10 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY JUNE 1-7, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com The life of a family of five changed instantly after Lucía Godínez Martínez was struck by a stray bullet on Saturday, May 20 when she was cooking breakfast for her kids. She is still recovering at the hospital and her husband Jose Rodriguez is taking care of her. “She’s getting better little by little,” Rodriguez says in Spanish. “I wish it were a dream.” Two others were shot midmorning outside of the family’s apartment on Garner Avenue in Salinas. A 20-year-old man who police have not named and 21-year-old Christian Jimenez were shot; Jimenez died from his injuries. Salinas Police say it seems both men were targeted, and that neither has gang ties. The bullet that struck Martínez in her apartment is believed to have been accidental. Within six days of the triple shooting, police arrested two suspects: Abel Juan Perez, 25, and Ivan Jovani Barriga, 19. Perez was arrested at a home in Gonzales, and Barriga in a traffic stop. Both men have entered a plea of not guilty to charges of murder and attempted murder. Court documents filed by the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office allege Perez committed these crimes on behalf of a Norteño criminal street gang. In February, Perez was charged with a felony count of obstructing and resisting an officer, and three misdemeanor charges: battery on an officer, resisting an officer and vandalism. On April 6, a Monterey County Superior Court judge issued a two-year restraining order against Perez, forbidding him from coming within 100 yards of a woman who claimed he had been violent toward her, and granting her full care and control of their French bulldog, Princess. That order also forbid Perez from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition. The other suspect, Barriga, has no documented history in Monterey County Superior Court. Rodriguez says he hasn’t followed the case: “I’m focused on my wife’s recovery.” Rodriguez and his wife are farm workers who pick strawberries; he stopped working to take care of her. Martínez is not expected to regain her ability to walk due to paralysis from her injuries. Their children, ages 5 to 17, are Juan, Jesus and Omar. As of press time, the family has raised $11,044 via a GoFundMe campaign (bit.ly/luciagodinez2023). “The medical bills are piling up,” the GoFundMe page reads. “Her family is struggling to make ends meet, and they are desperate for any assistance they can get.” Monterey County’s already shoddy roads are feeling further strain from this winter’s storms—leading to more potholes that are damaging cars and spurring resident complaints. In the first four-plus months of the year, the county recorded 666 requests to patch up potholes on its roads— nearly three times as many as it did during the same period last year, according to county Public Works Director Randell Ishii. “Generally, the formation of potholes increases in rainy weather [compared to] the rate of formation when the weather is dry,” Ishii says, citing the impact of this winter’s torrential atmospheric rivers. He adds that county maintenance crews have been “working extended hours and weekend shifts” to patch up as many stormdamaged roads as they can. What’s more, there has been an uptick in legal claims filed against Monterey County by drivers seeking compensation for potholerelated damage to their vehicles. There have been 24 such claims filed in 2023, compared to only 11 in all of 2022, according to the County Counsel’s office. Yet every one of those claims across the last two years were rejected, meaning the county didn’t have to pay a penny. As the County Counsel notes, the law requires that Monterey County be on notice of a condition before it can be liable for such damage. In each of the cases, apparently, it was not. That’s to the frustration of residents like David Tadman of Soledad, who filed a claim after a pothole on River Road near Chualar damaged a tire and rim on his 2021 BMW Alpina, costing him roughly $4,500. Tadman says that stretch of River Road has been in poor condition for years, and that he’s taken up the issue with Supervisor Chris Lopez. (Lopez’s office confirmed his complaint.) “I’m not very happy about that position,” Tadman says of the county’s denial of his claim. “I pay a lot of taxes and expect to have a good, safe, driving-condition road, and I don’t.” Shots Fired A shooting in Salinas leaves one dead, two injured and a family in survival mode. By Celia Jiménez and Sara Rubin NEWS CLEANUP CREW Keep Pacific Grove beautiful, and volunteer to help clean up Chautauqua Hall. A group will be weeding, pruning, and raking leaves. Gloves and tools are provided, but you can bring your own tools too. 10am Thursday, June 1. Chautauqua Hall, 16th Street and Central Avenue, Pacific Grove. Free. 648-3130, acolony@cityofpacificgrove.org, bit.ly/ ChautauquaHallCleanup. DIGITAL DIVIDE The Monterey Bay Economic Partnership, Central Coast Broadband Consortium, state Department of Technology and the California Public Utilities Commission host a public workshop on digital access and equity. Learn about efforts to expand internet access and weigh in. 9am-1:30pm Friday, June 2. CSUMB Student Center, 4314 6th Ave., Seaside. Free. mbep.biz/events. WORK FORCE A job fair will take place in Pajaro to support flood victims. The Monterey County Workforce Development Board is teaming up with the workforce board from Santa Cruz County to showcase job openings in the Pajaro Valley area. About 20 businesses that are currently hiring will be available for questions and information. 1pm Wednesday, June 7. Our Lady of the Assumption Church, 100 Salinas Road, Pajaro. Free. 597-4375, montereycountywdb.org. PARK PLAYS The city of Seaside is preparing a Parks & Recreation Master Plan as a blueprint for park and open-space improvements, and is asking for community input. Attend an open house to learn more about the process and provide your ideas and feedback on the future of Seaside’s parks, open spaces and recreation programs. 6pm Thursday, June 8. Oldemeyer Center, 986 Hilby Ave., Seaside. Free. 899-6821, ci.seaside.ca.us/797/ParksRecreation-Master-Plan. READING CHALLENGE Sign up for the Summer Reading Club at your local MCFL branch. This year’s theme is “Find Your Voice @ the Library” and programs start on June 14. There’s fun for the whole family. Complete a reading log (for youth) or a bingo card (for teens and adults) to win a free prize, and attend free programs and workshops throughout the summer. Or register and participate online at emcfl.beanstack.com/reader365. Monterey County Free Libraries branches or virtually. Free. 869-2960, bit.ly/ MCFLSummerReadingChallenge2023. Road Rage Storm-damaged county roads lead to more complaints, legal claims over potholes. By Rey Mashayekhi A few days after the shooting at Garner Avenue and Rider Avenue in Salinas, this corner was back to being a busy scene with residents moving about. E-MAIL: publiccitizen@mcweekly.com TOOLBOX “I wish it were a dream.” DANIEL DREIFUSS
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