Criticism for Medina
PVUSD trustee Gabriel Medina never fails to amaze me. From challenging the right of a Christian woman from a Midwest Bible college to student teach, to threatening to sue the district for $35,000, his conduct has been a lesson on how not to govern. With the school district facing a multi-million budget shortfall he is proposing that Driscoll’s Strawberries help bail out the district financially at the same time that he is accusing them of poisoning students. Of course, Driscoll’s denies poisoning anyone. Why would anyone donate to an organization that accuses them of deliberately harming children? I find it interesting that the socialist Medina is asking the capitalists to rescue them from their own incompetence.
It would be great if local businesses would contribute to the district and help with specific projects, but that is not going to solve the problem of declining enrollment and less revenue, since over 90% of the budget goes to salaries, the only way to solve the budget crisis is to make serious cuts to personnel. PVUSD is going to make difficult choices, including whether they want the state to take them over, which will happen unless they make painful but necessary cuts to personnel. The fate of the district will probably be determined by the results of the December board meeting and whether the board will be fiscally responsible or continue on the road to insolvency.
Gil Stein
Aptos
•••
Medina has caused “outright toxicity”
Gabriel Medina’s tenure on the Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board has devolved into outright toxicity, and his latest display at the Nov. 12 Sustainable Budget Team meeting proves it. While the district stares down a $15 million deficit and 450 fewer students, Medina unleashed an angry tirade against fellow board members and the budget committee, berating their fiscal recommendations as “heartless cuts” and accusing them of ignoring “community voices.” His raised voice and finger-pointing disrupted proceedings, forcing a 30-minute recess as staff and trustees de-escalated the chaos.
This isn’t isolated. In less than a year since his November 2024 election with 1,566 votes, Trustee Medina has:
– Made antisemitic remarks to Jewish community members at a board meeting.
– Posted conspiracy theories on official district social media.
– Yelled profanities in closed session, including telling a fellow trustee to “shut the f–k up.”
– Mocked Vice President Misty Navarro with “Come at me, Barbie!” during the May 7 censure debate.
– Demanded $35,000 from the board to drop a baseless lawsuit.
– Harassed Chief Business Officer Jenny Im into resigning, with her stating she’d “never been treated” as he treated her.
– Blocked a student teacher over her Christian college ties.
This is not leadership. This is sabotage—now amplified by his explosive attitude and abusive language toward colleagues trying to save jobs and programs.
While PVUSD grapples with declining enrollment, rising safety concerns, and a $1.25 billion maintenance backlog, Medina’s actions waste time, talent, and taxpayer dollars. Lawyers attend every meeting. Staff morale is shattered. Parents and teachers are fed up.
California law allows a recall with signatures from just 10% of the votes cast in his election.
Mr. Medina: Resign now. Spare the district the cost and pain of a recall.
If you refuse, then to the voters of Trustee Area 3, I say. “Start the petition.”
The forms are online. The threshold is low. The need is urgent.
Our children deserve better than a board member who treats governance like a personal vendetta.
Mike Lelieur
Chairman, Santa Cruz County Republican Party
•••
Light pollution is a big concern
Thank you for bringing attention to the issue of light pollution with your article, “Purple Haze” (Oct. 31-Nov. 6, p. 12). Light pollution negatively affects a wide range of species, including humans, that rely on natural light cycles for their well-being and in some cases, survival. Minimizing excessive light provides a triple benefit for the community. When excess light is reduced, individuals, businesses, and municipalities save money on energy, reduce pollution by using less electricity, and improve the health of both people and animals. Fortunately, these goals can be realized without deploying extraordinary technologies or measures. DarkSky Santa Cruz is committed to helping local communities address sources of light pollution and light trespass and to achieving these environmental and health gains while ensuring illumination for safety and security.
Steve Landau
President DarkSky Santa Cruz
•••
Letters policy: Letters to the Editor must be
signed with a real name, for publication, and the
sender must also add a phone number or email
address plus city of residence, for identification
purposes only. Letters become the property of
this newspaper, and may be edited for length
and taste. Letter writers should avoid obscenities
and personal attacks, and keep letters to under
300 words. Email: ed****@********an.com.
