By OSCAR RIOS, Watsonville Mayor
State of the City Address: We had a great turnout for the second annual State of the City Address. The diversity of our residents, the energy of our businesses and city leaders, have created a unique moment in the history of this growing city. If you didn’t have a chance to attend, you can view it at youtu.be/rHrSIguNxoM.
Pink Patch Project: In support of breast cancer awareness, Watsonville Police Officers will wear pink police patches on their uniforms for the month of October. The pink patches are intended to encourage public awareness about the importance of early detection and the on-going fight against this disease. Most importantly, the pink patches are intended to show our support and unity with those who are affected. The pink patches are being sold at the Watsonville Police Department for $10 each. All proceeds will be donated to breast cancer research. We invite you to find a police officer in October wearing a pink patch and take a picture with him/her with your pink patch in hand and send those pictures to our Facebook page so that we can share with the rest of the community.
Residents Take-On Recycling: Watsonville residents can increase their recycling by taking advantage of the city’s Free Curbside Recycling Program and reduce their garbage bill when choosing a smaller garbage cart. Not only will you save money, but you are allowing recyclable materials to begin a new life instead of getting buried in the landfill. Recycling is mandatory and it should be done according to posted guidelines. Avoid a contamination fine by making sure your blue cart only includes materials that can actually be recycled. Rinsing your recyclables is not required but it makes the recycling process cleaner and easier. For more information on how to reduce your waste/recycle, please call 768-1622 or visit the city’s Nature Center at 30 Harkin Slough Road.
Wondering what to do with your electronic waste? Old computers, televisions, VCRs, stereos, phones, copiers, and fax machines are considered electronic waste and cannot be disposed of in the trash or recycle bins. Some of these items contain lead, mercury, arsenic and other heavy metals and chemicals that must be kept out of our landfill. Nonfunctioning electronics should be recycled by a qualified organization:
• Waste & Recycling Drop-off Center, 320 Harvest Drive, 768-3133
• A&S Metals, 1080 West Beach St., 722-3597
Watsonville’s Code Enforcement Program: The Community Development Department has recently added a new Enforcement Officer which has allowed the city to implement a more proactive enforcement approach with an emphasis in the downtown area and business corridors including Freedom Boulevard. Code Enforcement was established to protect the public health, safety, and welfare by establishing standards governing the condition, maintenance, and appearance of all residential and nonresidential properties within the Watsonville city limits. The guidelines were established to ensure that properties do not reach a state to cause depreciation of surrounding properties. Our Code Enforcement Officers also have a duty to respond to complaints that allege violations of the Health and Safety and California Building Code. For questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to call 768-3050, or visit our office at 250 Main St. Complaints can also be filed online at www.cityofwatsonville.org. You can also visit our website for specific examples of code enforcement issues.
Day of the Dead Family Crafts: Enjoy an evening full of culture and tradition. You are invited to decorate sugar skulls, make paper flowers and other crafts on Thursday, Oct. 26, 6-8 p.m., Civic Plaza Community Room, Fourth Floor and Saturday, Oct. 28, 1-3 p.m., at the Freedom Branch.
I love to hear from our community, so please feel free to email me directly at os********@ci***************.org.
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Oscar Rios is the mayor of Watsonville. His opinions are his own and not necessarily those of the Pajaronian.
