Opinion

How quickly we forget. Recent activity centers around the levee system on the Pajaro River. Yet, the first flooding in 2023 was in Watsonville, when the Salsipuedes and Corralitos Creeks overflowed. There are lessons from that flooding that need to be applied to those...

Support Cabrillo’s name change I am a Cabrillo College student in support of the name change. Plenty of places have changed their names. Dixie State University is now Utah State University. Robert Lee High School is now John Lewis High School. The more we know,...

It is unfortunate that the good people involved with Pajaro’s recovery, have not focused on retail development in the town itself. Yes, housing is paramount, however without jobs to boost the economy, it will stay depressed.  Employment is a major issue as Pajaro recovers and...

It is widely accepted that our dependency on automobiles is a potent contributor to the climate crisis. What is not so well understood is how auto dependency initiated a new phenomenon: transportation poverty.  Prior to the automobile revolution, walking was how both rich and poor...

As July unfolds, District 4 is bustling with activity, showcasing multiple ongoing projects, both within city limits and the unincorporated. From road clearing and road resurfacing to infrastructure improvements and community initiatives, District 4 is experiencing positive transformations. Amidst the activity, we strive to...

Sandy Lydon’s recent articles on the Cabrillo College name change were informative and represented the voice of a majority of Santa Cruz County residents.  The Trustees mean well, but wow, $400,000 to $600,000 to change Cabrillo’s name when they have only raised $2,500 at this...

When I was a child, Summer. Lasted. For. Ever. I remember long days that usually began with picking beans and then weeds in the hot sun, followed by endless hours of playing (and bickering) with my siblings in the hot sun. By the end...

C&N Tractors on Salinas Road just finished repairing my Kubota tractor in February when the levee burst. Suddenly it was under six feet of water. After the mud and flood receded, the tractor needed serious help.  I want to express my gratitude to Nigel Mallison,...

I attended the first community forum for renaming the Cabrillo College at its Aptos Campus on June 14. I was probably the only one of Asian descent among about 60 participants.  Five potential new names were presented to us. They were Aptos College, Seacliff College,...

The Pajaro River flood is a world problem. This flood has been written up in the New York Times and the UK Guardian.   The Pajaro River levee was built in 1949. The river begins at San Felipe Lake and travels 30 miles through Watsonville to...