february 2-8, 2023 montereycountyweekly.com LOCAL & INDEPENDENT Salinas PD wantS you…to apply 8 | Where’s the Beach? 10 | art vS. bullies 31 | Yolk’s on You 34 Hit Makers Musicians play on a different stage, and more—a look at the people and events that shape the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. p.18 By Dave Faries ScHoolboy Q at the Pro-Am in 2022
2 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY february 2-8, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com february 2-8, 2023 • ISSUE #1801 • Established in 1988 Todd Howerton (Canon Rebel 55/250 lense) Spring shows up early as a Monarch butterfly lands on a blossoming tree at the Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary in Pacific Grove. Monterey County photo of the week Send Etc. submissions to etcphoto@mcweekly.com; please include caption and camera info. On the cover: Rapper ScHoolboy Q reacts to a shot during the 2022 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, his first appearance at the event. He returns, along with a chart-topping list of musician-golfers. Cover Photo by Daniel Dreifuss etc. Copyright © 2023 by Milestone Communications Inc. 668 Williams Ave., Seaside, California 93955 (telephone 831-394-5656). All rights reserved. Monterey County Weekly, the Best of Monterey County and the Best of Monterey Bay are registered trademarks. No person, without prior permission from the publisher, may take more than one copy of each issue. Additional copies and back issues may be purchased for $1, plus postage. Mailed subscriptions: $120 yearly, pre-paid. The Weekly is an adjudicated newspaper of Monterey County, court decree M21137. The Weekly assumes no responsibility for unsolicited materials. Visit our website at http://www.montereycountyweekly.com. Audited by CVC. Founder & CEO Bradley Zeve bradley@mcweekly.com (x103) Publisher Erik Cushman erik@mcweekly.com (x125) Editorial editor Sara Rubin sara@mcweekly.com (x120) features editor Dave Faries dfaries@mcweekly.com (x110) associate editor Tajha Chappellet-Lanier tajha@mcweekly.com (x135) Staff Writer Celia Jiménez celia@mcweekly.com (x145) Staff Writer Pam Marino pam@mcweekly.com (x106) Staff Writer Rey Mashayekhi rey@mcweekly.com (x102) Staff Writer Agata Pope¸da (x138) aga@mcweekly.com Staff Writer David Schmalz david@mcweekly.com (x104) DIGITAL PRODUCER Kyarra Harris kyarra@mcweekly.com (x105) Staff photographer Daniel Dreifuss daniel@mcweekly.com (x140) contributors Nik Blaskovich, Rob Brezsny, Paul Fried, Jeff Mendelsohn, Adrienn MendonçaJones, Jacqueline Weixel, Paul Wilner Cartoons Rob Rogers, Tom Tomorrow Production Art Director/Production Manager Karen Loutzenheiser karen@mcweekly.com (x108) Graphic Designer Kevin Jewell kevinj@mcweekly.com (x114) Graphic Designer Alexis Estrada alexis@mcweekly.com (x114) Graphic Designer Lani Headley lani@mcweekly.com (x114) SALES senior Sales Executive Diane Glim diane@mcweekly.com (x124) Senior Sales Executive George Kassal george@mcweekly.com (x122) Senior Sales Executive Keith Bruecker keith@mcweekly.com (x118) Classifieds business development director Keely Richter keely@mcweekly.com (x123) Digital Director of Digital Media Kevin Smith kevin@mcweekly.com (x119) Distribution Distribution AT Arts Co. atartsco@gmail.com Distribution Control Harry Neal Business/Front Office Office Manager Linda Maceira linda@mcweekly.com (x101) Bookkeeping Rochelle Trawick rochelle@mcweekly.com 668 Williams Ave., Seaside, CA 93955 831-394-5656, (FAX) 831-394-2909 www.montereycountyweekly.com To read Monterey County NOW in your inbox daily, sign up at mcweekly.com/signup. We’d love to hear from you. Send us your tips at tipline.montereycountyweekly.com. MAKE A DIRECT IMPACT INSIDER MAKE AN IMPACT AT $15 PER MONTH Become an Insider today. montereycountyweekly.com/insider Our work is continuing to be made possible through the support of readers like you. Delivering local and independent journalism takes a lot of resources. Whether it’s for investigative reporting, covering the arts scene or offsetting the costs of distribution every dollar makes a difference.
www.montereycountyweekly.com FEBRUARY 2-8, 2023 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 3 February is American Heart Month Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. The good news is that it is also one of the most preventable. Being physically active, making healthier food choices, not smoking, getting plenty of sleep, and finding healthy ways to reduce stress can help prevent heart disease. Trust your heart health to the compassionate, multidisciplinary team at Montage Health. You’ll benefit from the most advanced care available, right here in your community. Learn more at montagehealth.org/heart. Practice 10 heart-healthy habits 1. Get active. 2. Improve sleep. 3. Quit smoking. 4. Eat better. 5. Drink less alcohol. 6. Cut down on salt. 7. Manage a healthy weight. 8. Manage stress. 9. Know your numbers — blood pressure, cholesterol, and triglycerides. 10. Get regular health check-ups. Celebrate heart health
4 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY FEBRUARY 2-8, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com THE BUZZ FREE SPEECH Journalist Liam Dillon from the Los Angeles Times is coming to Monterey County this week and he will be asking why California has a housing crisis and advising what can be done to fix it. In addition to covering the issues of housing affordability and neighborhood change across California, Dillon co-hosts the podcast Gimme Shelter with CalMatters journalist Manuela Tobias, exploring issues of housing and homelessness. Gimme Shelter was launched in the summer of 2017 and recently released its 100th episode. In addition to interviews on housing with California mayors and other stakeholders (from Gov. Gavin Newsom’s housing czar Jason Elliot to former governor Arnold Schwarzenegger), it monitors discussions about rent control, zoning and other policy issues related to the state’s housing supply, availability, design and cost. Dillon’s local appearance is organized by the Monterey Bay chapter of the American Institute of Architects. Tickets are $25; the talk takes place at 6pm on Thursday, Feb. 9 at SandBox (440 Ortiz Ave.) in Sand City. GOOD: Congrats to Carmel High School, which was selected as one of 19 California Exemplary Arts Education schools of 2023. The recognition is based on a commitment to providing resources and funding for arts education, a high-quality arts curriculum, professional learning for staff and access to instruction for all students. CHS offers visual and performing arts classes and a career technical education program. Among available classes: art, design, drawing, choir, chamber singing, concert band, jazz, orchestra, guitar, dance, digital music, drama, graphic design, photography and video. “Arts programs not only have significant positive effects on a student’s academic performance, but also on their social and emotional wellness,” Carmel Unified School District Superintendent Ted Knight said in a statement. An awards ceremony takes place in Anaheim in February. GREAT: Good news for people who enjoy sports and being outdoors, in places throughout Monterey County. The cities of Salinas, Seaside and Soledad recently renovated and reopened recreational facilities. The tennis courts at Central Park and Claremont Manor Neighborhood Park in Salinas have been resurfaced, along with new nets and pickleball striping. Ellis Park in Seaside (next to Oldemeyer Center) had its grand reopening on Jan. 24 after nine months of work. The park was fully remodeled and includes a picnic and barbecue area, two playgrounds and a multi-use sports court for soccer, basketball or volleyball. City Recreation Director Dan Meewis calls it a “welcome addition.” Soledad Community Center reopened its basketball courts on Jan. 25 and had its first REACH Basketball: Slam Dunks event, inviting kids of all abilities to practice their, motor, cognitive and social skills. GOOD WEEK / GREAT WEEK THE WEEKLY TALLY 368 Applications received by Central Coast Community Energy for rebates for electric vehicles and charging infrastructure through its Electrify Your Ride program. Funds distributed as of Jan. 19 total $476,000; 3CE budgeted $4.63 million for the initiative. Source: Feb. 1 report to 3CE board of directors “That slope is very likely to fail catastrophically—that is, in a rapid manner—in the near future.” -Caltrans spokesperson Kevin Drabinski speaking about a slide on Highway 1 at Mill Creek, one of three storm-related slides that is creating an isolated “Big Sur island” on the South Coast that is now receiving helicopter deliveries with basic supplies (see story, mcweekly.com). QUOTE OF THE WEEK DR. BRYNIE KAPLAN DAU, MS, DVM VOTED MONTEREY COUNTY’S BEST VETERINARIAN TWO YEARS IN A ROW! ’22 ’21 SURGERY DERMATOLOGY FELINE AND CANINE MEDICINE PREVENTATIVE CARE AND MUCH MORE COMPASSIONATE CARE WITH EXCEPTIONAL MEDICINE. 1023 Austin Avenue, Pacific Grove • 831-318-0306 www.pacificgroveanimalhospital.com Prevention, Education, Treatment & Recovery serving youth, adults and families in Monterey County According to tobacco industry documents, they aggressively market their products and seek 'replacement smokers', specifically teens. Support youth prevention services www.SunStreetCenters.org
www.montereycountyweekly.com FEBRUARY 2-8, 2023 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 5 Last year I suffered a heart attack. svmh.com/heart | Love Your Heart. We Do. The life-saving care I received at Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital was exceptional – from the nurses to the cardiologists and everyone in between. Not only did the cardiac team save my life, they really cared about me and followed up with me post-surgery to make sure I was doing well and taking care of myself. It’s top notch care in Salinas. | SVMHS Heart Patient
6 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY FEBRUARY 2-8, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com 831 A group of people in outdoor clothing gather at Garrapata State Park, a setting noted for trails tracing from ocean beaches into redwood groves. They head up the Soberanes Canyon Trail, where one can see the waves crashing against the shore from lookout points along the trail. Sea lions and sea otters frequent the coastal waters, and gray whales pass as they migrate. But this particular group has not come to simply appreciate nature, but to keep it truly natural. Sam Winters, with California State Parks, is leading the volunteers. It’s a chilly morning, but a large party has gathered. Several are long-time volunteers, familiar with Winters and the trail. There’s a cluster of young adults and a couple of families with children. The plan on this particular day is to remove sweet alyssum, poison hemlock, ripgut brome and mustard, among other invasive plants. Winters divides them into two squads, one focusing on the beginning of the trail, the other heading up some of the lookout points. Everyone is given gloves, tools and some bags to collect the non-native refuse. He says the goal is to allow native plants the space they need to thrive. “We’re helping protect the native habitat,” he explains. “Many of our native plants support native pollinators like insects and birds. So the plants serve as the base of the ecosystem in several different ways.” When species are brought in from other parts of the world, they disturb the balance between the demand and supply of nutrients, a dynamic that is commonly understood. What Winters brings to the effort is a rich understanding of what should and should not exist in this environment—and why. “Sweet alyssum is a great example. It doesn’t really support many of our native pollinators,” he points out. “But they are taking up space from plants like seacliff buckwheat, which is the only plant the Smith’s blue butterfly will use when migrating. So we’re losing space, and the ability for that butterfly to survive.” And so you pull them and make space yourself. The process is simple, but the work is real and manual. Still, there is the fabulous setting. Through the volunteer program, participants can take the opportunity to enjoy the view, while also benefiting the park. Helen Ogdem is a long-time volunteer for State Parks. She says getting more involved helped her to become trained in what to look for and have authorization to visit sites more often. Now, she volunteers weekly, and visits Garrapata with a small group on her own to pull invasives. “I knew nothing about plants or invasive species three years ago,” Ogden admits. “It grows into a passion.” Paula Donnelly is also a long-time volunteer who participates weekly. She says it’s a way to protect the trails she loves to use so much. “My husband and I hike often. We love Big Sur and want to give back,” Donnelly says. The public volunteer program operates once a month. There are also other regular volunteer projects at parks around the county, from state parks to local city parks. Until one has taken part in the process of identifying and digging out non-native species, it’s easy to forget the work that goes into ensuring public spaces stay they way nature intended. The California State Parks Department has some jurisdiction when it comes to keeping the spaces free from invasives, but those resources are limited. That is where Winters and the volunteer programs come into play. “The mission of state parks is to protect our natural resources, and increase opportunities for the public to be out in nature and enjoy these beautiful places,” he says. “To me, working with volunteers brings both of these things together.” The program allows volunteers a few hours to get to know a plot of land and connect with others—all while doing something positive for a small part of a large environment. “You can’t love things that you don’t know,” Winters says. “So this is a wonderful way to connect.” Scenic Saviors Volunteer groups pitch in to keep local parks looking beautiful, and safe from invasive species. By Kyarra Harris Many places in Monterey County host volunteer clean-up days. Here Mike Lang dumps mulch in the garden at Beta Park in Seaside, where a group of volunteers from Friends of Seaside Parks Association dedicates their time to help with park upkeep. “You can’t love things that you don’t know.” TALES FROM THE AREA CODE DANIEL DREIFUSS kazu 90.3 a community service of CSU Monterey Bay NPRsm for the Monterey Bay Area
www.montereycountyweekly.com FEBRUARY 2-8, 2023 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 7 Swing into 2023 Register for your 2023 Annual Pass www.bbhgolf.com/2023_annual_passes 1 McCLURE WAY, SEASIDE 831.899.7271 BayonetBlackHorse.com • Reduced Green and Cart Fees • Green Fee: $59 Mon-Thu / $84 Fri-Sun • Cart Fee: $15 • Rewards Program Towards Free Green and Cart Fees • Small Bag of Range Balls w/ Paid Green Fee • Passholder Jacket • 7 Guests daily at the Associate rate (passholder must accompany guest) • Access to Player’s Club Tournaments • 20% off in the Golf Shop • 20% off Food in the Restaurant Associate Passholder Plays 1-2x per month New Passholder: $700 Annual Fee Register at www.bbhgolf.com/associate_pass • Unlimited Golf Everyday • Complimentary Range Balls • Reduced Cart Rental Fee • Earn Rewards Towards Free Cart • Guest Range Balls w/ Paid Green Fee • Passholder Jacket • 7 Guests daily at the Associate rate (passholder must accompany guest) • 20% off in the Golf Shop • 20% off Food & Beverage in the Restaurant • Player’s Club/NCGA Membership ($100 Value) Executive Passholder Plays more than 1x per week New Passholder: $800 Annual Fee Monthly Dues: $450 Register at www.bbhgolf.com/executive_pass
8 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY february 2-8, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com news With staffing levels thin, the Salinas Police Department has changed the way it prioritizes call responses. On Jan. 26, Salinas PD implemented a new process when deciding whether to send a police officer to a reported crime. “We had to make some drastic decisions,” Chief Roberto Filice told City Council on Jan. 24. Violent crimes such as homicides, robberies and sexual assault will continue to receive normal responses. Some will be on a caseby-case basis, including trespassing, vandalism and theft. Most quality-of-life calls, such as noise and traffic complaints, won’t trigger a response. Salinas PD currently has 157 police officer positions, including 13 vacancies; six officers are in training and 18 are on leave. This brings the number to 118 police officers—76 for patrol, the rest detectives and on special units—to serve 162,791 inhabitants. Salinas now has 1 police officer for every 1,379.5 residents, lower than the average of 1.6 for similarly sized cities, according to the FBI. Understaffing is part of a national and local trend, but Salinas faces additional challenges: It has higher crime rates than neighboring cities and pay is less competitive. Since 2019, SPD has lost 46 officers; of those, 28 percent moved to nearby agencies, Filice reported. Low staffing doesn’t necessarily mean cost savings: “Almost 900 hours a month of overtime just to keep the basic levels of officers on the streets,” Police Services Administrator Tonya Erickson told council. Overtime surpassed $2 million last year. Applications have dwindled over recent years, from 88 in 2015 to 23 in 2022. Some applicants have background check issues. “I’m not going to lower my standards,” Filice added. Hands Cuffed Low staffing forces Salinas PD to prioritize calls, meaning not all will trigger a police response. By Celia Jiménez Surveying the flood damage at his family’s farm outside of Castroville, Mike Scattini is relieved things weren’t any worse. The Scattinis have farmed their land near the Salinas River Lagoon for more than 100 years and have seen their share of severe weather—but when it comes to the recent storms that coupled rising river levels with king tides from the Pacific, even Scattini’s dad and uncle “haven’t seen it this bad before,” he says. Debris coats the fields closest to where the lagoon meets Monterey Bay, including pieces of a concrete levee perched on the seawall that was dismantled by massive storm swells. It will likely take months to clear the fields of detritus and ensure the soil is decontaminated enough to safely plant row crops like lettuce, broccoli and cauliflower. In fact, Scattini won’t be surprised if they don’t plant the damaged fields for the rest of this year. “It’s too expensive to farm nowadays and not know that you’re going to have a successful crop,” he notes. “We’re not doing anything until we get the all-clear.” Still, Scattini credits local authorities for mitigating the damage— particularly the Monterey County Water Resources Agency, which took measures to breach the lagoon in early January, cutting a path for Salinas River waters to flow out to the bay. Otherwise, “we’d be looking at a different situation here,” he says, with flooding extending deeper into the fields and even nearby residential areas. In the weeks since the skies finally cleared and the floodwaters receded, Monterey County’s agriculture industry has been taking stock of the damage and pivoting to recovery. Preliminary estimates last month indicated that approximately 20,000 acres of farmland in the county had been affected, with damages falling anywhere from $40 million to $50 million, according to the Monterey County Farm Bureau—though it’s likely those figures all climb further once the toll is fully assessed. To that end, the Monterey County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office partnered with the Farm Bureau, the Grower-Shipper Association of Central California and the Monterey County Vintners and Growers Association to launch an online survey on Jan. 23 that allows farmers to report the damage on their properties. But even the survey may take a while to fully register—Farm Bureau Executive Director Norm Groot notes that “many fields are still experiencing standing water or are too muddy to access.” One saving grace is that many of the county’s agricultural fields remained idle during the flooding—a key difference from the floods of spring 1995, cited by many as the closest comparison in recent memory. However, it appears clear that the spring planting season will be impacted for many farmers. “Most of the crop that will be mature in the spring was not planted at the time that floods occurred,” says Grower-Shipper Association President Christopher Valadez. “However, for crop intended to be planted on those lands, there could be an impact.” Valadez adds that, at this point, indications are that only “a relatively small percentage of the overall crop that will be planted for harvest in the spring” in the Salinas Valley will be affected. Flooding along the Salinas River near Spreckels, seen here on Jan. 12, is one example of damage to agricultural fields. Farmers are still working to assess the full impact. Cropped Out As floodwaters recede, the agriculture sector is taking stock of the damage—and how much it will cost. By Rey Mashayekhi Salinas Police Chief Roberto Filice says the new protocol for which types of calls receive a police response and which do not is important to make sure officers are available in case of emergencies. “We’re not doing anything until we get the all-clear.” Daniel Dreifuss Daniel Dreifuss
www.montereycountyweekly.com FEBRUARY 2-8, 2023 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 9 Federally Insured by NCUA | Equal Housing Lender 831.479.6000 or toll-free at 888.4BAYFED, ext. 304 www.bayfed.com/HomeLoans * An example Annual Percentage Rate (APR) for a 5/5 ARM is 6.285%. An example monthly mortgage payment is $4,480.00 per month (excludes taxes and insurance). The estimated quotes are based on a loan amount of $800,000 with credit scores of 680+ and a 80% loan to value. This offer and term are effective as of January 13, 2023 . Actual payments may be greater than the example and may vary based on the actual loan amount. The APR and payments on 5/5 ARM loans are fixed for the first 5 years and are variable thereafter, adjusting every 5 years. Other Adjustable and Fixed Rate mortgage loans are available for loan amounts up to $3,000,000. Additional down payment requirements, closing costs, and other conditions may apply. All loans are subject to approval of credit, income verification and property valuation. Bay Federal Credit Union membership required at the time of closing. For more information, visit www.bayfed.com, any Bay Federal Credit Union branch, or call a Bay Federal Home Loan Consultant at 831.479.6000 or toll-free at 888.4BAYFED, extension 304. Save an average of $252 on your mortgage payment! An annual savings of $3,024 Visit bayfed.com/arm to learn how much you can save. Pacific Grove STAY & SHUTTLE WITH ONE OF OUR HOTEL SPONSORS Complimentary wristbands with hotel stay Thank You to our Shuttle Sponsor Chamber of Commerce & Tourist Centers PACIFIC GROVE AT&T PRO-AM SHUTTLE FEBRUARY 1st - 5th, 2023 Wednesday- 8:00am - 3:30pm Thursday - Saturday - 6:30am-5:30pm Sunday - 6:30am-4:30pm $25 - one day | $75 - 5 days Shuttle Location Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History 165 Forest Avenue, Pacific Grove PacificGrove.org | 831.373.3304
10 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY february 2-8, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com It’s not that unusual for Carmel Beach to temporarily lose some of its iconic white sand during rough storms in the wintertime. What was unusual was how much sand was lost during the string of atmospheric rivers in January, something employees of 30 years had never seen, says Agnes Martelet, environmental compliance manager for the city. The erosion lowered the beach floor significantly, exposing hidden rocks and leaving at least one stairway hanging. “We basically lost most of the sand on the beach,” Martelet says. Much of it was in the middle of the roughly one-mile beach. “We do expect it to come back eventually.” Already there are signs it’s returning, but it could take one or even two seasons of wave action. The beach normally loses sand during storms packing high-energy waves in the winter, with lower-energy waves returning the sand in the summer. The unique white sand derives from waves eroding a formation of Santa Lucia granodiorite offshore, created by volcanic eruptions nearly 80 million years ago. It’s made up of quartz and other minerals that give the sand its white sheen. Powerful waves in January also damaged two beach-access staircases: one at Fourth Avenue at the northernmost end, which is now blocked off, and another at the southernmost end that sustained minor damage due to heavy piles of kelp and other debris loading onto the stairway during the storms. “In a way, there is a silver lining to it,” Martelet says. The erosion gives the city an opportunity to better inspect the city’s seawalls and what are called revetments, large boulders set in place to deter wave energy. It will also help with a coastal engineering study project recently begun to look at the city’s coastal area in greater detail and determine if officials need to add any improvements to adapt to sea level rise. Around Carmel Point, the cliff that supports Scenic Road eroded in one spot to the point where a piece of road was left hanging. A plan for repair work there, which is in the unincorporated county area, has not been finalized, according to a county spokesperson. Officials expect to use federal funds made available for storm relief thanks to a federal disaster declaration related to the storms. On Jan. 31, county officials updated an initial damage cost estimate from $13.1 million to $16.7 million covering roads, bridges and other infrastructure. The city of Seaside has had two farmers markets in the past few decades, but neither of them stuck. Perhaps the third time will be a charm. On Jan. 23, the city issued a request for proposals for an organization or persons to launch another farmers market in the city at one of three potential locations: lower Broadway (Seaside’s downtown, and where the most recent market shut down in 2019 due to lack of traction), Oldemeyer Center (which is across the street from a bus stop and multifamily housing) or the parking lot at City Hall, which is mostly empty on weekends. As stated in the RFP, the ostensible purpose of trying to restart a market is to help the city achieve a Blue Zones Project certification, a distinction that reflects a community’s commitment to increasing the health and well-being of its residents. Dan Meewis, Seaside’s recreation director, says bringing a market back is the “marquee project” to demonstrate Seaside is “putting its best foot forward” to create more healthy food choices. “It’s trying to flip the script on our community,” he says. Tanja Roos, Blue Zones’ community program manager for Monterey County, says the organization’s hope for the market is to increase access to healthy produce that would include residents who utilize state-funded nutrition programs like CalFresh, which provides subsidies to help people put fresh food on the table. But she’s also clear-eyed about the market’s potential: “At the end of the day, if we’re looking at longterm stability, it needs to be community-driven, and carried forward by city staff with community buy-in.” That said, she’s hopeful: “Farmers markets can be a wonderful, galvanizing space for a community.” Other goals of the market include creating a “festive community event and social gathering place,” highlighting “the unique and diverse character of Seaside” and providing “locally sourced and culturally relevant products that will appeal to a broad range of residents and visitors.” The response period for the RFP closes on Feb. 24. Out to Sea Carmel Beach looks different after storms, but it’s a cycle. By Pam Marino news Positive Parenting Sun Street Centers has created an interactive six-week program for parents, designed to help promote positive health and personal development for youth and parents. The organization’s goal is to prevent alcohol and drug addiction by offering education, prevention, treatment and recovery to individuals and families regardless of income level. 5pm Monday, Feb. 6 (week three of the six-week course). King City High School Library, 720 Broadway St. Free. 235-3438. For more information email amoreno@sunstreet.org. bit.ly/ SouthCountyParenting. Stronger Together Monterey County’s Civil Rights Office is hosting feedback workshops and would like to hear from local residents about the creation of a Monterey County LGBTQ+ commission. The meeting is for all community members; members of the LGBTQ+ community are strongly encouraged to attend. Join any of the four sessions with both in-person and online opportunities to attend. The first session happens at 8am Thursday, Feb. 9. Marina library, 190 Seaside Circle, Marina. Free. 755-5117, civilrights@co.monterey.ca.us. Register at bit.ly/3VFHigY Wildfire Control The California Coastal Commission holds a hearing on a forest health and fire resilience plan proposed by the Monterey County Resource Conservation District. The staff report is available for review online and outlines the 10-year plan, designed to promote ecosystem growth and create better fire resilience. 9am Friday, Feb. 10. Free. (415) 9045251, statewideplanning@coastal. ca.gov, coastal.ca.gov/meetings/agenda/#/2023/2 Storm Relief Thousands of dollars have been distributed in the form of grants to nine nonprofits for storm relief from the Community Foundation for Monterey County, as of Jan. 25. The fund was created on Jan. 10, and grants are awarded on a continuous basis; the application period remains open. Recipients so far include Community Bridges and Casa de la Cultura in North County, and CERV in South County. For more information about how to apply for grants or to donate, visit cfmco.org/impact/montereycountystormrelieffund or call 375-9712. Market Forces Seaside wants to bring back a farmers market. The hope is that this time it sticks. By David Schmalz Carmel Beach lost most of its white sand during January’s storms, but it is likely to return over the next season or two. e-mail: publiccitizen@mcweekly.com TOOLBOX “In a way, there is a silver lining to it.” Daniel Dreifuss
www.montereycountyweekly.com FEBRUARY 2-8, 2023 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 11 Meaningful Partnerships & Community Connections At the Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, we are connectors, providing our members with valuable introductions to new customers and referral sources. If you're looking for a platform to initiate important conversations and grow your business, we invite you to join our business association today. Join Today! montereychamber.com Questions? We're here to help! info@montereychamber.com • 831.648.5350
12 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY FEBRUARY 2-8, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com Two recent arrests in Monterey County have brought further attention to untraceable, homemade firearms known as “ghost guns,” with local law enforcement officials saying they’re coordinating to crack down on the problem. Tuesday, Jan. 24 saw separate and unrelated busts. In Seaside, police raided a home on the 1200 block of Trinity Avenue and discovered what they describe as a ghost gun manufacturing lab—including roughly half a dozen firearms in various stages of assembly and a 3D printer allegedly used to create gun components, according to Seaside Police Chief Nick Borges. They arrested 18-yearold Eriberto Rezsendez-Cardenas on eight separate charges, including the unlawful manufacturing of firearms and possession of large-capacity magazines. Rezsendez-Cardenas was later released from Monterey County Jail on $35,000 bail. In Marina that same day, police searched a home on the 3000 block of Owen Avenue on suspicion of child abuse and discovered two firearms, including a “ghost” assault rifle, as well as ammunition and high-capacity magazines, according to the Marina Police Department. Authorities arrested 32-year-old Joseph Ordaz-Hoang on three charges, including unlawful possession of an assault weapon; he was released on $50,000 bail. It is not clear whether either suspect has yet retained an attorney. In addition to being “a massive problem at a national level,” Borges says untraceable ghost guns have become increasingly prevalent in local gun arrests. He notes that assemblers often use 3D printers to design and replicate the lower portion of a gun, while putting the upper portion together through parts that can be procured legally through the internet. The guns can sell anywhere from $200 to $1,000 on the street, according to Borges. “You can sit at home and order everything you need to operate a gun,” he says. “That’s a huge problem.” Law enforcement officials across the county have noticed the issue enough to begin coordinating on ghost gun-related matters. Borges cites a regional meeting last week involving detectives from the Salinas, Monterey and Seaside police departments. Jeff Hoyne, chief deputy of enforcement operations at the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office, says recently installed Sheriff Tina Nieto intends to prioritize inter-department collaboration on issues including ghost guns. “Her philosophy is that we’re going to be a leader in the county in helping to coordinate more cooperative efforts [between agencies],” Hoyne says. Prosecutors are also bracing for more activity. Monterey County Chief Assistant District Attorney Berkley Brannon says the untraceable firearms add to what is already an “ocean of illegal guns” that are favored to perpetrate crimes and are mostly unaffected by traditional gun control measures. “[Ghost guns] will add to the number of guns which exist, and I believe their main purpose is to commit crimes,” Brannon says. “They are an epidemic, and they further undermine traditional efforts at gun control.” Ghost Bust County law enforcement officials are coordinating to crack down on the worsening “ghost gun” problem. By Rey Mashayekhi A Seaside police detective holds part of a “ghost gun” made using a 3D printer. This gun was one of several, in various stages of assembly, seized on Jan. 24. NEWS “They undermine traditional efforts at gun control.” DANIEL DREIFUSS PRESENTED BY
www.montereycountyweekly.com FEBRUARY 2-8, 2023 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 13 Alarm bells started ringing throughout the California State University system after Interim Chancellor Jolene Koester announced in November that enrollment is projected to decline by 25,000 students this academic year, or 7 percent. At a CSU Board of Trustees meeting on Jan. 24 in Long Beach, Koester described the projection as “unprecedented and deeply concerning,” and called for action to reverse the trend. “Should this enrollment decline become sustained, it will present a fundamental and significant threat to our mission to the fundamental viability of our universities and the future of the communities we serve,” Koester said, adding that “difficult choices must be made.” CSU officials followed Koester’s remarks with a plan in which seven campuses that have seen at least a 10-percent decline since the pandemic could face budget cuts in 2024-25 if they do not attract more students. CSU Monterey Bay has seen a 5-percent decline since fall 2020, from 6,749 full-time equivalent students to just 6,373 enrolled in fall 2022. Prior to the pandemic, the CSU system was on an upward enrollment trajectory while universities across the country saw a downward trend. The CSU welcomed its largest class ever in the fall of 2020. Transfer students made up about a third of the decrease since that semester, which corresponds with falling enrollments at California community colleges that provide transfers. The biggest decrease was in continuing students who did not re-enroll. The remedies for increasing enrollment included a strategy already employed by CSUMB—forming partnerships with K-12 school districts and community colleges to create pathways for students to smoothly transition into the university. Other strategies mentioned at the Long Beach meeting included increasing opportunities to earn credits during the summer months, re-engaging with students who left during the pandemic and marketing to attract new students. In a written response from CSUMB’s Academic Affairs Department, officials there say they are looking at ways to help students complete degrees in a timely manner, as well as using recent campus funding to provide scholarships. They also point to adding curriculum that meets the need of the local workforce, like the new agribusiness supply chain management undergraduate program, and the forthcoming mechatronics engineering program that will address robotics in agriculture. “We have a perfect product that is for the last century—it hasn’t changed,” CSUMB President Vanya Quiñones says, adding that the university system needs to transform to survive. “You can be Blockbuster or you can be Netflix.” The curriculum will have to adjust to meet the changing needs of students, she says. In addition to adding new programs, Quiñones is creating new traditions to campus life, including “The Plunge,” where she and others jump into Monterey Bay in the fall, and Otter Thursday, which kicked off Feb. 2 with a noon rally to show off school spirit. Missing Students The CSU system reports a dramatic enrollment decline; CSUMB is down by 5 percent since 2020. By Pam Marino Besides offering new coursework that aligns with the local workforce, CSUMB is making changes to campus life that it hopes will help attract students. The new student union is shown above. NEWS “We have a perfect product that is for the last century.” DANIEL DREIFUSS 4-Course Dinner AT JACKS MONTEREY VALENTINE’S day GRILLED PLUM Justin Rose, Central Coast, 2020 PETIT FILET MIGNON 4oz Justin Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles, 2019 BACON WRAPPED LOBSTER Landmark Overlook Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast, 2019 CHOCOLATE LAVA CAKE Justin Isosceles, Paso Robles, 2018 *All prices exclude tax and gratuity. Jacks regular dinner menu will be available. $74.95++ per person* $60++ per person to include suggested wine pairings* Reservations recommended, call (831) 649-7830 TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14 | 4PM TO 10PM LOCATED INSIDE THE PORTOLA HOTEL & SPA COMPLIMENTARY SELF OR VALET PARKING TWO PORTOLA PLAZA | MONTEREY | (831) 649-7830 JACKSATPORTOLA.COM
14 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY February 2-8, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com At an Impasse Well that’s an interesting take on the events, that leaves out some serious details (“Del Rey Oaks City Council is in gridlock, unable to decide on who should fill a vacancy,” posted Jan. 26). As you stated, there were six candidates, all with Planning Commission experience and two with City Council experience. [Mayor] Scott Donaldson wasn’t the only one who ran on uniting the city; [Councilmember] John Uy did as well. The story is also missing the other two candidates, Clarke and Burger, that Uy and [Councilmember] Kim Shirley would not even consider either, and [Councilmember] Jeremy Hallock and Donaldson would. So what is there about [applicants] Kreeger and Ragsdale-Cronin that Uy and Shirley so identify with? And why is not getting their way about those two worth sending the city to a $40,000 special election? Jim Clark | Del Rey Oaks DRO is a city divided…over a bike path. Newly elected Mayor Donaldson used that divide to get elected. But Donaldson appears unable to govern. I witnessed Donaldson trying to badger and blame two of his councilmembers, John Uy and Kim Shirley. It was quite a gaslighting spectacle. He tried shaming both into voting for his choice. For over an hour Donaldson tried to manipulate the vote to get one of his four choices. He failed. Again and again, he asked Uy and Shirley to compromise on one of his hand-picked candidates, but when Shirley finally asked him directly if he was willing to compromise, he refused to answer and changed the subject. Donaldson did not appear to understand the meaning of the word compromise except as it applied to others. I would ask Jim Clark, what is it about Goetzelt, Clarke, Burger and Allion that Donaldson and Hallock so identify with? And why is not getting their way worth sending the city to a special election? Melodie Chrislock | Carmel Another detail not discussed is the role Del Rey Oaks plays in the water battles between Monterey Peninsula residents and Cal Am. Del Rey Oaks has a critical vote on Monterey One Water, which is closely divided between those two factions. Whomever holds that fifth seat will be the swing vote on whether DRO is pro-ratepayer or pro-Cal Am on M1W. Michael Baer | Santa Clara County Bathroom Break I have been waiting for someone to bring this up (“Squid Fry: Doo Don’t,” Jan. 26-Feb. 1). I have found it extremely difficult to find public bathrooms. The bathrooms are there (in gas stations, restaurants, strip malls, dollar stores) but [businesses] will not allow you to use them. Some places require you to buy something before they will let you use the bathroom. There are a lot of people who use medications, or have diseases that require the frequent use of a bathroom. If it costs $6,000 per year to buy toilet paper [for Monterey city tenants providing bathrooms], isn’t that a cost of doing business? A lot of cities have bathrooms. Why won’t our cities have more? Is that not better than having people urinate and defecate on sidewalks? Donna Davis | Salinas Bond Fund MPUSD is once again trying to reach into the pockets of taxpayers to fund their plan to finance teacher housing (“MPUSD revisits a potential bond measure to build staff and teacher housing,” Jan. 26-Feb. 1). Residents within the district are currently paying off a $213 million bond measure with fees attached to our property taxes. We will be paying every year until 2048. MPUSD has not been transparent in how decisions have been made to allocate those funds and many facility needs and repairs still remain unmet, nearly five years later. Why would voters support giving more money to MPUSD, and again increase our property taxes, on MPUSD’s hollow promise that building teacher housing would allow them to attract and retain qualified teachers? In quoting from a 2019 survey, MPUSD conveniently left out the part that shows 76 percent of teachers preferred “that instead of providing below-market teacher-staff rental housing the district should focus on raising employees’ wages so they could purchase housing on their own.” We all know that housing is expensive, and we also know that teachers deserve a raise. Let MPUSD use its own financial resources to increase salaries instead of asking taxpayers to fund real estate improvements. Marta Kraftzeck | Monterey WEED MONEY They need the same federal tax laws every other business has, and access to banking (“County supervisors will vote on another tax break for cannabis growers —who say it’s still not enough,” Jan. 19-15). Jay Donato | Salinas Health Plan Proper diet can reduce many risks, not only cardiology risks (“The cardiologist who saved two men during a half marathon is a plant-based evangelist,” Jan. 26-Feb. 1). I know a doctor who has his patients change their diet, and do mild exercise, and has 95-percent success at getting them off of insulin drugs. Switching to fish, instead of fatty meats, is one quick and easy change. Walter Wagner | via web What’s in a Name? Got my copy of Monterey County Place Names: A Geographical Dictionary from my late brother. It’s sitting on the mantel at my cabin (“How did Monterey County’s cities and towns get their names? The answers might surprise you,” Jan. 19-25). As an example, look up Ponciano Ridge and you will find a tale of a murder that could have been found in a John Steinbeck or Jack London novel. One more thing is to find Mt. Carmel in the Ventana Wilderness then zoom out to show Monterey Bay. Then find Mt. Carmel in Israel and you’ll see what the Spaniards instantly recognized, coincidental with the presence of the Carmelite order. You could spend hours in this book. Paul Ingram | Carmel Valley Village Letters • CommentsOPINION Submit letters to the editor to letters@mcweekly.com. Please keep your letter to 150 words or less; subject to editing for space. Please include your full name, contact information and city you live in.
www.montereycountyweekly.com February 2-8, 2023 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 15 The increasing polarization in government is something that for years has felt to me like a story playing out on the national stage. At the local level, the incentive is to focus on the areas we can all agree on—everyone is for safer streets and thriving downtowns, no matter your views on abortion or gun control. I think of get-stuff-done local government as the antidote, so it’s disappointing to see two local city councils so divided they are struggling to even fill their ranks to get to five members. In Greenfield, two city council members faced off for the mayor’s position last November. Bob White beat Yanely Martinez, creating a vacancy for his old seat, with a term that runs through 2024. The council has two choices: Hold a special election—which wouldn’t happen until March of 2024—or appoint someone. A similar scenario is unfolding in Del Rey Oaks, where former councilmember Scott Donaldson unseated mayor Alison Kerr, leaving his former council seat vacant. The choices: Hold a special election in November 2023, or appoint someone to the vacant seat. In both cities, the four members of council agree it would be wise to appoint rather than hold a costly special election. But both councils are split over the decision of who to appoint, a decision that has come to represent something of a proxy for which political camp you support, and each is divided 2-2. With battle lines drawn, things devolve quickly. In Greenfield, White advocated to appoint Drew Tipton, who ran (and lost) for re-election to City Council, in a new district election format that saw him running against his colleague, Angela Untalon. (Untalon and Martinez offered up a few counter-motions, including to appoint former mayor John Huerta or community activist Beatriz Diaz.) In Del Rey Oaks, supporters of the former mayor showed up en masse at a Jan. 5 meeting to advocate that Kerr be appointed directly to the vacant seat, with 16 speakers suggesting it. Given that Donaldson had just challenged her—successfully—it would have been wild to see him turn around and appoint her to the vacancy. I also think it’s anti-democratic for supporters of a candidate who lost the mayorship to ask the council to then immediately reappoint the loser. One perk of appointments— when they work—is they encourage applicants who may lack the temperament to run for office, but may be dedicated, engaged and excellent public servants. Otherwise we end up with the same few people cycling in and out of the public square. That’s what happened in Del Rey Oaks, where council opted to open up an application process, with six contenders—all of whom have current or former experience in city government, either on council, the Planning Commission, or both. “You campaigned on the idea of stopping the divisiveness,” Councilmember Kim Shirley said to Donaldson. “You have the opportunity with this vote to bring us together, to be a functioning council.” Yet two-and-a-half hours of excruciating conversation followed, as 2-2 votes persisted. There would be no compromise, and nobody on the dais articulates exactly why they objected to any particular candidate. As they deliberated in circles, four of the six applicants spoke up to withdraw their applications. These appointments represent bigger political divisions, largely unspoken. What’s ironic is that on most things, councils can reach consensus. Yet the few topics on which applicants disagree, or seem to disagree, are enough to create an impasse. A 2022 analysis by the International City/County Management Association, based on data collected by polling company Polco, found nearly 70 percent of government officials say political division negatively impacts their organization. “As much as local governments intend to be apolitical, the impact of the national divide is now hitting home locally,” Michelle Kobayashi of Polco told ICMA. After things devolved in Greenfield, the next council meeting on Jan. 10 was cooperative; an application period for the vacant seat closed on Jan. 31. Del Rey Oaks has yet to figure out a next step. They have until Feb. 10 to fill the seat, or they’ll have to go to an election. That is the kind of story we expect from Washington, not local leaders. Sara Rubin is the Weekly’s editor. Reach her at sara@mcweekly.com. Divided We Fall City councils in Del Rey Oaks and Greenfield are stuck in gridlock. By Sara Rubin Reader Royalties…Squid is not ashamed to love a good story of love and revenge, so of course Squid is invested in the real-life story of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Not only did Squid watch Harry & Meghan on Netflix, but Squid also read Harry’s memoir, Spare, in which Squid was delighted to learn Squid and Harry share a favorite author: Salinas’ own John Steinbeck, about as far away from the English monarchy as it gets. Harry’s fave is Of Mice and Men, a story about “two blokes” who learn about real loyalty. Harry wrote that one reason he liked the novel was that it was short, and also how disappointed he still is that he and his brother, Prince William, are not like characters George and Lenny. Maybe Squid doesn’t understand how loyalty works, but at the end of the book (spoiler alert!), one character shoots another— out of mercy, but still. Squid’s own favorite Steinbeck novel is East of Eden, another story of brotherhood, this time about blood brothers involved in a rather unhealthy competition. Squid wonders if Prince Harry read that one—maybe not, because it’s a thicker volume, and Harry wrote that he likes his books “tight.” Anyway, Squid can relate to East of Eden because Squid also had a toxic sibling, born from the same many-egged shoal on the sea floor, who thinks of themself as cephalopod royalty. For the true story, you’ll need to wait for Squid’s ghostwritten memoir. Smell Test…Though it might come as a surprise to many humans, Squid has an acute sense of smell, which Squid uses to detect whether or not prey is edible, and like certain smells in the air, sometimes things are malodorous. Such has been the case in parts of Marina for some years now, where a nasty stench sometimes wafts into certain neighborhoods. And despite the efforts of some, including officials from the Monterey Bay Air Resources District, attempts to pinpoint the source of the odor have proven inconclusive. And because residents keep making a stink about it, the city of Marina is taking matters into its own hands, and announced on Jan. 31 that, in conjunction with the city’s consultant SCS Engineers, it was launching a smell test. From Feb. 6-15, SCS will be screening volunteers to help the company pinpoint the odor’s source (one can express interest in participating at odorstudy@cityofmarina.org), and the study will occur from Feb. 20 to March 31. Squid’s never had the chance to smell it Squidself— it comes and goes—but past complaints to the Air District describe it as like “rotting garbage,” “freshly boiled eggs,” “like the bottom of a dumpster” and “poop-related.” Squid hopes SCS can get to the, err, bottom of it. the local spin SQUID FRY THE MISSION OF MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY IS TO INSPIRE INDEPENDENT THINKING AND CONSCIOUS ACTION, ETC. With battle lines drawn, things devolve quickly. Send Squid a tip: squid@mcweekly.com
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjAzNjQ1NQ==