Local News

A proposed apartment building on High Street would include 47 units. (Workbench)

Community meeting: Envision Peace Village

• 6 p.m. Thursday, April 30 online

Santa Cruz-based developer Workbench has requested to add more homes to an apartment building proposed at 900 High St. and approved in 2024. The Envision Peace Village housing project is behind Peace United Church of Christ, near the base of UC Santa Cruz, and is being developed by the church. 

The project as previously approved is no longer financially viable, developers wrote in a letter to the city on Jan. 23. 

The new design includes:

• 47 units, up from 40.
• Nine four- and five-bedroom “co-living units” with shared common space. The previous proposal had seven four- and five-bedroom units. 
• A five-story rectangular building, rather than a six-story V-shaped building. 
• Eight units priced below market rate, down from nine. 

See full details of the new project. For questions, email cityplan@santacruzca.gov or call 831-420-5110.

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A controversial proposal in California to temporarily increase taxes on billionaires has enough signatures to qualify for the November ballot, a labor union backing the measure said Monday.

The proposal, backed by the Service Employees International Union Healthcare Workers West, would impose a one-time, 5% tax on individuals whose net worth exceeds $1 billion and who were living in the state as of Jan. 1, 2026. The goal is to generate $100 billion in revenue, which would largely be used to offset federal funding cuts to healthcare for low-income people.

“California’s health is at stake,” said Liz Perlman, executive director of a chapter of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, a major labor union. “Hospitals are closing and people will die. Why? So billionaires can get another tax cut that they don’t need.”

The California Secretary of State still has to verify the signatures and officially place the measure on the ballot. Backers say they collected more than 1.5 million signatures, well over the roughly 875,000 they needed.

If the measure goes before voters in November, it could prompt one of the costliest ballot fights ever and will draw national attention as a litmus test for voter attitudes on raising taxes on the rich. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders has already traveled to California to campaign for the idea.

Meanwhile, Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom and Silicon Valley tech moguls are adamantly opposed. They warn it will drive California’s wealthiest residents out of the state. Nearly half of California’s personal income tax revenue comes from the top 1% of earners. Some have already purchased properties out of state in case it passes.

“After playing with matches since October the SEIU has succeeded in lighting a ‘Tax the Rich’ wildfire by getting enough signatures,” said David Lesperance, a tax consultant who’s advised some of his wealthy clients who left California because of the proposal. “The many billionaire targets of their efforts have already responded by executing fire escape plans by relocating to other states.”

Brian Brokaw, a longtime Newsom adviser who is leading a political committee opposing the tax, said the measure was poorly constructed and would deal a huge blow to the state’s budget.

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“Enacting a so-called wealth tax in just one state wouldn’t target a small group — it would impact all 40 million Californians,” he said in a statement. “This proposal trades a short-term revenue bump for long-term losses.”

At least 25 billionaires listed among Forbes magazine’s 2025 rankings of the world’s 500 wealthiest people either lived in California or had some significant ties to the state, based on a review by The Associated Press. But determining whether they were full-time residents or just frequent visitors could turn into a matter of dispute, since many of them own property elsewhere.

The big tax and spending cuts law President Donald Trump signed last year will cut more than $1 trillion nationwide over a decade from Medicaid and federal food assistance.

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The Santa Cruz City Council will vote on whether to approve this year’s updates to the city’s active transportation plan, a guide for implementing projects, policies and initiatives that promote and improve walking, biking and mass transit.

The post Carmageddon: Santa Cruz City Council eyes updates to active transportation plan; Bike Santa Cruz County annual survey appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

Watsonville Hospital, a critical community lifeline, is under increasing financial strain and is actively seeking a major health care partner to help it evolve into a stronger regional hub. As those pressures grow, Lookout’s editorial board sought to better understand how leadership is managing the hospital, but found a level of transparency that falls short of what the public deserves. We see no indication of wrongdoing, but with physician shortages, aging infrastructure and heavy reliance on Medi-Cal funding, the stakes are rising quickly. Saving the hospital will require not only financial investment, but also trust, accountability and greater openness.

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Una Lookout View es la opinión de nuestra sección de opinión Community Voices, escrita por la editora de Community Voices, Jody K. Biehl, y el fundador de Lookout, Ken Doctor. Nuestro objetivo es conectar los puntos que vemos en las noticias y ofrecer una visión más amplia — todo con la intención de ver al condado de Santa Cruz enfrentar los desafíos del día y arrojar luz sobre los temas que creemos deben estar en la agenda pública. Estas opiniones son distintas e independientes del trabajo de nuestra sala de redacción y de su cobertura informativa.

El Hospital Comunitario de Watsonville no es solo otra institución en dificultades: es un salvavidas. Y hoy, ese salvavidas se está desgastando de maneras que deberían alarmar a cada residente, legislador y actor del sistema de salud en el condado de Santa Cruz. 

El hospital reportó 137 millones de dólares en ingresos en 2025, aproximadamente 23 millones por debajo de las proyecciones y por debajo de lo que el liderazgo dice que se necesita para mantener operaciones estables. Ahora busca activamente un socio estratégico y está tratando de concretar un acuerdo con un actor importante del sector salud como Sutter Health, el candidato más probable, u otras grandes organizaciones como Kaiser Permanente, UC San Francisco o Stanford. 

Este hecho subraya una realidad simple: en el entorno actual, uno de nuestros dos hospitales locales no puede estabilizarse ni modernizarse por sí solo.

En este contexto, la transparencia importa ahora tanto como el financiamiento. Este hospital es demasiado grande para fracasar y demasiado dependiente del apoyo público para ser opaco. 

Por eso nuestro consejo editorial se sintió decepcionado cuando, durante una reunión, el director ejecutivo del hospital, Steve Gray, rechazó nuestras solicitudes de materiales de auditoría, informes de acreditación y hallazgos de supervisión. Esa falta de divulgación es preocupante, no porque pruebe un problema, sino porque limita la capacidad del público para entender una de las instituciones más importantes de la región en un momento de verdadera vulnerabilidad.

Cuando una institución esencial para el público y respaldada por contribuyentes enfrenta presión existencial, la comunidad merece una visibilidad clara de su salud financiera, su estado regulatorio y su toma de decisiones, no solo garantías de que todo se está manejando bien.

Los riesgos son altos. Debido a que es uno de solo dos hospitales que sirven al condado de Santa Cruz, cualquier interrupción en Watsonville tendría efectos en cadena tanto en el norte como en el sur del condado, alargando aún más los tiempos de respuesta de emergencia, ajustando una capacidad ya limitada y reduciendo el acceso a atención crítica. Un sistema ya frágil sería empujado más cerca del límite.

Estas presiones no son aisladas. Sabemos que los hospitales rurales y aquellos que atienden a poblaciones de bajos ingresos en todo el país sufren por los recortes federales a los reembolsos de Medicaid/Medi-Cal. Para el Hospital de Watsonville, donde aproximadamente el 85% de los pacientes dependen de Medi-Cal, los recortes se traducen en 10 millones de dólares menos al año. Como Gray nos señaló, las tasas de reembolso pueden caer a centavos por dólar para la atención de Medi-Cal.

Los recortes federales no son el único problema en el Hospital de Watsonville. Los desafíos internos —agravados por décadas de negligencia bajo propiedad privada—, incluidos el mantenimiento diferido y la infraestructura envejecida, han aumentado la presión financiera, al igual que las jubilaciones, ahora generacionales, de numerosos médicos. El hospital, nos dijo Gray, actualmente no cuenta con médicos en obstetricia, neurología ni urología. Los pacientes que necesitan esos servicios deben acudir a otros lugares.

Estas carencias —junto con la infraestructura envejecida— significan que el hospital actualmente opera muy por debajo de su capacidad, con aproximadamente 29 de 106 camas ocupadas en promedio. Cuando lo escuchamos por primera vez, fue una cifra impactante, pero la explicación de Gray —y su base en la escasez de especialistas— es comprensible, nuevamente cuando se comparte de manera clara y directa con el público. Toda esa capacidad no utilizada es una ineficiencia que contrasta marcadamente con la saturación del departamento de emergencias en el Hospital Dominican, donde los pacientes reportan dormir en los pasillos porque no pueden conseguir una habitación. 

Esta historia se desarrolla en hospitales rurales de todo el país. 

Y sin embargo, para nosotros, esta no es simplemente una historia de declive. También es una historia de posibilidad. Con la inversión y la asociación adecuadas, creemos que el Hospital Comunitario de Watsonville podría convertirse en un centro regional moderno de servicio completo, capaz de atender a un valle agrícola de rápido crecimiento, de mayoría latina, que durante mucho tiempo ha funcionado como un relegado en el sistema de salud frente al norte del condado. Si se hace bien, podría ayudar a reescribir patrones regionales de atención obsoletos y anclar un sistema de salud más equitativo para el sur del condado.

Ese futuro, sin embargo, depende tanto de la confianza como del capital.

Muchos líderes comunitarios con los que hemos hablado valoran positivamente a Gray y su liderazgo durante un periodo difícil, y nosotros lo hemos encontrado accesible y comprometido. Ese apoyo es real y vale la pena reconocerlo. Pero la confianza en el liderazgo no puede reemplazar la transparencia en la gobernanza.

La historia reciente del hospital ayuda a explicar por qué la urgencia y la cautela coexisten. 

En 2022, el Hospital Comunitario de Watsonville salió de la bancarrota y volvió a la propiedad pública bajo el Distrito de Atención Médica del Valle de Pájaro mediante una combinación extraordinaria de intervención estatal, incluidos los esfuerzos destacados del senador estatal John Laird, organización local, apoyo filantrópico y financiamiento aprobado por los votantes. 

Fue un rescate poco común, pero nacido de la crisis tras años de inestabilidad, estructuras de gestión cambiantes e incertidumbre sobre el control. 

Esa historia hace que el momento actual sea aún más decisivo. El Hospital Comunitario de Watsonville sigue siendo indispensable, pero opera bajo presión financiera sostenida, brechas estructurales en la fuerza laboral y desigualdades sistémicas no resueltas en el financiamiento de la atención médica.

Los líderes locales, estatales y federales deben abordar esas desigualdades y presionar a posibles socios para que den un paso al frente. Y el liderazgo del hospital debe responder al público con una apertura acorde a la magnitud de su responsabilidad.

Porque si este hospital fracasa, las consecuencias no serán abstractas. Se medirán en atención retrasada, acceso reducido y vidas en riesgo.

El Hospital Comunitario de Watsonville es demasiado importante para fracasar. La única pregunta es si la región actuará con la urgencia —y la transparencia— que esa realidad exige.

Esta traducción fue generada utilizando inteligencia artificial y ha sido revisada por un hablante nativo de español; si bien nos esforzamos por lograr precisión, pueden ocurrir algunos errores de traducción. Para leer el artículo en inglés, haga clic aquí.

The post Una Lookout View: El Hospital Comunitario de Watsonville es demasiado importante para fracasar — pero no puede sobrevivir sin transparencia appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

The City of Santa Cruz will host “Touch-A-Truck” on May 20 from noon to 2 p.m. in the parking lot of Day’s Market in Seabright. 

Attendees can climb aboard the heavy machinery, ask questions and learn how all the work gets done.

Touch-A-Truck is part of National Public Works Week, a nationwide recognition of the professionals who support roads, water systems, storm drains, parks and other infrastructure. 

Attendees can also see operators in action during the fourth annual Equipment Road-e-o, a live skills competition that demonstrates the expertise and coordination required to operate heavy equipment safely and efficiently.

Both events, at 526 Seabright Ave. near the corner of Murray Street, are free and open to the public. Registration is not required, and walk-ups are welcome. 

See more information here. 

Have news that should be in Lookout Briefs? Send your news releases, including contact information, to news@lookoutlocal.com.

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This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for its newsletters.

Political persecution, threats of violence and the seizure of sensitive documents might sound like a plot line for a heist or thriller movie. 

For California election officials tasked with enabling participatory democracy, these are now everyday realities — from Riverside County, where Sheriff Chad Bianco seized more than 650,000 ballots from his own county’s registrar of voters, to Shasta County, where threats of violence forced the longtime registrar to retire early.

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The integrity of the state’s voting systems will be under intense scrutiny this year with control of the U.S. House on the line, as Californians could play a decisive role in which party wins the majority. Yet while timely and decisive results are more crucial than ever, California is famous for its ploddingly slow vote count. 

That lengthy wait has increasingly sown distrust in the accuracy of California’s results, especially among Republicans, and particularly in races where a candidate leading on election day falls behind as more ballots are processed in subsequent days. 

“Every day matters,” said Kim Alexander, president of the nonpartisan California Voter Foundation. “Election security is about security in reality and also security in perception, and they’re both equally important.”

During a panel Thursday on election integrity, presented by CalMatters and the University of California Student and Policy Center, Alexander argued that election administrators are boxing themselves into a “false choice” if they sacrifice timeliness in the name of accuracy. When winners aren’t decided for days, sometimes weeks, the ensuing uncertainty leaves room for doubt to take root, speculation to grow and misinformation to spread. 

It took eight days in 2024 for The Associated Press to be able to declare Republicans had won control of the U.S. House, partly because of outstanding votes in California races, Alexander said. Two years earlier, it took nine days. In 2020, it took the AP seven days to determine that Democrats would retain the House, she said. Each time, outcomes in California swing districts played a decisive role.

“We’re creating a window of opportunity for people to make these claims,” Alexander said, referring to largely unfounded claims of systemic voter fraud and election rigging. “We have to acknowledge that.”

Fellow panelists defended California’s meticulousness as crucial to its election integrity. Assemblymember Gail Pellerin, Democratic chair of the Assembly elections committee and former Santa Cruz County registrar of voters, argued that county officials need time to verify voters’ signatures on vote-by-mail envelopes “so people don’t get disenfranchised for penmanship or for failure to sign.”

Assemblymember Gail Pellerin speaks with supporters in August 2023. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

“There’s nothing in law that says, ‘I need to meet your deadline,'” Pellerin said of media outlets and journalists who are eager to call races on election night. “What the law says is that I need to count the votes accurately, securely. I need to check them, and double-check them, and audit them, and then I certify them.”

Matt Barreto, director of the UCLA Voting Rights Center, noted that counties have 30 days post-election to certify their results and submit them to the secretary of state. That process, he said, should be completed as quickly as possible but “not at the expense of the county registrars doing their job effectively to make sure every vote is counted.” 

Catharine Baker, head of the UC Center, emphasized — pointedly to Pellerin — that counties need more money to make sure they’re sufficiently staffed and have the equipment they need to count efficiently. 

They all agreed that voters can do one thing to speed up the count: turn in their mail ballots early so counties can process them before election day.

Large partisan divide over election integrity

California voters are highly polarized in their views on the status of democracy in their state and country, largely along party lines.

A new survey from the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies found a third of Democrats said they are “extremely satisfied” or “very satisfied” with the way democracy works in California, while only 4% of Republicans said they felt that way. Conversely, more than two-thirds of Republicans are not satisfied at all, compared to 10% of Democrats. 

Those results are practically unchanged from voters’ responses in 2024, despite several major political events, including a presidential election that President Donald Trump won, a new presidential administration and a special election in California in which voters adopted more partisan gerrymandered congressional districts. 

“It speaks to the fact that in a lot of ways our democracy is stuck,” said Eric Schickler, a UC Berkeley political science professor and co-director of the institute. “Republicans have one perspective on what’s wrong — they make claims of voter fraud and slow ballot counts,” he said, “and Democrats have another, which is concerns about voter suppression.”

The poll also highlighted the partisan divide over a proposed ballot initiative from Republican Assemblymember Carl DeMaio of San Diego that would require Californians to show photo identification to vote. When asked whether they would support the measure, but without any context about who was for and against it, 56% of survey respondents said they strongly or moderately supported it, while 39% were strongly or moderately opposed. 

But those shifted the more information voters were given. When told that DeMaio was the main proponent of preventing fraud and that Democrats argue the measure is part of Trump’s agenda to keep people of color from voting, the support flipped, with only 39% supporting the measure and 52% opposed. 

Have something to say? Lookout welcomes letters to the editor, within our policies, from readers. Guidelines here.

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A man was taken into custody after a shooting Saturday night near Riverside Drive and Marchant Street.

Just before 7pm, Watsonville Police responded to reports of shots fired at the heavily traveled intersection. They learned the suspect, 49-year-old Sandro Vega, had been seen outside a nearby home in the 100 block of Marchant Street holding a rifle.

Watsonville Police, accompanied by Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s deputies and the California Highway Patrol, surrounded a home on Marchant Street between Riverside Drive and East Front Street as a huge crowd of curious spectators gathered.

After cordoning off the area around the home with yellow crime scene tape, police shut down Riverside Drive, Marchant Street and East Front Street. Using a loudspeaker, police announced repeatedly for the suspect to come out of the home while a drone hovered overhead.

WPD spokeswoman Erika Vazquez said Vega stepped outside the home but stayed in the front yard and refused to follow commands, leading to a standoff with a swarm of armed police and a K9 at the ready. After about 30 minutes, Vega surrendered and was taken into custody. 

Police found this cache of weapons after serving a search warrant on the home on the 100 block of Marchant Street. (contributed, WPD)

After detectives secured a search warrant for the home they found multiple firearms. Vega was booked into the Santa Cruz County Jail on charges including assault with a firearm, brandishing a firearm, and negligent discharge of a firearm.

During his first few days as county supervisor, Felipe Hernandez said he vividly remembers shoveling and making sandbags for residents to help protect their homes from flooding. 

“I felt like I was in the Army again, shoveling so many sandbags,” Hernandez said. “That was my first day. I had water up to my knees on my first day.” 

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Santa Cruz County was beginning to get hit with a series of storms, leading to flooding throughout the area — including Watsonville — and the evacuation of hundreds of residents. 

“I had to be out there with my constituents that had been flooded, and that’s where I spent the majority of my first year [as supervisor],” Hernandez said of 2023. He told Lookout that a major lesson he learned from responding to that emergency was how to be a strong advocate for his community. 

Now, three years later, Hernandez is seeking to defend his District 4 seat, which represents most of the Pajaro Valley, Watsonville and Interlaken. His opponents in the June 2 primary are political newcomers Elias Gonzales and Tony Nuñez. 

Because there are more than two candidates, the Nov. 3 general election will serve as a run-off between the top two vote-getters, unless one candidate wins a majority of the primary vote. 

Hernandez continues to face scrutiny from his constituents as the county continues to develop an ordinance meant to regulate battery storage plants. Some residents are taking issue with Hernandez’s not-so-clear stance on a battery project being proposed by Massachusetts-based developers New Leaf Energy, and for not attending any of the community-led meetings about the proposal. 

Fourth District Supervisor Felipe Hernandez speaks during a January news conference. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

Hernandez told Lookout that had he attended the series of community-organized meetings, he would have been “pushed into making a judgement call” on how he’ll vote on the project. “That’s what they want me there for, not just to listen,” he said. “They want me to make an opinion.” 

Taking a stance on the project before it came before the board of supervisors could exclude him from making a vote, Hernandez said. He wants to ensure that he can take a vote on the 90 Minto Rd. project, if it does end up in the hands of the county, he said. 

It’s unclear if there is a regulation that prohibits local officials from openly taking a stance on a project they could be voting on. In the past, Hernandez has cited the Brown Act as a reason why he could not openly state his stance on the New Leaf project. That piece of legislation – California’s open-meetings law – regulates how government meetings are conducted, however. 

But now that New Leaf has expressed its interest in seeking project approval through the California Energy Commission, Hernandez said he’s “going to be more open” about his thoughts. 

“I’m against the project, especially with [New Leaf] going with the state,” Hernandez said. “It really is a slap in the face after all the work we did with the ordinance.” 

New Leaf previously told Lookout that the company is still exploring whether it will take the state or the county route for approval. Hernandez, on the other hand, said that following a meeting with the state energy commission, the company and county staff in early April, signs are leaning toward the state route. 

District 4 County Supervisor Felipe Hernandez speaking at a board of supervisors meeting. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

Hernandez said he’s concerned that few projects have been denied at the state level. He said he’ll push for the state energy commission to include Santa Cruz County in its decision and use the county’s ordinance (which is currently at a standstill) as reference for safety standards. 

Community members organizing against the New Leaf project believe the state process will be more rigorous and will more readily take the public’s concerns into account. 

A spokesperson for the state energy commission previously told Lookout that local input, which also includes local government agencies, is part of the permitting process. 

Another issue Hernandez has tried to face head-on in his district is the ongoing immigration fears during President Donald Trump’s second administration. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have visited Watsonville at least 23 times since January 2025; nine of those visits occurred within the first two months of 2026. 

Hernandez currently co-leads a subcommittee to help prepare for possible impacts of immigration operations on county residents. He said he’s starting to investigate whether the county can invest more money into legal defense, Last year, the county set aside $100,000 to provide legal services for undocumented residents. 

“It’s important to protect those people. They’re human,” he said. “On top of being human, they provide food for our county and the rest of the United States. How can we turn our backs on them, it’d be inhumane to do that.” 

Hernandez said that he wants to develop “more creative ordinances,” but did not elaborate on what kinds he might propose. Last month, the county adopted an ordinance barring immigration officials from using its facilities for enforcement purposes. 

Should Hernandez be elected to a second term, he said he wants to continue investing in roads and more social services in South County. He credits his eight years on the Watsonville City Council for his constituent advocacy. His goal is to bring more projects into the community, he said.

At Lookout’s candidate forum April 15, Hernandez said the county has invested nearly $800 million in the community during his first term as supervisor. Some of those projects included opening a county office on Westridge Drive in Watsonville, starting repairs to the Pajaro River levee and fixing roads, he said. 

The facility on Westridge Drive was purchased by the county in 2021, according to a report by Santa Cruz Local. The effort to secure federal funding for the Pajaro River levee repairs was primarily led by Hernandez’s former colleague on the board, Zach Friend. 

Hernandez also said he wants to bring more parks into unincorporated areas of South County, which aligns with his vision of bringing more investments into the community. 

“District 4 only has two county parks, and it’s been 63 years since they’ve done [repairs] to Mesa Village Park,” he said. 

He also hopes to develop more spaces for young people in his district. He said it’s one of the things that has always been important to him. 

“Young people need things to do in Watsonville,” Hernandez said. “We have the highest concentration in the county, and there aren’t many things for them to do.”

Have something to say? Lookout welcomes letters to the editor, within our policies, from readers. Guidelines here.

The post District 4 County Supervisor Felipe Hernandez points to track record, experience in office as he makes bid for a second term appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

The proposed monument to women surfers in Pleasure Point is drawing both strong support and familiar resistance. But as a co-creator of Santa Cruz’s iconic “To Honor Surfing” statue, author Brian W. Curtis says he’s seen how meaningful public art can shape community identity. He believes the monument is thoughtfully designed and locally rooted and, since it’s privately funded, he says it won’t cost taxpayers anything. It’s time, he writes, to trust the vision and recognize the women who help define our surf culture.

The post I helped design the male surfer statue – here’s why the female surfer monument deserves to move forward appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

Esta traducción fue generada utilizando inteligencia artificial y ha sido revisada por un hablante nativo de español; si bien nos esforzamos por lograr precisión, pueden ocurrir algunos errores de traducción. Para leer el artículo en inglés, haga clic aquí.

Durante sus primeros días como supervisor del condado, Felipe Hernández recuerda vívidamente haber estado paleando arena y haciendo sacos para ayudar a los residentes a proteger sus hogares de las inundaciones.

“Sentía como si estuviera de nuevo en el Ejército, paleando tantos sacos de arena,” dijo Hernández. “Ese fue mi primer día. Tenía el agua hasta las rodillas en mi primer día.”

El condado de Santa Cruz comenzaba a ser golpeado por una serie de tormentas, lo que provocó inundaciones en todo el condado —incluido Watsonville— y la evacuación de cientos de residentes.

“Tenía que estar ahí con mis electores que habían sido afectados por las inundaciones, y ahí fue donde pasé la mayor parte de mi primer año [como supervisor]”, dijo Hernández. Comentó a Lookout que una de las principales lecciones que aprendió al responder a esa emergencia fue cómo ser un firme defensor de su comunidad.

Ahora, tres años después, Hernández busca defender su puesto en el Distrito 4, que representa la mayor parte del Valle del Pájaro, Watsonville e Interlaken. Sus oponentes en las primarias del 2 de junio son los recién llegados a la política Elías Gonzales y Tony Núñez.

Debido a que hay más de dos candidatos, las elecciones generales del 3 de noviembre servirán como una segunda vuelta entre los dos candidatos con más votos, a menos que uno obtenga la mayoría en las primarias.

Hernández sigue enfrentando el escrutinio de sus electores mientras el condado continúa desarrollando una ordenanza destinada a regular las plantas de almacenamiento de baterías. Algunos residentes cuestionan la postura poco clara de Hernández sobre un proyecto de baterías propuesto por la empresa New Leaf Energy, con sede en Massachusetts, y por no haber asistido a reuniones comunitarias sobre la propuesta.

Hernández dijo a Lookout que si hubiera asistido a esas reuniones organizadas por la comunidad, habría sido “presionado para tomar una decisión” sobre cómo votaría en el proyecto. “Para eso quieren que esté ahí, no solo para escuchar,” dijo Hernández. “Quieren que dé una opinión.”

Adoptar una postura antes de que el proyecto llegue a la junta de supervisores podría impedirle participar en la votación, explicó Hernández. Quiere asegurarse de poder votar sobre el proyecto de 90 Minto Rd. si llega a manos del condado.

Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

No está claro si existe una regulación que prohíba a los funcionarios locales expresar abiertamente su postura sobre proyectos en los que podrían votar. En el pasado, Hernández ha citado la Ley Brown como razón para no declarar su posición sobre el proyecto de New Leaf. Sin embargo, esa legislación —la ley de reuniones abiertas de California— regula cómo se llevan a cabo las reuniones gubernamentales.

Ahora que New Leaf ha expresado su interés en buscar la aprobación del proyecto a través de la Comisión de Energía de California, Hernández dijo que será “más abierto” sobre sus opiniones.

“Estoy en contra del proyecto, especialmente con [New Leaf] optando por el estado,” dijo Hernández. “Realmente es una falta de respeto después de todo el trabajo que hicimos con la ordenanza.”

Anteriormente, New Leaf dijo a Lookout que la empresa aún evalúa si buscará la aprobación a nivel estatal o del condado. Hernández, por su parte, indicó que tras una reunión a principios de abril con la comisión estatal, la empresa y personal del condado, todo apunta hacia la vía estatal.

Hernández expresó su preocupación de que pocos proyectos han sido rechazados a nivel estatal. Dijo que impulsará que la comisión estatal incluya al condado en su decisión y utilice la ordenanza del condado (actualmente estancada) como referencia para estándares de seguridad.

Miembros de la comunidad que se oponen al proyecto de New Leaf creen que el proceso estatal será más riguroso y considerará mejor las preocupaciones del público.

Un portavoz de la comisión estatal indicó previamente a Lookout que la participación local forma parte del proceso de permisos, que también incluye a agencias gubernamentales locales.

Otro tema que Hernández ha enfrentado en su distrito es el temor relacionado con la inmigración durante una segunda administración de Trump. Agentes del Servicio de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas (ICE) han visitado Watsonville al menos 23 veces desde enero de 2025; nueve de esas visitas ocurrieron en los primeros dos meses de 2026.

Hernández actualmente codirige un subcomité para prepararse ante posibles impactos de operativos migratorios en los residentes del condado. Dijo que está explorando si el condado puede invertir más en defensa legal. El año pasado, el condado destinó $100,000 para servicios legales para residentes indocumentados.

“Es importante proteger a esas personas. Son seres humanos,” dijo Hernández. “Además de ser humanos, proveen alimentos para nuestro condado y el resto de Estados Unidos. ¿Cómo podemos darles la espalda? Sería inhumano hacerlo.”

Hernández dijo que quiere desarrollar “ordenanzas más creativas”, aunque no detalló cuáles propondría. El mes pasado, el condado aprobó una ordenanza que prohíbe a funcionarios de inmigración usar sus instalaciones para fines de control migratorio.

Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

Si es elegido para un segundo mandato, Hernández dijo que quiere continuar invirtiendo en carreteras y más servicios sociales en el sur del condado. Atribuye sus ocho años en el Concejo Municipal de Watsonville a su defensa de los electores. Su objetivo es traer más proyectos a la comunidad, afirmó.

En un foro de candidatos de Lookout la semana pasada, Hernández dijo que el condado ha invertido casi 800 millones de dólares en la comunidad durante su primer mandato como supervisor. Algunos de esos proyectos incluyen la apertura de una oficina del condado en Westridge Drive en Watsonville, el inicio de reparaciones del dique del río Pájaro y la mejora de carreteras.

La instalación del condado en Westridge Drive fue adquirida en 2021, según un informe de Santa Cruz Local. El esfuerzo para asegurar fondos federales para las reparaciones del dique del río Pájaro fue liderado principalmente por el excolega de Hernández en la junta, Zach Friend.

Hernández también dijo que quiere impulsar más parques en áreas no incorporadas del sur del condado, lo que coincide con su visión de aumentar las inversiones en la comunidad.

“El Distrito 4 solo tiene dos parques del condado, y han pasado 63 años desde que se hicieron [reparaciones] en Mesa Village Park,” Hernández dijo.

También espera desarrollar más espacios para jóvenes en su distrito, algo que considera siempre importante.

“Los jóvenes necesitan cosas que hacer en Watsonville,” dijo Hernández. “Tenemos la mayor concentración en el condado, y no hay muchas opciones para ellos.”

The post El supervisor del condado del Distrito 4, Felipe Hernández, destaca su trayectoria y experiencia en el servicio público al buscar un segundo mandato appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

A rogue wave hits from behind on the Santa Cruz coast—turning a casual hike into a brutal lesson. A vivid reminder: the ocean is never as calm as it seems.

The Neptune Apartments on Pacific Avenue could become an eight-story apartment building. (Amaya Edwards — Santa Cruz Local/CatchLight Local)

SANTA CRUZ >> Tenants of the Neptune Apartments in Downtown Santa Cruz could soon be the first residents displaced by the upzoning of the area. The six renters have until July 27 to leave their homes and make way for a new eight-story apartment building approved by the Santa Cruz Planning Commission this month. 

“I’m super anxious because I’m old and my ability to earn more than what I’m making right now does not exist,” said Laurie Dodt, who has lived at the apartments at 407 Pacific Ave. for four years and works as a caregiver for seniors. “I don’t want to be homeless.”

Dodt, who was born in Santa Cruz and has lived here ever since, said she often thinks about the possibility of becoming homeless.

“I could be in a tent and it’s sad. It’s scary and it’s sad,” she said. “I don’t live there — in fear — but that’s the reality.”

Laurie Dodt poses for a portrait near her home at Neptune Apartments. She said she’s four years from qualifying for senior housing and expects to be offered three years of relocation assistance. (Amaya Edwards — Santa Cruz Local/CatchLight Local)

The proposed 102-unit building from San Diego-based developer CRP Affordable Housing & Development will include all below-market-rate units and will satisfy the affordability requirements for a separate developer to build 245 market-rate apartments down the street at 201 Front St.

City rules allow the required below-market-rate units of a project to be built in a separate building. The rules also allow developers to bank any additional units beyond the required number to offset future developments’ affordability requirements.

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“It’s nice that they build affordable housing, but then I find out they can use this building, because it’s [eight] stories, against other buildings which then can now be totally luxury apartments,” said Leonard Ross, who has lived at Neptune Apartments since 2020. “That kind of rubs me the wrong way.”

Ross said he and the other tenants are waiting to see how much relocation assistance they will be offered, and if it will be enough to stay in Santa Cruz, where last year rents were ranked as the most expensive in the U.S. by the Low Income Housing Coalition for the third year in a row. 

Leonard Ross stands in front of his home. ‘It’s an old building, but it has that certain kind of style to it,’ he says of Neptune Apartments. (Amaya Edwards — Santa Cruz Local/CatchLight Local)

Paul Yale, who has lived at Neptune Apartments for more than 20 years, implored the Santa Cruz Planning Commission to not let the project, and the razing of his home, go through.

“By demolishing it, you’d pretty much be kicking me out of town,” Yale said to commissioners at the April 16 meeting. Planning commissioners approved the project unanimously, in what was essentially a formality. State housing law strips local authority to change or deny most housing proposals.

In an interview with Santa Cruz Local, Yale said he’s lived in Santa Cruz since he was a child and doesn’t know if he’ll be able to stay after he loses his home in July.

“I don’t have a credit rating because I’ve been renting for the last 20 years month-to-month,” he said, adding that he pays $1,200 for the two-bedroom apartment. “Rates for finding a new place to live are ridiculously higher than what I’m paying right now.” He said if he ends up in a studio costing $2,000, the rent would be more than half his monthly income.

The developer informed residents last year that the property would be redeveloped, Yale said, and some tenants have since left.

City rules require developers to hire an independent company to facilitate relocation of tenants and Long Beach-based real estate consulting firm Overland, Pacific & Cutler, Inc. was hired for the Neptune tenants. 

In a 180-day notice to vacate dated Jan. 26 and shared with Santa Cruz Local, the company advised residents to wait until a 90-day notice is given before signing a lease or moving out. Otherwise, they may not be eligible for relocation assistance.

Paul Yale says ‘it felt terrible to be right’ when he finally got the notice he was expecting, informing tenants the building would be redeveloped. (Amaya Edwards — Santa Cruz Local/CatchLight Local)

Yale said that makes the situation more stressful, as finding adequate housing in Santa Cruz can be a lengthy and challenging ordeal.

Tenants will be guaranteed a spot in the new housing once it finishes construction, but rents for the below-market-rate apartments could be double, or even higher than what they pay at Neptune. 

The expected displacement of the tenants comes just under a year after the city council approved upzoning the neighborhood. City leaders dubbed the area “SoLa” or “South of Laurel” in the process of rezoning to allow buildings up to 85 feet. 

“I’ve seen the downtown plan, and there was a gray box over where I live,” Yale said, referring to the map of which blocks were to be upzoned.

Though the loss of the Neptune Apartments is a relatively small number of affordable homes compared to the 102 units set to replace them, it will serve as an important case that puts the city’s anti-displacement policies to the test. 

How many of the residents land on their feet, or are forced to leave town in search of affordable rents, remains to be seen.

Anticipated rents in a proposed eight-story, below-market-rent apartment building have not yet been published. (CRP Affordable Housing & Community Development)

Questions or comments? Email info@santacruzlocal.org. Santa Cruz Local is supported by members, major donors, sponsors and grants for the general support of our newsroom. Our news judgments are made independently and not on the basis of donor support. Learn more about Santa Cruz Local and how we are funded.

Learn about membership Santa Cruz Local’s news is free. We believe that high-quality local news is crucial to democracy. We depend on locals like you to make a meaningful contribution so everyone can access our news. Learn about membership

The post Six tenants set to be displaced by new affordable housing in Downtown Santa Cruz appeared first on Santa Cruz Local.

The June primary election includes races for Santa Cruz Mayor, Santa Cruz City Council and Santa Cruz County Supervisor. (Amaya Edwards — Santa Cruz Local/CatchLight Local file)

SANTA CRUZ >> Those vying for a local political seat in the June 2 primary had their first campaign finance disclosure deadline Thursday, giving a first look at candidates’ coffers. 

There are competitive races for Santa Cruz Mayor, Santa Cruz City Council Districts 4 and 6, and Santa Cruz County Supervisor District 4 on the June primary ballot. Other races, including Watsonville City Council, will only be on the November general election ballot.

If a candidate receives more than 50% of the vote in June, they are elected outright. If no candidate in a race reaches 50% approval in June, the top two vote-getters will face off in November.

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Among the five candidates running for Santa Cruz city’s four-year mayoral seat, longtime Santa Cruz politico Ryan Coonerty is leading with $55,115 raised, including a $5,000 loan. As a former city councilmember and county supervisor, Coonerty’s campaign has seen much fanfare since his entrance into the race, receiving endorsements from every sitting Santa Cruz City Councilmember.

Some have supported his campaign, including $450 from Councilmember Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson’s 2024 election committee, as well as individual donations from Santa Cruz Mayor Fred Keeley and Councilmember Renee Golder, both also for $450. He’s received support from more than 200 individual donors.

Coonerty has spent about $21,116, leaving him with $33,998 on hand.

Former city councilmember Chris Krohn is trailing Coonerty with $10,652 raised, including a $5,000 loan. He’s spent $3,403, leaving him with $7,248 on hand. Krohn was recalled in 2020 over allegations of bullying and opposition to his homeless policies. 

Environmental activist Gillian Greensite has raised $8,189 including a $3,500 loan, and Get the Flock Out co-founder Ami Chen Mills has raised $8,382 with a $1,718 loan. Santa Cruz Cares and Sanitation for the People co-founder Joy Schendledecker has raised $2,650 and has not taken out a loan. 

Of the five Santa Cruz Mayor candidates, every one except Coonerty signed a voluntary campaign expenditure limit agreement. It limits campaign spending to roughly $40,000.

Santa Cruz County Supervisor district 4

At the county level, incumbent District 4 Supervisor Felipe Hernandez faces challenges from Pajaro Valley Health Care District board chair Tony Nuñez and Youth Alliance associate director of movement building Elias Gonzales.

Despite filing for reelection and signaling his intent to run, Hernandez did not file campaign finance forms as of Friday.

Nuñez has raised $20,023 without loans, and has about $8,134 remaining on hand. He holds a substantial financial lead over Gonzales, who has raised $7,878 with a $2,000 loan and has spent about $4,567.

District 3 Supervisor Justin Cummings is running for reelection with no opponent. He has raised $4,303.

Santa Cruz City Council

There are two Santa Cruz City Council seats on the June ballot — District 4, where incumbent Scott Newsome is running against local paraeducator Hector Marin, and District 6, where incumbent Renee Golder is running against UC Santa Cruz student Gabriella Noack. 

Both challengers did not file campaign finance forms as of Friday. Newsome has raised $7,738 in the race with a $2,000 loan, and Golder has $11,659 raised without loans. 

Questions or comments? Email info@santacruzlocal.org. Santa Cruz Local is supported by members, major donors, sponsors and grants for the general support of our newsroom. Our news judgments are made independently and not on the basis of donor support. Learn more about Santa Cruz Local and how we are funded.

Learn about membership Santa Cruz Local’s news is free. We believe that high-quality local news is crucial to democracy. We depend on locals like you to make a meaningful contribution so everyone can access our news. Learn about membership

The post Ryan Coonerty holds early fundraising lead in Santa Cruz Mayor’s race appeared first on Santa Cruz Local.

An unpermitted home at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in Soquel. (Amaya Edwards — Santa Cruz Local/CatchLight Local)

SANTA CRUZ >> A new housing project using renewable construction materials will feature six tiny homes for formerly homeless residents at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in Soquel.  

People First of Santa Cruz County and Just Places are partnering with the church to construct New Creation Village. Just Places is a fiscally sponsored project of People First, a local nonprofit, and describes its mission as combating homelessness and climate change by building housing with natural materials.

Just Places will develop the project, People First will act as a service provider and Mt. Calvary owns the land. Other partners and supporters are involved as well. 

People transitioning out of homelessness have been living on the church’s lot in unpermitted structures built by volunteers in 2022. Evan Morrison, executive director of People First, became aware of Mt. Calvary’s unpermitted structures several years ago and said he’s been searching for more sustainable solutions. Funding for the new project is the main focus right now, he said.

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Evan Morrison, founder and executive director of People First, works in his office in Santa Cruz on April 16. (Amaya Edwards — Santa Cruz Local/CatchLight Local)

“If the funding comes together, it’s likely we’ll start building in May of next year,” Morrison said. 

During the first of two phases of construction, six tiny homes would be built. The homes would primarily be made of strawbale and natural plaster, with solar to power the homes, and are expected to last up to 100 years. The second phase of development includes constructing up to 10 apartment units on the church property using the same sustainable building methods and will include in-unit bathrooms and kitchenettes. 

The goal is to make some of the units available to those with Section 8 housing vouchers.

Kita Glass, natural builder, general contractor and owner at Buckeye Natural Builders, is one of the many partners on the project. He poses for a portrait in Santa Cruz on April 16. (Amaya Edwards — Santa Cruz Local/CatchLight Local)

Kita Glass, owner and contractor at Buckeye Natural Builders in Santa Cruz, is on the Just Places leadership team. He said when the time comes, he will be a contractor on the New Creation Village project. 

“They have four cabins there that need to get replaced, and so we want to replace them with strawbale cabins that are fully contained tiny houses,” Glass said.

Strawbale also absorbs carbon dioxide from the air, which will then be stored within the building itself, Glass said.

“It’s a really easy way to store carbon, take it out of the air and put it in the building,” he said.

Pastor Stan Abraham, of Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, poses for a portrait in Soquel on April 20. (Amaya Edwards — Santa Cruz Local/CatchLight Local)

There are currently six residents living in the unpermitted structures on the church property. 

Stan Abraham is the pastor at Mt. Calvary and said the church has welcomed unhoused residents to live on the 5-acre property for more than two decades. The arrangement has been a mutually positive one for both the church and unhoused people, he said, with the people living there seeing it as their home and some of the tenants being part of the congregation.

“It provides an atmosphere for them to have a resource of either counseling or spiritual care here,” Abraham said.

He said much of the congregation is made up of environmentally conscious members, and Just Place’s use of ecologically sound materials became of interest to them and gained internal support.

“We know from our congregation’s experience that providing safe and stable housing for those who so desperately need it makes a huge difference in their lives,” Abraham said of the project in a speech at a fundraiser on April 19.

To learn more about New Creation Village and register to volunteer visit Just Places.

Four unpermitted homes at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church could be replaced by permitted tiny houses built with sustainable materials. (Amaya Edwards — Santa Cruz Local/CatchLight Local)

Questions or comments? Email info@santacruzlocal.org. Santa Cruz Local is supported by members, major donors, sponsors and grants for the general support of our newsroom. Our news judgments are made independently and not on the basis of donor support. Learn more about Santa Cruz Local and how we are funded.

Learn about membership Santa Cruz Local’s news is free. We believe that high-quality local news is crucial to democracy. We depend on locals like you to make a meaningful contribution so everyone can access our news. Learn about membership

The post Local groups collaborating to build sustainable tiny homes for unhoused people appeared first on Santa Cruz Local.

Acid King, the long-running sludge-metal force led by Lori S, plays a rare afternoon set at Moe’s Alley on April 26, joined by Santa Cruz heavyweights Mammatus.

Keeping our eye on the Clock

My father, an Air Force fighter pilot, and our family, were stationed in Yokohama Japan in 1947 as part of the post-World War II occupation force. Fortunately, I was too young to understand the magnitude of the complete obliteration of the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the vaporization of their 170,000 residents.
Albert Einstein, Robert Oppenheimer, and other creators of these first atomic bombs, horrified at what they had created, and realizing the potential of nuclear weapons to end humanity, created The Doomsday Clock, which is maintained by The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists today and assesses how close civilization is to the apocalypse. In 1947 it was set at seven minutes to midnight and it has risen to 17 minutes to midnight in 1991 (due to Strategic Arms ReductionTreaties [START] around the world), but the clock has been ticking down since then, and in 2017 it shifted the scale from minutes to seconds.
Two months ago, The Bulletin reset the clock to 85 seconds to midnight—the closest we have ever been to annihilation of life on Earth. Several of the reasons it was reset are: The expiration of the nuclear START treaties between the US and Russia, and aggressive geopolitics by Russia, China, and the USA.
About two weeks ago, our president, referring to Iran, said,
“A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will.”
Those are the facts.
Please review the unspeakable horror of Nagasaki and Hiroshima and take whatever political action you can at bit.ly/4cZVrl0

Don Eggleston

Aptos

•••

Getting rest critically important

A couple of years back, I was involved in a car accident after falling asleep while driving. It’s something I never imagined would happen to me. One moment I was on the road, and the next I woke up to the sound of impact. It was terrifying, and it forced me to confront how dangerous exhaustion can be.

I’m sharing this because I don’t want anyone else to learn this lesson the hard way. We often push ourselves, long hours at work, stress, meltaly drained, and we convince ourselves we’re fine to drive. I thought the same thing. I was wrong.

I’m grateful to be here today, and that gratitude is exactly why I want to raise awareness. If my story encourages even one person to pull over, rest, or ask for help instead of pushing through fatigue, then speaking up is worth it.

Please take care of yourselves and each other. No destination is worth risking your life.

Manuel Gomez

Watsonville

•••

Support for Tony Nuñez

I first met Tony Nunez when he was a Sports Journalist for our local newspaper. I then saw him become the Editor of the newspaper. He left and became a Spokesperson for a nonprofit that gives great services to those in our County. And during that time he was elected to the new Pajaro Valley Health Care District Board.

He is currently the Chair of the Board. As a former city councilmember and Mayor I have observed Tony develop the skills, knowledge and experience needed to be a successful Supervisor for District 4.

As a journalist and editor of our newspaper Tony needed to learn to ask insightful questions and become an active listener to build trust and rapport with those being interviewed so their information would be authentic. He learned to deliver accurate and impactful journalism.

As Supervisor Tony will continue to ask those “why?” questions, be transparent and connect with our District members.

As a Spokesperson Tony has learned to remain calm in handling difficult questions in crisis situations. He has learned to connect with the community members with clear communication and relatability. As a Supervisor Tony will not offer opinion but instead be prepared for challenging questions with genuine information.

As a member of the Pajaro Valley Health Care District Board and now as Chair Tony helped bring the Watsonville Hospital into community ownership. This included leading the largest fundraising effort in the County. It meant winning support for Measure N to fund long overdue improvements to the hospital. 

For the future Tony intends for the hospital to offer the best healthcare available to our community and stay under local control. As a Supervisor Tony will continue to be a leader for our Watsonville/Pajaro Valley community.

Tony advocates the expansion of health care, housing for working families, safer roads and streets, more parks and open spaces, good jobs and small businesses, child care and support for schools, and services that help seniors age with dignity. As I have illustrated he has developed the skills, knowledge and experience to make these challenges happen. Please volunteer, donate, and/or vote for Tony Nunez, Supervisor District 4.

Rebecca García

Watsonville

International Worker’s Day

The Monterey Bay Central Labor Council will hold its annual Labor Day Picnic May 1 on International Worker’s Day, also known in many countries as Labor Day.

With a theme of “Honor Working People” the day starts with a 1pm car caravan that stops at the Target Store on Main Street in Watsonville in the Overlook Center. A protest is scheduled there from 2- 3pm followed by a march from Target to Romo Park in downtown Watsonville. 

At 4pm a rally and escuelita (little school) is set for Romo Park on Main Street. Topics to be addressed at the rally include “Tax billionaires and corporations,” Fund healthcare and education,” and “Not war and deportation.”

The event is co-sponsored  by Santa Cruz Immigration Coalition and Indivisible.

•••

Reel Work Festival

Also, in line with Labor Day and labor issues, the 25th Annual Reel Work Festival takes place from Apr. 22 to May 16. A few of the films featured include:

“A Hobo in the Great Depression – Hard time history of the US in 1932,” Apr. 26, 5pm.

“Baristas vs Billionaires,” Apr. 29, 7pm.

“The Mamdani Effect – Socialism delivers in NYC,” May 1, 7 pm.

“Iron Ladies – Women confront Thatcher in UK mine closures,” May 2, 7pm.

“Built on Hope – International short films on labor rights,” May 3, 5pm.

“Big Scary ‘S’ Word – Socialism is as American as apple pie,” May 6, 7pm.

For information, visit reelwork.org/schedule.htm.

•••

Spring Mariachi Festival 

Cabrillo College will host its Spring Mariachi Festival featuring six local Mariachi ensembles, this Sunday April 26 at 3pm at Cabrillo’s Crocker Theater on the Aptos Campus, 6500 Soquel Drive. 

Performances will be by Cabrillo Mariachi, UC Santa Cruz’s Mariachi Eterno, Mariachi Monarca, Mariachi Alma de Mexico, Mariachi El Sistema de Juveníl, and Mariachi Libertad.

The community is invited to the 3pm event. For tickets and information, visit  bit.ly/4mHscGQ

•••

Public invited to local bike ride

Anyone interested in bicycling is invited to the Watsonville Community Bike Ride Sunday. Headed up by Supervisor Felipe Hernandez and Watsonville Mayor Kristal Salcido, the ride will follow the Ohlone Loop Trail. 

People can learn about bike safety as well as take part in a fun raffle that features bike gear giveaways. Free burritos and refreshments will be provided for all riders and bikes will be available for loan for those without bikes.

The ride starts at 11am at 150 Westridge Dr. off of Ohlone Parkway. For information, visit bikesantacruzcounty.org/events.

•••

Cinco de Mayo Festival 

The annual Cinco De Mayo Festival will unfold in downtown Watsonville on May 3 at Watsonville Plaza from 11:30am-5pm.

Includes live music, dance performances, food booths, arts and crafts and information tables.

Editor’s note: This the second part of a two-part series on travel writer Tarmo Hannula’s recent trip to Paso Robles. To see part 1, click here.

On a recent overnight road trip to Atascadero, after exploring the innards of the Salinas Valley, my wife Sarah and I checked into the historic Carlton Hotel in the downtown Atascadero.

Much like nearby Paso Robles, we noticed the downtown area was festooned with wine bars, tasting rooms, microbreweries, wineries, beer gardens and the like. Then add a bunch of cafes, coffee houses and ice cream shops.

An early model Cadillac that is dressed up like a car in the movie, “Ghost Busters,” is shown in Atascadero.(Tarmo Hannula/The Pajaronian)

Our big night out, by plan, was a dinner in Paso Robles with our longtime friends Brett and Lucia, who live there. They suggested Catch Seafood Bar and Grill, 836 West 11th St. We met them and were lucky to squeeze in for a fine dinner.

The area was abuzz with life and the Downtown City Park across the street was charged with people milling about. 

After dinner we walked around the town and wandered into a large art gallery—Studios on the Park—dedicated to scores of artists who stacked the place with everything from neon lighted art to photos, paintings, ceramics, weavings, quilts and on and on. 

Downtown Atascadero features buildings old and new. (Tarmo Hannula/The Pajaronian)

Our night at The Carlton proved to be a quiet and comfortable spot with ample parking right outside on surrounding streets.

The following morning started at JonnyBoy’s Bagelry & Jewish Delicatessen for bagels and lox, a short walk from The Carlton. We wandered past the Historic Atascadero City Hall which was completed in 1918 before catching Hwy 101 north.

Our drive back to Watsonville took us through endless vineyards, rolling farms and vast stretches of dramatic green pastures and hills punctuated with oak and eucalyptus trees.

On many of our road trips up and down California, we’ve made efforts to visit most of the 21 California Missions. On this trip we stopped by the missions at San Miguel, built in 1797, Mission San Antonio de Padua (1771) and Mission Nuestra Senora de la Soledad (1791).

Just south of San Ardo, we went west off of Hwy 101 on Jolon Road to Mission Road past Fort Hunter Liggett to the majestic San Antonio de Padua. Adding to the drama were the snow-dusted Santa Lucia Mountains as a backdrop. The historic displays inside the building, the chapel, the outdoor “kitchen” and remains of crumbling outbuildings painted a rich picture of life 255 years ago. 

Years ago we stayed at a hotel, The Hacienda, on the grounds of Fort Hunter Liggett. Our room was called The Cowboy Room. There was even a bowling alley nearby and a restaurant. Now, on this trip, when we approached the fort, we were met by two soldiers armed with assault rifles at the sentry booth. Their tone was serious and plainly unwelcoming. So, of course, we left.

Again, taking as many backroads as possible, we passed King City and Greenfield and got on San Ardo Road to the mission at Soledad. The cactus, the tile roof, aged walls, surrounding flowers and wild birds put a colorful cap on our short journey.

The Elkhorn Slough Foundation (ESF) Board of Directors announced Tuesday the hiring of Taylor Honrath as its next Executive Director. 

“We are pleased to welcome Taylor to this new role,” said Board President Susan Matcham. “He has been an outstanding Deputy Director, and we’re confident that he will excel as Executive Director.”

Taylor Honrath

Honrath has guided ESF’s fundraising efforts for the past seven years, including the recently completed Elkhorn Forever conservation campaign, which raised more than $13 million

for land acquisition and habitat restoration in the Elkhorn Slough watershed, said ESF spokesman Ross Robertson.

“I’m honored to be selected by the Board to lead the organization at such a pivotal moment in its history,” Honrath said. “I’m excited to work with my colleagues at ESF and our partners at the Elkhorn Slough Reserve to increase the scope and visibility of our conservation efforts.”

He succeeds ESF’s long-serving founding Executive Director, Mark Silberstein, who is transitioning into an advisory role.

Prior to joining ESF, Honrath worked in nonprofit management and fundraising, led legislative advocacy for renewable energy policy in California, and worked on a variety of state and national political campaigns.ESF is a community-supported nonprofit land trust whose mission is to conserve and restore Elkhorn Slough and its watershed. ESF protects more than 4,200 acres of rare habitat, including oak woodlands, coastal prairie, maritime chaparral, and wetlands. For information, visit elkhornslough.org.