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Crime & Safety

Watsonville Celebrates With The Nation To Fight Crime

Residents and law enforcement party down to bring awareness and prevention of violence, drugs and gangs.

It was party time throughout the city of Watsonville on Tuesday as more than 20 spots including apartment complexes, local businesses and small neighborhoods were all a part of the nationwide .

Hundreds of people participated again in this year’s event and according to Watsonville Police Chief Manny Solano, Watsonville is considered to have the highest number of events per neighborhood per city in the Bay Area.

“This is really the one time of the year where all the neighbors come out and they do pot lucks,” said Solano. “Everybody’s so busy now a days working and stuff, it’s hard to know who your neighbor is, even your next door neighbor.”

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“We’re just trying to unify the community to take a stand against crime all together, stand up against gangs, violence, drugs, and all those things that harm the community.”

Celebrations: Party and Rentals owner Richard Gonzales was more than happy to lend his parking lot to host one of mini parties. There was a row of tents with goodies like nachos, pan dulce (sweet bread), cotton candy, snow cones, hot dogs and chocolate-dipped strawberries for guest to munch on.

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“It’s great,” said Gonzales about Tuesday’s event. “I think a few years ago there was only three events in Watsonville and now there’s 20 events, so it’s getting bigger. What’s neat about it is that it’s all over the United States.”

A large SpongeBob jump house and inflatable slide, face painting table, ring toss and can smash games kept the kiddos busy while the grown-ups had a chance chat with local authorities about ways to improve issues and solve problems in the streets of Watsonville.

Across town at the on Holohan Road, complex manager Ennio Perez has people chowing down on BBQ chicken, carne asada, hot dogs, rice, beans, an assortment of macaroni or green salads, roasted corn, various fruits and plenty of desserts to fulfill that sweet tooth.

Perez has been involved with the event for 10 years and says this time around is no different than previous nights.

“It’s good,” said Perez about the party scene. “It’s something that we expect to happen every year. Everybody gets to know each other and the police is here to tell people about crime prevention.”

Arcy Padilla, a resident of Northgate for five years, always looks forward to the big celebration.

“I love it, it’s fun. The kids enjoy it,” said Padilla. “I think we should have more events like this, maybe not as big, but like this to avoid having a lot of kids out on the streets.”

The kids had a blast with an inflatable slide and some were brave enough to hop on a mechanical bull.

Yossilyn Herrera has lived in the area for some time and every National Night Out event that comes around features her favorite, rock climbing. And like all of the previous gatherings before Tuesday, this year’s was just the same for her.   

“I like it, I’ve lived here for 10 years and I love it,” said Herrera.

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