County pledges $5 million for Watsonville hospital purchase
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Santa Cruz County has committed $5 million to help a local group of healthcare professionals purchase Watsonville Community Hospital’s operations.
The County’s Board of Supervisors passed the item without comment, since it was on the consent agenda.
The Pajaro Valley Healthcare District Project (PVHDP)...
Permits for hotel project expire, distribution centers planned for Manabe-Ow
WATSONVILLE—Plans to build a four-story, 80-room hotel at the busy intersection of Main Street and Freedom Boulevard have once again stalled.
Watsonville Community Development Department Director Suzi Merriam says that the permits granted to the developer, Kamalesh Patel, expired last fall. If the project is...
Strike averted as County, employees reach agreement
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The union that represents some 1,600 County of Santa Cruz employees has averted a strike after hammering out a tentative agreement during all-day negotiations Monday.
The agreement between Service Employees International Union Local 521 and the County came just before demonstrations that were...
Watsonville City Council split over redistricting plan
WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville City Council at a special meeting on Jan. 20 narrowly advanced a new district map that would largely stick to the status quo, but make a significant change between the 2nd and 6th districts.
The map, dubbed the Rivera Plan, would move areas...
First new candidate for November’s local elections comes forth
WATSONVILLE—The first new candidate for one of several Watsonville City Council seats that will be up for grabs in this year’s general election has stepped forth.
Kristal Salcido, an assistant district attorney for Santa Cruz County, announced on Jan. 21 that she will run for...
Big rig driver arrested following reported hit-and-run, highway pursuit
MOSS LANDING—A big rig driver was arrested Thursday night after leading officers on a multi-county chase down Highway 1, following a hit-and-run collision in Santa Cruz.
Alyssa Gutierrez of the California Highway Patrol said Santa Cruz police initially tried to pull over a white tractor-trailer...
Councilman Estrada says he won’t seek reelection
WATSONVILLE—Watsonville City Councilman Francisco “Paco” Estrada during Thursday night’s special meeting announced that he will not seek reelection this fall.
Estrada, the representative for the 4th District, was elected into office in 2018 and served as mayor in his first year on the city council....
Judy Doering Nielsen, a former Mayor and prolific volunteer, dies
WATSONVILLE—Judy Doering Nielsen’s love for the Watsonville community led her to become thoroughly entrenched in its inner workings, from its history to its politics to its people.
She served as Watsonville Mayor and President of the Pajaro Valley Historical Association (PVHA), in addition to a...
County park will honor late Sheriff’s deputy
APTOS—Plans were announced Thursday of a major renovation of Willowbrook County Park to honor the late Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller, who was gunned down in the line of duty in 2020.
The project of “reimagining” the park was announced in a brief...
Students learn the power of the vote at Civics Summit
On Friday, about 150 high school juniors from across Santa Cruz County cast their first ballots on three issues that, if passed, would dramatically...
