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Watsonville City Council members are expected to see the plans for 2 new housing developments when they meet this week. The 4-story, 50 unit apartment complex known as The Residence is planned for Main Street, while the Eden Housing project would have 53 affordable units and be built on Freedom Boulevard. These 2 housing developments are agenda items 9a and 9b for the Watsonville City council meeting on Tuesday February 23rd.
A comprehensive immigration reform bill, that could have a direct impact on agricultural workers on the Central Coast, has been introduced to the U.S. House Of Representatives, and it's companion bill has been introduced into the U.S. Senate. The U.S. Citizenship Act Of 2021 would provide green cards to farmworkers and immigrants with temporary protected status, including young people who arrived illegally as children. The bill also provides a path for people to earn the ability to pursue citizenship IF they pass background checks, pay taxes, and fulfill other basic requirements. The bill would also provide resources to help judges (and their support staff) process the backlog of asylum seekers.
Monterey county has the highest percentage of non-citizens of any California county....and they mostly work in the 2 largest industries in the county....agriculture and hospitality.
Although the City of Watsonville has cancelled most of its annual events, Mayor Jimmy Dutra hopes they can bring some back as drive-in or drive-thru events. The mayor believes that at least some of the events can be done in a socially-distanced, or drive-thru, way. The events that have been cancelled include: the Spirit Of Watsonville 4th of July Parade; the Fire In The Sky firework show at the Watsonville Airport; the Strawberry Festival; and the Wheels At Watsonville Car Show.
The identity of the 29 year-old man, who died in a multi-vehicle fatal crash on Mission Street in Santa Cruz last week, has been released. Capitola resident Omar Enriquez, who volunteered with the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office from 2015-2019, and graduated from Cabrillo College with a degree in Criminal Justice, suffered fatal injuries after his motorcycle hit another vehicle last Thursday afternoon. Anyone who witnessed the accident is encouraged to contact the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office.
A man has been listed in Critical Condition, and a woman was listed in Stable Condition, after the 2 were shot in Salinas Friday night. The shooting reportedly took place in the Denny's parking lot on North Main Street around 9:44 p.m. Anyone with information about this shooting is encouraged to contact the Salinas Police Department.