By Maria Orozco

As your mayor, I’m proud to share that the city of Watsonville is charting a strong and thoughtful course for our future. We’re not just responding to today’s challenges — we’re planning ahead to ensure Watsonville remains a vibrant, welcoming and resilient community for generations to come.

On June 24, the City Council adopted a balanced budget for fiscal year 2025-2026, allocating over $122 million toward operations and capital investments that directly support our neighborhoods, families and local economy.

Guiding this work is our newly adopted 2025-2027 Strategic Plan, a two-year roadmap that reflects our community’s shared values. Built around seven key priorities — economic development, efficient government, housing, community engagement and well-being, infrastructure and environment, public safety and fiscal health — the plan sets clear direction for City Council and staff as we work to deliver high-quality services and keep our residents informed and engaged.

We’re investing in the heart of our city by bringing new life to our downtown. Through the Downtown Watsonville Specific Plan, we’re setting goals to expand parking, attract new retail and entertainment, and reimagine how our downtown can serve as a thriving hub for all. We’re also creating new incentives for more affordable and accessible housing, including support for accessory dwelling units, so more families can call Watsonville home.

Thanks to voter support for Measure R, we’re expanding programs for youth and seniors — ensuring residents of all ages have access to enriching and supportive services.

Public safety remains a top priority. We’re growing bilingual community policing, expanding Neighborhood Watch and investing in workforce development programs to recruit and train the next generation of police officers and firefighters who reflect the community they serve.

We’re also focused on improving the backbone of our city — our infrastructure. That includes redesigning Main Street to improve safety for pedestrians, upgrading parks and facilities, expanding our urban forest and making critical investments in our stormwater and wastewater systems. We’re continuing to repair and improve roads citywide — including paving, striping and safety enhancements — to ensure our streets are safer and more accessible for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians alike. We’re modernizing customer service, enhancing cybersecurity and transitioning to a cleaner fleet — all while maintaining strong fiscal discipline.

While our Strategic Plan charts a clear path for the next two years, we’re also looking further ahead with the launch of the General Plan 2050. This long-range vision will guide how Watsonville grows over the coming decades, addressing land use, housing, transportation, climate action and environmental stewardship. This process must be community-led — and your voice will be essential every step of the way.

We’re also investing in strategies to strengthen our parks, libraries and public art. Our first-ever Parks and Recreation Strategic Plan outlines a vision to revitalize aging parks, improve accessibility and provide culturally relevant programming for our diverse community. Through the Watsonville Library Strategic Plan, we are expanding access with longer hours, bookmobile services and new outreach efforts. Through our Public Art Master Plan, we’ll celebrate Watsonville’s heritage and creativity by integrating local art throughout our public spaces. Finally, our Airport Master Plan creates a comprehensive guide for future airport development that considers safety, efficiency, economic growth and environmental compatibility.

Each of these efforts is a reflection of our city’s deep commitment to thoughtful, inclusive and sustainable growth.

I want to thank everyone who has shared their ideas, time and energy with us. Your involvement makes our city stronger. As we plan for Watsonville’s future, I encourage you to stay engaged, share your ideas and be part of the decisions that will shape the direction of our city.

Maria Orozco is the mayor of Watsonville.