Joby Aviation, with its recently established headquarters in the Harvey West area of Santa Cruz and offices and facilities also in Marina and San Carlos, is currently developing electric air taxis for commercial passenger service, which it hopes to launch in 2025, and recently moved closer to that goal after completing another phase in the process to becoming certified by the Federal Aviation Administration.

“It’s going to have ridesharing networks, which is one of the things we are excited about in Santa Cruz, particularly with Highway 17,” said Santa Cruz Economic Development and Housing Director Bonnie Lipscomb at the meeting. “Joby also fits in with our community values of providing sustainable solutions to today’s challenges of congestion and climate change.”

According to the agenda report associated with the motion to approve the $500,000 loan to Joby, the funding would be provided to Joby on a reimbursement basis based on an annual survey of its job generation and employee retention. The agreement is meant to incentivize the hiring of 250 new, full-time employees in the city in total, which includes positions for technicians, engineers, machinists and managers, among others.

“That’s really the crux of what this agreement is about, is the creation of local jobs in our community,” said Lipscomb. “This incentivizes up to 250 jobs.”

The report points out that the loan is taken from the economic development trust fund and does not impact the city’s general fund, and that the loan funds “will be used for testing, manufacturing and safety equipment, including communications, safety, and other advanced specialized manufacturing equipment for the facility, such as CNC machines, lasers, and grinders.”

According to the report, the terms of the employment incentive loan include that it will be disbursed over no more than five years and with installment payments based on the annual employment survey. For each full-time employee that Joby hires, the city would loan the company $2,000. However, Joby cannot claim more than 100 new employees in a year, which means that the maximum loan amount awarded for a year is capped at $200,000.

During the public comment period, Joby Aviation’s Head of State and Local Policy George Kivork called into the meeting to speak to the process of the loan agreement and the company’s commitment to the city.

“We have spent the last year making sure that the agreement and the private partnership that we enter here together would be for the public interest,” said Kivork. “We put a very long range timeline of us not going anywhere for the next 10 years to commit ourselves to Santa Cruz.”

The City Council approved the motion in a vote of 6-1 with Councilmember Sandy Brown voting no.

To read the loan agreement, visit cityofsantacruz.com.

Zainab Mansoor also was attending UC Santa Cruz as a student at the time of her death, according to university officials.

On Tuesday, Mansoor’s boyfriend, 20-year-old Samuel Stone, was set to be arraigned in Santa Cruz County Superior Court on murder charges related to Mansoor’s death. That hearing was delayed until March 13, however.

Stone, until last month also a fellow UCSC student, allegedly called 911 around 1:15 a.m. Feb. 23 to report that he had strangled his girlfriend on the beach. He was a student through Jan. 10, university spokesman Scott Jason-Hernandez said.

Stone also was “unhoused and suffers from mental health issues,” according to the detective’s filing and he allegedly “committed an extremely violent act, seemingly without cause.”

San Mateo County this week became the latest official critic to take aim at the proposal, which opponents say would leave many older people and rural residents without a communications lifeline in case of a natural disaster, power outage or health crisis. The County’s supervisors are threatening AT&T with a subpoena to obtain information about how cutting landlines could affect rural residents.

AT&T has applied to the California Public Utilities Commission to be dropped as the “carrier of last resort,” a designation requiring it to provide phone service to anyone wanting it in its service area. The telecommunications giant argues that fewer than 7% of households in its territory use traditional landlines, “and a great number of those households also have alternatives available where they live.” In its proposal to the utilities commission, AT&T claimed its landline services were “fast becoming a historical curiosity” and serve no “valid public purpose.”

On Tuesday, San Mateo County’s Board of Supervisors demanded that AT&T officials provide documents and testify in person to explain how ending landline services would affect 911 and other emergency services.

“Unfortunately, far too many residents in my district live in areas with unreliable or no cell service whatsoever,” Supervisor Ray Mueller said in a news release. “Cutting off landlines for these residents is, in effect, severing their lifelines to emergency services.”

The county officials addressed a key criticism of AT&T’s plan: that the utility’s claim that cell phone and internet-phone service can replace landlines does not hold up, because power outages and disaster-damaged infrastructure have shown those technologies to be unreliable.

The utility agreed to meet with San Mateo County supervisors, who expect to learn about “all areas where cellular coverage is lacking or where such service is unreliable,” along with “where cell service has failed in past emergencies,” the news release said. However, if officials remain unsatisfied with AT&T’s responses, “the County retains the power to issue a subpoena,” the news release warned.

AT&T said in a statement that input and feedback from community stakeholders, including comments in public hearings held and planned “is a critical part of the process of upgrading customers from outdated copper lines to more advanced, higher speed technologies like fiber and wireless, which consumers are increasingly demanding.”

San Mateo County’s move comes after similar criticism from Santa Cruz County supervisors including Manu Koenig, who said at a county meeting this month that he had heard from “people who are frankly terrified at the idea of these lines going away and rightfully so,” the Santa Cruz Sentinel reported. An AT&T official was to address that county’s supervisors this week, the paper reported.

AT&T said all its California customers will “have access to voice services including 911 and emergency services, whether from us or another provider.” Communications networks running on fiber and wireless systems “are faster, more reliable, use less energy and require less maintenance over time,” AT&T claimed.

More than 4,000 online public comments on the utility’s proposal have been submitted to the state utilities commission, the vast majority opposed. In-person public meetings on the matter have taken place in Clovis and Ukiah, with two more scheduled for Indio, in Southern California on March 14. Two virtual meetings accessible via webcast or phone are to take place March 19.

Former UC Santa Cruz Police Department Lt. Glenn Harper — who had previously worked as an officer in the San Jose Police Department — sued the UC Regents in 2019, alleging that his race “was a substantial motivating reason” for his 2017 termination.

On Tuesday in Alameda County Superior Court, a jury took three hours to return a unanimous verdict in favor of Harper and award him $7.2 million in damages.

Harper said in his lawsuit that he had been one of only five Black sworn police officers in the UC Santa Cruz Police Department since it was formed in 1965.

A spokesman for UC Santa Cruz said the school was disappointed by the verdict.

“As the university maintained throughout the litigation, Glenn Harper’s employment was terminated in 2017 after multiple instances of unprofessional conduct,” said Scott Hernandez-Jason, assistant vice-chancellor of communications at UC Santa Cruz. “The university is considering its options for appeal.”

A lawyer for Harper, Harry Stern, said Wednesday that Harper was fired for yelling at a sergeant who had “botched” the firearms probe.

“This was the sort of case that ordinarily would result in a reprimand or maybe a one-day suspension,” Stern said.

This week is perhaps most critical for Rep. Katie Porter, D-Irvine, and Republican ex-Dodger Steve Garvey, who have been duking it out for second place in the polls. However, for Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Burbank, this week will be a test to see if he can translate those leads in the polls into actual votes, and for Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Oakland, it will be a last chance to pick up a progressive push to propel her from behind. 

RELATED: Who are the independent groups pouring money into California’s U.S. Senate race?

It’s officially “go mode” for all candidates — not just the top four — and they’re barnstorming the state at a rapid clip to meet people and buying more ad space to make a final impression on voters. 

But just what are candidates’ final pitches and how are they getting it across? Let’s take a look. 

Steve Garvey

Garvey has emerged as one of the top candidates in the race despite entering late and spending comparatively little on ads. Both his fundraising and polling have picked up steam in the last six weeks, and he intends on going all out this week to appeal to voters.

“Steve is spending the final week before the election letting Californians know he is fighting for them,” said campaign strategist Matt Shupe. “His goal is to connect with as many voters as possible and share his vision of compassionate, commonsense solutions at events and media appearances throughout the state.”

On Tuesday morning, he visited the El Monte Police Department, and he will continue to participate in various meet and greets throughout the week, according to Shupe — although he wouldn’t say exactly where those stops will be. 

Garvey jumped into the race in October and raised $610,000 by year-end — a figure that pales in comparison to his congressional competitors’ war chests. But his fundraising efforts surged between Jan. 1 and Feb. 14 as he took in $1.4 million, spent just less than $1.1 million and entered the homestretch of the primary race with $750,000 on hand. 

While he strongly benefits from the three-way split in the Democratic vote, his name recognition, conservative policy platform and avuncular appeal have also contributed to his success. 

Barbara Lee 

Lee’s final message to voters this week: “Leadership and experience matter. I have a certain lens of lived experience and perspective that the Senate desperately needs.”

As she vies for the seat long held by the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein, Lee has drawn on her background, particularly as a single mother who relied on public assistance, to underscore her more progressive economic positions, a message she’s continuing with in the home stretch. 

Like the other candidates, Lee has a full week ahead of California’s primary: She spent this past week in Oakland, visiting churches and attending her city’s seventh annual Black Joy Parade — the theme of the event was “Redefinition of a Hustler.” 

But she’s headed down to the turf of her fellow representatives this weekend. Lee has get-out-the-vote rallies and canvassing events planned on Saturday in San Diego and Orange County and will join worshippers at church in the Inland Empire on Sunday. Later Sunday, she has a rally planned in Los Angeles. Insurance Commissioner Richardo Lara is slated to join Lee in Southern California. 

And on Tuesday evening, she was scheduled to headline a virtual event with the progressive group Our Revolution. The event was billed as featuring candidates for federal and local offices who are “committed to furthering pro-peace policies amid the ongoing war in Gaza.”

Lee knows she’s lagging in the polls heading into Election Day, but she says she’s seen an outpouring of grassroots supporters who have come out to help with phone banking and other volunteer efforts.

“My focus right now is where it’s always been: on the ground, with the people, in the community,” she said.

Heading into the primary, Lee has more than $582,000 cash on hand, having raised about $568,000 this past quarter. 

Katie Porter

Porter has promoted herself to Golden State voters as a Washington outsider unbeholden to special interests. Throughout her campaign, she’s touted her record of rejecting money from corporate PAC and federal lobbyists, refusing to request earmarks and standing up to corporate interests.

And that’s the message she’s continuing to impart before polls close on March 5. 

She’s out with two new ads ahead of the primary, with one portraying her as “the leadership we desperately need” in the Senate, and a “watchdog” who will fight for everyday Californians. The other calls the recent crypto-backed ads that accused Porter of taking money from major banks and pharmaceutical and oil companies false. The former will run in Bakersfield and Fresno while the latter will air in Los Angeles, San Diego and Sacramento markets.

In fundraising emails this week, Porter has castigated Schiff for showing his ads on Fox News, but hers will reportedly also run on conservative media outlets, including Fox and Newsmax, from Wednesday through Friday.

Porter, who raised $2.9 million in the pre-primary period from Jan. 1 to Feb. 14, spent $11.2 million and has $4.8 million still left to spend, is also busy trying to pump some extra cash into her campaign. 

According to Politico, Porter is selling her private email and phone lists of donors to digital advisers, with donors’ information being offered starting at 65 cents each. As Politico reported, politicians selling fundraising lists isn’t atypical behavior, but it can be risky during a primary — especially for Porter as she will need those donors if she advances to the general with Schiff, who has already built a substantial fundraising edge.

And with a week to go until the primary, Porter has two new endorsements: the United Auto Workers and the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA. 

Adam Schiff

Schiff’s strategy thus far has been to spend big and talk loudly — and he’s doubling down on that approach this week.

On Monday, Schiff launched his closing TV advertisement for the primary campaign, met with union representatives at the Port of Los Angeles and appeared on KTLA. The new advertisement is called “Hopeful” and showcases his efforts to learn about the dreams and desires of Californians on the campaign trail.

On Saturday, the representative will kick off his “California for All Tour” and will begin running his ads on Fox News, Politico reported. In doing so, he will be breaking his own entreaty to boycott the station.

“It’s important for California voters — no matter what TV channel they tune into — to know what’s at stake in this election,” said Marisol Samayoa, a Schiff spokesperson. 

During his three-day tour, he will meet with voters in Orange County, Palm Springs, Fresno, Sacramento, San Diego, Salinas and San Francisco. 

The Los Angeles representative has already funneled a whopping $23.3 million into TV, print and digital advertising. That is almost double Porter’s $12.2 million in ad spending and vastly more than Lee’s $1.2 million.

In addition to leading in fundraising and advertising, Schiff has also taken in a bevy of endorsements, including most recent endorsements from the Californians for Human Immigrant Rights Leadership Action Fund and Senate President Pro Tempore Mike McGuire.

A crowded field 

Besides the four leading candidates, 23 other candidates are running for the seat now held by Sen. Laphonza Butler. Among them are Democrat Christina Pascucci, a former TV journalist, and Republican Eric Early, an attorney.

Early, who’s been the subject of Porter’s digital ads late in the race which portray him as “way too MAGA for California,” said he’s meeting with voters across the state, all the way from Yolo County in northern California to Orange, Riverside and San Diego counties, ahead of the primary. 

He’s polling at around 4%, according to the latest survey by the Public Policy Institute, and raised $71,773 in the pre-primary period from Jan. 1 to Feb. 14. He spent $97,683 and has $114,345 still left to spend. 

Pascucci, polling at around 1% in the same survey, is also booked and busy this week. She attended a “Coffee with a Cop” event in Manhattan Beach on Tuesday and will be making TV and radio appearances on KFI Radio/Tim Conway Jr. Show and Fox News later in the week. She is slated to hold a Q&A event with voters at Fullerton College on Thursday. 

Pascucci released a final 90-second digital video on Tuesday, describing herself as a “JFK-era Democrat” — what she described as “someone who believes in serving our country, looking out for a neighbor, driving innovation to the moon and being fiscally responsible.”

Pascucci raked in $66,162 and spent $90,336 between Jan. 1 to Feb. 14. She is going into Election Day with around $129,900 cash on hand.

Paint Party at Strike Brewing: 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays and 3 p.m. Sundays, 2099 S.10th St., San Jose. Get ready to create your own artistic masterpiece at Strike Brewing. Unleash your inner artist while enjoying delicious craft beers. A painting instructor will be on-site, so no experience is necessary. $35 to $60. bit.ly/StrikePaintParty

Dungeons & Drake’s: 6 to 9 p.m. second and fourth Wednesdays, Drake’s Brewing Company, 1933 Davis St., San Leandro. Head for Drake’s Barrel House to take up thy dice while sipping from the goblets of the gods. Whether thou art seasoned or unfamiliar with the ways of Dragons and Dungeons, all are welcome to partake in this epic tradition. Free admission. bit.ly/DungeonsDrakes

Futures Barrel Tasting: March 1-3 and 9-10, Amphora Winery, 4791 Dry Creek Road, Healdsburg. This educational wine experience includes tastings through Amphora’s eclectic lineup of red wines from the 2022 and 2023 vintages, led by owner and winemaker Rick Hutchinson. bit.ly/FuturesTasting

Cheese & Wine Pairing Course: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 2, Bennett Lane Winery, 3340 Highway 128, Calistoga. Join Bennett Lane winemaker and William Cofield Cheese founder Rob Hunter for a wine and cheese pairing course. Take in Rob’s unique insight while enjoying a curated selection of cheeses paired with Bennett Lane Wines. $40. bit.ly/WineCheesePair

Taste, Bottle & Buy: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 2, J. Rickards Winery, 24505 Chianti Road, Geyserville. J. Rickards is combining two popular events into one fantastic day. Taste new releases from J. Rickards Winery and Mercury Wine, then have your selections bottled on-site in festive wine jugs. $20. bit.ly/TasteBottleBuy

Brews & Views: 6 to 8 p.m. March 7, Half Moon Bay Brewing Company, 390 Capistrano Road, Half Moon Bay. Sip Half Moon Bay brews while engaging in a discussion about the future of work and workers in the age of AI. Free admission. hmbbrewingco.com/events-calendar/ai-age

Sip, Swirl, Savor: 7 to 8:30 p.m. March 8, McGrail Vineyards, 5600 Greenville Road, Livermore. Have you ever been puzzled by others identifying violets and leather in wine? Join McGrail Vineyards’ staff for an educational and delicious event demystifying the secrets of professional wine tasting. Learn how to sip like a pro with expert guidance and a curated selection of six McGrail wines. $45. mcgrailvineyards.com/events-current/

Spring Yoga, Hiking, and Wine Tasting Retreat: March 8-10 and 22-24, Sonoma. Celebrate the Spring Equinox with a healthy weekend retreat in Sonoma wine country. Enjoy daily yoga, guided meditations, hiking and organic wine tasting. $945. bit.ly/BodyFlowsRetreat

Discretion Brewing Anniversary Party: 12 to 9 p.m. March 9, Discretion Brewing, 2703 41st Ave., Soquel. Celebrate 11 years of Discretion with games, live music, brews on tap and a double can release in Discretion Brewing’s expanded, dog-friendly beer garden. Free admission. bit.ly/DiscretionAnniversary

‘Eden’ Cinequest Film Screening: 4:30 p.m. March 9, California Theatre, 345 S First St, San Jose. See the debut of Los Gatos filmmaker Chris McGilvray’s “Eden,” a documentary about a family that operates one of California’s most historic wineries, struggling with succession in a hauntingly beautiful meditation on balancing personal and professional identities. $14. bit.ly/EdenScreening

Spring Winemaker Dinner: 6 to 9 p.m. March 9, Elizabeth Spencer, 1165 Rutherford Road, Napa. Enjoy a spectacular celebration of flavors and craftsmanship with crafted pairings of wine and gourmet cuisine. $235. bit.ly/SpencerSpring

Expedition Stags Leap – Winery Tour & Lunch: 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. March 9, Pine Ridge Vineyards, 5901 Silverado Trail, Napa. Explore the distinct terroir of Stags Leap District single vineyard wines during this vineyard walk and wine tasting. $250. bit.ly/ExpeditionStags

Fork2Film Festival: March 14-17, Cameo Cinema, 1340 Main St., St. Helena. This festival brings together audiences, filmmakers, chefs and winemakers for epicurean screenings, food and wine experiences and filmmaker Q&As. $20-$25 per event. cameocinema.com/

Pigs & Pinot: March 15-16, Hotel Healdsburg, 25 Matheson St., Healdsburg. This celebratory weekend offers a series of intimate dining and educational events hosted by chef Charlie Palmer, with a cast of sommeliers, winemakers and celebrity chefs showcasing some of the world’s greatest pinot noirs with perfect pork pairings. $275. pigsandpinot.com/

WINeFare: March 16-17, Haight Street Art Center, 215 Haight St., San Francisco. This wine tasting features pours from 75 women-run wineries and importers from California, Oregon, Washington, Wisconsin, France, Italy, Mexico and Spain. $50 to $140. thethirdplace.is/event/winefare-2024

Appellation St. Helena bASH: 6 to 8:30 p.m. March 23, CIA at Greystone, 2555 Main St., St. Helena. The 13th annual wine and food pairing competition pairs wines from 20 ASH member wineries with savory bites prepared by professional chefs and teams of rising star students at the CIA. $200. bit.ly/bASH2024

San Mateo Wine Festival: March 23-24, 1346 Saratoga Drive, San Mateo. Come out to the grand San Mateo Event Center to raise a glass and enjoy a weekend of wine, spirits, casual bites, shopping and live music. $79-$99. bit.ly/SanMateoWineFest

West Coast Taco & Beer Festival: March 23-24, History San Jose, 1650 Senter Road, San Jose. Eat. Sip. Repeat! This event features unlimited taco and beer tastings from dozens of restaurants and breweries, plus live music, boutique vendors, games and entertainment. $49 to $109. bluestreament.ticketspice.com/wctbfbayarea

Wines of the Santa Cruz Mountains: 1 to 4 p.m. March 24, Mountain Winery, 14831 Pierce Road, Saratoga. Dive deep into the wines of the Santa Cruz Mountains at the 2024 Grand Tasting. Explore the stunning grounds and breathtaking views of The Mountain Winery while you sip award-winning wines, show off your skills in a lively lawn game and bid on exciting silent auction items. $25 to $79. bit.ly/MountainWines

Amaro – Bitter and Refined: 7 to 9 p.m. March 25, The Alembic, 1725 Haight St., San Francisco. Join Alembic mixologists for an adventure through Italy celebrating Amaro, one of the country’s most popular spirits. This two-hour class will turn everyone, from bar beginner to cocktail connoisseur, into the ultimate host. $110. bit.ly/AmaroAlembic

Women in Wine Dinner: 6 p.m. March 29, Carneros Resort and Spa, 4048 Sonoma Highway, Napa. Celebrate National Women in Wine Day with a dinner and wine pairing highlighting four notable women who continue to shape Napa Valley’s wine industry. $160. bit.ly/WomenWineDinner

Pebble Beach Food & Wine: April 4-7, Pebble Beach Resorts. Over the course of four days, 125 chefs and 150 winemakers will gather for this premier food and wine destination event. $475 to $850. pebblebeachfoodandwine.com/

Pinot & Puzzle Competition: 4:30 to 6 p.m. April 7, WALT Wines, First Street West, Sonoma. Get ready to challenge your puzzle-solving skills while sipping delicious pinot wines and vying for the prize in a thrillingly thirsty competition. $70. bit.ly/PinotPuzzle

Intro to American Whiskey: 12 to 2 p.m. April 13, Elixir, 3200 16th St., San Francisco. Bourbon, rye, single malt, blended — what’s the difference? How does American whiskey differ from other whiskies? And what’s the difference between “whiskey” and “whisky”? Learn it all in a fun and interactive format from the experts at Elixir. $75. bit.ly/WhiskeyELIXIR

Bay Area Craft Beer Festival: 12 to 4 p.m. April 13, Waterfront Park, 245 North Court St., Martinez. Gear up for the ultimate beer lover’s paradise. This year’s festival promises an unrivaled experience with over 40+ local breweries and an impressive selection of over 100 beers to sample, including some fantastic Home Brews. $60. bit.ly/BayCraftBeerFest

Mad Tea Party: 6 to 10 p.m. April 13, Children’s Fairyland, 699 Bellevue Ave., Oakland. Fairyland invites adults for an Alice in Wonderland immersive experience filled with fantasy, dance, games, live entertainment and special libations including the March Hare’s Madness cocktail. $35. fairyland.org/events-and-performances/mad-tea/

Bay Area Brew Fest: 12 to 10 p.m. April 20, Presidio Main Lawn, San Francisco. The Bay Area Brew Festival returns with an extravaganza featuring more than 60 breweries, food trucks, DJs and more. Admission includes unlimited beer samplings, with VIP attendees getting an extra hour with limited release beers. $50-$90. bayareabrewfestival.com/

Taste of Yountville: 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. April 21, Chandon, 1 California Drive, Yountville. Enjoy an intimate food and wine tasting experience in the heart of Napa Valley. Taste of Yountville will feature 14 tasting rooms and wineries and delicious farm-to-table bites by the Chandon culinary team in a beautiful outdoor garden seating. $150 to $225. yountville.com/tasteofyountville/

CBCA Clayton Art & Wine Festival: April 27-28, Main Street, Downtown Clayton. Browse arts and crafts stalls, sip wine or beer and sample the fare in the food court. There’s a play zone for kids and live music and entertainment throughout the weekend. Free admission. bit.ly/CBCAartwine

CabFranc-A-Palooza: May 3-5, Livermore venues. Cabernet franc lovers and wine producers are descending upon Livermore Valley for the second annual CabFranc-A-Palooza featuring more than 50 wineries, special events and tastings. $99 to $125. cabfrancapalooza.com/

SF Beer Fest: 12 to 10 p.m. May 11, 2 Marina Blvd., San Francisco. Head for Fort Mason to try the best beer in town, all under the same roof. Enjoy a vast selection of specially curated beers set to an absolutely jamming soundtrack. $45-$65. bit.ly/SFBeerFest2024

Anderson Valley Pinot Noir Festival: May 17-19, Anderson Valley venues. This region of Mendocino County is known for its pinot noir, which will be celebrated during this three-day festival featuring delicious samplings and food pairings, educational seminars, a sunset barbecue, a grand tasting and a VIP Bubble Lounge. $75-$500. bit.ly/AVPNF2024

Sun, Wind & Wine Festival: 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. May 18, 1290 River Road, Salinas. The 16th annual fest includes a strolling wine tasting through the barrel cellar of Mer Soleil Winery, which is not normally open to the public. Festival guests will enjoy limited-release Santa Lucia Highlands wines poured by the vintners themselves, plus live music and gourmet bites. $149 to $199. santaluciahighlands.com/events/wine-festival/

Pleasant Hill Art, Wine & Music Festival: May 18-19, Downtown Pleasant Hill. This annual festival offers a diverse array of local food, wine, beer and arts and crafts vendors, plus tons of kids events and live entertainment. Free admission. pleasanthillchamber.com/art-wine-music/

Have a wine, beer or spirits event to add? Submit it online at forms.gle/Cu9J6Ks2fQiQUcKk8.

Sharon Watkins remembers having that same feeling when she heard that her son, Phillip, had been rushed to a hospital after he was shot by police officers.

That urgency, they say, led them to agree with whatever police requested of them in the moment, including answering detailed questions about their children’s experiences with mental illness. They cooperated, they say, in the hope of getting answers about whether their child was alive, or a chance to see them one last time.

Showman says he was kept in the dark about his daughter Diana’s condition until he told investigators that her bipolar disorder could make her potentially violent — though, he later said, he didn’t mean violence against people. Then the questioning abruptly ended.

“They shut things down, and I asked them, ‘Is she alive?’ ” he recounted. “They said, ‘I’m sorry, sir, no she’s not.’ I collapsed.”

Watkins agreed to questioning at police headquarters, isolated from her son’s girlfriend and her mother, who had called 911 to report that Phillip was having a suicidal episode. She said she was assured that if she cooperated, she would get to see her son. She willfully gave up her cellphone when they asked.

After the questions were done, she remembers, “I was at my weakest point. I would have agreed to anything just to see him again. They knew that. But when they were finally done with us, they said, ‘They can’t let you see him because it’s a crime scene.’ ”

Experiences like these are the driving factor behind a proposed state law by San Jose-based Assemblymember Ash Kalra. Assembly Bill 3021, introduced earlier this month, would mandate that law enforcement inform family members of people seriously injured or killed by police about their loved one’s condition, remind them of their right to remain silent, and tell them they can have an attorney or advocate accompany them — all before any formal interview takes place.

The necessity of the bill, according to Kalra and co-sponsor Silicon Valley De-Bug — a South Bay civil-rights group — stems from an array of anecdotes from affected families, contending that police leveraged their grief to gather information that would later be used to either legally justify a police killing or insulate a police department from civil liability.

Kalra says the heart of the bill is the notion that not every family should be assumed to be hostile or elusive if they find out the status of their relative, in the same way police shouldn’t be assumed to be trying to cover their legal exposure.

“Not every scenario is going to be antagonistic. Maybe (relatives) want to talk and talk about a family member having a mental-health issue. Maybe they want to explain things,” Kalra said. “They should be given an option how they should approach such an interaction.”

Some statewide police groups, such as the California Police Chiefs Association and the Peace Officers Research Association of California, declined to comment on the bill, citing the need for more study. Other police advocates, including the San Jose Police Officers’ Association, told this news organization that the bill as currently drafted doesn’t address the urgent nature of investigations following violent encounters.

Law-enforcement agencies’ concerns include protecting the integrity of criminal investigations related to a fatal encounter that involves sensitive intelligence, and situations where revealing information such as the condition of a loved one might prompt silence that stalls an investigation. They cite scenarios such as the pursuit or investigation of mass shooters where such a delay could cost lives.

“The bill in its current state will compromise the ability of police officers to hold suspected criminals accountable, and it will have a negative impact on criminal investigations by the early release of information that could put innocent individuals and witnesses in harm’s way,” SJPOA President Steve Slack said in a statement. “This bill is designed to address a problem that, quite frankly, doesn’t exist.”

San Jose Police Chief Anthony Mata similarly saw the bill as a potential impediment.

“I have nothing but sympathy for the families left behind in these cases, many of whom I have met with personally,” he said in a statement. “I don’t think discouraging cooperation from critical witnesses in these complex investigations will get us closer to the truth of what happened.”

Still, the practice has left some family members feeling like the information they gave had a role in keeping them from finding accountability for their loved one.

Showman, whose 19-year-old daughter was shot in 2014 after making a threatening call to 911 and ultimately standing in front of her home with a spray-painted power drill, is haunted by the ensuing police interaction.

“It was specifically the information I gave that killed our civil suit,” said Showman, whose family’s eventual settlement with the city instituted mandatory crisis training at SJPD but yielded no monetary compensation. “I’m racked with guilt every day. I look at her picture every day and I think I failed her.”

Watkins, whose son was killed in 2015 after slowly walking toward officers with a knife in hand in a suicidal episode, added that Kalra’s bill is attempting to balance a dynamic that has treated family members with undeserved suspicion.

“You’re kind of in a state of shock, you don’t know what’s happening. As soon as they realized we weren’t giving the information they wanted, what happened? They said, ‘We can’t tell you anything because the case is under investigation,’ ” Griswold said. “At the same time, they were telling the press an account of what happened, and that’s how we found out.”

Ultimately, Kalra said he is seeking a solution — and says his “door is always open” to hear from police and other stakeholders — that doesn’t assume only one side can be satisfied.

“We want to make sure families in a vulnerable state aren’t taken advantage of,” he said. “Police departments can do both: inform families about their loved ones and do their due diligence in the investigatory process. You don’t have to muddle the two together.”

“The elements for a hate crime are very specific,” said Santa Cruz Police Chief Bernie Escalante on Tuesday. “Through the extensive investigation, we were not able to locate any evidence that it was a hate crime.”

According to a statement from the city, on July 29, 2023, the Santa Cruz Police Department received a report of vandalism to the “Black Lives Matter” mural painting outside of City Hall at 800 Center St., in Santa Cruz, which consisted of blue paint splattered across the artwork. Investigators were called in and obtained video of Blum, who is seen on a scooter throwing paint on the mural.

“At this point, it’s a bit unclear what the motivation was,” said Escalante. “I know that there’s been conversations, mostly on social media, about people that disagree with the location of the mural or the size of the mural. Some feel it should be on a wall somewhere. Everybody has a right to their opinion and maybe there was something about the mural itself that they disagreed with but the motivation for the act didn’t have anything to do with hatred toward people of color.”

With the video evidence and assistance from community members, investigators identified a possible vehicle and person of interest and continued to work the case by serving multiple search warrants, interviewing witnesses, and conducting forensic examinations, according to the statement. After identifying Blum as the vandal, investigators then worked with the Santa Cruz District Attorney’s Office to determine whether the act could be considered a hate crime.”

Investigators were able to obtain enough evidence to arrest Blum for the felony vandalism. Blum, who does not have a criminal history, and resides in the Santa Cruz Mountains, was taken into custody without incident Tuesday. He remained held in lieu of $5,000 bail in the Santa Cruz County Jail on Tuesday afternoon on suspicion of felony vandalism.

“We are done with the investigation at this point,” said Escalante. “We now turn it over to the District Attorney’s Office and they have the authority to add or take away charges.”

An 85-year-old Boulder Creek woman was driving a blue Kia Forte northbound when she veered off the roadway and hit four bicyclists riding southbound on the east dirt shoulder, according to Murillo. The Kia then struck a tree, where it came to a rest.

Murillo said the bicyclists were taken to area hospitals, two of them with major injuries. The woman also suffered minor injuries. However, she was not taken to a hospital.

The cause of the crash is under investigation, but alcohol and drugs are not believed to be factors, according to Murillo.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Wealthy donors, including philanthropists and environmental lawyers, supporters of Israel and cryptocurrency businesses, are behind the race’s super PACs — political action committees that can raise unlimited money for or against candidates and operate independently from their campaigns.

And their influence has become a flashpoint in the contest between Democratic Reps. Adam Schiff of Burbank, Katie Porter of Irvine, Barbara Lee of Oakland, and Republican former baseball star Steve Garvey of Palm Desert.

Though PAC spending in the race isn’t “huge,” it’s “noteworthy” in a race with three Democrats splitting their vote and could tip the balance in deciding who advances past the primary, said Sonoma State University political science professor David McCuan.

Schiff has consistently led in polling and fundraising, and the overwhelming majority of Super PAC spending has gone toward opposing his top rivals, Garvey and Porter, who’ve been battling for second place in multiple polls while Lee has trailed in fourth place. Under California rules, the top two finishers in the primary will compete in a November runoff regardless of party affiliation.

Porter has been outspoken about the influence of PACs she says are helping Schiff.

“Super PACs routinely meddle in races, and frankly they often get their way,” she told supporters in a recent fundraising pitch. “Their prize is a politician who is beholden to them for decades to come.”

The largest share of Super PAC spending — a staggering $7.5 million — has gone toward ads opposing Garvey, a former first baseman for the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres.

The pieces against Garvey are funded by Standing Strong PAC. Its website and campaign filings give little indication of its interests and it didn’t respond to a request for comment, though it’s been reported to be run by Schiff allies. Top donors include developer Joseph W. Kaempfer, entrepreneur Eric Laufer and a carpenter’s union.

The Standing Strong ads note Garvey twice voted for former President Donald Trump, the Republican presidential frontrunner who is popular with California Republicans but unpopular among state voters overall, and say he’s a threat to “tip the Senate” Republican and “advance Trump’s agenda.”

Porter has argued the ads, which echo anti-Garvey ads from Schiff’s own campaign coffers, are a “cynical” Schiff strategy to give the former ballplayer free publicity and boost him to a second-place primary finish. That would give Schiff an easier November opponent in deep blue California.

Schiff’s campaign has declined comment other than to note Porter has done likewise with ads opposing lesser-known Republican Eric Early, who’s polling far behind her in the Senate race. She also targeted leading Republican Mimi Walters when she ran for Congress in 2018 against three other Democrats.

Garvey’s campaign argues Schiff isn’t helping him but fending off a threat.

“It might be that Schiff is more concerned with Garvey getting first than Katie getting second,” Garvey campaign spokesman Matt Shupe said.

The second-largest amount of independent spending in the race has come from pro-cryptocurrency Super PAC Fairshake, which has spent a massive $6.8 million on ads opposing Porter.

Fairshake describes itself as supporting candidates committed to “providing blockchain innovators the ability to develop their networks under a clearer regulatory and legal framework.” Its biggest donors include blockchain company Ripple, cryptocurrency platform Coinbase, and Silicon Valley venture capital firm AH Capital Management.

Fairshake ads say that while Porter “claims not to take corporate PAC money” she “takes campaign cash directly from Big Pharma, Big Oil and the Big Bank executives” totaling “more than $100,000.” It cites contributions of $500 from Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, $2,000 from Wood Oil Co. and $2,900 from Royal Business Bank.

Porter has denounced the ads as “funded by shady crypto billionaires” and pointed to a Sacramento Bee article calling the ads “mostly false” because the cited donations are from companies it argued aren’t “big.”

She Speaks for Me raised nearly $1.5 million and spent most of it last year, with its last expenditure on digital and TV ads in mid-January. But polling and fundraising suggest the “courage” ads telling Lee’s story of growing up poor and Black, confronting racism and marital abuse and casting the sole vote against the U.S. military action in Afghanistan after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, haven’t helped her rise above fourth place.

Porter has benefited some from an Oakland-based Super PAC of supporters called Ovrsite, which reported spending $490,000 on her behalf for ads touting her as a corporate antagonist. “Big corporate interests don’t want Democrat Katie Porter as our next U.S. Senator,” the ads say, showing snippets of her grilling company executives at congressional hearings.

Campaign filings show Ovrsite’s principal funder is Gerald Singleton and his Singleton Schreiber law firm, where he has specialized in representing claims over wildfire losses and harms from “forever chemicals” and toxins from the oil and gas industry.

A couple of independent expenditures have funded ads promoting Schiff, though they total only $20,700 worth.

More than $$16,000 of that was for print ads funded by DMFI PAC. It seeks to elect pro-Israel Democrats to Congress, and Schiff, who is Jewish, has voiced strong support for Israel’s response to the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attack. Its biggest donor is Atherton venture capitalist Gary Mark Lauder.

Another PAC, Blue Wave America, paid a little over $4,000 for email ads and messages supporting Schiff. It’s a group that promotes Democrats in largely right-leaning rural areas whose top donors contributed $1,000 to $5,000 each.