100 years and counting
On June 22, the Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau will call to order at its annual meeting for the 100th time.
Sesario Escoto, Nov. 30: Be the bridge for children in foster care
CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) exists because children in the foster care system need a voice. These young people experience great loss and trauma, and CASA of Santa Cruz County provides a light in the darkness that can fall upon this time in their lives; that light being the CASA volunteers.
Guest View: A winning formula for the healthcare district board
We need Marcus Pimentel and Jasmine Najera as board members of the Pajaro Valley Health Care District (PVHCD) to continue the success of Watsonville Community Hospital (WCH) under community-led ownership. They’ve been in the trenches with the leadership of WCH throughout the process of...
Letters to the Editor, Dec. 13
Politics is keeping Watsonville stuck
I was quite bemused when I read that the Watsonville Planning Commission denied issuing a use permit to the developers of the drive-thru establishments on N. Main Street
because of air pollution from idling cars! This is such shortsighted thinking! Sure,...
Lives lost
May all beings find comfort and peace of mind in the midst of tragedy and loss. We send forth loving thoughts to those in sorrow and pain. We share in the tragedy of loss. We have all experienced loss, tragedy and separation. When we...
Commission decision is a ‘disgrace’
I was absolutely shocked to read that the Watsonville Parks and Recreation Commission recommended the removal of the George Washington bust from the City Plaza. George Washington was the first president of the United States. He made many personal and financial sacrifices, as well...
Mayor’s Update: Watsonville’s resilience
The start of 2023 was far from what anyone expected it to be. Our region was battered by an unprecedented atmospheric river that brought heavy rains, flooding and evacuations for our residents.
While this was unexpected and severely impacted thousands in our community, I was...
Undocumented farmworkers focus of legislation
CALIFORNIA—Five California Congress members, including Zoe Lofgren (District 19) and Jimmy Panetta (District 20) have unveiled a House bill to provide a path to citizenship for undocumented farmworkers.
In an Oct. 30 “tele-press conference,” Lofgren and Panetta said their Farm Workforce Modernization Act would provide...
Building an equitable future
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...
Sharing in the harvest
Apple season has started, and Pajaro Valley apple trees are bending under the weight of the fruit.
Watsonville nurses rally against ICU closure
Several dozen Watsonville Community Hospital nurses and staff warned Wednesday that closing the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit—an idea they said officials have floated amid...




















