Cabrillo College investigating ‘offensive racist’ graffiti
APTOS—Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s deputies and Cabrillo College administrators are investigating “offensive racist graffiti” that was found scrawled on a newly-painted restroom wall near the college’s Carl Connelly Stadium, Cabrillo President Matt Wetstein said.
The graffiti has since been painted over.
Neither school officials nor the...
Railbanking initiative heads to June ballot
SANTA CRUZ—The fate of Santa Cruz County’s rail line is now in the hands of the voters.
The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday voted 4-0 to place on the June 7 ballot an initiative which, if successful, would amend Santa Cruz County’s...
Watsonville turns to bonds to meet steep pension costs
WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville City Council gave staff the green light to begin the process of issuing taxable bonds in hopes of paying off steep unfunded pension obligations over the next three decades.
According to a 2020 California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) report, the City of...
Earthquake strikes near Corralitos hours after Gilroy quake
WATSONVILLE—An 3.6-magnitude earthquake struck Corralitos around 10am Saturday, just hours after a 2.6-magnitude earthquake shook Gilroy around 11pm on Friday.
According to the United States Geological Survey, the quakes' epicenters were near the San Andreas Fault line.
On social media, several people said that they...
Watsonville City Council selects new city clerk
WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville City Council promoted longtime Assistant City Clerk Irwin Ortiz to the municipality’s top clerical position at Tuesday night’s meeting.
Ortiz has been with the City of Watsonville since 2010. He started as an intern for the city manager’s office before moving into the...
‘Embarrassing’: Planning commissioners accuse staff of ‘counting votes’
WATSONVILLE—In a bizarre ending to a Tuesday night public meeting that puzzled and agitated a majority of the Watsonville Planning Commission, the body gave no recommendation on whether a Watsonville charter school should be allowed to continue to operate in an industrial zone on...
Planning Commission approves downtown performing arts studio
WATSONVILLE—In 2020, Arts Council Santa Cruz County formed the Watsonville Stewardship Committee for the Arts to bring resources, build spaces and improve access to the arts for South County residents.
That group of artists, teachers, political leaders and city of Watsonville staff spearheaded the creation...
Pilot program provides free menstrual products at County buildings
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Santa Cruz County launched a pilot program on April 8 to provide free menstrual products in restrooms in select county facilities, including at the Watsonville center on Freedom Boulevard.
The program aims to assist low-income residents who struggle to afford menstrual products, said...
‘Born and Raised in Watsonville’ Scholarship deadlines April 29
WATSONVILLE—Since 2019, local artist Jessica Carrasco has organized the Born and Raised in Watsonville scholarship, aiming to support youth while spreading positivity about her hometown.
The scholarship is funded through sales of Carrasco’s line of Watsonville-themed stickers and other fundraising efforts in the community.
Students can...
Watsonville is in the Heart launches digital archive
Hundreds of visitors flocked to the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History (MAH) on April 9 to celebrate the launch of a new digital history archive.
The Watsonville is in the Heart (WIITH) Digital Archive aims to preserve the histories and contributions of Filipino-Americans...
Investing in safer streets and upholding our community values
Watsonville is making meaningful investments in our streets, sidewalks, and neighborhoods this year—improvements that reflect both our infrastructure priorities and our shared commitment to...
