april 13-19, 2023 montereycountyweekly.com LOCAL & INDEPENDENT roller derby skates on 12 | Meter Made 14 | Something Mora 30 | kitchen Checkout 36 With a limited supply and strong demand, the cost of restaurant liquor licenses is at an all-time high. p. 20 By Dave Faries Bottle Rocket Published by Best of Monterey Bay® Eat+Drink 2023-2024 | FREE cover_E+D_23.indd 2 3/29/23 2:58 PM Best of Monterey Bay® Eat + Drink magazine inside
2 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY APRIL 13-19, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com We thank our lucky stars for our volunteers! The community of volunteers at the Monterey Bay Aquarium are some of the most dedicated, knowledgeable, and generous people you will ever meet. They come from an array of backgrounds, locations, and span across generations. Since 1984, this fantastic group of people has given over 4.6 million hours to inspire conservation of the ocean. They’ve scrubbed exhibits, raised baby animals, stuffed envelopes, given tours, groomed rescued sea otter pups, moderated online chats, shared the wonder of the ocean with guests, and created a culture of giving within the Aquarium and beyond its walls. Thank you, volunteers, for all you do!
www.montereycountyweekly.com APRIL 13-19, 2023 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 3 for all you do. Volunteer APPRECIATION WEEK Thank you Dear volunteers, On behalf of those who benefit from your service
4 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY april 13-19, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com April 13-19, 2023 • ISSUE #1811 • Established in 1988 Chris Spain (Canon R5 with 100 to 500mm lens) It’s spring, and that means seal pupping season. This harbor seal mama and her pup, seen at Seal Bend in Elkhorn Slough, share the same speckly pattern on their fur. Monterey County photo of the week Send Etc. submissions to etcphoto@mcweekly.com; please include caption and camera info. On the cover: A finite number of liquor licenses mean a growing number of restaurants are fighting to outbid each other as demand grows and supply stays the same. The Links Club in Carmel paid $160,000 for a license, perhaps the highest ever in Monterey County. 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, Sloan Campi, Paul Fried, Jeff Mendelsohn, 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 We’d love to hear from you. Send us your tips at tipline.montereycountyweekly.com. We can tell you like the print edition of the Weekly. We bet you’ll love the daily newsletter, Monterey County NOW. Get fresh commentary, local news and sundry helpful distractions delivered to your inbox every day. There’s no charge, and if you don’t love it, you can unsubscribe any time. DON’T SPILL THE MILK Sign up today at montereycountyweekly.com/mcnow
www.montereycountyweekly.com APRIL 13-19, 2023 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 5 Salinas Valley Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year 2022 This well-deserved recognition highlights Dr. Radner’s outstanding contributions to the community during the COVID-19 pandemic. ALLEN RADNER, MD Salinas Valley Health, Chief Medical Officer Becker’s Hospital Review 2023 list of “Black Healthcare Leaders to Know” The prestigious annual list honors Black leaders for their commitment to the healthcare field and efforts to improve health equity and inclusion. CLEMENT MILLER Salinas Valley Health, Chief Operating Officer THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT IN HELPING OUR COMMUNITY RISE IN GOOD HEALTH. SalinasValleyHealth.com BLUE ZONES PROJECT MONTEREY COUNTY Tiffany DiTullio, Executive Director, Blue Zones Project Monterey County Salinas Valley Chamber of Commerce Spirit of the Community 2022 This recognition highlights success in implementing a community-wide approach to better health and sustainable changes to the environment. CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL AWARD WINNERS!
6 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY APRIL 13-19, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com THE BUZZ FREE SPEECH It’s the first time an American journalist has been detained in Russia since 1986. Evan Gershkovich is a 31-year-old Wall Street Journal reporter who found himself at the frontlines of the ongoing RussoUkrainian conflict. This New Jersey-native has been covering Russia since 2017, and grew up speaking Russian at home. His parents fled the Soviet Union in the 1970s, escaping growing anti-Semitism. Gershkovich was stopped by the Russian Federal Security Service on March 29 while reporting in the city of Yekaterinburg, and detained on charges of espionage. A Russian court, operating in closed session, ordered him held until the end of May while investigations are ongoing. A conviction could carry a sentence of up to 20 years in prison. The Journal has denied the accusations. Gershkovich was accredited by the Russian Foreign Ministry, a process that had continued even after the invasion of Ukraine and was thought to grant a degree of protection for Western journalists. At the time of the arrest, he was working on a story about Yevgeny Prigozhin, leader of the Russian mercenary military organization Wagner, which is fighting for the Kremlin in Ukraine. Good: The Western Flyer, the boat that John Steinbeck and Ed Ricketts (and their traveling companions) took down to the Sea of Cortez in 1940, is certainly a historic vessel. Now it’s an award-winning historic vessel, after the boat took home the prize for “Restored Power Vessel” at the Classic Boat Awards in London, England. “We are so honored to receive the Classic Boat Award for the Western Flyer,” John Gregg, founder and board member of the nonprofit Western Flyer Foundation, said in a statement. “It has been a labor of love for everyone involved, and we look forward to an exciting future bringing students and scientists aboard.” Over the past six-plus years, the boat, which was built in 1937, has undergone extensive restoration in Port Townsend, Washington. It is scheduled to return to the Monterey Bay this summer and become a floating classroom. GREAT: Great news for renters and housing efforts in Salinas comes after a five-year effort. On April 4, Salinas City Council unanimously approved a Residential Rental Registry, the first of its kind county-wide. The registry will help city staff track rental stock in the city. “It’s incredibly valuable as we seek to develop more affordable housing opportunities,” Planning Manager Rod Powell told council, noting staff otherwise do not have such details. Landlords will provide basic information: name, phone number, address and the units they are renting. They will pay as little as $20 per year for one unit, or up to $350 for 100-plus. Natalie Herendeen, executive director of the Center for Community Advocacy, says the system will help resolve landlord-tenant disputes thanks to easy access to accurate information: “You will get back more than the value that you put into the registry,” she says. GOOD WEEK / GREAT WEEK THE WEEKLY TALLY Annual cost of maintaining military equipment owned by the Monterey Police Department, including cleaning and training expenses. MPD will present its inventory of military gear to Monterey City Council on April 18, in keeping with AB 481, intended to provide transparency about law enforcement use of military gear. Source: MPD annual military equipment report $15,100 QUOTE OF THE WEEK “He called himself the luckiest man he knew.” -The Scheid family’s statement on Al Scheid, the founder of Scheid Family Wines, who died on March 31 at age 91. The original vineyard was planted in 1972 and in its first 50 years, became one of California’s largest vineyards (see story, mcweekly.com). BEST SUMMER EVER! THE CITY OF MONTEREY FOR MORE INFO + REGISTRATION MONTEREY.ORG/REC OVERNIGHT CAMP DAY CAMPS TODDLER CAMPS SPORTS CAMPS AND MORE! REGISTER NOW SCAN ME!
www.montereycountyweekly.com APRIL 13-19, 2023 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 7 Signed Sealed Soon to be Delivered On March 31, 2023, Monterey One Water, the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District and Cal Am signed an agreement that allows the Pure Water Monterey (PWM) Expansion project to be built. When completed in 2025 and added to the PWM project the Peninsula is already benefitting from, Pure Water Monterey will supply more than half our drinking water. New water supply on the way. Pure Water Monterey Expansion gets the green light. NEWSLETTER SIGNUP: MPWMD.NET
8 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY APRIL 13-19, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com 831 Ashley Low was strolling around Del Monte Shopping Center when a cheerful display caught her attention. There was a moose, a goose and other figures, all colorful friends of Potter the Otter. A week later she brought her two kids—3-year-old Jaymi and her older brother Lucas, who is 6. “We wanted to check it out to see what it was all about,” Low says. What they discovered is a pop-up exhibit for young children, hosted by MY Museum and set up in a space by the shopping center playground—with different stations, all on a scale for kids to explore and have fun while learning. Potter the Otter: A Healthy Adventure features a play market, a coloring station, swan races and more, based on a book series of the same name published by First 5 Santa Clara County. Low was instantly impressed. “They’ve put some more thoughtful touches on trying to teach and educate kids,” she says, noting that Lucas liked the coloring station and swan race, while his sister spent more time in the kitchen. “She loves the pots and putting things in the oven,” Low explains. Before arriving in Monterey at the beginning of March, the exhibit was at the Children’s Discovery Museum in San Jose. It is now on a road trip. “We are the first stop,” says Lauren Cohen, executive director of MY Museum, a nonprofit Monterey-based interactive museum for kids. As in the books, Potter hopes to make the water polo team. But to do so, the otter must learn to eat well and exercise properly—ditching soft drinks in favor of water and taking a break from social media to swim, walk or run. The exhibit form of the adventure features different stations, including a market with fruits and veggies where kids “buy” their groceries. They can smell the fruits and hear what sounds they make when they eat them. There’s a kitchen to prepare their meals and a dining room with different dishes kids can assemble. It’s designed for children ages 5 and under, with a crawlers’ garden for the youngest. Cohen says the market is a favorite spot. “The exhibit is all about eating with your senses,” she says. “[It] focuses on social and emotional health for kids.” According to Cohen, MY Museum doesn’t normally host traveling exhibits because of size constraints, but space was available at Del Monte Center. The partnership has been so successful that in the first month, around 2,500 children and parents (grown-ups get in free) visited the pop-up. On a Friday afternoon, Beau Jackson of Monterey was watching Esme, just 7 months old, in the crawlers’ garden. He says his older son Archie, 4, loves the exhibit. Archie’s favorite area is the pond, where he can build bridges with blocks. Since discovering the exhibit, Jackson adds, “He has come almost every week.” Karolyn Baker and her four kids— Christian, 7; Barbara, 6; Evelyn, 4; and Hanna, 1—were visiting the exhibit for the first time. Baker says she appreciates how kids can play by themselves or with other children with little parental interaction. “They just ran off and they were literally playing—and that’s the goal of a play place,” Baker adds. “We’re super into imaginative play.” Cohen says kids are learning critical thinking, negotiation and problem-solving through play. “We’re teaching kids how to learn, not what to learn—all the things we need to be successful adults,” she explains. Exhibit materials describe Potter the Otter as a place where “children play to learn”—and where “grown-ups learn to play.” Baker read the information at the exhibit, and notes that the tips for a healthier lifestyle are easy to understand and incorporate into one’s daily routine. The pop-up will be in place through May. Then the adventure will continue elsewhere. Potter the Otter: A Healthy Adventure is at Del Monte Shopping Center, Monterey. Open Fridays 3-5pm, Saturdays and Sundays 11am-5pm. Admission is $3 for children, free for adults and MY Museum members. 6496444, mymuseum.org/potter. Play Time A pop-up allows kids to follow the fun adventure of Potter the Otter, while learning healthy habits. By Celia Jiménez Four-year-old Evelyn Baker plays with model vegetables as she learns about eating healthy at a pop-up children’s exhibit, hosted by MY Museum, at Del Monte Center. “We’re teaching kids how to learn, not what to learn.” TALES FROM THE AREA CODE DANIEL DREIFUSS Breakthrough Men’s Community is a non-profit organization founded in 1987 to provide men with the skills to free themselves from non-productive, painful, or unworkable patterns in their lives. Donate at: www.breakthroughformen.org LIFE TOOLS FOR MEN Transforming lives and communities better dads, better partners, better friends This popular workshop fills fast. Next workshop begins April 27, 2023! For more information, email enrollment@breakthroughformen.org
www.montereycountyweekly.com APRIL 13-19, 2023 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 9 An initiative of Hospice Giving Foundation, Monterey County’s ACP Task Force promotes enhanced, effective, and consistent advance healthcare care preparedness. Advance healthcare planning involves thinking about what is most important to you as you make your healthcare decisions before a medical emergency occurs. Completing an advance healthcare directive is a way to put your thoughts in writing, so your healthcare team and loved ones better understand what is important to you. Begin your process by joining one of these free workshops. 25years Celebrating HOSPICE GIVING FOUNDATION THE GIFT OF PREPAREDNESS: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ADVANCE HEALTHCARE DIRECTIVES ENGLISH: MONDAY, APRIL 24, 2023 3:30 – 4:30 PM El Gabilan Library 1400 N Main St, Salinas SPANISH: WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 2023 4:30 – 5:30 PM Cesar Chavez Library 615 Williams Rd, Salinas CONVERSATIONS ABOUT LIFE: PERSONAL & PRACTICAL ASPECTS OF PLANNING FOR OUR FUTURE THURSDAY, MAY 4, 2023 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM Hospice Giving Foundation 80 Garden Court, Suite 201, Monterey Presenter: Shary Farr To register visit: hospicegiving.org/workshops or call 831.333.9023 ALLIANCE ON AGING ADVANCE HEALTHCARE PLANNING CLASS TUESDAY, APRIL 18, 2023 10:00 – 11:00 AM The Hub Alliance on Aging 236 Monterey St., Salinas For more information, call 831.655.1334 COMMUNITY HOSPITAL OF THE MONTEREY PENINSULA/MONTAGE HEALTH ADVANCE HEALTHCARE PLANNING CLASS ONLINE: TUESDAY, APRIL 25, 2023 10:00 – 11:30 AM Registration required: montagehealth.org/planning or call 831.625.4977 SALINAS VALLEY HEALTH ADVANCE CARE PLANNING INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE MONDAY, APRIL 17, 2023 Drop-in from 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM Prime Care Clinic 355 Abbott St, Salinas 93901 Monterey County’s Advance Care Planning (ACP) Task Force presents WORKSHOPS FOR NATIONAL HEALTHCARE DECISIONS DAY APRIL 16TH IS NATIONAL HEALTHCARE DECISIONS DAY (NHDD) which exists to inspire, educate and empower the public and providers about the importance of advance care planning.
10 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY april 13-19, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com news A new organization of local ChineseAmerican professionals and companies is seeking to bolster business development and collaboration among its ranks, and create stronger economic and tourism ties between China and the Monterey Bay region. The Monterey Bay Chinese Chamber of Commerce launched in February and staged its first event, a barbecue at Monterey’s El Estero Park, on March 18. More than 70 people gathered to network and enjoy a grilled spread provided by local chefs like Pebble Beach Resorts’ Christian Pulido, as well as Chinese food from Monterey restaurants Full Moon and China Garden. Dr. Eric Tao, a CSU Monterey Bay computer science professor who chairs the MBCCC, says the organization has already signed up 30 dues-paying members— including local restaurateurs, financial advisors and real estate professionals—and hopes to grow that figure to 100 by the end of this year. The organization’s primary goals are threefold: to promote the business and professional development of its members; to attract China-based businesses and tourists to the Monterey Bay area; and to create a better understanding and connection locally with China and its culture. “In the huge geopolitical competition between the U.S. and China, we want to play the role of building bridges,” Tao says. The MBCCC is now drawing up plans for its next event in May, which it hopes will further introduce the group to local politicians and business leaders. Tao is also looking to organize a tour of its members to China this fall “to explore collaboration, cultural exchange and business opportunities.” Building Bridges A new chamber of commerce looks to strengthen the region’s ties with China. By Rey Mashayekhi On Thursday, April 6, Karen Marcos keeps a watchful eye on her young daughter on the steps of the Watsonville Veterans Memorial Building while her husband is inside, seeking relief from the floods that have upended their lives. It is the first day that government workers from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Small Business Administration are on the ground in Watsonville, aiding Pajaro Valley residents in need of help as a result of the March storms that drenched the region—flooding the Pajaro River, forcing the evacuation of Pajaro and impacting people across the area. “We’re in need of money for food, rent, diapers,” Marcos says. Born and raised in Watsonville, she has worked in the Valley’s bountiful berry fields for two years, she says. But with many fields still soaked and out of commission, that work has disappeared for the time being, and Marcos has “no idea” when she’ll be able to earn a living again. In the wake of President Joe Biden’s long-awaited disaster declaration on April 3, FEMA and SBA officials signed up nearly 800 households for federal assistance across Monterey and Santa Cruz counties as of Tuesday, April 11—with Monterey accounting for more than 500 of those households. With roughly 75 percent of the people impacted being renters, according to Monterey County officials, the most vital forms of aid include FEMA programs providing rental assistance to those whose homes are uninhabitable due to the floods, allowing them to find temporary housing elsewhere. FEMA also funds disaster unemployment assistance for those, like Marcos, who have lost work as a result. Yet there are now questions over where and how the government can best deliver resources to those in need. Initially, FEMA and SBA set up at the Watsonville veterans hall, where state, county and nonprofit agencies had operated in a consolidated local assistance center since March 29. Yet the hall was not up to federal standards as far as Americans with Disabilities Act compliance and a lack of parking, according to multiple sources, and by April 7, FEMA and SBA had moved their disaster recovery center to Watsonville’s old city hall at 250 Main St. The new location is considerably smaller, however, leaving little-to-no space to also accommodate various state, county and nonprofit entities under one roof. Those local agencies are particularly important to helping undocumented residents—many of whom are not eligible for federal assistance, but can receive financial aid through the state Department of Social Services’ Rapid Response Fund, as well as nonprofits. The decision drew the ire of Monterey County Supervisor Luis Alejo, who blasted FEMA’s cramped quarters and criticized Watsonville City Manager Rene Mendez for refusing to offer as an alternative the more spacious Ramsey Park Family Center. (Mendez’s office did not return a request for comment). By April 11, Monterey County officials announced an additional disaster recovery center at a tent in Pajaro Park to accommodate federal, state and county resources in one location, starting April 13. Officials said they were also working to create a hub for nonprofits and community organizations at Pajaro Middle School. Many personal items in Pajaro were destroyed by flooding. Pajaro resident Carla Escutia discards belongings out on the street for debris removal. Relief Roulette FEMA is finally on the ground near Pajaro—but questions remain over the rollout of flood aid. By Rey Mashayekhi Monterey Bay Chinese Chamber of Commerce members feel “an obligation as Chinese-Americans to enhance collaboration” between the countries and cultures, chair Eric Tao says. “We’re in need of money for food, rent, diapers.” Daniel Dreifuss Monterey Bay Chinese Chamber of Commerce
www.montereycountyweekly.com APRIL 13-19, 2023 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 11 PROMOTE CONNECT INCLUDE INFORM Join The Chamber Today! THROW YOUR FOOD SCRAPS AND YARD WASTE IN THE GREEN CART. If It Grows, It Goes! Recycling food scraps can protect our community. Learn more at: Obtenga más información en: svswa.org/residential/foodscraps Reciclar las sobras de comida puede proteger a nuestra comunidad. ¡Si crece, al bote verde va! Apply at www.centcoastfcu.com, visit your local branch, or call us at (831) 393-3480 Big Becom Today Your NMLS# 786119 Become A Member Today And Access Your Home Equity A home equity line of credit (HELOC) can be an easy, affordable way to nance home improvement projects, so go ahead, Dream Big! Seaside: 4242 Gigling Rd. Salinas: 900 S. Main St. Soledad: 315 Gabilan Rd. King City: 510 Canal St. DreamBig Ready to unlock the hidden value in your home? *Terms and conditions apply. Apply at www.centcoastfcu.com, visit your local branch, or call us at (831) 393-3480
12 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY april 13-19, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com Dozens of women wear helmets, knee pads and skates, training for their next game. These members of Monterey Bay Roller Derby spend two nights a week at the Monterey County Fairgrounds. The MBRD (previously named Monterey Bay Derby Dames) is a local roller derby league, started in 2010, and is a member of the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association. For years, the organization trained and played at the Water City rink in Marina, which closed during the Covid-19 pandemic. Last year, while Water City was preparing to reopen, Marina city officials found a series of code violations including accessibility shortcomings and problems with ventilation, electrical and heating. The building was redtagged. Dozens of people protested on May 22, 2021 demanding officials keep the building open for roller sports, to no avail. With Water City closed, MBRD members had to look for alternatives to keep its league alive. “We no longer have a home base where we can host games or scrimmages,” says Amber Dodd, a player who has been in the league for 10 seasons. At the fairgrounds, they don’t have enough space for a derby track, so they can train there but not compete. Instead, home games (known in roller derby parlance as “bouts”) take place in locations like Sacramento or Angels Camp. “It was really hard to make the commitment to go to games that are three hours away,” Dodd adds. The junior team, the Dread Ponies, dismantled due to lack of a home venue. MBRD is currently paying $450 a month for space to practice at the Fairgrounds, and is looking for alternatives on the Monterey Peninsula, Salinas or Castroville. The space has to be flat and at least 120-by-78 feet, or about 10,000 square feet. “The fairgrounds is just a little too small for a regulation track, and they hold a lot of events there so it’s difficult to have consistent practice during more popular months,” league President Ali Hough says. Water City’s home, the Marina Sports Center, will eventually be upgraded. On March 21, Marina City Council approved the Dunes City Park Project concept, which includes transforming the building into a multi-sport facility, including a pavilion for outdoor sports like roller derby. “We’d love to have a permanent home,” Hough says. But she notes an outdoor space won’t be ideal because Marina has unique weather conditions—fog and relatively lower temperatures—and they practice at night. On April 6, the same day three lawmakers were threatened with expulsion from Tennessee’s state legislature for their comments on the House floor denouncing gun violence, which followed a mass shooting in a Nashville elementary school, Seaside City Council considered whether to censure Councilmember Alex Miller regarding comments he made on social media regarding the vibrancy of Seaside’s downtown—or lack thereof. At the center of both disputes was the constitutional right to free speech, and Miller’s post was far from incendiary. Miller posted a story about Maligne, a fine dining restaurant on Broadway that shut down but has since reopened with a more affordable menu. With the story, Miller wrote, in part: “It’s unfortunate the City Council is unwilling to hire a professional to allow one of our city commissions help with the revitalization. It appears our council is OK with businesses leaving, vacant buildings sitting and allowing boarded up buildings to sit untouched.” Had it not been brought to the attention of the public, outside of Miller’s Facebook audience, it may have gone largely unnoticed. But instead, Seaside Mayor Ian Oglesby put on the agenda a discussion to potentially censure Miller—a formal reprimand, essentially, with no penalty. “If we allow ourselves to keep talking about each other, where does it end?” Oglesby said. “I’m talking about going forward,” he later continued. “Somebody could say something that’s really offensive, and then the wheels are off the bus, and I don’t want us to get there.” And after two hours of discussion, where it quickly became clear a censure had no support, there was no motion made to censure Miller, so no vote was ever taken. Miller says the whole thing was a waste of time, but is glad that during the back and forth, he was able to extract a promise from Oglesby to put a discussion about downtown on the next agenda. Roll Out Roller derby players are on the lookout for a new home to host local games. By Celia Jiménez news Read and Relax The Monterey Public Library invites young children to Paws to Read, where they can spend time reading to a certified therapy dog. Participants can sign up for 10-minute sessions and read a selection of their choice to a new furry friend. 3:30pm Thursday, April 13. Monterey Public Library, 625 Pacific St., Monterey. Free. 646-3933, montereypl. libcal.com/event/9907194. Community Restoration Join a community cleanup and mudout effort to help Pajaro get back into top shape. Help pick up debris and trash left over from the winter storms. Volunteers are encouraged to bring their own pressure washers, shovels and wheelbarrows to help in the cleanup efforts. 9am Saturday, April 15. Hope City Command Center Trailer at Pajaro Middle School, 250 Salinas Road, Pajaro. Free. 796-3094, info@hcrn.info. Labor Ready Salinas Valley Health will start a virtual, two-session childbirth preparation series for expecting mothers, run by a certified Lamaze educator. The class is open to the general public, and there are discounts for those in the military or receiving Medi-Cal benefits. 9am-4pm Saturday, April 15 and April 22. $60/general public; $35/ Medi-Cal; $30/active military, $25/ MCSIG members; free/SVH staff. bit.ly/ LaborLearning. Ultimate Fun An art extravaganza and introduction to disc golf for kids is coming to Marina in the third annual Junior Jellies Disc Golf Day event. Come learn how to play disc golf, play games with others or join in the competitions. There’s also truck painting and other arts and crafts activities. 11am Sunday, April 16. Los Arboles Sports Complex, 327 Reindollar Ave., Marina. Free. 884-1278, bit.ly/ ArtandDiscGolf. House Training Pacific Grove is partnering with ECHO Housing to hold two fair housing training workshops for the community. Attendees will get insight into an overview of federal and state housing laws, learn about new housing protections, and get information about the halt on evictions and foreclosures put in place by Monterey County and additional state protections. The first event will be tenant-focused, and the second will be landlord-focused. 6pm Tuesdays, April 18 and April 25. Register at tinyurl.com/dyty6v7p. Free. 566-0824, bit.ly/PGFairHousing. Silent Treatment A Seaside councilmember spoke up on social media, and the mayor didn’t like it. By David Schmalz Members of Monterey Bay Roller Derby practice twice a week inside the King City and Salinas rooms of the Monterey County Fairgrounds in Monterey. e-mail: publiccitizen@mcweekly.com TOOLBOX “We no longer have a home base.” Daniel Dreifuss
www.montereycountyweekly.com APRIL 13-19, 2023 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 13 DANCE PARTY $25 AGES 21+ | DJ, Light Experience | Cash Bar BLOCK PARTY THE NANCY ECCLES AND HOMER M. HAYWARD FAMILY FOUNDATION PRESENTS UNDER THE STARS FROM 7 -9 PM 559 PACIFIC STREET | Learn more at montereyart.org FOLLOWED BY A SATURDAY, APRIL 15TH | 12 - 4 PM MONTEREY MUSEUM OF ART’S INAUGURAL PURCHASE DANCE PARTY TICKETS HERE FREE ENTRY | LIVE MUSIC | FOOD | KIDS ACTIVITIES | ARTISTS | VENDORS ART CONNECTING COMMUNITY
14 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY April 13-19, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com Ashley Stoddard, owner of the Bennett Sculpture Gallery, has experienced the challenges of downtown Carmel parking firsthand. She hosts at least two events for the gallery each year, plus a number of fundraising events for nonprofits. She has heard from many would-be guests who tried to attend but gave up because they couldn’t find parking—even after circling nearby blocks for 30 minutes. Then there are the times she’s lost sales. “I’ve been in the middle of selling a piece of artwork and people are panicking because they have to move their car,” Bennett says. “And when they’re out, they’re out.” She sometimes receives apologetic phone calls from customers, saying they couldn’t find a new parking spot. Parking has long been an issue in the village, mostly driven by employees taking prime downtown spots—up to 50 percent—according to a 2014 study. A two-hour limit imposed to incentivize employees to use free city lots hasn’t worked; they simply move their cars. Also unsuccessful was a pilot paid parking program in 2014 that involved large kiosks that residents found ugly. Nearly 10 years later, technology may have the solution. The Carmel City Council is pursuing the possibility of a paid parking program using an app that allows users to pay for parking digitally. Not only has technology advanced since the days of clunky kiosks, but the public has gotten used to using cell phones to pay for almost anything, says Brian Uhler, a consultant with the firm MGR, hired by the council to roll out an engagement campaign to educate the public about what is being called PACT—Parking and Congested Traffic Program. Uhler is no stranger to Carmel—he’s a former police officer who served as Carmel’s interim chief in 2021-22. He says one of the main goals of PACT is to reduce the traffic congestion caused mainly by visitors and employees circling around, looking for open parking spaces. The program could bring in an estimated $2.84 million a year, which would pay for the program plus other downtown improvements. An app would allow people to pay for parking electronically at a yet-to-be determined hourly rate, possibly somewhere around $2. Enforcement hours might be 10am-8pm, which could mean up to $20 a day. The proposed program would cover 20 blocks of the downtown district, bordered by Junipero Street, Monte Verde Street, 5th Avenue and 8th Avenue—nearly 900 parking spaces. The city is also considering a buffer of permit parking only in the surrounding neighborhoods. Free parking lots would be available at the Sunset Center, Vista Lobos and the bottom of Ocean Avenue by Carmel Beach. The council approved $119,550 in February to pay for the engagement campaign, which includes four public meetings and a portal on the city’s website (ci.carmel.ca.us/pact-program) with information and a way for people to submit comments and questions. Meetings, to be held in Carpenter Hall (inside Sunset Center) are scheduled at the following times: 10am May 1; 4pm May 3; 6pm May 9; noon May 11. Park Place Carmel paves the way for a paid parking program, leveraging technology to address old concerns. By Pam Marino The streets of Carmel are regularly parked up. New technology allows people to pay for parking digitally, and could allow residents to park for free and business owners to enter customer license plates. NEWS The program would cover 20 blocks, nearly 900 parking spaces. DANIEL DREIFUSS Dr. David Crandall, DO Kathleen Jefferies, OTR\L,CHT, CLT Wednesday, April 26th, 5:30pm LeT’s TaLK abOuT CaRpaL TunneL Please join us for our next MSJ Live Online web series as we discuss the causes, symptoms and both surgical and non-surgical treatment options for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. To RSVP for this event, you an scan the QR code above, send an email to lectureseries@msjhealth.com or call 831-424-1398. Please provide your name and email address so we can register you. Web: www.msjhealth.com Phone: 831-648-7200 Fax: 831-648-7204 The Prostate Cancer Self Help Group of the Central Coast will be hosting a zoom session on Thursday, April 13th, 2023, at 4:30pm Dr. Larry Lachman, will discuss Stress and Pain Management. For more information, call (831) 915-6466 TIP OF THE WEEK! Spring cleaning isn’t only for your closet... Now is the time to review your important legal documents. Is your Will current? Do you have an Advance Health Care Directive? We can help you create or update your legal documents. 831.899.0492 Legal Services for Seniors Kellie D. Morgantini Interim Executive Director Legal Services for Seniors is a 501(c)(3) organization.
www.montereycountyweekly.com APRIL 13-19, 2023 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 15 Once again, nature rained on the parade at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Only this time it was a trickle, not a flood, and festivities continued. On Friday morning, April 7, as intermittent sprinkles washed over the area, the first skeletal sections of a new bridge over the front stretch of the venerable race track were hoisted into place by a crane and positioned by workers with Granite Construction as county officials, media and other guests looked on. It marked the final step in the largest improvement project at Laguna Seca since the track surface was last repaved in 2007. (It will be repaved again this year.) A series of atmospheric rivers in January and again in March delayed progress and caused damage to other parts of the track. As the framework of the bridge was being guided into place on Friday, another crew—this one from Don Chapin Co.—was busy shoring up what had been a slope leading up to one of the most popular spectator viewing areas, overlooking Turn 2. Rains caused much of it to collapse. “We were about to lose it,” says Barry Toepke of WeatherTech Raceway. The county Board of Supervisors approved emergency repair work at the end of March, which Randell Ishii, county public works director, says may be eligible for FEMA funds. At the same time, the board voted to accelerate work on the bridge. The original budget for the bridge and repaving work was $14.9 million. The emergency package adds $3.5 million to the toll. Crews from Granite Construction have been working double shifts to get the project back on schedule, or at least close to it. “The time had to be made up,” Ishii says. The construction crew lost 37 workdays to the storms, but accelerating the effort has closed the gap: “It looks very optimistic.” The bridge is used by an estimated 75 percent of event attendees. The facility torn down last fall dated back to the late 1970s, and track president John Narigi has said that it would not have survived inspection. Toepke expects the new bridge, which will accommodate golf carts as well as foot traffic and have more safety features, to be completed in time for Trans Am Speedfest in May. However, it will not be approved to carry traffic until July, when the MotoAmerica Superbike series arrives. Still, Toepke says, “this represents a huge step forward for the facility and the county.” County Supervisor Mary Adams— who represents District 5, which includes the track—explains that without the new structure in place, Laguna Seca would have lost sponsorship dollars. “It’s an integral part of the future of the track,” Adams says. “This is an incredible asset.” The six major events at Laguna Seca in 2022—Rennsport Reunion will make seven for 2023—generated almost $247 million in local spending, according to a study by the CSU Monterey Bay College of Business. The repaving project will have to wait some more. In May, work crews will again take over the iconic track. If nature cooperates. Delayed Action The long-promised bridge at Laguna Seca is hoisted into place. By Dave Faries The first section of the new bridge over the track at Laguna Seca is guided into place. Track officials believe September’s Rennsport Reunion would have gone to another venue without the structure. 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16 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY april 13-19, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com Heads in Beds Having nothing in place for our children and teens is failing them. They deserve better (“A lack of psychiatric treatment beds in California puts an enormous strain on patients, staff and the community,” April 6-12). Audrey Grace | via social media I had to get shipped to Marin after 36 hours in the ER. It was very traumatic, and the “crisis team” needs a crisis team. Michaella Ann Dye | via social media Party On The Democratic Party is a big tent party. It reflects a multitude of interests, and usually bases its priorities on inclusiveness and fairness. The current dispute within the local Democratic Central Committee is manufactured from within, and will undermine the success of inclusiveness and fairness (“The county Democratic Party gets stuck on issues big and small,” March 23-29). Of course there are differences of opinion and assertiveness. But for sure we do not want a party that may be dominated by a handful of loud members. What we want is a level of deliberation and decision-making that is inclusive and fair, and is consistent with meeting rules and bylaws that support full participation. Proof of success is the largest representation ever by Spanish heritage members. As a big tent party, it matters. Current Chair Karen Araujo provides effective leadership by practicing and defending these priorities. George Riley | Monterey Note: Riley is a member of the Monterey County Democratic Central Committee. As a former chair of the Monterey County Democratic Party, I know how hard that job is. Karen Araujo, the current chair, is someone I know to be honest, hard-working, and dedicated to promoting rights for women, workers and renters. Under her leadership, the county Democratic Party is more diverse and more representative of the full county than ever before. The party meetings have more people attending and participating than ever before. Under Chair Araujo, this past year the Monterey County Democratic party supported the successful election of the first woman as county sheriff. We helped elect a new county supervisor. And we have elected Democrats to every state and federal office. We should be celebrating our successes. I have full confidence in Chair Araujo. Alan Haffa | Monterey Note: Haffa is a member of the Democratic Central Committee. Skate Trick Those five councilmembers will definitely lose their seats once all these kids (whom they are denying the one thing they are asking for) can vote (“Pacific Grove City Council votes 5-2 to stop the current effort to bring a skatepark to town,” posted April 6). Kelsea Richmond | Prunedale I grew up in P.G. and graduated high school 1963. We always had to fight for something to do. We did have the rec center and football games; we finally got a movie theater. I’m glad we had the swimming pool and Lovers Point. If I needed something else, I walked to Monterey. I loved my childhood. We didn’t have a lot to do but we found things that kept our interest. I’m not seeing a skatepark at George Washington Park. I believe if you want a skatepark, keep it away from residences. I agree kids need things to keep them busy and times have changed. Hope you all can come to a resolution that is best for all. Carol Moore | San Diego County Flood Plan Well written, and well said (“It’s time to consider how we make planning decisions that incorporate climate change hazards,” posted April 5). Unfortunately, though I see the good in people, I observe most of us still act out of fear at a fundamental level. I think this drives the deep and increasing divide between those with wealth and those without. This is to say, I am generally optimistic with individual possibilities, I have become much less so with political and economic decision making. There, greed (fear) and power and control issues (fear) continue to rule the day. Your article points to a path of a better outcome. I hope that we—as a community, state, country—choose a better path. However, especially with our current “culture wars” of red and blue and those who manipulate that on both sides, this seems a risky hope. Berj Amir | Seaside Thank you for the link to the latest IPCC report on climate change. On page 7 of the 36-page synopsis, a visual shows what types of climate change will be present for a person born in 1950, 1980 and 2020. The kids born in 2020 will be 70 in 2090, and will face temperature increases from 2 to 4 degrees. Their parents, born around 1980, will be 70 in 2050 and facing increases of 2 to 2.5 degrees. Those born around 1950 are in their 70s now and have no skin in this game. When looking at issues of equity, how is it equitable that decisions being made now that directly affect these outcomes are being made by 60- and 70-year-old CEOs and legislators who still cling to the NIMBY mindset? To your point, yes, it is time to consider how we make planning decisions regarding climate change hazards. I wonder how we will manage this systemic roadblock in order to secure a viable future for those who will be here the longest? D.L. Owens | Monterey Water Ways The best takeaway from this is what [Public Water Now Director] Melodie Chrislock stated at the meeting about the millions and millions Cal Am has bilked us for in unnecessary charges over the past years, vs. the $3 million we’ve spent fighting them and working toward buying them out (“The Monterey Peninsula Water Management District names its price for Cal Am’s local system,” April 6-13). That is money well spent. Get rid of these parasites. Arno Featherstone | Seaside Wow, a hardy congratulations to all those involved in keeping this moving forward. Derek Dean | via web 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 april 13-19, 2023 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 17 The Pacific Grove City Council has taken a stance against fun. Despite a lot of talk about “balance”—balancing the needs of residents and tourists, development and preservation, entertainment and quiet—the balance has fallen yet again in favor of the status quo. Specifically, City Council voted 5-2 on Wednesday, April 5 to stop a skatepark concept from proceeding on any of the prospective parcels in consideration, as staff writer Pam Marino reported. (Council unanimously agreed to remove George Washington Park from the list of prospective sites, amid a chorus of opposition. Only councilmembers Joe Amelio and Chaps Poduri voted to support ongoing discussion about a skatepark concept at one of two sites in consideration, both owned by Pacific Grove Unified School District.) The majority of council voted to take real potential sites out of the running—this stage would still have been just talks with PGUSD—and instead asked the city’s recreational staff to find a smaller site on an already paved location that will not impact nearby homes. As Councilmember Luke Coletti acknowledged, such a site is “mythical.” This is exactly what makes leadership hard: Saying yes to one person’s dream might mean saying no to someone else’s. In this case, it’s saying no to a pretty simple dream shared by hundreds of P.G. residents—including many children—to have a skatepark in town, and saying yes to someone else’s peace and quiet. The idea of a skatepark in P.G. originated with Alex White, a skateboarder and P.G. mom of two sons. In 2022, the City Council approved $158,000 in funds for planning and site selection, which began the process that culminated with the vote on April 5. That night, dozens of people spoke both in support and opposition, including White, who told council: “We must come together to honor this piece of the world so we can honor it for the next generation.” In the year since White first pitched the idea, P.G. city staff looked at multiple potential sites and conducted extensive outreach. Per a report to City Council: “Throughout this process, several sites have been assessed for feasibility. Thousands of community members have voiced their opinion via public meetings, the community survey and emails to the Recreation Board and City Council. This process has revealed that there isn’t a ‘perfect site.’” There isn’t a perfect site if you are unwilling to make somebody unhappy, and any project anywhere will make somebody unhappy. Councilmember Debby Beck acknowledged that while she was for a skatepark before she got elected, that was theoretical only—at that time, there was no specific proposal. It’s easy to say yes to an idea until somebody doesn’t like it. As Marino reported, lots of people don’t like the idea of a skatepark. They don’t like the potential for noise, or putting pavement on grass, or kids gathering, or simply of changing a patch of space they have accepted as part of their environment. That sends a clear signal. As one father said at the meeting: “My biggest concern with Pacific Grove right now is that the priorities seem to be more about the trees and the deer than the actual children of this community. The children are the future of this community and they have a voice and they should be heard.” White’s kids, 8 and 11, are frustrated that they were not heard; she says they both cried themselves to sleep after the vote. White is taking the loss in stride and says what’s next is looking to smaller concepts— instead of a neighborhood park of up to 10,000 square feet, a “skate spot” up to 5,000 square feet. She knows some of the same voices of opposition will emerge even then. “I expect some of the same rhetoric, but we’re not going anywhere,” she tells me. “I will see a skatepark in Pacific Grove one day. The fight’s not over.” Even though I don’t skate, I hope she’s right. But I have my doubts that P.G. City Council will say yes even to a smaller concept, because in the question of “balance,” not everything is weighted equally. Embracing change is hard; supporting the status quo is easy. Leadership is hard. In lots of decisions, there are winners and losers. In this case, where the status quo wins, kids are the losers. Sara Rubin is the Weekly’s editor. Reach her at sara@mcweekly.com. Skateboarding is Not a Crime …but Pacific Grove City Council seems to think it is. By Sara Rubin Battle Lines…Squid comes from a cephalopod-eat-shrimp kind of world, so Squid is used to lots of tentacle-pointing—“take that one, not me!” Of course, any notion of Squid’s that humans were better at getting along was obliterated years ago. But sometimes, Squid is still surprised by humans’ propensity to point fingers at each other. Take the unfolding saga of the Monterey County Central Democratic Committee, which you might expect to be a kumbaya gathering of progressive, politically minded people. Instead, it’s a soap opera. The group spends a disproportionate amount of its meeting time debating who is and is not a member (i.e., did they pay their dues on time?) and arguing about protocols instead of, say, strategizing about how to beat Republicans. Amid the chaos, a former party chair, Vinz Koller, on March 28 introduced a resolution that would have party members vote in April on whether to remove the current chair, Karen Araujo, from her leadership role. Removal requires a two-thirds vote—but Squid’s not sure if this group can even get a headcount. At least some of the math is already complete. Fifteen members signed a letter to U.S. Rep. Jimmy Panetta, D-Carmel Valley, asking him to get involved in the fray—Panetta, like all local Democratic elected officials, is automatically a member of the committee, and appoints an alternate to serve on his behalf. Panetta’s alternate is Koller. “Our ask of you is that you direct Vinz Koller to withdraw the resolution that has become negative fodder relative to our Democrat party in the media,” the letter reads. Panetta didn’t respond to Squid’s request for a comment; it seems he is too busy doing actual work, like trying to secure more federal funding for Pajaro. Value Plan…Luckily, Squid’s lair was spared from damage during the winter storms. While people are still cleaning up, those who discover at least $10,000 in damage are invited to file claims for property tax relief with the Monterey County Assessor’s Office. After the 2020 fires, 55 such claims translated to $11 million in reduced assessed valuation, meaning lower property taxes. This year, despite widespread damage, only 26 such claims have been filed—and in Pajaro, where 330 notices were proactively sent out, zero have so far been returned. “It surprised me that the response wasn’t as high as the fires, because it impacted such a huge area,” County Assessor Marina Camacho says. It surprises Squid too—but at the same time, it doesn’t. For a community that got hammered, and in which many people remain displaced, paperwork is likely pretty low on their list of projects. That said, Squid hopes they get around to it, and that everyone gets the relief they’re entitled to. the local spin SQUID FRY THE MISSION OF MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY IS TO INSPIRE INDEPENDENT THINKING AND CONSCIOUS ACTION, ETC. “The fight’s not over.” Send Squid a tip: squid@mcweekly.com
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