Suggestions for PVUSD
My recommendations regarding the Recommended Realignments of PVUSD:
1. Regarding school closure, I have advocated for an idea to sell the District Office Building and move it to a school—which should be considered for closing—since 2024. I also would like to advocate for an idea to prioritize investing money to restructure the existing prefab houses and buildings in Pajaro Middle School to protect them from another severe flood in the future.
2. Regarding increasing revenues, I have advocated for bringing the high school students of Ceiba Charter school to three PVUSD high schools while keeping the middle school part of Ceiba. (There have been around 250 high school students at Ceiba Charter school since 2024.) I advocated for Ceiba Charter school to be able to stay in the current place on Locust Street in 2022, 2023, and 2024.
Takashi Mizuno
Watsonville
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Addressing Medina
I have commented on the dysfunctional PVUSD board and particularly trustee Gabriel Medina. Unlike Medina, I use facts to support my opinions.
Mr. Medina uses social media to malign his critics, making personal attacks instead of addressing the dismal financial situation, declining enrollment and poor test scores that face the district. Sadly, when public officials should be using their positions to bring people together, he has chosen to sow division by trying to divide us by ethnicity and color.
Recently, he posted comments that were personally insulting to me and false, which seems to be his tactic in dealing with his opponents. He does it to me, to our superintendent and to some members of his own board, especially women.
In a recent post he accused me of being a bigot because I have criticized people who happen to be non-white. When I criticize people and their opinions, I do so because I disagree with their opinions not because of their color. That is neither bigotry nor racism. It is democracy. I have a long record of publicly criticizing those whom I find to be antisemitic, regardless of their color or religion.
When he wrote that I never lifted a finger to help working people in Watsonville, he insulted me and the law firm where I worked representing injured workers for nearly forty years. The firm of Rucka, O’Boyle, Lombardo and McKenna has been representing Watsonville residents when Mr. Medina was still in diapers and continues to help disabled residents of the tri-county area, regardless of color and legal status. I was one of the first volunteers at the Watsonville Law Center, helping people of Watsonville navigate through the complex workers compensation system, donating my time and expertise.
Medina doesn’t care about the truth. He lies about me, he lied about having a recording of a call with the superintendent and so much more. He reminds me of a politician in Washington D.C. who bullies people, is abusive to anyone who challenges him, and uses alternative facts to disparage others. Why do they do it? Probably because they think they can get away with it. Both Trustee Medina and President Trump make personal attacks and distort the truth which pleases their bases, but demean the offices they hold.
As divisive a trustee as he is, I don’t believe that a costly recall election is in the district’s best interest. It will cost money that we don’t have. However, If there is a grassroots effort from people within his district I would not oppose it.
If he won’t resign and a recall is not practical, what can be done? In my opinion, a new censure motion should be brought and this time approved.
This at least would show that others on the board do not approve of his behavior. One can respectfully disagree without resorting to lying and defamation. Medina is not one of those people.
Not everyone is able or willing to stand up to this bully. People need to feel safe to speak up at board meetings and elsewhere and Medina has made many people feel uncomfortable and unsafe at board meetings. Based on his postings and antics at meetings, this is not an accident. He seems to relish this. However, people need to speak up, whether it be in letters to this paper, emails to other trustees, at board meetings or in their own social media posts. Let’s show the trustees of the PVUSD that we do care about the district and this divisive conduct needs to stop.
Gil stein
Aptos
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In response to Medina
Gabriel Medina’s “Medina Not Shrinking Back” (Nov 28) does not address any of the charges I raised last week. He continues to avoid discussing:
• Telling Jewish community members on April 16, 2025: “You only show up when it’s beneficial for you so you can tell Brown people who they are,” words condemned by the ADL and the county superintendent as anti-Semitic tropes.
• Yelling “shut the f**k up” at fellow trustees.
• Taunting female board member, Navarro, with “Come at me, Barbie!” in closed session
Instead of responding to video evidence and public records, Medina attacks critics (including me) by calling them “right-wing extremists” and “Trump supporters.” My politics are not relevant; the footage is.
Wanting what is best for all students—safe schools, honest governance, and respect for every family—is not a left-vs-right thing. It is a common-sense thing.
The families of Pajaro Valley deserve a trustee who addresses documented misconduct instead of hiding behind labels and threats of $35,000 lawsuits against colleagues who dare to speak up.
Mike Lelieur
Santa Cruz County
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