The Pajaronian

New Leaf Energy will bypass Santa Cruz County’s permitting process and instead seek state approval for its proposed battery energy storage system near Watsonville, a move county officials long anticipated as local regulations tightened.

In a May 1 letter to County Executive Officer Nicole Coburn, the company said it will withdraw its application for the Seahawk project at 90 Minto Road and pursue the California Energy Commission’s “opt-in” permitting process under Assembly Bill 205.

The decision follows months of friction between the company and county leaders over a proposed ordinance regulating large-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS) in unincorporated areas.

New Leaf had previously supported a draft version of the ordinance, calling it among the strongest in the nation. But amendments added by the Board of Supervisors in January created “significant commercial risks” and uncertainty that made the local process “unviable,” according to Max Christian, a senior project developer for the company.

In particular, a requirement that future ownership transfers receive additional approval from the Board of Supervisors would complicate financing and delay procurement timelines needed to meet deadlines set by the California Independent System Operator, Christian wrote.

“Those amendments … created too much timing and commercial risk for Seahawk to be able to meet the CAISO’s March 2027 commercial viability deadline,” he said.

Instead, New Leaf will apply to the CEC in early summer, citing a more predictable review process with defined timelines that would allow the company to move forward with engineering and equipment procurement.

The move was foreshadowed in April, when the company submitted a pre-application to the CEC while continuing to work with the county on a local ordinance.

County officials said the shift was not a surprise.

“Given that New Leaf has been meeting with the state, this development is not unexpected,” county spokesperson Tiffany Martinez said in a statement. “While the project may move forward under state jurisdiction, the County’s expectations remain unchanged.”

The county emphasized that environmental review will still be required under the state process and said it expects local priorities—including protections for agricultural land, safety setbacks, emergency response planning and long-term site restoration—to be incorporated.

The proposed Seahawk facility has drawn scrutiny since it was introduced in 2025, particularly in the wake of a high-profile fire at a Vistra battery storage facility in Moss Landing that burned for days and raised concerns about toxic emissions.

New Leaf has said its project would use newer technology that does not rely on the same materials implicated in that fire.

In his letter, Christian said the company expects the CEC to incorporate elements of the county’s draft ordinance into its review, providing a degree of local control through the state process. He also said New Leaf will continue working with the county, including negotiating a community benefits agreement.

The company began public outreach in late 2024, meeting with local fire agencies, civic groups and elected officials, and hosting community meetings in Watsonville.

Despite the shift to state oversight, New Leaf said it remains committed to what it described as a “safe and thoroughly vetted project” that would improve grid reliability, lower energy costs and support climate goals.

The CEC process will include a full environmental review, consultation with battery safety experts, coordination with local fire agencies and public input meetings, the company said.

For county leaders, the key question now is how much influence local officials will retain as the project moves into state hands.

Josephine Vidal (from left), Esther Herrera, Ignacia Gonzalez and Maria Cornejo join in folkloric dancing during Cinco de Mary celebration at the Watsonville Senior Center. 

Older Adult Services Supervisor Katie Nuñez said about 73 regulars to the center were present for food, fun and dancing. (Tarmo Hannula/The Pajaronian)

The annual Cinco De Mayo Festival drew thousands of people to downtown Watsonville Sunday with live music, food booths, arts and crafts and information tables. 

The free five-and-a-half-hour event was put on by Fiestas Patrias. It drew to the stage the popular singer Graciela Beltran, folkloric dance troupe Esperanza del Valle, Mariachi Perla de Mexico and popular bands from Mexico, including La Calle Show and Banda S7.

A huge crowd takes in the music at the Cinco De Mayo Festival (Tarmo Hannula/The Pajaronian)

“The festivals of Fiestas Patrias bring residents together from throughout the Monterey Bay to celebrate and to learn about the heritage and culture of Mexico,” organizers said.

May 5  is the actual day of celebration for Mexico’s victory over the Second French Empire at the Battle of Puebla in 1862.

The Aptos High track and field programs will enter the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League finals riding a perfect wave.

Both the boys and girls squads finished dual meet competition at 5-0, but now they have a chance at perfection with their sights set on a championship Saturday at Harbor High School. The meet is scheduled to begin at 10am.

The stakes could not be higher for the Mariner girls team, which needs one more win to claim the SCCAL team title outright. In order to do so, they must defeat rival Santa Cruz one final time. 

The two programs have been the class of the league all season, and Saturday’s showdown promises a fitting conclusion to the campaign.

The boys group, meanwhile, have a bit more margin. A second-place finish would still be enough to secure the overall SCCAL crown, a testament to the depth and consistency the Mariners have shown throughout the year.

Leading the charge for the boys are Bryce Boudreault and Brady Bliesner, two athletes who have powered Aptos across a range of disciplines all season. Boudreault has been a force in the field events, excelling in pole vault, discus and shot put. 

Bliesner has anchored the distance program, starring in the 800 meters and middle-distance relays. 

Together, Boudreault and Bliesner represent the kind of versatile, high-point production that championship teams are built around.

On the girls side, Ella Boyes and Kenzie Culbertson have been the program’s standard-bearers. 

Boyes has dominated the hurdles while also contributing in the long jump, making her one of the league’s most dangerous multi-event threats. 

Culbertson has been a workhorse in the distance events, racking up points in the 800 meters and relays throughout the season.

But what has defined this year’s Aptos program goes beyond its top performers.

Aptos head coach Thad Moren pointed to the willingness of several athletes to stretch themselves across multiple events. It’s a key reason the Mariners have remained so competitive in the team standings. 

Isabella Hernandez, Ryder Yamaguchi, Bella Briceño-Nichols and Anthony Sandford-Carroll have each answered the call to compete in a wide range of events, filling scoring gaps and proving that Aptos’ depth is genuine.

“In order to be a competitive championship team, we need athletes that are willing to do a wide range of events and challenge themselves to score points for the team,” Moren said.

Moren said for the girls, it ends with a chance to add a league banner to a perfect record. For the boys, the math is already in their favor — now it’s just a matter of finishing the job.

Watsonville city officials have ended a short-lived paid parking pilot along Aviation Way after pushback from local businesses, removing meters just days after the program launched.

The 30-day pilot, which began earlier this week along the busy commercial strip at 45 Aviation Way, was intended to test whether paid parking could improve turnover and availability. The program charged $1 to $2 per hour from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and was scheduled to run through May 27.

But business owners reported a drop in customers and raised concerns that the fees would discourage visitors from stopping at the cluster of restaurants and shops, including Honeylux Coffee, Beer Mule and Slice Project.

In a statement released after the program was halted, City Manager Tamara Vides said the pilot achieved its purpose by quickly generating feedback.

“This pilot program is doing exactly what it’s intended to do. It’s giving us immediate, real-world feedback from the people who use these areas every day,” Vides said. “We heard our community clearly, and we are responding.”

The city said it observed some early improvements in parking use and turnover in both Aviation Way and downtown Watsonville, where meters remain in place. Officials will continue evaluating the downtown portion of the pilot while exploring alternative solutions for Aviation Way.

The Aviation Way test had drawn sharp criticism during this week’s City Council meeting, where business owners said the meters were already affecting foot traffic.

Brando Sencion, co-owner of Slice Project, previously told the council his business saw a “huge dip” in customers almost immediately after the meters were installed. He also said he had to pay to park while making deliveries to his own shop.

Shawd DeWitt, co-owner of Beer Mule, warned the added cost could drive customers elsewhere and force businesses to absorb new expenses, such as subsidizing employee parking.

Some council members also expressed concern about the rollout. Councilman Jimmy Dutra called the Aviation Way corridor “one of our successful areas” and said he did not want to “put a wrench in it,” while Councilman Eduardo Montesino said he had received complaints from residents and questioned the need for meters in that location.

Following the city’s decision to remove the meters, Sencion said business owners felt heard.

“We are really grateful to the city for listening and taking action so quickly,” he said in the press release. “We left the meeting feeling heard and optimistic about better solutions moving forward.”

City officials said the brief Aviation Way pilot still provided useful insights and helped open dialogue with the business community as they consider future parking strategies. Any long-term changes would require City Council approval.

A 42-year-old Castroville man has been arrested on suspicion of human trafficking, attempted murder and multiple other felony charges following an investigation that began with a reported assault outside a local shopping center, according to the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office.

Eric Adam Melendrez was taken into custody April 28 in Salinas after detectives located him driving a silver Honda CR-V, the sheriff’s office said. He was arrested without incident.

The case began on April 23, when witnesses reported seeing a man strangling a woman near the shopping center at 11290 Merritt St. in Castroville around 11:45pm. A sheriff’s sergeant responded and located the woman, while deputies also found a vehicle linked to the suspect nearby containing evidence, authorities said.

During the initial investigation, the woman told deputies she had been sexually trafficked by Melendrez, who had fled before law enforcement arrived, according to the sheriff’s office.

Detectives with the agency’s Violent Crimes Unit took over the case. Authorities said that when Melendrez was arrested five days later, he was found with suspected methamphetamine, as well as smaller quantities of heroin and fentanyl, along with cash and scales consistent with narcotics sales.

Melendrez was found to be in possession of this suspected methamphetamine. (Contributed)

Search warrants served at multiple locations in Monterey County led to the seizure of additional narcotics, a firearm and items investigators believe are connected to sex trafficking, including condoms, lingerie and perfumes, the sheriff’s office said.

Detectives also said they obtained evidence that Melendrez threatened the victim with a knife and attempted to prevent her from cooperating with law enforcement.

Based on the investigation, authorities sought a $1 million bail enhancement and obtained an emergency protective order for the victim.

Melendrez was booked into Monterey County Jail on charges including human trafficking, attempted murder, pimping, pandering, corporal injury to a spouse or cohabitant, possession of controlled substances for sale, being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, and dissuading a victim, according to the sheriff’s office.

Investigators said they believe there may be additional victims who have not come forward. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Janelli Arroyo at 831-755-7261 or Detective Sgt. Nicholas Kennedy at 831.755.3773.

The investigation remains ongoing.

Protesters gathered in the Overlook Center in Watsonville Friday to highlight worker’s rights, condemn Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) round ups of immigrants, the use of Flock surveillance camera systems on city streets and other issues.

More than 120 people gathered and waved signs and chanted in front of the Target Store claiming the chain retailer endorses ICE presence and is “one of the biggest union busters in the country.” Protesters also said Target has eliminated their Diversity Equity and Inclusion policies. After an hour, the group marched south on Man Street to Romo Park in downtown Watsonville to join the annual May Day Picnic. 

Headed up by the Monterey Bay Central Labor Council Friday’s  theme for May Day was “Honor Working People.” 

The 4pm rally and escuelita (little school) at Romo Park addressed issues such as “Tax billionaires and corporations,” “Fund healthcare and education,” and “Not war and deportation.”

Source: Watsonville Police Department

April 24

• Someone stole a vehicle parked on the 100 block of Menker Street at about 6am.

• An unknown suspect kicked in the door of a residence on the 100 block of Rio Del Pajaro Court at about 7:30pm. No suspect was located. 

April 25

• Officers responded to a shoplifting report at a business on the 1400 block of Main Street at 8:18am. Police searched the area, but no suspects were found.

• A 49-year-old man was arrested for brandishing a knife at multiple victims on the 100 block of Marchant Street at 6:59pm. He was taken to Santa Cruz County Jail.

• Police responded to a report of a shoplifter who had just left a business on the 1400 block of Main Street. A 51-year-old man was arrested and taken to Santa Cruz County Jail.

• A victim reported being assaulted by two suspects with sticks on the 200 block of Pennsylvania Avenue at 2am on April 19. The suspects fled in a gray Camaro.

April 26

• Watsonville Police reported an attempted burglary at Cal Giant on the 100 block of Sakata Lane. Surveillance video showed a man attempting to break into the business around 5:30am. He was unidentifiable in the video.

• A father reported that his 35-year-old son was causing a disturbance at his residence on the 600 block of Delta Way. The son was under a restraining order, and remains at large.

April 27

• A 65-year-old man was arrested for public intoxication after he was seen urinating in front of a residence on the 900 block of Freedom Boulevard.

April 28

• Unknown suspects tried unsuccessfully to break into a business on the 400 block of Main Street at about 4am. The suspects have not been identified, but video surveillance is available.

• A 44-year-old man was arrested for shoplifting and trespassing from a business on the 1400 block of Main Street at 1:50pm.

April 29

• A man disappeared like smoke after he stole two packs of cigarettes from the Chevron gas station on the 1900 block of Freedom Boulevard at 9:44pm. The suspect is still at large.

The Watsonville Police Department last week welcomed its newest officer.

Beau Baugher began during his time as a Watsonville Police Cadet in 2011, where he first developed a strong connection to serving the community.

Before joining, he worked as a paramedic with American Medical Response and later served as a Deputy with the San Benito County Sheriff’s Office.

Who Really Saved Watsonville Community Hospital

Tony Nunez’s claim that he “saved” Watsonville Community Hospital is simply not credible.

The hospital remains in a fragile financial position, with tens of millions in debt and ongoing concerns raised in a recent audit presented to the Pajaro Valley Health Care District. That’s

not what success looks like—and it certainly doesn’t justify rewriting history.

Let’s be clear about what actually happened. In 2022, when Watsonville Community Hospital was on the brink of closing, Santa Cruz County stepped in when others could not. 

The County led a $61.5 million fundraising effort, contributed millions in public funding, secured state support, coordinated bridge financing, and dedicated thousands of staff hours to establish the Pajaro Valley Health Care District.

That work was led by the current Board of Supervisors, county staff, and many community partners. That leadership didn’t come from campaign rhetoric—it came from real action

led by Supervisor Felipe Hernandez and the current Board of Supervisors. Because of

that work, South County families still have access to emergency care, labor and delivery,

and essential health services today.

Taking credit for a broad, community-driven effort—especially when the hospital is still facing

serious challenges—raises real concerns about judgment and accountability. Our community

deserves leaders who are honest about both the progress made and the work that remains.

This is not the time for inexperience or political spin. It’s a time for leadership that understands

how to navigate complex challenges and deliver real results.

Supervisor Felipe Hernandez has done exactly that—securing over $850 million in investments

for the Pajaro Valley, advancing the Pajaro River Levee Project, improving critical infrastructure,

advocating for the opening South County Government Center, and expanding parks and youth

spaces, including Valle del Pájaro Park.

Born and raised in Watsonville, Supervisor Hernandez is a decorated veteran and a proud

graduate of Watsonville High School. He has served our community at every level—as a

Watsonville City Councilmember, Mayor, Cabrillo College Board Trustee, and now as our

current County Supervisor—bringing both experience and a deep commitment to the Pajaro

Valley.

South County needs steady, experienced leadership—not self-promotion. That’s why I’m

supporting Felipe Hernandez for Supervisor.

— Arcadio Viveros

Former Director, Salud Para La Gente

Former Chair, Watsonville Planning Commission

•••

Questioning the local election system

The upcoming Santa Cruz mayoral race raises concerns about fairness and transparency. A crowded field of progressive candidates seems positioned to split the vote and prevent any one candidate, especially one with broader appeal, from reaching the 50% needed to win outright in June.

This nearly guarantees a November runoff, when turnout patterns change. The return of UC Santa Cruz students will significantly alter the electorate, possibly deciding a race that impacts full-time residents year-round.

Whether intentional or not, this dynamic risks eroding confidence in the process. Elections should be decided by ideas and leadership, not by strategic voting.

If the city’s political future increasingly depends on a transient student population, it might be time for a broader discussion about representation and governance. Residents should question whether the current system truly reflects the community’s will.

Santa Cruz deserves a fair, transparent contest — not one that seems rigged for a predetermined outcome.

Mike Lelieur

Santa Cruz

A shocking political event took place in Europe last month. On the strength of a 74% turnout—the largest in Hungary’s history—prime minister Viktor Orban’s 16 year tenure came to an abrupt end when opposition leader Peter Magyar and his Tisza party defied the odds and scored an overwhelming electoral victory over Fidesz, with Orban’s party, securing a 2/3 majority in the incoming Hungarian parliament. 

This victory will allow the new government, if it desires, to change the Hungarian constitution, and will greatly facilitate a comprehensive sweep of state institutions to eliminate the “state capture” imposed during Orban’s rule, which significantly weakened the independence of these institutions. Tisza benefited when all centrist and left-wing parties voluntarily withdrew from the election campaign, giving Magyar a clear one on one contest against Fidesz and Orban.

Outside of Hungary, the biggest immediate beneficiary of this result will likely be Ukraine, which is now set to receive a 90 billion Euro E.U. loan which, up to now, had been blocked by Orban. In addition, Hungary will soon receive 17 billion euros – about 8% of its GDP – in return for the incoming government undoing actions and laws implemented under Orban that were incompatible with EU rules. This outcome appears to highlight how opposition movements can challenge entrenched regimes and offers lessons for democratic recovery. Tisza’s electoral victory prompted multiple analysts to consider whether it could be an indication that far-right political populism is losing ground, that the pendulum is about to swing back.

After the 2008 great recession, right-wing populism surged in western democracies. The movement gained increased momentum during the mid 2010s because of growing anti-immigration sentiment, euro skepticism, and a backlash against globalization and political elites. 

During the mid 2010s political factions increasingly focused on immigration issues, and moved from the fringes to the mainstream, supported by a migrant crisis, which fed into cultural concerns about identity, border security and opposition to “woke” ideologies, economic concerns, globalization and disillusionment with the status quo. 

Many of these issues emerged within the destabilizing environment of rapidly accelerating social change, amplified by a targeted use of social media and news outlets. It became relatively easy for charismatic politicians to champion any or all of these political wedge issues.

The political pendulum refers to the theory that power and public sentiment naturally swing back and forth between ideological extremes—most often between left-leaning progressivism and right-leaning conservatism. After one political ideology remains in power for an extended period of time, the theory is that voters tend to become frustrated with its perceived excess or failures, generating a natural correction toward the opposite side of the spectrum. Observers are suggesting that this is what we are seeing take place in a growing number of countries governed by right-wing populist parties or coalitions.

Far-right populist governments have frequently failed to deliver for many constituencies. They frequently did not manage to fulfill their radical promises after assuming office and face practical governmental requirements. As voters begin to focus on personal economic concerns rather than culture wars, populist parties often struggle with mismanagement, internal scandals, and reliance on charismatic leaders who lack depth. Primary examples of countries with personality-dependent governments include Italy with Georgia Meloni, the U.S. under Trump and Hungary under Orban and Turkey with Erdogan. Aside from these primary distractors challenging populist governments, mainstream parties are beginning to get better at addressing the grievances that fueled the populist surge of the past number of years.

Indications that an ideological shift may be forthcoming appear to be growing. Aside from Orban in Hungary, Meloni in Italy recently lost passage of her flagship referendum designed to initiate judicial reform; in France centrist and left-leaning forces won elections in Paris, Lyon, Marseille and other right-wing footholds; in Slovenia liberal prime minister Robert Golob’s Freedom Movement edged out the right-wing former prime minister Janez Jansa’s Slovenian Democratic Party; and in The Netherlands in a late 2025 election resulted in a significant shift toward the center and left when its far-right led coalition collapsed.

Under these circumstances it may be tempting to predict the beginning of a major political shift. However, as professor Gabor Scheiring  at Georgetown University in Qatar cautions, the steam may be running out of the far-right populist movement, these indicators could also reflect isolated setbacks, not necessarily a pendulum swing.

Stay tuned.

Students in Watsonville High School’s Hope Club unveiled a “Peace Pole” Friday during a community-wide peace ceremony at the campus library.

The permanent monument, engraved with the message “May Peace Prevail on Earth” in eight languages, was created to serve as a cornerstone of the Hope Club’s mission “to foster unity, reflection, and positivity within the student body and the broader Watsonville community.”

“At a time when there is so much conflict and grief in the world, the students wanted to help uplift people’s spirits,” said school counselor Daisy Nuñez who helped spearhead the project.

Senior and Hope Club member Crystal Martinez said she and fellow students have been working on the project since January.

“It feels good; it has been one of the best things that has happened to me. It was a big struggle, but we made it.” 

Nuñez said students in grades 9-12 worked on the project.

“I have felt so much support from the group, the body of students,” said Angelita Zaratewho lost her son, a WHS 2025 graduate, to suicide. In the company of her husband, Uvaldo, she added. “I felt a lot of warmth in the room today.”

Students presented visitors with a handprinted greeting card with their original artwork.

Around 150 people, including students, staff, families, and the local community attended the hour-long event that included brief talks by Hope Club 10 students who highlighted, among other things, three deaths by the deaths of three Watsonville High students and a stabbing attack recently at the campus.

Hope Club is a student-led organization that focuses on “promoting mental wellness, social harmony, and a supportive campus culture through community-building events and inclusive initiatives,” WHS officials said.

Of the Peace Pole, which features English, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, Italian, Mixteco, Japanese, and French, student Hilda González-Basurto wrote, “The message of hope in our Peace Pole comes from the understanding that, even though we speak different languages and come from different cultures, we all share the same desire for peace, kindness and connection.”

In addition to a program, created by students, each visitor was presented with a handprinted greeting card with their original artwork.

A Santa Cruz County-based science education group took top honors in a regional underwater robotics competition April 25, earning a return trip to an international contest in Newfoundland, Canada.

The Hephaestus Robotics Team, part of the Santa Cruz County Office of Education’s X Academy Robotics Clubs, placed first in the advanced Ranger Class at the Marine Advanced Technology Education Monterey Bay Regional Remotely Operated Vehicles (MATE ROV) competition at Watsonville High School. The finish secures the team a spot at the world championships June 25–27 in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador.

“It’s amazing,” said X Academy co-founder Barbara Meister. “It is an affirmation of the talent of young people in our county.”

The win marks the team’s third consecutive trip to the international competition, where students from around the world test underwater robots they design and build.

The annual event drew hundreds of students from roughly 20 schools across the Bay Area. Teams constructed remotely operated vehicles, or ROVs, capable of completing mission-based tasks modeled after real-world ocean engineering challenges.

This year’s competition simulated work in the frigid waters off Newfoundland—often called “Iceberg Alley”—where freezing temperatures, rough seas and icebergs complicate research. The scenario was inspired in part by the recent discovery of a dense deep-sea coral garden in the region, a biodiversity hotspot more than 200 meters below the surface.

“Everything we’re simulating in the pool is something that scientists have done out there,” said Matt Gardner, the MATE ROV competition’s technical manager.

Students navigated obstacle courses, retrieved objects from the pool floor and gathered simulated data from icy surface conditions. In addition to the engineering challenges, teams presented their designs to judges, including scientists from Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute.

Hephaestus, made up of 25 students from nine high schools across Santa Cruz County and beyond, competed alongside another local X Academy team, Berrybotics, which placed third in the Ranger Class. Valley Christian School’s Warrior Tides took second.

Berrybotics team member Orlando Cazales, 17, a senior at Diamond Tech in Watsonville, said the group saw improvement from last year.

Berrybotics team member Orlando Cazales carries the team’s ROV—called Krabby Patty—from the pool. (Todd Guild/The Pajaronian)

“We did very well compared to last year,” he said. “And everything went fluid. Everything went smooth.”

The Berrybotics robot was dubbed “Krabby Patty” after the cartoon “Spongebob Squarepants.”

“We’ve poured over eight months of hard work and dedication into our ROV and float,” Cazales said.

Annika Skrovan, 15, an Aptos High School student, said time constraints added pressure during the competition.

“We only had 15 minutes, so it’s important to get as much done as possible,” she said. “We didn’t get everything done, but nobody does.”

Hephaestus student leader Julia Tick, a junior at Pacific Collegiate School, said the team had to quickly build cohesion.

“We started with a lot of new members from eight different high schools across Santa Cruz County and had some serious learning to do—not only in engineering, but also in working cohesively as a team,” she said.

The X Academy Robotics Clubs program is a partnership between the Santa Cruz County Office of Education and nonprofit X Academy. It provides students hands-on experience in engineering, computer science and teamwork at no cost.

“We want to bring as many students as we can, regardless of their ability to pay,” Meister said. “That’s what X Academy’s mission is about: creating more rich STEM opportunities in this county.”

Founded by Meister and her husband, Joby Aviation engineer Tim Sylvester, the program has grown to include dozens of students from schools throughout the county, supported by volunteer mentors who meet on weekends during the school year.

Organizers say the program’s impact extends beyond robotics.

“STEM is really important, and why we do what we do is to get these kids interested in STEM,” Gardner said. “For the youngest kids, it’s really showing them that science is cool.”

Even for students who pursue other careers, he said, the experience builds skills that carry into fields ranging from automotive design to aerospace engineering.

Now, teams are preparing for the 4,300-mile trip to Canada, including fundraising efforts to help cover travel costs.

That includes an event on May 3 from 4 to 9pm at the Hook and Line restaurant at 101 Walnut Ave. in Santa Cruz. 

“We want to bring as many students as we can,” Meister said.

For information or to donate, visit xacademy.org.

Pajaro Valley Unified School District Trustee Misty Navarro was appointed to the board in October 2024, joining at a time when five of the seven members were new to elected office.

What followed was a steep learning curve, often marked by volatility, as members worked to learn how to collaborate and govern a district that includes 34 schools, roughly 16,000 students and thousands of employees.

Now, with her term set to end in November, Navarro said the board has largely coalesced around its mission to improve student outcomes, and she is seeking reelection.

She said that progress was reinforced Wednesday during a goals and guardrails workshop, where the board discussed effective meeting management.

“I feel like I kind of just started getting a handle on everything,” Navarro said. “And I feel like our work is just getting started.”

With a potential economic downturn, projected enrollment declines and the ongoing need to improve student achievement, Navarro said maintaining continuity on the board is critical.

“To have another big turnover of the board, I don’t think is the best thing for our district at this time,” she said. “I’ve decided that I’m not quite done yet. I don’t feel like I’ve done what I set out to do.”

Priorities

Navarro represents Trustee Area 7, which includes the Central Coast, La Selva Beach and Rio del Mar.

She said the district is focused on improving third-grade literacy, calling it a “pivotal time” for developing readers.

“And we only have up to go, really,” she said. “If you compare us to the Salinas area and their school district, they have a very similar population to us and they’re outperforming us. There’s no reason that we can’t expect more from our students.”

Improving outcomes will require changes at the district level, Navarro said.

“Clearly it’s not our students that have been failing,” she said. “We haven’t been effective in what we were doing, and we need to do something different.”

Navarro also pointed to improving math performance — particularly preparing incoming freshmen to pass Math 1 — as well as strengthening college readiness, critical thinking and media literacy.

“Those were our four goals that we came up with, making sure that kids have the supports that they need,” she said.

She added that the district must continue focusing on its most vulnerable students, including those experiencing homelessness, those in foster care and students in special education.

“I feel like the majority of us on the board are in agreement about the direction we want this board to go,” Navarro said.

While tensions on the board have eased over the past year, disagreements between Navarro and Trustee Gabriel Medina — who has also clashed with other board members, Superintendent Heather Contreras and some cabinet members — still affect portions of meetings.

Navarro said those challenges have been part of her learning process.

“I really think that we are working together more collaboratively,” she said. “And I own my own responses over the last year, and I have tried over the last eight months or so to not take the bait and try to rise above it.”

If reelected, Navarro would continue her tenure following a recent round of layoffs affecting teachers and other employees, actions the district took to address a budget deficit.

She said she does not want those decisions to define her time on the board.

“We’ve had to make some really hard, painful decisions to maintain fiscal solvency,” she said. “And I don’t want to just make all the tough decisions. I want to actually be around when we start seeing the changes happen and can focus more on our student outcomes. I want to be around to see our students being more successful.”

Navarro said improving mental health services is another priority, while ensuring those services remain financially sustainable.

“As an emergency physician, I see this all the time in my work, and it’s something that I feel really passionate about,” she said. “But at the end of the day, what we were paying for the services we were providing is not sustainable. Mental health is still a huge priority to me, and I’ve been in lots of discussions with our mental health providers and our academic counselors, who are still going to be there.”

Navarro’s reelection bid also comes as the district prepares to receive a report from the newly formed Sustainable Schools Advisory Team, which is studying whether — and how — to close schools with low enrollment.

“It’s going to be painful no matter what,” she said. “Nobody wants their neighborhood school to close. It comes with a whole host of difficult decisions and community engagement, and it’s not an easy process, which is why we’re trying to be really mindful and have as much community engagement as possible.”

Construction work has been completed on a major sidewalk and road repair project along Main Street (Highway 152) in Watsonville, where a chunk of land collapsed at Struve Slough. 

The rupture—between Clifford Avenue and Watsonville Square where Nob Hill is located—took out a length of sidewalk, curb and gutter on the north side of Main Street, forcing officials to close the sidewalk to pedestrians.

Sarah Christensen, executive director of the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission, said that since the job fell under emergency status, it was completed in “record time.”

Watsonsville City Council member Casey Clark said he was urged by residents in his district to push for completion of the project.

“It feels wonderful,” he said Wednesday during a completion ceremony. “We just increased the safety for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists. Working with Caltrans and raising the funds was a win for Watsonville. We’re so pleased to get this done.”

City and County officials joined Regional Transportation Commission officials for a ribbon cutting ceremony Tuesday on Main Street. (Tarmo Hannula/The Pajaronian)

The $5.09 million repair, performed by Caltrans with Graniterock as the contractor, included excavation, placement of lightweight fill, paving, new sidewalks, curbs, gutters and drainage improvements. Upgraded paved trails that lead into existing slough trails were also completed.

The Pajaro Valley United 2013 boys team was crowned NorCal State Cup champions after an impressive nine-month campaign competing against top teams across Northern California. 

PV United defeated Albion Silicon Valley of San Mateo in a hard-fought 1-0 victory in the Gold Division finals at the Davis Legacy Soccer Complex on April 26.

“It was a tightly contested game that showcased the team’s discipline, teamwork and unwavering competitive spirit,” said PV United manager Adriana Mata in an email.

PV United ‘13 is a program under the Pajaro Valley Youth Soccer Club. The team is made up of 17 dedicated middle school student-athletes — 15 from Pajaro Valley Unified School District and two from Watsonville Prep.

Their journey began in the group stage and advanced through a highly competitive knockout phase, which included more than 850 teams across 30 divisions.

As a result of their achievement, the players will be honored by the San Jose Earthquakes in May and July. 

Mata said this recognition reflects not only their success on the field, but also their consistent demonstration of resilience, determination and strong character throughout the season. 

“Their ability to persevere against high-level competition speaks to their growth not only as athletes, but as teammates and young leaders in our community,” she said.

Pajaro Valley Unified School District on Wednesday declared an impasse in ongoing negotiations with the teachers union, setting the stage for possible intervention by a state-appointed mediator.

In a letter to district staff, PVUSD Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Kit Bragg said a previous proposal to give teachers a 7.77% salary increase while capping medical benefits was an attempt to “increase take-home pay while also adjusting benefit structures to strengthen long-term fiscal sustainability.”

“We brought this forward in good faith, hopeful it would serve as a starting point for meaningful dialogue,” Bragg wrote. “Recognizing the parties have substantial differences, PVUSD is requesting the state to appoint a neutral mediator to assist the parties.”

Bragg said the district’s responsibility is “to pursue agreements that are both competitive for employees and financially sustainable for the district.”

“Our goal is to offer competitive salaries, maintain strong, restructured benefits, ensure fiscal responsibility, and continue strengthening our programs to support improved student outcomes,” he wrote.

But the Pajaro Valley Federation of Teachers says the cap is a nonstarter, arguing that the modest salary increase does not cover the increased costs of their insurance plans—roughly $12,000 per year.

PVFT President Brandon Diniz said the union is also seeking smaller class sizes and lower caseloads for special education teachers.

Diniz said a message sent to teachers Wednesday afternoon asking whether they would support a strike showed overwhelming support. The survey runs through May 11.

“We’re going to be gearing up and ready to take all avenues available to us in this process,” he said.

The district’s announcement came about a month after it sent layoff notices to 85 teachers, a number Diniz expects to grow as the May 15 final layoff deadline approaches.

In addition, the district is looking to address its $29.3 million deficit by considering closing schools with low enrollment.

“They’re eliminating teachers through layoffs,” Diniz said. “We’re now looking at closing schools. Our students can’t afford for us to continue with this status quo, business-as-usual approach. So we want to see some movement on class sizes, and we’re not willing to budge on that benefits cap.”

The union plans to hold a rally before the next PVUSD board meeting, scheduled for May 6 in the Watsonville City Council chambers.

“We’re hoping to see our members and the community show up in force,” he said.

If mediation fails—a process that takes roughly a month—the union can request a three-member panel (one union representative, one employer representative and one neutral chair) to review the evidence and issue a nonbinding report with recommendations for settlement.

If no agreement is reached after that, and following a required 10-day quiet period, the district can make its last, best and final offer, Diniz wrote. If that offer is rejected, the union could then consider a strike.

The Queer Youth Leadership Awards (QYLA) has, in the decades since its inception, honored young lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people (LGBTQ+) whose advocacy and activism have made notable impacts in their communities.

That work comes at a time when, across the United States, roughly 525 bills are moving through legislative processes that would in some way affect the rights of LGBTQ+ people.

The proposed laws would, among other things, prohibit certain curriculum, affect which restrooms people can use, limit which sports teams they can play on and restrict what topics can be taught in K-8 classrooms.

While such debates have occurred nationwide for decades, the prejudice that drives them has a real and lasting impact on young people who identify as LGBTQ+.

These youth face a significantly higher risk of suicide than their peers, with studies showing they are more than four times as likely to attempt it. National estimates indicate that more than 1.8 million LGBTQ+ people ages 13 to 24 seriously consider suicide each year in the United States, and at least one attempt occurs roughly every 45 seconds, according to The Trevor Project, a nonprofit that provides suicide prevention and crisis intervention services for young people.

That need for broader acceptance and understanding is at the heart of the QYLA.

Created by the Queer Youth Task Force, the annual ceremony also aims to foster understanding and acceptance in the community.

This year’s event is scheduled for 5:30pm on Saturday, May 9, at Pajaro Valley High School in Watsonville. qyla.org for information.

Some of the honorees

Ash Immoor

QYLA nominee Ash Immoor, 17, is a student at Watsonville-based El Nido High School and a student trustee on the Santa Cruz County Board of Education, where he has emerged as an advocate for LGBTQ+ inclusion and student voice.

Ash Immoor

He successfully pushed to expand the county’s “United Against Hate” resolution to explicitly include bullying, a change adopted unanimously, and has urged board members to use more inclusive language, particularly for students with disabilities.

He has also conducted outreach to alternative education campuses, bringing student concerns directly to county leaders.

Immoor, who identifies as a trans male, said a rise in anti-trans legislation and rhetoric nationwide has made it more difficult — and at times unsafe — for LGBTQ+ youth to exist openly. He pointed to policies targeting gender-affirming care and restrictions such as bathroom bills as contributing to stigma and increased risk.

He said he struggled growing up without the language to describe his identity and that access to gender-affirming care significantly improved his mental health while helping his family better understand and support him.

“I thought, ‘Wait — I don’t have to be a girl,’” Immoor said. “And then I started learning about all that stuff. And I did a lot of inner learning.”

A trans youth representative, Immoor has also spoken publicly about the importance of gender-affirming care, from medical access to respecting pronouns, including as a panelist in community discussions.

He emphasized the need for stronger protections in schools, where he said bullying of trans students remains a serious issue.

“Everyone is deserving of kindness,” he said. “It’s really important that we use our voices right now to speak up for our community and ensure we have a safe future.”

Immoor plans to pursue a career in the medical field and is currently training in Cabrillo College’s EMT program with the goal of becoming a pediatric nurse.

Aaliyah Arellano

Watsonville High School student Aaliyah Arellano said she grew up around boys, playing sports such as baseball, football and basketball. She currently plays basketball and is captain of her school’s flag football team.

Arellano said she also eschewed “girl clothes” in favor of more comfortable clothing similar to what her male peers wore.

Aaliyah Arellano

Keeping LGBTQ+ issues at the forefront of public discussion is vital, she said.

“…because later on in life, it’s a big part of finding out who you are,” she said. “And I feel like sometimes people want to turn away from all of that because they think their parents might be disappointed. But I think it’s just really important to find yourself first.”

That realization came in middle school, she said.

“I knew who I wanted to be, and I stuck with it,” she said.

She first told her mother, who already suspected she was gay, and later her more traditional father, who eventually accepted her.

“At the end of the day, he and his family all accepted me for who I was,” she said.

Arellano, who QYLA organizers say serves as a queer advocate among her peers, said events such as the QYLA are important, particularly in the current political climate.

“I think it is because there are people who have a hard time coming out,” she said. “Events like this help them feel more comfortable with themselves. There’s always going to be people who support you, and people who do not. But it’s best to believe in yourself and what you want in your life.”

Jennifer Gill

Watsonville Charter School of the Arts teacher Jennifer Gill serves as an adviser for the school’s Gay-Straight Alliance, which meets twice weekly during lunch.

“It’s just magical,” she said of the QYLA ceremony. “It’s so important because it’s one of the only times these students are included in an event that’s totally focused on honoring the LGBTQ community.”

The event is for adults, youth from elementary through high school, and their parents.

“It’s one of those moments where they light up — they can be themselves,” Gill said. “To have such an elegant event that’s just for them is inspiring, and I think it really touches their hearts.”

For information, including purchasing tickets, visit bit.ly/4tCrnlv

•••

There are three awards:

• Queer Youth Leadership Award

• Ally to Queer Youth Award

• Organizational Ally to Queer Youth Award  

(For each award, there are nominees and awardees)

2026 Queer Youth Leadership — Awardees

Ash R. Immoor

He / him / his

Student, El Nido School

Everest Vasquez

Student, Harbor High School

Jasper Albrecht

They / them / their & he / him / his

Student, Cypress High School

Nayela Soledad Reynoso

He / him / his & they / them / their

Student, Anzar High School

2026 Queer Youth Leadership — Nominees

Aaliyah A. Arellano

She / her / hers

Student, Watsonville High School

Bryce Grossman

They / them / their

Student, Santa Cruz High School

Destyni Huggins

She / her / hers & they / them / their

Student, Branciforte Middle School

Farley Blackmun

He / him / his

Student, San Lorenzo Valley Middle School

Katherine “Kate” Figueroa

They / them / their

Student, Pajaro Valley High School

Mark, Adel Mendoza Luengas

any pronouns

Student, Pajaro Valley High School

Mireya “MJ” Reynoso

They / them / their

Student, Anzar High School

Petra King

She / her / hers & they / them / their

Student, San Lorenzo Valley Middle School

Wren Harmon

She / her / hers

Student, Santa Cruz High School

Yudit “Alex” Ramos

She / her / hers

Student, New School

Zoe McMahon

Any / all pronouns

Student, Branciforte Middle School

2026 Ally to Queer Youth — Awardee

Andrea Damon

She / her / hers 

Associate Director, TransFamilies of Santa Cruz County

2026 Ally to Queer Youth — Nominees

Christina Souza

they/them

Counselor, Aptos High School

Conor O’Brien

He / him / his

Advisor, Santa Cruz High School Rainbow Alliance

Eli Davies

They / them / their

Advisor, PRISM Club

Dr. Faris Sabbah 

He / him / his 

Superintendent, Santa Cruz County Office of Education  

Jennifer Gill

She / her / hers

Advisor, Watsonville Charter School of the Arts (WCSA) Gay Straight Alliance (GSA)

Kellee Matsushita-Tseng

They / them / their & she / her / hers

Farm & Land Stewardship Manager, Food, What?!

Veronica Vasquez Gudiño

She / her / hers

Student, San Jose State University

2026 Organizational Ally to Queer Youth — Awardee

Santa Cruz Community Health (SCCH)

2026 Organizational Ally to Queer Youth — Nominees

Cabrillo College Rainbow Council

Lakeview Middle School Queer-Straight Alliance (QSA)

Rainbow Defense Coalition of Santa Cruz County & the Pajaro Valley

Renegade Theater Co.

Youth Empowerment & Action for Health (YEAH!)

Organizers are calling on residents across Santa Cruz County to “pitch in” May 9 for a coordinated cleanup stretching from Davenport to Watsonville.

The third annual Pitch-In Santa Cruz event aims to build on last year’s turnout of about 750 volunteers, with dozens of cleanup sites planned countywide, according to organizer Sally-Christine Rodgers.

“The goal is to make Santa Cruz the cleanest county in the state,” she said.

Volunteers are expected to fan out across the North Coast, San Lorenzo Valley, Scotts Valley, Santa Cruz, Capitola, Watsonville and Corralitos, tackling litter in neighborhoods, parks and waterways. Residents can sign up for a location and time at pitchinsantacruz.org or simply show up at a listed site, organizers said.

For Rodgers, the effort is rooted in a simple message: reducing litter is a shared responsibility.

“Because I love where we live,” she said. “There is no reason for any of us to litter. We want to change the behavior of littering. It’s bad for the environment, it’s bad for human health, and it’s bad for our community.”

This year’s event coincides with Mother’s Day weekend, a tie-in organizers are leaning into with the tagline: “Make your mother proud and do something good for Mother Nature.”

A central gathering in Watsonville will be held in partnership with the city’s Second Saturday celebration, with activities anchored around the Watsonville Youth Center. The event will include a scavenger hunt-style cleanup where participants collect trash and visit participating downtown businesses before returning to the youth center.

Organizers describe the Watsonville event as family-friendly, with music and activities designed to draw residents downtown while contributing to the cleanup.

Pitch-In Santa Cruz is supported by a broad coalition of public agencies, schools and nonprofits, including Cabrillo College, UC Santa Cruz, Pajaro Valley Unified School District, the Santa Cruz County Office of Education, Watsonville Wetlands Watch, Save Our Shores and the Coastal Watershed Council.

The effort also includes partnerships with the Farm Bureau, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Community Foundation Santa Cruz County, law enforcement agencies, fire departments, service clubs and local chambers of commerce.

Organizers say the event is part of a larger push to maintain Santa Cruz County’s designation as a “Clean California” community.

While past events have tracked metrics such as the volume of trash collected, Christine said the broader goal is building a lasting community habit.

“This is about something everyone can do,” she said. “We can all stop littering or pick up litter when you see it.”

Cleanup times vary by location, with many starting around 9am, and the Watsonville event beginning later in the morning. Most shifts run about two hours.

More information, including site locations and signup details, is available at the county-hosted Pitch-In Santa Cruz website.

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.