Local News

This post is updated throughout the day to reflect the latest incidents. It was last updated at 7:01 a.m..

Here’s what’s happening on the roads this morning…

▼︎ new incidents   ▼︎ long-term incidents

Road incidents as of 7 a.m. on May 29

• There was roadway flooding with standing water near Emeline and Morrissey on Highway 1 South in the Eastside / Live Oak area. Caltrans was notified to put up warning signs about the flooded road. This was reported on May 28.
   
• There are alternating lane closures on both northbound and southbound Highway 9 at Pool Drive in San Lorenzo Valley because of bridge work. The closures are expected to end at 6:59 a.m. on April 30, 2027.
   
• South Highway 1 at Park Avenue in Capitola / Soquel is facing closures for roadway excavation. The closure is expected to end at 7:01 a.m. on August 19.
   
• There is one-way traffic on Highway 9 at Cascade Avenue in San Lorenzo Valley because of ongoing work. The closure is expected to end at 7:01 a.m. on August 31.
   
• There is a traffic break and closure on Highway 17 at Mt Hermon/Glen Canyon in Scotts Valley because of utility work. This closure will last until 10:30 a.m. on May 31.
   
• A lane on eastbound SR-152 at Union Street in Watsonville / Pajaro is closed for utility work. The closure will end today at 2:01 p.m.
   

Long-term projects

These have been going on for a while, but are still worth keeping in mind.

• Main St. will be fully closed at 9460 Central Ave. in Ben Lomond, San Lorenzo Valley, during work hours today and tomorrow while crews replace a pole anchor and span guy.
   

Disclosure: Traffic 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.

The post Friday morning traffic: Flooding on Hwy 1, lane closures on Hwy 9 & 17, Main St. closed appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

The Santa Cruz City Council conducted a public hearing this week on proposed city charter amendments to update and clarify language, and to make a number of other changes to comply with state law. Staff is expected to return in June with a resolution to put the proposed changes to voters on the November ballot.

This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for its newsletters.

Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton are holding on to the lead in the latest poll ahead of the California governor election. 

That’s according to the Public Policy Institute of California, which surveyed 986 likely voters earlier this month. Nearly a quarter of those surveyed (23%) said they’d vote for Becerra, followed by Hilton at 20%, Tom Steyer at 15%, Chad Bianco at 13% and Katie Porter at 12%.

Some Californians are watching governor polls in part to decide how they’ll vote. The state’s open primary allows the top two vote-getters to advance to November regardless of party, and for several months Republicans Hilton and Bianco appeared to have a shot at locking Democrats out of the ballot.

Becerra, the former state attorney general and health secretary to former President Joe Biden, began to pull ahead after U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell dropped out of the race amid allegations of sexual misconduct. 

• Jonathan Underland, spokesperson for Becerra’s campaign: “Becerra has built real momentum — strong poll numbers backed by working Californians who are energized and ready.”

Steyer’s campaign in a written statement contested the PPIC survey’s findings, saying it missed recent movement toward the liberal billionaire. The campaign pointed to its own internal tracking and another poll conducted for Hilton.

Aside from the governor’s race, the PPIC survey held clues about how voters feel ahead of midterm elections that will decide which party controls Congress in the final two years of President Donald Trump’s second term. Three-quarters of likely voters said the country is headed in the wrong direction — the highest percentage in over two decades, according to PPIC.

Though it’s not surprising that the majority of the Democrats polled — 92% — agreed with this sentiment, 50% of Republicans also felt the same way. The percentage of Republicans who said the country was heading in the right direction also declined sharply — from 64% in a February PPIC poll to 49%. 

A solid majority — 64% — of likely voters said they would vote for the Democratic candidate in their local U.S. House race if the midterm elections were held today. Only 35% of likely voters said they would vote for the GOP candidate.

Those numbers are warning signs for Republicans as they try to hold on to their majority in the U.S. House of Representatives.

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Despite making up one-fifth of the state’s voting population, most Gen Z Californians won’t vote in the June 2 primary, which is stacked with several gubernatorial candidates.

The primary election tees up the ballot in November, which will also host other high-profile races and issues, such as the rest of the executive candidates, as well as propositions like the billionaire’s tax. 

Generation Z, or those aged 14 to 29, makes up nearly 21% of eligible California voters, but their historical turnout is disproportionately low compared to the general voting population. 

Young voters aren’t necessarily checked out. Rinu Nair, the president of the History and Civic Engagement Club at De Anza College in Cupertino, said that the student club’s meeting on the gubernatorial race drew the most participants of any meeting this year: 20. But students were often disillusioned by each candidate having a history of controversial actions. 

“There’s an interest, but also that feeling of, ‘Am I doing what I want to do? Can my vote even make a change?’” Nair said. “[Young people] don’t feel represented in politics but they feel like it’s a duty they have to do.” 

In a statewide survey published by the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies in May, voters aged 18 to 29 polled similarly to all voters on reasons why they may not vote in the primary election. But a few reasons jumped out in particular.

Of young voters who said they were unlikely to vote, 47% said they are not well-informed enough on the issues and candidates, compared to 38% of total unlikely voters. Another difference was that 31% of young voters said they were too busy, compared to 19% of all unlikely voters. 

Cost of living and inflation, healthcare and housing costs are the top three issues Gen Z voters are tracking leading up to the 2026 midterms, according to 2026 survey data from the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement, a nonpartisan research organization based at Tufts University in Boston. Jobs and unemployment and immigration ranked fourth and fifth among survey respondents respectively.

How candidates are – or aren’t – addressing the youth vote

CalMatters reached out to gubernatorial candidate front-runners to learn more about their methods for engaging youth voters. Steve Hilton, Chad Bianco, Tony Thurmond and Matt Mahan’s teams did not respond.

Antonio Villaraigosa said in an interview that he hired a diverse staff of people primarily aged 22 to 26 to help him connect better with youth voters. Katie Porter and Tom Steyer said they have visited many college campuses across the state in an effort to connect with young voters.

Maiya De La Rosa, the president of California Young Democrats, a youth organizing group affiliated with the state Democratic Party, said that Xavier Becerra has visited and formed relationships with more Young Democrats chapters across the state than any other candidate, having visited 30 chapters since July 2025. She said that the organization endorsed him because of that strong relationship as well as his policies. 

The California College Democrats, an organization of students that mobilizes around Democratic candidates and advocates progressive policies, similarly endorsed Becerra in March. 

“He’s made a really big effort to put college students at the front of his campaign,” said Daniel Guerrero, the organization’s president and incoming senior at UC San Diego. “We believed in his message, and it’s been really rewarding to see everyone else see what we saw in him, especially in the young community.”

Steyer and Becerra have both been using short videos and partnerships with content creators to reach young audiences. Both are caught up in a controversy over content creators allegedly failing to disclose that campaigns had paid for their endorsements. The influencers often posted endorsements without disclaimers that they had been paid. 

According to each candidate’s endorsement pages (except Hilton, who does not have one), Becerra has the most endorsements from youth groups – 15 total, mostly consisting of Young Democrats and College Democrats chapters.

Steyer has three youth group endorsements and Thurmond has one. Peter Opitz, a representative for Porter, said she is endorsed by UAW and Teamsters, which contain unions that represent workers and educators in higher education. 

A strong social media presence has been integral to reaching young voters – and any voter – in a race where it’s difficult to stand out.

Even so, California Assemblymember Alex Lee, who has endorsed Steyer, said in an interview that he believes social media strategy comes second to good policy, and that Democrats often get criticized for being boring online. 

“Zohran Mamdani’s popular not because he’s good at Instagram alone, but because he campaigned on free childcare, housing and a rent freeze,” Lee said, who was 25 years old when he was elected. “You can pump so much money into viral cringe, but it will not resonate with people.” 

Seated next to Steve Hilton (left) and Xavier Becerra, Tom Steyer (right) speaks during a gubernatorial forum in Sacramento on April 14. Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr. / CalMatters

At a televised debate held at Pomona College in April, as candidates squabbled for speaking time, hundreds of students tuned in from a nearby dining hall where the debate was being livestreamed. They giggled at Hilton’s British accent, hollered over the shade thrown on stage and kept a close eye on the crowded field for standouts.

Throughout the debate, as candidates like Villaraigosa directed their responses to “the young students at Pomona,” groans erupted from students watching the livestream. Rising junior at Pomona College Sarah Russo said the candidates’ comments felt overly performative. 

“It belittled us and infantilized us,” Russo said in a talkback session with other students after the debate.

Incoming Pomona College junior Alex Benach said no one candidate really stood out. “The whole field of candidates trying to have that viral moment watered [the debate] down,” they said.

Despite the debate being held at a college campus, students attending said that the candidates failed to address key priorities for youth in college, including the job market, AI and federal crackdowns on campuses for alleged anti-semitism and equity issues.

Youth turnout is low, but young voters are hardly apathetic

No matter the kind of election – gubernatorial or general – youth turnout is historically lower than other age groups, said Mindy Romero, director of the Center for Inclusive Democracy at the University of Southern California, a hub for civic and electoral engagement research. In the 2024 general election, 42.5% of eligible voters aged 18 to 24 cast a ballot, compared to 62% of all eligible voters in California, according to a July 2025 report from the center. 

While young people do not show up to vote as much as older voters, it’s “not because they’re apathetic,” emphasized Romero. Rather, it is because youth feel disconnected from the political process.

From the 2010 to 2018 primary elections in California, eligible youth voter turnout ranged from as low as 3.6% in 2014 to 17.1% in 2016, according to California Civic Engagement Project data. In comparison, total eligible voter turnout ranged from 18.4% in 2014 and 33.5% in 2016. 

Likely voter modeling often shows campaigns that youth voters aren’t worth investing in due to historically low turnout. However, that same lack of investment is what can lead to low youth turnout itself – and create what Romero calls a “vicious cycle” of campaigns failing to engage youth voters because they believe it’s not worth it. 

From left, candidates Tony Thurmond, Chad Bianco, Tom Steyer, Steve Hilton, Xavier Becerra, Katie Porter, Matt Mahan and Antonio Villaraigosa stand on stage for the CBS California Gubernatorial Debate at Bridges Auditorium on the campus of Pomona College in Claremont on April 28, 2026. Credit: Jules Hotz for CalMatters

When they do focus on young voters, candidates primarily target college campuses, usually skewing towards four-year university students, which means non-college goers, low-income voters and people of color are less likely to receive their outreach, according to Romero. 

“The political and social context in which young people have come of age has made them not see government as a helpful thing that they have a say in, but rather a government that is not as responsive, gridlocked, and about spewing hate and not serving,” Romero said. “Generally speaking, young people don’t have a lot of positive to look to. They’ve seen only negative.”

Young people also might be more skeptical after seeing such negativity, whereas older generations have memories of a more civil past, giving them the perspective of a government that could function in a non-partisan way. 

“Young people are tapped in politically, that’s undeniable,” said Christopher Smith, a student at Evergreen Valley College who attended a Steyer event. “Anybody who claims that is not true is not listening to young people enough.” 

Romero suggested that the competitiveness of the race could push more young people to vote, but the turnout would still be unrepresentative of the actual youth population. In the UC Berkeley IGS Poll, 56% of respondents across all age, race and party demographics said that a low youth turnout was a “major concern” for a representative democracy in California. 

The UC Berkeley IGS poll also showed that 48% of young voters who said they were unlikely to vote said access to an “unbiased and trusted source of election news” would increase their chances of voting. A quarter of them said more convenient voting would also increase that likelihood.

Andrew Luong, a De Anza College student at the Steyer rally, said he feels that it’s partially on young people to educate themselves and vote. “In the governor’s race, I know young people care about it, but don’t care to learn more about it,” he said. 

Among young Democrats, De La Rosa said she has seen youth voter engagement increase “significantly.” She recalled how when she was president of California College Democrats in 2020, phone banking events would turn out about 20 people. Now, in a phone banking event for Becerra, 60 people came.

Students drop off their ballots at the Price Center at UC San Diego on Nov. 4, 2025. Credit: Ariana Drehsler for CalMatters

Young progressive leaders say some youth are looking for a candidate to stand up to Trump.

“In a time where young people have been at the forefront of the attacks from the Trump administration, having someone who’s been there and has already gone up to bat to fight the Trump administration is really, really important,” Guerrero said.

Where candidates stand on Gaza, affordability

In April, Steyer made his first stop of “A California You Can Afford” bus tour a few blocks away from San Jose State University, where he made his progressive bid to a majority middle-aged crowd. 

A handful of people who appeared below 30 years old were present. That’s not to say young people don’t support him – a Democratic Party poll conducted May 14 through 16 shows he and Becerra both garnered the support of 23% of respondents aged 18 to 34. Meanwhile, 17% of respondents aged 18 to 34 said they still were undecided.

CalMatters spoke to college students at the bus tour, many of whom said that the genocide in Gaza was a moral touchpoint for them. 

Nair attended the event to learn more about Steyer. She said that she’s still unsure of who to vote for. 

“The fact that he wasn’t willing to take a solid stance on the Gaza question, that was more than enough for me,” Nair said. “I do hold my politicians to a higher standard than some do, and that was enough for me to not feel convinced.”

Smith said that young voters especially care whether a candidate believes Israel has committed genocide. 

In exclusive video interviews with CalMatters, eight candidates currently in the race were asked whether they considered Israel’s actions in the war in Gaza a genocide. None of the candidates went that far. Porter and Becerra criticized Netanyahu’s actions, while Hilton simply responded “no.”

In these interviews, CalMatters also asked candidates what is the single biggest thing they would do to make life more affordable in California. Five of the eight candidates said they would focus on combatting high housing costs, primarily with plans to make it easier to build. Hilton and Villaraigosa said they would first bring down the price of gas, while Bianco said overregulation was California’s primary affordability issue.

When asked about their greatest hope for youth in particular, the most common answer among candidates was making sure California remains a state where people want to settle permanently.

Kahani Malhotra and Chrissa Olson are contributors with the College Journalism Network, a collaboration between CalMatters and student journalists from across California. CalMatters higher education coverage is supported by a grant from the College Futures Foundation.

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Aptos High senior Ella Boyes finished with a pair of top-five finishes during the finals of the Central Coast Section Track and Field Championships at Gilroy High on May 23.

But perhaps none was more meaningful to her than the performance she put on to break a school record that stood for exactly two decades.

Boyes placed fifth in the 300-meter hurdles in 45.06 seconds — narrowly surpassing the previous mark of 45.07 set by Stephanie LeFever in 2006.

At first glance, Boyes knew she was somewhere near to the mark until she ultimately realized the feat was accomplished.

“I’m really happy,” she said. “Almost 20 years since the last [record] was set, so I’m very excited.”

Boyes placed fourth in the long jump with a leap of 18 feet, 1/2 inch. She partook in six total jumps, which is something she wasn’t accustomed to throughout the spring campaign.

She also mentioned the temperatures in Gilroy were a little above average than the coastal weather she’s used to training in Aptos.

“It was definitely hard for me because it was really hot during round three when I had to do the long jump,” Boyes said. “My legs were pretty tired coming into the 300 hurdles, but I’m lucky I got out fast.”

In the 300 hurdles, Boyes came storming out of the gate before clearing the first two sticks with ease. She kept up with the front of the pack until she began to fall back with just a little more than 150 meters remaining in the race.

Coming down the final stretch, Boyes hit the turbo boosters while sprinting full speed after vaulting over the last hurdle.

“I’ve been trying to get out faster out of the blocks,” Boyes said. “I’ve struggled with that all year, so definitely it came down to that. And just pushing more at the start. I always have a good kick, just trying to hold that at the end for the last 100 meters.”

Aptos senior Maya Schiro placed sixth in the girls 3200 in 10:53.12, while teammate junior Bella Briceno-Nicholson placed tied for fifth in the girls high jump with a hop of 5-2. Ellie Marta, a junior, placed 12th in the girls discus with a toss of 100-7.

Teammates sophomores Charlotte Gubser and Cynthia Chavez took second with throws of 21-2 and 15-6, respectively, in the girls shot put relay unified event.

The season came to a close for Boyes and her teammates after they failed to qualify for the California Interscholastic Federation Track and Field Championships at Buchanan High in Clovis. The top-three finishers from each event advanced.

It also meant the end of high school career for some athletes such as Boyes and Schiro. However, she will test her skills as a walk-on at the University of California–San Diego. 

Boyes said being part of this year’s group of CCS finalists meant a lot, especially coming off a series of injuries that derailed her 2025 season. 

“I was trying really hard this season to stay healthy,” she said.

Monte Vista Christian sophomore Anna Conca (5:03.62) placed seventh in the 1600, while teammate senior Nylie Joneson (9-2) was in a three-way tie for ninth in the pole vault.

“It was a great race,” said Monte Vista Christian head coach Erik Beckmen in a text message. “[Conca] was right there, but she’s only a sophomore. This was a great experience and run for her. I’m excited for the future with the team.” 

Aptos High senior Brady Bliesner (4:17.22) took fifth in the boys 1600, while teammates sophomores Josh Gonzalez (34-8 1/2) and Vincent Becceril (31-1 1/2) placed fourth in the boys shot put relay unified event.

Aptos sophomores Ivan Cortes (12.24) and Jonny Espinoza (12.30) teamed up to win the 100 dash relay unified race. Both runners are headed to the CIF State Championships ranked No. 5 in California. 

Teammates freshman Tucker Jenkins (12.94) and senior Kingston Mabuhay (15.15) teamed up to place fifth.

Watsonville High seniors Christopher Hernandez (38-8 1/2) and Leonel Jarquin (36-2) teamed up for a second place finish in the shot put relay unified event. Teammates junior Alejandro Riquelme (31-6) and senior Francisco Alanis (31-6) took sixth for a podium finish.

Watsonville senior Lisandro Pantoja had to miss the discus finals due to illness, putting a damper on what was a spectacular final season with the Wildcatz.

“Looking forward to next year with the younger kids,” said Watsonville head coach Rob Cornett, who is retiring from teaching but returning with the track and field program.

#tdi_1 .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item1 { background: url(https://pajaronian.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/PAJ2622-CCS-TF-Championships-WEB-2-80x60.jpg) 0 0 no-repeat; } #tdi_1 .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item2 { background: url(https://pajaronian.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/PAJ2622-CCS-TF-Championships-WEB-3-80x60.jpg) 0 0 no-repeat; } #tdi_1 .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item3 { background: url(https://pajaronian.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/PAJ2622-CCS-TF-Championships-WEB-4-80x60.jpg) 0 0 no-repeat; } #tdi_1 .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item4 { background: url(https://pajaronian.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/PAJ2622-CCS-TF-Championships-WEB-5-80x60.jpg) 0 0 no-repeat; } #tdi_1 .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item5 { background: url(https://pajaronian.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/PAJ2622-CCS-TF-Championships-WEB-6-80x60.jpg) 0 0 no-repeat; } #tdi_1 .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item6 { background: url(https://pajaronian.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/PAJ2622-CCS-TF-Championships-WEB-7-80x60.jpg) 0 0 no-repeat; } #tdi_1 .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item7 { background: url(https://pajaronian.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/PAJ2622-CCS-TF-Championships-WEB-1-80x60.jpg) 0 0 no-repeat; } 1 of 7 Aptos High junior Bella Briceno-Nicholson competes in the high jump event during the finals of the Central Coast Section Track and Field Championships at Gilroy High School on May 23. Briceno-Nicholson finished tied for fifth with a leap of 5 feet, 2 inches. (Raul Ebio/The Pajaronian) Aptos High junior Ellie Marta competes in the discus throw during the finals of the Central Coast Section Track and Field Championships at Gilroy High School on May 23. Marta placed 12th with a throw of 100 feet, 7 inches. (Raul Ebio/The Pajaronian) Monte Vista Christian sophomore Anna Conca stays ahead of Eliot Marsch of Saint Ignatius in the 1600-meter race during the finals of the Central Coast Section Track and Field Championships at Gilroy High School on May 23. Conca finished seventh with a time of 5 minutes, 03.62 seconds. (Raul Ebio/The Pajaronian) Monte Vista Christian senior Nylie Joneson competes in the pole vault during the finals of the Central Coast Section Track and Field Championships at Gilroy High School on May 23. Joneson finished ninth with a score of 9 feet, 2 inches. (Raul Ebio/The Pajaronian) Aptos High senior Ella Boyes competes in the long jump event during the finals of the Central Coast Section Track and Field Championships at Gilroy High School on May 23. Boyes placed fourth with a jump of 18 feet. (Raul Ebio/The Pajaronian) Aptos High senior Brady Bliesner competes in the 1600-meter race during the finals of the Central Coast Section Track and Field Championships at Gilroy High School on May 23. Bliesner finished fifth with a time of 4 minutes, 17.22 seconds. (Raul Ebio/The Pajaronian) Aptos High senior Ella Boyes competes in the 300-meter hurdles during the finals of the Central Coast Section Track and Field Championships at Gilroy High School on May 23. Boyes placed fifth in 45.06 seconds, which set a new school record. (Raul Ebio/The Pajaronian)

Work is moving forward on the Watsonville City Plaza revitalization project that will preserve the historic hub of downtown for years to come.

On Tuesday crews from Selden & Son were joined by city officials to get an in-depth view of what the job entails. Crumbling brick work that is over 100 years old, faltering columns, damaged ornamentations and unsafe areas of the bandstand are among other items on the city’s to-do list.

Since the job got underway May 7, workers have installed a massive wood crib to hold up the existing metal roof to allow for column replacements. They cut a slice out of the bandstand floor to gain access to the innards of the structure. Meanwhile, workers explored the basement of the bandstand to get a better picture of strengthening the building from the ground up.

LOWER DEPTHS Workers are also determining how to redo the basement of the bandstand which has been deemed unsafe. (Tarmo Hannula/The Pajaronian)

“The most important thing we’re doing is starting with the structural evaluation and repairs in order to preserve the historical elements of the building,” said project manager Hilda Peralta. “I was born and raised here so this is of great importance to me and our community.”

The project is expected to take about a year to complete in two phases, and includes repairs of the fountain and add new amenities such as a permanent stage, public art, seating areas and ADA-accessible pathways.

Phase 1 will focus on restoring the bandstand and fountain and upgrading electrical infrastructure and is expected to take five to six months. Phase 2 covers expanded seating and picnic areas, public art installations and other improvements designed to support the more than 20 annual events held at the plaza.

INSIDE VIEW Workers have cut a slice out of the bandstand floor to get a deeper understanding of needed repairs. (Tarmo Hannula/The Pajaronian)

Peralta mentioned that the project is being headed up by three women: Sissy Selden, project manager from Selden & Son, Brianna Cox, SSA Landscape Architect and prime consultant, and herself.

“You don’t see this a lot with other projects,” Peralta said

The project received $3.35 million through California’s Proposition 68 Statewide Park Program grant, along with local funding through Watsonville’s Measure R parks initiative, officials said.

On a recent one-day drive through San Jose, my wife, Sarah, and I took in a wealth of rich sites, from the red salty shore of Alviso Marina County Park, the splashy shops of Santana Row, and to the north, the calm and rolling hills of Coyote Valley Open Space Reserve. 

It’s an odd mix of stops, but we found it added up to a worthy day trip that wrapped up at one of our long-time favorite restaurants, Falafel’s Drive-In.

Alviso, resting on the southern tip of the San Francisco Bay, has proven to be a worthy goal for us, with its display of historic wood-and-tin buildings of the past, great birding trails along the marshes and the bizarre red waters of the salt-infused bay.

TRENDY SPOT Santana Row is a giant magnet for shoppers off of Stevens Creek Boulevard in San Jose. (Tarmo Hannula/The Pajaronian)

According to Visit San Jose,  “Alviso once served as San Jose’s port city and the now closed Bayside Canning Company (once the 3rd largest cannery in the U.S.), serves as a reminder of that history.”

The generous wide paths and boardwalks start from the County Park lot with ample parking spots, a restroom and benches. Since my mother was an experienced birder, she taught me to ask questions and see what other birders are up to, what is in their spotting scopes and claiming their attention. I did that once at Rio del Mar State Beach and the very excited group told me they were trailing a rare wagtail who had wandered off course to the shores of Santa Cruz County. And then the bird popped up right in front of us and I got some amazing photos of the bird wagging its long tail feathers.

OPEN SPACE Coyote Valley Open Space Reserve, in Santa Clara Valley, offers hiking, biking and horse riding trails. (Tarmo Hannula/The Pajaronian)

Santana Row, at Stevens Creek and Winchester boulevards, is a bustling residential and commercial district in west San Jose. Across the street from Westfield Valley Fair shopping mall, the open-air walking mall features a colorful mix of more than 50 shops, around 30 restaurants, and a lot more. But most of all, we’ve found over the years, is the great  body of folks mingling about. 

We’ve seen huge crowds of people with every kind of dog on earth walking by in some kind of dog club, outdoor yoga demonstrations, live music, hands-on art tables and on and on.

This visit treated us to an amazing musical duo who stunned us and everyone within listening distance. We learned they were a Colombo-American duet named IndiviDúo, made up of Tiffany Joy, a California singer/songwriter, and Maqui Reyes, a Colombian singer/musician and composer. Their vocal harmony, guitar playing and compositions amazed us and it was reflected across dozens of joyful faces of the crowd that gathered.

A short drive north took us to the Bailey exit and the Coyote Valley Open Space Reserve, in Santa Clara Valley. The sprawling wilderness is overseen by Open Space Authority who is in charge of preserving and stewardship of several spots in Santa Clara Valley. We had just met one of their members at Santa Row who said they invite the public to get involved as docents, trail patrols, community outreach and “trail masters.” (For information, visit openspaceauthority.org). Several trails stemmed off of a small parking lot at the Coyote Valley location where we noticed joggers and hikers, young and not so young. We spotted an osprey and red-tailed hawk, a black-head phoebe, colorful butterflies and numerous ground squirrels darting about. Though this visit was brief, we plan to return for a deeper plunge into its natural bounty that didn’t cost a dime to visit. 

I’ve written about it before but feel it’s worth the mention, the Falafel’s Drive-In, 2301 Stevens Creek Blvd. Opened in 1966, they’re still serving freshly prepared Middle Eastern and Mediterranean food. It once again proved to be a fine way to wrap up a rewarding day of tourism not too far from home.

Thanks to the efforts of the Pajaro Valley Arts and a cast of volunteers, the 20th annual “Sculpture IS: In the Garden” has been installed at the two-acre Sierra Azul Nursery demonstration gardens in Watsonville. 
“With twenty successful exhibitions behind us, we are excited to feature new and returning artists in this special anniversary show,” said exhibit coordinator Hedwig Heershop.
From metal, glass and ceramics to plastic, dangling metal mobiles and wood, the exhibit, which is free to the public, offers a huge range of what is going on to today’s free-sanding sculpture works. 

IN MOTION Jeff Owen of San Jose Stabile created this 12-foot high mobile made of steel and paint. (Tarmo Hannula/The Pajaronian)

The show, which is a mix of the long-standing permanent collections, and newly installed recent works, is curated by Jamie Abbott, Susana Arias and Jeff Rosendale.
Melanie Oldach was part of the initial installation group who entered her ceramic and metal sculpture titled “Garden Party.” 
“This is such a great venue and important show,” she said. “I am a big supporter. I love the works shown here; it includes the whole community. Hedwig, the Exhibit Coordinator, is such a great person to work with.”

PARTY TIME “Garden Party” is a ceramic and metal sculpture by Melanie Oldach (Tarmo Hannula/The Pajaronian)

Manuel Vasaure said he felt privileged to have the space to show three of his meta works, including “Ascending Sunrise” that features a woman made of metal soaring upwards into the sky.
Jeff Owen of San Jose brought a 12-foot metal mobile, similar to famed mobile artist, Alexander Calder.
“I love being here with my art,” he said. “This is a place art belongs; it’s the best area to show art.”
The show runs from June 1–Oct. 31 at 2660 East Lake Ave. in Watsonville.

The Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees on May 20 approved a new deputy superintendent position responsible for overseeing the Curriculum and Instruction, Professional Development and Special Education departments.

Mark Herbst, most recently the associate superintendent of student support services for Modesto City Schools, also will serve as the district’s second-in-command and fill in when Superintendent Heather Contreras is unavailable. He will earn an annual salary of $228,000, plus a $6,270 stipend for holding a master’s degree, along with benefits. His contract runs through June 2029.

In separate 5-2 votes, the board approved both the job description for the new position and Herbst’s contract. Trustees Daniel Dodge Jr. and Gabe Medina voted no.

Immediately afterward, the trustees voted to eliminate roughly 100 full-time equivalent positions, including jobs in special education, mental health, teaching and academic and social-emotional counseling.

That number was reduced from nearly 160 preliminary cuts approved in December after about 75 teachers accepted offers through the district’s Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, or SERP.

Medina and Dodge, Jr. also cast the only no-votes.

The timing of the two agenda items angered many people in the packed boardroom. Several speakers said Contreras’ decision to hire Herbst from Modesto, where she previously worked, amounted to cronyism.

“We need to say no, because the optics aren’t good,” teacher Bobby Marchessault said.

Pajaro Valley Federation of Teachers President Brandon Diniz said creating the position was “not fiscally sound” and would have “no meaningful impact” on student success.

Medina questioned why the district did not post the job publicly.

Contreras responded that it is common for superintendents to appoint members of their cabinet directly.

“This was a recruitment, and I think it would have been disingenuous to go through a process when I knew who I wanted to have in this position,” she said.

Contreras defended the hire, saying Herbst’s “unique set of skills matches what we have seen as needs in our district, particularly with special education.”

Reading intervention teacher Laura Azzaro challenged the idea that Herbst’s success in improving student achievement in Modesto could be replicated in PVUSD.

She said Modesto schools have assistant principals, counselors and reading intervention teachers — positions PVUSD has cut.

“Are you hearing what the missing equation is?” Azzaro said. “He can’t fix all that. All the people that I just looked up can. And we’ve either been fired or laid off.”

Marchessault agreed.

“The way you keep the achievement gap from growing is by investing in teachers,” he said.

Dodge said his opposition stemmed from his support for district employees.

“Many of the teachers, guidance counselors and classified employees affected are my neighbors, former classmates and friends who live in my trustee area,” he said. “I have to live in this community, and supporting this item would destroy my credibility in the neighborhoods that I represent.”

Tensions escalated when Contreras accused Medina of contributing to employee resignations during her tenure as superintendent.

“Because of what people watch in these board meetings, and your behavior and your hostility toward people, it is very difficult to get people to apply for these positions,” she said. “So I find it very fortunate that we would even be able to have Mr. Herbst be here.”

Referring to the upcoming November election, which could reshape the board, Medina repeated a threat he has made previously.

“I love this,” he said. “Contreras, come November, you are gone, baby. You are gone.”

After the vote, Herbst addressed the audience and acknowledged concerns about the timing of his hiring alongside the layoffs.

“But I will truly tell you confidently that I believe in a short amount of time you guys will see me as a value-add to Pajaro Valley,” he said. “My career will be based on going at and serving what I consider to be the historically marginalized student groups in this district.”

Mads Realmuto will be the first to say he prefers to stay out of the spotlight.

His career in international public affairs allowed him to do just that, staying behind the scenes as he helped others further the goals of the organizations and companies for which he worked.

But the Aptos resident is now running for the Trustee Area 7 seat on the Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees in the November election. 

With 35 schools, roughly 14,000 students and thousands of employees, it is arguably one of the most public-facing elected positions in Santa Cruz County, with often raucous meetings frequently drawing hundreds.

He says the move into the public arena was inspired by a battle to find appropriate education for his special-needs daughter.

After the 7-year-old had five different teachers at Bradley Elementary School within a year—some of whom were not credentialed for special education—Realmuto realized he needed to become more involved.

He and his husband, Nick, settled with Pajaro Valley Unified School District, which later agreed to provide his daughter with 10 weeks of summer camp over two years, as well as 45 hours per week with a behavior technician and 100 minutes of speech therapy each week.

It was during this process that Realmuto began attending PVUSD board meetings and voicing his concerns during public comment periods.

“Navigating the intricacies around special education is where I really started engaging the board because we were having so many difficulties getting the level of service and support that she needed,” he said.

He joined the Special Education Local Plan Area board and delved into the challenges the district faced in providing special education services.

Then the district proposed cutting special education teachers.

“I was looking at this system where they were already struggling to deliver and were having to settle with us because they couldn’t provide services required in her IEP,” he said, referring to the individualized education program special education students receive. 

It was during this period of advocacy that members of the community began encouraging Realmuto to run for the school board.

“That’s where I ultimately decided that I need to run because we need a different approach to how the school board is working right now,” he said.

Challenges

Realmuto sees a current board where interpersonal conflicts often supplant or delay policymaking.

“I’d really like to step in on the board and leverage some of my background in public affairs and international trade to bring down the temperature and de-escalate,” he said. “I think there are ways to engage people you disagree with in a respectful way.”

Realmuto also said he wants to work with Superintendent Heather Contreras as she seeks to improve student outcomes while encouraging a more thoughtful approach to implementing new policies and changes.

As an example, he pointed to the recent proposal to move students from Duncan-Holbert School—which provides special education services—to other locations and relocate Renaissance High School to that campus.

The board tabled the item to give staff time to find alternative locations.

While Realmuto said he understands the reasoning behind the proposal, he said the speed with which it was introduced caused unnecessary stress and work.

“You have to think this through a little bit more before we can move forward with that,” he said. “I want to ask challenging questions, and I want to be creative with them. I think a school board’s job is not to micromanage, but to bring a skill set and a line of questioning that says, ‘Have we considered these other options?’”

Realmuto also said he hopes to improve the way the district communicates with the public.

Over the course of two weeks, Realmuto said he received two messages through the system intended to relay information to parents that instead provided updates on ongoing negotiations with the Pajaro Valley Federation of Teachers, which he called a misuse of the district tool.

“They’re using it on a platform where really that should be about teachers communicating with parents, principals communicating with parents,” he said.

Paired with the roughly 25 messages parents receive from schools—many of them irrelevant—that causes parents either to ignore the messages or opt out entirely, he said.

“And then you don’t get engaged in school,” he said. “Honestly, I don’t know that any district communications should go to families. It should all be coming through teachers and principals speaking to their families.”

Experience counts

Realmuto said his experience in international trade relations has prepared him for the role.

“I have a lot of experience taking really complex issues and turning them into policy speak and things people can understand and relate to,” he said. “I think that’s exactly what is needed here: looking at some of those deeply technical issues, looking at data and trying to map that with where we want to take the district and how we leverage data to improve student outcomes.”

Realmuto also said he wants PVUSD to place a higher value on career technical education, both by bolstering those programs and honoring students who choose that path.

“Not every pathway is a four-year college,” he said. “I really want to see us shift our mindset around the whole career technical education piece.”

In addition, Realmuto said the district should rethink the move that began during the COVID-19 pandemic to incorporate computer screens into education.

“We need to get computers out of the classroom pretty significantly,” he said. “They need to be a tool for some of the things that we do, not a replacement for education.”

He also foresees a future with smaller class sizes, as well as more teacher support and training — goals he said could be accomplished by reevaluating the district budget.

“I don’t think we give them enough time to do that level of training, but we also don’t give them enough resources,” he said. “When we look at data, one of the big factors in school success is class size.”

Second Harvest Food Bank hosted a free pop-up diaper distribution for families in need Tuesday at Watsonville Community Hospital. 

According to the National Diaper Bank Network, nearly one in two U.S. households with young children endure “diaper insecurity,” Luisa Olivares of Second Harvest said. 

So far this fiscal year, Second Harvest has distributed more than 52,000 diaper packs and served over 22,000 children across Santa Cruz County.

Second Harvest CEO Erica Padilla-Chávez, who was on hand with the distribution with staff and a crew of volunteers, said that over 300 families showed up for the free packages about 45 minutes into the giveaway.

“We’re here today because we recognize that there are a lot of families that are struggling to meet every day requirement to stay healthy,” Padilla-Chávez, said. “We are all paying more money for food, gas, rent and on and on. Today we have diapers for 600 children. This means a little bit of relief for at least two to three weeks for these families. We’`re able to do this thanks to the State of California that contributed to making Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County a Diaper Bank. We are requesting that the legislature give us another round of funding for next year.”Second Harvest is the county’s only food bank and California’s first, founded in 1972 as the second in the nation. For information, visit thefoodbank.org.

The vacant 2.75-acre property on Airport Boulevard across from the Freedom Centre shopping plaza has long been the site of a homeless encampment that troubled residents and plagued city officials, who struggled to balance helping unhoused residents with protecting the land from the impacts of unsanctioned camping.

Now, after years of asking the property owner KDS Dhaliwal Investments Inc. to keep the property along Corralitos Creek clean—and paying thousands to clean it themselves—the city has taken ownership of the property, and has plans to develop it into a park.

On Tuesday, the Watsonville City Council accepted the donation of the land following negotiations over cleanup costs and ongoing encampment issues. 

The city previously spent about $145,760 clearing a homeless encampment from the site in 2024, and had threatened to place a special assessment lien on the property if those costs were not repaid.

Under the proposed agreement, the company will pay the city $60,000 toward past cleanup expenses, remove the current encampment and then transfer the property to the city.

City officials said the parcel would be accepted in “as-is” condition. The owner would also indemnify the city against claims arising from clearing the encampment.

While no funding has been identified to create a park on the property, Deputy City Manager Nick Calubaquib told the council that there may be funding from Proposition 4, a 2024 law that, among other things, invests in state and local parks.

The report states the city would not pay a purchase price and would only be responsible for its share of escrow-related costs.”

Additional details in the proposed land donation agreement show the property owner must meet several conditions before the transfer to the city of Watsonville can be completed.

The agreement requires KDS Dhaliwal Investments Inc. to remove the encampment and hazardous materials — including biohazard waste, chemical waste, human waste and used needles—before escrow can close.

The city would retain the right to inspect the site and require additional cleanup if necessary.

The owner also must comply with environmental laws and due process protections related to the removal of unhoused people and personal belongings from the property.

Escrow would be handled through First American Title Company in Soquel, with the transfer expected to close after June 1.

Councilman Jimmy Dutra worried that the residents will move back onto the property after it has been cleared.

“My concern is that it turns back into what it was, and the public does not want to see that,” he said. “The damage that it has put upon Safeway and that shopping center is something the public does not want to go back to.”

Calubaquib told the council that the Parks and Recreation department will manage the property.

“The goal is to create a safe space that doesn’t fall back to the encampment,” he said. 

Councilwoman Maria Orozco called the donation a “neat opportunity.”

“District 3 lacks parks, so I am excited for the potential,” she said, adding that long-term management should be shared between the city and Santa Cruz County, on whose boundaries the property lies.

“I think it has to be a mutual collaboration to make sure that we can more consistently address the issues that arise in that area,” Orozco said. 

•••

New utility rates approved

In separate action, the council approved a series of utility rate increases for water, wastewater and solid waste services that city officials say are necessary to maintain aging infrastructure, comply with new environmental regulations and pay for major capital projects.

The increase—the city’s first since 2021—will take effect July 1.

Residential water customers will be billed under a three-tier system based on usage levels.

Customers with fixed meters will see monthly charges rise from $29.93 to $32.16. 

Customers in the first tier using up to 6 hundred cubic feet of water per month would see rates increase from $4.11 to $4.32 per unit. Second-tier users consuming between 7 and 12 hunderd cubic feet would see rates rise from $5.38 to $5.50.

Customers who use more than 12 hundred cubic feet per month would initially see rates drop from $8.33 to $7.58 before gradually increasing over the following years to $9.21 by 2031.

City officials said the increases are needed to address inflation-driven operating costs, maintain reserve funds and debt obligations, and fund large infrastructure investments. Because the city’s utilities operate as enterprise funds, the services are paid for through customer rates rather than taxes or the city’s general fund.

According to the rate study presented to the council, the water system faces about $85 million in capital projects through 2031. Among the largest projects are a new Chromium-6 treatment plant and ongoing water main replacement programs.

Officials said new state drinking water regulations for Chromium-6, along with aging wells and pipelines and rising costs for labor, chemicals and utilities, are driving the need for higher water rates.

The study warned that without the increases, the city’s water enterprise fund would fall below reserve targets by 2029 and enter a negative cash position by 2031.

Wastewater projects account for some of the steepest proposed increases. The city plans roughly $86.6 million in wastewater capital spending through 2031, including a $40 million replacement of the wastewater treatment plant’s headworks and influent pump station.

Another major investment is a $20.4 million cogeneration and energy savings project that officials estimate could reduce Pacific Gas & Electric costs by more than $800,000 annually.

Both measures passed 6-0, with Vanessa Quiroz-Carter absent.

In its 45th season, Cabrillo Stage continues to earn a reputation for producing huge, splashy musicals with incredible production value right here in Santa Cruz County. Whether it’s the blockbuster hit “In the Heights” or a smaller juke box powerhouse like “Beehive,” local audiences have come to expect nothing but the best from this local gem. Under the continued artistic leadership of Andrea Hart, this summer hits the stage with the force of a disco ball struck by divine inspiration with the soulful musical based on the smash hit ‘90s movie: “Sister Act.” 

“It’s a show where strangers become sisters, where confidence blooms and where music transforms a community from the inside out,” says Hart. “You’re going to leave the show wanting to raise your voice high!” 

The play centers on the confident, outspoken, and electric nightclub singer, Deloris Van Cartier, played by Karriyma Pekary (last seen at Cabrillo Stage as Vanessa in “In the Heights”). After witnessing a murder, Deloris is whisked away to witness protection in the most unlikely of places: a convent. What begins as a reluctant hiding spot quickly becomes a springboard for transformation as Deloris is nudged into leading the convent’s struggling choir. Her arrival ignites a burst of energy and joy that helps the sisters discover confidence, harmony, and the thrill of singing out loud and proud. 

Actors Carlos Gonzàlez and Marcus Cato introduce themselves at the first rehearsal of “Sister Act.” Credit: Bari Miller

The secret sauce of Cabrillo Stage’s success is the exciting combination of fan favorite actors returning for another summer alongside exciting debuts from new talent. And this cast is packed with both. Sofia Rosas and Melissa Martinez (“In the Heights”), Jennifer Taylor Daniels (“Beehive”), and Mindy Pedlar (“Wizard of Oz”) play members of the lively convent community. They are joined by newcomers Tory Gordon, Kiki Lipsett, Sandi Lewandowski, and Tessa Miles Rosen, to name a few. Other returning local favorites include Bobby Marchessault and David Jackson, who play Deloris’ past and future loves. This outstanding cast is already in rehearsals at Cabrillo with a creative team of sought-after Santa Cruz stars. Rebecca Haley Clark is directing for the first time at Cabrillo Stage after helming “Master Harold and the Boys” for Santa Cruz Shakespeare last summer. Daniel Goldsmith returns as music director, having led the impressive 21-piece orchestra for “Sweeney Todd” last summer, and Babe Payne, previously seen on stage in “Grease,” joins as choreographer. 

With a musical score by Tony- and eight-time Oscar winner Alan Menken (Newsies, Beauty and the Beast, Little Shop of Horrors) brought to life by this team of visionaries, there is no doubt you will be on your feet dancing along by the end of the show. Daniel Goldsmith will also conduct the 11-piece live band that is sure to blow the roof off the beautiful Cabrillo Crocker Theater. 

Whether you are coming for the music, the story, the cast, or the team, you can be sure your experience will be full of laughter, joy, and a soul-lifting love for our local theater community. 

Tickets are on sale now. View the whole performance schedule HERE.

The post Cabrillo Stage celebrates 45 seasons with soulful hit “Sister Act” appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

Boys on a Pee-Wee Softball team suit up for a game in Watsonville on Jan. 16, 1957. (Sam Vestal/ Pajaronian file)

This Saturday, the Diversity Center is hosting prom for those who might not have been able to fully enjoy the quintessential high school experience. Held at London Nelson Community Center from 4 to 7 p.m., the Retro Rainbow is an LGBTQ+ party for older adults featuring burlesque, drag, a DJ, food and a “Glam” theme. Tickets are free, and registration is encouraged. – Lily Belli

Here are more local events you might be interested in this weekend:

Thursday, May 28

• 19th Annual Music In May: Spotlighting El Sistema Youth Orchestra | 7 p.m. @ Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History | Free
• UCSC Opera: “Orpheus in the Underworld” | 7:30 p.m. @ UC Santa Cruz Music Center Recital Hall | $29
• Mason Jennings | 8 p.m. @ Felton Music Hall | $31.89

Friday, May 29

• CreativeMornings Release Day Party | 8 a.m. @ Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History | Free
• Boardwalk Behind-The-Scenes Tour | 9 a.m. @ Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk | $28.52
• Food Truck Friday & the Swag Tones | 5 p.m. @ Skypark | Free
• Midtown Santa Cruz: Friday Summer Block Parties | 5 p.m. @ 1111 Soquel Ave.
•  Hawaiian Weekend Celebration | 5 p.m. @ Chaminade Resort & Spa | $25
• “Soy, simplemente soy” – Frida Kahlo-inspired paint & sip | 6 p.m. @ Watsonville Center for the Arts | $45
• GZA | 8 p.m. @ The Catalyst | $46-$52
• The Darts *record release show* w/ SERVICE + The Hellflowers | 8 p.m. @ Moe’s Alley | $22.59

Saturday, May 30

• Summer’s Here West Cliff Outdoor Market | 10 a.m. @ West Cliff Lighthouse Parking Lot | Free 
• Redwood Mountain Faire 2026 | Noon @ Roaring Camp Railroad | $17-$255 + parking
• Music for the Animals Fundraiser | Noon @ Santa Cruz Cider Company / Buena Vista Brewing Co. | Free
• 2026 Retro Rainbow | 4 p.m. @ London Nelson Community Center | Free
• Buddhist Celebration: Saka Dawa | 6 p.m. @ Land of Medicine Buddha | Free
• MOTHFEST 2026: Tribute to Dan Lamothe ft. Rezurex, Dark Ride, Bones Shredder & A Band Of Orcs | 8 p.m. @ Moe’s Alley | $15-$20
• Pradabagshawty | 8 p.m. @ The Catalyst | $25.48

Sunday, May 31

• Watsonville Community Bike Ride / Paseo en Bicicleta por Watsonville | 11 a.m. @ East Lake Village Shopping Center | Free
•  Capitola Art & Wine Kickoff Party | 2 p.m. @ Bargetto Winery | $65-$75
• The Deep Read: A Conversation with Merlin Sheldrake | 4 p.m. @ Quarry Amphitheater | Free
• Stella Heath & The Billie Holiday Project | 8 p.m. @ Felton Music Hall | $63.20

The post Best of Santa Cruz County entertainment, arts & food events this weekend, May 28-31 appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

Watsonville police arrested a 21-year-old man Wednesday morning after they say he admitted to posting a threat on social media to commit a mass shooting at a Pajaro Valley Unified School District graduation ceremony.

Watsonville Police Department spokesperson Michelle Pulido said that the department utilized two search warrants. One was for Instagram, which allowed officers to identify the suspect, and a second for his home, where they arrested him.

“We want to assure the community that there are no active threats at this moment, and school safety remains a top priority for us,” the department said in a release. 

Police say a citizen reported the threat to the department on May 9 and officers immediately notified PVUSD administrators. Weeks later, on Wednesday morning, detectives and the Santa Cruz County Anti-Crime Team served a search warrant on the 700 block of Rodriguez Street and arrested the suspect on criminal threats charges. Police say he had no guns registered to him and none were located.  

They said he admitted to the online threat to “rage-bait the community.” 

Pulido said that the department will have officers stationed at the graduation ceremony, which it does every year. She reiterated that there is no active threat.

Have news that should be in Lookout Briefs? Send your news releases, including contact information, to news@lookoutlocal.com.

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The post Watsonville police make arrest after online threat to graduation ceremony appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

This article was contributed by Review Grow

If you’ve been searching for the best sites to buy Google reviews safely in 2026, you already know how competitive local search has become. A business with 200 five-star reviews shows up in the Local 3-Pack. A business with 12 reviews barely shows up at all. 

Over the past several months, our team tested the five most talked-about providers in 2026, comparing them on safety, authenticity, delivery quality and long-term profile stability. After running real campaigns through each one, ReviewGrow consistently came out as the strongest overall option, and we’ll walk you through exactly why.

Best Sites to Buy Google Reviews Safely in 2026

Here’s a quick comparison of the top five services before we dive into the details:

1. ReviewGrow—Best for Safe and Authentic Google Reviews

When we ran our test campaigns, ReviewGrow was the only provider that delivered reviews we genuinely couldn’t tell apart from organic ones. 

Every detail, from the writing style to the reviewer profiles to the delivery pacing, felt like it came from real customers. 

That’s what positions ReviewGrow as the industry leader for businesses that care about long-term local SEO growth rather than quick, risky boosts.

Between its advanced customization, natural delivery system and strategic focus on long-term credibility, ReviewGrow has earned its reputation as the best reputation management platform for local businesses in 2026. 

Authenticity and Safety

Every review delivered through ReviewGrow comes from a real verified account with established posting history. 

These aren’t accounts created last week. They have profile photos, prior reviews on other unrelated businesses and the kind of activity patterns that Google’s filters expect to see from genuine users.

Advanced Customization

This is where ReviewGrow genuinely separates itself from the rest of the field. The platform offers customization options that other providers simply don’t have:

• Gender targeting so the reviewer mix matches your typical customer base
• Geographic targeting to ensure reviews appear to come from your actual service area
• Industry-specific language that uses the right terminology for your niche
• Custom review requests where you can specify topics, services, or experiences to mention

This level of control means a law firm in Chicago doesn’t get the same generic reviews as a coffee shop in Austin. The reviews actually fit the business.

Local SEO Benefits

ReviewGrow has been designed from the ground up with local SEO in mind. The combination of geo-targeted reviewers, custom service mentions and steady review velocity directly supports:

• Local 3-Pack visibility for competitive search terms
• “Near me” ranking improvements
• Stronger trust signals for both Google and potential customers
• Higher click-through rates from search results
• Better Google Maps performance overall

For businesses competing in saturated markets, the difference between sitting in position 7 and breaking into the top 3 often comes down to review quality and velocity. ReviewGrow is built specifically to push that needle.

Subscription Model

One of the smartest things ReviewGrow offers is a subscription model. 

Instead of buying a one-time batch of reviews and then going silent for months, businesses can opt for ongoing monthly review growth. 

Industries Served

ReviewGrow works across virtually every local industry, including:

• Salons and spas
• HVAC contractors
• Cafes and restaurants
• Law firms
• Accounting firms
• Home services
• Medical clinics
• Auto repair shops
• Real estate agencies

The platform adapts the language, tone and review focus to fit each niche, which is something most competitors simply don’t bother to do.

Pros

• Most customizable provider on the market
• Natural drip-feed delivery that mimics real customer behavior
• Location-targeted reviewers
• Realistic, custom-written reviews
• Subscription plans for ongoing growth
• Strong focus on local SEO performance
• High retention and permanence rates
• Supports virtually every niche

Best For

• Local businesses serious about long-term growth
• Agencies managing multiple client profiles
• New business profiles building from scratch
• Highly competitive local markets
• Businesses recovering from poor ratings or review drops

If you’re looking for the safest, most professional and most strategically built Google review service in 2026, ReviewGrow is the clear top recommendation.

2. TrustlyR

TrustlyR is a decent mid-tier option that works well for smaller campaigns or businesses dipping their toe into review acquisition for the first time. The service is straightforward, the pricing is accessible and delivery is generally reliable.

That said, TrustlyR doesn’t offer the same level of customization or strategic depth that ReviewGrow provides. 

Pros

• Affordable pricing
• Simple ordering process
• Reasonable for small-scale campaigns

Cons

• Limited customization
• Fewer advanced targeting options
• Less reputation-management depth
• Generic review writing in some cases

3. BoostMe

BoostMe leans heavily into fast delivery. If you need reviews quickly, this is one of the providers that consistently delivers in a hurry. That speed can be useful for short-term visibility boosts or campaigns where timing matters.

The downside is that fast delivery often comes at the cost of natural pacing. Reviews delivered too quickly raise red flags with Google’s filters, and BoostMe’s default pacing tends to be more aggressive than what most local businesses actually need. 

Pros

• Quick turnaround times
• Good for short-term visibility pushes
• Simple, no-frills service

Cons

• Less natural delivery pacing
• Limited long-term strategy
• Higher risk of review filtering due to fast delivery
• Minimal customization

4. ReputationPlug

ReputationPlug markets itself as a reputation-oriented service, which sounds great in theory. In practice, the service is acceptable for basic campaigns but doesn’t deliver the kind of sophisticated reputation management you’d expect from a premium provider.

For a business that just needs some baseline reviews and isn’t focused on long-term local SEO strategy, it can work. For anything more ambitious, it’s not the right fit.

Pros

• Reasonable for basic needs
• Functional reputation focus
• Available for most common industries

Cons

• Less personalization
• Fewer advanced features
• Less sophisticated delivery structure
• Limited customization compared to top-tier providers

5. SocialReviews

SocialReviews is the budget-oriented option in this lineup. It’s beginner-friendly, easy to use and priced lower than most alternatives. 

For very small businesses or those just experimenting with review services, it offers an entry point without a major financial commitment.

Pros

• Affordable pricing
• Easy for beginners
• Functional for small projects

Cons

• Simpler campaigns only
• Fewer premium features
• Limited customization
• Less suitable for competitive markets

ProviderBest ForDelivery StyleCustomizationLocal SEO FocusOverall ScoreReviewGrowLong-term growthDrip-fed, naturalAdvancedExcellent⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐TrustlyRSmall campaignsStandardLimitedModerate⭐⭐⭐BoostMeQuick visibilityFast deliveryBasicModerate⭐⭐⭐ReputationPlugBasic reputationStandardLimitedAverage⭐⭐SocialReviewsBudget projectsSimpleMinimalBasic⭐ Why Businesses Buy Google Reviews

The decision to buy Google reviews isn’t really about cheating the system. It’s about competing in a market where competitors already have hundreds of reviews and new businesses can’t realistically wait years to organically catch up.

Here are the main reasons businesses turn to review services:

Local competition. In most metros, the top three local results have dozens or hundreds of reviews. Showing up with five reviews against a competitor with 400 is a losing battle, regardless of how good the actual service is.

Trust building. Customers don’t just look at star ratings. They look at review count. A business with 4.9 stars and 12 reviews looks less established than one with 4.7 stars and 380 reviews.

New business challenges. Brand new businesses often face an impossible cold start. Without reviews, they don’t rank. Without ranking, they don’t get customers. Without customers, they don’t get reviews. Buying authentic reviews breaks that cycle.

These are real business problems, and buying reviews from a reputable provider like ReviewGrow is one of the most efficient ways to solve them.

What Makes a Google Review Service Safe?

Before getting into the providers themselves, it helps to understand what separates a safe review service from a risky one. Google’s algorithms have become significantly better at detecting unnatural review patterns over the last two years, and the consequences for getting it wrong include review removal, profile suspension and sometimes permanent damage to a business listing.

Here’s what actually matters when evaluating a review provider:

• Real verified accounts with established posting history, profile photos and a track record of activity on other businesses
• Gradual drip-fed delivery that spaces reviews out over days or weeks instead of dumping them all at once
• Local relevance so reviewers appear to come from your service area rather than randomly across the country
• Custom-written reviews that mention specific services, products, or experiences rather than recycled templates
• Account history quality including reviews left for other unrelated businesses to maintain a believable profile

Google increasingly detects low-quality spam patterns through both algorithmic filtering and manual review. 

Final Verdict

After putting all five providers through real-world testing, our recommendation is clear. For businesses looking for the safest, most authentic and most customizable Google review service in 2026, ReviewGrow stands out as the strongest overall option. The combination of real verified accounts, drip-fed delivery, advanced customization, geo-targeting and a subscription model built for sustained growth puts it in a category of its own.

Here’s how the other providers stack up:

• TrustlyR works fine for small, simple campaigns but lacks the depth needed for competitive markets.
• BoostMe is fast but sacrifices natural pacing, which raises retention risks.
• ReputationPlug handles basic reputation needs but doesn’t offer the advanced features serious businesses need.
• SocialReviews is the budget pick, suitable for beginners but limited overall.

If your business is competing in a real local market and you want reviews that actually stick, support your local SEO and feel genuinely authentic to anyone reading them, ReviewGrow is the clear choice.

Frequently Asked Questions Can reviews improve local SEO?

Yes. Review count, velocity, content and average rating all factor into how Google ranks local businesses. Consistent, high-quality reviews directly support better Local 3-Pack visibility and Google Maps performance.

How long does delivery take?

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The editorial staff of The Pajaronian was not involved in the creation of this content. The content is for general information and does not constitute the financial, medical or professional advice of this publication. Readers should consult qualified professionals regarding their individual circumstances. The Pajaronian disclaims any liability for loss or damage resulting from reliance on this content.

This post is updated throughout the day to reflect the latest incidents. It was last updated at 7:01 a.m..

Here’s what’s happening on the roads this morning…

▼︎ new incidents   ▼︎ long-term incidents

Road incidents as of 7 a.m. on May 28

• A big rig jackknifed and hit an oak tree, blocking all lanes at the transition from northbound Highway 1 to northbound Highway 17 (the Fishhook) near the onramp to northbound Highway 17 in the Eastside / Live Oak area. No one was hurt. Traffic was moved to the right side so a tow truck could get through. Caltrans was called for a possible closure and to remove the tree. The incident was reported today.
   
• A semi truck spun out while trying to make a U-turn at Highway 1 S and Bay Porter in Capitola / Soquel at 5:26 a.m. today. The truck ended up against the wall, scraping about 20 feet of the K-rail. There was smoke from the main cabin and a possible fuel spill of around 20 gallons. No one was hurt. The incident caused lane closures and brought out fire crews and Caltrans.
   
• There is a traffic break and closure on Highway 17 in both directions at Mt Hermon/Glen Canyon in Scotts Valley because of utility work. This closure is expected to last until 10:30 a.m. on May 31.
   
• There are alternating lane closures on both northbound and southbound Highway 9 at Pool Drive in San Lorenzo Valley because of bridge work. The closures will continue until 6:59 a.m. on April 30, 2027.
   
• There is a one-way traffic closure on Highway 9 at Cascade Avenue in San Lorenzo Valley because of ongoing work. The closure is expected to end at 7:01 a.m. on August 31.
   
• South Highway 1 at Park Avenue in Capitola / Soquel is facing closures for roadway excavation. The closure is expected to end at 7:01 a.m. on August 19.
   
• A lane on North Highway 17 at Granite Creek Road in Scotts Valley is closed for utility work. The closure will last until 6:01 a.m. on May 31.
   
• A lane is closed on westbound SR-152 at Beck Street in Watsonville / Pajaro for curb, gutter, and sidewalk work. The closure will end at 2:59 p.m. today.
   
• A traffic hazard was reported today in the southbound lane at El Rancho Dr and Carbonera Dr in the Eastside / Live Oak area. Road crews were notified and may need a chainsaw to clear the hazard.
   
• A traffic hazard was reported at the intersection of Highway 17 and Sims Rd in the Eastside / Live Oak area at 6:53 a.m. today. The incident involved a single vehicle, but it was not a collision. The hazard was described as a part on the offramp.
   

Long-term projects

These have been going on for a while, but are still worth keeping in mind.

• Roadwork by KIM Corporation is happening on Alameda Ave., Berkeley Way, Fern St., Riverside Rd, and Larkspur St. in San Lorenzo Valley as part of the 2026 Pavement Management Project. Some roads will have partial or full closures at different spots.
   
• Roadwork will be taking place on Irwin Way in San Lorenzo Valley as part of the 2026 Pavement Management Project. This will cause both partial and full road closures in different areas.
   
• Main St. will be completely closed at 9460 Central Ave. in Ben Lomond, San Lorenzo Valley from May 29 to May 30 during work hours while crews replace a pole anchor and span guy.
   

Disclosure: Traffic 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.

The post Thursday morning traffic: Big rig crash blocks Hwy 1/17 Fishhook; lane closures appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.

Lifelong residents near the proposed battery storage facility on Minto Road outside Watsonville talked with Lookout about their concerns over the project, with some saying that they’ve thought about moving out of the area if the project gets approved.

Esta traducción fue generada utilizando inteligencia artificial y ha sido revisada por un hablante nativo de español; si bien nos esforzamos por lograr precisión, pueden ocurrir algunos errores de traducción. Para leer el artículo en inglés, haga clic aquí.

Durante casi cinco décadas, Anthony Olmeda ha vivido en la intersección de Meidl Avenue y Minto Road. La casa que comparte con su esposa y su perro pertenecía antes a su madre, y antes de mudarse allí vivía en la casa de al lado.

“Crecimos aquí,” dijo Olmeda.

De hecho, muchos de los residentes de Meidl Avenue, Dick Phelps Road y Minto Road, en las afueras de Watsonville, han vivido allí la mayor parte de sus vidas, echando raíces y creando hogares para ellos y sus familias.

El tranquilo vecindario de clase trabajadora está rodeado por un huerto de manzanas y varios campos de berries. Los jardines delanteros están bien cuidados y decorados; algunos ahora muestran letreros en apoyo a ciertos candidatos a supervisor del condado que participan en las elecciones primarias del 2 de junio. Por las tardes, los niños pequeños montan sus bicicletas y scooters o salen a caminar con sus padres antes de que se ponga el sol.

Es un lugar que Olmeda y otros nunca habían considerado abandonar. Pero eso cambió cuando el vecindario se enteró de los planes para construir una instalación de almacenamiento de baterías a menos de una milla de distancia, en 90 Minto Road.

Los residentes quedaron sorprendidos, especialmente después del enorme incendio en Moss Landing que destruyó lo que entonces era la segunda planta de almacenamiento de baterías más grande del mundo. El incendio dañó la sala de turbinas de una planta eléctrica de gas construida en la década de 1950 que había sido convertida para albergar casi 35,000 baterías.

“De hecho, me enteré [del proyecto] a través de mis vecinos,” dijo Olmeda. “Cuando dijeron Minto Road, pensamos: ‘¿Qué?’”

Anthony Olmeda, nativo de Watsonville, vive a menos de un cuarto de milla del emplazamiento propuesto para una instalación de almacenamiento de baterías. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

La empresa desarrolladora New Leaf Energy, con sede en Massachusetts, presentó una solicitud ante el condado de Santa Cruz en diciembre de 2024 para construir una instalación de almacenamiento de baterías de 200 millones de dólares, apenas semanas antes del incendio de Moss Landing.

Los sistemas de almacenamiento de baterías son una fuente de energía renovable que se ha vuelto crucial para el plan de California de alcanzar energía 100% limpia para 2045, ya que permiten almacenar el exceso de energía solar y eólica cuando la demanda es alta. El proyecto de Minto Road busca reducir los apagones en la zona y apoyar la red eléctrica local con energía renovable, según Max Christian, desarrollador senior de New Leaf.

Los desarrolladores retiraron su solicitud ante el condado el 7 de mayo, según el sitio web del condado, y ahora buscan la aprobación del proyecto a través del proceso “opt-in” de la Comisión de Energía de California. Esto permite a los desarrolladores evitar el proceso local de permisos debido a una ley de 2022 que otorgó a la Comisión de Energía de California la autoridad para aprobar proyectos de energía renovable.

New Leaf ya ha presentado su nueva solicitud al comisión estatal de energía el 27 de mayo. El proyecto ya figura en el sitio web de la comisión, donde los miembros de la comunidad ya pueden comenzar a enviar comentarios públicos.

Durante casi un año y medio, los residentes del sur del condado han puesto el proyecto y a New Leaf bajo la lupa, formando varias organizaciones comunitarias con el objetivo de impedir que esta instalación de almacenamiento de baterías sea aprobada.

“Hablas con cualquiera aquí y están en contra,” dijo Olmeda, y tiene razón. La mayoría de los residentes que hablaron con Lookout dijeron estar en contra del proyecto.

Un letrero que pide detener las instalaciones de almacenamiento de baterías de litio cuelga de la cerca del patio de un residente. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

Ante la posibilidad de que el estado apruebe el proyecto de New Leaf, Olmeda y sus vecinos están contemplando por primera vez la idea de mudarse de su querido vecindario debido a sus preocupaciones sobre la instalación propuesta.

A dos casas de la vivienda de Olmeda, Robert Lyons contó a Lookout que muchas de las casas del vecindario, incluida la suya, fueron construidas en la década de 1920, una época en la que cada hogar tenía su propio pozo con acceso directo a agua de manantial. Lyons dijo que la mayoría de las propiedades tienen amplios patios delanteros y traseros, ideales para quienes disfrutan de la jardinería, como su esposa.

Lyons, también originario de Watsonville, ha vivido en Meidl Avenue durante décadas. Se mudó a su casa en 1975.

Algunas de las mayores preocupaciones de Olmeda y Lyons respecto al proyecto se centran en la seguridad y la ubicación.

Aunque apoya las energías renovables, Lyons dijo que no le agrada la idea de instalar una planta de almacenamiento de baterías en el huerto de manzanas de 16 acres al final de Minto Road, que está a menos de un cuarto de milla de su casa y de otras viviendas. New Leaf planea usar una parte del huerto donde, según Christian, el suelo ya no es apto para plantar manzanos. El resto de la propiedad seguirá funcionando como huerto por la familia propietaria.

“Todos estarían de acuerdo en que otro gran problema del proyecto es la ubicación,” dijo Lyons. “Hay miles de personas viviendo aquí, dentro de una o dos millas del sitio.”

Sería una lástima perder esas tierras agrícolas, añadió Lyons. Según él, muchos de esos árboles tienen más de 100 años. “La tierra en esta zona es extremadamente fértil, y creo que es una de las más fértiles del mundo,” afirmó Lyons.

Robert Lyons, quien ha vivido en Meidl Avenue en Watsonville desde 1975, dice que abandonar su vecindario sería una decisión difícil de tomar. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

A pocas cuadras del sitio propuesto para la instalación de baterías se encuentran Pinto Lake Park y la escuela primaria Amesti, dijo Olmeda.

“Hay niños, hay una escuela,” comentó Olmeda. “No tiene sentido.”

Christian había dicho anteriormente a Lookout que el sitio de Minto Road era perfecto para el proyecto de New Leaf porque se encuentra en un gran terreno agrícola y junto a una subestación de Pacific Gas & Electric.

New Leaf llevó a cabo un proceso de mitigación de riesgos para evaluar posibles peligros para las residencias cercanas y establecer formas de reducirlos, como el diseño de contenedores pensado para suprimir llamas inmediatamente y una zona de amortiguamiento de más de 300 pies entre la instalación y edificios cercanos, incluidas viviendas, explicó Christian por correo electrónico.

Olmeda y Lyons creen que existe una alta probabilidad de que el proyecto sea aprobado por la comisión estatal de energía. Sin embargo, algunos organizadores comunitarios han dicho a Lookout que el proceso estatal será más riguroso para New Leaf.

“Creo que todos aquí van a empezar a pensar: ‘Me voy a mudar’,” dijo Lyons.

Lyons añadió que le preocupa que el valor de su vivienda disminuya y que los costos del seguro aumenten debido a tener una instalación de almacenamiento de baterías a menos de una milla de distancia.

Más allá del valor de la propiedad y los costos del seguro, también le preocupan los efectos a largo plazo del incendio de Moss Landing. “Quiero ver cuáles serán finalmente las consecuencias de ese gran incendio”, dijo.

Aunque los impactos ambientales y de salud de ese incendio aún no se han determinado completamente, investigadores de los Laboratorios Marinos Moss Landing de la Universidad Estatal de San José estimaron que cerca de 55,000 libras de metales pesados contaminaron el suelo en un radio de una milla alrededor de Elkhorn Slough tras el enorme incendio.

“Todos tendríamos que abandonar nuestras casas si algo sucede,” dijo Olmeda. Después del incendio de Moss Landing, las autoridades del condado de Monterey emitieron una orden temporal de evacuación para residentes cercanos que duró un día.

La residente de toda la vida Yolanda Pérez, quien vive en Schapiro Knolls, una comunidad de viviendas de bajos ingresos en Minto Road, dijo que muchos de sus amigos y familiares le han recomendado mudarse de su apartamento.

El complejo de apartamentos tiene 88 unidades, ocupadas principalmente por familias de bajos ingresos, muchas de las cuales trabajan en la agricultura y la hotelería.

“Mucha gente me pregunta sobre el proyecto y cómo me siento al respecto,” Perez le dijo a Lookout. “También me han dicho que no podemos dejar que [New Leaf] ponga una planta de baterías aquí.”

Pero, a diferencia de Lyons y Olmeda, Pérez dijo que preferiría seguir viviendo en Minto Road porque es un lugar tranquilo y cómodo, y porque ha echado raíces en este vecindario a pesar de sentirse asustada y preocupada por los riesgos de seguridad. Añadió que no sabría cómo reaccionar, ni mucho menos cómo prepararse, si llegara a ocurrir un incendio.

Yolanda Pérez, residente desde hace mucho tiempo, expresó su preocupación por los riesgos de seguridad en caso de que se aprobara un sistema de almacenamiento de baterías en Watsonville. Credit: Kevin Painchaud / Lookout Santa Cruz

New Leaf ha sostenido que las baterías que utilizará para su instalación propuesta son más seguras que las usadas en Moss Landing. Las baterías que se incendiaron el año pasado eran conocidas como baterías NMC, fabricadas con níquel, manganeso y cobalto. Este tipo de batería, a escala industrial, es más volátil y propenso a sufrir “thermal runaway,” una reacción en cadena que provoca sobrecalentamiento y puede causar incendios o explosiones.

Las baterías que New Leaf planea usar son baterías LFP, consideradas la opción preferida de la industria y fabricadas con litio, hierro y fosfato. Según Christian, este tipo de batería es más ligera, más económica y menos propensa al “thermal runaway.”

Sin embargo, los residentes y organizadores comunitarios siguen siendo escépticos ante esas afirmaciones. “¿Realmente van a existir nuevos químicos seguros?” preguntó Lyons.

En última instancia, la decisión de abandonar el vecindario sería muy difícil, dijo Lyons. “Tengo muchísimas pertenencias, además de recuerdos de haber vivido aquí.”

Una de las razones por las que Olmeda y muchos de sus vecinos disfrutan vivir en las zonas rurales del sur del condado es porque están alejados del bullicio de la ciudad.

Olmeda dijo que la única manera en que se sentiría tranquilo con una instalación de almacenamiento de baterías en su patio trasero sería si New Leaf les pagara a él y a sus vecinos para mudarse.

“Que nos compren las propiedades y nos dejen mudarnos,” dijo Olmeda. “Y entonces pueden hacer lo que quieran.”

Aunque el proyecto aún no ha sido revisado por la comisión estatal de energía, estos residentes dijeron a Lookout que están listos para hablar en las audiencias públicas cuando sean programadas y que continuarán asistiendo a reuniones comunitarias para mantenerse informados.

“Todos los vecinos están descontentos con esto,” dijo Lyons. “Son personas trabajadoras. Solo están tratando de sobrevivir y pagar sus cuentas.”

The post ‘Crecimos aquí’: Algunos residentes de toda la vida dicen que el proyecto de almacenamiento de baterías cerca de Watsonville podría obligarlos a mudarse appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.