In this edition of In the Public Interest, Christopher Neely outlines some of the many challenges facing Pajaro after the catastrophic flooding that followed the failure of the Pajaro River levee and what elected officials from Santa Cruz and Monterey counties are doing to get heard in Sacramento and Washington.
Storms 2023: Road to Recovery
Posted inLatest News
Pajaro residents begin to return home, almost two weeks after floods devastated community
Muddy, damaged homes greeted those returning Thursday to Pajaro after Monterey County officials lifted an evacuation order in place since the March 11 levee breach flooded the agricultural community. It’s not clear when the water will be safe to drink again, and a long cleanup process lies ahead.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Climate injustice is happening in Pajaro: It’s our moral obligation to fix the system
Climate change is here and it’s our moral obligation to act, says Sarah Newkirk, executive director of the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County. We need to adapt faster to climate change, speed up federal responses, including funding and — most critically — help people affected, she says. That means assisting the people of Pajaro who have lost homes and also future income, since many are farmworkers and fields are now too flooded to work.
Posted inLatest News
It’s the end of an era as Seacliff pier demolition commences
This week, Granite Construction began to demolish the pier at Seacliff State Beach, which has connected the shore to the SS Palo Alto for nearly 100 years. While many are sad to see the structure go, California State Parks staff is taking the opportunity to teach the public about the effects of climate change on the Rio Del Mar coastline.
Posted inLatest News
How a long history of racism and neglect set the stage for Pajaro flooding
Founded as a labor camp for agricultural workers, the small community of Pajaro has long languished in the shadow of nearby Watsonville.
Posted inLatest News
Growers and farmworkers face long recovery process following Pajaro floods
It’s been just over a week since a levee along the Pajaro River failed, flooding the town of Pajaro and much of the nearby farmland in north Monterey County, just over the river from Santa Cruz County. Though the full picture of damage sustained is unclear at this point, farmers and workers alike face short-term uncertainty and a long-term recovery.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Q&A: State Sen. John Laird on Pajaro levee, affordable housing crisis and California’s budget deficit
State Sen. John Laird announced last week that he plans to seek reelection in 2024. A second four-year term in the California Senate would put Laird at the end of his term limits, marking the finale of his time as an elected state legislator. Laird, who turns 73 this month, agreed to hop on the phone for a Q&A a day after announcing his plans to seek one more term in Sacramento.
Posted inLatest News
Repairs underway to fix key pipeline between Loch Lomond reservoir and Santa Cruz treatment plant
The Newell Creek pipeline connects the Graham Hill Water Treatment Plant to the Loch Lomond Reservoir, the main water storage facility for the Santa Cruz Water Department. If repairs are not complete by Friday, the city could ask customers to temporarily cut back on water usage.
Posted inLatest News
With another atmospheric river imminent, temporary Pajaro levee fix expected by Monday evening
Storm Central keeps you updated as another atmospheric river rolls through Santa Cruz County. Check back here as Lookout…
Posted inLatest News
Before disastrous flood, officials knew Pajaro River levee could fail but took no action
For years, experts had been warning Monterey and Santa Cruz County that the levee along the Pajaro River could fail.