Opinion

As a longtime elected official representing the people of Watsonville and the Pajaro Valley, I know how essential and important the agricultural industry is to the region and the rest of Santa Cruz County. In two elections, the voters of Watsonville have overwhelmingly affirmed...

This month Buddhist throughout the world are celebrating the birth of Shakyamuni Buddha with the celebration called Hanamatsuri the Flower Festival. The name comes from the legend of Shakyamuni’s birth in Lumbini’s Garden and the many flowers that were in bloom that day in...

Vote no on D We need to look at all the benefits of preserving and restoring the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line, and not be swayed and misled by the anti-rail groups regarding Measure D. The train, whether it be a light rail vehicle, electric tram...

I didn’t know Feliciano Martinez Perea but his story is not foreign to me. It’s a story that many Watsonville residents know. It’s the immigrant’s story. Martinez Perea hailed from the small town of San Martín Peras, Oaxaca, Mexico. He came to Watsonville to...

“On the evening of that first day of the week, the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear…” (Gospel of John 20:19a) The time: Passover week. The place: Jerusalem. The scene: An upper room. Locked doors. The stale air is thick with uncertainty about the...

As I write this, images of atrocities in the city of Bucha, a suburb of Kiev, Ukraine, are crossing our screens. Executed civilians, hands bound, lying prostrate on the road. Neighborhoods targeted and destroyed, leaving innocent Ukrainians in the wake. A cyclist, seemingly shot...

Measure D will waste taxpayer money Supporters of Measure D always promise us that we can railbank our county rail and eventually reinstall rail at a later date. They cite Denton County, Texas as an example of this happening. Since I lived in Denton years ago,...

A fresh look at the Pajaronian After years of visiting the Pajaro Valley, I made a conscious decision to relocate here. I moved from Southern California and have been delighted. I subscribe to your newspaper and I look forward to reading it weekly. What a wonderful...

On Tuesday, I was appointed to the inaugural board of directors of the Pajaro Valley Health Care District. I’m honored that the selection committee of supervisors Greg Caput and Zach Friend, County Administrative Officer Carlos Palacios, Health Services Agency Director Mónica Morales and Salud Para...

Possible delays for Freedom project are concerning I am concerned after reading the March 17 article about the upcoming pipework that the City of Watsonville plans to conduct on Freedom Boulevard. The plan has already been delayed due to supply shortage, what happens if there...