Hashimoto family did not oppose school named in his honor
As the only surviving member of the Mas Hashimoto family, I need to clarify what was written in the Aug. 7-13, 2026 issue of the Pajaronian article titled “Cesar Chavez Middle School To Be Renamed.” The following sentence concerns me: “Support for that name (Tagami, Hashimoto Middle School) was greatly diminished after the board discussed that the Hashimoto family was not interested in having a school named after him.” I never personally made that statement to the PVUSD School Board, Committee of Community Members or the Pajaronian because I was not contacted by these groups. When I was out of town, I received an email from School Board member Gabe Medina a day before the Board would take a final vote on renaming the school. He asked how I felt about renaming the Middle School that would include Mas’s name. This was my response sent on Thursday, Aug 6: “I have been out of town since Tuesday morning, and I just read your email now. It is too late for my response. I was wondering why no one contacted me about this. I found out about this agenda item from reading our local newspaper. I do not know what the final vote was but I assume a decision has been made.”
Throughout our combined 70 years of teaching students of Watsonville and Pajaro, and throughout our retirement years, Mas and I continued our concern, support, and interest in the PVUSD. I do appreciate the positive comments about Mas expressed by Daniel Dodge Jr. and Gabe Medina published in our local newspapers. A few friends and I have discussed that if this PVUSD agenda item did not have controversial circumstances, financial concerns, and the possibility that this Middle School might be closed in future years, the renaming of the School would have been a celebrated honor.
Marcia Hashimoto
Watsonville
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Taxes are not the answer
Santa Cruz County is already one of the most expensive places to live in America. Families struggle with high housing costs, expensive groceries, rising utility bills, and the highest gas prices in the nation. Yet local Democratic leaders continue to propose higher taxes instead of finding ways to make life more affordable.
Now voters may be asked to approve two separate half-cent sales tax increases, one for county government and another for Santa Cruz METRO. If both pass, shoppers could face one of the highest local sales tax rates in California.
Sales taxes fall hardest on working families, seniors on fixed incomes, and small businesses. Every trip to the grocery store, every school supply purchase, and every household necessity becomes more expensive.
Before asking taxpayers for more money, county leaders should prove they are spending existing tax dollars wisely. The government should focus on core services, eliminate waste, and live within its means—just as families must do every day.
Enough is enough. Santa Cruz residents need tax relief, not another bill at the checkout counter.
Mike Lelieur
Pleasure Point
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Rail plans incomplete
Letters to the Sentinel attest that no one knows what the rail plan is. At this week’s RTC meeting it was pointed out the RTC program calls for Zero Emission Passenger rail. They have requested that Caltrans replace the two Aptos bridges with heavy freight-bearing ones. The Capitola Bridge will require extensive upgrades just to do passenger rail service.
The RTC and the county board own this one. What is it: heavy freight, passenger rail, or banking the rails? Make it clear what the plan is. Are they afraid the county will have to return state and federal money?
The RTC is attempting to take parking spaces in Aptos. Their estimate of 100 passengers in Aptos will not be met with a handful of existing parking spots. A garage is needed. Garages are also needed in La Selva and Capitola. Plans for garages were left out of the original plan. The added expense would have killed this program.
The RTC and the County Supervisors have some explaining to do.
Bill Beecher
Aptos
