In The News
At least five vie for expected state assembly seat
Thursday June 04, 2009
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Watsonville mulls four-day work week to close budget gap
Saturday May 23, 2009
WATSONVILLE -- Watsonville would close its doors Fridays in the coming fiscal year under a cost-cutting plan coming before the City Council on Tuesday. Among other measures, the plan also calls for summer recreation reductions, a 7.5 percent pay cut for police and laying off five firefighters if a deal for concessions can't be reached with their union. "What Watsonville is facing is what all other cities in California are facing," said Mayor Pro Tempore Luis Alejo. "The city wants to minimize the impact as much as possible, but it's going to hurt. We're forced to make hard choices."
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LUIS ALEJO NOMINATED FOR COASTAL PANEL
Saturday May 02, 2009
The Watsonville City Council nominated Mayor Pro Tempore Luis Alejo for the California Coastal Commission this week.
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City Council votes for tougher rules on graffiti
Property owners will have to clean up mess
Thursday April 30, 2009
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Santa Cruz politicos jockey for Coastal Commission seat
Tuesday April 21, 2009
Assembly Speaker Karen Bass, D-Los Angeles, is broadening the search for the next appointment to the California Coastal Commission, a move that puts a handful of Santa Cruz County residents in contention and raises the prospect of a local voice on the powerful state board.
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Already a number of local candidates have begun vying for the appointment. Santa Cruz City Councilwoman Katherine Beiers, Watsonville Vice Mayor Luis Alejo and Santa Cruz County Supervisor Mark Stone are among those who have expressed interest.
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Jockeying starts for potentially vacant 28th Assembly seat
Thursday April 16, 2009
As 28th District Assemblywoman Anna Caballero prepares for a possible future in the state Senate, the scramble to replace her has started. Watsonville Mayor Pro Tempore Luis Alejo and behind-the-scenes political player Rick Rivas are eyeing the seat.
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Council approves traffic circles
Thursday April 16, 2009
Traffic circles may be coming to a neighborhood near you, and if you don’t like them, they might not stay.
The “traffic-calming measures” proposed by the city were passed on a 4-3 vote at Tuesday’s City Council meeting. The circular barriers, at a cost of $60,000, will be installed at the intersections of Arthur Road and Hammer Drive, Blackburn and J streets, Clifford Avenue and Hammer Drive, Holm Road at the trailer park entrance, and Hushbeck and McKenzie streets.
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Vice mayor wins award for legal work
Thursday April 09, 2009
Mayor Pro Tem Luis Alejo has been named a 2009 recipient of the Award of Merit from the Legal Aid Association of California and the Access to Justice Commission. The award recognizes Alejo for exemplary work in improving access to justice at the Monterey County Superior Court Self-Help Center. Alejo has worked as staff attorney for the Monterey County Superior Court since 2007. Previously, Alejo worked for four years as a legal aid attorney for California Rural Legal Assistance in Watsonville and Santa Cruz.
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Monterey County Superior Court attorney receives state award of merit
Wednesday April 08, 2009
The Legal Aid Association of California and the Access to Justice Commission announced this week that Monterey County Superior Court attorney and Watsonville Mayor Pro Tem Luis Alejo has won its 2009 Award of Merit. Alejo was recognized "for his exemplary work in improving access to justice as a member of the California Court system at the Monterey County Superior Court Self-Help Center."
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City Council approves Styrofoam ban in restaurants
Move a 'no-brainer ' councilmember says; restaurant owner sees positive reaction from patrons
Thursday March 26, 2009
Watsonville's restaurants and retail food outlets have seven months to stop using Styrofoam after the City Council approved an ordinance Tuesday to prohibit the use of polystyrene foam containers for prepared food within the city limits.
Polystyrene foam is the only type of plastic that can't be recycled in the Monterey Bay area. Facilities do exist in the state, but transporting the plastic foam isn't a viable option due to the cost and the fact that it ends up in the landfill. Polystyrene is also a significant pollutant in the bay. The California Coastal Commission has estimated that more than 1 million seabirds, 100,000 marine mammals and countless fish die each year from ingesting polystyrene .