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Ami Chen Mills has been busy. Many Santa Cruz County residents might know her because of her community activism, which has recently been focused on keeping automated license plate readers (ALPRs) out of the community through her work with Get The Flock Out, which opposes the cameras and their vendor, Flock Safety. But she’s also a lecturer at UC Santa Cruz, where she teaches a class on resiliency; a writer; and host of the podcast “Moment of Truth with Ami Chen Mills,” although that program is currently on hiatus.

Chen Mills, having run for District 3 county supervisor in 2022, ultimately losing to current Santa Cruz City Councilmember Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson and current District 3 County Supervisor Justin Cummings, said she returned to electoral politics to run for Santa Cruz mayor because she felt that opponent Ryan Coonerty had been essentially appointed by the local political establishment. She said she isn’t pleased with his approval of ALPRs, nor with his adviser role for San Jose mayor and gubernatorial candidate Matt Mahan, who has received hefty donations from tech moguls.

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“I understand the connection between the feds [and ALPRs] and what they’re trying to do,” Chen Mills said. “We don’t need to be helping the feds right now, and in general, there are constitutional issues under any administration with this kind of technology.”

While Chen Mills has worked as an activist within the community, she said she doesn’t see herself solely as that. She’s also an elected member of the Democratic Central Committee and a nonprofit director, having co-founded the Center for Sustainable Change. For her, roles are temporary, and can be changed.

“If we had people elected who were already connecting the dots, and were more progressive than what most of these councilmembers appear to be, I think we wouldn’t have to have so much activism. We do have some councilmembers who are just phoning it in,” she said. “I’m not attached to roles and I’m not attached to ideologies. I think that ideologies can get in our way.”

That point is perhaps the overarching theme of Chen Mills’ bid for mayor – trying to get more people engaged in local politics. She envisions more town halls, and opportunities for the public to meet face-to-face with her and ask questions about the city council’s agenda on the Monday prior to meetings. She said that’s where her experience in journalism can come in handy, as she feels confident that she can explain complicated concepts to the public. She wants to make the meetings fun, too, perhaps including music. Chen Mills plays the ukulele, after all. 

“I want to have a jam, and the reason is I want us to be able to come together as a community, regardless of where we sit on the political spectrum, and have some rapport,” she said, adding she’d also want to introduce town halls in each city council district as often as every month. 

Chen Mills acknowledged the area’s housing crisis and said the city does need to build more, but thinks the conversation about housing could use more nuance. 

Ami Chen Mills serenades the crowd with “What’s Up?” by 4 Non Blondes at a January anti-ICE protest at the Hilton in Scotts Valley. Credit: Cecilia Schutz / Lookout Santa Cruz

She believes YIMBY (yes in my backyard) is too much of a single-issue movement, while the NIMBY (not in my backyard) perspective comes off as “unkind” when opposing development in general, even though she does believe people should have a say in construction proposed in their neighborhoods. She said Santa Cruz has to balance growth with available resources, such as water, and suggests an effort to study how many more people the city and university can bring in while maintaining that balance. She said if she had to cut housing out of the plans, the cuts would come from market-rate units.

“We cannot ignore the environment, the water issue and what the community wants just to build market-rate housing for people who don’t actually live here,” she said.

Chen Mills also wants to explore paths to homeownership. That could involve converting old buildings to condominiums, something City Councilmember Renee Golder floated during a Democratic Central Committee candidate forum in March. Chen Mills says she would also look for ways to incentivize subdividing parcels, allowing more building on those subdivided lots.

A vocal opponent of Flock Safety and the use of automated license plate readers, Chen Mills envisions going further than the city already has with the cancellation of its contract with Flock. She said she would support something like a data-broker ban or other restrictions to keep residents’ private information safe. She also expressed interest in an ordinance requiring local businesses to accept cash as well as cards, both to serve people without card payment options and to allow for more private purchases, particularly in places like parking lots, where personal and vehicle information can be exposed.

Chen Mills said that to address the issue of homelessness, she would want to have more conversations and collaboration with members of the unhoused community. The dearth of services for unhoused people following the closures of the Mental Health Client Action Network, the Downtown Streets Team and Housing Matters’ day services concerns her, she said. She believes the programs need to return in some capacity. She said she’d like to see the services somewhere near downtown, but acknowledges that finding the right site would be a big hurdle.

“What downtown business owners need to understand is you can’t just lock people up for no reason. If they’re going to commit crimes, then we can put them into the justice system, but they need rehab in there, too,” she said. “We need to come up with a solution together and take some risks. If we don’t want people to hang out on the streets downtown, we need a place for them to hang out.”

Chen Mills wants to be a devoted official, with a focus on community-building and transparency with her constituents. That won’t make her any less busy, but should she win the Santa Cruz mayoral seat, she still wants to keep writing and teaching her UCSC class, which is one quarter each year. 

“One of the big things that people say is that before authoritarianism came to their country, they wished they had built community,” she said.

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The post Ami Chen Mills envisions a mayorship with more community conversations, leading to more people engaged in politics appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

The Santa Cruz Office of the Public Defender is joining a statewide protest Thursday calling for dedicated state funding. Citing workload studies and funding disparities with other agencies, Chief Public Defender Heather Rogers said systemic changes are needed to prevent burnout.

The post Santa Cruz County public defenders join statewide protest demanding more funding, lighter workloads appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s plan to cut Medi-Cal dental benefits risks repeating California’s costly 2009 mistake, when preventable issues turned into medical emergencies, writes Laura Marcus, CEO of Dientes Community Dental Care. Marcus argues that the proposed budget savings would actually shift higher costs onto hospitals and vulnerable communities. Expanded dental coverage has improved health outcomes and access to care for thousands, she writes, but that progress is now at risk. She says lawmakers face a clear choice: protect preventive care or pay more later for crisis-driven treatment. The vote will happen by June 15.

The post We can’t afford to repeat the mistakes of 2009: California must protect Medi-Cal dental benefits appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

A televised debate among six leading candidates for California governor Wednesday underscored sharp partisan divides on issues from homelessness to taxes, while the Democrats sought to distinguish themselves from each other in a chaotic race with no clear leader.

It’s the first time in a generation that California has a wide-open contest for the heavily Democratic state’s highest office, with more than 50 names on the ballot. Mail ballots are scheduled to go to voters early next month in advance of the June 2 primary election.

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It was mostly a mannerly exchange. There were few instances of candidates talking over or interrupting each other, indicating they were eager to make a positive impression with voters who might be seeing them for the first time.

The debate brought together the two leading Republicans, conservative commentator Steve Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, and four Democrats – former U.S. Rep. Katie Porter, billionaire Tom Steyer, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan and former Biden administration Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra.

Over 90 minutes, candidates fielded questions on housing and wildfire insurance, social media and gas taxes, while bickering over professional experience, individual wealth and the direction of the nation’s most populous state. Democrats made clear they would fight President Donald Trump in a state known as the home of the so-called Trump resistance, while Republicans said ruling Democrats are to blame for the state’s woes.

“Donald Trump is trying to punish California every way he can,” Steyer said.

Homeless policy displays sharp partisan divide

California has more people living on the street than any other state and Democrats generally credited outgoing Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom for his efforts to deal with the long-running crisis. But Republicans said the state has spent billions of taxpayer dollars with little evidence of progress.

California gubernatorial candidate Chad Bianco speaks after Wednesday’s debate in San Francisco. Credit: Godofredo A. Vásquez / Associated Press

“Everything has taken us in the wrong direction,” Hilton said.

Bianco called the state’s record on homelessness a “dismal failure.”

Social media use for kids at issue

Candidates were asked if the state should ban social media use for children under 16 years old, and their answers didn’t fall neatly on party lines.

Steyer and Becerra said they support such a ban. Hilton said there should be a social norm to keep smartphones away from children under 16. Porter said she doesn’t support a ban at that age but might support a different age ban, noting that two of her teenage children use social media in different ways. Bianco and Mahan said it should be left to parents, with Mahan saying he supports parental consent for kids under 16 and that cellphones should be banned in schools.

There also were some sharp exchanges and candidates sought to distinguish themselves from rivals.

A billionaire faces questions

References to Steyer’s wealth and previous business dealings came up repeatedly.

“The only housing Tom Steyer’s built has been private prisons and ICE detention centers,” Mahan said, echoing criticism that Steyer, a hedge fund founder turned liberal activist, invested in private prisons that today house people picked up in federal immigration raids.

Tom Steyer (center left) and Katie Porter, candidates in California’s gubernatorial race, shake hands during Wednesday’s debate in San Francisco. Credit: Jason Henry / pool photo via Associated Press

Steyer responded that he and his wife have financed thousands of low-income housing units.

Steyer has been vastly outspending his rivals in advertising and was asked about being the only billionaire in the race. He noted major corporations including utility companies are spending millions against him.

“I’m the billionaire who wants to tax other billionaires,” Steyer added. “I’m the billionaire who’s taking on the electric monopoly and trying to break up their power. I’m the billionaire who wants to tax the oil companies and make polluters pay.”

California’s unique primary rules fuel uncertainty

The candidates were all on stage together because California puts all candidates on the same ballot regardless of party, and the two with the most votes go to the November general election. Democrats have been fretting their crowded field could result in two Republicans advancing, a result that would be a historic calamity for Democrats.

The campaign has just come through an unstable period, with U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell — one of the leading Democrats — leaving the race and Congress following sexual assault allegations that he denies.

Xavier Becerra, a candidate in California’s gubernatorial race, speaks during Wednesday’s debate in San Francisco. Credit: Jason Henry / pool photo via Associated Press

Becerra and Mahan were late additions to the debate lineup after Swalwell exited the race. Both candidates in the reordered contest have been getting fresh attention, and endorsements. Becerra was the only candidate who declined to speak to reporters after the debate.

Porter, who became a social media celebrity by brandishing a whiteboard at congressional hearings while grilling CEOs, could become the state’s first woman governor. Steyer, who in 2020 ran an unsuccessful presidential campaign, is known for his involvement in climate issues. Becerra served in the Biden administration and as a state attorney general, a congressman and a state legislator, and would be the state’s first Hispanic governor in modern history. Mahan says he has made gains against homelessness and crime while leading Northern California’s largest city.

California takes center stage

Democrats have dominated government in the nation’s most populous state for years. Republicans haven’t won a statewide election in two decades, and Hilton and Bianco faulted Sacramento’s one-sided politics for the state’s troubles.

Bianco said Democratic policies were driving up the cost of living.

Hilton, while discussing the state’s notoriously high tax rates, said, “All the Democrats here are part of this system that obviously isn’t working.”

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California’s secretary of state announced Tuesday that a tax-chopping proposition — one backers have spent years trying to put before voters — is now officially eligible for the November ballot. Come fall, anti-tax advocates and real estate developers might have reason to rejoice; city governments, public sector unions and the city of Los Angeles could have reason to worry. 

The qualification announcement for a real estate-oriented constitutional amendment also gives California’s Democratic lawmakers reason to start frantically negotiating toward a deal to keep the measure off the ballot entirely, even though the measure’s backers publicly say they aren’t interested. 

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Branded the “Local Taxpayer Protection Act” by its sponsor, the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, the newly eligible measure would both sharply cap municipal transfer taxes — fees slapped on real estate sales — and make it harder for voter-sponsored campaigns to raise taxes in local elections. 

The measure would hit cities like Berkeley, San Mateo and Alameda — which rely on transfer taxes for a significant share of their funding — especially hard. According to an analysis by the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office, it would cost local governments “a couple of billion dollars” per year, with taxpayers collectively saving just as much. 

Why this is also a fight about Los Angeles

But the focus of the debate, and arguably the primary target of the proposition, is Los Angeles and its controversial “mansion tax,” known as Measure ULA. 

Since becoming law in 2023, the voter-backed policy has levied a 4% tax on real estate sales over $5 million and 5.5% on those above $10 million — thresholds that have since inched up to match inflation. The tax has raised more than $1 billion in three years. Last week, the city announced a $360 million award for future affordable housing projects. 

But real estate interests, some elected officials in Los Angeles and a growing number of academics say the tax has triggered a sharp slowdown in new construction, including of affordable housing, across the city, compared to neighboring cities. The levy falls not just on mansions, but apartments, condos, multi-use and commercial developments, too. 

The resulting ire among developers, investors and business groups over the Los Angeles tax fueled the statewide proposition campaign, said Jon Coupal, president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, a conservative group best known for its landmark property tax limiting measure Proposition 13. “I think ULA was not just the straw that broke the camel’s back, but the redwood tree that broke the camel’s back,” he said.

The statewide proposition would trim transfer taxes to just one-twentieth of 1% of a real estate sale’s value. Measure ULA’s top rate is 100 times higher. It would also require some voter-initiated tax measures to clear a two-thirds threshold rather than a simple majority. In Los Angeles, measure ULA passed with 58%. 

If the tax-chopping proposition passes, Measure ULA is first on the block. 

But that’s a big “if.” More than 57% of likely voters, including a majority of Republicans, opposed the initiative when shown its title as it would appear on the ballot, according to a recent poll by the Public Policy Institute of California.

On your mark, get set … haggle!

There’s also a chance the measure won’t even make it onto the ballot.

Under California election law, sponsors can still yank a measure back after gathering enough valid signatures before the official qualification deadline of June 25. In prior election cycles, that window has become a bonanza of backroom dealing in Sacramento as Democratic lawmakers scramble to muscle unwanted measures off the upcoming ballot and deal-hungry interest groups line up to extract concessions. 

A notable example: In 2018, the soda industry funded a ballot measure that would have made it harder for local governments across the state to raise taxes. Backers pulled it at the last minute, but only after lawmakers begrudgingly agreed to pass a 13-year ban on new soda taxes.

At the end of last year’s legislative session, a group of Southern California Democrats, working alongside Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and former state Assembly Speaker Bob Hertzberg, launched a last-minute effort to exempt new apartment developments from the L.A. tax, while adding some new flexibility on how the money could be spent. The bill had a broader purpose too: It would have only taken effect if the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association removed its measure. 

In the face of pushback from both business groups on one side and arch defenders of Measure ULA on the other, the effort fizzled. But now that the Howard Jarvis measure is officially headed for the ballot, Sacramento legislators may feel newly inspired to deal. Even if the electoral odds are ultimately stacked against the proposition, Democratic lawmakers and left-leaning campaign funders would be happy to avoid a costly defensive campaign.

Let’s make a deal?

In the meantime, changes may be coming out of Los Angeles itself. 

Earlier this year, Councilmember Nithya Raman, who is hoping to unseat Bass as mayor, introduced a measure that would have put a series of Measure ULA changes on the June ballot. By exempting new development, it reflected many of the changes proposed in last year’s unsuccessful state bill. But a majority of the council punted.

The council instead delegated the question to a select committee chaired by Councilmember Ysabel Jurado, tasking it with recommending changes to the tax. Some of those changes would require voter approval and could go before voters in November, on the same ballot as the Howard Jarvis proposition.

The committee will also consider a set of tweaks to the law proposed by city staff that would clarify that nonprofit affordable developers are exempt from the tax, while making it easier for developers to pair ULA funds with other sources of funding. City staff say those changes could happen without going back to voters.

Tenant rights groups, some affordable housing developers and trade unions support those changes, but are urging the committee to otherwise leave the tax alone. A coalition of developers, “Yes in My Backyard” advocates and unionized carpenters has popped up to urge the city to consider a broad “fix” — before state lawmakers or anti-tax advocates do that work for them. 

“We think it’s really important to show that we can drive reform locally,” said Sarah Dusseault, a former city homelessness official who is now co-leading the “Mend It, Don’t End It” campaign. Making those changes locally “will go a long way to prevent more drastic measures.”

Measure ULA’s defenders counter that nothing the city or the state does will be enough to convince the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association to pull its measure. 

“We’ve tried to negotiate with the funders of the measure and, both publicly and privately, they’ve been consistent that they have no intention to pull the measure,” said Joe Donlin, director of the United to House L.A. coalition. “They don’t want to change taxes, they want to eliminate them.”

Coupal, from Howard Jarvis, agreed that the proposition is not a bargaining chip. “The folks on our side cannot envision any kind of deal that would give us the kind of solace that we would need,” he said.

But campaigns are expensive. Though the proposition campaign has been led by the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, much of the funding has come from the California Business Roundtable, a coalition of major businesses in California, along with a smattering of commercial real estate companies, developers and landlord groups in Los Angeles. For now, the business roundtable says this dispute should be settled by voters. In the coming months, would any of them be willing to cut a deal with desperate Democrats in exchange for dropping their support?

Some legislators in both Sacramento and Los Angeles are eager to find out.

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The post A plan to cut a California tax is going to voters. Why L.A.’s ‘mansion tax’ is at the center of it appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

In a letter to the editor, Supervisor Justin Cummings praises Rep. Jimmy Panetta for his efforts on behalf of Santa Cruz County.

The post Letter to the editor: Justin Cummings: Jimmy Panetta has done much to help Santa Cruz County appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

This article was contributed by Social Boosting

Instagram growth in 2026 isn’t easy. Reach is tighter, the algorithm is pickier and getting noticed organically feels like shouting into the void. That’s why creators and businesses are searching for the best sites to buy Instagram likes and followers safely to push their content without risking their account.

But not every provider is safe. Some sell bots. Some tank your engagement. A few mess with your account security. Only a handful deliver real Instagram likes and followers from active accounts.

This guide breaks down the safest providers in 2026, what “safe” really means and how to choose the right social media growth service without putting your account at risk. Our ranking is based on 14 months of hands-on testing across real Instagram accounts, from under 1K followers to 50K+. No provider paid for placement.

Trusted Providers to Buy Instagram Likes and Followers (Ranked)

Here are the providers that actually hold up under scrutiny. Our ranking is based on real orders, tracked retention rates over 60 days, support ticket response times and how each provider’s likes behaved in Instagram’s analytics dashboard.

1. SocialBoosting—Best Site to Purchase Instagram Likes and Followers Safely

If you only remember one name from this article, make it SocialBoosting. It’s the most reliable, transparent and genuinely safe provider we’ve tested, and it’s earned that reputation consistently year after year. 

Thousands of creators worldwide already trust it to power their Instagram account growth, and once you dig into what they actually offer, it’s easy to see why.

SocialBoosting gives you a real choice between two tiers, and both are built around safety:

• High-Quality Likes—Fast delivery, secure purchase, no password required and 24/7 support. Perfect for steady, organic-looking growth.
• Premium Likes—Everything in High-Quality, plus likes from verified, active accounts, guaranteed instant delivery, a 30-day refill guarantee, long-term impact and an increased chance of landing on the Explore page.

Why SocialBoosting sits at #1:

• 100 percent real engagement, zero bots—Every like comes from an active Instagram user, which is exactly what the algorithm (and your audience) respects.
• Smart drip-feed delivery on packages above 1,000 likes, distributing engagement gradually so nothing looks suspicious or triggers a flag.
• No password required, ever—They only ask for your username and the post URL. That’s it.
• Refill guarantee—If any likes drop off, they’re replaced free of charge. You keep what you paid for.
• Money-back guarantee—If they don’t deliver what’s promised, you get a full refund. No hoops, no fine print.
• Flexible payments—All major credit and debit cards, plus Apple Pay and Google Pay, with encrypted checkout.
• 24/7 customer support that actually responds, not bot replies.
• Transparent, scalable pricing—Packages start at just $2.15 for 50 likes and scale all the way up to 20K likes, with serious discounts on larger tiers (up to 77 percent off).

What really sets SocialBoosting apart is the philosophy behind it. The team treats your account like their own, which shows up in the conservative delivery speeds, the verified-account sourcing on Premium packages and the fact that they publicly offer a full money-back guarantee. They’re not gambling with your reputation, and they don’t want you to either.

They also offer a free Instagram likes and followers trial, so you can test quality firsthand before committing to anything. That kind of confidence in their own product is rare in this industry.

Field-Tested Insight: We placed a 2,500-like order on a test account and tracked retention daily for 60 days. Dropoff was under 2 percent, and the likes were spread across accounts with bios, posts and consistent activity. Compared to the industry average (15-30 percent dropoff within the first week), this was the clearest quality benchmark we recorded.

Best for: Creators, businesses and anyone who wants long-term, risk-free growth backed by real guarantees.

Check SocialBoosting’s Instagram likes packages.

2. Boostme

Boostme is another name that deserves real credit. It’s a dependable provider that takes quality seriously, and it’s earned a loyal user base for good reason.

What Boostme does well:

• High-quality likes from real-looking accounts
• Drip-feed delivery available on most packages
• Clean, easy-to-navigate ordering process
• Responsive support team
• Competitive pricing without cutting corners on quality

Boostme isn’t quite as polished as SocialBoosting when it comes to refill policies and delivery consistency on larger orders, but it’s a strong second choice. In our testing, a 1,000-like order arrived within 4 hours with roughly 7 percent dropoff over 30 days, which is solid by industry standards. If you want a trusted alternative or you’re testing providers side by side, Boostme holds up.

Best for: Users who want reliable quality at a fair price.

3. Media Mister

Media Mister has been around since 2012, which gives it a certain credibility. It serves multiple platforms, not just Instagram, and its likes tend to be of decent quality.

• Slower delivery (which can be a plus for safety)
• Wide range of services across platforms
• No password needed

The downside? Support can be slow (we waited over 18 hours for a response on one test ticket), and the interface feels dated.

Best for: Users who want a veteran provider with cross-platform options.

4. SocialWick

SocialWick is popular for fast delivery and a big menu of services. It’s been praised for its dashboard and ease of use.

• Fast turnaround
• Packages for likes, followers, views and more
• Decent quality on standard tiers

However, quality can be inconsistent on the cheaper packages. In one test order, we saw roughly 22 percent dropoff within two weeks on a budget-tier package, and refills weren’t processed until we followed up manually.

Best for: Users who prioritize speed over premium quality.

5. Views4You

Views4You is newer but has built a name for itself with sleek branding and a focus on video-related engagement. Their likes are reasonably priced and delivery is usually smooth.

• Clean UX
• Free trial options on some services
• Okay-quality likes

Not the top pick for safety-first users, but a fair middle-of-the-road option.

Best for: Casual users testing the waters.

6. Twicsy

Twicsy is one of the older names in the space and markets heavily toward influencers. Prices are on the higher side, but the service does deliver.

• Established brand
• Fast delivery
• Multiple package sizes

The quality is decent but not outstanding, and the pricing feels steep compared to SocialBoosting or Boostme for similar output. You’re partly paying for the brand name.

Best for: Users who want a well-known brand and don’t mind paying extra.

What Does “Safe” Mean When Buying Instagram Likes and Followers?

Real safety comes down to five non-negotiable criteria:

• Real users, not bots—active Instagram accounts, not empty shells
• Drip-feed delivery—paced, natural growth (no 5,000-like spikes)
• No password required—ever
• Refill or refund guarantees—drops get replaced
• Secure, encrypted payments—Stripe, PayPal or crypto only

Pro Tip: In our testing, posts that got likes within 30 minutes of going live saw up to 3x better reach. Timing matters as much as quantity, which is why drip-feed delivery is the gold standard.

If a site misses even one, move on.

Comparison Table: Safe Instagram Likes Providers (2026) ProviderReal LikesDeliveryRefill GuaranteeBest ForSocialBoosting✅ High-quality realDrip-feed, natural✅ LifetimeSafest overall choiceBoostme✅ RealDrip-feed available✅ YesReliable runner-upMedia Mister✅ DecentSlow, steady⚠️ LimitedVeteran usersSocialWick⚠️ MixedFast⚠️ InconsistentSpeed seekersViews4You✅ OkayModerate⚠️ PartialCasual usersTwicsy✅ DecentFast✅ YesBrand-name fans How We Tested These Services

To keep this ranking honest, we didn’t rely on marketing claims. We put our own budget and test accounts on the line. Over a 60-day period, our team ran a controlled study across 12 unique Instagram test accounts to see which providers actually deliver.

Our 5-Point Rating Methodology

Every service was scored on a weighted system (0-10) across five areas:

• Retention Rate (40 percent)—Follower counts tracked at 24 hours, 7 days and 30 days. Drops above 15 percent without auto-refill got penalized.
• Profile Authenticity (25 percent)—We manually audited 100 random followers per order, checking for profile pictures, bios and recent activity.
• Safety & Security (15 percent)—Password-required services were disqualified instantly. We also monitored for shadowbans and action blocks.
• Customer Support (10 percent)—We sent “missing follower” inquiries to every provider and measured response time plus refill willingness.
• Payment Security (10 percent)—All transactions verified through SSL-encrypted gateways or secure processors like Apple Pay.

MetricSocialBoostingBoostme (Budget)Bot Sites (Excluded)30-Day Retention97 percent84 percent42 percentAvg. Delivery Time12-48 hours4-6 hoursUnder 1 hourAccount QualityBio + 3+ postsBio onlyNo photo, no bioRisk LevelVery LowLowHigh Why Instagram Followers Still Matter in 2026

Followers still shape how your account is perceived. When someone lands on your profile, the first thing they notice is the numbers. That’s social proof in action. People naturally trust accounts that look established.

There’s also the algorithm side. More followers and engagement send positive signals, which often leads to better reach over time. And for creators and businesses alike, a strong follower count simply makes you look more credible.

Real Benefits of More Followers and Likes

• Increased visibility, especially on new posts
• Higher engagement that pushes content to wider audiences
• Stronger credibility and social proof
• Better chances of attracting organic followers over time

Think of it as the initial push that makes everything else easier.

How to Choose a Safe Instagram Likes Provider

Here’s a quick checklist before you hit “buy” anywhere:

• No password requirement—non-negotiable
• Drip-feed delivery—keeps the algorithm happy
• Real accounts—no bots, no empty profiles
• Refill or refund policy—clearly stated on the site
• Secure payment gateway—Stripe, PayPal or crypto
• Responsive support—test this before placing a big order
• Transparent pricing—no hidden renewal traps

Pro Tip: Before placing any large order, send the support team a simple pre-sales question. How fast they reply and how clearly they answer tells you everything about what post-purchase support will look like. This single test has saved us from bad providers more than once.

If a provider fails even one of these, skip it. There are plenty of safe Instagram likes providers that meet every criterion.

Risks of Buying Instagram Likes

Let’s be real for a minute. Buying likes isn’t risk-free, no matter what any site promises. Here’s what can actually go wrong, based on patterns we’ve observed across hundreds of test orders and client accounts:

• Engagement mismatch—10,000 likes on a post with 200 comments looks suspicious. Balance matters.
• Fake accounts getting wiped—If the likes come from bots, Instagram’s periodic purges (which typically run every 4-8 weeks) will delete them, leaving your post looking weaker than before.
• Algorithm flags—Sudden, unnatural spikes can trigger shadowban-like effects. We’ve seen reach drop by up to 60 percent on accounts that bought cheap bulk likes with no drip-feed.
• Reputational damage—Savvy users can spot fake engagement, and it can hurt credibility. Brand partners often run their own audits before sponsoring creators.

This is exactly why the provider you choose matters more than the price. Cheap, low-quality likes are almost guaranteed to cause problems. Premium, real Instagram likes from providers like SocialBoosting are designed to blend in and stay put.

Expert Warning: The biggest mistake we see creators make is buying likes on every single post. Instagram’s algorithm looks at engagement patterns over time. If every post suddenly has similar like counts, the pattern becomes detectable. Mix it up. Buy likes on your best content only, not across the board.

Do Bought Likes Affect Engagement Rate?

Short answer: it depends on how you do it.

Short-term: A boost of real-looking likes can improve your post’s visibility in the algorithm, pushing it to the Explore page or broader reach pools. In testing, we saw a 40-70 percent increase in non-follower impressions on posts that received quality likes within the first hour.

Long-term: If you overdo it or buy low-quality likes, your engagement rate (likes + comments ÷ followers) can actually drop because bought likes rarely come with comments or shares.

How to avoid issues:

• Start small. Test with modest packages.
• Spread likes across multiple posts, not just one.
• Pair with organic content strategy.
• Always use drip-feed delivery.
• Match the like count to realistic engagement ratios for your account size (usually 3-8 percent of follower count per post).

Done right, bought likes support your growth. Done wrong, they sabotage it.

Best Strategy: Combine Paid Likes + Organic Growth

Here’s the truth nobody selling likes wants to say out loud: bought likes are a support tool, not a strategy.

The creators who actually grow long-term do this:

1. Post consistently with strong content.
2. Use paid likes as an early push to signal the algorithm.
3. Engage genuinely with their community.
4. Layer in Reels, Stories and collaborations.

Providers like SocialBoosting work best when they’re part of a bigger plan. Buy likes to give momentum, not to fake a presence that doesn’t exist. That’s how you get organic-looking engagement that compounds over time.

Pro Tip: The most effective pattern we’ve seen is buying a modest like package (around 300-500 likes) within the first 30 minutes of posting a Reel. It nudges the algorithm to push the content to a wider test audience, and if the content is actually good, the organic snowball does the rest. This “ignition strategy” has consistently outperformed dumping 5,000 likes on a single post.

Top Mistakes to Avoid When Buying Instagram Likes

Before choosing a provider, it’s just as important to understand the common mistakes that can put your account at risk or waste your budget. 

• Ordering 10,000 likes on a brand-new account
• Choosing the cheapest provider to “test”
• Ignoring drip-feed options
• Sharing your password (just don’t)
• Buying likes without also posting new content
• Skipping the refill policy check
• Buying likes on private accounts (they won’t deliver properly)
• Ordering during Instagram’s periodic purge windows without refill coverage

Avoiding these pitfalls ensures your investment actually supports your growth instead of harming your account’s performance. 

Final Take

If you want the best sites to buy Instagram likes safely in 2026, the ranking is clear:

• SocialBoosting is the safest, most reliable and highest-quality option on the market. It’s the provider we’d trust with our own accounts, full stop.
• Boostme is a strong second choice with solid quality and fair pricing.
• The rest (Media Mister, SocialWick, Views4You, Twicsy) each have their niche, but none match the consistency and safety of the top two.

Remember: the goal isn’t just likes. It’s sustainable growth without risking your account. Pick a provider that respects that, pair it with real content and you’ll actually see results that last.

Frequently Asked Questions Which is the safest option to buy Instagram likes and followers?

The safest option in 2026 is SocialBoosting. They deliver likes from real, active accounts, use drip-feed delivery, require no password and include refill guarantees. SocialBoosting ranks #1 for safety and retention, while Boostme is a strong alternative.

Does buying Instagram likes and followers actually help?

Yes, but only short-term. Paid engagement can boost visibility and provide initial social proof. However, long-term growth still depends on content quality and real audience interaction.

Can Instagram ban your account for buying likes and followers?

Direct bans are rare. Instagram typically removes fake engagement or limits reach if activity looks unnatural. Using a high-quality provider with gradual delivery minimizes this risk.

Are Instagram likes and followers real?

With premium providers, yes. Likes come from active accounts with profiles and activity. Lower-quality providers often use bots or inactive accounts.

How fast is Instagram likes delivery?

Delivery depends on the provider. Safe services use gradual (drip-feed) delivery, which can take a few hours to a few days. Instant large deliveries can signal low-quality service.

What is drip-feed delivery on Instagram?

Drip-feed delivery means likes are added gradually over time instead of all at once. This mimics natural growth and reduces the risk of triggering Instagram’s spam detection.

Is buying Instagram likes safe in 2026?

Yes, if you choose a reliable provider. Modern services use smarter delivery methods that align with Instagram’s algorithm, making the process safer than before.

Can people tell if you bought Instagram likes?

Not with high-quality providers. Likes come from realistic accounts and blend naturally. Low-quality services are easier to spot due to fake or empty profiles.

Disclaimer

Not all Instagram followers and likes boosting services are created equal. Providers that use bot accounts or generic spam comments or likes can damage your profile’s credibility and engagement rate, and may violate Instagram’s terms of service. 

The services featured in this guide deliver comments from real, active Instagram accounts through legitimate methods. Each has a documented track record, a long-standing reputation with clients and no verified cases of profiles being penalized as a direct result of using their services.

The editorial staff of the Pajaronain was not involved in the creation of this content. The content is for general information and does not constitute the financial, medical or professional advice of this publication. Readers should consult qualified professionals regarding their individual circumstances. The Pajaronian disclaims any liability for loss or damage resulting from reliance on this content.

Rob and Jolynn Diepenbroek, with their dog, Loki, check out rows of early-day cars at the weekly Cars and Coffee event in East Lake Village Shopping Center. The free Saturday gathering, from 9-11am at 936 E. Lake Ave. in Watsonville, is a place for car and truck owners of yesteryear models to meet the public and share their stories. Dozens of vehicles, from a 1941 Pontiac Eight to a ‘68 Cougar filled out the event that also served as a donation station for children’s clothes thanks to Jacob’s Heart Children’s Cancer Support Services. The donations help kids and their families who are battling cancer.

An appeals court has blocked a California law passed in 2025 requiring federal immigration agents to wear a badge or some form of identification.

The post Federal appeals court blocks California law requiring federal agents to wear identification appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

In the early 1980s, when her eponymous bakery was in its infancy, Gayle Ortiz learned that a developer planned to turn the land surrounding the Rispin Mansion in Capitola into a senior living complex and several private homes.

That plan did not sit well with Ortiz, who believed the palatial home should be preserved. She jumped into action.

“We felt like that was going to take it out of the public realm, and we asked the City Council to buy it,” said Ortiz, who also heads Capitola Cares, a group raising funds to rebuild the mansion grounds.

The council agreed, and the city made the $1 million purchase.

Some four decades later, elected officials, Capitola city employees and community members gathered to celebrate the completion of the Park at Rispin Mansion, a gardenscape that allows visitors to stroll the grounds of the 105-year-old building.

While Ortiz’s hopes of turning the once-lavish home at 2000 Wharf Road into a museum were sidelined after a 2009 fire, she said she was pleased to see the park come to fruition.

“It was beautiful before it burned,” she said. “Over the years, there’s been a lot of disappointments. But we’ve got to put those aside and see what’s happening today. And maybe someday, something will happen with the museum.”

Because of heavy rain Tuesday, the ceremony was held inside the Capitola Library just across the street from the new park. Both projects were part of a broader vision when City Manager Jamie Goldstein arrived in 2008, along with improvements to Clares Street.

“Here we are in a state-of-the-art library that this city put together,” he said. “Clares Street is a beautiful, multimodal street. And now today, thanks to our public works team and City Council support, the park across the street from Rispin Mansion is open.”

The Park at Rispin Mansion project — which cost about $1 million — was funded through the city’s general fund and voter-approved sources, including a Proposition 68 State of California Parks and Water Bond grant and Santa Cruz County Measure Q park improvement funds. Those funds helped pay for decorative hardscaping and utility work during construction.

The park features ADA-accessible pathways and a loop trail, concrete plazas and seating areas, native and riparian landscaping, modifications to the historic garden wall, as well as fencing, lighting, benches and recycling and trash bins.

Additional landscaping is planned, including a historic fountain to be funded in part through a $150,000 fundraising effort. That will include a chance to purchase a personalized paver stone.

For information, visit capitolacares.org.

Mayor Barbara Morgan said Rispin is the city’s first new park since 2006.

“One of the greatest parts of this project is really having access to outdoor space, which we know is really important in this community,” she said.Capitola celebrates Park at Rispin Mansion

A countywide celebration of visual and performing arts kicked off April 16 and will run through April 26. 

The Ripple Effect Santa Cruz County Arts Festival is the County’s effort to highlight the creative community during California’s Arts, Culture and Creativity Month. 

Organizers said the event brings together local artists, cultural organizations, and venues to showcase a broad range of artistic disciplines, including visual arts, music, dance, theater, poetry, fashion and interactive workshops.

“Tree Red and Yellow Ticket Cones (left) and “Garden Party Series 1-4”) by William Marino are part of the current exhibit at PV Arts, “Hot Off the Walls: Art to Go!”  (Tarmo Hannula/The Pajaronian)

Events include exhibitions, performances, pop-ups, and hands-on workshops across multiple venues throughout the county. While some activities are free, others, such as the finale, require tickets. 

Each venue manages its own events and ticketing, and parking options vary by location. 

The grassroots, volunteer-driven festival aims to strengthen the local arts community and economy, organizers said.
Watsonville events include “Many Truths, One World: Mariposa Arts Showcase & Artwork” by Claraty Arts at Watsonville Center for the Arts; the ongoing PV Arts exhibit, “Hot off the Walls, and recent paintings by Annie Morhauser at Annieglass. 

American singer, songwriter and musician in the country rock genre, Emmylou Harris is shown on stage with the Red Dirt Band Saturday at the Santa Cruz Civic as part of the Ripple Effect. (Tarmo Hannula/The Pajaronian)

On Saturday Watsonville Public Library, 275 Main St., will host the Poets’ Circle featuring Watsonville writer Madeline “Maddie” Aliah, an award-winning teen author whose work spans poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. She will be joined by her mother, Geneffa Jahan, a longtime Cabrillo College English instructor and poet from 1-3pm. 

On Sunday the Guelaguetza Festival from 10-4pm in Santa Cruz. It will feature around 150 performers, food vendors with traditional Oaxacan plates and more.

An acrylic painting by Julia Morales Gonzalez, “Bus Stop,” at Watsonville Center for the Arts, is part of the Ripple Effect Arts Festival. (Tarmo Hannula/The Pajaronian)

The Vive Oaxaca Guelaguetza is an authentic cultural festival with food, dance, music, and crafts presented each spring by Senderos. Similar to festivals in Oaxaca, Mexico, Guelaguetza is a Zapotec word that means “a commitment of sharing and cooperation.” Guelaguetza is a celebration that honors the gods for sufficient rainfall and a bountiful harvest, organizers said.

The festival takes place at Branciforte Small Schools campus, 840 North Branciforte Ave., Santa Cruz. Admission is $10, and children under 5 are free.For information, visit rippleartsfestsantacruz.org.

This post is updated throughout the day to reflect the latest incidents. It was last updated at 7:31 a.m..

Here’s what’s happening on the roads this morning…

▼︎ new incidents

Road incidents as of 7:30 a.m. on April 22

• A vehicle crossed the double yellow line at Porter Dr and San Juan Rd in Watsonville/Pajaro and nearly hit another driver, who swerved and damaged his rim. A white F550 flatbed truck with a cement box stopped at the scene. No injuries were reported. The incident was reported today.
   
• A lane on westbound SR-152 at Clifford Drive/Ohlone Parkway in Watsonville/Pajaro is closed for asphalt paving. The closure will last until July 3.
   
• A lane on east SR-129 at Union Street in Watsonville / Pajaro is closed for utility work. The closure will end at 3:01 p.m. today.
   

Disclosure: Traffic incidents are partially generated by artificial intelligence. We are constantly working to improve the accuracy and quality of our AI-generated content. However, there may still be errors or inaccuracies. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us.

The post Wednesday morning traffic: Lane closures on SR-152 and SR-129 in Watsonville appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

Music in May is set to celebrate its 19th annual season of bringing contemporary and classical chamber music to underserved youth, with performances scheduled from May 26 through May 31 around Santa Cruz County. 

In partnership with the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History, the festival will kick off at 5 p.m. on May 26 with a free concert by classical group Ensemble San Francisco in the museum’s atrium.

Music in May is also partnering with Bookshop Santa Cruz to host two free pop-up concerts featuring Ensemble SF on May 27 at 11 a.m. and noon.

On May 28, the festival returns to the MAH for a free program spotlighting the youth of El Sistema Santa Cruz & Pajaro Valley at 7 p.m.

Music in May will conclude with two performances by a collection of world-renowned festival musicians at the Samper Recital Hall at Cabrillo College at 7 p.m. on May 30 and at 2 p.m. on May 31.

For more about artists and ticket information, visit the Music in May website. 

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

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The post Annual ‘Music in May’ festival returns to Santa Cruz County appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

La mayor celebración de la cultura oaxaqueña en Santa Cruz, que reconoce la diversidad de música, gastronomía y artes del estado mexicano, regresa a la ciudad este fin de semana.

En preparación para la Guelaguetza, Isai Pazos, director ejecutivo de la organización local sin fines de lucro Senderos, dijo que querían conocer dónde residía la mayor parte de la comunidad indígena de la región originaria del estado de Oaxaca.

Por ello, la organización hizo un llamado a la comunidad en busca de posibles participantes —desde bailarines hasta músicos— para el evento de este año, explicó. Según Pazos, recibieron respuestas de personas de Watsonville, donde hay una alta población indígena, así como de zonas cercanas como San José, Seaside y Palo Alto.

El evento del domingo contará con la participación de casi 150 artistas —incluido el grupo juvenil de danza de Senderos— además de vendedores de comida que ofrecerán platillos tradicionales oaxaqueños como mole y tlayudas. Los asistentes también podrán adquirir artesanías y recuerdos elaborados por artesanos.

“El propósito de organizar esto es mostrar a otras comunidades que estamos aquí como comunidad para apoyarnos mutuamente,” dijo Pazos. La palabra “guelaguetza” en zapoteco —una de las 16 lenguas indígenas que se hablan en Oaxaca— significa ayudar a alguien sin recibir nada a cambio, dijo Pazos.

Por lo general, las festividades comienzan unos días antes del evento principal con una procesión desde Branciforte Avenue hasta el centro de la ciudad y con el evento “Music and Mole,” pero este año Pazos comentó que Senderos está pausando las actividades previas para priorizar la seguridad ante los temores actuales relacionados con la inmigración. El año pasado, la organización casi cancela el evento por razones similares.

“Creo que es muy importante que estemos seguros y que cada familia se sienta segura y bienvenida,” dijo Pazos.

Aunque el evento está pensado como una celebración de la cultura oaxaqueña, Pazos indicó que también es una invitación para que todos los miembros de la comunidad aprendan sobre ella y la disfruten. La guelaguetza también será el evento final del festival inaugural de artes Ripple Effect.

“Es hermoso ver que muchos miembros de la comunidad están interesados,” dijo Pazos. “También me interesa ver y escuchar a quienes asistirán por primera vez.”

La 21.ª Guelaguetza de Senderos se llevará a cabo el domingo 27 de abril, de 10 a.m. a 4 p.m., en el campus de Branciforte Small Schools, ubicado en 840 N. Branciforte Ave., Santa Cruz. La entrada cuesta $10, y los niños menores de 5 años entran gratis.

The post La celebración cultural oaxaqueña de Santa Cruz regresa para su 21º festival este fin de semana, destacando danza, música y comida indígena appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

A bill authored by California Assemblymember Gail Pellerin in response to the 2015 murder of Santa Cruz 8-year-old Madyson Middleton passed its first legislative hurdle last week. “This isn’t just about Maddy and Santa Cruz,” her mother told Lookout. “It’s about protecting all of California.”

The post Pellerin-authored bill inspired by murder of Maddy Middleton makes headway in legislature appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

➤ Para leer el artículo en español, haga clic aquí.

The Watsonville community means everything to Tony Nuñez, and it’s one of the main reasons he decided to run for the District 4 seat on the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors. 

Nuñez, 34, told Lookout in February that his community has done a lot for him and his family, who are longtime residents of Watsonville. And now, he wants to continue a tradition of giving back to the community – as a county supervisor. 

ELECTION 2026: Read more local, state and national coverage here from Lookout and our content partners

“What I’ve done in terms of my professional career, it’s always been about giving back,” he said in an interview this month. “Whether it was working at The Pajaronian, that was a great way to give back and tell people’s stories … and then at Community Bridges, where I felt that I was still in tune with the community and helping people.”

Nuñez is running in the June 2 primary election against incumbent Felipe Hernandez and community advocate Elias Gonzales for District 4 county supervisor, which represents most of the Pajaro Valley, Watsonville and Interlaken. 

Since there are more than two candidates for the District 4 seat, 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. 

Should Nuñez win the supervisor seat, he would be required to vacate his role as board chair of the Pajaro Valley Health Care District, which operates Watsonville Community Hospital. He also would leave his role as marketing and communications manager for nonprofit Community Bridges. 

Candidate for District 4 Santa Cruz County supervisor Tony Nuñez. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

Nunez played a part in transitioning the hospital into becoming a public-owned facility after it survived bankruptcy in 2023. He is currently part of the effort to find an external partner to help manage the facility’s day-to-day operations. The hospital reported a nearly $23 million loss for 2025, following a flurry of challenges including a decline in patients and changes to state and federal funding. 

“I think that we’re really close to actually moving something forward that I think can stabilize the hospital and can start to get us out of the situation we’re in right now,” he said.

Nuñez said he’ll continue supporting the hospital and its journey to financial stability as a supervisor level by working with regional, state and federal representatives: “I think that I can still do really great things, and I can move the conversation forward that we’ve started with the health care district and the hospital.” 

County officials have faced scrutiny from residents in South County in the past year over the development of an ordinance that would regulate battery storage plants, and more specifically over a proposal by Massachusetts-based developer New Leaf Energy to build a facility on Minto Road outside Watsonville. 

At Lookout’s candidate forum last week, Nuñez said many of the residents he’s spoken with have told him they’re against the New Leaf project and were concerned about potential impacts to public health. During the forum, he told community members he was against the project. 

The overall perception of these facilities has changed following the 2025 Moss Landing fire, said Nuñez. He said he would support battery storage facilities, but only if they are done “in the right way” and with public safety at the top of the priority list. 

“What would the trade-offs be of bringing something so close to all of the residents around the area there?” Nuñez said. “It might look like a rural area of the community or of the county or our region, but really there’s houses right next door.” 

He’s also worried about the agricultural land being used for the project. The site where New Leaf is proposing its plant sits on an apple orchard. “I have concerns about agricultural land being rezoned in a piecemeal kind of fashion,” he said. 

Immigration fears continue to affect community members at all levels in South County since the beginning of President Donald Trump’s second term. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have visited Watsonville at least 23 times since January 2025; nine of those visits happened within the first two months of 2026. 

To ensure that members of the immigrant community feel they belong and are safe to do everyday tasks, Nuñez said that people need to stand in solidarity with them, and  communicate to them that there are resources available. 

He believes the county is on the right path with the creation of a subcommittee to help prepare for possible impacts of immigration operations on county residents, along with an ordinance barring ICE agents from using county property for enforcement activities. 

However, he said Santa Cruz County needs to determine how many undocumented families in the county are without legal representation, and figure out how to support immigration lawyers aiding these families. 

“There’s a real need for more legal representation for immigrant populations,” he said. “It’s not even that lawyers don’t want to take on these cases … the immigration attorneys are trying to help, they’re extremely committed to the work, and they want to do more and they can’t do more.” 

Tony Nuñez (far left) speaks during an April 15 Lookout forum for District 4 Santa Cruz County supervisor candidates. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

Nuñez also wants to increase economic development in South County. Watsonville doesn’t have a hospitality and tourism industry, he said; the local economy is primarily driven by agriculture and nonprofits. He’d like to work with city officials to figure out how to develop tourism in Watsonville.

“It starts with working with the city on how the county can be a better partner for revitalizing its downtown,” he said. 

The big issue the county is struggling with is bringing in additional revenue to fund programs in order to meet the community’s needs, Nuñez said. County staff are forecasting a $23.2 million deficit for the 2026-27 fiscal year, and a long-term structural deficit that could reach $67.5 million by 2028-29 in the absence of mitigating actions.

One of the initiatives Nuñez wants to create is a robust down-payment assistance program for local residents, specifically in South County, to help increase homeownership. But he acknowledged that those things take money and time to achieve. 

“The No. 1 thing that we can do is try to solve our local economy, and really try to drive new businesses into Watsonville and into South County and into the county,” he said. “If we’re not putting a lot of our effort into that, then we’re just going to keep coming up into the same issue, which is, we don’t have enough funding, we don’t have enough revenue.”

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The post Supervisor candidate Tony Nuñez says key to meeting community needs is to increase economic development in South County appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

Santa Cruz’s largest celebration of Oaxacan culture, which recognizes the Mexican state’s diverse music, food and arts, returns to the city this weekend. 

In preparation for the guelaguetza, Isai Pazos, executive director of local nonprofit Senderos, said the organization wanted to learn where most of the region’s Indigenous community from the state of Oaxaca resided. 

So, the organization placed a callout to the community, searching for potential performers — from dancers to musicians — for this year’s event, he said. The organization, Pazos said, received responses from people locally in Watsonville, where there is a high population of Indigenous people, and from surrounding areas such as San Jose, Seaside and Palo Alto. 

Sunday’s event will showcase nearly 150 performers — including Senderos’ youth dance troupe — in addition to food vendors bringing traditional Oaxacan dishes, such as mole and tlayudas. Attendees will also have a chance to purchase crafts and souvenirs from artisans. 

“The purpose of us putting this together is to show other communities in general that we are here as a community to help each other,” Pazos said. The word guelaguetza in Zapotec — one of 16 Indigenous languages spoken in Oaxaca — means helping someone without receiving anything in exchange, he said. 

Typically, the festivities kick off a few days before the main gathering with a procession from Branciforte Avenue into downtown and its “Music and Mole” event, but this year, Pazos told Lookout, Senderos is pausing the pre-events to prioritize safety amid ongoing immigration fears. Last year, the organization almost canceled the event for similar reasons. 

“I think it’s very important for us to just be safe and make sure that every family feels safe and welcome,” Pazos said. 

While the event is meant to be a celebration of Oaxacan culture, Pazos said it’s also an invitation for all community members to learn about and enjoy the culture. The guelaguetza will also be the final event of the inaugural Ripple Effect arts festival. 

“It’s beautiful to see that a lot of community members are interested,” Pazos said. “I’m also interested to see and hear from other community members that are going to the event for the first time.”

Senderos’ 21st guelaguetza will be held on Sunday, April 27, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Branciforte Small Schools campus, 840 N. Branciforte Ave., Santa Cruz. Admission is $10, and children under 5 are free.

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

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In her weekly look at local business, Jessica M. Pasko reports on a lawsuit filed by environmental groups against Watsonville’s Graniterock, development continuing in downtown Santa Cruz and plenty more names, numbers and dates to know.

The post This week in Santa Cruz County business: Graniterock facing lawsuit over Pajaro River; housing development at former Outdoor World site moves 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.

La comunidad de Watsonville lo es todo para Tony Nuñez, y es una de las principales razones por las que decidió postularse para el escaño del Distrito 4 en la Junta de Supervisores del Condado de Santa Cruz.

Nuñez, de 34 años, dijo a Lookout en febrero que su comunidad ha hecho mucho por él y su familia, quienes son residentes de larga data en Watsonville. Ahora quiere continuar una tradición de retribuir a la comunidad, como supervisor del condado.

“Lo que he hecho en mi carrera profesional siempre ha sido sobre retribuir”, dijo en una entrevista este mes. “Ya sea trabajando en The Pajaronian, que fue una gran manera de retribuir y contar las historias de la gente… y luego en Community Bridges, donde sentí que seguía conectado con la comunidad y ayudando a las personas,” dijo Nuñez.

Nuñez compite contra el actual supervisor Felipe Hernandez y el defensor comunitario Elias Gonzales por el puesto de supervisor del Distrito 4, que representa la mayor parte del Valle de Pajaro, Watsonville e Interlaken.

Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

Dado que hay más de dos candidatos para el escaño del Distrito 4, las elecciones generales del 3 de noviembre funcionarán como una segunda vuelta entre los dos candidatos con más votos, a menos que uno obtenga la mayoría en las primarias.

Si Nuñez gana el puesto, tendría que dejar su cargo como presidente de la junta del Distrito de Atención Médica del Valle de Pajaro, que opera el Hospital Comunitario de Watsonville. También dejaría su función en Community Bridges.

Nuñez participó en la transición del hospital para convertirlo en una instalación de propiedad pública tras sobrevivir a la bancarrota en 2023. Actualmente forma parte de los esfuerzos para encontrar un socio externo que ayude a gestionar las operaciones diarias del hospital. El hospital reportó una pérdida cercana a 23 millones de dólares para 2025, tras enfrentar múltiples desafíos, incluyendo una disminución de pacientes y cambios en la financiación estatal y federal.

“Creo que estamos muy cerca de avanzar en algo que puede estabilizar el hospital y comenzar a sacarnos de la situación en la que estamos,” dijo Nuñez.

Nuñez afirmó que continuará apoyando al hospital en su camino hacia la estabilidad financiera desde el nivel de supervisor, trabajando con representantes regionales, estatales y federales. “Creo que todavía puedo hacer grandes cosas y avanzar la conversación que hemos iniciado con el distrito de salud y el hospital,” él dijo.

En el último año, funcionarios del condado han enfrentado críticas de residentes del sur del condado por el desarrollo de una ordenanza que regularía las plantas de almacenamiento de baterías, en particular por una propuesta del desarrollador New Leaf Energy, con sede en Massachusetts, para construir una instalación en Minto Road.

En el foro de candidatos de Lookout la semana pasada, Nuñez dijo que muchos residentes con los que ha hablado están en contra del proyecto de New Leaf y preocupados por posibles impactos en la salud pública. Durante el foro, expresó su oposición al proyecto.

La percepción general de estas instalaciones ha cambiado tras el incendio de Moss Landing en 2025, señaló Nuñez. Dijo que apoyaría instalaciones de almacenamiento de baterías, pero solo si se realizan “de la manera correcta” y con la seguridad pública como máxima prioridad.

“¿Cuáles serían las compensaciones de traer algo tan cerca de todos los residentes del área?” dijo Nuñez. “Puede parecer una zona rural de la comunidad o del condado, pero en realidad hay casas justo al lado.”

También expresó preocupación por el uso de tierras agrícolas para el proyecto. El sitio propuesto por New Leaf está ubicado en un huerto de manzanas. “Me preocupa que las tierras agrícolas se reclasifiquen de manera fragmentada,” dijo Nuñez.

Los temores relacionados con la inmigración continúan afectando a los residentes del sur del condado desde el inicio del segundo mandato del presidente Donald Trump. Agentes del Servicio de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas (ICE) han visitado Watsonville al menos 23 veces desde entonces; nueve de esas visitas ocurrieron en los primeros dos meses de 2026.

Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

Para garantizar que la comunidad inmigrante se sienta parte de la sociedad y segura para realizar actividades cotidianas, Nuñez dijo que es necesario mostrar solidaridad y comunicar que hay recursos disponibles.

Considera que el condado va por buen camino con la creación de un subcomité para prepararse ante posibles impactos de operativos migratorios, así como con una ordenanza que prohíbe a los agentes de ICE utilizar propiedades del condado para actividades de control migratorio.

Sin embargo, señaló que el condado debe determinar cuántas familias indocumentadas carecen de representación legal y encontrar formas de apoyar a los abogados de inmigración que las ayudan.

“Hay una necesidad real de mayor representación legal para las poblaciones inmigrantes,” él dijo. “No es que los abogados no quieran tomar estos casos… los abogados de inmigración están tratando de ayudar, están extremadamente comprometidos con el trabajo, quieren hacer más y no pueden.”

Nuñez también quiere impulsar el desarrollo económico en el sur del condado. Watsonville no cuenta con una industria fuerte de hospitalidad y turismo, dijo; la economía local está impulsada principalmente por la agricultura y las organizaciones sin fines de lucro. Le gustaría trabajar con funcionarios municipales para desarrollar el turismo en la ciudad.

“Todo comienza trabajando con la ciudad para ver cómo el condado puede ser un mejor socio en la revitalización del centro,” Nuñez dijo.

Un problema importante que enfrenta el condado es generar ingresos adicionales para financiar programas que satisfagan las necesidades de la comunidad, señaló Nuñez. El personal del condado proyecta un déficit de 23.2 millones de dólares para el año fiscal 2026-27, y un déficit estructural a largo plazo que podría alcanzar los 67.5 millones para 2028-29 si no se toman medidas.

Una de las iniciativas que Nuñez quiere crear es un sólido programa de asistencia para el pago inicial de viviendas para residentes locales, especialmente en el sur del condado, con el fin de aumentar la propiedad de vivienda. Sin embargo, reconoció que esto requiere tiempo y recursos.

“Lo número uno que podemos hacer es tratar de resolver nuestra economía local y realmente impulsar nuevos negocios en Watsonville, en el sur del condado y en todo el condado,” dijo Nuñez. “Si no ponemos mucho esfuerzo en eso, seguiremos enfrentando el mismo problema: no tenemos suficiente financiación ni suficientes ingresos.”

The post ‘Siempre se he tratado de retribuir’: el candidato a supervisor Tony Nuñez dice que la clave para satisfacer las necesidades de la comunidad es aumentar el desarrollo económico en el sur del condado appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

In a letter to the editor, an Aptos resident pushes for Congress to weigh in on President Donald Trump’s war against Iran and urges readers to press their representatives on the issue.

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