Michael Mott
- Growth Manager and Communications Specialist, Hacker Lab
Santa Cruz
Journalist, audience specialist and project manager. News and civic information ecosystems are needed to help democracy. Underdogs matter!
Articles by Michael Mott
2026 Artemis Award Recipient Arthur Brant, MD: Building Sustainable Systems to End Blindness From ROP
Arthur Brant, MD, is the Academy’s 2026 Artemis Award recipient. He was nominated by Stanford University for his work to prevent blindness from retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in low- and middle-income countries. See a slide show of Dr. Brant at work to prevent ROP in babies in Ghana.
AAO 2026: Enjoy the YO Show
Ophthalmology’s must-attend meeting is only weeks away, and this year the profession gathers in New Orleans. AAO 2026 runs from Friday, Oct. 9, through Monday, Oct. 12, at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Topics range from choosing a practice setting to building a career outside the clinic, and the schedule is once again packed with courses and events designed for young ophthalmologists.
New state laws and recent votes from Santa Cruz County legislators
Assemblymember Gail Pellerin, D-Santa Cruz, and state Sen. John Laird, D-Santa Cruz, discuss state legislation at a June 13 meeting of the Democratic Women’s Club of Santa Cruz County. (Stephen Baxter — Santa Cruz Local file) SACRAMENTO >> State legislators who represent Santa Cruz County have voted on dozens of bills in recent months and helped approve the state budget in June.
Santa Cruz County leaders outline results of $23 million in homeless services spending
Dr. Robert Ratner, director of Santa Cruz County’s Housing for Health Division, speaks about solutions to homelessness at Garfield Park Branch Library in Santa Cruz on Aug. 17. (Stephen Baxter – Santa Cruz Local) SANTA CRUZ >> More than $23 million was spent on homeless services in Santa Cruz County in roughly the past 12 months, serving more than 4,500 people. At least 911 people found permanent homes during that time, county leaders reported.
Seniors pay largest rent hike in 20 years at Santa Cruz mobile home park
De Anza Santa Cruz mobile home park at 2395 Delaware Ave. has 198 units, some with ocean views. There is a community pool, hot tub and sauna. (Michael Mott — Santa Cruz Local) “A hardship program is also currently available for long-term residents who experience difficulty making rent payments,” Ludovice wrote.
How to find home insurance in the Santa Cruz Mountains Original
Roslyn Warriner and her husband, Albert, live off of Bean Creek Road in Scotts Valley. Their home insurance costs about $4,200 annually, more than double the cost from a previous insurer that did not renew their policy.
Veterans Village project faces hurdles with money, land, tenants
Leaders of the Veterans Village Project at 8705 Highway 9 in Ben Lomond plan to buffer some sound between the homes and the highway through landscaping, insulation and window upgrades. (Michael Warren Mott — Santa Cruz Local) Vision to end veteran homelessness The project leaders’ vision is to end chronic homelessness among veterans in Santa Cruz County. Cottingham said the project is dear to him because his father was a veteran.
Staff shortage hinders Santa Cruz County mental health care
“We all were surprised by how dire the staffing shortage is,” said Terry Eastman, the Civil Grand Jury foreperson. “More than any other piece, that’s making it hard to provide mental health services in this county.” The Behavioral Health Division is the primary provider of mental health and addiction-related services for adults and children who have low incomes or lack private health care coverage. About 37% of its clients are not housed, the report states.
Explainer: How does the California Coastal Commission work?
When an appeal is submitted to the coastal commission, the commission must first decide whether the appeal raises a “substantial issue.” A substantial issue is essentially whether the appeal is worthy of investigation and the commission’s involvement. The commission considers the project’s impact on natural resources and public access as well as the project’s alignment with the Local Coastal Program and Coastal Act, among other factors.
Coastal Commission approves Santa Cruz overnight RV parking ban
A City of Santa Cruz map shows Safe Parking locations for RVs in the city. Advocates said they were often far from the coast. City leaders said they were difficult to find. They are on city property, city-leased property and some spots that businesses use during the day. (City of Santa Cruz) For residents who have a street address in Santa Cruz, as well as visitors, the law requires a permit for overnight RV street parking.
Four-story apartment buildings proposed at 1800 Soquel Ave. in Santa Cruz
The project would include: Three buildings on 0.08 acre with the roof level 46 feet. Apartment parking and space for a cafe or restaurant would be on the ground floor with three stories of apartments above it. There would be exterior walkways to connect apartments, green space at the complex’s center and roof deck recreation spaces. 42 studios at 432 square feet. 42 one-bedroom units at 615 square feet.
Future of West Cliff Drive explored by residents, city staff
City leaders and about 50 community members attended, buzzing about traffic detours and other concerns. In meetings roughly every six weeks, city staff plan to share options as they gather public input. This fall, city staff plan to use the community feedback and data to make recommendations to the city council on whether the road or parts of it will be one-way, two-way or accessible only to cyclists and walkers.
How the Liminal Space Collective Fosters Strong Community Bonds Through Art
Foam clouds and Tibetan prayer flags hang above. A psychedelic liquid light show is projected behind Santa Cruz jam band Superblume. Frontman Nate Smith sports a tie-dye onesie and smiles. The music grows and bounces from genre to genre—the crowd screams over a country rock tune while clapping in rhythm. A friendly mosh pit starts. Younger concertgoers look out for some of the older attendees. The camaraderie is evident.
Art fills Circle Church in Santa Cruz during demolition delay
“They’re close but just not there yet,” Santa Cruz City Inspector Curtis Busenhart said Friday. “I still need documentation, bond and agreement executed.” In part because of the Circle Church’s redevelopment delays, the property owners have allowed the Liminal Space Collective to paint murals on the buildings since December. On March 25, an art and music event called ‘Impermanence’ drew hundreds to the church.
A Year of Engagement: 2023 President Daniel J. Briceland on Why the Future Is Bright for YOs
Daniel J. Briceland, MD, became the 127th president of the Academy on Jan. 1 after spending decades running his ophthalmology practice in Arizona and dedicating a large portion of his career to supporting Academy advocacy efforts. Now leading the Academy’s community of 32,000 ophthalmologists, he faces an especially exciting set of new challenges and is particularly focused on scope of practice battles and Medicare reimbursement as his top priorities for the upcoming year.
Letter to the editor: Johnson best candidate for sheriff
Our local sheriff’s election poses an interesting question. Do we continue with the “good ole boys” attitude that has plagued that office for 20 years and its history of “covering up” unprofessional behaviors, or do we decide to change this toxic culture? There is a 2014 court case that illustrates my concerns. I urge everyone to read the entire transcript as I have.
The Latiné Musical Theatre Lab to Host Inaugural Table Reading Series
The Latiné Musical Theatre Lab, an organization that develops and advocates for new Latiné-written works of musical theatre in order to radically change who gets to tell musical stories on stages across the country, is presenting its first ever Table Reading Series. The only program of its kind, this series presents 11 readings of new musicals and musicals-in-development, but with the specific lens of only featuring shows written by Latiné-identifying writers and writing teams.
Speakers tackle California’s top issues at #CAPriorities summit — Here’s what readers said
Housing. Transportation. Proposition 13. The most challenging issues facing California’s crisis in affordability were at the forefront of Thursday’s California Priorities Summit as part of the California Influencers Series. Michelle McGruder came from Vallejo. Juan Novello and Maureen White participated between meetings. “Why am I here? Because Latino communities and their economic growth matter in the development of our state,” Novello said.
Speakers tackle California’s top issues at #CAPriorities summit — Here’s what readers said
Michael Mott Housing. Transportation. Proposition 13. The most challenging issues facing California’s crisis in affordability were at the forefront of Thursday’s California Priorities Summit as part of the California Influencers Series. Michelle McGruder came from Vallejo. Juan Novello and Maureen White participated between meetings. “Why am I here? Because Latino communities and their economic growth matter in the development of our state,” Novello said.
Speakers tackle California’s top issues at #CAPriorities summit — Here’s what readers said
Michael Mott Housing. Transportation. Proposition 13. The most challenging issues facing California’s crisis in affordability were at the forefront of Thursday’s California Priorities Summit as part of the California Influencers Series. Michelle McGruder came from Vallejo. Juan Novello and Maureen White participated between meetings. “Why am I here? Because Latino communities and their economic growth matter in the development of our state,” Novello said.
Speakers tackle California’s top issues at #CAPriorities summit — Here’s what readers said
Michael Mott Housing. Transportation. Proposition 13. The most challenging issues facing California’s crisis in affordability were at the forefront of Thursday’s California Priorities Summit as part of the California Influencers Series. Michelle McGruder came from Vallejo. Juan Novello and Maureen White participated between meetings. “Why am I here? Because Latino communities and their economic growth matter in the development of our state,” Novello said.
Speakers tackle California’s top issues at #CAPriorities summit — Here’s what readers said
Michael Mott Housing. Transportation. Proposition 13. The most challenging issues facing California’s crisis in affordability were at the forefront of Thursday’s California Priorities Summit as part of the California Influencers Series. Michelle McGruder came from Vallejo. Juan Novello and Maureen White participated between meetings. “Why am I here? Because Latino communities and their economic growth matter in the development of our state,” Novello said.
Speakers tackle California’s top issues at #CAPriorities summit — Here’s what readers said
Michael Mott Housing. Transportation. Proposition 13. The most challenging issues facing California’s crisis in affordability were at the forefront of Thursday’s California Priorities Summit as part of the California Influencers Series. Michelle McGruder came from Vallejo. Juan Novello and Maureen White participated between meetings. “Why am I here? Because Latino communities and their economic growth matter in the development of our state,” Novello said.
Q&A: YO Ninita H. Brown, MD, PhD, on Ophthalmology’s Most Pressing Issues and How You Can Get Involved
The Academy monitors federal governmental policies that affect ophthalmologists and patients through the Secretariat for Federal Affairs. YO Info keeps a close watch on upcoming changes so young ophthalmologists can keep abreast of these situations in Washington, D.C. Get to know one of your advocacy experts, Ninita Brown, MD, PhD, a new member of the Academy’s YO Advocacy subcommittee, so that you can learn how to be involved in shaping the future our profession.
Christmas in the Park
Photo Courtesy of Judy Serafini. Families, friends and strangers have given Christmas to homeless Sacramentans in Cesar Chavez Park for 18 years. Hundreds of people milled about Cesar Chavez Park in the early hours of Christmas morning last year, bundled up against the brisk 36-degree air. A couple dozen volunteers arrived at 7 a.m. and set out more than 100 gift bags filled with new socks, toothpaste and other essentials.
The $20 million plan - News - Local Stories - September 6, 2018
After years of rebuffing calls to do so, Sacramento leaders are likely on the verge of declaring a shelter crisis to secure millions in onetime homeless aid—and irking some advocates after an initial planning meeting made little mention of emergency shelter. The first inkling that the process for figuring out what to do with some $19.9 million in emergency funds wouldn’t go smoothly was during a hastily scheduled meeting at Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services on August 23.
5 Yoga Stretches to Help YOs Prevent Injury
More than half of all ophthalmologists will report significant neck or back pain over the course of their careers. And many will be forced to stop practicing because of physical injury. How can you avoid injury and bring wellness into your everyday life? Camille Palma, MD, shares five yoga stretches that you can do anywhere, anytime. “Nobody will take care of your body but you,” says Dr. Palma, a Chicago-based vitreoretinal surgeon and certified yoga instructor.
Lt. Cameron Thornberry, Super Hornet pilot - 15 Minutes - Opinions - July 12, 2018
A calm landing-officer’s voice crackles over the radio, guiding the pilot in. No moon means instruments only. “Your whole world is a cockpit and [the carrier] is on the horizon,” Lt. Cameron Thornberry says. But that’s not the scariest part. “It’s when you’re trapped and taxi.
A free man - 15 Minutes - Opinions - June 7, 2018
Smiles come easy for Sajad Shakoor, talking with his employees at Falafel Corner in Natomas. It wasn’t always that way. “Over 20 years of my life were in prison,” says Shakoor, 46. “When you look at me, you don’t see that.” After growing up in Sacramento, Shakoor was locked up at 18. He earned his GED and Bachelor’s in incarceration and went on to earn his Master’s and PhD.
Delayed dreams - Reads - Cannabis Guide - May 31, 2018
Merrell “Poison” Sanchez has the building. He even has some equipment. Now, he just needs the city to come through. Sanchez is an aspiring cannabis entrepreneur, one of a group with past cannabis convictions Sacramento promised would get extra resources after being locked up during the drug war period of American law enforcement. “I went to prison for weed. Not selling, just for having it” Sanchez said.
Art at the intersection - 15 Minutes - Opinions - May 3, 2018
Frida Kahlo gazes down the Sacramento street alongside Carlos Santana and other icons of Mexican and Latino culture, as artist Raul Mejia extols the virtues of a Chando’s taco. Mejia, a 38-year-old Sacramento painter, focused on the intersection of American and Latin American culture, painted the mural at Chando’s Cantina, and another at Cantina Alley.
A reluctant victim - News - Local Stories - April 12, 2018
For a moment, it looked like Judge David De Alba didn’t understand what was happening. With the aid of a Russian interpreter, a young woman stood in the crowded confines of Sacramento County’s civil harassment court asking for a restraining order. But instead of trying to block contact from the husband accused of imprisoning and assaulting her, she was asking for protection from the prosecutor working to bring her violent spouse to justice.
Joel Michael Smith: artist, teacher and coach - 15 Minutes - Opinions - April 12, 2018
My Than, a second-generation Vietnamese-American student, never did much art. That was before Luther Burbank High School. But her art at the Operation Project and Defend show last year demanded attention: The Angry Creamsicle atop a globe, arms outstreched to stop immigrants. Than took first place at the show. The piece sold. “Seeing her face light up that someone wanted to buy it—watching that is why I’m a teacher,” Joel Michael Smith says.
Rent revolt: Ballot measure aims to stem skyrocketing prices in Sacramento - News - Local Stories - April 5, 2018
From public loans to employees’ retirement investments, out-of-town entities are getting help controlling Sacramento’s rental market., 02.08.18.Tens of thousands of Sacramento residents have been forcibly kicked out of their homes. Can rent control stop the displacement?, 01.04.18.As rents rocket, fewer landlords accepting housing vouchers, advocacy groups say., 08.17.17. For Fernando Nadal, the fight to bring rent control to Sacramento is personal.
Farmers fighting farmers - News - Local Stories - March 29, 2018
After drawing comparisons to an authoritarian takeover, a Sacramento trial judge began the process of transferring millions of dollars in money and property from a state organization pledged to represent small farmers to a national one supporting industrial agriculture. The March 21 ruling also means the loss of the Sacramento headquarters of the California Guild, which used to be California’s chapter of the National Grange.
Riverbed fellows - News - Local Stories - March 22, 2018
Sally Dunbar hiked across a verdant meadow along the American River until a blue flap gave her pause. “Wait,” Dunbar said, eying the tent. The 66-year-old grandmother and realtor pulled out her smartphone and dropped a location “pin” using Sacramento 311’s app. Volunteer river stewards like Dunbar intend for this information to reach Sacramento County rangers tasked with citing people who illegally camp along the shore.
Pass for protest: Monsanto 10 found not guilty in activist event - Beats - Local Stories - March 15, 2018
Dean Johansson charges that incumbent’s reign has fostered a school-to-prison pipeline., 02.01.18.Prosecutors crack down on political dissenters through costly misdemeanor trials., 01.05.17.A watchdog group alleges that five UC Davis researchers were paid to shill for GMOs., 09.22.16.Nearly 42,000 students are learning English in local schools., 01.04.18.Kids, parents suffer as districts scramble to address high turnover., 12.08.16. This story was made possible by a grant from Tower Cafe.
Tzutu Kan, Mayan hip-hop artist - 15 Minutes - Opinions - March 1, 2018
Tzutu Kan scrolled through the photos on his phone, naming subjects students in his art collective turned into paintings: a fish in a bottle; the cosmos; colonial conquest; banana companies; civil war; a woman as a guerrilla fighter protecting her town; a new generation growing flowers. “This is power,” Kan said. He helped form the art and hip-hop collective in Guatemala in 2008 to teach kids history and culture.
Clean ride: Would California’s new electric ridesharing bill kill public transit? - Beats - Local Stories - March 1, 2018
Public, private partnership will look to compete with Uber’s prices., 02.15.18.RT’s board members will be asked to consider what message they’re sending with bars set across benches., 02.22.18. This is an extended version of a story that appears in the March 1, 2018, issue. As Uber and Lyft outrun public transit, more carbon dioxide and greenhouse gases get pumped into the air.
UCSC Hones Pitch for Adding 9,000 Students
Santa Cruz’s Ron Pomerantz says his jaw dropped when he heard UCSC would explore adding about 9,000 more students by 2040. “To gain 50 percent more doesn’t even compute. You’re kidding, right?” says Pomerantz, a community activist and retired firefighter. “Everyone needs to be involved.” He says the announcement felt like a “decree” when it came down from Chancellor George Blumenthal, because it predated any community input.
Needles and the damage done: As discarded syringes litter Sacramento, opioid coalition ponders a response - News - Local Stories - February 22, 2018
Sacramento ignored warnings from former public health officer, United Nations envoy on the path to health scare., 10.05.17.Lack of residential treatment options add to problem, Sacramento officials told., 02.04.16. This story was made possible by a grant from Tower Cafe. This is an extended version of a story that appears in the February 22, 2018, issue. Dealing with gross stuff is part of the job for Hector Ortiz, a garbage and recycling hauler employed by Sacramento County.
Classist transit: Bars on bus benches outrage homeless advocates - Beats - Local Stories - February 22, 2018
Sacramento police say they’re sticking to their promise to not confiscate survival gear., 01.18.18.A young writer reconnects with his homeless father after three years, finding love and theft on the American River Parkway., 01.25.18. Bars blocking benches. Spikes lining windowsills.
15 Minutes: Nissen Mangel, Auschwitz survivor - 15 Minutes - Opinions - February 22, 2018
When Nissen Mangel arrived at Auschwitz at 10 years old, he was the youngest child at the camp. Now 84 and an esteemed rabbi, scholar, author and philosopher, Mangel travels the country telling the story of how he endured Auschwitz and four other camps, including near-fatal encounters with Dr. Josef Mengele, who performed horrific experiments on helpless prisoners. Mangel spoke with SN&R before a talk in Roseville. He told the 1,200-plus in attendance that some lose faith after experiencing horror.
Expanding Elk Grove: Narrow vote allows city to start considering southern development of farmland, wildlife habitat - News - Local Stories - February 15, 2018
A regional body of elected officials and residents narrowly approved opening the door to development that farmers and environmentalists say could threaten wildlife habitats and conservation efforts south of Elk Grove. On February 7, the Sacramento Local Area Formation Commission, or LAFCO, approved landowners’ bid to expand Elk Grove’s “sphere of influence” by 1,156 acres, which could lead to a formal annexation and development process.
A political YOLO: Public defender in Yolo County runs for district attorney despite the odds
This is an extended version of a story that appears in the February 1, 2018, issue. After another candidate dropped out of the race to unseat Yolo County District Attorney Jeff Reisig, veteran defense attorney Dean Johansson started making calls. He’s now Reisig’s main opponent. Reisig has run unopposed since 2006. Johansson has been a public defender in the same county since 2007.
Stan Padilla, political painter
Saturday, advocates for equality and human rights gathered at the Southside Park Ampitheater, a place of pilgrimage for activists in Sacramento. A mural honoring Latino culture in the neighborhood there has served as a backdrop to events and protests for thousands of participants, even Cesar Chavez. The city commissioned the mural in the 1970s from the Royal Chicano Air Force, an artist collective nationally recognized as masters of Chicano/Mexican art.
Defined shelter: Sacramento County’s new mobile medical shelter is for shock and awe disasters only
This is an extended version of a story that appears in the January 18, 2018, issue. In the event of a catastrophe—say, disastrous earthquake, epidemic outbreak, flooding or a hell of a wildfire—the Sacramento region may be a little more prepared. Last week, the county accepted one of the state’s six mobile medical shelters, a 5,100-square-foot structure featuring six connecting tents, a power supply, heating and air conditioning, and beds for up to 50 people.
Congress Watch: A year’s worth of policy in two weeks
Congress Watch is published to keep readers informed about their representatives. Highlighting a bill does not imply endorsement. All bills must pass the House, then Senate before the president can sign them. While few bills have passed since the House returned on Jan. 8 after a week of extended recess, a mountain of legislation remains on reps’ to-do list. The Senate returned on Jan. 3, confirming some nominations.
Pay to play: Could deferred MLS bid make soccer investors reconsider their ‘no public money’ promise?
Sacramento’s push for a major league soccer team is in “extra time,” lead investor Kevin Nagle wrote days before Christmas, after Nashville secured one of two spots Sacramento was hoping to land. Now, uncertainty over the Capitol’s big-net bid is reviving a controversial question in the 916: Will the public be asked to help pay for something its leaders want?
Golden roots: Royal Chicano Air Force returns ‘home’ to arena with ambitious mural
Kevin Johnson should listen to his friend Wynton Marsalis., 10.01.09.Does the city’s mainstream visual arts scene exclude artists of color?, 08.25.16. This is an extended version of a story that appears in the December 28, 2017, issue.
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