Good morning! It’s April 27 — here’s what’s going on in your community today…
Areas of low clouds, then sun in Watsonville / Pajaro
Today will be areas of low clouds, then sun. There is a 25% chance of rain. The high will be 64 with a low of 44. Mostly cloudy now, changing to mostly sunny at 2 p.m.
Looking ahead: Cool tonight
Watsonville / Pajaro news
District 4 Supervisor Felipe Hernandez seeks a second term amid criticism of his stance on a proposed battery storage facility near Watsonville. Watsonville Community Hospital faces financial challenges, seeks a major healthcare partner, and faces community demands for transparency amid physician shortages and infrastructure concerns threatening its future.
➤ Para leer el artículo en español, haga clic aquí.
OPINION: A Lookout View: Watsonville Community Hospital is too important to fail — but it can’t survive without transparency
By Lookout Editorial Board
Apr 27, 2026
What’s new around you
▼︎ police incidents ▼︎ road incidents ▼︎ real estate ▼︎ food inspections ▼︎ events
Read on to see the details about each item…
Roadwork is affecting traffic near you
- A lane on westbound Highway 152 at Clifford Drive/Ohlone Parkway is closed for asphalt paving. The closure is scheduled to last until July 3.
Property development
- The Santa Cruz County Planning Department is currently accepting public comments on a zoning application for 479 Oyster Dr., where the project proposes to renew a permit for a three-bedroom vacation rental in an existing single-family home. The renewal would allow overnight lodging for up to 30 days at a time and extend the permit expiration date from Dec. 15, 2025, to Dec. 15, 2030. Residents who wish to provide input on this application must submit their comments before the deadline of May 7, as no public comments will be accepted after that date. (view application)
Restaurant inspections
County officials regularly inspect food facilities to ensure compliance with state laws. Here, Lookout Santa Cruz reports both those who have passed the inspections and those that the county deems to have a “major” issue. The county’s full ongoing report can be accessed here.
- Taqueria Los Pericos And Grill, LLC at 200 Lee Rd., Watsonville, was cited for high-risk violations of unapproved food sources or contaminated food and low-risk violations of improper food temperatures and inadequate employee hygiene or training during a county health inspection on April 23. The issues were resolved during the inspection.
Community crime report
- A person was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol. The incident happened near the 300 block of Crestview Drive, Watsonville, at 11 p.m. on April 23. (source)
- Possession of a controlled substance and arrest on a misdemeanor bench warrant happened near the 100 block of White Street, Watsonville, at 7 p.m. on April 23. (source)
- A person was arrested on an outstanding misdemeanor warrant from outside the county during a traffic stop. The incident happened near Green Valley Road and Melwood Way, Watsonville, at 8 a.m. on April 23. The person was released at the scene with a citation and a court date. (source)
Disclosure: Traffic incidents, property development updates and police incidents are partially generated by artificial intelligence. We are constantly working to improve the accuracy and quality of our AI-generated content. However, there may still be errors or inaccuracies. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us.