Mayor, while stressing the value of the wharf in the community, says rebuilding without serious discussions would be “irresponsible.”

Work to repair last year’s storm damage to the Santa Cruz wharf likely contributed to its partial collapse, raising questions about the pier’s future as climate change fuels more powerful waves.

Amid another high surf advisory, Santa Cruz city leaders Friday morning provided an update on the future of the damaged Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf.

Sea lions and a historic ocean swell were on a list of reasons released by officials Friday explaining why part of the iconic Santa Cruz Wharf collapsed. The wooden wharf is more than 100 years old and extends a half mile over the ocean.

Santa Cruz officials are holding a media conference on Friday to provide the public will new details about the Santa Cruz Wharf that partially collapsed earlier in the week.

Santa Cruz officials on Friday said they're working with engineers to study the collapsed wharf to make sure it's strong and stable before they open it to the public.

Storms slammed California’s central coast on Monday, causing high surf that tossed three people into the water and partially collapsed a pier in Santa Cruz.

A winter storm carried off the end of the Santa Cruz wharf two days before Christmas, indefinitely shutting down the tourist attraction that houses 17 stores and restaurants. City records show a successful environmental lawsuit from local residents to block repairs and upgrades to the over 100-year-old,