MAY 18-24, 2023 MONTEREYCOUNTYWEEKLY.COM LOCAL & INDEPENDENT FORT ORD ORDNANCE UNEARTHED 12 | POET-TURNED-RAPPER PERFORMS 29 | SOMETHING SWEET 34 Kayla Contreras at her home in Salinas, where she attends second grade remotely. Post-pandemic, most Monterey County K-12 students went back to the classroom. Some stayed remote— and plan to keep it that way. 18 By Celia Jiménez E-SCHOOL
2 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY May 18-24, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com may 18-24, 2023 • ISSUE #1816 • Established in 1988 Carly Ganley (S21 Ultra) A lineup of squid kites adds a pop of color to a sunny (and clearly windy) day at Asilomar State Beach. Monterey County photo of the week Send Etc. submissions to etcphoto@mcweekly.com; please include caption and camera info. On the cover: Kayla Contreras, 7, is a second-grade student at the Alisal Virtual Academy, and attends class from her home in Salinas. Remote school has been good for her; when she started second grade she was struggling with reading, and now reads in English and Spanish. 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 MISS OUT Sign up today at montereycountyweekly.com/mcnow
www.montereycountyweekly.com MAY 18-24, 2023 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 3 5 things you can do for your mental health 1. Value yourself Self-love is important. Treat yourself with kindness and respect and try to avoid self-criticism. Make time for your favorite hobbies or do something special for yourself. Get outside and plant a garden, get a massage, or try something new that you have always wanted to try. 2. Take care of your body When you take care of yourself physically, you also take care of yourself mentally: ❚ Eat balanced, nutritious meals ❚ Practice healthy sleep habits — studies show that lack of sleep contributes to high rates of depression ❚ Avoid smoking, drugs, and alcohol ❚ Drink plenty of water ❚ Exercise — physical activity can decrease depression and anxiety, and improve your mood ❚ Practice mindfulness — relaxation exercises and meditation can improve your state of mind and your outlook on life 3. Surround yourself with good people A support network can make all the difference. Relationships are important to our mental health. Make plans with supportive family members and friends, or seek out activities where you can meet new people, like a class or support group. 4. Set realistic goals Decide what you want to achieve and work towards your goals in steps. Whether you want to start exercising more or quit smoking, set achievable goals that will help you get there. Aim high, but be realistic and don't let setbacks keep you from your end goal. 5. Get help when you need it Seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness. If you are in need of help, Montage Health offers complete mental and behavioral health services personalized to your needs. Programs like Ohana, our inpatient and outpatient services, and substance abuse programs can help you reach a healthier future, build resiliency and confidence, and strengthen your relationships with the help of supportive professionals. Approximately one in five adults in the United States lives with a mental health disorder, according to a 2023 report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and less than half of them received mental health services. Whether or not you are currently struggling with mental health challenges, it is important to take proactive steps to take care of yourself. Here are five tips to practice every day. For more mental health services and resources visit montagehealth.org/mentalhealth
4 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY MAY 18-24, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com THE BUZZ FREE SPEECH After Palestinian American television journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was shot and killed on May 11, 2022, on assignment in the Israeli-occupied West Bank city of Jenin, nobody took responsibility for her death. Various media accounts came to the same conclusion: She was likely shot by a member of the Israeli Defense Forces. (For its part, IDF’s own analysis, completed five months later, determined there was a “high possibility” that one of its soldiers “accidentally” shot the journalist.) A new report produced one year later by the Committee to Protect Journalists reveals that Abu Akleh’s death is not an isolated event— since 2001, CPJ has documented at least 20 journalists killed by IDF. Of those, 18 were Palestinian and two were European foreign correspondents; none were Israeli. CPJ looked at some of the most violent years in the recent Israeli-Palestinian conflict, since the Second Intifada, and determined that, of media professionals killed, Israel’s Army is responsible for 80 percent of the deaths. “No one has ever been charged or held accountable for these deaths,” according to CPJ’s report. Good: With Monterey County’s agricultural sector just emerging from a devastating winter, the county is taking steps to ensure that local growers can more easily liaise with emergency responders the next time disaster strikes. The county has launched a new AG Pass Program, which it says will “provide a uniform way to identify vetted commercial agricultural operations…to frontline emergency personnel.” With an AG Pass, ag operators will be provided limited emergency access to areas that may otherwise be restricted due to floods, fires, earthquakes or other disasters. That will allow them to move, evacuate or maintain crops and livestock as necessary, as well as provide auxiliary support to emergency personnel on site. (An AG Pass does not permit harvesting of crops during an emergency, nor does it guarantee access.) The county is accepting applications for the program through May 26. GREAT: Great news for employees of Salinas Union High School District: On May 10, the district opened its 50-unit workforce housing project, which includes mostly one- and two-bedroom units and two studios at 400 and 440 Abbott St. It also includes common areas with a fitness center, and laundry room.“The opening of this project is a culmination of several months of planning, collaboration, and negotiation needed to realize the vision of having housing at a below-market rate to support the housing needs of our employees,” Superintendent Dan Burns said in a statement. Monthly rent ranges from $1,260-$1,750 and tenants will start moving in within a couple of weeks. One motivation for SUHSD is employee retention. “We have to find our own solutions to best serve our employees so they can best serve our students,” says Deneen Guss, Monterey County superintendent of schools. GOOD WEEK / GREAT WEEK THE WEEKLY TALLY The amount spent by travelers to Monterey County in 2022, a 5-percent decrease since 2019. Hotel revenue was up since the pandemic but restaurant revenue was down, according to the Monterey County Convention and Visitors Bureau. Source: Dean Runyan Associates and the MCCVB $2.95 QUOTE OF THE WEEK “This has proven to be one of the most difficult winters.” -Monterey County Agricultural Commissioner Juan Hidalgo on the impact of winter storms that caused $600 million worth of damage to 20,073 acres. That accounts for about 5.5 percent of the total crop acres in Monterey County (see story, mcweekly.com/ news). billion 146 12TH STREET • PACIFIC GROVE Daimh Pronounced “Dive”, Daimh is a Gaelic super group and unchallenged champions of Scottish Highland music who combine their Gaelic roots with a modern youthful vibe. Yes, there will be bagpipes! SUN. MAY 28•3PM Doors open at 2:30pm ADVANCE TICKETS AVAILABLE AT WWW.CELTICSOCIETY.ORG $30 ADVANCE / $35 DOOR KIDS’ PRICES ARE AVAILABLE. For additional information, Call or text 831-224-3819 for more info. www.stmarysbythesea.org ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES Stop By To Shop And Find Your Vintage Treasure OVER 100 DEALERS 21,000 SQUARE FEET The Largest Antiques and Collectibles Mall on the Central Coast 471 WAVE STREET MONTEREY (831) 655-0264 P M canneryrowantiquemall.com Open Daily 11am-6pm ’22 Voted Monterey County's Best Antique Shop
www.montereycountyweekly.com MAY 18-24, 2023 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 5 TEAM AWARDS SalinasValleyHealth.com And the winners are... NURSE OF THE YEAR Norma Coyazo, RN Labor & Delivery EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR Gael Loris Pharmacy PHYSICIAN EXCELLENCE IN SERVICE AND PROFESSIONALISM Erica Locke, MD Emergency Medicine EXEMPLAR AWARDS Israel Hester, RN Emergency Department Exemplar - Teach Elena Hermosillo, RN Outpatient Infusion Exemplar - Protect Aubree Collins, RN Labor & Delivery Exemplar - Empower Karen Mitchell, RN OP Wound Care Exemplar - Heal Genieve Fematt Human Resources Exemplar - Support Jennifer Mendoza Case Management Exemplar - Teamwork Yolanda Salazar Nutrition Services Exemplar - Accountability Eric Willson Diagnostic Imaging Exemplar - Respect Team DAISY 3rd Main Team STAR Employee Health CELEBRATING CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OUR NOMINEES! Scan this QR code to view a complete list.
6 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY MAY 18-24, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com 831 No brakes? That doesn’t trouble Alex Martin. In speedway motorcycle racing, the machines have only one gear and nothing to slow momentum other than the throttle or gravity. And Martin—an 18-year-old senior at Salinas High School—is the national under-21 champion with his eyes on a world title. He has a way of making the act of harnessing a dirt-chewing beast sound almost casual. “The framework and components are very light, so they’re easier to maneuver,” Martin explains. “But one wrong turn…” In November at Kern County Raceway in Bakersfield, Martin was thrown from his mount during the championship heat and sprawled motionless as a medical crew rushed to his aid. Moments later, he was back on the bike for the restart of the race. He jumped to the lead and held on for the title. On May 20 Martin will compete in the U21 world championship round, held in Denmark. “It would be cool to be the fifth American to win a world championship,” he says. No American has claimed the U21 world crown. The closest was Shawn Moran, who earned the U21 European championship in 1981. “It’s a little nerve-wracking, but it’s possible. I know I have the experience and I can win races.” Martin unwrapped a Yamaha as a Christmas present when he was 3 years old and has been riding ever since— often with his twin brother, Sterling, who was twice named national champion at the junior level. His interest in motorcycle racing began at an even younger age. “Growing up, my dad would mention the word ‘motorcycle.’” Martin recalls. “In his office there was a picture of him racing.” One day, Steve Martin rummaged up VHS tapes from his days on track. “I thought that was the coolest thing ever.” Speedway races are run on flat dirt ovals and it all happens fast—four riders competing over four laps, with each heat over in about a minute. Riders fling their bikes into corners in a controlled slide. There’s no time to recover from a mistake. But the format quickly becomes routine. The machines themselves take some getting used to. “It’s not the easiest sport to get your hands on, but I make do with what I have,” Martin says, adding that it took two racing seasons for him to learn to anticipate how his bike would react as it skidded in the turns and regained grip. “A lot of it comes down to knowing where the traction is going to be,” he points out. “When I get in the zone, all I see is the checkered flag.” His mother, Margaret D’Arrigo Martin, says she worries more about other riders spilling in front of Martin than him crashing out on his own. (In Bakersfield, another rider was judged to have caused the crash, which led officials to start the race over.) “Alex has always had good control,” D’Arrigo Martin observes. “He’s really smooth in the turns.” When Sterling Martin decided to stop racing a couple of years ago after a successful run, Alex Martin begin finding his groove. He won a national long track title and set his sights on the U21 trophy. When he won in Bakersfield, a month before his 18th birthday, news spread quickly through the speedway ranks. It’s not a mainstream sport in the U.S., however; his achievement trickled into Salinas. When his classmates heard about it, they became curious. Other students would approach him asking, “Are you a national champion?” But speedway has a tremendous following elsewhere—particularly in central and northern Europe. Martin traveled to Poland in advance of the Denmark event to train. He also visited Europe last year to work with coaches and run with some of the world’s best. Martin hopes to catch the attention of a European-based team so he can turn professional. If the opportunity doesn’t come this year, he will attend Chico State and continue his amateur speedway career. His near future will become clearer on Saturday, May 20 on a dirt oval in Vojens, Denmark. But Martin already knows what he’s doing after the race. “The day after the world championship I fly back and get ready for graduation,” he says. Speedway Racer Alex Martin is about to graduate high school, but first he’s trying for a world championship. By Dave Faries “You build a bond with your bike,” says Alex Martin, who at 18 is a national champion in speedway and is competing for a world title. He got his first motorcycle as a toddler. “Anything on a bike, I’ll try,” he adds. “When I get in the zone, all I see is the checkered flag.” TALES FROM THE AREA CODE PETE RICHMOND Local People, Local Bank Banking is better when it’s locally sourced. You receive personal attention from local experts, access to decision makers, and exceptional customer service. If you’d like some fresh ideas on how to grow your business, contact us. Our team is ready to serve you.
www.montereycountyweekly.com MAY 18-24, 2023 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 7 What a family-run senior living community feels like. (831) 718-9041 merrillgardensmonterey.com 200 Iris Canyon Rd Monterey, CA 93940 M O N T E R E Y Lic #275202591 Your favorite blanket: time-tested, cozy, and a great place to be. Sounds just like our community. Please call for more information. Then prepare for warmth and comfort all year round. Proud to be part of Merrill Gardens | Celebrating 30 Years ∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙ MERRILL GARDENS ∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙ EST. 1993 Celebrating 30 years 3 Call To Schedule A Tour Today! Prevention, Education, Treatment & Recovery serving youth, adults and families in Monterey County Big Tobacco continues to lie, cheat, and fool people into a lifetime of addiction, disease and death. TAKE ACTION TOWARDS A HEALTHIER, MORE EQUITABLE FUTURE Support youth prevention services www.SunStreetCenters.org TOWN HALL - TUESDAY, MAY 30, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monterey Conference Center, One Portola Plaza and virtually on Zoom - link posted at: haveyoursaymonterey.org/rentalinventory "Rental Inventory Monterey" Town Hall The City of Monterey is considering establishment of a rental housing inventory database AND WE NEED YOUR INPUT! WHO SHOULD PARTICIPATE 1) Renters 2) Property Owners 3) Property Managers Hosted by the City of Monterey Call 831.646.3885 or email suggest@monterey.org with questions https://haveyoursaymonterey.org/rentalinventory City Council is working on a plan for affordable housing in Monterey. Let's work together to make it happen. WHY
8 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY may 18-24, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com news Casey Printing—the King City-based commercial printer which operates one of the last publication-style printing presses on the Central Coast—has been sold and will continue to operate under new ownership. Anaheim-based printing, mailing and marketing firm Advantage ColorGraphics acquired the company in March from the Casey family, five generations of which had operated the printer since its founding in 1901. The family also launched the King City Rustler that year, which continues to print at the Casey facility, as do other local and regional newspapers, magazines and catalogs. Former owner Rich Casey tells the Weekly that while Advantage purchased the company and its equipment, the Casey family continues to own the 40,000-square-foot King City printing plant, which it is leasing to Advantage. The new owner is also retaining Casey Printing’s roughly 35-person staff, which still includes members of the Casey family. “Their plan is to keep running it in King City like it has been since 1901,” says Casey, who declined to share financial details of the transaction. “We couldn’t have asked for a better scenario than selling our company to them. They have the deep pockets to really invest in the company and keep it strong.” Despite the ongoing decline of the print publishing industry, Casey insists that the company continues to be profitable, noting that 2022 was the “best year that we’ve had in 10 years” business-wise. He adds that Casey Printing has thousands of customers nationally—producing everything from California voter guides and sample ballots, to university course schedules, to corporate business cards. Press On After 122 years, King City’s family-run Casey Printing is now under new ownership. By Rey Mashayekhi Six unhoused families promised homes are facing continued homelessness, and 16 previously unhoused families living at the 55-unit Pueblo del Mar sober living community in Marina—the only one of its kind in California—are in danger of returning to the streets, after the Housing Authority of the County of Monterey lost funding for rental support from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. HACM owns the property, and for 25 years, the nonprofit Sun Street Centers has provided support services. Now, all that may be coming to an end. On May 9, HACM officials informed Sun Street’s CEO, Anna Foglia, that all referrals to the community for future tenants were suspended and that HUD rental support for current tenants will end June 30. Tenants pay one-third of their income and HUD pays the rest; the average tenant pays in the range of $300 to $400 a month. Just weeks earlier, Sun Street had approved the six families to move into vacant townhomes. Those approvals were put on hold and Sun Street had to stop processing applications for other families on a waiting list. The families who are currently living there—all headed by a parent who recently completed substance use disorder treatment and was subsequently reunited with their children—are left wondering if they will have a place to live on July 1. One—a single mother with two children—just moved there in March. “I was homeless and struggling completely before moving in here and I was so excited and grateful to finally have a safe place to reunify with two of my kids,” she wrote in a letter that Foglia is forwarding to the Monterey County Board of Supervisors. Foglia says HACM was informed by HUD last fall that, because occupancy at Pueblo had fallen below a certain level, the development of townhomes was losing its eligibility for federal rental support. Foglia believes HACM had not been filling units because many were in need of rehabilitation—they were previously used as military housing on the former Fort Ord, which closed in 1994. The Monterey County Behavioral Health Department recently applied for a state grant to rehabilitate the units; an answer is expected later this summer. In the meantime, a collaboration of county agencies and nonprofit organizations has been searching for alternative funding sources, says Monterey County Supervisor Wendy Root Askew, who represents the Fourth District where Pueblo is located. “There are some significant challenges facing this property, but I am confident that our partners are committed to finding solutions that meet the affordable housing needs of the families,” she says. HACM Executive Director Zulieka Boykin did not respond to questions by the Weekly’s deadline. In a written report to the HACM Board of Directors on April 24, Boykin described meetings with local agencies searching for a solution as productive. She painted an optimistic picture of possible bridge funding to keep it open. Something changed between April 24 and May 9, and that has Foglia worried. She is perplexed over why unhoused families are being left without a place to live and 16 families with homes may become homeless again. “It’s traumatizing and it’s cruel,” she says. “I’m hopeful we can work on long-term solutions as a team.” Amy Otten walks through her old neighborhood, Pueblo del Mar in Marina. She says the sober living community helped her be successful in recovery and rebuild her life. No Home Again Families are left in the dark after the housing authority says it must close their community. By Pam Marino Former Casey Printing owner Rich Casey says publishing industry headwinds were not behind his family’s decision to sell their 122-year-old King City printing business to Advantage ColorGraphics. “It’s traumatizing and it’s cruel.” Daniel Dreifuss Daniel Dreifuss
www.montereycountyweekly.com MAY 18-24, 2023 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 9
10 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY may 18-24, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com Greenhouses, agricultural properties and homes are all mixed together in the unincorporated North County community of Royal Oaks. County officials say they discovered an illegal convergence of these things on the 1100 block of San Miguel Canyon Road, at Ruvalcaba Nursery, where they found 62 small, makeshift dwellings inside of two buildings, one of which is a greenhouse. More than 200 people, including children, were living there. “The unpermitted housing has serious implications for life, health and safety, and we are working with the property owner to address these concerns,” reads a statement from the Monterey County administrative office. County spokesperson Nick Pasculli says they received complaints about the issues there, triggering a multi-agency investigation. Code enforcement officials issued a red tag on May 3, prompting an evacuation of the dwellings, and a citation was issued on May 10, with orders to apply for a permit to demolish the structures. Investigating agencies include the District Attorney’s Office, Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Department of Labor. “The Sheriff’s Office is collaborating with its county partners on this humanitarian situation,” says Undersheriff Keith Boyd. Officials are fuzzy on details since the investigation is ongoing, but say more than 200 residents were impacted. Most are Spanish or Mexican Indigenous language speakers, county officials say, and most work in agriculture. (It’s unclear whether they worked at Ruvalcaba Nursery or at other locations.) Tenants told authorities they paid up to $2,000 in monthly rent. Authorities say there was little ventilation, lack of operable windows and no proper plumbing, bathrooms or kitchens, nor heat or smoke detectors. One of the buildings has only one exit, though the required minimum is two. “There’s a tremendous amount of dampness throughout” Pasculli adds, noting a problem with mold. The county is fining the property owners, Nicolas and Ana Ruvalcaba, $59,600 per day as long as violations continue, and to pay relocation assistance to displaced tenants—two months of market-rate rent. “It’s not a suggestion. It’s an order,” Pasculli says. (Representatives of Ruvalcaba Nursery declined to comment.) County officials are also offering assistance to the tenants. As to where they will go next, the North Monterey County Unified School District’s Family Resource Center and Coalition of Homeless Service Providers are providing assistance. From what did human life evolve from some 700 million years ago? Sponges, or comb jellies? This has long been a vexing question for scientists, but perhaps no longer: In a paper published May 17 in the scientific journal Nature, evidence uncovered by a team of researchers at UC Berkeley, UC Santa Cruz, the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) and the University of Vienna shows a definitive answer—comb jellies, aka ctenophores (the c is silent). This discovery was achieved by mapping genomes going back 1 billion years to get a clear picture of what genes existed in that time, so as to understand the divergence in the tree of life, and fundamental questions about evolution. So what does this mean? Darrin Schultz, who was previously a graduate student researcher at MBARI and UC Santa Cruz and is now a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Vienna, says that is where the human branch in that tree developed neurons and muscles. Previously, it was assumed that sponges, which lack both of those things, were the earliest known ancestors to human life. A statement MBARI put out about the groundbreaking study reads: “The team compares this event to a genetic fork in the road of evolution that happened hundreds of millions of years ago. One lone single-celled organism, the ancestor of all animals, was traveling along that road with its two offspring. One child, which would evolve into comb jellies as we know them today, took one path. As it evolved, the genes on its chromosomes stayed in a specific order and did not change much.” Schultz, who is currently living in Vienna, puts it into perspective for those who live alongside Monterey Bay. “All the animals we used were collected in Monterey Bay,” he says. “You can go anywhere out on the beach, and all of these things are in [your] backyard. All of the unanswered secrets to life are all out there in Monterey Bay.” One Roof Authorities discover over 200 people living in unpermitted housing in North County. By Celia Jiménez news Sailing Onward The U.S. Navy is now accepting public input on the environmental assessment for a proposed Naval Innovation Center at Naval Support Activity Monterey, the installation where NPS is located. The proposed center would facilitate collaboration for applied research solutions with new technologies by partnering with the maritime industry. Comment deadline is May 31. Read more and submit comments at nicmontereyea.com. Parenting Plan The Parenting Connection of Monterey County is bringing back an eight-week class to help boost parenting skills and confidence and strengthen an emotional connection with your child. The class is bilingual, in English and Spanish. 6:30-8pm Thursdays May 18-July 6. In person at 1212 Riker St., Salinas, or via Zoom. Free. 647-3333, parentingconnectionmc.org. City Updates Chat with the city of Monterey’s top staffer and get an update on city news during Monterey Mornings with the Manager. It’s a live, virtual update with Hans Uslar, where the city manager will share current programs, policies and issues affecting the community. Get information about the economy and an overview of recent and upcoming City Council discussions and decisions. 9:30am Wednesday, May 24. Free. 6463799. youtube.com/cityofmonterey. Memory Making Fun crafts projects for seniors are happening every month in Greenfield. This month, you’re invited to a Memorial Art Workshop, where you can make memory pillows. Bring your own shirts, ties, handkerchiefs, and photos you would like to use. All other materials will be provided. 2pm Wednesday, May 24. Patriot Park Community Center, 1351 Oak Ave, Greenfield. Free. 277-0514, ci.greenfield.ca.us. Swim Sports The summer season is just around the corner. Get ready to enjoy time at the beach or pool by taking swimming lessons. King City’s recreation department offers a variety of water fun and activities for all ages and abilities. Sign-ups start this month, and events kick off in June. Registration is now open. King City Recreation Department, 401 Division St., King City. $3-$4/entrance fee; $100-$300/season passes; $20-$50/ swim lessons. 385-6748, kingcityrecreation.com. Fork of Life Local scientists have answered a longstanding question: What are our oldest ancestors? By David Schmalz The entrance to Ruvalcaba Nursery in Royal Oaks, where local and federal agencies are investigating unpermitted housing where more than 200 people were living. e-mail: publiccitizen@mcweekly.com TOOLBOX Tenants told authorities they paid up to $2,000 in monthly rent. celia Jiménez
www.montereycountyweekly.com MAY 18-24, 2023 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 11 15% OFF* any repairs to all First Responders, Active Military, and Veterans *Max Savings $100. Excludes tires and can’t be combined with other offers. Expires 5/31/22 831-233-3263 1730 The Mall | Seaside SULLIVANSAUTOSERVICE.COM We Salute You WE BRING OUR MOBILE SHOWROOM TO YOU! We are the #1 Customer Rated In-Home Flooring Company in America. Locally Owned and Operated. Mention this ad to get $250 OFF of your proposal Visit FloorMB.com to learn more Fully licensed and insured CSLB# 1051783 Call 831-583-8031 to make an appointment! and more! WATER MATTERS MPWMD.NET Tune Up Your Irrigation and Save. Check for wear and tear: Inspect the system for leaks, popped emitters, damaged or blocked sprinkler heads, blocked sprinkler patterns and overspray onto impermeable surfaces such as roads and sidewalks. Check the controller: Clean, check the settings for Wednesdays and/or Saturdays only before 9 am or after 5 pm, and replace the backup battery. Check the valves to be sure they are working properly and not leaking. Check water pressure: Make sure water pressure is in the recommended range between 40-65 psi. Rebates are available for MPWMD and Cal-Am residences/businesses for weather-based or smart irrigation controllers, soil moisture sensors, lawn removal, rotating sprinkler nozzles, and cisterns. Visit montereywaterinfo.org for information.
12 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY May 18-24, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com On Friday, April 21, the day before Earth Day, staff from the Marina Coast Water District and other volunteers were planting trees at Hilltop Park in Marina. The park, which is not really a park yet, is just a stone’s throw away from nearby houses in the Dunes development—it was conceived to be part of that development. Around 11am, just before the planting event was set to end, a Marina Coast employee uncovered ordnance—a potentially explosive device— while digging. That piece of ordnance, says MCWD General Manager Rem Scherzinger, was then moved to a pile of scrap metal—rebar, car shocks—and other debris uncovered throughout the morning’s event, during which staff and volunteers put almost 900 trees and plants in the ground. Scherzinger thought it might be a hazard, and asked someone to call the local Base Realignment and Closure office. John Short, deputy chief of the CSU Monterey Bay Police Department, soon arrived at the scene. Tom Moore, a Marina Coast board member who served for 30 years in the Army, says it is “a little bit surprising” that ordnance was found at the site, because it was “never a firing point or a place anyone shot at.” Moore recalls that there were military exercises decades ago—World War II era, he presumes—when ships in Monterey Bay would fire rounds into Fort Ord, and says some of them could be buried 20 feet deep in sandy soil. Munitions removal continues on large swaths of the former Fort Ord. But there was never an unexploded ordnance (UXO) clearance of the Hilltop site, which the Army conveyed to the city of Marina in 2006. Jason No, a community outreach specialist with Chenega, a private contractor now administering the cleanup operations at Fort Ord, says there was no initial evidence of, or any reason to think there would be, UXO on the site, “so it was determined a munitions cleanup was not necessary.” In this case, the ordnance was not explosive—a determination Short made on site—so the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad was never notified. Nor was Chenega—it was only when the Weekly started asking questions that No learned it happened. Ditto for the Marina Police Department. “With these properties, once we transfer to a local jurisdiction, they’re not obligated to tell us if they find anything,” No says. “But we do ask them to do that.” No says a Chenega mechanical specialist, looking at a photo of the ordnance, thinks it was the propulsion part of a 3.5-inch rocket from the Korean War or Vietnam War era. In other words, there was no longer any explosive attached to it. But there is always the possibility that more UXO is out there—about 10 to 15 years ago, No recalls, someone in northeast Marina dug up two live hand grenades in their backyard, and on April 19, the county bomb squad responded to a report of ordnance dug up at 8th Street and Second Avenue in Marina. It turned out to be just a piece of foam made to look like ordnance, once used for training. Bomb Away Ordnance was uncovered in Marina on land long ago cleared by the Army. How did that happen? By David Schmalz The ordnance uncovered by a Marina Coast Water District employee on a treeplanting event April 21 was not explosive, fortunately. NEWS “It was determined a munitions cleanup was not necessary.” COURTESY OF MARINA PD Come see the most luxurious mattresses in California. VISIT OUR SHOWROOM faCtory priCes direCt to Consumers. any day by appointment 26384 Carmel Rancho Ln., #103 Carmel-by-the-Sea 831.899.5464 monterey-mattress.com CAN YOU SOLVE THE MYSTERY BEFORE TIME RUNS OUT? Follow the rabbit. Rob the bank. Travel through time to save the world....and many more. A 60 minute adventure, 9 rooms to choose from each with a different theme. Great for birthdays or special events. Kid friendly. All locations surrounded by great local restaurants. 4 MONTEREY LOCATIONS 765 Wave St, Ste A2 • 599 Lighthouse Ave • 700 Cannery Row, Ste DD and Oscar’s Playground 685 Cannery Row 831.241.6616 BOOK TODAY! Escaperoom831.com Voted Monterey County’s Best Place For a Birthday Party Two Years in a Row ’22
www.montereycountyweekly.com MAY 18-24, 2023 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 13 Normalcy is slowly returning to Pajaro, with traffic on Salinas Street, open restaurants and bustle on the sidewalks. For Pajaro Middle School students, however, routine won’t return for the upcoming school year. On May 8, parents received a letter with updates on the school reopening. “To ensure the return to a healthy work and learning environment, next school year (2023-24) PMS will undergo construction and repair work that will render it unusable,” it reads. It also shared the plans for current and upcoming Panthers—students now at Hall and Ohlone elementary schools will stay at the same campus for sixth grade, and PMS students in seventh and eighth grade will continue to attend Lakeview Middle School in Watsonville. Two days later, on May 10, the Pajaro Valley Unified School District board voted to provide three relocation days for PMS teachers to set up their classrooms at their new location. In total, four teachers will relocate. Previously, Superintendent Michelle Rodriguez said they were hoping to reopen PMS for the 2023-2024 school year. However, once preliminary reports from Servpro (a clean-up and restoration company based in San Francisco) came in, they found out the damage was greater than initially expected, says Alicia Jimenez, PVUSD public information officer. “The gym did not look damaged, it didn’t look like it was impacted, but when they did the internal evaluation of the site they found a lot of mold that had slipped through,” Jimenez says, adding that all floors in the school will be replaced. The district has spent $2.8 million on cleaning so far. While restoration continues at PMS, students now attending Lakeview Middle School say they don’t feel welcome and are being bullied due to being from Pajaro. In addition, their school bus is arriving up to 30 minutes late to school. (Classes start at 8am.) Jimenez says the district, like many others, doesn’t have enough bus drivers to transport students to school and that’s why there are delays. Julia Santos, who lives in Las Lomas, says bullying has increased exponentially from once a month to three times a week. Her daughter Giselle Orozco, 13, gets scared when her friends get bullied. “She comes home scared,” Santos says in Spanish. “I’ve seen videos. I haven’t reported it because my daughter hasn’t been in a fight.” LMS and PMS students start classes and have breaks at different times. Santos says they will be on the same schedule next school year, but she worries that will not fix things. “If they take their breaks and lunch simultaneously, the problem will worsen,” she says. Jimenez says bullying is a common issue at all school sites, adding that staff mediates these issues between students. Once the assessments and cleaning are completed at Pajaro Middle, the district will start planning to repair, design and reconstruct the school. Jimenez says the district expects to reopen PMS for the 2024-2025 school year. School’s Out Pajaro Middle will remain closed for the next school year; students endure bullying at their new school. By Celia Jiménez Cleaning and assessment is still ongoing at Pajaro Middle School. Reconstruction and renovation at the school is expected to take at least 18 months. NEWS “Construction and repair work will render it unusable.” DANIEL DREIFUSS 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!
14 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY MAY 18-24, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com FREEDOM OF SPEECH Wow. Where does Sara Rubin think she lives? North Korea? What a shame that she works for the media but doesn’t know basic First Amendment rights (“Self-appointed ‘First Amendment auditors’ put local governments on edge,” May 11-17). She is an example why citizens can’t trust the media. Know our rights!!! Ben Kendall | Farmington, New Mexico Oh dear, you are out of your depth when it comes to the Constitution. You have made yourself look a fool. Karen Baker | via email Stick to the facts and stop making up lies. We already have enough bad journalists out to do the bidding of their bosses, if you want true integrity in your articles, keep your narrative to yourself. Do better! You’re fighting an unwinnable fight! John Slade | via email Wow! You clearly are 100% bias, unreasonable, anti first amendment and quite frankly borderline ignorant. Is staggering to read your lies! You fail to mention that the same security cameras that are filming our public servants and the taxpayers does not seem to bother them, however there are available to the public thru a public information request and can be published anywhere. Sad excuse of reporter you are Ms. Sara. Good thing is that 30 to 40 years more I believe you the Media will be fading away and extinguishing from society, your lies have short legs and cannot outrun the truth. Luckily, we auditors will be pushing the truth about you on every platform until it goes viral. We are going to make sure even your mother and neighbor know the liar manipulative unreliable and fake news you are. Diego Bauzil | via email Well for a educated person, your pretty dumb on THE CONSTITUTION! The FIRST AMENDMENT gives us the right of the people to film from public property! So who owns City Hall? In case you don’t know, the people do! Maybe you should read THE CONSTITUTION and learn your right granted to us, in THE CONSTITUTION! David Cravens | via email I think Sara summed up what most of the public thinks about these “auditors.” It’s pretty obvious that they are simply there to make a YouTube video. They make money off not only ad revenues but the people who decide to hand over their hard-earned cash to people who simply abuse the First Amendment for clicks and views. It’s entertainment and not about fighting for our rights. What’s even sadder is this publication and the writer will now be attacked and harassed by these loyal followers for simply having a different opinion than theirs. It’s ironic that they believe in the freedom of speech so strongly but only if it’s agreeing with them. At the end of the day auditors and their subscribers think it’s entertaining and fun to abuse, stalk and make people feel uncomfortable for simply doing their job. It’s a shame that we have fallen so much as a society that this is an acceptable form of entertainment. Harlie Courts | via web I’m glad a real journalist is exposing a fake one. Good job! Malo Reyes | via web Excellent article! She nails what frauditors are all about. Bullying, harassment, etc., all to provoke a confrontation. They don’t care about rights. They care about clicks and views so they can make YouTube ad money and e-beg for donations and paid subscribers. I appreciate your addressing this topic, as frauditing has exploded in the last year or so, and it’s getting worse. Thank you, again, Sara. There are WAY more of us who are on your side than his. We have your back! Keep up the good work! Karen Schuldt | Binghamton, New York ON THE ROW I want to share the story behind Cannery Row Plaza (“Hurdles remain in developing Cannery Row’s last vacant property—but now we know who owns it,” May 11-17). It isn’t just about making money or following some generic business plan. No, it is something much more personal and meaningful to me. Growing up, my dad was always working, and we seldom spent quality time together. The only time we did was on Cannery Row where we created memories that have lasted a lifetime. Cannery Row is a masterpiece of interpersonal connections and relational development, but it is missing something. This 28-year failed project has left a gaping hole in the middle of this masterpiece. That’s why I pour my heart and soul into creating Cannery Row Plaza—to complete this beautiful painting of relationships and memories to make it even better than before. Bob Faulis | Monterey Note: Faulis is a principal of Ruby Falls Fund, LLC. LIGHTS UP Thank you for this spirited story about the theater coming back to life! (“Lighthouse Cinema in Pacific Grove is back, and the owners are optimistic about movie theaters,” posted May 12.) Yes to homemade cookies and scones and wine and hopefully Fellini films and Lina Wetmuller and Steve Martin and Tarsem Singh’s The Fall and yes to it all! Barbara Mossberg | via email FAREWELL TO A LEGEND That was a really sweet, well written story about a brave, strong man who, from your story, obviously cared about people in the world (“With Joe Kapp’s death, Salinas loses a famous native son,” posted May 10). And he made an impact through his actions. I am a Cal alum. I heard his name a bit, but I did not know any details about him. I did not know he came from this area. I appreciate learning about the people and history of my now hometown. Thank you. Berj Amir | Seaside PIXIE DUST It was a great concert (“The Pixies rock out at Monterey’s Golden State Theatre,” posted May 8). Heard it sold out the day tickets went on sale. Gretchen Vogelgesang Lester | San Juan Bautista 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 may 18-24, 2023 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 15 We publish an issue of Monterey County Weekly every Thursday, and an edition of our e-newsletter, Monterey County NOW, every day. Some stories prompt a lot of response and some just a little. But only once in my time as a journalist at a local newspaper has a story prompted doxxing, an organized online harassment campaign. That’s what happened Thursday, May 11, when we published a story about a YouTuber called “Anthony X,” a self-proclaimed “First Amendment auditor.” He and other such “auditors” walk into government buildings with cameras, provoke municipal employees into conflict, then document said conflict to show alleged overreactions, sometimes resulting in a call to the police. I guess it shouldn’t come as a surprise that upon revealing this behavior, the same antics were unleashed on the Weekly. Within hours of publication, the phones started ringing incessantly. It turned out Anthony X had decided to make a video about me, urging his followers to do what he usually asks them to do—to call or email to log their complaints. While he asks—with what sounds in his voice like a wink and a nod—to be cordial, a small sampling of calls and emails, most anonymous, shows they are anything but. “You are a CERTIFIED PIECE OF DOG SHIT!!” reads one email from an address belonging to the name Bad Mother F*. “FUCK YOU UGLY BITCH!!!” Sexism seems to be pretty on brand for these messengers. One man who I spoke to on the phone called me “honey” then “toots.” Per one voicemail: “Maybe do hair or something, because you’re a shitty reporter.” Many emailers and callers go on to caution me that this will follow me forever (yep, everything on the internet is forever, I know) and some take on a vaguely threatening tone (“now we all know you”). One emailer took an anti-Semitic approach, with a note that reads: “Sara=nasty Jew,” going on to deny the Holocaust and accuse Israel of the 9/11 attacks. The expression of anger is overwhelming, and obviously it’s meant to incite. But it’s also quite ironic coming from a group of people who claim to be heroes of the First Amendment—you’d think that they would respect a newspaper’s right to publish a story they don’t like. An organized online campaign to harass journalists is not championing free speech. It’s exactly the opposite. And the Weekly has a proud history of fighting for transparency. We’ve gone to court (and prevailed) over the right to publish information from government agencies. We request and obtain government records with regularity, sometimes requiring a fight. What we try not to do is make the story about ourselves, although sometimes things unfold that way, such as when the city of Greenfield sued us in 2018 in a failed attempt to block us from publishing a story. First Amendment auditors are the story—they walk into a space ready to stir up trouble, then when trouble comes, they act as though they’ve revealed something. “Overall I’d like to think of myself as a peaceful and relaxed individual however your method of reporting in my opinion is honestly one-sided,” Anthony X wrote to me—disingenuous, given that I told him the story was coming and interviewed him before it ran. Basic journalistic principles at work. (And entirely inconsistent with his style.) I got a crash course in this largely virtual world of people who claim to be protecting us from our government. Fortunately, I also got a crash course in the world of people who are striving to reveal these “frauditors” for who they are— they inhabit their own YouTube world. (Per one commenter, the term “frauditor” was coined by a woman named Kate from the Masshole Report channel. The “Frauditor Follies” channel covered this story, aiming to expose Anthony X and his doxxing campaign against a newspaper.) “I’m glad you wrote that article and I wish more legitimate journalists would cover these pests who harass public employees and police,” writes Mary Carter from the state of Washington. My fear is that in our increasingly polarized world, the people who most need to hear the truth are not even willing or able to listen. Sara Rubin is the Weekly’s editor. Reach her at sara@mcweekly.com. Fighting Words A group who claims to care about free speech harasses the Weekly. By Sara Rubin Piping Hot…Squid doesn’t watch much reality TV— tuning into local city council meetings with a bucket full of shrimp-flavored popcorn scratches that same itch—but Squid is aware of Bravo’s Real Housewives franchise (Squid lives in a lair, not under a rock). Squid sometimes even gets updates on the various personalities and dramas—Squid’s rainbow-colored fish friend Cindy (technically Cindy is a rose-veiled fairy wrasse, look it up) is really into it. So Squid took notice when Squid oozed over to Elroy’s Fine Foods recently, only to see a front door display of coffee mugs bearing the words “Real Housewives of Carmel,” “Real Housewives of Cachagua,” “Real Housewives of Big Sur,” etc. Squid wasn’t aware that Bravo had launched so many local editions of the franchi—Oh. Right. This is unofficial fan merch, also available on Etsy for $15.99. Now Squid knows what to get Cindy for Cindy’s birthday. And actually, come to think of it, Squid would watch a Real Housewives of Del Rey Oaks. Just imagine the drama that could unfold as ladies that lunch find themselves on opposite sides of a debate over the Fort Ord Regional Trail and Greenway…write in if you want to brainstorm, Andy Cohen. On Brand…Speaking of brand identity, Squid has been impressed lately by the county government’s emphasis on branding. On Tuesday, May 16, the Board of Supervisors revisited Board Policy G-140, “to implement standards for the use of the official emblem of the County of Monterey.” (In case you were wondering, the board already took up the issue of whether it’s called Monterey County or the County of Monterey—it’s the latter—back in April.) The 30-page G-140 policy document, still in progress, starts with a proclamation: “Upholding design standards will be paramount to building awareness of and bringing credibility to the county’s brand, of what we stand for and the work we do.” There are all sorts of details—like the minimum emblem width of 1.25 inches and at least 2 inches of white space around it, plus a color palette of full-color, grayscale and gold options—that, purportedly, contribute to aiding the county’s credibility. Meanwhile, there are roughly 100 people out of a place to live because county code enforcement officers, acting on a tip, discovered illegal dwellings in North County (see story, p. 10). Squid wonders if the color palette makes those residents feel better or worse about the same government agency’s enforcement of safety regulations that also, in effect, enforce homelessness. Maybe as long as their correspondence comes in open sans typeface (or allowable alternates Helvetica or Arial Unicode MS), it will temper the blow. But probably not. the local spin SQUID FRY THE MISSION OF MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY IS TO INSPIRE INDEPENDENT THINKING AND CONSCIOUS ACTION, ETC. “I wish more legitimate journalists would cover these pests.” Send Squid a tip: squid@mcweekly.com
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