Measure N Milestones: Transparency, Progress, and Community Impact

When voters across the Pajaro Valley Health Care District approved Measure N in March 2024, they sent a clear and powerful message: our community hospital matters. With that vote, we took another bold step toward reclaiming local control of our healthcare system and investing in a healthier, more secure future for everyone who calls this region home.

Measure N—a $116 million general obligation bond—has become a lifeline for Watsonville Community Hospital. After years of for-profit mismanagement pushed the hospital to the brink, collective action made it possible to further protect and renovate this essential institution. And less than a year later, in October 2024, we celebrated a historic milestone: the Pajaro Valley Health Care District officially purchased the hospital property and buildings—more than a year ahead of schedule.

Now, with $76 million in Measure N funds still available, we’re moving forward with a focused slate of crucial improvements.

In addition to acquiring the property, we’ve prioritized the remaining first round of Measure N funding—which is about $13 million after the property purchase—for essential upgrades to our infrastructure and imaging systems, including purchasing new MRI and CT scanners and retrofitting the entire hospital with energy-efficient lighting and electrical systems. We’re also investing in our identity by updating signage throughout the campus to reflect our new family of logos, marking a new era of public ownership and pride. Many of these projects will be completed by the end of the year. 

Leading up to the 2024 vote, I spoke with many district residents who shared concerns about long wait times in our Emergency Room. Today, our ER remains a 12-bed wing, largely unchanged since it was built in the late 1990s—back when our community had 30,000 fewer residents. Thanks to your investment, we are now planning to nearly double the ER’s capacity. Our team has already begun the design work as part of the first phase of this expansion. We plan to host multiple opportunities for feedback from the public, hospital staff, and our board as we shape a space that meets our community’s growing needs.

Finally, I’m proud to share that the District’s Board of Directors has officially selected the six inaugural members of the Measure N Citizens’ Oversight Committee. These knowledgeable and dedicated community members will help ensure that every dollar is spent as voters intended.

Here are brief profiles of our new committee members:

Kermit “Butch” Cole

Watsonville Resident | Retired WCH Employee | Advocate
Butch brings deep institutional knowledge to the Oversight Committee through his 20-plus years of service at Watsonville Community Hospital. 

Fred L. Castillo

Watsonville Resident | Retired Radiology Department Leader | Advocate
Fred is a retired radiologic technologist with over 50 years of experience at WCH, where he rose from staff technologist to department manager. He also served over 20 years as President of the CAL-TEC Union and twice as President of the California Society of Radiologic Technologists. 

Caroline Eiskamp

Watsonville Resident | Business Owner | Health Care Advocate
Caroline Eiskamp is a long-time resident of the Pajaro Valley and corporate officer of Eiskamp Management Group and JE Farms Inc. 

Julie Lambert

Aptos Resident | Finance Professional | Community Leader
Julie is the President of Lambert Corporate Solutions and a seasoned finance executive with a long history of community service. She previously held leadership positions at S. Martinelli & Company and Salud Para La Gente, and brings a wealth of experience in financial oversight and compliance. 

Stefan Jaskulak

Aptos Resident | Chief Financial Officer | Bond Oversight Specialist
Stefan is the CFO and Director of Administrative Services for the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, where he has overseen the implementation of a $300 million bond program and structured annual reporting systems for transparency and accountability. 

Raymon Cancino

Royal Oaks Resident | Nonprofit Executive | Policy and Fiscal Expert
Ray is the CEO of Community Bridges, a leading nonprofit in the region. A graduate with a Master’s in Public Policy, Raymon brings over a decade of experience in fiscal oversight and community health leadership. 

Tony Nuñez is the Chair of the Pajaro Valley Health Care District Board of Directors. He can be reached at To********@***cd.org.