In The News
City tightens restrictions on canine ownership
Register-Pajaronian
Thursday April 15, 2010
Tighter restrictions on dog ownership were approved by the Watsonville City Council Tuesday night in an effort to curb what officials described as a growing problem of dangerous dogs.
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Mayor Luis Alejo and others told Caput that the officers could have seized the dog, whereas before, such a seizure would have a required a hearing first. "This provides tools for our police officers so they can take immediate action," Alejo said.
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Watsonville City Council put more teeth in vicious dog ordinance
Wednesday April 14, 2010
WATSONVILLE - The City Council tightened the leash on big dog owners Tuesday.
In a 5-1 vote, the council modified a 4-month-old vicious dog ordinance to restrict dog ownership by felons, give authorities the right to seize unaltered dogs weighing more than 20 pounds and increase fees for keeping dogs that are not spayed or neutered from $100 to $300.
The action was prompted by a pit bull attack on an elderly woman New Year's Day.
"There was a very tragic incident," said Mayor Luis Alejo. "We all know it could have been worse. It could have been worse if there were children involved. This provides the tools for our police officers and our animal control officers to take action."
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Watsonville gang shooting prompts concerns about rise in violence
Wednesday December 09, 2009
Mayor Luis Alejo, who heard about the shooting just as the City Council meeting adjourned Tuesday, encouraged residents to work closely with police to report crimes in their neighborhoods.
"That's what law enforcement needs, is for people to step up," he said.
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Alejo said the city's Post-Incident Team - a collaboration between community members, clergy, city officials and police - will visit homes later this week in the neighborhood where Tuesday's shooting occurred and that city leaders will address violence issues at the first City Council meeting of 2010. Also, he would like the council and the school board to hold a joint meeting early next year to talk about crime.
"There needs to be a discussion because a lot of things that carry out into the street also go on in schools," Alejo said. "We need to take it to another level ... so we can be more effective at reducing gang violence in our community."
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Alejo, Bilicich named Watsonville mayor, vice mayor
Wednesday November 18, 2009
WATSONVILLE -- Two Watsonville natives will lead the City Council in a town hard hit by foreclosures and unemployment. The City Council chose Luis Alejo mayor on a 5-2 vote and Nancy Bilicich mayor pro tem on a 6-1 vote after a lengthy discussion on the fairness of the process. ... "We've got to work together as a team," Alejo said in his first remarks as mayor. "We're going to get the city back on the right track and we're going to do it together."
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Watsonville puts vicious dogs on short leash
Wednesday October 28, 2009
WATSONVILLE -- Owning a vicious dog in Watsonville just got more expensive.
Under new regulations, approved by the City Council on Tuesday, owners of vicious canines will be required to micro-chip their dogs, buy $100,000 of liability insurance and pay a premium for a pet license.
Owners who don't follow the rules and whose dog injures a person or animal could be found guilty of a misdemeanor and land in jail for up to six month.
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Councilman Luis Alejo said he didn't want to wait to act until a serious incident occurred.
"The main thing is to make sure our neighborhoods are safe," Alejo said.
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Alejo appointed to dropout prevention task force
Thursday October 15, 2009
Alejo's appointment to the dropout prevention task force was no surprise either as he had been stumping for such a task force for at least a year. The Intergovernmental Relations Committee - comprised of representatives from the Pajaro Valley Unified School District, the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors, the Santa Cruz County Office of Education and the City of Watsonville - has been planning for the task force to hold a dropout prevention summit during the 2009-10 school year.
"All the research shows this is a major crisis," Alejo said. "This is what we need to do to get the community on board and tackle this issue."
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Ex-justice endorses Alejo for Assembly seat
Monday September 28, 2009
Former California Supreme Court Justice Cruz Reynoso has endorsed Monterey County attorney and Watsonville Mayor Pro Tem Luis Alejo in his bid to represent the 28th Assembly District. Alejo currently works as a staff attorney for the Monterey County Superior Court. He is seeking to replace Assemblywoman Anna Caballero, who is running for the 12th Senate District next year.
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MONNING ENDORSES ALEJO FOR ASSEMBLY
Thursday September 10, 2009
Assemblyman Bill Monning, D-Carmel, has endorsed Monterey County attorney and Watsonville Mayor Pro Tem Luis Alejo for the 28th Assembly District.
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Assemblyman Bill Monning endorses Alejo for 28th Assembly District seat
Thursday September 10, 2009
Assemblyman Bill Monning of the 27th District has endorsed Watsonville City Council member Luis Alejo for the 28th Assembly District seat.
"Luis Alejo earned a degree in education from Harvard, yet he came home to teach our most troubled high school students," Monning stated in a press release. "Now, Luis is putting his University of California law degree to work in our superior court helping abused women and children."
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Hundreds turn out for annual Labor Day picnic at De Laveaga Park
Union organizers: Economic downturn is a challenge for many
Tuesday September 08, 2009
SANTA CRUZ - Streams of light filtered through the towering redwood trees at De Laveaga Park Monday afternoon, an effect sharpened by smoke from a busy barbecue and by dust kicked up by hundreds of people attending the Monterey Bay Central Labor Council's annual Labor Day picnic.
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Also in attendance at the event were dozens of local political figures, including from the Santa Cruz City Council, the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors, the Watsonville City Council and the Monterey County Board of Supervisors.
"This is an event that honors workers throughout the Monterey Bay area," Watsonville Mayor Pro Tempore Luis Alejo said. "Without the work they do day in and day out, our local economy would be devastated ."