12 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY february 16-22, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com That the United States military has its sights clearly fixed on China as a threat was no more evident than in the recent shooting down of a Chinese balloon that the U.S. calls a spying tool and Chinese officials played off as a weather balloon. Along with Russia’s war against Ukraine and the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, American military forces are shifting away from training soldiers in the Afghan language of Pashto and instead increasing focus on Mandarin and Russian. That means the Defense Language Institute’s Pashto program with 37-39 instructors is coming to an end this year. “It’s always a shifting requirement here based on the needs of the Department of Defense,” says DLI Chief of Staff Steven Collins. Most of the instructors originally from Afghanistan are on a fixed term of employment, with terms ending at staggered times. A few have permanent positions at DLI. When the announcement was made to staff last year, the president of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 1263, Dennis Hickman, began lobbying administrators to give employees whose terms were ending in the fall and winter as much time as possible to transition into other jobs. Some instructors worked as translators for U.S. military forces during the war in Afghanistan, meaning it’s too dangerous for them to return there, Hickman says. Instructors’ options for jobs in this country are limited. After getting no response from administrators, Hickman filed a grievance on Jan. 13. The union is asking that employees whose terms end prior to June 24, 2023 be allowed to remain through that date. The union’s rationale includes giving instructors more time to find employment, some within DLI, as well as allowing their children to be able to finish out the school year. “I feel bad for them. They should be given a safety net when they leave,” Hickman says. One instructor who spoke to the Weekly on the condition of anonymity out of fear of being fired before his term ends, said he regrets having come to the U.S. to teach at DLI. “Because they are treating us in a way that they use us and are throwing us away,” he says. He adds that he was denied a job in another language he is qualified to teach and has no current job prospects elsewhere. Collins says the institute has no choice but to end the Pashto program because the need is now over. “We’re doing the best we can under the circumstances,” he says. The city of Gonzales started the new year with a new city manager. Gonzales City Council selected Trevin Barber, former assistant city manager in Seaside, from 35 candidates to fill a vacancy that long-time city manager Rene Mendez left last summer. Mayor Jose Rios says Barber was unanimously selected in December; Barber started his new job on Jan. 17. Mendez, who led Gonzales for 17 years, resigned last year to take over as city manager in Watsonville on July 1. Since his departure, longtime community leader Carmel Gil served as interim city manager, after working for two-and-a-half years as Gonzales’ director of community engagement and strategic partnership. (Gil was among the candidates for the full-time job.) Barber has over 12 years of management experience, including in economic development and policy initiatives. He worked in Seaside for a little over a year, and at the end of his tenure there as assistant city manager, was on administrative leave for unspecified reasons. Before that, he was a senior management analyst in Gilroy, developing public forums and relationships in the community with different interest groups. (Barber did not return calls from the Weekly for this story.) According to Rios, Barber was terminated from his position in Seaside once Jaime Fontes took over as Seaside’s new city manager last year and restructured his administration. Barber worked in Seaside from June 6, 2021, to Sept. 1, 2022. It is unclear why he was on administrative leave and if he was paid or not during that time. Rios says the Gonzales City Council was aware of Barber’s administrative leave. Rios says Barber reminds him of a young Mendez. “He is so committed to this community,” Rios says, adding that Barber has relocated to Gonzales. Barber’s starting salary is $194,000/year, and he will receive a $1,500 monthly rent allowance for living within city limits. Safety Net DLI eliminates classes in an Afghan language, leaving some instructors in the lurch. By Pam Marino news Dance Date A special evening is planned for fathers and their daughters with the city of Seaside hosting its annual father-daughter dance. The event features music from DJ Dance Trax, snacks, punch and a photo booth. The first 25 registrants receive a special gift. 6:30-8:30pm Friday, Feb. 17. Oldemeyer Center, 986 Hilby Ave., Seaside. $10 per couple, $5 per additional adult, $3 per additional child. 899-6800, bit.ly/ SeasideFatherDaughterDance. DIY Planting The Friends of Seaside Parks Association is asking for coat hangers they can use to turn into plant signs. Join the group for a session of park upkeep by weeding and picking up litter. Each Saturday, FOSPA volunteers meet in a different neighborhood park. 10am-noon Saturday, Feb. 18. Capra Park, 1530 Sonoma Ave., Seaside. Free. fospa.info@gmail.com, friendsofseasideparks.org DEMOCRACY IN ACTION Monterey City Council meets and, as always, accepts comments from the public. Tell your elected officials what they are doing well and what they can do better. 4pm Tuesday, Feb. 21. Colton Hall, 580 Pacific St., Monterey. Free. 646-3799, monterey.org City SPEAKS Pacific Grove Mayor Bill Peake presents the State of the City address, listing P.G.’s top priorities and challenges. Questions are encouraged and may be sent in advance to citycouncil@cityofpacificgrove.org with “State of the City” as the subject line. Tune in in-person or online. (The remarks will be posted afterward on the city website as well.) 6pm Wednesday, Feb. 22. Pacific Grove City Hall, 300 Forest Ave., Pacific Grove. Free. For Zoom link, visit https://bit.ly/PGStateoftheCity. More at cityofpacificgrove.org. Rodeo Royalty Young women who are passionate about the western lifestyle and promoting rodeo can compete for the title of Miss California Rodeo Salinas 2023 this July. The competition is open to young women between 18 and 24 years of age. The winner will get to attend community events and parades during her reign, in addition to receiving a $3,000 academic scholarship. Entries open Feb. 14 and close May 1. California Rodeo Salinas, 1034 N. Main St., Salinas. Contact Mandy Linquist for more information: 775-3102, mlinquist@carodeo.com, carodeo.com/p/ about-us/mcrs/misscaliforniarodeocontest2023. Top Dog A short-timer in the ranks of Seaside City Hall lands a job as Gonzales’ new city manager. By Celia Jiménez The Defense Language Institute in Monterey currently offers courses in 14 languages; the Pashto program is set to end this year. e-mail: publiccitizen@mcweekly.com TOOLBOX “They use us and are throwing us away.” Daniel Dreifuss
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjAzNjQ1NQ==