Following Donald Trump’s election to a second term, Santa Cruz County nonprofits say they are seeing a surge in volunteer inquiries. Many are from people wanting to take a stand on issues, while others are simply looking to unplug from the political noise.
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 inPolitics & Policy
Watsonville planning commission to hear appeal of ‘tiny village’ homeless shelter next month
At its Dec. 3 meeting, the Watsonville Planning Commission plans to hear an appeal filed by a resident asking the commission to rescind its zoning approval of the “tiny village” shelter for the homeless on the Westview Presbyterian Church property.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Santa Cruz County agriculture commissioner defends against criticisms over pesticide regulation
David Sanford, Santa Cruz County’s agricultural commissioner, is defending his agency after local activists and the county’s civil grand jury criticized how it exercises control over regulating pesticide application and communication with local agencies and residents in South County.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Watsonville forming task force to tackle homelessness
The City of Watsonville is calling for community members to participate in a task force designed to focus on the city’s homelessness issue. The task force will replace the series of community meetings held earlier this year to brainstorm solutions.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Proposed legislation on widely used pesticide falls short, activists warn
Activists from Safe Ag Safe Schools, Future Leaders of Change and Californians for Pesticide Regulation told a news conference in Watsonville on Friday evening that proposed legislation from the state related to 1, 3-dichloropropene, a pesticide regularly used in Santa Cruz County, does not do enough to protect farmworkers and other residents from harmful exposure.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Activists, grand jury want Santa Cruz County to get more involved in how pesticides are used
Local activists and Santa Cruz County’s civil grand jury are pressuring county officials to exercise more control over regulating pesticide applications, in addition to having better communication with South County officials and residents.
Posted inHealth & Wellness
Norovirus outbreak closes Aptos elementary school temporarily
Valencia Elementary School in Aptos temporarily closed on Friday following an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness affecting several students, according to a letter sent out to parents by Pajaro Valley Unified School District. The elementary school will reopen on Tuesday, Nov. 12, following the Veterans Day holiday on Monday.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Phalanx of Santa Cruz County leaders vows to stand with immigrant community in second Trump term
On Thursday, leaders representing Santa Cruz city and county government, public schools and nonprofit organizations reassured the county’s immigrant community of their commitment to support and protect them following former President Donald Trump’s election Tuesday to a second term.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
After Trump win, leaders say they’ll protect Santa Cruz County’s immigrants
In the wake of Donald Trump’s victory Tuesday, a broad coalition of public and private sector leaders, including county officials, law enforcement, health care leaders and educators, is pledging to protect Santa Cruz County’s immigrants. In Watsonville, nonprofit organizations are beginning to navigate the potential impacts a second Trump presidency could have on the city’s large undocumented population and how they’ll reassure the community the next four years.
Posted inLatest News
Watsonville Community Hospital building, land in local hands after sale for $40 million
Friday’s announcement that the Pajaro Valley Health Care District had purchased the 27-acre property and the building that’s home to Watsonville Community Hospital clears the way for funds from March’s Measure N to be used to improve the hospital building.
