ghilarducci County Health Officer on Facemasks
      

      Karen Smith - Public Information Officer for Monterey County (Latest COVID Stats)
      

      Rebeca Unitt - Opening Pacific Ave
      

      Ira Fillipini - Our Downtown Our Future
      

      Gary Patton - Former SC Supervisor on Redistricting
      

      Gary Patton - Former SC Supervisor on Redistricting
      

      Cassie Bronson - Redistricting the City of Santa Cruz
      

      Don Lane - Former Santa Cruz Mayor (Local Redistricting
      

      Justin Cummings - Former SC Mayor
      

1. Interviews from October 2021

   Dave Kegebein - SC County Fair CEO - Relocating Livestock During the Recent Estrada Fire
   

   Tony Schafer - The Need For - And Challenge Of Controlled Burns
   

   Santa Cruz Chief of Police Andy Mills - Retiring from the City and Looking Back
   

   Dr Gail Newell - Lifting of COVID19 Restrictions In Santa Cruz County
   

   Supervisor Zac Friend - Update on Cannibus Growing Ordinances
   

   Melissa Murphy - New Managing Editor SC Sentinel
   

1. Interviews from September 2021

   SC Police Chief Andy Mills - Challenges Facing the Dept with COVID19
   

   Nane Alejandrez - Director & Founder of Barrios Unidos - Overview of the Org
   

   State Senator John Laird - Self-enforcing COVID19 safety measures
   

   Caleb Lawrence - Investment Advisor - How the stock market is part of the economy - and how the economy is doing
   

   Dr. Gail Newell - Overview of the new COVID19 Vax Booster Doses
   

   Ben Rice Juvenile Justice & Dependency Prevention Commission
   

   Heather Rogers New Chief Public Defender
   

   Marcus Mendiola - PV Water Conservations Specialist - Status of drought in south SC county
   

   Gary Griggs of UCSC - Status on Second Worst Drought in CA History
   

   Marger Gerber - Landmark Theaters - Reopening Local Theaters with COVID19 Restrictions -
   

1. Interviews from August 2021

   Tony Shafer - Flame Mappers and Wild Urban Fires - Part One
   

   Tony Shafer - Flame Mappers and Wild Urban Fires - Part Two
   

   Supervisor Zac Friend - Adjusting to COVID19 with New Variant
   

   Erika Smart of the SC Animal Shelter - The Post-COVID19 Kitten Boom
   

   Sate Senator John Laird - COVID19 Variant Effects from Statewide Perspective
   

   Farris Sabbah Santa Cruz County Superintendent of Schools - Reopening of Schools
   

   Supervisor Ryan Coonerty - Status on COVID19 in the County
   

   Dr Gail Newell - Latest County Vax Numbers and Return of Indoor Mandatory Masking
   

   Gary Griggs of UCSC - Status on Second Worst Drought in CA History
   

1. Interviews from July 2021

   Christina Glynn - Visit Santa Cruz - Local Tourism After June 15th Governor Announcement
   

   Marcus Mendiola - PV Water Conservations Specialist - Drought Concerns In South Santa Cruz County
   

   Jenn Herrera Chief of Public Health - Approaching and Encouraging Those Resistant to COVID19 VAX
   

   Mary Ann Lo Balbo County - Santa Cruz Public Works - Differences Between Regular, Wood and Green Waste
   

   Attorney Gary Patton - Land Use Bill 10
   

   Dr. George Yellich, DDS - Low-cost Dental Work for Veterans
   

   Dr Gail Newell - Santa Cruz County Health Officer - The COVID19 Delta Variant and the Revised Need to Mask Indoors
   

   Kimberly Parrish - David Lyng Real Estate - Updated on Local Real Estate Market, Post-2020
   

1. Interviews from June 2021

   Matt Huffaker, Watsonville City Manager - The American Rescue Act brought $18M into south county
   

   Don Lane, former SC City Council Member - Discussion of The Housing Matters Organization
   

   Daniel Nylan, Conservation District of SC County - How wood debris aids the local river ecosystems
   

   Doron Comachero, Food What Org - Putting teens to work and feeding the needy
   

   Andy Mills, SC Police Chief - How the 6/15 reopening of the state might affect SC County
   

   Jon Norngren, Cabrillo Stage - The Summer Stage series returns for a five-week, five-show fundraiser
   

   Ben Rice, Juvenile Justice & Dependency Prevention Commission - The challenge to keep juveniles local in leu of reduced facilities space and funding
   

   Dave Kagabein, Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds - Looking back on the fairgrounds as a county resource during COVID19 and CZU fires
   

   Bruce MacPherson, SC Supervisor - COVID19 safety requirements in county facilities in light of state's 6/15/21 announcement
   

1. Interviews from May 2021

   Dr. Gail Newell - What's required to get Santa Cruz County to "yellow" status
   

   Dr. Matt Hansman - Status on Santa Cruz reopening from a doctor's perspective
   

   Jorian Wilkins, Director of Downtown Association - Details on reopening stores and restaurants
   

   Zach Friend, Santa Cruz Supervisor - Pajaro River levee status and thoughts on how to reopen the county
   

   Lynn Achterburg, Project Purr - How COVID19 affected the local feral cat population and steps to remedy
   

   Brian Ziel - New ownership and reopening of Moe's Alley in Santa Cruz
   

   Darrell Lewis - How COVID19 affected local real estate
   

   Don Lane - The Housing Matters organization in Santa Cruz
   

   Mark Stone, State Assembly Member - Reopening the status from the view of the capitol
   

1. Interviews from April 2021

   Santa Cruz Supervisor Manu Koenig - Results of 4/1 Vote on Rail Trail
   

   Slo Media Liaison Michelle Shoresman - Safety Protocols After Being Vaccinated
   

   Good Times Editor Steve Palopoli - How Good Times Fared During COVID19
   

   Watsonville Mayor Jimmy Dutra - Impact of COVID19 on South County
   

   Good Times Columnist Jake Pierce - Santa Cruz Homeless Update
   

   Nane Alejandrez of Barrios Unidos - Homeless Update on the Latino Community
   

   City of Santa Cruz Spokesman Ellen Cross - Upcoming Water-Restrictions
   

   Santa Cruz Supervisor Ryan Coonerty - Status on the County Going to Yellow
   

1. Interviews from March 2021

   Nesh Dhillon - Operation of Santa Cruz Farmer's Markets During COVID19
   

   Zach Friend - Santa Cruz County Supervisor on Status of Homeless Encampments Along Highway 1
   

   Dr. Michelle Rodriguez - PVUSD Superintendent On New Garden and Teaching Project at Starlite Elementary
   

   Bonna Meyers - Santa Cruz Mayor Bonna Meyers On Latest Issues with the Homeless Population
   

   Elizabeth Smith - Santa Cruz City Comms Director On This New Position and Its Goals
   

   Dr. Farris Sabbah - Status of Reopening Santa Cruz Schools
   

   Dr. Gail Newell - Santa Cruz County COVID19 Update (vaccinations, schools)
   

   State Senator John Laird - Santa Cruz County COVID19 Stats (Reopening Schools, Restaurant Capacity, Vax Supplies)
   

   State Senator John Laird - COVID19 and Affect on Homeless Population
   

1. Interviews from February 2021

   Brian Ziel, New Owner of Moe's Alley Nightclub - Plans for Reopening
   

   Andy Mills, Santa Cruz Police Chief - Trader Joe's Anti-Mask Demonstrators
   

   John Laird, State Senator - COVID19 Update (County Reopening, Schools, Vax Supplies)
   

   Dr. David Ghilarducci S.C. County Health Dept - Vax Supplies & Numbers of People Vaccinated To Date
   

   Michelle Shoresman, Media Liaison for SLO County COVID Team - Vax Supplies and Status
   

   Andy Mills, Santa Cruz Police Chief - COVID19 and the SC Homeless Population
   

   Matt Huffaker, Watsonville City Manager - Vax Supplies and Locations
   

1. Interviews from January 2021
   >

   U.S Representative Jimmy Panetta - Part1: Vaccine Supplies
   

   U.S Representative Jimmy Panetta - Part2: Experiencing January 6th and 20th in Washington DC
   

   Andy Mills, Santa Cruz Police Chief: Virus and Homeless Update
   

   Ryan Coonerty, Santa Cruz Supervisor: Vaccine Supplies in Santa Cruz County
   

   Karen Smith, Monterey County Public Information Officer of Monterey County: The Two Types of COVID19 Vaccines
   

   Jack Bowers of the William James Association: Arts Programs In Prisons and the Impact of COVID19
   

   Joe Ferrara of Atlantis Fantasyworld: Sheltering In Place and Downtown Santa Cruz Merchants
   

   Manu Koenig: New Santa Cruz County Supervisor
   

   Wallace Baine: Lookout Santa Cruz, Our New Online County Newspaper
   

Photo Credit: "The Dunes" photo by Phillip Lima.

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