Why did nearly 150 union workers pack Watsonville City Council chambers earlier this month to urge the city not to rescind a longstanding labor agreement that sets the employment terms for major city infrastructure projects?
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 inHousing & Development
County planning commission approves Workbench project on Capitola Road; neighbors plan appeal
The Santa Cruz County Planning Commission unanimously approved a contentious housing project in Live Oak. The project, a 57-unit apartment complex on 841 Capitola Rd., is led by local development and architecture firm Workbench.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Inflatable animal costumes and Dolores Huerta take center stage as ‘No Kings’ protests bring 18,000 to streets of Santa Cruz County
An estimated 18,000 protesters turned out in Santa Cruz and Watsonville combined for “No Kings” rallies protesting the Trump administration’s deployment of National Guard troops and other federal policies.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
‘No Kings’ 2.0 expects to attract large crowds throughout county on Saturday; Dolores Huerta to speak in Watsonville
Organizers of the “No Kings” protests expect large numbers on the streets of Watsonville and Santa Cruz on Saturday to decry the Trump administration’s deployment of National Guard troops in American cities and other federal policies.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Developer New Leaf assures Watsonville officials its battery storage project would meet safety standards
Massachusetts-based New Leaf Energy briefed the Watsonville City Council this week on details of its proposed $200 million battery storage facility, saying the project would meet all local and statewide requirements.
Posted inLatest News
Sea otter swipes surfer’s board off Steamer Lane in Santa Cruz
Lifeguards were dispatched to Steamer Lane on Wednesday afternoon after a sea otter took over a surfer’s board; the surfer was not injured, and lifeguards were able to retrieve her surfboard.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Trade workers pack Watsonville City Hall as council debates future of union labor rules
The Watsonville City Council deferred a decision this week on a contentious plan to update its labor agreements with construction trade groups. Local workers are pushing to preserve workplace protections, while city officials are raising concerns over construction delays and rising costs.
Posted inHealth & Wellness
Local doctor cuts his retirement short to help address ongoing primary care shortage in Santa Cruz County
Three weeks into retirement, Dr. Frank Ravago decided to return to medicine to help address an ongoing shortage of primary care physicians in Santa Cruz County.
Posted inLatest News
Money from Monterey County could help finish construction on ‘tiny village’ for homeless in Watsonville
Monterey County officials have approved more than $1 million in funding to help finish construction of a 34-unit “tiny village” in Watsonville. The project is a joint effort between Santa Cruz and Monterey counties to address homelessness along the Pajaro River levee.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Newsom signs Laird’s battery storage safety bill in wake of Moss Landing fire
Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed a new law, authored by state Sen. John Laird, requiring battery storage developers to coordinate with local fire departments before submitting an application for their projects, following a massive fire at a facility in Moss Landing.