A Watsonville teen will be one of seven organ transplant recipients to be honored in the Rose Parade in Pasadena on New Year’s Day by an organ procurement nonprofit, Donor Network West. The 18-year-old, along with several organ transplant recipients from Northern California and Nevada, will ride on the “Donate Life Float,” which highlights the […]
Watsonville
Posted inLatest News
Watsonville taps a 27-year department veteran to head the city’s firefighting and emergency medicine operations
The City of Watsonville has chosen Corey Schaefer, a 27-year fire department veteran, as its next chief, following the retirement of Rudy López who had been at the helm since 2019. Schaefer was first hired by the department in 1998 as a reserve firefighter. He rose through the ranks, serving as a firefighter, fire captain, […]
Posted inPolitics & Policy
In reversal, Watsonville reinstates labor pact with unions, adds exemptions for some projects
The Watsonville City Council reversed its earlier decision to scrap the city’s project labor agreement with trade unions, adding changes that would allow certain projects to be exempt from having to use unionized workers.
Posted inWatsonville / Pajaro
City of Watsonville loses $2.3 million in federal funding for traffic safety study
Watsonville officials said Wednesday that the city lost a $2.3-million federal transportation grant to study the effects of heavy truck traffic on residential neighborhoods because of changes passed as part of President Donald Trump’s tax and spending law.
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Masked suspects rob store at gunpoint near Watsonville
The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office is investigating after three masked suspects robbed the Casserly Store near Watsonville, holding an employee at gunpoint and demanding cash.
Posted inWatsonville / Pajaro
Watsonville appoints David Brletic new community development director
The City of Watsonville has tapped David Brletic as the new community development director. Brletic, who officially began his role Monday, will lead the city’s community development department which oversees planning, zoning and building projects.
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Housing Matters partners with local libraries for neighborhood meetings
Homelessness nonprofit Housing Matters is partnering with Santa Cruz Public Libraries for a series of free social-justice-oriented events in Watsonville, Santa Cruz and Capitola as part of a program called “Neighbors for Neighbors: At the Intersections.”
Posted inWatsonville / Pajaro
Watsonville police seek help identifying church vandal
The Watsonville Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying a man recorded throwing a brick through the window of St. Patrick’s Catholic Parish on March 14.
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 inArts & Entertainment
After 5 years of work, Watsonville celebrates completed mosaic public art project
Watsonville will celebrate the completion of one of Santa Cruz County’s most ambitious public art projects, a six-story mosaic mural called Watsonville Brillante, at a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Saturday. The project, led by local artist Kathleen Crocetti, began in 2019 and illustrates the different cultural identities that make up Watsonville.