Silvia Morales, Oct. 12: South County is underrepresented on the RTC
An acute racial divide has historically separated North and South County. Decisions made by the Regional Transportation Commission as it stands will adversely impact residents of the Pajaro Valley Unified School District (PVUSD) for decades. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, low income and minority communities are negatively impacted in many ways by inadequate transportation planning.
Supervisor Felipe Hernandez November update
Santa Cruz County steps up environmental and community support
This month, Santa Cruz County is enhancing safety, cleanliness, and access to essential services. The County has also secured state funding to sustain homelessness prevention efforts, and initiatives are underway to ensure all youth have access...
Letter: Dr. Gallagher is who the Hospital Board needs
Pajaro Valley Health Care District Board positions are going to be available for the Watsonville Community Hospital and the voting is part of the election ballot for November.
There are two positions which need to be filled with new Board members. It is very important...
Keeping Health Care Local, Together
The Pajaro Valley Health Care District is evolving to better reflect and represent the diverse voices that make up our community. Today, our board of directors is elected “at-large,” meaning that every registered voter within the District votes for each seat. Beginning in 2026,...
On My Mind: In the line of fire
Last week my wife Sarah and I took our first short vacation since the pandemic and lockdown took over. We drove north to Lassen National Volcanic Park and stayed in an old logger’s cabin at the Mill Creek Resort. The night before we left...
On my mind, June 10: The song of life
For the past several weeks the mockingbirds have returned to our yard. This is the normal pattern, around May and June. Let’s face it — they’re noisy and a nuisance. It used to really bother me, but for reasons unknown, I’ve come to enjoy their morning sy
Letters to the Editor, Nov. 22
Incidents of convenience
Please realize that there are more guns in our country than there are people. That came to light again in one of the latest senseless shootings in Santa Clarita.
The shooter’s late father had six guns. While reports aren’t clear on the impact...
Guest View: Salinas Valley sets the standard on farmworker housing
The tragic deaths of seven farmworkers in Half Moon Bay in January revealed an ugly, persistent truth: there are parts of our state where our essential, agricultural workers still live in deplorable conditions. There are no permits, no inspections and conditions are substandard. But...
Opinion: Why Christians must support common sense gun law
I'm sick to my stomach as I watch helplessly the common recurrence of mass shootings and with the paralysis of our nation to do anything about it. I feel assaulted and traumatized by the sheer volume of violence I witness on television and mass...
Letters to the editor: Aug. 29–Sept. 4
Children are taught inegrity
In 1972 I started teaching sixth grade at Hall District Elementary School in Las Lomas, in north Monterey County. It was my first real teaching job, and the class was not very well-behaved. So, entering my second year I made some...
Students learn the power of the vote at Civics Summit
On Friday, about 150 high school juniors from across Santa Cruz County cast their first ballots on three issues that, if passed, would dramatically...
















