The Pajaro Valley Health Care District board of directors voted 3-2 to close Watsonville Community Hospital’s maternity services, which includes labor and delivery, and its neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The decision does not mean an immediate closure, and the board could rescind its decision if funding becomes available.
Tania Ortiz
Tania Ortiz joins Lookout Santa Cruz as the California Local News Fellow to cover South County. Tania earned her master’s degree in journalism in December 2023 from Syracuse University, where she was a Newhouse Diversity News Fellow. In Syracuse, she covered life and culture for Syracuse.com, writing features on local artists and organizations making an impact on the community.
While studying for her master’s, Tania also reported on feminist collectives in Mexico and their efforts to support families of femicide victims as a Pulitzer Center grantee. She’s also written for other publications such as the Charleston City Paper, The South Side Stand and the Los Angeles Journal.
Originally from Oceanside, Tania is excited to be reporting in her home state after living on the East Coast for two years. She looks forward to learning more about Santa Cruz County and connecting with the community through her reporting.
Posted inHealth & Wellness
La junta directiva del Hospital Comunitario de Watsonville vota a favor de cerrar los servicios de maternidad y la unidad de cuidados intensivos neonatales
La junta directiva del Distrito de Atención Médica del Valle del Pájaro (Pajaro Valley Health Care District) votó 3 a 2 a favor de cerrar los servicios de maternidad, incluidos el trabajo de parto y el parto, así como la unidad de cuidados intensivos neonatales (UCIN). La decisión no implica un cierre inmediato, y la junta podría revocar su decisión si se consigue financiamiento.
Posted inLatest News
‘An inspiration to many’: Dolores Huerta’s legacy lives on in Santa Cruz County activists she inspired
Dolores Huerta, the pioneering labor leader and co-founder of United Farm Workers, inspired generations of activists across Santa Cruz County. Local leaders from Watsonville to Santa Cruz remember her as a champion for farmworkers, women’s rights and community activism.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Watsonville Community Hospital nurses reassure immigrant patients after reported ICE sighting
Nurses at Watsonville Community Hospital held an emergency news conference Tuesday afternoon following reports of immigration agents patrolling the property. They say patients are still safe to seek services at the hospital.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Sheriff says ICE gave no warning before agents showed up at Santa Cruz County jail
Santa Cruz County Sheriff Chris Clark told Lookout that his department was not aware that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were planning to be at Santa Cruz Main Jail on Saturday.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
El alguacil de Santa Cruz dice que ICE no avisó antes de que sus agentes se presentaran en la cárcel del condado
El sheriff del condado de Santa Cruz, Chris Clark, dijo a Lookout que su departamento no sabía que agentes del Servicio de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas de Estados Unidos (ICE) tenían previsto presentarse el sábado en la cárcel principal de Santa Cruz.
Posted inHealth & Wellness
Watsonville Community Hospital board to consider closing maternity services, NICU at Wednesday meeting
Watsonville Community Hospital’s board is scheduled to decide whether to shutter the facility’s labor and delivery services and neonatal intensive care unit as the financially struggling hospital faces mounting losses. Nurses, doctors and community members are urging leaders to find alternatives, warning that closures could limit access to critical care for mothers and newborns across the region.
Posted inHealth & Wellness
La junta directiva del Hospital Comunitario de Watsonville considerará el miércoles el cierre de los servicios de maternidad y de la unidad de cuidados intensivos neonatales
La junta directiva del Hospital Comunitario de Watsonville tiene previsto decidir si cerrará los servicios de trabajo de parto y parto, así como la unidad de cuidados intensivos neonatales (UCIN), mientras el hospital, que atraviesa dificultades financieras, enfrenta pérdidas cada vez mayores. Enfermeras, médicos y miembros de la comunidad están instando a los directivos a encontrar alternativas y advierten que los cierres podrían limitar el acceso a atención médica esencial para madres y recién nacidos en toda la región.
Posted inLatest News
ICE agents visit Santa Cruz County Main Jail, leave without detaining anyone
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrived at the Santa Cruz Main Jail on Saturday morning seeking to take someone into custody, but left without detaining anyone, the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office said. Volunteers monitoring ICE activity reported that agents came and went throughout the day.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
How Capitola City Council race turned divisive over candidate TJ Welch’s past LGBTQ+ comments
Late in the campaign, the Capitola City Council race has turned nasty over candidate TJ Welch’s past comments about the LGBTQ+ community, prompting accusations of bigotry from some residents and a defense of his record from others. Welch disputes how his remarks have been characterized and says he has apologized to members of the LGBTQ+ community.
