The Pajaronian

Members of Indivisible Pajaro Valley stage their Signs of Fascism protest on Main Street in Watsonville on June 16. The one-hour event drew over 20 people who waved signs in Spanish and English depicting what they say are key elements of fascism to passing motorists and pedestrians. 

“A lot of people don’t seem to recognize that what we are seeing is a moment of authoritarian breakthrough and a drive towards a fascistic government structure by the Trump administration,” Organizer Olivia Millard said. “This is an important moment for us to all stand up and resist and not let this turn this country into a fascistic authoritarian oligarchy as opposed to the democracy that we all hold so dearly.”

I recently read “The Cult of Trump” by Dr. Steven Hassan, which was published in 2019—before Mr. Trump was first elected president. 

Hassan was actually in a cult in the early 1970s: The Unification Church, nicknamed “The Moonies,” so named because its leader was Reverend Sun Myung Moon, a South Korean “religious” leader who claimed to be the Messiah. 

Rev. Moon had started claiming he was the son of God in North Korea, but was imprisoned by Kim Jung II, the then dictator of Communist North Korea that claimed to be God Himself. (I guess that God and the Son of God had a falling out.) In North Korea, Moon was tortured and brainwashed, but he escaped to South Korea and started up his cult there, using the same mind control techniques that he had been subjected to in North Korea. 

After an indoctrination period into “The Moonies,” the young Steven Hassan rose to leadership levels before a tragic car accident that gave his parents the opening to hire professionals to “deprogram” him. The experts taught him about the brainwashing used in North Korea and after much study and weeks of denial, he understood that the leader of The Moonies who claimed to be Jesus was also lying to everyone just like the dictator/god of North Korea. 

From that experience, Hassan realized that anyone can be seduced into a cult and he wanted to help others, so he studied cults and he has written many professional books about cults and helped hundreds of victims get out of cults. Here are some salient points that I learned from “The Cult of Trump.”

Cults are different than other groups because: 

1) Their leaders lie to their members. They reject facts if the leader tells them to do so. Examples: Over 30,000 documented lies during Trump’s first term; recently “Gas prices are not going up”; “I negotiated with the drug companies and prices will be slashed 400%-600%.”; and “Global warming is a hoax.”

2) Cult leaders can do no wrong. Their supporters make an exception to their normal moral standards for their leader. Examples: Trump has declared bankruptcy six times; he has cheated on all three of his wives; and said of women in general “I can grab them by the p____.”. He is a convicted felon; has been impeached twice, and his name appears in the Epstein Files over 38,000 times.

3) Cult Leaders are malignant narcissists, a highly destructive form of Narcissistic Personality Disorder. It combines classic grandiosity and a lack of empathy with cruelty, sadism, and antisocial behavior. Malignant narcissists actively seek to harm, control, and humiliate others for their own gratification. Examples: “I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody, and I wouldn’t lose any voters.”; 

Trump calls himself a “stable genius.” He repeatedly says “I alone can fix it.” and “My IQ is among the highest in the world.” 

And then there are the memes he has posted of himself as Jesus. Do you remember when he had thousands of undocumented children detained in jails? He uses cruelty as a tactic.

4) Cults reject independent sources of information and use buzzwords that discourage critical thinking. Examples: Trump’s use of the phrases “Fake News”; “Make America Great Again”; “…an enemy of the people….”; and “People are saying….”, and the way he demonizes the free press.

5) Cult leaders enrich themselves at the cost of their members. Examples: Trump University, Trump coins, watches, wine, etc. According to Forbes Magazine, his net worth increased by three billion in 2025. Try googling ‘Trump Corruption.’ 

5) Cult leaders instill fear of the outside world of supposed “enemies.” Examples: Antifa, immigrants, and “libtards.” From Time Magazine: “Donald Trump’s rhetoric frequently utilizes apocalyptic imagery and crisis-oriented language to motivate his base and highlight perceived threats to the country. 

His messaging often frames political and social issues in existential, life-or-death terms. More examples: “This is an invasion”; “You won’t have a country any more.”; “They are poisoning the blood of our country,” “Immigrants are ‘vermin.’” Finally—and most importantly—after establishing that MAGA is indeed a cult, Hassan argues that these folks are our friends and neighbors, and that they will continue to have a say in how our country is run. In order to help them see the truth, direct confrontation and arguing are not effective. (Many of us have already tried that.) I am reminded of the truism “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”

All of us have been hurt by Trump’s policies (gas prices, reducing funding for rural hospitals, ICE abuses, the Iran war, hiring unqualified people to run federal agencies, etc). 

At some level, most Trump supporters understand that they have made an egregious mistake, and they needn’t be reminded of it. It’s hard for anyone to admit that they were deceived, but as I mentioned in the beginning, Hassan himself joined a cult. Anyone can be tricked into joining a cult.

A personal example of Hassan’s approach: I was estranged from my sister for many years due to her defense of Mr. Trump’s policies. She lives in Central America and her family exports many products to the United States, so last year when she was bemoaning the Trump-induced tariff chaos which had hurt their business, I just listened. No need to rub it in.

We are all in this together!

A delivery truck for Brew 102 arrives at Freedom Liquors in Watsonville at the corner of Freedom Boulevard and Green Valley Road in 1961.

Juneteenth celebrations of Black liberation and freedom spread out around the country over the weekend, including Monterey, Seaside and Santa Cruz. 

Now in its 35th year, the six-hour event in Santa Cruz started with a march from City Hall in downtown Santa Cruz and ended in Laurel Park. 

ANNUAL EVENT People gather on the lawn at Laurel Park in Santa Cruz to enjoy live music during the celebration. (Tarmo Hannula/The Pajaronian)

Juneteenth marks the day the last group of enslaved African Americans learned that they were free on June 19, 1866, according to Santa Cruz Juneteenth. 

Even though the Emancipation Proclamation was made effective 1863, there was difficulty getting it implemented in places that were still under Confederate control. Around 200 Union troops came to Galveston Bay, Texas, and announced that the 250,000 enslaved blacks were liberated by executive decree. The announcement triggered a jubilee, a day now known as Juneteenth, African American Independence Day.

Put on by Ana Elizabeth and David Claytor since the 1990s, this year’s theme was “Resilience.”

FUN TIME These children enjoy being immersed in a shower of bubbles. (Tarmo Hannula/The Pajaronian)

Musical performances included The Joint Chiefs, Phreeborn & the Phreequency, Gina René, the Juneteenth Choir and more. Dance, poetry, soul food, and craft booths, sack races and a basketball clinic filled out the free event. 

Several hundred protesters marched in Gilroy Sunday to voice their disapproval of a federal plan to build an immigration detention facility on agricultural land just outside Gilroy city limits.

Community organizers and residents gathered at Arroyo Circle near Gilman Road at Highway 101 at 1pm for a rally, speeches, banner and sign waving before marching east on Gilman Road.

“I am out here today because I think it is plainly a ridiculous thing to put a detention center here,” said Carmen Gagne of Indivisible Pajaro Valley. “It will greatly affect where I live.”

OPPOSITION Marchers rally before the march to 7240 Holsclaw Road in Gilroy. (Tarmo Hannula/The Pajaronian)​

The mile-and-a-half march culminated at 7240 Holsclaw Road, the proposed site for the center. Public records recently surfaced showing the federal General Services Administration awarded a $26.5 million contract in 2025 to a Beverly Hills-based real estate firm connected to other ICE detention centers. 

During the rally, community organizer and former Gilroy City Council member, Rebeca Armendariz, thanked the crowd for showing up.

“Immigrants have worked really hard to make Gilroy what it is,” she said. “And we don’t want to let racist policies—systems that work together with a data center right here in Gilroy to use our data and use our images to oppress, to kidnap people who continue to build our economy and make this our home and make it the beautiful place that it is. So together, Santa Cruz County, San Benito and Santa Clara counties—we’re going to work together to stop them from bringing ICE agents into the fields and detaining workers.” 

She told the crowd that the new site is slated to work in tandem with a similar site in Dublin. 

“We cannot have that,” Armendariz said. “Not here, not in Dublin, not in the Bay Area, not in California.”

Landon Sepulveda said that protesters’ presence sent a message that they are “not voiceless.”

“We will come out in mass, and we will prove that we will not quiet down, we will not give up and we will not take any excuse they give in order to forget about the issue entirely,” Sepulveda said. “We will not stop; we will not back down; we will march and make noise until they listen to us.”

A resident of Gilroy for 28 years, Amy Tripoli said she wanted to join the march because, “I cannot stand that this government is going beyond anything that I ever expected. This has evolved to a whole new level of cruelty. Our tax dollars are going to this unimaginable horror that is being perpetuated on our fellow humans.”

The completion of phase one of the historic restoration of the Porter Vallejo Mansion and Public Library branch was celebrated June 12 in Pajaro, a major chapter in the town’s ongoing recovery from the March, 2023 flood. 

The extensive renovation work was recognized as Project of the Year by the Alliance of Monterey Area Preservationists (AMAP).

The building was developed in the 1850s by Anton Vallejo, a prominent figure of the 1850-70s during the statehood period, Monterey County Supervisor Glenn Church told a crowd of about 50.

PHASE 2 With the exterior work now fully complete, the Porter Vallejo Mansion and Library Branch is now in line for interior work. (Tarmo Hannula/The Pajaronian)

The multi-year building renovation follows severe damage from the 2023 Pajaro River levee breach and flooding. Led by the County’s Department of Public Works, Facilities and Parks, work was made possible through funding from the County of Monterey and state funding including AB 102 California Budget Act of 2023.

“This building really represents the past, present and future of this community,” Church said. 

He went on to point out that the house gained further stature when it was occupied by the John Porter family who “helped build this building up to the style we see now.” 

Porter was a two-time county Sheriff and then a supervisor in the 1890s. 

“He also played a huge role in working with the Chinese; he really integrated himself into the community,” Church said. “There is a lot of local and state history in this house. This will be a place for community, for learning and for service.”

The mansion at 29 Bishop St.  has been closed to the public since flood waters crept into the building. Meanwhile, the Monterey County Free Libraries’ Bookmobile visits Pajaro regularly.

Interior work is the next phase that has already begun. Once done, the three-story building will once again offer full library services, a community gathering place and resource center for residents and official office spaces.

“We chose to honor this building because there was such  severe damage to this building and this building is so significant to this community,” said Mimi Sheridan of AMAP. “But most importantly, we want to recognize how Monterey County really went to work on this building and how Glenn Church was the main advocate who really pushed for this.” 

Sheridan stressed how the Project of the Year certificate highlighted Church and the Monterey County Department of Public Works Facilities and Parks. 

Monterey County Free Libraries Director Hillary Theyer said interior work on the library includes shelving, furnishing,  restacking its book inventory and more. That work will take several months, she said.

Woody’s at the Airport celebrated its grand opening Monday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Watsonville Municipal Airport, marking the arrival of a restaurant that aims to pair locally sourced ingredients with a community-centered approach. 

Although the restaurant has already opened its doors, owner Tim Wood said he is taking a gradual approach to building out the menu and operations.

“For once the chefs and myself are taking our time to make sure we do it kind of on our pace,” Wood said. 

HEARTY Steak frites (steak with fries) is a French and Belgian dish popular in European brasseries. (Todd Guild/The Pajaronian)

Rather than launching with a full menu from day one, the restaurant started small with plans to gradually introduce additional offerings. 

“As a special rolls out and people are like, ‘Wow, I really like that,’ then it can kind of make its way onto the menu” Wood said.

He is expecting to introduce his full menu on June 17.

APPETIZING Woody’s honey chili chicken wings, left, and chicken pot stickers. (Todd Guild/The Pajaronian)

Wood said Watsonville’s working-class character and strong sense of community helped convince him to open at the airport. 

“Let’s make sure we do a good job and make a nice burger, and introduce things that maybe people haven’t seen up here,” he said. 

General Manager Bryce Wiland said the restaurant has already been embraced by local residents. 

“It feels like a true community, like everyone knows everybody,” Wiland said. “It’s bigger than I thought it was, but it’s got a small-town feel.” 

He added that the staff sees the restaurant as a gathering place for local families. 

“We want to be a place where you can bring your kids twice a week, not break the bank, and feel really welcome like it’s your spot,” he said.

HEALTHIER FARE Server Bailey Smith carries a Woody’s wedge salad to a diner. (Todd Guild/The Pajaronian)

The menu focuses on what Wiland described as “Central California fare,” with most ingredients sourced locally. Vegetables come from nearby Swank Farms, seafood is supplied from Monterey, and the restaurant works with regional meat purveyors. 

“We’re not a big-box restaurant,” Wiland said. “We want to be a place where you feel like you’re coming in, you’re getting a good value, we take care of you, we’re part of the community.”

For Wood, the goal extends beyond serving meals. He said the restaurant plans to continue supporting local nonprofits, youth sports teams and community groups, a tradition from his other businesses. 

“We still say yes to all the little league teams,” he said. “If it’s just effort, then we’re going to make it work.” 

Wood says that he gets as many as 20 offers per year from people suggesting he open new restaurants in new locations, most of which he rejects.

“And then you walk into a place like this,” he said “Then I came up and looked at it and I got to drive around town a little bit and every day and like a little more builds on you.

Wood said he hopes Woody’s becomes a place where residents can gather, enjoy a meal and feel at home. 

“We cook for people who either don’t want to cook, don’t know how to cook, can’t get what we can get to cook, or maybe they just don’t want to bother,” he said. 

Woody’s is the latest iteration of the restaurant, which has changed hands multiple times over the past four decades.

The restaurant began life as The Belly Landing around 1980, and owners Jean Ann Mason and Phil White sold it in 1987 to Linda and Michael Butier who ran it as Michael’s Bar & Grill. It changed hands again when Larry Brindley opened Zuniga’s Mexican Food. Props opened in August 2012 after Zuniga’s closed.

Ella’s at the Airport opened in 2015, and after changing hands in 2022 to Chielo Apac, abruptly closed its doors in 2025.

The restaurant features indoor and outdoor seating and a full bar.

Farmworker advocates, parents, educators and environmental activists gathered Wednesday outside Driscoll’s Watsonville headquarters to call for stronger protections against pesticide exposure near schools, arguing that children in the Pajaro Valley face disproportionate health risks from agricultural chemicals.

The news conference, arranged by community organizer Omar Dieguez, coincided with the release of a report titled “Pesticide Use in the Pajaro Valley: Harmful and Disproportionate Amounts by County, School District, and Race.” The report cites state pesticide-use data and academic studies linking certain pesticides to cancer, asthma and developmental problems.

“Today, we stand together with farmworkers, parents, students, teachers, health professionals, environmental advocates and community members because enough is enough,” Dieguez said. “Protect our children, protect our farmworkers, protect our air, protect our water, protect our land.”

Organizers called on growers to stop using highly hazardous pesticides near schools and urged the Santa Cruz County Agricultural Commissioner to expand school pesticide buffer zones from the current quarter-mile to one mile.

According to the report, more than 95% of pesticides linked in scientific studies to childhood cancer that are applied in Santa Cruz County are used in and around Watsonville and much of South County. The report also states that Pajaro Valley Unified School District has the highest use of the fumigant chloropicrin of any school district in California, and that more 1,3-dichloropropene, another fumigant, is applied within district boundaries than in any other California school district.

Dieguez said residents have grown frustrated with assurances from regulators and agricultural companies.

“For too long, our families have been told not to worry. For too long, our concerns have been dismissed,” he said. “But we are not imagining what we see. We see the fields next to our schools. We see the pesticide notices.”

The report cites National Cancer Institute data showing Santa Cruz County has one of the highest overall cancer rates in California. Organizers argued that the county’s heavy pesticide use may be contributing to those outcomes, though they acknowledged the report does not establish direct causation.

Maria Ortiz of the Watsonville Brown Berets pointed to countywide cancer and asthma statistics while urging state regulators to phase out certain pesticides.

“We are not claiming that elimination of these pesticides will save our cancer, lung and brain problems,” Ortiz said. “But we do think that it’ll help, maybe even a lot.”

Among the speakers was Pajaro Valley Unified School District Trustee Gabe Medina, who delivered an emotional address focused on the personal toll cancer has taken on his family.

“My nephew, a little boy, beat childhood cancer,” Medina said. “My tía beat cancer. This year, another member of my family received a new diagnosis, liver cancer. Cancer is not a stranger in the Pajaro Valley. Cancer is a neighbor. Cancer sits at our kitchen tables.”

Medina cited findings from UC Berkeley’s long-running CHAMACOS study and other research linking pesticide exposure to developmental and neurological impacts in children.

“When our communities wonder why our young adults wrestle with ADHD, ADD, dyslexia, anxiety, why parents wrestle with cancers we cannot pronounce, the answer is no mystery,” Medina said. “The answer is in the air at six in the morning when the spray rigs roll before the school bell rings.”

Medina called for a one-mile pesticide-free zone around schools, stronger notification requirements and greater accountability from agricultural companies.

“So Driscoll’s, don’t tell me you care. Show me,” he said. “Show me with the buffer zones. Show me with a written commitment to phase out organophosphates from your supply chain.”

Watsonville resident and Cabrillo College student Araceli Gonzales described receiving notices warning residents to remain indoors during nearby pesticide applications. Her daughter attends Amesti Elementary School.

“I’m worried about the air quality our children are getting,” Gonzales said. “I’m worried about the air quality I’m getting after being diagnosed with asthma and all sorts of allergies just a year ago.”

Gonzales said state pesticide records show thousands of pounds of toxic air contaminants have been applied within a one-mile area surrounding her daughter’s school during the past seven years.

“As a mother, I’m also worried about the 8,407 pounds of cancer-causing pesticides and the 856 pounds of brain-harming pesticides that have been applied in this one-mile square where my family has lived and gone to school,” she said. “I feel like I’m letting my children get poisoned just by breathing the air.”

The report frames pesticide exposure as an environmental justice issue, noting that the Pajaro Valley is home to much of Santa Cruz County’s Latino and indigenous population.

Advocates also challenged comments made in a recent newspaper advertisement by Driscoll’s Vice Chair Brei Reiter Smith, who called for discussions about pesticides to be guided by the best available evidence.

The protest organizers’ recommendations include expanding school buffer zones, increasing public notification requirements for pesticide applications and phasing out fumigants and organophosphate pesticides.

In a statement issued the day of the event, Driscoll’s disputed claims that local berry farming has been shown to cause elevated childhood cancer rates and pointed to recently updated information from the Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency.

According to the company, the county’s review found that “childhood cancer rates in Santa Cruz County were not significantly higher than rates seen across California” and that a focused review of South County, including the Pajaro Valley, “did not find a statistically significant increase in childhood cancer in the region during a five-year study period.”

Driscoll’s said overall cancer cases observed in South County were consistent with what would be expected based on population size and established cancer rates. The company noted that while countywide childhood cancer rates have been higher than state averages over five- and 10-year periods, rates in the Pajaro Valley are close to the statewide average.

“For weeks, our community has heard claims that local berry farming is responsible for elevated childhood cancer rates,” said Soren Bjorn, chief executive officer of Driscoll’s. “The County’s update is important because it helps set the record straight. At the same time, it leaves an important question unanswered: Why are childhood cancer rates higher across Santa Cruz County overall?”

Bjorn said families deserve more information about what may be contributing to childhood cancer rates countywide.

“The public deserves to know more about what is actually happening with regard to this deeply concerning situation in our county,” he said. “Families deserve answers to that question.”

Driscoll’s emphasized that its independent growers operate within a regulatory system overseen by federal, state and local agencies, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and California Department of Pesticide Regulation, with workplace safety requirements enforced by Cal-OSHA.

The company said it supports continued discussion grounded in scientific evidence and public health data.

“Our community is at the center of this conversation,” Bjorn said. “We’ve listened carefully and take these concerns seriously. This is where my family lives and where many of our growers and employees have built their lives. Conversations about children’s health are deeply personal, and families deserve compassion and clear, accurate information.”

One of the teen victims killed in a two-car crash just outside Watsonville Sunday night has been identified as Carlos Angeles from Soquel. His passenger, a 17-year-old girl, also died at the scene.

The crash occurred around 8:45pm  at the intersection of East Lake Avenue and Casserly Road between a white Infiniti sedan and a gray Toyota sedan, California Highway Patrol officer Israel Murillo said.

A GoFundMe campaign created for Angeles describes him as a self-taught guitarist who was preparing to start a new job with Frito-Lay the morning after the crash. Organizers wrote that Angeles was excited about the opportunity and hoped it would allow him to better support his father, Martin.

He attended Soquel High School, those that knew him said.

CHP Officer Israel Murillo said a 19-year-old Watsonville man was driving a white Infiniti westbound on East Lake Avenue east of Casserly Road when it collided with a 2026 Toyota Camry driven by Angeles, who was traveling east through the intersection. Authorities have not determined either vehicle’s speed.

The Camry came to rest beneath a billboard on the dirt shoulder after sustaining catastrophic damage. Two occupants of the Infiniti suffered major injuries. One was airlifted by CALSTAR from a landing zone at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, while the other was transported by ambulance to an out-of-county trauma center.

Fire crews spent nearly an hour cutting into the Infiniti to reach trapped occupants. One injured passenger appeared conscious and was able to answer questions as rescuers removed him from the heavily damaged vehicle.

Investigators are still working to determine the cause of the collision. CHP is examining whether alcohol or drugs played a role. The Infiniti driver was arrested, but authorities have not released his identity.

Debris from both vehicles littered the intersection, including bumpers, license plates, shattered glass and engine components. Rescuers removed the roofs of both vehicles to access those trapped inside.

East Lake Avenue (Highway 152) remained closed in both directions for several hours, forcing motorists bound for Gilroy and Morgan Hill to detour via Highway 129.

Cal Fire led the rescue effort with assistance from Watsonville Fire, while multiple CHP officers remained on scene during the investigation.

Anyone with information about the crash is asked to contact CHP dispatch at 831.796.2160.

Election results posted Tuesday show that Tony Nuñez has maintained his sizable lead in the race for the District 4 seat on the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors.

Nuñez has received 3,930 votes, or 50.1% of the total, while incumbent Felipe Hernandez has received 2,417 votes, or 30.79%.

Challenger Elias Gonzalez has received 1,443 votes, or 18.35%.

A total of 54 votes were cast for write-in candidates.

Nuñez said he remains “cautiously optimistic” about his single-digit margin.

If that falls below the 50% simple majority, it will mean a runoff election against Hernandez in November.

“It’s not over until it’s over,” he said. “You run through the finish line, you run through the tape.”

He also credited voters and campaign supporters.

“More than anything right now, I’m just grateful for the support that we’ve received up until this moment,” he said. “Grateful for all of the conversations that I’ve had so far on the campaign trail.”

Nuñez said he hopes to begin preparing for office as soon as possible.

“Right now, I would love to be able to get to work immediately and start to plan out and meet with people and get a lay of the land for District 4 in a way that will really get me ready to get started in January 2027,” he said.

Those percentages have changed little since election night, when Nuñez took a commanding 49% of the vote, just shy of the simple majority needed to win the election outright.

There are an estimated 365 ballots left to count, according to the Santa Cruz County Clerk’s Office.

The next batch of results was scheduled to be released June 18, with final results expected June 26, County Clerk Tricia Webber said.

Webber predicted that more than 50% of the county’s registered voters cast ballots, which she said would be the highest turnout for a primary election since 2002.

District 4 encompasses much of South Santa Cruz County, including a large portion of Watsonville.

District 3 Supervisor Justin Cummings ran unopposed.

In Santa Cruz, Ryan Coonerty opened election night with more than 50% of the vote in his bid for mayor. However, his share has since fallen below that threshold, placing him on track for a November runoff against second-place finisher Ami Chen Mills.

As of Tuesday, Coonerty had 9,251 votes, or 47.89%, while Chen Mills had 20.44%.

Monte Vista Christian senior Zach Binder was named the Offensive Player of the Year in the Pacific Coast Athletic League’s Mission Division for the 2026 boys lacrosse season.

The standout Mustang finished with a total of 82 points (64 goals and 18 assists) during the spring campaign, according to the Max Preps website.

Binder, along with teammates freshmen Everett Olmstead and Gabe Figliomeni each earned All-PCAL First Team honors.

Olmstead had 39 points (29 goals and 10 assists), while Figliomeni tallied 24 points (17 goals and seven assists).  

Aptos High senior Alex Sandoval earned All-PCAL First Team honors in the Gabilan Division. He finished with 76 points (47 goals and 29 assists).

On the girls side, Aptos senior Aryel Reyes-Mager earned All-PCAL First Team honors, tallying 40 goals and three assists this season.

MVC seniors Raina Covarrubias and Sophia Sheridan, along with junior Maya Moore each earned All-PCAL First Team honors.

Moore finished with a team-best 72 points (59 goals and 13 assists). Covarrubias had 45 points (31 goals and 14 assists), while Sheridan totaled 36 points (29 goals and seven assists) this season.

Below is a complete list of the 2026 All-PCAL boys and girls teams. 

Pacific Coast Athletic League 2026 all-league boys lacrosse teams Gabilan Division Individual Awards

Player of the Year: Zach Otoupol (Sr.), Los Gatos

Offensive Player of the Year: Ben Reilly (Sr.), Los Gatos

Defensive Player of the Year: Laird Welch (Sr.), Stevenson

First Team

Alex Sandoval (Sr.), Aptos

Matthew Ellis (So.), Carmel

Zach Otoupol (Sr.), Los Gatos

Ben Reilly (Sr.), Los Gatos

Zach Gouldrup (Sr.), Los Gatos

Justin Buran (So.), Los Gatos

Ryder Gamecho (Jr.), Pacific Grove

Cooper Dukes (So.), Palma

Eli Dukes (Jr.), Palma

Laird Welch (Sr.), Stevenson

Fin Mink (Sr.), Stevenson

Topher Moan (So.), Stevenson

Second Team

Sam Miller (Sr.), Aptos

Parker O’Hara (Jr.), Aptos

Daniel Bodensteiner (Jr.), Carmel

Ben Burtis (So.), Los Gatos

Asher Rooney (So.), Los Gatos

Liam Carlin (Sr.), Los Gatos

Tyce Bowen (Sr.), Los Gatos

Garrett Kusaka (Sr.), Pacific Grove

Chase Amaral (Jr.), Palma

Bryce Amaral (Jr.), Palma

Bradley Stade (Sr.), Pacific Grove

Grady Roth (Sr.), Stevenson

Tucker Green (Sr.), Stevenson

Richard Chamberlin All-Sportsmanship Team

Greyson Agnello (Sr.), Aptos

Connor Reilly (Sr.), Carmel

Nikolay Barkhatov (Sr.), Los  Gatos

Noah Murdock (Sr.), Pacific Grove

Conner Jimenez (Jr.), Palma

Andrew Vanoli (Sr.), Stevenson

Elgie Bellizio All-Sportsmanship team

Pacific Grove

Mission Division Individual Awards

Player of the Year: Jedidiah Del Favero (Jr.), Soquel

Offensive Player of the Year: Zack Binder (Sr.), Monte Vista Christian

Defensive Player of the Year: Ben Latham, Salinas

First Team

Vitto Forneris (Sr.), Hollister

Troy Cooper (Fr.), Hollister

Hedrix Coons (Sr.), Monterey

Everett Olmstead (Fr.), MVC

Gabe Figliomeni (Fr.), MVC

Zach Binder (Sr.), MVC

Caleb Nolan (Jr.), Salinas

Andrew Babcock (Sr.), Salinas

Stephen Yee (Jr.), Santa Cruz

Troy “TJ” Kusanovich (Fr.), Soquel

Bo Blackwood (Fr.), Soquel

Jedidiah Del Favero (Jr.), Soquel

Asher Kille (Jr.), Soquel

Second Team

Chase Chipley (So.), Hollister

Isiah Toscano (So.), Hollister

James Langford (Jr.), Monterey

Mason Binder (So.), MVC

Tyler Bennett (So.), MVC

Sean Cote (Jr.), MVC

Mason Black (Jr.), Salinas

Von Robinson Jr.), Salinas

Isaiah Maloney (Fr.), Santa Cruz

Xavier Rivas (Fr.), Soquel

George Staychock (So.), Soquel

Devin De La Rosa (So.), Soquel

Barry Lombardi (Fr.), Soquel

Richard Chamberlin All-Sportsmanship Team

Nicco Forneris (Sr.), Hollister

Tyler Mansfield (Sr.), Monterey

Everett Olmstead (Jr.), MVC

Max Casillas (Jr.), Salinas

Andrew Trowdridge (Sr.), Santa Cruz

Tanner Niizawa (Fr.), Soquel

Elgie Bellizio All-Sportsmanship team

Santa Cruz

Pacific Coast Athletic League 2026 all-league girls lacrosse teams Individual Awards

Player of the Year: Georgia Boifas (Sr.), Stevenson

Offensive Player of the Year: Lola Voss (Jr.), Carmel

Defensive Player of the Year: Zola Ducker (Jr.), Stevenson

First Team

Aryel Reyes-Mager (Sr.), Aptos

Leah Sibley (Sr.), Carmel

Lola Voss (Jr.), Carmel

Grace Zodiacal (Sr.), Carmel

Raina Covarrubias (Sr.), Monte Vista Christian

Maya Moore (Jr.), MVC

Sophia Sheridan (Sr.), MVC

Lily Mcafee (Fr.), Salinas

Addie Somerville (Sr.), Soquel

Georgia Boifas (Sr.), Stevenson

Brogan Dolata (Sr.), Stevenson

Zola Ducker (Jr.), Stevenson

Sydney Holland (Sr.), Stevenson

Tatum LeTowt (Jr.), Stevenson

Molly McAfee (Sr.), Stevenson

Second Team

Lucy Erikson (Sr.), Aptos

Claire Bonyange (Sr.), Carmel

Anna Rasmussen (Jr.), Carmel

Cameran Roxas (Jr.), Carmel

Kealani Sagin (So.), Carmel

Zoé Kantmann (So.), MVC

Bella Myers (Fr.), MVC

Katelyn Torres (Sr.), Monterey

Lilly Isabell (Jr.), Salinas

Natalie Lopez (So.), Salinas

Ashby Weeks (Jr.), Soquel

Caroline Bufkin (So.), Stevenson

Brennecke Daley (Jr.), Stevenson

Sam Rianhard (So.), Stevenson

Charlotte Schipper (Jr.), Stevenson

Richard Chamberlin All-Sportsmanship Team

Neci Hoeptner (Sr.), Aptos

Violet Frew (Sr.), Carmel

Ella Jackson (Sr.), MVC

Olivia Vasquez (Sr.), Santa Catalina

Tallulah Halterman (Fr.), Santa Cruz

Ale Sanchez (Jr.), Salinas

Ella Vicar (So.), Soquel

Anna Bates (Fr.), Stevenson

Elgie Bellizio All-Sportsmanship team

Santa Cruz

Pajaro Valley High junior Hemeria De La Torre and St. Francis High junior Nevaeh Padilla each received some of the highest honors in the Pacific Coast Athletic League for their stellar play on the field during the 2026 softball season.

De La Torre was named the Santa Lucia Division’s Offensive Player of the Year, while Padilla was recognized as Defensive Player of the Year in the same division.

According to the Max Preps website, De La Torre finished batting a .679 average (38 for 56) with 14 doubles, three home runs, a pair of triples, 37 runs batted in, 31 runs scored and 14 stolen bases.

“Her numbers were just through the roof,” Pajaro Valley head coach Daisy Ortiz said. “It came down to one coach, and said he picked her because every time their defense faces her, they have to move back, and they’re scared of the hard hit balls.”

Padilla took pride in herself on her foot and glove work as a short stop for St. Francis this past spring campaign.

“Just the all-around game,” St. Francis head coach Luis Padilla said. “She really works hard at it all the time. Always asking for more grounders, always working on the little things.”

Luis Padilla mentioned the coaches within the Santa Lucia Division were quick to acknowledge his daughter’s throwing range inside the diamond, and quick jump on a pop fly in the shallow outfield. 

“It can be a bang-bang play, we just gotta dive, get up and make that throw,” Luis Padilla said. “Understanding the defensive side of the ball.”

De La Torre, along with teammates senior Olivia Contreras and freshman Anabell Ybarra, each earned All-PCAL First Team honors in the Cypress Division. St. Francis junior Sophia Madrigal, freshman Valerie Ballesteros and Padilla also earned all-league first team honors. 

Below is a complete list of this year’s All-PCAL softball teams. 

Pacific Coast Athletic League 2026 all-league softball teams Gabilan Division Individual Awards

Most Valuable Player: Denae Lee (Sr.), Monterey

Co-Pitchers of the Year: Kiersent Jara (Sr.), Palma; Sidney Esparza (Fr.), Hollister

First Team

Kiersten Jara (Sr.), Palma

Bella Machuca (Jr.), Salinas

Sidney Esparzara (Fr.), Hollister

Denae Lee (Sr.), Monterey

Mulan Hunkin (Fr.), Palma

Gigi Rossi (Sr.), Salinas

Ashlee Io (Sr.), Hollister

Reese Amaral (So.), Palma

Brianna Hernandez (Sr.), Palma

Madalyn Rodriguez (Sr.), Hollister

Anaiyah Brown (Sr.), Monterey

De’zeyer Fa’agai (Sr.), Hollister

Isabella Hernandez (So.), Salinas

Second Team

Avery Chavez (Sr.), Hollister

Nicole Seal (Jr.), Monterey

Kai Manglona (Fr.), Monterey

Jenna Deese (Jr.), Monterey

Alex Giammanco (Sr.), Pacific Grove

Izzy Turner (So.), Pacific Grove

Jasmine Booker (Sr.), Pacific Grove

Analysia Rocha (So.), Palma

Brynn Baxter (Fr.), Palma

Michaela Singh (Jr.), Palma

Mia Espinoza (Sr.), Watsonville

Esperanza Sigala (Jr.), Watsonville

Isabella Ruiz (So.), Watsonville

Richard Chamberlin All-Sportsmanship Team

Abby Butler (Jr.), Hollister

Keira Parakash (Sr.), Monterey

Destiny Buckels (So.), Pacific Grove

Ashlyn Urmanita (So.), Palma

Yareli Alcaraz (Sr.), Salinas

Layla Romero (So.), Watsonville

Elgie Bellizio All-Sportsmanship teams

Hollister, Monterey, Pacific Grove, Palma, Salinas and Watsonville

Mission Division Individual Awards

Offensive Player of the Year: Micah Smith (Jr.), Alisal

Defensive Player of the Year: Aubrey Jones (Jr.), Alisal

Pitcher of the Year: Abigail Walker (Fr.), Alisal

First Team

Aubrey Jones (Jr.), Alisal

Micah Smith (Jr.), Alisal

Aubrey Jones (Jr.), Alisal

Abigail Walker (Fr.), Alisal

Amaris Perez (Jr.), Alvarez

Lily Beals (So.), Carmel

Stella Becker (Fr.), Carmel

Annabella Schroeder (Fr.), Carmel

Olivia Tringali (Fr.), Carmel

Iliana Perez (Sr.), North Salinas

Irie Williams (Sr.), North Salinas

Alizah Carrillo (Jr.), King City

Avery Munoz (Jr.), King City

Second Team

Chloe Rubulcalva (Fr.), Alisal

Aaliyah Ruiz (Jr.), Aisal

Brooklyn Smith (Fr.), Alisal

Alexia Meza (Sr.), Alvarez

Makayla Delrosario (Fr.), Alvarez

Delilah Herro (Fr.), Carmel

Avery Houston (So.), Carmel

Taelyn Munoz (Fr.), King City

Crystal Paramo (Sr.), King City 

Clarissa Corona (Sr.), North Salinas

Audri Palmer (Sr.), North Salinas

Andria Leyba (Jr.), Soledad

Delylah Ocamop (Jr.), Soledad

Richard Chamberlin All-Sportsmanship Team

Ciara Manu (Fr.), Alisal

Lizbeth Ramirez (Jr.), Alvarez

Lily Beals (So.), Carmel

Kaylin Arvizu (Sr.), King City

Jazmyn Montevilla (Fr.), North Salinas

Cayden Lopez (Sr.), Soledad

Elgie Bellizio All-Sportsmanship team

Carmel

Cypress Division Individual Awards

Offensive Player of the Year: Samantha Scharton (Sr.), North Monterey County

Defensive Player of the Year: Maira Hall (So.), Stevenson

Pitcher of the Year: Chloe Zavala (Jr.), Greenfield

First Team

Arianna Jimenez (Sr.), NMC

Ariana Makela (So.), NMC

Samantha Scharton (Sr.), NMC

Nya Ascenscion (Fr.), NMC

Sophia Felix (Sr.), Rancho San Juan

Bella Garcia (Sr.), RSJ

Delylah Magadaleno (Sr.), RSJ

Maria Hall (So.), Stevenson

Nadia Patel (Sr.), Stevenson

Maddy Dalhamer (Fr.), Stevenson

Chloe Zavala (Jr.), Greenfield

Marianna Camarena (Sr.), Gonzales

Addison Boles (So.), Monte Vista Christian

Second Team

Sophia Oritez (So.), NMC

Baliegh Messerli (Jr.), NMC

Chelsey Misner (So.), RSJ

Sophia Tate (Fr.), RSJ

Audriana Zapata (Fr.), RSJ

Ava Alvarado (Jr.), MVC

Addison Silva (Fr.), MVC

Juliana Lopez (Sr.), MVC

Ashley Dalhamer (Jr.), Stevenson

Kobie Crutcher (Sr.), Stevenson

Kaylie Villarreal (So.), Stevenson

Hana Camarena (Fr.), Gonzales

Camila Lara (Fr.), Greenfield

Richard Chamberlin All-Sportsmanship Team

Kamora Winfield (Fr.), Stevenson

Lexy Tamayo (Jr.), Greenfield

Sofia Calomeni (Sr.), MVC

Bello Soto (Sr.), RSJ

Alitzel Mauro (Jr.), Gonzales

Marley Watson (Jr.), NMC

Elgie Bellizio All-Sportsmanship team

Greenfield

Santa Lucia Division Individual Awards

Offensive Player of the Year: Hemeria De La Torre (Jr.), Pajaro Valley

Defensive Player of the Year: Neveah Padilla (Jr.), St. Francis

Pitcher of the Year: Kalia Bates (Fr.), Marina

First Team

Kalia Bates (Fr.), Marina

Lanae Rodriguez (Fr.), Marina

Jaz Rodriguez (Sr.), Marina

Bailey Hostetter (Jr.), Marina

Anaiya Barreto (So.), Marina

Sophia Madrigal (Jr.), St. Francis

Neveah Padilla (Jr.), St. Francis

Valerie Ballesteros (Fr.), St. Francis

Olivia Contreras (Sr.), Pajaro Valley

Hemeria De La Torre (Jr.), Pajaro Valley

Anabell Ybarra (Fr.), Pajaro Valley

Adele Ramirez (So.), Santa Catalina 

Hope Yoshiyama (Jr.), Santa Catalina

Second Team

Lyla Manglona (Jr.), Marina

Maya Gallo (Sr.), Marina

Maya Chavez (Fr.), Marina

Isabel Quenga (Sr.), Marina

Virginia Escobar (Sr.), Pajaro Valley

Myah Diggs (Fr.), Pajaro Valley

Nadia Renteria (So.), Pajaro Valley

Alexia Duron (Fr.), Pajaro Valley

Talia Moakler (Jr.), St. Francis

Alyssa Padilla (Fr.), St. Francis

Bella Vargas (Jr.), St. Francis

Chloe Wigdahl (So.), Santa Catalina

Isabella Jodlowski (Fr.), Santa Catalina

Richard Chamberlin All-Sportsmanship Team

Anaiya Barreto, Marina

Olivia Contreras, Pajaro Valley

Lydia Ostos, Santa Catalina

Sofia Villanueva, Seaside

Talia Moakler, St. Francis

Elgie Bellizio All-Sportsmanship team

Pajaro Valley

Capitola police are asking for the public’s help after a Soquel man was arrested in connection with an investigation involving children at Capitola Beach.

Derek Martin Johnson, 63, was arrested June 6 after a concerned citizen reported that a man appeared to be taking photographs of juveniles in a public area, according to Capitola police. While photography in public is not illegal, police said the report involved children and prompted an investigation.

During the investigation, officers interviewed witnesses and obtained digital evidence. Johnson was arrested on suspicion of possessing obscene matter involving minors and booked into Santa Cruz County Jail, police said.

Johnson was not in custody as of June 11, jail records show. Court records show he was charged June 6 with possession of child pornography and production of child pornography, both felonies. He also faces a sentencing enhancement based on a prior serious felony conviction.

Police said the investigation remains active and emphasized that an arrest is not evidence of guilt.

Investigators are asking parents or guardians who believe their child may have been photographed, or anyone who saw the suspect taking photographs of children at Capitola Main Beach on June 6, to contact the Capitola Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Unit at 831.475.4242.

Santa Cruz County Court records indicate Johnson has a prior criminal case dating to 1998 that included charges of burglary, sexual battery, oral copulation with a minor, forcible sexual penetration with a foreign object and rape by force or fear. He is listed on California’s Megan’s Law website.

Two people died in a two-car crash Sunday night at the intersection of East Lake Avenue and Casserly Road. 

California Highway Patrol officer Israel Murillo said the crash happened around 8:45pm between a white Infiniti sedan and a gray Toyota sedan.

According to Murillo, a 19-year-old man from Watsonville was driving west on East Lake Avenue in the white Infiniti east of Casserly Road at an undetermined speed. A man in his 20s was a passenger.

Meanwhile, a 19-year-old man from Capitoila was driving east in a 2026 Toyota Camry in the intersection at an undetermined speed, with a 17-year-old girl as a passenger.

The two in the Toyota died that ended up crushed beneath a large billboard sign on the dirt shoulder. Two others in the Infiniti suffered major injuries. One of them was picked up by CALSTAR air ambulance at a staging area at the nearby Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds while the other was taken by American Medical Response ambulance to an out of county trauma center.

MAJOR IMPACT Two people died in this Toyota that collided with an Infiniti before plowing through a large sign (at right). (Tarmo Hannula/The Pajaronian)

A swarm of firefighters struggled for close to an hour to extricate injured people from the Infiniti. One young man they hoisted from the caved in sedan appeared to be conscious and was able to answer questions.

About an hour into the rescue operation, Murillo said it was too early to say what led to the crash and what direction the vehicles were traveling, and it was unclear whether drugs or alcohol were involved. 

The heavily travelled intersection was strewn with car parts, including two bumper sections, license plates, shattered glass, paneling and engine parts. Firefighters had to saw the roofs off of both vehicles in order to access the victims.

East Lake Avenue (Hwy 152) was shut down in both directions for hours. Scores of motorists trying to get to Gilroy and Morghan Hill  from Watsonville had to turn around and head to Highway 129.

Cal Fire, who headed up the rescue operation, was joined by Watsonville Fire while the CHP had about eight officers working the scene.

This story will be updated.

At a ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday in Watsonville, Encompass Community Services celebrated the opening of a new Si Se Puede behavioral health campus on Miles Lane, an $18 million investment aimed at expanding addiction treatment and recovery services in South Santa Cruz County.

The project includes a 30-bed residential treatment center and an outpatient treatment facility serving adults and transition-age youth. 

The broader campus also includes 72 units of supportive housing developed in partnership with MidPen Housing. The project broke ground in June 2024 and received approximately $14 million in funding from the State of California.

Encompass CEO Kim Morrison said the new center will allow the nonprofit to serve hundreds more people each year through substance use treatment, mental health counseling and housing support services. She described the campus as a place where people will begin recovery journeys, restore their health and rebuild their lives.

Former Encompass CEO and current Santa Cruz County Board Chair Monica Martinez, who spent nearly a decade shepherding the project, called the center one of the defining accomplishments of her career. 

Martinez said the vision grew from a recognition that the former Si Se Puede facility was aging and no longer reflected the dignity and quality of care community members deserved. 

She recounted years of fundraising challenges, including an unsuccessful first attempt to secure state infrastructure funding before eventually winning $10 million through California’s Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program and later securing an additional $4 million for withdrawal management services.

“This community deserves to have a space that’s beautiful, that treats them with dignity and respect,” Martinez said.

Jorge Gutierrez, Si Se Puede program manager and one of the program’s original counselors, reflected on the program’s history. Founded in 1981 with county funding, Si Se Puede initially served 23 clients and was built around bilingual and bicultural treatment for the Watsonville community. Gutierrez said the new facility represents both a continuation of that mission and a major expansion of services, including residential treatment and withdrawal management beds.

JOB COMPLETE Monica Martinez, former Encompass CEO and Santa Cruz Supervisor, talks of the history of the rebuilding of Encompass Community Services. (Tarmo Hannula/The Pajaronian) 

Joseph Luna, a program graduate who later worked at Si Se Puede, shared his personal recovery story. Luna entered the program in 1991 and credited it with helping him reunite with his family, maintain long-term sobriety, build a career and purchase a home. “Recovery will save your life,” he told attendees. “It saved my life.”

U.S. Rep. Zoe Lofgren said she helped secure $900,000 in federal funding for furniture, fixtures and equipment through congressional appropriations. She said the center will provide culturally competent care for thousands of people seeking recovery in the years ahead.

Watsonville Mayor Kristal Salcido emphasized the importance of culturally responsive treatment services for the city’s predominantly Latino population. She said addiction affects people from all backgrounds, but access to treatment that reflects patients’ language and culture is not always available.

Gray Clark, behavioral health medical director for the Central California Alliance for Health, noted that the Alliance contributed $2.5 million toward construction. She said the campus creates a comprehensive continuum of care by combining housing, medication-assisted treatment, withdrawal management, residential treatment and outpatient counseling services in one location.

“I’m so glad I was able to come out here today and see it,” she said. “We supported this particular project because we wanted to expand access to treatment and recovery services for our members. We wanted to increase residential treatment capacity, reduce wait times, and create a continuum of care in one environment.”

My proposal for Renaissance High School students 

Last year in a PVUSD Board Meeting I opposed moving Renaissance High School to Pajaro Valley High School in order to move Ceiba students to the current Renaissance High School site.  After I supported Ceiba continuing to operate on their current site  In 2023, 2024, and 2025,  I have advocated  in the Board meetings of both PVUSD and Ceiba for restructuring Ceiba to help financially struggling PVUSD schools .

I was surprised when I heard  the idea  of moving the students of Renaissance High School to the site of Duncan – Holbert School and the students of the latter school to an elementary school because of  safety concerns about the water.  I thought it was too rushed.  

I would like to ask the students of Renaissance High School whether you would consider moving to the site of Lakeview Middle School temporarily until a suitable site is found. You might remember that the students of Pajaro Middle School moved to the site of Lakeview Middle School for one school year at the time of the devastating flood in 2023. 

Takashi Mizuno

Watsonville

The Establishment Clause is the first of two religion clauses in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.”

This clause forbids our government from establishing an official religion, and also prohibits government actions that unduly favor one religion over another, preferring religion over non-religion, or non-religion over religion. As a general matter, the Supreme Court has long recognized that the Establishment Clause’s prohibition of laws “respecting an establishment of religion” not only prevents the government from establishing an official religion, but also bars other types of support “respecting” an establishment.

The “Establishment of Religion” clause, at a minimum, means that neither a state nor the federal government can set up a church, neither can force nor influence a person to go to or to remain away from church against his will or force him to profess a belief or disbelief in any religion. (See e.g. “Everson v. Board of Education ” (1947)).

In short: the amendment appears to have been firmly cemented in constitutional law.

Enter the Trump Administration, Project 2025 and Christian Nationalism. Christian Nationalism is a political ideology which advocates for a legal and cultural fusion between Christianity and a nation’s government. In the U.S., its adherents believe the country was founded on Christian principles, that the government should actively promote these values, and that Christianity should hold a privileged place in public life. It excludes some Americans following other religious traditions, or those who are not religious at all.

The explicit aim of Project 2025, which has guided much of the early work of the Trump administration, is to infuse biblical principles across the federal government. Calls to protect Christianity, make America more Christian, and align this country with the Bible are all common phrases associated with Christian Nationalism. It is generally understood that conservative Christians behind this point of view form the bedrock of President Trump’s Republican support.

A prominent—though awkward—focus of the movement’s pursuit of its objectives has been its insistence on removing the concept of empathy, a deeply-rooted Christian value, from our government’s decision making process.

The conflict surfaced prominently during Mr. Trump’s high profile clashes with Pope Leo XIV, which centered on questions of empathy and leadership, specifically sparked by the Pontiff’s vocal opposition to the war in Iran, mass deportation and military conflict.

The debate over empathy has become a prominent focal point for many Christian Nationalists. The latter’s critique is rooted in some specific ideological, cultural and theological beliefs. Among others: The fear of moral compromise—the thought that untethered empathy can blur the lines between right and wrong, that fully identifying with someone’s pain might lead to condoning or validating actions the Bible defines as sin, i.e. LGBTQ+ rights, abortion access, etc.; Priority of objective truth – the belief that truth, defined by biblical scripture must always take precedence over feelings, which may replace scripture as the ultimate moral guide; and “Woke politics,” the thought that empathy may be weaponized as a progressive political tool.

The Trump administration has gone “all in” in support of Christian Nationalist ideology, and has actively worked to expand religious expression in public life and loosen restrictions on faith organizations. Some key policy and cultural actions include: establishing Executive branch task forces like the White House Faith Office, the Religious Liberty Commission and a task force to eradicate anti-Christian bias. Efforts also include targeting  LGBTQ+ and gender identity issues, curbing abortion access and engaging in cultural battles with universities, the Smithsonian Institution, and Public Broadcasting all the while singling out opposition to DEI programs. These moves, while celebrated by the religious right, eroded the separation of church and state.

To some the growing prevalence of Christian Nationalism in our government is innocuous, harmless. However, the movement’s objective no longer simply focuses on the defense of liberty, it targets the accumulation of power. As such, it endangers constitutional values, impregnates governmental policy, and provides a justification for the lack of empathy in our government’s pursuits. It is using its enhanced influence to impose its will on Christian organizations it identifies as “woke” or opposed to President Trump’s agenda, as exemplified by its role in defunding religious groups that have been providing life saving care to many of the most vulnerable people in the world.

If we are not careful, while we appear intent on demolishing a theocratic regime in the Middle East, we could end up gradually easing into the semblance of one right here.

Two Santa Cruz County supervisors and several local community organizations have joined a regional coalition of elected officials and advocates reaffirming support for immigrant communities as the Bay Area prepares to host matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The joint statement, released Monday, was signed by supervisors Felipe Hernandez and Monica Martinez, along with representatives from Community Action Board of Santa Cruz County, The Watsonville Law Center and YARR (Your Allied Rapid Response) of Santa Cruz County. MariaElena De La Garza of Community Action Board and Adriana Melgoza of The Watsonville Law Center were among the local signatories.

The statement said the region’s diversity is one of its strengths and acknowledged concerns among immigrant families amid ongoing immigration enforcement actions.

“As we welcome the world to the Bay Area for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, we want to send a clear message: everyone belongs here,” the statement reads.

The coalition said the international soccer tournament presents an opportunity to bring people together and urged residents to avoid spreading fear or misinformation. The statement encouraged community members to use local Rapid Response Networks for verified information and resources.

The statement was signed by supervisors and community leaders from counties throughout the Bay Area and Central Coast, including Santa Clara, Monterey, San Mateo, Alameda, Marin, Napa, Sonoma, Contra Costa and Solano counties.

Watsonville residents will have two opportunities this month to help shape the future of public safety services in the city.

The Watsonville Police and Fire departments are hosting community town hall meetings to gather public input on priorities for emergency response, public safety services and community programs.

City officials said feedback from the meetings will help guide future planning efforts as Watsonville works to strengthen public safety and community services.

The meetings are scheduled for:

• June 24 from 5:30pm to 7pm

• June 29 from 3:30pm to 5pm

Both meetings will be held in the Community Room on the top floor of Civic Plaza, 275 Main St. in Watsonville.

The city will provide pizza, childcare and Spanish interpretation services. The first 50 attendees at each meeting will receive a free bicycle helmet for children. Participants are asked to know their child’s helmet size before attending.

Advance registration is required. Residents can register online at https://bit.ly/4vjx7AV.

According to city officials, the meetings are intended to bring community members and public safety leaders together to discuss current needs and future priorities for Watsonville’s police and fire services.

On May 8, the staff of Pajaro Middle School formally declared a vote of no confidence in Principal Nicole Killian in a letter to Pajaro Valley Unified School District (PVUSD) Superintendent Heather Contreras. 

According to the letter, the decision was reached following an affirmative majority vote of 14 out of 17 full-time certificated union members, as well as an additional anonymous affirmation from classified staff. 

The vote was primarily attributed to Killian’s alleged failure to provide a safe school environment for students and teachers, as well as to a lack of communication and transparency.  

“Pajaro Middle School has long been a school with a foundation of collaboration between the administration and both classified and certified staff,” reads the letter to Contreras. “Nicole Killian has not only ignored this foundation, but dismantled it.”

Killian has been the full-time principal at Pajaro Middle School since the fall of 2024. She previously served as the principal at Main Street Elementary for one year during the 2023-24 school year.  

“The District takes all reports related to school operations and safety seriously,” said PVUSD Public Information Officer Alejandro Chávez in a statement to the Pajaronian. “We remain confident in the site leadership’s ongoing commitment to maintaining a safe, supportive, and positive learning environment.”

Chávez maintained that the events were not newsworthy and that “there’s nothing there,” and declined to answer specific questions about the allegations against the district, principal Killian, or the events on campus. 

Killian and Superintendent Heather Contreras did not respond to requests for comment. 

Complaints about Killian’s leadership at Pajaro began to emerge only a few months after she took the role of principal, said Brandon Diniz, president of the Pajaro Valley teachers union. With teachers and staff citing a lack of student discipline and communication. 

Throughout the 2024-25 school year, the concern across the site continued to grow, said Tim Powers, one of the two PVFT site representatives and a teacher at Pajaro Middle School.

These concerns grew, especially after a notable incident in which a teacher was allegedly kept in the dark about a physical threat a student had made against them, which the district intercepted via an internal language-monitoring algorithm. 

“What the student wrote was said to have been, ‘change my grade or else.’ So pretty vague,” said Powers. “When the teacher finally got Ms. Killian to show the actual statement written by the student, the statement was ‘change my grade or else I’ll shoot you.’”

According to Ben Waite, the other PVFT site representative and a teacher at Pajaro Middle School, it wasn’t until five days after the incident that Killian finally showed the teacher the original message, and that the staff member who was threatened initially learned of it the same day from another staff member. However, this incident was not officially reported in a grievance to the district.   

According to the letter to Contreras, five staff members filed a grievance against Killian in the 2024-25 school year. 

During that time, Killian didn’t have a vice principal, said Diniz, “as a result of that first grievance, they did assign a vice principal to the school site.”  

At the beginning of the new school year, the staff were hopeful for change, explained Powers, adding that he and Waite additionally spoke with Killian and set up regular meetings with the principal for the 2025-26 school year to address on-site issues as they arose. 

However, despite these meetings, Powers and Waite felt that the concerning behavior and leadership remained unchanged. 

“We brought up several times to her like, ‘hey, we need to get better about the communication, about what’s going on with students and discipline, and follow up,’” said Powers, “and that continued to not stick.”

Throughout, the incidents on campus—along with the lack of communication and disrespect towards teachers—continued, alleged Diniz, who also described multiple incidents in which he alleges that Killian downplayed the severity and disregarded the Ed. Code procedures.

There was one such case where a student threatened another student with a kind of homemade dagger, said Diniz, “when the student brandishes a dirk, dagger, or knife Ed. Code requires the principal to recommend that student for expulsion, and she [Killian] just basically covered it up.” 

Around the fall of 2025, Powers and Waite were approached by a few staff members to conduct a vote of no confidence. 

Powers maintains that, throughout the process, staff remained willing to attempt to work with Killian.

“We were initially reluctant at that point to pursue that,” said Waite. “We probably held out the longest in terms of trying to work with her.” 

For Powers, this changed in March, referring to a lockdown mentioned in the letter to Contreras, during which Killian was allegedly unresponsive to multiple radio calls during a police chase on March 5, which had prompted the school to initiate a lockdown. 

An event that Powers referred to as “the final nail in the coffin.” 

“At this point, there was a lack of trust,” said Powers. “The breakdown causes us to kind of retreat internally and try to solve problems with students more so than we should. And so over time, it impacts our ability to even teach on a regular schedule.” 

Finally, in early May, Diniz said he informed Contreras of the plan for the vote of no confidence. 

“[Contreras] gave me the assurance on May 5 that she was going to remove her as principal,” said Diniz. “She said not to even go through with the vote [of no confidence] because she hears us and she’s willing to act. ”  

The site decided to continue to move forward with the vote regardless, said Diniz. 

It was then that PVUSD Area III Trustee Gabriel Medina learned about the vote when the resolution letter to Contreras landed in his inbox a few weeks ago. 

“It doesn’t feel like the district is doing their due diligence,” said Medina. “I’m hoping that it gets addressed. But the way that I’ve seen leadership kind of take these complaints, I’m not going to be holding my breath.”

However, according to Diniz, on May 22, following an unsuccessful meeting with district representatives, Contreras began to walk back on the promises. Following that, the union decided to make the events and the vote of no confidence public, said Diniz. 

Since then, Diniz, Waite and Powers feel that there has been no progress, instead “only doubling down by the superintendent,” according to Diniz.

“It just sort of has spiraled to the point where we feel there’s no future for that site under Principal Killian, and she’s lost her staff,” said Diniz. “Trust is lost in buckets, but earned in drops, and she has lost buckets’ worth of trust with that staff.”