More than a dozen nurses at Watsonville Community Hospital rallied Monday afternoon against an ongoing closure at the facility’s NICU. Earlier this month, hospital leadership confirmed to Lookout that it closed the unit in mid-July due to a nursing shortage in the labor and delivery unit.
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
Enfermeras del Watsonville Community Hospital se manifestarán por el cierre de unidad de cuidados intensivos neonatales y la escasez de personal
Las enfermeras del Watsonville Community Hospital planean manifestarse contra el cierre que continúa en la UCIN del hospital. A principios de este mes, la dirección del hospital confirmó a Lookout que la unidad cerró a mediados de julio debido a la escasez de enfermeras en la unidad de trabajo de parto y parto.
Posted inHousing & Development
Watsonville rescinds approval for 21-unit housing project after airport safety lawsuit
Watsonville officials have rescinded approval of a 21-unit townhome development across from the municipal airport after a judge ruled that the city violated state airport safety and environmental laws in approving the development.
Posted inHousing & Development
Watsonville revoca la aprobación de un proyecto de 21 viviendas tras una demanda por seguridad aeroportuaria
Funcionarios de Watsonville han revocado la aprobación de un proyecto de 21 casas adosadas ubicado frente al aeropuerto municipal, después de que un juez determinara que la ciudad infringió las leyes estatales de seguridad aeroportuaria y medioambientales al aprobar el proyecto.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Amid fiscal crisis, Santa Cruz County supervisors table discussion of their own pay
Santa Cruz County supervisors have tabled until January a discussion on potential changes to how their salaries are determined, following concerns from several board members, who pointed out that bringing up the issue while the county faces budgetary issues is “not a good look.”
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Strong El Niño could bring a wet winter: Pajaro flood officials are taking extra precautions
Officials at the Pajaro Regional Flood Management Agency say they are making “more aggressive” winter preparations as climate experts are forecasting a strong El Niño.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Un El Niño fuerte podría traer un invierno lluvioso: las autoridades de control de inundaciones de Pajaro toman precauciones adicionales
Los funcionarios de la Agencia Regional de Gestión de Inundaciones de Pájaro dicen que están tomando medidas de preparación para el invierno “más agresivas” debido a que los expertos en clima pronostican un El Niño fuerte.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Watsonville Flock debate gains momentum as councilmember rethinks support
After Santa Cruz ended its contract with Flock Safety, activists are stepping up efforts to persuade Watsonville to do the same — and at least one councilmember who previously supported the surveillance cameras is beginning to have second thoughts.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
El debate sobre Flock en Watsonville cobra impulso mientras un concejal reconsidera su apoyo
Después de que Santa Cruz rescindiera su contrato con Flock Safety, los activistas están intensificando sus esfuerzos para persuadir a Watsonville de hacer lo mismo; y al menos un concejal que anteriormente apoyaba las cámaras de vigilancia está empezando a reconsiderar su postura.
Posted inHealth & Wellness
Watsonville Community Hospital temporarily closed NICU last month due to ongoing staffing issues; reopening still weeks away
Due to ongoing staffing issues in its labor and delivery unit, Watsonville Community Hospital temporarily closed its neonatal intensive care unit last month. Interim CEO Tim Moran told Lookout that a reopening is still weeks away as hospital leadership works to recruit more nurses.
