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Watsonville
December 20, 2025

Mayor’s message: A Year of Progress, Partnership, and Impact

Dear Community, As I close out my term as your Mayor, I’ve been reflecting on the journey we’ve taken together this year. When I stepped into this role, I made a commitment, not to titles or recognition, but on making a real difference that families...

Letters to the editor Nov. 21-27

Criticism for Medina PVUSD trustee Gabriel Medina never fails to amaze me. From challenging the right of a Christian woman from a Midwest Bible college to student teach, to threatening to sue the district for $35,000, his conduct has been a lesson on how not...

Letters to the Editor Nov. 14-20

PVUSD cuts necessary The Pajaro Valley Unified School District is finally being forced to face financial reality. Many of the positions now being eliminated were funded by one-time Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds, which expired in February 2024. That temporary COVID money...

Let them eat cake

President Donald Trump appears to have the time of his life.  He made clear that the legacy he wants to leave for the White House should be one of renovation, while his presidential legacy would primarily focus on personal glory, a permanent conservative influence on...

Letters to the editor Oct. 31-Nov. 13

Trump is a Vector of Chaos Using a phrase I learned from my wife's family, this is only my “pee pot opinion”, but I've been writing these observations for nine years, and almost all have turned out to be spot on. So, here we go: Trump...

Mayor’s and Supervisor’s November updates

Shaping Watsonville’s Future Together By Watsonville Mayor Maria Orozco Our 2025 State of the City on Oct. 22 was a meaningful moment to pause, reflect, and look forward—to recognize how far we’ve come and how we’re shaping a brighter future for Watsonville together. This year’s theme, Shaping...

Letters to the editor Oct. 24-30

Teachers are educators, not activists In a recent opinion piece, the Pajaro Valley Federation of Teachers expressed concern on being silenced in the classroom. PVUSD teachers need to be reminded that they have a civic role to be educators. The concept that they are change...

Simón Salinas belongs in the Watsonville High School Hall of Fame

As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15–Oct. 15) and reflect on the trailblazers who have opened doors for future generations, it’s time for the Watsonville High School Foundation to honor one of its most distinguished alumni, former California State Assemblymember Simón Salinas, with...

When we silence teachers, we teach fear instead of freedom

There are moments in a community’s life when silence is not neutral. It is a decision. This is one of those moments in Pajaro Valley Unified School District. Our Board of Trustees is preparing to approve revisions to Policy 6144 - the so-called “Controversial Issues” policy....

We deserve better communication skills

President Donald Trump's recent struggle to pronounce the word “acetaminophen” during a press conference in which he advised pregnant women against using Tylenol, elicited mockery across social media.  Acetaminophen is the primary ingredient in Tylenol, widely used for pain relief, which the administration alleges is...
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PVUSD Trustees to revisit teacher layoff vote

A little more than one week after voting to eliminate roughly 80 teacher positions, the Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees will...

Mixing Bowl: Sweet Pralines

From Our Archives: Labor Camp