Possible SLVWD, Big Basin Water Merger Close

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Possible SLVWD, Big Basin Water Merger Close

The San Lorenzo Valley Water District (SLVWD) has had its fair share of couplings since its establishment as a special district in 1941. 

In 2008, the district assumed control of Cal-Am Water (servicing Felton), and in 2016, it acquired took over Lompico Water District. In 2020, SLVWD and Scotts Valley Water District attempted to get to know each other a little better, but ratepayers from both districts raised objections, and the potential merger was quashed. Now, in 2022, SLVWD may have found a willing dance partner.

Much like SLVWD, Big Basin Water Company (BBWC) suffered horrendous losses from the CZU Lightning Complex fires in August of 2020. Nearly all the infrastructure for the water company was destroyed, and, like SLVWD, customers of BBWC were not “in water” for months following the disaster. 

Boil orders have been a regular occurrence for BBWC ratepayers. Now, SLVWD Manager Rick Rogers is looking to provide long-term assistance to the troubled water utility on the mountain.

“From the time the SLVWD Board of Directors gave authorization for me to explore potential consolidation with Big Basin Water Company, I’ve been on a fact-finding mission,” said Rogers. “We have contacted multiple state agencies looking for grant funding; we believe there’s a lot of grant money available for consolidation and fire-damaged care, and we know the state is very supportive of this annexation/consolidation.”

Big Basin Water Company is not within the “sphere of influence” for SLVWD, so BBWC’s territory would need to be annexed into SLVWD’s territory in order to move forward with consolidation. One huge component of a possible annexation would be the cost, and Rogers says that SLVWD is not in a financial position to cover the cost of annexation, or cover the replacement, improvements and repairs of Big Basin’s damaged infrastructure.” 

“We’re working closely with Big Basin Water owner Jim Moore, who has been a very willing participant in this process, and we’ve scheduled inspections to obtain cost estimates to repair things like pump stations,” he said. “We’re moving ahead, but it’s a very slow process.”

As of now, Rogers says SLVWD hasn’t yet applied for grant funding, nor has his team asked the board for a resolution requesting the Local Agency Formation Commission to start the annexation process. 

Before grant applications can be submitted to the state, specific projects related to the consolidation would need to be defined. 

“Drafting those projects takes engineering, and engineering takes money, so we’re working with Jim Moore and the State of California to get a pledge to reimburse us for that work,” Rogers said. 

An escrow account with the necessary funds would be established in the event that the annexation fails, ensuring that SLVWD customers would not be on the hook for repairs to the Big Basin system.

Rogers says he knows that Big Basin Water customers are holding their wallets tightly, and waiting to see where the numbers fall. 

“Big Basin Water customers have the final say on this process,” Rogers said. “They have a vote.” 

One concern is the difference in water unit pricing between the two agencies. 

“Big Basin Water bills at around $3 per unit; most ratepayers are billed at $10/unit,” said Rogers, who is quick to point out that other regional leaders are in support of the consolidation, including Santa Cruz County Supervisor Bruce McPherson, state lawmakers John Laird and Mark Stone and Congresswoman Anna Eshoo.

Simultaneously, SLVWD is working on an emergency operational agreement where the district takes over management of Big Basin Water, but Jim Moore retains ownership and pays the district to come in and operate the utility. 

“The California Department of Water Resources has requested that Moore get additional staffing, and we’re working on an emergency intertie with Big Basin to ensure that their customers will stay ‘in water’ in case their one well goes offline due to chemical intrusion or a main break,” said Rogers.

Rogers says every step of the process, from grant applications to the request for annexation to LAFCO, will require his board’s approval. 

“It’s a slow process, and we’re here to answer questions for not only our customers, but also Big Basin Water ratepayers,” he said. 

Rogers notes that the state has grants available that are dedicated to CZU fire recovery, so in terms of grant money, “this is a good time,” he said.

“[The BBWC] water treatment plant burned to the ground, and all of the above-ground structures had fire damage. Their system took a beating, and now we see an opportunity to help our neighbors,” said Rogers. 

BBWC is facing a compliance demand from the state for a host of repairs, so those requirements also need to be addressed in the consolidation plan. 

Ultimately, Rogers says SLVWD’s Board of Directors is in favor of the consolidation, but the associated costs can’t be foisted upon existing ratepayers, which is where the need for those grants comes into focus. 

“No matter how this turns out, we promise to have a completely transparent process for everyone involved from both agencies,” he said. 

Rogers is reminded that feedback from both Scotts Valley and SLV Water Districts’ ratepayers put the kibosh on their potential merger. 

“That’s true,” he said, “but this is a different situation. Big Basin customers need our help, and SLV customers have encouraged us to help our neighbors. That’s what we’re here to do.”

Want to stay informed on the potential consolidation of the two utilities? SLVWD’s Board of Directors meets the first and third Thursday of each month via Zoom. For more information, visit slvwd.com.

Felton Music Hall Continues Pandemic Rebound

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Felton Music Hall Continues Pandemic Rebound

Thomas Cussins, president of Ineffable Music, wants to thank the community of San Lorenzo Valley for keeping Felton Music Hall’s doors open. As other entertainment venues have struggled—and faltered—during the crush of the pandemic, Felton Music Hall has stood strong. 

Cussins, who is the managing partner of the Hall and oversees a team of producers, talent buyers, marketers and artist managers, knows who butters his bread.

“We have an amazing membership program, and hundreds of people have stepped up to the plate to support live music during the past few years,” Cussins says. “We’re super grateful to them.”

Cussins says Felton Music Hall’s membership program, which features various tiers in which supporters, among other things, can buy merchandise and tickets for shows, has been a saving grace for the venue. The program, he says, has over 100 members, the majority of whom are SLV-based. 

“Having that group of supporters really held us down and kept the lights on when the shows were being canceled,” Cussins said “We do attract some out-of-towners, but the vibe of Felton Music Hall is really aligned with the locals—that’s why we like to think of it as ‘The Living Room of the Valley.’ It’s a locals kind of hang. We wanted a place where people who wanted to take in a show after work could just cruise over. Going to a show doesn’t need to be a whole production—just roll up in something comfortable, and come listen to live music. It’s all about being comfortable in whatever state you are.”

The Felton Music Hall, as several indoor performing venues, has had its struggles during the pandemic. It had to shut down for several months as Covid-19 began its initial spread across the country and a show in July of last year produced a widely-reported outbreak that forced the venue to close once again. But since then, Felton Music Hall has welcomed a flurry of bands to the Santa Cruz Mountains for weekend shows.

Cussins attributes the continuation of live music in Felton to his partnership with Roaring Camp, which hosted live music at its venue last summer.

“They’ve been a huge, huge supporter, and they’ve allowed us to employ people, and get musicians and their crews working again,” he said. “They really went out of their way to help a fellow business, which they didn’t have to do. Thanks to them, we’ve kept the bands in front of our fans, and kept people coming out to shows.”

Since Ineffable Music is the in-house promoter for 90% of their shows, the group’s talent buying team has developed solid relationships with the management of bands like The English Beat, KT Tunstall, Jerry’s Middle Finger and Petty Theft. (This reporter was quick to point out that Foreverland can pack the rafters at the Hall, and encouraged Cussins to bring the group back to town.)

Cussins started Ineffable Music while at UC Santa Cruz in 2006, and thrives on the independence afforded to his team. 

“We’re able to offer fair deals to bands in a bunch of markets like Felton, Ventura and San Luis Obispo, and introduce them to smaller venues that transform the experience of both the talent and the audience,” Cussins says.

His group also books talent for The Catalyst, which has had its own struggles during the pandemic. 

“The Catalyst is near and dear to me—I started there as an intern in 2007, and took over the talent buying in 2013,” he says. 

Cussins’ mentor, Gary Tighe, started as a dishwasher at The Catalyst and became the first talent buyer for the venue. Cussins became the second when Tighe retired. Being intimately familiar with both venues, Cussins recognizes that some bands are better suited for one facility over another. 

“Big metal bands are going to rock The Catalyst, whereas more low-key groups shine brighter at Felton Music Hall,” he said. “The beauty is, there’s something for everyone, and since the venues are only seven miles apart, they’re easily accessible to both communities. We don’t want to force a show where it isn’t going to feel right—we want the bands and the fans to be totally comfortable in that space.”

Cussins says some bands, like the California Honeydrops and Collie Buddz, can relax into both spaces and both easily draw crowds. 

“Melvin Seals is a perfect artist to see with 350 people, and the age and demographic of his fans means he’s a draw in Felton,” he said. 

Seals, who spent years playing with Jerry Garcia, is known for taking his audience on a “psychedelic musical journey” during his performances.

“One thing I’ve learned over the past few years is just how important it is to gather together,” Cussins said. “I really want people to gather again, because we miss so much when we can’t get together as a community.” 

Cussins rattles off some of the upcoming acts he’s eager to host in Felton: Nicki Bluhm and The Band of Heathens; Sierra Ferrell; Sarah Jarosz. Cussins points to the curation of talent as the driver for booking bands. 

“If we have a great band, we’ll book them on a Monday, a Friday, a Sunday. It doesn’t matter. And if there’s not a good band, we’ll stay dark until the next show,” Cussins said. “The idea is not to fill the calendar, but to book a killer band whenever we can, and not force something that isn’t going to work for the venue or our fans.” 

During months when Cussins’ wallet contracts a little, he reminds himself that if he wanted to make money, he could have been a lawyer. 

“I do this for the love of music,” he said.

Exercise your love of music by checking out the Felton Music Hall lineup. Visit eltonmusichall.com/calendarand pull up a chair in the “Living Room of the Valley.”

Local Music Teachers to Perform at Carnegie Hall

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Local Music Teachers to Perform at Carnegie Hall

A musical duo who also teaches in the Pajaro Valley Unified School District has been selected by an international competition to perform at the prestigious Carnegie Hall in New York City.

Amalia Diaz and Camilo Ortiz have been playing together as “Camilo y Amalia” for years, having first met while teaching with Youth Orchestra Salinas. They now teach with PVUSD through El Sistema Santa Cruz/Pajaro Valley, a nonprofit aiming to bring music education and performance to students.

In 2019 Diaz received an email about Progressive Musicians, a competition aiming to help artists “achieve their goals and advance artistically.” Musicians go through two rounds of competition, receiving feedback about their work from a professional jury.

“That’s what caught my attention,” Diaz said. “We hadn’t had any professional feedback, and it’d be super cool to have it from a jury in New York. It’d take things to another level.”

Progressive Musicians is open to artists of all ages in three categories: Children, Amateur and Professional. Winners in each category are invited to perform at the Winner’s Recital at Carnegie Hall.

“We’re teachers, we play weddings and events,” Ortiz said. “We’ve played our whole life, but not like this. The quality of the recital is going to be very high.”

Ortiz said that the opportunity is not only good for their career, but also for the students they teach. 

“We always try to tell the kids, music is great for you, not just because you’re learning songs,” he said. “It can open your eyes and the world to you. I feel like this is a validation of that message for them: You don’t know what kinds of opportunities music can open for you.”

Added Diaz: “I love the fact that we’re teachers in Watsonville, and it’s something people don’t expect to happen. People should know there are good musicians and programs for our students right here.”

El Sistema Santa Cruz/Pajaro Valley was founded in 2012, though the nonprofit originated in Venezuela in 1975. Diaz and Ortiz are both originally from nearby Columbia. To their surprise, major networks in the South American country have embraced their story, reporting on the duo’s upcoming concert.

“There is so much bad news coming out of Columbia … so it’s a piece of good news they want to share with the country,” Ortiz said. “It’s a piece of light amongst the craziness.”

El Sistema has even more good news: For the second time, a workshop they created will be presented at the International Society of Music Education’s annual conference. The event is currently scheduled to be virtual, but, if Covid restrictions improve, there is a chance it could be held in person in Australia. 

“If we could attend, our idea was to bring some kids from Watsonville with us,” Ortiz said. “That’s what we want to show them: Music can take you to so many places.”

For information on Camilo y Amalia, including their upcoming debut album “Senderos,” visit their website.

Watsonville’s New Districts Stay Close to Status Quo

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Watsonville’s New Districts Stay Close to Status Quo

The Watsonville City Council at its Tuesday meeting approved new district boundaries that feature only a handful of differences from the borders that were in place during the last decade.

Every decade following the release of census data, jurisdictions must adjust their district lines to account for possible shifts in population from one area to another. This is done to ensure that all elected districts and communities remain as equally represented as possible in local government.

In Watsonville’s case, that meant adjusting the boundaries of the city’s seven districts to account for the changes the city has undergone since 2011, and the possible growth it will see in the near future.

The changes are as follows: 

  • The neighborhood made up of Wagner Avenue and Delaware, Vermont and Martinelli streets is moving from the 6th to the 7th.
  • The neighborhood between Rogers and Hill avenues will move from the 2nd to the 6th district.
  • The section of downtown surrounded by Main, E. 5th, Brennan, Union and East Beach streets will move from the 1st to the 2nd. 
  • The land on which the FedEx distribution center sits will move from the 1st to the 4th.
  • The neighborhoods around Hazelwood Park on the north side of the city will move to 3rd District, while the 4th will gain a small sliver of Highway 1 and Westgate Drive in exchange. 

The map was approved by a 5-2 vote, with City Councilmembers Rebecca Garcia and Vanessa Quiroz-Carter dissenting. 

Garcia said she voted against the proposal because the map did not unify the Clifford Avenue apartment complexes that are currently split between the 5th and 4th districts. Garcia throughout the redistricting process has said the apartments are a “community of interest,” or a group that has similar concerns and makeup, and should be lumped into one district.

Quiroz-Carter did not explain her dissenting opinion Tuesday. But in previous meetings, she has said that she worried the removal of the neighborhood off Rogers Avenue, known in local political circles as “The Thumb” because of its shape in relation to the 2nd District, would hurt her constituents.

The final map was the result of the city’s redistricting process that began in earnest last fall. A seven-member committee appointed by the city council recommended the elected leaders move forward with the plan accepted on Tuesday after a half-dozen public meetings.

Several committee members said they chose to stay close to the status quo because of concerns about census undercount and a possible dilution of power in the 1st and 2nd districts—historically representing large Latino populations.

The plan will return for a second reading on Feb. 22 or March 8. It must be finalized by March 20.

Watsonville Chips in $130K to Health District’s Push for Hospital Purchase

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Watsonville Chips in $130K to Health District’s Push for Hospital Purchase

In a vote that was largely ceremonial, the Watsonville City Council unanimously approved giving $130,000 to the newly-formed Pajaro Valley Healthcare District to help the nonprofit purchase Watsonville Community Hospital’s operations.

The contribution from the cash-strapped municipality pales in comparison with those of other jurisdictions such as Santa Cruz ($5.5 million) and Monterey ($3M) counties and encapsulates why the PVHD was formed: to bring WCH back into public ownership as it was before it was purchased by a corporation in the 1990s.

The hospital serves an area with disproportionately low household income and access to quality housing, transportation and healthcare, according to the California Healthy Places Index. Around 43% of the hospital’s gross revenue comes from the state Medi-Cal program, and 30% of its gross revenue comes from the federal Medicare program serving the elderly and disabled.

Because of this, WCH has struggled to adequately serve the Pajaro Valley over the course of two decades of private ownership.

The current hospital operators filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in December. The hospital remains open and offers a full range of medical services as it weaves its way through the bankruptcy court hearings.

PVHD, made up of the County of Santa Cruz, the City of Watsonville, Community Health Trust of Pajaro Valley and Salud Para La Gente, is the lead candidate of three that have shown interest in buying the hospital’s operations.

“If we had millions, we’d probably give millions,” Mayor Ari Parker said. “But we’ll wait and see what we can do.”

During Tuesday’s presentation to the council, Cecilia Montalvo, the director of the Cambria Community Health Care District and a founding board member of the PVHD, said the district needs to raise $39 million to close on the purchase of the hospital by Feb. 22.

Along with the commitments from the city and the two counties the hospital serves, the Community Health Trust, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Dominican Hospital and the Central California Alliance for Health have also chipped in, and Montalvo said PVHD is on pace to gather the funds needed for the purchase. 

In all, the district will need to raise close to $67 million to adequately fund the hospital’s operations, with the largest investment—an expected infusion of $15 million—coming from the state.

The district will also soon give people the opportunity to contribute individual donations, Montalvo said.

The breakneck pace of the creation, establishment and fund-gathering the PVHD has undergone since it first announced its plans to purchase the hospital last fall—when its chief executive told employees that the facility faced imminent closure—has been nothing short of spectacular, all councilmembers said.

State Senator John Laird’s bill (Senate Bill 418) that sought to establish the PVHD passed unanimously in the Assembly and Senate and was signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in less than a month, clearing the final hurdle on Friday.

Salud Para La Gente CEO Dori Rose Inda said the quick action by the state legislature was a “very powerful proclamation about the importance of our community.”

“It was a clear statement by the state that the Pajaro Valley, the residents who work here and live here, and the hospital that serves them, really are essential and important,” said Inda, who is also a founding member of the PVHD.

Decision on Watsonville’s Measure U Renewal Upcoming

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Decision on Watsonville’s Measure U Renewal Upcoming

An effort to extend a landmark Watsonville ballot measure that placed restrictions on the expansion of the city took a big step forward Tuesday.

The Watsonville City Council accepted the city clerk’s certification of a petition filed by the Committee for Planned Growth and Farmland Protection that will bring an extension of Measure U before the elected leaders at an upcoming meeting.

At that meeting, the council could choose to accept the petition and extend the constraints on urban expansion approved by Watsonville voters in 2002 for another 18 years. But, it is more likely that the council will instead give Watsonville voters a chance in the upcoming November election to voice their opinion on the effect Measure U has had on the community and whether they’d like to continue down the same path through 2040.

Determining the effects the measure, which, officially, was an amendment to the city’s general plan, has had on Watsonville is a difficult task. While the constraints on outward growth have indeed protected agricultural land from development, they have also limited Watsonville’s ability to, among other things, build new homes and persuade large employers and businesses to invest in the city.

Supporters of the extension say that the city should instead try to solve its housing issues by building apartment complexes on vacant and underutilized land throughout the already densely populated municipality.

The city council has commissioned a study on the measure that will likely come to the leaders before they decide how to proceed.

The committee, a coalition of environmentalist and agriculture advocates and representatives, needed to collect signatures from 10% of Watsonville’s voting body, or about 2,100 people, to bring the renewal forward. It turned in a little more than 3,100 signatures in December but around 700 were tossed out by the County Clerk because they were unverified. 

In the end, the committee still had more than enough signatures (2,411) to move ahead. 

Tuesday’s action was on the council’s consent agenda, where items that are uncontroversial are typically placed. Because of this, there was little discussion among the council about the measure.

Only Councilwoman Rebecca Garcia chose to comment on the item. She said she heard that people gathering signatures for the committee were telling prospective signees that the measure would help protect the wetlands from development.

City Manager Pro-Tem Tamara Vides, answering Garcia’s question as to what safeguards the wetlands already have, said that the city’s general plan has strong and clear protections for the natural resource.

“The wetlands are already protected and will not be built upon,” Vides said.

Garcia, following up on Vides’ statement, said that it seemed the committee was spreading misinformation about what exactly a renewal would accomplish.

“The wetlands are already protected,” Garcia said. “I think that needs to be corrected for their future advocacy for that measure.”

Committee member Sam Earnshaw in an email to the Pajaronian said Garcia’s comments were over-generalizations and not based on fact.

“No one has ever said anything about ‘building’ on the wetlands,” Earnshaw wrote.

Santa Cruz City Council Opposes Abandoning Freight Lines

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Santa Cruz City Council Opposes Abandoning Freight Lines

The Santa Cruz City Council unanimously voted to oppose the potential abandoning of freight service on the Felton and Santa Cruz Rail Lines at its meeting Tuesday. The vote will have no formal power, but it signals to the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) that the council sides with Roaring Camp Railroads in the battle over the future of the rail lines.

On Feb. 3, the RTC held a public meeting about potentially abandoning the Felton Branch Rail Line, which would deem it “railbanked.” According to a staff report on the issue, this move would allow for the potential to haul freight in the future and would put off the estimated $50-plus million in repairs that the line needs.

But Roaring Camp sees the RTC’s proposal as “an aggressive attack” on the railroad, fueled by lobbyists working to “end rail in Santa Cruz County,” according to a public statement on the matter.

“We are in a deadlock,” said Councilwoman Sandy Brown, who is also on the RTC, at the council meeting. “That’s the reality. We are really stalled.”

All members of the council spoke about the importance of supporting transportation infrastructure when making their vote to oppose abandoning the freight lines. Councilmembers Donna Meyers and Justin Cummings also noted that although the repairs needed will be substantial, both in scope and funding, they aren’t unfeasible.

“This effort to bring rail and trail to our community has been going on since the late 80s,” said Cummings. “Over the past two years, we’ve been seeing segments get built, and the efforts over time are leading us to making rail and trail a reality. We need to do what we can to keep this effort alive.”

Council also discussed the city’s budget, which, according to City Interim Finance Director Bobby Magee, will need to see a cut of $2.5 million during the next fiscal year. At the current rate of spending and if no new sources of revenue are secured, Magee said, projections show the city’s reserves running dry by 2028.

“Our operations are stretched thin,” said City Manager Matt Huffaker. “That’s why a discussion around exploring this additional sales tax measure is going to be important as we [think about] long term financial planning.”

A proposal for a new sales tax is expected to be brought before the council in early March. City staff has been polling residents about a new sales tax, one that voters could see on the June 7 ballot this year. Some 59% of respondents supported a new sales tax according to a January poll, Huffaker said.

“New revenue opportunities will be a key piece of what that rebuilding looks like,” said Huffaker. 

Santa Cruz County to Lift Mask Mandate Feb. 16

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Santa Cruz County to Lift Mask Mandate Feb. 16

In alignment with the state, 11 Bay Area counties, including Santa Cruz and the City of Berkeley, will lift universal mask requirements for most indoor public settings on Feb. 16.

Unvaccinated individuals over the age of 2 will continue to be required to wear masks in all indoor public settings. Businesses, venue operators and hosts may continue to require patrons to wear masks.

The change aligns with the California Department of Public Health’s (CDPH) decision to let expire the statewide indoor mask requirement, which was instated on Dec. 15 during the latest Covid-19 surge as a result of the Omicron variant of the disease. 

Indoor masking is still required by the state for everyone, regardless of vaccination status, in the following settings:

  • Public transportation
  • Health care settings
  • Congregate settings, like correctional facilities and homeless shelters
  • Long term care facilities
  • K-12 schools 
  • Childcare settings  

In a joint statement, health officers from the 12 Bay Area jurisdictions, in alignment with CDPH, continued to strongly recommend masks be used to slow the spread of the virus, especially when case rates are high or when additional personal protection is needed. 

They say that continuing to mask in indoor public settings, especially crowded or poorly ventilated spaces, remains the safest choice for an individual and helps protect those who are medically vulnerable or cannot get vaccinated, such as young children. 

As evidence continues to show, vaccinations and boosters remain the best defense against the virus, the joint statement read.

According to County Health spokesperson Corinne Hyland after reaching a high on Jan. 20 of 1,263 new cases in a day, Santa Cruz County case rates have declined to a 7-day average of 117 as of Feb. 7. Meanwhile, hospitalizations, a lagging indicator of the disease, have decreased.

CDPH continues to require masking in K-12 school settings but has indicated adjustments to the state’s policies will be shared in the coming weeks.

Cabrillo Parts Ways with Embattled Vice President

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Cabrillo Parts Ways with Embattled Vice President

By Lucia Meza

The Cabrillo College Governing Board of Trustees has decided to cut ties with the school’s vice president of instruction, who was placed on administrative leave after being charged with embezzlement in December.

The board decided in the closed session of its monthly meeting on Monday. The elected leaders approved the recommendation of Cabrillo College President Matt Wetstein to issue Paul De La Cerda a “notice of non-reemployment on or before March 15, 2022.”

In a prepared statement, Wetstein said that De La Cerda will remain on a leave of absence until June 30, when he will longer be a Cabrillo employee.

De La Cerda has responded to a request for comment. 

De La Cerda was put on administrative leave by the board after being charged with embezzlement by the Los Angeles County District Attorney.

Cabrillo hired him in June of 2021, a move the school’s leadership stood by while he was under investigation for fraud.

De La Cerda, 47, faces charges of misappropriation of government funds and embezzlement. He is accused of overbilling East Los Angeles College for roughly $1,575 between March 2017 and 2019. He is also accused of forging documents he submitted for reimbursement.

He pleaded not guilty on Jan. 7 and is set to return to the Los Angeles Superior Court on Feb. 17.

EXCLUSIVE: Longtime Supervisor Greg Caput Won’t Seek Reelection

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EXCLUSIVE: Longtime Supervisor Greg Caput Won’t Seek Reelection

After serving for 12 years as Santa Cruz County’s 4th District representative, Supervisor Greg Caput says that he will not seek reelection in the upcoming June primary.

With a wife, two sets of adolescent twins and a 16-year-old son, Caput, now in his early 70s, says he wants to spend more quality time at home with his tight-knit family.

“It’s just the right time,” he says.

His departure might not be entirely surprising for those who have followed Caput through his ascent in local politics. Caput made passing term limits a significant part of his initial 2010 Board of Supervisors campaign—a hard-fought and stressful battle in which he triumphed by a measly 61 votes out of over 10,000 cast.

His multiple attempts to push term limits as a supervisor—both eight years and 12—were turned down by his fellow politicians, and the issue never came to a vote. 

“The shelf life of a supervisor should be 12 years,” says Caput. “I tried hard to push term limits. Throughout history, no one has really been on the Board of Supervisors for more than 12 years except for Gary Patton. I’ve loved the job of supervisor, but I’m ready to move on.”

Caput’s love for his district—one that includes Watsonville’s rural and agricultural lands, the Pajaro Valley and greater South County—is evident. A lifelong Watsonville resident, Caput attended local schools and spent his summer months in the fields cutting lettuce. His cluttered but warm office at the Watsonville Vets Hall in the heart of the city is adorned with all varieties of posters, relics and decorations representing the region’s rich and storied history. 

For Caput, Watsonville is, and always will be, home.

Tall, lanky and often wearing a tie, almost always a tad askew, Caput doesn’t look or come off as the typical politician. He does, however, have a magical way of connecting with his constituents and making them feel heard and listened to. That ability was on full display when he ousted three-term incumbent Tony Campos in 2010 for the 4th District seat. He primarily appealed to Watsonville voters that sought to slow the city’s expanding population and low-income housing production, advocating for “smart growth” on the campaign trail.

The past few years have been rough for the always personable supervisor—connections with his community more challenging to maintain.

“Covid has made things tough and impersonal. My whole family tested positive for the virus. I like meeting people in person—giving the personal touch,” he says. “Covid made everything difficult.”

Two familiar candidates have already stepped forward to try to fill his seat. According to county records, Watsonville City Councilman Jimmy Dutra declared his intention to run in the June primary late last month. Former Watsonville City Councilman and current Cabrillo College Governing Board Trustee Felipe Hernandez has also declared his intent to run.

Caput bested both candidates in 2018 for the 4th District seat, scoring a victory over Dutra in a November runoff by 1,000 votes. He also beat Dutra in 2014.

In his youth, the months Caput spent processing lettuce created a long and deep-seated connection with the area’s rich and fertile soil and its farmworkers. Before being elected to the board, Caput served on the Watsonville City Council from 2006-2010. He ran on a public safety platform—strengthening an understaffed firefighting and police force—and protecting farmland from urban sprawl.

Caput’s eyes light up when he starts to describe the work that he’s done over the past dozen years. He’s continued his commitment to supporting law enforcement and the fire department—eliminating mandatory overtime to prevent fatigue and mistakes.

Through the recent fires and a crippling pandemic, he’s advocated for opening doors and establishing services to aid the area’s homeless population. For years, more than 80 people were overnight guests at the Watsonville Vets Hall—just steps from his office.

When his third term ends later this year, Caput will leave his constituents with two big parting gifts: an ambitious plan to construct a massive park near the County Fairgrounds and the purchase of the old West Marine Building that the County is turning into a resource center.

By orchestrating the latter, he gave South County residents access to human services, the planning department, mental health services and public works without traveling all the way to Santa Cruz.

During his tenure, Caput also volunteered countless hours on a long list of other boards, committees and regional agencies, including the Environmental Health Appeals Commission, the Highway 1 Construction Authority, the Santa Cruz County Mental Health Advisory Board and the Santa Cruz County Workforce Development Board.

His colleagues on the Board of Supervisors unanimously elected him as the Board Chair for 2020.

Just as he pushed to establish term limits for the Board of Supervisors, Caput lobbied to cut the pay for the entire board. His efforts were summarily rejected, but he says he decided to donate most of his salary—over $200,000 over 11 years—to nonprofits and cases of need (like family tragedies).

“I could have used the money to pay off my mortgage,” he admits.

Caput says that he’s loved his time as supervisor, but not necessarily the politics. He does, however, want to thank his fellow supervisors—past and present. 

“Even though we didn’t agree on a lot of issues, we always got along,” he says. “It used to be shouting matches and yelling matches 30 years ago. Lately, though, we’ve always had a good working environment. They always accept me for who I am. And I accept them for who they are.”

Possible SLVWD, Big Basin Water Merger Close

SLVWD and Big Basin Water Company suffered losses from the CZU Lightning Complex fires.
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Felton Music Hall Continues Pandemic Rebound

membership program has been a saving grace.
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Local Music Teachers to Perform at Carnegie Hall

Amalia Diaz and Camilo Ortiz have been playing together as “Camilo y Amalia” for years, having first met while teaching with Youth Orchestra Salinas.
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Watsonville’s New Districts Stay Close to Status Quo

Every decade following the release of census data, jurisdictions must adjust their district lines to account for possible shifts in population.
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Watsonville Chips in $130K to Health District’s Push for Hospital Purchase

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Decision on Watsonville’s Measure U Renewal Upcoming

The landmark ballot measure protects agricultural land from development.
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Santa Cruz City Council Opposes Abandoning Freight Lines

greenway measure
Leaders also review budget woes, talk possible sales tax.
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Santa Cruz County to Lift Mask Mandate Feb. 16

What you need to know.
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Cabrillo Parts Ways with Embattled Vice President

The Cabrillo board approved the recommendation of President Matt Wetstein to cut ties with the school's vice president, Paul De La Cerda.
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EXCLUSIVE: Longtime Supervisor Greg Caput Won’t Seek Reelection

Now in his early 70s, Santa Cruz County’s 4th District representative is leaving politics to spend more time with his wife and kids.
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