Tony’s Thoughts: Watsonville staff finally gets it
An updated version of Measure G—the half-cent public safety sales tax passed by voters in 2014—will be on Watsonville residents’ ballots next year.
The new measure, which is still unnamed at the moment, has the same spirit as Measure G. Its goal is to provide...
Setting unreachable standards
By Greg Caput, County Supervisor
To what standards are we held or judged by? If the standard is perfection, then everyone fails. A symbol of George Washington is under scrutiny at the Watsonville City Plaza. He was a victorious hero of the revolution 245 years...
Guest View: Absurd decision threatens fairgrounds’ future
By GREG CAPUT
The Santa Cruz County Fair was facing bankruptcy when Dave Kegebein entered his position to save our county fairgrounds. The state had pulled back funding and thus threatened the existence of the fair.
Many county fairgrounds have shut down in California due to...
HONORING YOUNG LEADERS
Nearly three decades ago, the Queer Youth Leadership Awards (QYLA) was created to honor young lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people (LGBTQ+) whose advocacy and activism have made notable impacts on their communities.
Created by the Queer Youth Task Force, the annual ceremony is...
Abel Mejia, Dec. 9: Winter of discontent
Dec. 6, 2017 marked the one-year anniversary of the teacher’s union contract campaign for a decent raise on our salary schedule and the cap on our health and welfare benefits.
Watsonville City Council approves changes to some cannabis rules
After a contentious meeting on Tuesday, a divided Watsonville City Council approved in concept several amendments to its retail cannabis ordinances, a move intended to ease the regulatory burden for a burgeoning industry already beleaguered by local, state and federal regulations.
City officials say the...
Open Farm Tours returns to the Pajaro Valley
Farms across the Pajaro Valley will open to the public for two days of family-friendly activities Oct. 12-13.
The drive-through discussion is disappointing for many reasons
In the days leading up to Tuesday’s Watsonville Planning Commission meeting I did several hours of background research on the proposed project at 975-1075 Main St.
The more research I did, the more disappointed I became.
The project is straightforward: 20,000 square feet over three commercial...
Sarah Ringler, Dec. 28: Top down educational reforms endanger public schools
Evidence shows that teachers are stressed. A 2017 survey in British Columbia found that two-thirds of teachers felt “stressed and emotionally exhausted all, or most of the time.”
Gun found at Aptos High tied to ‘off-campus incident,’ authorities say
Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s investigators believe a firearm found on the Aptos High School campus this week is likely tied to an incident that...




















