JUNE 1-7, 2023 MONTEREYCOUNTYWEEKLY.COM LOCAL & INDEPENDENT INTERVENTION ATTEMPTS 13 | RUFUS WAINWRIGHT’S FOLKSY ROOTS 31 | BEER, HOLD THE ALCOHOL 38 THE OLD PACIFIC CAPITAL: PART 1 Robert Louis Stevenson’s time in Monterey was brief, but inspired a timeless essay of the place as it existed then, in 1879. p. 18 By Robert Louis Stevenson Looking down Alvarado Street in Monterey, circa 1880.
2 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY JUNE 1-7, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com JUNE 1-7, 2023 • ISSUE #1818 • ESTABLISHED IN 1988 Anne Vallone (Cannon Eos 80 lens 18-300) A whale watching ride brought the photographer up close to this magnificent humpback whale, seen mid-breach near Moss Landing. MONTEREY COUNTY PHOTO OF THE WEEK Send Etc. submissions to etcphoto@mcweekly.com; please include caption and camera info. On the cover: Alvarado Street, circa 1880. Author Robert Louis Stevenson arrived in Monterey in the fall of 1879. Cover Photo by C.W.J. Johnson, courtesy of Monterey County Historical Society/Pat Hathaway Collection 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, Caitlin Fillmore, Paul Fried, Jesse Herwitz, Jacqueline Weixel 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 JUNE 1-7, 2023 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 3 Celebrating Men’s Health Month Establishing a primary care physician and getting regular screenings are the best ways to prevent disease. But men can take steps every day to elevate their health: Fuel and maintain your body y Eat nutrient-rich foods and stay hydrated y Exercise regularly y Find physical activities you enjoy Prioritize restful sleep y Establish a consistent sleep schedule y Create a relaxing bedtime routine Reduce dangerous habits y Reduce tobacco and alcohol consumption y Reduce processed foods and excess sugar Manage stress y Practice mindfulness and other stress management techniques y Prioritize self-care activities Get regular medical check-ups y Establish a primary care doctor and see them regularly y Don’t delay important screenings Ask your primary care doctor today about scheduling health screenings. If you don’t have a doctor, visit: montagehealth.org/doctors
4 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY JUNE 1-7, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com THE BUZZ FREE SPEECH “The Hill We Climb” is a poem recited by then-22year old poet Amanda Gorman at President Joe Biden’s 2021 inauguration. It’s an ode to America as an unfinished but extremely valuable project; it calls for “a country committed to all cultures, colors, characters and conditions of man.” Such sentiment proved too much to a Florida parent, Daily Salinas, who flagged the poem at the Bob Graham Education Center in Florida where her two children go to school. Salinas complained that the material was inappropriate for elementary-aged students, which led to restrictions on three books and Gorman’s poem. The material is not banned, but moved so that elementary students have no access to it. Florida Gov. and presidential candidate Ron DeSantis encourages parents to challenge schools’ authority when it comes to fostering tolerance to different races, sexual orientations and cultural backgrounds. The only reference in the poem to race relations—if that is the source of Salinas’ outrage—is praise of the contemporary U.S., where a little Black girl can dream of becoming president. Salinas admitted she hasn’t read much of Gorman’s work. Good: Good news for Salinas residents: the new Hebbron Resource Center is on its way. Demolition of the old building started on May 22. Prior to that, city officials held an event to say goodbye to the building, and residents wrote emotional messages in English and Spanish. The Hebbron Resource Center closed during the pandemic and its closure was supposed to be temporary; however, it never reopened because officials deemed it unsafe. Rebuilding it is part of the city’s Parks, Recreation and Libraries Master Plan, and it was identified as a top priority. In 2021, Assemblymember Robert Rivas, D-Hollister, helped secure $8.1 million to build a new center in the same location. When it was open, the center registered over 50,000 visits per year and had over 100 programs. The new facility will open in December 2025. GREAT: The Salinas Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency, (SVBGSA) was compelled into formation by the landmark 2014 state Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. Now, the agency has finally seen sustainability plans for all six sub-basins in the Salinas Valley approved by the California Department of Water Resources. The goal of those plans is to achieve groundwater sustainability—not pumping out more than is being recharged—by 2042. Piret Harmon, SVBGSA’s general manager, said May 24 it was a “critical step” to implementing the plans “created in collaboration with our diverse community through many thoughtful conversations.” DWR Deputy Director Paul Gosselin noted “we expect these plans to adapt over time to changing conditions.” That, of course, includes the climate crisis. GOOD WEEK / GREAT WEEK THE WEEKLY TALLY Monterey Sports Center revenue for the 2022-2023 fiscal year, as of May 12. That represents a 65-percent cost recovery rate, covered by user fees. Pre-pandemic, the recovery rate was 78 percent. The city has to make up the rest of operating expenses. Source: The Sports Facilities Advisory Optimization Report, presented May 24 $2,361,513 QUOTE OF THE WEEK “The real California story has been a lack of housebuilding.” -Economist Christopher Thornberg speaking on May 25 at the Monterey Bay Economic Partnership’s 2023 Regional Economic Outlook event. Thornburg expects the economy to continue to grow (see story, mcweekly.com). 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 ♦ 3 Card Poker ♠ Century 21st No Bust Black Jack ♣ Texas Hold’em ♥ Baccarat FULL BAR! BLACKJACK BONUS POINTS PAYS UP TO $20,000 SMALL TOWN BIG PAYOUTS! 1-800-Gambler • Gega-003846, Gega-Gega-003703, Gega-000889 Gega-000891 Gega-002838 The Marina Club Casino ensures the safety and security of all guests and team members at all times, while providing exceptional service. 204 Carmel Ave. Marina 831-384-0925 casinomonterey.com ♠ ♣ ♥ ♦ Just minutes from Downtown Monterey Where Monterey Comes To Play
www.montereycountyweekly.com JUNE 1-7, 2023 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 5 NOW AVAILABLE TIDAL COFFEE IS A CELEBRATION OF PLACE – THIS PRECIOUS PATCH OF PACIFIC COAST THAT INSPIRED RICKETTS AND STEINBECK Visit our newly renovated location at the Monterey Plaza Hotel, featuring elevated breakfast and lunch options, expanded hours 7 days per week 6am – 4pm, and a new outdoor seating area for the best picnic location overlooking Monterey Bay.
6 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY JUNE 1-7, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com 831 Guadalupe Lopez can still picture the sacks and boxes of products transported from Oaxaca to her aunt’s living room in Seaside. Floor space would be taken by stacks of tortillas, chapulines, quesillo cheese and other goods. She also watched the toll of a childhood ailment as it tugged on the older woman’s body. “I remember seeing my aunt walk with a limp, then a cane, then crutches and now a wheelchair,” Lopez notes. Her aunt is Minerva Hernández, owner of El Milagro Restaurant, with locations in Seaside and Salinas. She is a woman always moving forward, no matter the confrontations of life. When she opened El Milagro on Broadway Avenue with no understanding of the restaurant business (admitting she didn’t even know how to pay vendors or employees) everyone—including her landlord—doubted her decision. “Give me a chance to show you that the mind is greater than the body,” was Hernández’s response. It’s a phrase that applies to her life. Stricken with polio at 3 years old in her native Mexico, Hernández faced both discrimination and pity as a child. With her family convinced she could never live on her own, Hernández ventured north of the border—lying to her parents that she was after better medical care, instead seeking independence. Although she struggled to walk and had no transportation other than buses, she took custodial work at a hotel in Carmel and cleaned houses. When friends started a restaurant called El Pastorcito in Seaside, Hernández asked why the menu was slanted toward north of the border tastes. They told her Oaxacan dishes would never sell. At the time there were few shops in Seaside selling items from the region. Convinced that demand was there, however, she urged a friend who planned to visit Oaxaca to bring back a list of items. “I sold them in one day,” Hernández recalls. That began a regular trail of goods hauled by car from southern Mexico to Seaside and the cluttered living room of Lopez’s memory. It led to a store on Fremont in Seaside—her first official business. But before all of that, Hernández slept in a garage and pedaled items door to door. She was also raising a son, born in 1993. One day he returned from school and told her the class had been asked to share their parents’ occupation. He wanted to know if he could say that his mother sold items from a garage. “I told myself no—I’m not going to be in the garage,” Hernández says. Hernández took over a large shop and in addition to clothes, she began selling the crafts and food brought from Oaxaca—until the health department found out. Unable to pay the rent with just the receipts from crafts and clothing, Hernández returned to selling food door to door. At the same time, she made an effort to learn the rules for importing goods and the local permitting process, which led to another obstacle: Seaside had never drafted a code for a business selling clothing and decor as well as food. Eventually every wrinkle was ironed out and goods were shipped. “I thanked God when we saw the tortillas had arrived,” she says. Hernández opened El Milagro restaurant 15 years ago in April, starting with her mother’s recipes. The name translates as “The Miracle”—but the fates were not through with her just yet. When the pandemic swept across the world, Hernández became very sick from Covid. Her mother and brother both died from the virus. She was severely shaken, to the point that Hernández asked God how it was possible that she would not be allowed to enjoy success and share it with her family. Nothing had ever stopped Hernández. But the death of loved ones had come close. One day, however, a word of inspiration from her son brought her spirits back. “That day I moved forward,” she says. “You have to move forward.” Hernández’s niece recalls the bags and boxes and the loss of mobility. She remains in awe of the woman’s strength. “As an adult, I now wonder how she was able to overcome all the adversity and become the businesswoman she is now,” Lopez says. Celia Jiménez contributed to this story. Going Strong Minerva Hernández has never allowed disability— or anything else—to get in the way. By Dave Faries When Minerva Hernández visited a U.S. doctor for polio treatment with only $250 in her pocket, she was told the surgery would never happen. “At that point, I decided to fight against the tide,” she says. “The mind is greater than the body.” TALES FROM THE AREA CODE DANIEL DREIFUSS 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 JUNE 1-7, 2023 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 7 Visit CarmelCulinaryWeek.com or scan for more details! Presented by: Thank you to our partners: th ar o th plat june 2-10, 2023 Discover the Art of the Plate at more than restaurantsin Carmel-by-the-Sea with immersive food experiences, curated menus, special offers, and culinary events! join us at five village events throughout the week! Kick-Off Party at Carmel Plaza, June Pub Crawl-by-the-Sea, June – 8 Ratatouille Movie at Forest Theater, June An Evening with Ted Allen at Sunset Center, June 8 Monterey Winemakers’ Celebration, June Alvarado Street Brewery & Bistro A.W. Shucks Cocktail & Oyster Bar Anton & Michel Barmel Bar Napoli Basil Seasonal Dining Brophy’s Tavern Café Luna Cantinetta Luca Carmel Burger Bar Carmel’s Hidden Gem Casanova Catch Chez Noir Cultura Carmel Dametra Café Flaherty’s Seafood Grill & Oyster Bar Foray Grasing’s Coastal Cuisine Grill on Ocean Avenue Hog’s Breath Inn La Balena La Bicyclette Links Club Mission Bistro Pangaea Grill Portabella Promesa Tapas Kitchen Rise+Roam Seventh & Dolores Steakhouse Stationæry The Pocket Toro Sushi & Sake Vesuvio Yafa Visit These Locations During Culinary Week: Carmel_Culinary_Week_2023_Weekly_Full Pg_Final_2.indd 1 5/23/23 5:46 PM
8 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY JUNE 1-7, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com NEWS A few months before its 40th anniversary, Chartwell School, a private school in Seaside focusing on students with dyslexia and other learning differences, received a $45 million donation from Charles “Chuck” and Claire Jacobson’s estate. Jacobson was a board member at Chartwell and was dyslexic. “[He] was very involved in our mission and what we do, because it’s the type of learner that he was,” says Danielle Patterson, head of the school. Chartwell School started in 1983 with a teacher and six students; today the school has 180 students in grades 1 through 12. The donation will support students at Chartwell and beyond. Funds will provide financial aid and go toward a new building allowing Chartwell’s high school to expand its athletic and STEM facilities; the new facility, now in its design phase, will increase the capacity for high school students from 70 to up to 300. Funds will also go to expanding Chartwell’s teacher training institute, where teachers from other private and public schools learn tools and techniques to increase literacy in their own classrooms. The institute uses different methods, including the Orton-Gillingham approach for teaching kids with dyslexia, and the latest science around reading, such as research showing teachers should focus more on phonetics. MPUSD teachers will attend Chartwell’s threeday training this summer and fall, with a focus on foundational skills for grades K-3. MPUSD will pay Chartwell $45,000 to train 105 elementary teachers. “The purpose is to develop our capacity to serve all readers well, particularly who struggle with early literacy,” MPUSD Superintendent PK Diffenbaugh says. The ABCs Chartwell School receives a $45 million gift, and plans to expand teacher literacy training. By Celia Jiménez When the new executive director of the Housing Authority of the County of Monterey, Zulieka Boykin, came on board in December of last year, she inherited a set of monumental challenges after a string of directors came and went over several years, each leaving behind systemic problems that bogged down the system of issuing federal housing vouchers. One of the agency’s most pressing problems when she arrived was its failure to issue most of the 269 Covid-19 emergency housing vouchers it had in its possession. In January, Boykin reported to the HACM board of directors that only 74 were in use, or 27 percent. Not only had nearly 200 vouchers gone unused since the start of the program in May 2021, a deadline was looming. HACM had to assign all of the emergency vouchers to recipients by the end of September 2023, or give them all back. Boykin declined to comment on why HACM had taken so long to issue vouchers before her arrival, instead focusing on efforts since she was hired. She and representatives of local agencies and nonprofits that serve people who are homeless began meeting weekly to increase the assignment of vouchers. As of May 30, 139 people are in units and another 99 are actively searching for landlords to accept the vouchers, Boykin says, leaving 31 vouchers unassigned. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development records on May 30 show HACM with just under 50 percent of units leased, compared to 76 percent nationwide. Statewide, 74.6 percent of units are leased out of 17,206 emergency vouchers. HUD issued the vouchers two years ago as the pandemic wore on with the goal of getting those most vulnerable—unhoused people, those about to lose their homes and those fleeing domestic violence—into safe, secure rental housing quickly. The plan was for each region’s Continuum of Care—in the case of Monterey and San Benito counties, the Continuum is the Coalition of Homeless Service Providers based in Seaside—to screen applicants, then refer them to HACM, the HUD-approved agency to approve applications and distribute vouchers. According to Genevieve LucasConwell, executive director of the Coalition, they have made 800 referrals to HACM as of May, a 3-to1 ratio considered “best practice,” since some people who applied may drop off for different reasons or fail to qualify in the final application process. Lucas-Conwell says in the weekly meetings they’ve worked to identify those who are most vulnerable, such as those who are chronically homeless, people with families, or who have medical conditions, among other factors. Once someone is referred to HACM, candidates work with case managers who assist them in getting their paperwork completed. If they are successfully assigned a voucher, the case manager assists them in securing housing. Boykin says they are providing additional case management to assist the 99 people searching for housing. “Additionally, I hope we can increase landlord interest in the voucher program to offer more opportunities,” she says. That includes actions taken last year by HACM and approved by HUD to increase payments so landlords receive more in rent while tenants are able to pay less. Genevieve Lucas-Conwell, executive director of the Coalition of Homeless Service Providers, is working with others to assign emergency housing vouchers. Catching Up People in urgent need of housing went without, despite the existence of emergency vouchers. By Pam Marino Teacher Stacey Whitman at Chartwell School. Jodi Amaditz, director of teaching and learning at Chartwell, says many teachers don’t learn how to teach reading foundations effectively. Only 74 vouchers were in use, or 27 percent. DANIEL DREIFUSS DANIEL DREIFUSS
www.montereycountyweekly.com JUNE 1-7, 2023 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 9 In-person or virtual visits at Pediatrics – Monterey genpeds.stanfordchildrens.org Kid-sized care for kid-sized people. WHAT IS YOUR RealAge Let’s lead the way to a community that’s healthier, happier — and younger than our years. It’s another growth opportunity for our community as part of Blue Zones Project®, helping people live longer, better lives by improving their surroundings. 1 2 3 live longer, better® Point the camera on your phone at the QR code to sign up or visit bzpmontereycounty. sharecare.com In about 15 minutes, you’ll get an estimate of your body’s age based on your health and habits. Access the free Sharecare app and use your RealAge login. You’ll find personalized tips and trackers for feeling healthier and happier. Complete the survey and be entered to win giveaways! Apple Watches l Adult Bicycle l Air Fryers l Crock Pots BROUGHTTO MONTEREY COUNTYBY: Copyright © 2023 Blue Zones, LLC and Sharecare, Inc. All rights reserved. Making a Difference Together Children and teens in Monterey County are in need of a safe and stable home. Becoming a resource family gives youth the chance to become reunified with their family or adopted. Monterey County Family and Children’s Services works towards building healthy families and strong communities. Become a resource family today, and change a child’s life forever.
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
www.montereycountyweekly.com JUNE 1-7, 2023 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 11 HEATABLE EATABLES! ELROY’S PRESENTS @ELROYSFINEFOODS WWW.ELROYSFINEFOODS.COM 15 SOLEDAD DRIVE (831) 373-3737 MONTEREY, CA 93940 GLOBALLY INSPIRED & LOCALLY SOURCED A pre-ordered, fully prepared meal to heat & eat at home. Offered on the last Thursday of every month. JUNE’S HEATABLE EATABLE... A SOUTH AFRICAN SPREAD! TICKET=$99.99 EACH (1 TICKET SERVES TWO PEOPLE) VEGETABLE CHAKALAKA spiced vegetables & beans (GF, VEGAN) YELLOW RICE turmeric, cardamom, raisins (GF, VEGAN) BOBOTIE curry spiced beef & egg casserole (GF, CONTAINS DAIRY) SOSATIES grilled lamb & apricot skewers (GF, DF) CAPE MALAY CHICKEN CURRY stewed chicken, turmeric, lemon, tomato (GF, DF) MALVA PUDDING cardamom cake with apricots & honey (GF, CONTAINS DAIRY) To place your order visit www.elroysfinefoods.com or scan this QR CODE! Quantities are limited, so order soon! *Order by: Thursday, June 22nd *Pick up date: Thursday, June 29th *Next month: Thai in July! All items will also be available à la carte for purchase at the Prepared Foods counter on Thursday, 6/29 until sold out! Try Us First. We Pay The Highest! MONTEREY COIN SHOPPE Since 1970 same street for 40 years Open Mon-Thur 11am-4pm and Friday by appointment only. Call for an appointment: 831.646.9030 449 Alvarado St., Monterey www.montereycoinshoppe.com WE BUY GOLD AND SILVER, JEWELRY, COINS, DIAMONDS, WATCHES, ART & RARE ANTIQUES Enjoy the incredible wines from one of the world’s premier wine regions in the quaint village of Carmel-by-the-Sea.
12 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY JUNE 1-7, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com Even though Fort Ord shuttered in the early 1990s, its legacy still looms large for several cities. The Fort Ord Reuse Authority, which was formed following that closure (and was forced by the state to shut down in 2020), largely failed in its mission to redevelop much of the land of the former base. Now, cities that were given land by the Army for that purpose—redevelopment—are wrestling with how to succeed to that end, and for good reason: undeveloped Fort Ord land might be an asset, but for a city charged with managing that land, it adds cost and brings in no revenue. That’s particularly true in Del Rey Oaks, a city with a budget of just over $4 million and not a dime to spare. To that end, on Feb. 2, Del Rey Oaks issued notice under what’s called the Surplus Lands Act, inviting interested parties to submit a letter within 60 days to express an interest in acquiring one or more of three parcels. (One of those parcels is on the southeast corner of Canyon Del Rey and General Jim Moore Boulevard, and was not part of the former Fort Ord.) Three parties showed up: City Ventures, a development company based in San Francisco and Irvine; the Monterey Peninsula Regional Parks District; and nonprofit Big Sur Land Trust. City Ventures submitted a letter of interest for the two former Fort Ord parcels—north and south of South Boundary Road, totaling 232 acres to the north and 18 acres to the south. Big Sur Land Trust’s letter highlighted how the conservation nonprofit is already in a purchase and sale agreement for land south of Highway 68 near the parcels, and expressed interest in creating a wildlife corridor. MPRPD’s letter states that the district “is interested in acquiring the surplus property, or portions thereof… for park, recreation, and open-space purposes.” City Manager John Guertin expects that by the end of June city officials will wrap initial negotiations with all three parties. Guertin says he’s committed to following the lead of the council, and the residents, in what they want to do with the land. The challenges are steep to developing any of it—there’s currently a lack of water and infrastructure holding up the former Fort Ord portions—and the other portion is in the viewshed of The Oaks condo development (which itself faced vehement opposition in its time), and many residents there don’t want to see any development on the site. Monterey Peninsula Engineering has proposed a temporary concrete recycling facility on a Del Rey Oaks property just north of South Boundary Road, which several residents spoke out against at a May 23 meeting; MPE’s proposal was unsolicited, but Guertin brought it to the council late last year because it could bring more revenue to the cash-starved city. Whether or not the council will ultimately approve it is an open question, but Guertin adds context about the city’s budget: “Del Rey Oaks residents will have to decide: Are we going to be a city with a police department, or without a police department?” Land Lock Del Rey Oaks is in talk with multiple prospective buyers, seeking land for development or open space. By David Schmalz Del Rey Oaks Mayor Scott Donaldson is pictured; City Manager John Guertin says the council will ultimately provide direction on how to develop the city’s Fort Ord land and other parcels. NEWS Del Rey Oaks issued notice under the Surplus Lands Act. DANIEL DREIFUSS PRESENTED BY
www.montereycountyweekly.com JUNE 1-7, 2023 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 13 One year after engaging in a scary standoff with local police, military veteran Vahe Ohanian says he’s getting the help he needs for the mental health and substance abuse issues that led to the incident, avoiding jail time in the process. On the morning of May 26, 2022, Monterey County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrived at Ohanian’s apartment complex on San Pablo Avenue in Seaside to serve an eviction notice. What followed was an hours-long standoff after Ohanian fired a BB gun at officers, twice hitting a patrol vehicle windshield. He eventually surrendered and was charged with three counts of felony assault on an officer with a deadly weapon other than a firearm, plus felony and misdemeanor charges for resisting an officer. Ohanian, 58, says the incident was the culmination of a years-long battle with untreated bipolar disorder, as well as post-traumatic stress disorder tied to his service in the U.S. Marine Corps in the 1980s. Once an attorney working in the Los Angeles area, in recent years he found himself homeless and roaming the country in his car, before settling in Monterey County with the help of the HUD-VASH veterans’ housing program. Yet Ohanian faced eviction after failing to get recertified for the program and falling behind on his rent, he says. Coupled with a 2021 public intoxication charge that resulted in his vehicle being confiscated, Ohanian says his mental health issues “snowballed.” He was not on psychiatric medication at the time of the police altercation, instead self-medicating with heavy cannabis use. “At that point, I was thinking about suicide by cop,” Ohanian says. “I was in a state of drug-induced psychosis. Whatever I said or planned or did wasn’t reasonable or rational…I’m ashamed, and I really regret what happened.” Ohanian spent more than four months in Monterey County Jail, and faced considerably more time in prison. But given his circumstances, county prosecutors pursued the case through Veterans’ Treatment Court—a collaborative department of the court system where prosecutors and defense attorneys work together to address the issues leading veterans into legal trouble. “It was pretty clear from the reports that there were significant mental health issues,” says Monterey County Assistant District Attorney Greg Peterson, a U.S. Army veteran who supervises Veterans’ Treatment Court matters for the DA’s office. “We take all the factors into account as far as crime and punishment, and the options we have available to prevent this from ever happening again.” In September, Ohanian pleaded no contest to one felony assault charge and the misdemeanor resisting arrest charge, and was sentenced to three years of probation. By December, he had entered an in-patient treatment program at the VA Medical Center in Menlo Park. “I’m very grateful,” Ohanian says. “I’m still alive, I’m no longer in psychosis—I’m taking my meds and just trying to get over this ordeal. I’m not a criminal at heart.” Second Chance One year after a standoff, a military veteran gets the treatment he needs. By Rey Mashayekhi The in-patient program that Vahe Ohanian entered is designed to last six months. It features a regimented schedule of counseling and treatment in a hospital setting. 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14 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY JUNE 1-7, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com PAY TO PLAY It’s nice to see that East Carmel Valley Road will get long-overdue repairs with private funding from Fox Creek Ranch and Silicon Valley Community Foundation. Sadly, the county of Monterey has let the roads deteriorate and now we’re in a big pothole without funding to dig ourselves out (“Monterey County is now letting private landowners fund road repairs near their properties,” May 25-31). What’s next? Carmel Valley Toll Road so we can all chip in and help pay for the repairs? This is what happens when poor planning and management by the Board of Supervisors and lack of leadership to obtain funding for the Public Works Department to maintain and improve our roads and other facilities. Where is their plan to get us out of this mess? This is a serious issue that affects all residents of the county and our quality of life. Tom Jakaby | Carmel Valley I very much agree with your point that we should be debating private spending on public functions (“Three (private) million for three (public) miles,” posted May 27). The debate, though, is muddied in this instance because community foundations are effectively tax shelters for the wealthy, subsidized by taxpayers. So you could argue that in a roundabout way that it is indeed the taxpayers helping to build a road that will benefit mainly a small but elite group of landowners out in Carmel Valley. I know it’s probably not a good idea to be critical of “charity,” but I’d welcome an article which looks into funds at community foundations. Some never disperse a dime, but shelter wealthy individuals from taxes— taxes that could help repair roads. Christina Lund | Pacific Grove SCHOOL BLUES It’s disheartening that, on top of all these students have endured, they’re bullied at their new school (“Pajaro Middle will remain closed for the next school year; students endure bullying at their new school,” May 18-24). Many attempts to stop bullying, while well intentioned, make matters worse. Some of the best resources are from Barbara Coloroso (author of The Bully, the Bullied, and the Not-So-Innocent Bystander). Coloroso has resources in Spanish and English. Mari Lynch | Salinas MARSH MENTALITY Wonderful news, well presented (“New funding will help protect and restore the coastal wetlands at Elkhorn Slough,” posted May 16). Don Scott | Carson City, Nevada Years ago, my husband Harry Holman Hicks sold [a part of] Elkhorn Slough to his friend David Packard for the purpose of saving it for future generations. David told him that it was his “favorite purchase ever,” and promised him to make sure it was protected for the future. I alway thought it was a shame that nothing was named in his honor. Harry Holman Hicks died June 28, 2019 at 98 years old in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, and as a World War II veteran, was buried with honors at Golden Gate National Cemetery. A member of the legendary Explorers Club, polo player until he was 75, and given a title from the King of Malaysia, he was one of the most amazing and interesting men in Monterey County history. There is much more, but I digress. Back to Elkhorn Slough. Perhaps he could be memorialized for his early effort to make sure that the land was protected, saved now for Monterey County’s and the world’s future. Dede Whiteside-Hicks | Carmel FRACK ATTACK This is outrageous (“Measure Z, Monterey County’s ban on new oil wells, heads to the state Supreme Court,” May 25-31). The world’s scientists know we must move away from fossil fuels to save us from complete destruction within a few decades. California usually leads the way in progressive, needed action. Further, before we hear any crying about how much we need the oil, we need to stop shipping U.S. oil out to other countries. The issue is simple. Saving Monterey, America and the world, versus corrupt profits to operations that are killing us! John Thomas | Salinas POWER DOWN The Earth is not and never will be controlled by humans. So-called climate change is a political ploy, inspiring fear in order to control the citizens (“An opportunity to be a leader in our climate future,” posted May 22). Pushing this theory is pure propaganda. Roger Vandevert | via email What makes you feel “disempowered and hopeless” is the mind-numbing stupidity of people who don’t realize that EV charging stations are charging incredibly toxic lithium-ion batteries containing components that are finite and massively pollute the planet when they are both mined and disposed of, and which charge them almost exclusively with dirty energy generated by burning coal. “Oh, I have an EV car! I don’t use any fossil fuels!!” God protect us from idiots that vote. But by all means, let’s print a few more trillion scrip dollars to please AOC, and do away with the most reliable energy source ever known to man, and the entire driver of our economy and prosperity and national security, instead funding bird-annihilating wind farms and electric grids that don’t work when the sun doesn’t shine. I don’t know what’s worse, that people with these ill-formed, unresearched, unscientific, fuzzy-thinking, gibberingly illogical febrile notions have any kind of power or authority, or that they can breed. Norm Morris | Salinas FESTIVAL SEASON Great cover design (“Deep Roots: Cali Roots returns this weekend for its 13th year, bringing colorful fashion, good causes and diverse array of reggae talent,” May 25-31). Eric Palmer Sr. | Monterey LET THERE BE LIGHT What an outstanding portrait you did of Martha! The lighting is sublime (“Two exhibits present photography fans with a chance to immerse themselves in the work of Martha Casanave,” May 18-24). Steve Zmak | Marina 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 JUNE 1-7, 2023 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 15 There are a few themes that repeat when people call a newspaper office with a story idea. Sometimes it’s just to vent; sometimes they’re at their wit’s end with frustration and hope a story might provide the sunlight needed to change something. A circumstance that was some combination of those two things prompted a woman to call the Weekly office a few weeks ago to share her story. I’ll call her Ellen, because she asked that her name not be published in case it hurts her future housing prospects. When I talked to Ellen, she was living in an apartment in unincorporated Carmel, but it’s a temporary arrangement with reduced rent. She’s been disabled for 30 years and her only income now is disability payments. Her situation was precarious so she submitted an application for an emergency housing voucher, a federal program initiated during the pandemic to help get some of the most vulnerable people into housing. Ellen says she went through an intake process and was interviewed by a caseworker, using what’s known as the Vulnerability Index– Service Prioritization Decision Assistance Tool, or VI-SPDAT. But Ellen says her score was two points too low to qualify for a voucher. “People like myself were just SOL,” she says. “I am not trying to push anyone out of the way, but it would be nice if people like me had a chance.” Staff writer Pam Marino has been following the emergency housing voucher program that Ellen applied for and did not get; you can read her story on p. 8 about the 269 vouchers awarded to Monterey and San Benito counties, but have landed only 139 people in housing to date. Meanwhile, the Coalition of Homeless Service Providers has referred 800 people who could qualify for a voucher. And that, of course, is just the surface of the homeless community—there were 2,047 homeless people counted in a 2022 census. Marino’s story is about those who did qualify, but there are hundreds of others who didn’t. I’ve been thinking about their conundrum. There are systems in place to help vulnerable people get shelter. But what about those who are vulnerable, but not vulnerable enough? Ellen does not suffer from mental illness or addiction; she was desperate, but maybe not desperate enough to qualify for a voucher. Then there are more who may have never been assessed according to VI-SPDAT, a system in use since 2016 by the Coalition of Homeless Service Providers (and other entities like them across the country). The Coalition works with many homeless-oriented nonprofits, and various caseworkers conduct the assessment, inputting information about a client. The specific questions in the VI-SPDAT assessment are not public information, but public records offer insight into the scoring tool. There are points for veterans, frail health and families with children. Priority goes to those with a VI-SPDAT of 8 or higher for individuals, 9 and up for families. Of course there needs to be a standardized tool for triaging people in need of housing; the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development requires it, and without one we’d inevitably end up with personal bias influencing who qualifies for limited units. And of course the housing shortage in this region creates a problem—people are funneled into a too-small funnel because there isn’t enough housing at affordable, or even reasonable, rates. As Genevieve LucasConwell puts it: “People are on the edge, and we already have a scarce amount of inventory.” Lucas-Conwell is executive director of the Coalition, and is at work planning the Lead Me Home summit scheduled for September. One discussion there will be about VI-SPDAT and vulnerability assessments and which ones work best. “The Coalition is really invested in evolving with the community and the community’s needs,” Love says. “This is really important to us.” I have not been able to reach Ellen since we spoke, and I don’t know where she landed. When we talked, she told me she was facing health challenges. “I might die, unless a miracle happens,” she says, then adds: “I do believe in miracles.” I’m not sure if I believe in miracles, but I think what Ellen and people in a similar situation need isn’t miraculous. It’s enough housing to support regular people with regular needs, so that emergency programs can be available for people facing an emergency. Sara Rubin is the Weekly’s editor. Reach her at sara@mcweekly.com. Through the Cracks In desperate times, only the most desperate qualify for housing vouchers. By Sara Rubin SPRINGTIME FOR HITLER…Squid loves to watch reruns of Squid’s favorite shows but some reruns Squid could do without. The chair of the Libertarian Party of Monterey County, real estate agent Lawrence Samuels, is at it again comparing a rental registry and anything he believes rent-control-adjacent to be “fascist” and akin to Nazi Germany. Samuels cried “Nazi” last year when the Monterey City Council discussed the possibility of a rental registry. (It failed to gain traction among a council majority at that time.) Samuels cited questionable historical references (aka his own nonfiction “history” book) that Adolf Hitler imposed rent control on Germany. Squid and Squid’s colleague did a good amount of research and came up with the answer on that one: “Nein.” Samuels raised the specter of Hitler once again on May 30, the same day as Monterey held a town hall on creating a registry, which a new council majority supports. He described the registry in a press release as “fascist-like…due to its spying capabilities that can easily undermine citizen’s property rights.” Ol’ Adolf appears to be Samuels go-to. In the candidate statement he submitted to the Weekly when he ran (unsuccessfully) for Carmel Unified School District Board last November, he wrongly asserted that critical race theory should not be taught because, in part, it was developed in Nazi Germany and led to the Holocaust. Nein and Nein. OIL MONEY…Speaking of those who have a loose grasp of facts, Squid was shocked—though perhaps not surprised—to see that on May 2, at a Monterey Peninsula Unified School District board meeting, Big Oil put their foot down. At issue was a resolution submitted to the board for approval by the Seaside High Ocean Defenders club that would have the district ask California to phase out oil and gas production in California as part of the effort to combat climate change. To be clear, MPUSD has zero power in the matter, so the resolution was purely symbolic, but that didn’t stop Big Oil from trying to stop it. Among the speakers was Ben Oakley, a rep for the Western States Petroleum Association, who also submitted a letter objecting to the resolution. His letter called the resolution a “misguided attempt” to draw the board into a “broader energy policy debate.” A rep from Chevron spoke along similar lines. (The board approved the resolution, naysayers aside.) In case you’re wondering how much money oil companies are making—record billions in profit—look no further for the proof than our local school board meetings. Someone is paying these people. Instead of preaching to clear-eyed high school students—who were in attendance to support the resolution—Squid would offer this advice to those two flaks throwing shade at them: Get a job. THE LOCAL SPIN SQUID FRY THE MISSION OF MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY IS TO INSPIRE INDEPENDENT THINKING AND CONSCIOUS ACTION, ETC. “People like myself were just SOL.” SEND SQUID A TIP: squid@mcweekly.com
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