Opinion

By Rebecca J. Garcia, Watsonville Mayor Black Lives Matter. Consequently, Watsonville wants to assure that the police department provides the best services available for public safety and racial and social equity. Police Chief David Honda has shared the many successful programs provided to youth and...

By Luis A. Alejo, Kevin de León and Eduardo Garcia  On July 17, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that counties on the state’s Covid-19 “monitoring list” must begin the new school year with distance learning. More than half of our state’s counties are on the list,...

I think we’d all agree 2020 has been a rough ride so far. So what’s the key to surviving times of real stress? Last week I received an encouraging email from a 90-year-old widow in our congregation. As usual, her note was brimming with joy––despite...

Thoughts on Washington monument I recall when the George Washington statue appeared in the City Plaza, and wondered, “what does George Washington have to do with Watsonville?” Washington never visited Watsonville because the town wasn't around when George was. Washington had long finished his business...

Memo from Rev. Mathews-Johnson I don’t know about you, but there’ve been times in my life when I thought something was missing. You know what I mean. Like when you’re young and single and things are going along fine, except you long for something else,...

MEMO FROM REV. SHINSEKI Blood stains cannot be removed by more blood; resentment cannot be removed by more resentment; resentment can only be removed by letting it go. —Teachings of the Buddha This month will mark the 75th anniversary of the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima and Nakasaki...

By Rebecca J. Garcia, Watsonville Mayor We are experiencing a crisis with the Covid-19 worldwide pandemic. We also are in a crisis with climate change. It is anticipated we have 10 years left to avoid the worst consequences of climate change. In 2015 the City...

By John Gallagher, Grand Jury Supervising Judge  We need the Grand Jury and the Grand Jury needs you. In this time of political polarization at all levels of government, the need for a neutral Grand Jury to investigate, report on government performance and offer solutions...

Memo from Pastor Rene This summer our nation is reeling at the horrific police brutality on display in the death of George Floyd and others, and grappling with the difficult task of criminal justice reform––and the broader plague of systemic racism. But while the country’s focus...

Memo from Rev. Mathews-Johnson While I was growing up, whenever we moved—which was often in those days because my dad was a Navy officer—my mother would find a job at the local United Methodist Church in our new town playing the organ and piano.  As...