4/10 Weekly Newsletter
Transportation safety, Ethnic Studies, and rural equity updates.
Hola Amigos!
I hope everyone is getting some rest this Spring Break. For me, it's been a time of action and grounding. I’ve been in deep conversation with community members, organizers, and educators—from local walk-throughs on dangerous student routes to statewide strategy sessions with the Latinx Caucus of the California Green Party, which I’m helping revive. Our focus is building power across California through climate justice, education, and cultura.
But let’s be honest: not everyone wants to see that happen.
In recent weeks, I’ve received a wave of hostile emails—mostly from far-right Zionists based in the Aptos area—attacking the district for even considering a return to Ethnic Studies. These aren’t critiques rooted in good faith. They are part of a national pattern of silencing truth, suppressing history, and threatening anyone who centers Black, Indigenous, or Palestinian voices.
Let me be clear: I will not back down.
Ethnic Studies isn’t about division—it’s about liberation. And I am committed to renewing a version that is rooted in our lived realities, that builds on the F.I.E.L.D.S. framework, and that centers community-responsive education. We don’t need a watered-down curriculum approved by people who’ve never walked our streets. We need a curriculum built with us, for us.
So don’t be intimidated by those who want to erase us. They are loud because they’re losing. We are reclaiming our stories, our languages, our futures—and we’re doing it together.
Aquí está lo que viene esta semana:
Next Board Meetings
Regular Board Meeting
Date: Wednesday, April 16, 2025
Time: 6:00 PM (Closed Session starts at 5:00 PM)
Agenda: Available on Friday, April 11 / Access Here
Watch Live: PVUSD YouTube Streaming
SPEAKING OUT: LITHIUM FIRES AND ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICE
I joined dozens of neighbors at a public rally demanding transparency and accountability around lithium battery facilities. These massive battery storage sites—like the one that caught fire in Moss Landing—are being quietly approved in our backyards with little community input, no evacuation plans, and zero investment in long-term public health monitoring.
At the rally, I spoke about the history of environmental sacrifice zones—from pesticide drift in Pajaro to diesel fumes in Watsonville. We are not disposable, and our communities deserve the same protections as wealthier areas. My message was clear: no more projects without full disclosure, health data, and a seat at the table for those most impacted.
We can’t allow new technologies to be used against old communities. Clean energy must also mean just energy—designed with care, safety, and consent.
WALK-THROUGH: PROTECTING STUDENTS ON WILLOW ROAD
On April 9, I walked Willow Road with our new Transportation Director to assess one of the most dangerous student routes in our district. From the bottom of the hill near Las Lomas Market to the current stop on Hall Road, the conditions are alarming—no sidewalks, no crossing signals, no speed controls, and traffic coming in hot from the right turn off Hall.
This is not a hypothetical danger. It’s a daily risk.
We’re now working on a solution: a new PVUSD bus stop on the safe side of Las Lomas Market. It would allow students to wait under shelter, near an existing Metro stop, without having to cross traffic or walk uphill alongside speeding vehicles. The store owner is open to the idea. The infrastructure is there. What’s missing is the political will to prioritize safety in North County.
This change matters because:
Kids avoid crossing a deadly curve with known blind spots
There's a covered area already used by Metro riders
It connects students safely to Pajaro Middle and Watsonville High
It uplifts a locally owned business that serves as a neighborhood hub
This is what real equity looks like—designing school systems that understand rural risk and act on it.
CHP CRASH OUTSIDE LAS LOMAS MARKET: A WARNING WE CAN'T IGNORE
Late Tuesday night, a CHP patrol car flipped onto its side at the corner of Willow and Hall Road, directly in front of Las Lomas Market. Surveillance footage shows the vehicle slamming into a steel safety post and narrowly missing a propane tank by inches. A few men from the neighborhood smashed the windshield and pulled the officer out. He survived with minor injuries. But that night could’ve ended very differently. View KION report here.
The crash cut power to homes on Willow Road until nearly 4 AM. The steel post that redirected the car was already bent—proof this wasn’t the first impact. And everyone who lives here knows it won’t be the last.
This corner has long been a known hazard:
Students walk this route daily, especially during early morning hours
Drivers often speed through the Hall Road turn without seeing pedestrians
A pedestrian was hit and killed near the same location just months ago
The propane tank, while inspected and secured, remains a catastrophic risk if struck
People here have been asking for decades for a traffic light, speed humps, or even a blinking pedestrian crosswalk. We’re not asking for luxury. We’re asking for the bare minimum of safety that suburban areas receive without hesitation.
The community is demanding:
Pedestrian crossing signals at Hall and Willow
Lighting upgrades along student walking paths
Sidewalk extensions or gravel shoulders for foot traffic
County investment in areas with real, present danger—not just policy paperwork
We don’t need more studies or polite promises. We need the kind of action that makes sure no family here ever loses a child, a parent, or a worker to an intersection the county already knows is dangerous.
📞 Call Monterey County Public Works: (831) 755-4800
📧 Email: district2@countyofmonterey.gov
COMMUNITY EVENTS
Battery Storage Public Meeting
Monday, April 14 · 6:30 PM
WAT Church of the Nazarene, 710 Green Valley Road, Watsonville
Get informed about three lithium-ion battery projects proposed for Freedom Blvd, Paul Sweet Rd, and near Pinto Lake. Speakers include community experts and Trustee Medina. Spanish interpretation provided.Bus Safety Walkthrough & Advocacy
Monday, April 14 · 5:30 PM
Sidewalk at Las Lomas Market (Hall Rd)
Walk the proposed safe bus route with community members. Share your voice in support of infrastructure improvements for Pajaro and Las Lomas students.Moss Landing Climate Hazards Workshop
Tuesday, April 15 · 6:00 PM
Moss Landing Marine Labs, 8272 Moss Landing Rd
Learn how sea level rise, flooding, and battery storage will shape future planning in Moss Landing. Hosted by Monterey County staff.Protest: Hold Senator John Laird Accountable
Wednesday, April 16 · 12:00 PM (Noon)
99 Pacific Street, Monterey
Organized by Never Again Moss Landing. Demand action on battery safety, air quality, and environmental justice. Bring signs, agua, and your voz.Mercadito Ehecacoatl
Thursday, April 25 · 12:00–8:00 PM
Romo Park, 335 Main St., Downtown Watsonville
Live music, food, and 40+ local vendors rooted in ancestral knowledge and community healing. Organized by Kalpulli Ehecacoatl. Across from the Farmers Market.Moss Landing Marine Labs Open House
Saturday, April 26 · Time TBD
Moss Landing Marine Labs
Explore marine science with interactive exhibits, youth-friendly demos, and bilingual education around our oceans and climate.
NORTH MONTEREY COUNTY UPDATES
New Affordable Housing in Las Lomas
A project to build 64 new affordable housing units in Las Lomas has been identified as part of the County’s housing development plan. The goal is to provide rental options for low- and moderate-income families in North County.Mental Health Services Expansion Under Measure AA
Funding from Measure AA is being considered to expand access to mental health support across underserved parts of Monterey County, including rural areas. Decisions on funding allocations are expected by summer.Broadband Access Expanded for Rural Communities
New broadband infrastructure is being rolled out in North Monterey County, aiming to improve internet access for families, especially in areas where students struggled with online learning and telehealth access.Flood Recovery Rebate for Pajaro Businesses
Businesses in the Pajaro County Sanitation District that were affected by the 2023 flood may qualify for rate relief and rebate programs. Businesses are encouraged to file appeals or reassessments if facing hardship.Re-Entry Resource Center Coming to Monterey County Jail
A new support center is being built to help individuals reentering the community after incarceration. It will offer job readiness programs, housing help, and counseling services to reduce recidivism.Groundwater Monitoring and Water Fee Changes
State regulations now require annual groundwater monitoring for private well users. A fee of approximately $200 per well is expected. Residents can request local reinvestment of these funds, particularly in areas historically burdened by water infrastructure costs without direct benefit.
EDUCATION NEWS
LOCAL EDUCATIONAL NEWS
Pajaro Valley Unified Teachers Face Layoffs Amid Budget Constraints
Dozens of Pajaro Valley Unified School District teachers received layoff notices, threatening programs like video production, theater arts, and ethnic studies. Teachers expressed devastation as the district grapples with budget deficits and declining enrollment.
Read more: Lookout Santa Cruz
Date Published: March 31, 2025Ethnic Studies Debate Resurfaces in Pajaro Valley Unified School District
The Pajaro Valley Unified School Board held a study session to discuss reviving a controversial ethnic studies contract. Trustees signaled openness to selecting new vendors or reinstating the previous program amid community feedback and state legislation uncertainty.
Read more: Santa Cruz Local
Date Published: March 31, 2025Controversial consultant among vendors up for PVUSD ethnic studies contract
The Pajaro Valley Unified School District governing board will soon vote on a new contract with a vendor to continue developing the district’s ethnic studies program.
Read more: Lookout Santa Cruz
Date Published: April 4, 2025Aptos High Principal Reassignment Causes Community Confusion
Aptos High Principal Alison Hanks-Sloan announced her departure from the position, citing reassignment by the district’s HR department rather than resignation. This decision shocked teachers and parents in the Pajaro Valley Unified community.
Read more: Lookout Santa Cruz
Date Published: April 7, 2025Summer Internship Program Opens for PVUSD Students
Pajaro Valley Unified juniors and seniors can apply for Watsonville’s "Summer in the City" internship program, offering career readiness skills and civic engagement opportunities. Applications are now open for this summer initiative.
Read more: Lookout Santa Cruz
Date Published: April 7, 2025PVUSD Board Discusses Ethnic Studies Curriculum Development
The Pajaro Valley Unified governing board held a special session to review potential contracts for ethnic studies curriculum development. A decision is expected in May following community town halls.
Read more: Lookout Santa Cruz
Date Published: April 7, 2025After turmoil at Pajaro Valley Unified School District, its superintendent charts a path forward
Facing declining enrollment, budget deficits and community backlash, Pajaro Valley Unified superintendent Heather Contreras points to some of her successes in stabilizing Santa Cruz County's largest school district even as some in the school community have questioned her leadership.
Read more: Lookout Santa Cruz
Date Published: April 8, 2025EDUCATION IN CALIFORNIA
Trump Administration Threatens Federal Funding Over DEI Policies
California schools face a federal deadline to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion practices or risk losing billions in funding. Officials are reviewing compliance while expressing concerns over the impact on vulnerable students.
Read more: Los Angeles Times
Date Published: April 3, 2025Delano Schools Celebrate Academic Recovery Post-Pandemic
Delano Union Elementary School District and César E. Chávez High School were recognized nationally for academic excellence and pandemic recovery efforts despite serving predominantly low-income students.
Read more: CalMatters
Date Published: March 31, 2025California Lawmakers Push Ethnic Studies Standards Bill
Assembly Bill 1468 proposes mandatory standards for ethnic studies courses in California schools while addressing contractor compliance with state law amid ongoing debates over curriculum bias concerns.
Read more: Santa Cruz Local
Date Published: March 31, 2025Trump Executive Order Targets Education Department Operations
President Trump issued an executive order to dismantle the Department of Education, redirecting authority to states and local communities while eliminating DEI programs nationwide, including California schools.
Read more: EducationCounsel
Date Published: March 31, 2025Charter Schools Seek Growth Funds Amid State Challenges
California charter schools are applying for grants to expand high-quality education in underserved areas despite challenges posed by recent federal policy changes targeting DEI initiatives.
Read more: Forbes
Date Published: April 3, 2025EDUCATION IN THE USA
Trump Administration Orders DEI Elimination Nationwide
The Trump administration has mandated K-12 schools across the U.S., including California districts, to certify compliance with anti-DEI policies or face federal funding cuts worth billions annually.
Read more: Los Angeles Times
Date Published: April 3, 2025Department of Education Layoffs Impact Key Programs Nationwide
The U.S. Department of Education announced layoffs affecting nearly half its workforce, raising concerns about disruptions to student loans, special education services, and civil rights enforcement across states.
Read more: Afterschool Alliance
Date Published: April 3, 2025Federal Judge Blocks Education Funding Cuts Targeting DEI Programs
A judge issued an injunction halting drastic funding cuts aimed at eliminating DEI initiatives in schools and universities nationwide as legal challenges against Trump’s policies continue to mount.
Read more: Associated Press
Date Published: April 3, 2025Advanced Placement Participation Grows Among U.S Students
New data reveals increased participation in AP courses among underrepresented student groups nationwide, highlighting progress in college readiness efforts across public high schools since 2014.
Read more: Education Week
Date Published: April 3, 2025Congressional Budget Cuts Threaten Higher Education Programs Nationwide
Congressional budget proposals could impose deep cuts on programs supporting students and colleges nationwide while introducing tax changes that impact affordability and institutional sustainability.
Read more: Inside Higher Ed
Date Published: April 3, 2025
Our power doesn’t come from titles or offices—it comes from the land beneath our feet, the ancestors behind us, and the youth ahead of us. The louder the opposition gets, the clearer it is: we’re doing something right. We’re reclaiming our stories, reshaping our schools, and refusing to be erased.
I’m here for you—whether it’s a question about a policy, a bus stop, or your child’s education. This movement is personal, and I don’t take your trust lightly.
Reach out. Speak up. We’re building this together—with honor, with truth, and with deep, generational love for our comunidad.
In unity,
Trustee Medina
Pajaro Valley Unified, Area III
Feel free to email me at gabriel_medina@pvusd.net or leave a voicemail at (831) 331-4208.