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...
Honoring Veterans Day
Memo from Pastor Erickson
Nov. 11 has been our day, our opportunity, to again commit to support and honor our servicemen and women, past and present. The celebration has been broadened to include past and present members of the service community in our land.
President Woodrow...
Mutual respect
I wish to share the merit of writing this work equally with all beings,
So that we may all awaken aspiration for Bodhi and together attain birth in the Land of Peace and Bliss.
The above English translation was written by a Chinese Buddhist monk by...
Trina Coffman-Gomez, Nov. 30: Clarifying misconceptions and moving forward, part two
This is a continuation of Trina Coffman-Gomez’s column from last week’s edition, which touches on misconceptions surrounding the county’s transportation planning.
Letters to the Editor, March 30, 2023
Stay hopeful in midst of tragedies
It used to be that I would write to my state and federal representatives whenever there was a school shooting. Full of shock and outrage, I asked that they support legislation to outlaw assault rifles and require universal background...
Addressing our local housing crisis
Our state and local housing crisis can be measured in many ways: From the more than $70,000 one has to earn to afford the rent of a two-bedroom apartment locally to our state’s 78,000 unsheltered homeless (nearly half of the nation’s total), to county med
Why I support renewing Watsonville’s Measure U
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...
Letter: Gratitude for C&N Tractors
C&N Tractors on Salinas Road just finished repairing my Kubota tractor in February when the levee burst. Suddenly it was under six feet of water. After the mud and flood receded, the tractor needed serious help.
I want to express my gratitude to Nigel Mallison,...
Letters to the Editor, Sept. 24
Ethic studies bill is discriminatory
On Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk is the ethnic studies bill. I must note that he doesn’t need to sign it. Surprise? The California State Board of Education already approved, in 2016, the Around the Horn & Inland Waterways content for...
Letter: ‘Build It Now, It Will Never Be Cheaper’
Thankfully common sense prevailed and Measure D was defeated. However, those who support environmentally sound electric passenger rail service on the historic Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line must not rest on their laurels.
A concerted effort must be put forth to the Santa Cruz Regional...
PVUSD to slash elementary assistant principals
When the 2026-27 school year begins in the Pajaro Valley Unified School District, all 17 elementary schools will be without assistant principals.
The positions, also...


















