🌱 Council Approves $2.5M + Watsonville Gang Bust

Good day, neighbors! Michael Wittner here with a fresh copy of theWatsonville Daily.

---

First, today's weather:

Mostly sunny. High: 58 Low: 30.

---

Here are the top stories today in Watsonville:

1. Watsonville City Council approves $2.5 million in budget appropriations (Santa Cruz Sentinel)
2. 5 Gang Members Arrested In Watsonville; Drugs, Guns Seized (Watsonville Patch)
3. Live Oak woman to face attempted murder charges at trial (Santa Cruz Sentinel)
4. Capitola hit and run suspect turns themselves in546 (KION)
5. Judge Approves Sales Of Watsonville Hospital To PVHDP (Watsonville Patch)
6. See Latest Pets Available For Adoption In The Watsonville Area (Watsonville Patch)
7. Demand for homeless services climbs in Watsonville (Santa Cruz Local)

---

Today's Watsonville Daily is brought to you in part by Newrez, a leading nationwide mortgage lender. Make a smart move for your future and refinance with Newrez today. Call 844-979-1707 to connect with a Newrez loan officer. Newrez, LLC (NMLS #3013)

---

Today in Watsonville:

• Afterschool STEAM @ La Selva Beach - La Selva Beach Branch Library (4:00 PM)

---

From my notebook:

• Watsonville Police Department: "WPD officers have been working to pump the brakes on reckless drivers around town. Just last night, they caught a 16-year-old unlicensed driver in a black BMW doing donuts in the intersection of Ohlone Pkwy. and Lighthouse Dr. An offic..." (Instagram)
• Watsonville Police Department: "WPD officers have been working to pump the brakes on reckless drivers around town. Just last night, they caught a 16-year-old unlicensed driver in a black BMW doing donuts in the intersection of Ohlone Pkwy. and Lighthouse Dr. An officer..." (Facebook)
• Watsonville Family YMCA: "Attention: Watsonville YMCA is currently closed due to a power outage. The estimated restoration is 7:45am. We will keep everyone updated. Sorry for the inconvenience." (Facebook)
• Watsonville Family YMCA: "UPDATE: Expected time is now 11:00am today. Thank you for your patience." (Facebook)
• Watsonville Police Communications Team, Watsonville Police Department: "WPD pumping the brakes on reckless drivers - Watsonville police officers have been working to pump the brakes on reckless drivers around town. Just last night, they caught a 16-year-old unlicensed driver in a black BMW doing donuts in ..." (Nextdoor)

---

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured businesses:

• Aaron's Plumbing & Rooter —
• Add your business here

Events:

• "Befana: A Christmas Fable" returns! (February 26)
• Taxes in Retirement Webinar (February 28)
• Learn How To Reduce Your Risk For Heart Disease During American Heart Month (February 28)
• OFP Pasta Feed & Silent Auction (March 5)
• Add your event

---

Loving the Watsonville Daily? Here are all the ways you can get more involved:

• Send a friend or neighbor this link so they can subscribe
• Get your local business listed in front of readers
• Send me a news tip or suggestion at michael.wittner@patch.com

---

Thanks for following along and staying informed! I'll see you back in your inbox tomorrow morning with another update.

— Michael Wittner

About me: I am excited to be returning to Patch as a Roving Editor, a job that will allow me to find out what's going on in communities all over the country. I worked as a Patch Field Editor from April 2020 to June 2021, covering Agoura Hills, Beverly Hills, Calabasas, Malibu, and Northridge-Chatsworth. Before then I was the Associate Editor of the Jewish Journal, a biweekly paper covering the Jewish community north of Boston. I grew up in Marblehead, Massachusetts, a small, seaside town north of Boston, and graduated from Bard College in New York, and then got my masters in teaching from New York University. Feel free to send any story ideas to michael.wittner@patch.com.