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Watsonville
April 21, 2026

Supervisor’s Update: Year-end reflections

santa cruz county supervisor felipe hernandez
Editor’s note: This is the first part of a two-part Supervisor’s Update. As the year draws to a close, I want to take a moment to extend my warmest Happy Holiday wishes to each and every one of you and to also wish you all...

Supervisor’s Update: Looking back, looking forward

santa cruz county supervisor felipe hernandez
Editor’s note: This is the second installment of a two-part Supervisor’s Update. As the year draws to a close, I want to take a moment to extend my warmest Happy Holiday wishes to each and every one of you and to also wish you all...

Religion: Bodhi Day

Jay Shinseki Watsonville
Once again we find ourselves at the year’s end. It is hard to believe that another year has gone by. December is a time for families to gather to celebrate the holidays. We celebrate Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, the Winter Solstice, Christmas and Bodhi Day, the...

I’m voting yes on Measure Q for the Pajaro Valley

The people of the Pajaro Valley have shown we are resilient as we’ve faced the impacts of a changing climate, from severe flooding to the threat of wildfire. But more—a lot more—can be done to help reduce the effects on our community from future...

Don’t repeat the mistakes of 2009: Protect Medi-Cal dental benefits

This week, I stood before the California State Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Health not only as the CEO of Dientes Community Dental Care, but as a voice for our 18,000 patients in Santa Cruz County—who rely on Medi-Cal for essential dental care.  My message was...

PVUSD Trustees should reconsider layoff decision

The Pajaro Valley Unified School District’s Dec. 11 school board meeting was truly dysfunctional, and represents an extreme deviation from sound governance based on community input.  The state of California gives school districts until March 15 to issue initial layoff notices. According to the California...

Guest View: Measure N is vital to hospital’s success

In 1989, the Loma Prieta earthquake significantly damaged a hospital that had served the community of Watsonville for decades. Devastated by the earthquake, the nonprofit Watsonville Community Hospital (WCH) had to be sold to a for-profit corporation. In 2022, it returned to community ownership.  Still,...

Guest View: Unfinished business continues into the New Year

Monterey County Supervisor Luis Alejo
2023 was a very challenging year in Monterey County and it reminded me how crucial county government is in addressing the most pressing needs of our communities. I was honored to serve as chair of the Board of Supervisors over the last year, but...

Guest View: Securing our health, keeping our commitment: Vote Yes on Measure N

Our community stands at a pivotal juncture. Access to life-saving, local healthcare for tens of thousands of residents throughout the Pajaro Valley, Santa Cruz County and North Monterey County is on the March 5, 2024 ballot.  Measure N is not just a bond; it is...
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Public defenders plan April 23 protest over caseloads, funding gaps

Public defenders in Santa Cruz County will join colleagues across California and the nation April 23 in a coordinated protest highlighting what they describe...