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Watsonville
December 18, 2025

Was this the right time to increase utility rates?

Jimmy Dutra
Our council passed a rate increase this week on water, wastewater and solid waste utilities. It was a 6-1 vote. I was the sole vote against the rate hike. This was a difficult decision for all of us. Here is my explanation on why...

Guest view: California needs a universal broadband infrastructure bond for our students

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,...

Celebrating holidays with our elders

letter to the editor pajaronian
Reaching out to an older friend, a parent or a grandparent is never more meaningful than during the holiday season. It warms us, them, and bestows all with human connection, which is an essential component of health and happiness. Covid-19 has made keeping in touch...

On My Mind: My days with Nancy Lockwood

Nancy was never forceful or assuming. That was a huge part of her — Nancy was a gentle, easy going woman with a graceful understanding of how people work and what it took to bring ideas forward and into action in a respectful manner.

Johanna Miller, Feb. 13: Making amends with Valentine’s Day

I was supposed to be born on Valentine’s Day. About eight months into my mother’s pregnancy, her doctor announced that Feb. 14 was her most likely due date.

Letters to the Editor, July 9

letter to the editor pajaronian
Enforce the laws We have endured another onslaught of pyrotechnics in Watsonville. While I appreciate efforts to discourage their use, such as bilingual ads in the newspaper and electronic message boards placed around the city, I wonder: why enact ordinances and laws if they apparently...

Fireworks in the sky are not always a celebration

Jimmy Dutra
Each year we hear and see an increase in fireworks throughout our community. This can be distressing to so many people and their pets. These bombs in the sky can trigger unthinkable feelings in people who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSD), anxiety...

Mayor’s Update: Stay prepared

Watsonville city council
As we entered the second week of March, we once again prepared for storms and another atmospheric river event that was expected to bring heavy rains and flooding. The City is working tirelessly with many partners to prepare and be ready to assist our...

Building an equitable future

Jimmy Dutra
By Jimmy Dutra, Watsonville Mayor I stopped using the word equality some years back in graduate school. In my opinion it did not put everyone on an equal playing field. Instead, I am an advocate for equity. With equity I believe we will find true...

Question of the Week

Are you in favor of renewing the updated public safety sales tax—previously known as Measure G—set for the March 2020 election? Yes: 24 | No: 47 Public comment: Daniel Dodge Jr. Yes. We need to continue to support our police, firefighters, and parks... Carl Vucinich in...
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Photo story: Fill the Fire Truck effort aids in toy drive

Watsonville’s interim Fire Chief, Corey Schaefer, shows a sampling of the new toys that locals donated first-ever Fill the Fire Truck Toy Drive Dec...