july 20-26, 2023 montereycountyweekly.com LOCAL & INDEPENDENT Will Joby fly? 14 | Wind power 30 | painting salinas 32 | barbie’s movie moment 38 While professional cowboys and cowgirls compete at California Rodeo Salinas, there’s a lot of action outside the arena, as well. p. 20 Wild Ride
1 McCLURE WAY, SEASIDE 831.899.7271 BayonetBlackHorse.com Swing Through Summer Monday Night Trivia at Bayonet Black Horse July 24th, 31st and August 7th Prizes for each round of Trivia and Putting 5:00pm – Free Putting Clinic 6:00pm – Start Grand Prize Winners receive gift cards, and the series winner will receive a free month of golf 2 Person Scramble Event Sunday, July 30th Entry Fee Includes: Green Fee, Golf Cart, Range Balls, BBH Hat, Challenge Coin, and a dozen Titleist Tour Soft or Callaway Stay Soft Balls 8:20am tee times | $150 per player Get Golf Ready Beginner Series August 9-30 | September 6-27 Wednesday’s 4:30-6:00pm 4 Sessions for only $225 Week 1 - Orientation. Posture, Grip, and Alignment. Putting and Green Reading Week 2 - Chipping, pitching, and bunker play Week 3 - Full swing. Irons and Woods Week 4 - Review and Play Golf! *Golf Clubs will be provided if you don’t have your own Scoring Clinics August 12th and September 16th 9-11am or 12-2pm Attend a 2 hour scoring clinic and receive a custom-fit wedge Receive a Precision Fitting by a PGA Professional $215 (a $100.00 Savings) *Additional wedges will be available to purchase at a discounted price. Are You Ready For Lower Scores? 2 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY JULY 20-26, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com
www.montereycountyweekly.com JULY 20-26, 2023 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 3 Healthy, how you want it. Where there’s a will, there’s a wave. Regardless of where you are in your journey towards a healthier you — Montage Health can help you reach it. For exceptional care within your community, visit montagehealth.org.
4 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY July 20-26, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com July 20-26, 2023 • ISSUE #1825 • Established in 1988 Michael Sheehan (Nikon D7100, 1/100 @ F6.3) This quail came out with the sunshine and posed for the photographer before returning to shady undergrowth in Prunedale. Monterey County photo of the week Send Etc. submissions to etcphoto@mcweekly.com; please include caption and camera info. On the cover: Karina Leyva of Soledad, one of two Monterey County finalists for the crown in the Miss California Rodeo Salinas competition, rides through the arena on Friday, July 7. Cover photo by Nik Blaskovich 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, Jeff Rothal, 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. SIGN UP NOW Sign up today at montereycountyweekly.com/mcnow
www.montereycountyweekly.com JULY 20-26, 2023 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 5 A: START FINISH How much of the water on earth is drinkable? A. How much water can you save by turning off the faucet when you brush your teeth? A. How do you plan to save water at your house? A. How do you save water when doing laundry? A. How can you save water in the bathroom? A. How can you save water in the kitchen? A. How can you save water outdoors? A. One drip every second adds up to five gallons per day! Check your faucets and showerheads for leaks and fix them. How many did you find? A. Who can take the shortest shower in your house? Time them and see who wins! A. Put food coloring in your toilet tanks. If it seeps into the bowl without flushing, there’s a leak. Did you find any leaks? A. How much is the rebate for a High Efficiency Clothes Washer? A. How much is the rebate for a High Efficiency Toilet? A. summer splash! NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. Void where prohibited. The sweepstakes is open only to California-American Water Company water customers in the Monterey County District of California who complete and submit a Summer Splash Water Challenge Giveaway entry form (“gameboard”) with correct answers by mail postmarked by July 31, 2023 to MPWMD Summer Splash, P.O. Box 85, Monterey CA, 93942 or online at www.montereywaterinfo.org/waterchallenge by July 31, 2023 and who are at least 18 years of age as of the date of entry. Start: 12:01 a.m. PDT on 7/1/2023; deadline: 11:59 p.m. PDT on 7/31/2023. One (1) Winner will receive a High Efficiency Clothes Washer (ARV $1,200), one (1) Winner will receive a iPad (ARV $600), four (4) Winners will receive a $50 Visa Gift Card (ARV $50). OFFICIAL RULES: www.montereywaterinfo.org/waterchallenge_officialrules.pdf SPONSORS: Monterey Peninsula Water Management District, 5 Harris Ct, Building G, Monterey CA 93940 and California-American Water Company, 511 Forest Lodge Road, Pacific Grove CA 93950 Complete Our Water Challenge Gameboard at: MontereyWaterInfo.org/Water Challenge prizes include: • High Efficiency Clothes Washer ($1,200 approx. retail value) • Apple iPad ($600 approx. retail value) • $50 Visa Gift Cards Win BIG in Our Water Challenge Giveaway ENDS JULY 31 2023
6 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY JULY 20-26, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com THE BUZZ FREE SPEECH The pandemic has receded, but remote work remains part of our lives. What that means for public meetings in California remains an open question. Legislators grew accustomed to calling in remotely, and three separate bills would enable that practice to continue: Senate Bill 544, authored by State Sen. John Laird, D-Santa Cruz; SB 411, by State Sen. Anthony Portantino, D-San Fernando Valley; and SB 537, by State Sen. Josh Becker, D-San Mateo. While many open government groups support the continued ability of members of the public to call in remotely to participate, they oppose the ability of lawmakers to continue to call in remotely. Brittney Barsotti, general counsel to the California News Publishers Association (of which the Weekly is a member) lays out some concerns in a letter co-signed by organizations including the First Amendment Coalition, Society of Professional Journalists, ACLU and Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association. “SB 544 would permit government officials doing consequential work on state boards and commissions to conduct public business virtually, without ever again being present at a physical location where the public and press can directly engage them,” Barsotti wrote. Good: Good news for small business owners in Soledad. The city will receive $750,000 in federal funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s community block grant program. The funds will be used to support small businesses that are still recovering from Covid-19 shutdowns and have not fully regained their footing. “The program’s goal is to stimulate economic growth and create jobs that will improve the living conditions of residents in the City of Soledad,” said Tencia Vargas, the city’s economic development and housing program coordinator. The Community and Economic Development Department is fine-tuning the eligibility criteria and will open up an application process soon. GREAT: Congratulations to the local burlesque dance troupe The Carmel Delights, who are headed out on an international tour. They have been invited back to the Best of Burlesque Festival at Edinburgh Fringe this August (and an image of these local dancers is featured on the poster for the internationally renowned art festival). From there, they’ll head to Spain where they have been selected to headline the Ibiza Burlesque Festival; their members will also be choreographing opening and closing numbers there. To kick off their travel stint, they perform at a local event (doubling as a fundraiser) at 7pm on Friday, July 21 at the Moose Lodge in Del Rey Oaks ($20). Expect live music, a dance party and performances, of course featuring the art of burlesque. GOOD WEEK / GREAT WEEK THE WEEKLY TALLY Salary increase each year for two years for members of the Monterey Police Association in a contract approved on July 18 by Monterey City Council. The increase will cost the city $7.8 million in year one and $8.2 million in year two. Source: Report from HR Director Brette Neal to Monterey City Council 4% QUOTE OF THE WEEK “It kind of all hinged on that chance.” -Monterey Bay F.C. coach Frank Yallop speaking about a missed goal in a July 15 game that ended with a 3-1 loss to Oakland Roots SC. It was the pro soccer team’s first nationally televised game, broadcast on ESPN2 (see story, mcweekly.com). Celebrate Latino Conservation Week July 15-23, 2023 From backyards to beaches, Latino Conservation Week is about connecting comunidad with conservation organizations and creating opportunities for adults and youth to experience the outdoors in new ways. Learn from local leaders how you can help protect our tierra, agua, y aire. Discover Latino Conservation Week events in Monterey County and learn how you can be a future leader en la comunidad. Celebrate cultura outside Wetlands ecological boat tour Sunday, July 23rd, 2:30p. m. to 4:30 p.m. Monterey Bay Eco Tours 10932 Clam Wy, Moss Landing MILPA community hike Thursday, July 20th, 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Sunday, July 23th, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. 315 Main St. Suite 206 Watsonville Safe Ag Safe Schools environmental chat and clean up Thursday, July 20th, 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Sunday, July 23rd, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. 315 Main St. Suite 206 Watsonville Salinas Pride art & nature meet up Saturday, July 22nd, 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. El Dorado Park 1655 El Dorado Dr, Salinas Scan the QR Code or visit MontereyBayAquarium.org/ LatinoConservationWeek
www.montereycountyweekly.com JULY 20-26, 2023 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 7 Low cost vaccination clinic for dogs & cats. Microchipping. Prescription flea/tick medication. OPEN SAT 3:30PM-5:30PM • SUN 10AM-1PM Baby Chicks are here! 101 W. Laurel Dr, Salinas • (831)443-6161 Mon-Sat 9am-6pm Sun 10am-5pm $5 OFF Any purchase of $25 or more $10 OFF Any purchase of $50 or more $20 OFF Any purchase of $100 or more CANNOT BE COMBINED WITH OTHER OFFERS. LIMIT 1 COUPON PER CUSTOMER. NOT VALID ON HAY SHAVINGS, FRONTLINE/ADVANTAGE, OR SERESTO COLLARS. MUST PRESENT COUPON AT TIME OF PURCHASE. Ready for your Chick Up? Quality feed & pet supplies • DIY dog & cat vaccines • Premium hay at great prices “I brought my Subaru to Hartzel on advice of a friend and I was so pleased with the service & attention I got from them. Not only finished on time, but under the estimate I was given. Very rare these days. So pleased with the whole experience & great peace of mind knowing it was done correctly. Highly recommend this guy.” —David F., Seaside 2/14/19 510 California Avenue | Sand City | 394.6002 hartzelautomotive.com EXPERT SERVICE WHEN YOU NEED IT. Subaru Mazda Lexus Infiniti Saab vintage MG SCHEDULE YOUR NEXT SERVICE ONLINE TODAY
8 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY JULY 20-26, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com 831 The license plate holder on Pat DuVal’s car says it all: “Happiness is Singing.” Singing not only makes DuVal happy, it’s been the former Monterey County sheriff’s deputy’s ticket to a fascinating life filled with good friends and opportunities that DuVal himself could have never imagined growing up in the segregated South in the 1940s and 1950s. Speak with DuVal for only a few minutes and it’s not long before the names start dropping of friends and people he’s met along the way. Maya Angelou told him he should write his book, From Colored Town to Pebble Beach: The Story of the Singing Sheriff. Clint Eastwood cast him in movies. DuVal is no braggart and there’s no conceit as he shares his stories—it’s just his life since joining the Sheriff’s Department as its first Black deputy in 1967 after a stint in the U.S. Army that led him to the former Fort Ord. He forged a successful 30-year career as a deputy, answering calls in Carmel Valley, Big Sur and Pebble Beach. He also found success as a sought-after singer, earning his “Singing Sheriff” nickname from appearances in lounges, singing with the Monterey Symphony, and performing the national anthem for the San Francisco Giants. Over three decades ago, his appearances led to an invitation to sing the traditional song that opens the California Rodeo Salinas annually, “I Love You, California.” When the Rodeo’s directors approached him, DuVal was doubtful. “‘Man, I can’t do that,’” he remembers saying to the directors. “‘Oh yes, you can,’” they told him. Disaster nearly derailed his debut when he suffered a stroke just a few months before the Rodeo’s opening. In the hospital unable to speak, DuVal worried he wouldn’t be able to make it. “Just a couple of weeks before I got there, boy, I learned that thing. And I said, ‘Jesus, I wonder if I can do it?’ And I did, I sang it. It’s cool,” he says. And so began the annual ritual. DuVal says he’s asked organizers if they really still want him to come back. The answer is always “Yes.” (This year, the annual ritual takes place at 6:30pm Thursday and Friday, and just before 2pm Saturday and Sunday.) Now, at age 81, DuVal is being inducted into the California Rodeo Salinas Hall of Fame to commemorate his time as the Rodeo’s official opener, as well as for his service to the community over his many years—including with the Carmel Valley Rotary and Lions clubs, the Boy Scouts of America and Boys & Girls Clubs in Seaside. It’s another amazing achievement in a life that has seen multiple twists. In his late teens, he left the South and the racism he encountered there for Detroit, and spent six months trying to get an audition with Motown Records. He finally got it and was invited to join a tour, only to find out he was wanted back at home in Florida for failing to register for the draft. After being stationed in Panama and finding a more diverse and welcoming atmosphere, DuVal thought he’d move there after the Army, but was convinced to stay in Monterey County and join the Sheriff’s Department. His work as a deputy in affluent white communities and his singing offered opportunities to make numerous connections and friendships. DuVal made friends with many celebrities who either lived in Monterey County or were frequent visitors—Doris Day, John Denver, Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney, to name just a few. His friendship with Eastwood led to small roles in Sudden Impact (1983), where he had the opening lines as a court bailiff, and The Rookie (1990) with Charlie Sheen. Connections in Pebble Beach led to an offer from Republican insiders there to work for President Richard Nixon on his advance team—until DuVal was told to hold off, because something was up in Washington D.C. After Nixon resigned, President Gerald Ford extended the invitation to come work for him. DuVal, somewhat wary, told Ford he wanted to wait until after the 1976 election to make a decision. “He didn’t get elected; I still had my job.” Ford got on a plane to play golf at Pebble Beach; DuVal was at the airport to greet him. “I was the first person at the bottom of the stairs he talked to.” In Tune The twists and turns of Pat DuVal’s life led him to become the Rodeo’s beloved “Singing Sheriff.” By Pam Marino Pat DuVal has opened the California Rodeo Salinas for more than 30 years with a rendition of “I Love You, California.” The former Monterey County sheriff’s deputy is known—by a lot of people—for his voice and personality. “I said, ‘Jesus, I wonder if I can do it?’ And I did.” TALES FROM THE AREA CODE MAG ONE MEDIA Meaningful Partnerships, Community Connection At the Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, we are connectors, providing our members with valuable introductions to new customers and referral sources. If you're looking for a platform to initiate important conversations and grow your business, we invite you to join our business association today. Join Today! • montereychamber.com • info@montereychamber.com • 831.648.5350
www.montereycountyweekly.com JUNE 20-26, 2023 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 9 FINAL ROUND VOTING BEGINS JULY 27 MCWEEKLY.COM/BESTOF PACKAGED LOCALLY SINCE 1988 BEST OF MONTEREY COUNTY® ’23
10 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY july 20-26, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com news Almost every time the need for affordable housing is discussed in Pacific Grove, someone mentions the city-owned Fountain Avenue parking lot located downtown behind Lighthouse Cinemas. And for some time now, local developer Daniel Silverie has been talking to city staff about acquiring the 0.88-acre lot to build a multi-unit, multi-income project there, even before the matter showed up on a recent closed session agenda for the P.G. City Council. The biggest challenge to adding housing to the lot has been the lack of water, but the movie theater has it, as well as a former residential use on the theater property. Silverie is proposing a private/public partnership between his construction company, the theater owners and the city, in which market-rate housing would be built on the theater property and low- to moderate-income housing built on the parking lot, with additional water needs provided through city-owned water credits. The proposal is spelled out in a staff report to the city council, which was scheduled to discuss the matter on July 19, after the Weekly’s deadline. According to the report, Silverie approached the city about purchasing or leasing the 109-space lot to build housing that would help the city meet state-mandated Regional Housing Needs Allocation numbers. The city is required to plan for 1,125 units—including 174 low-income and 209 moderate-income units— between 2023 and 2031. Silverie’s opening proposal is that the city donate the lot, as well as water credits the city controls thanks to its recycled water project. What remains to be seen is whether the council makes a counter offer, or rejects the proposal outright. Silverie and the family that owns the theater did not respond to requests for interviews. Lot of Luck A Pacific Grove parking lot is eyed as a potential spot for needed affordable housing. By Pam Marino When the sea rises due to climate change, what does that look like on the ground? At Moss Landing and Elkhorn Slough, we can now look into the future—or rather, different choices for the future. In 2021, Caltrans, in partnership with the Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments and The Nature Conservancy, issued a press release announcing its first-ever use of a virtual reality app, Sea Level Rise Explorer, in order to better understand how sea level rise will impact eight miles of Highway 1 west of Elkhorn Slough and five miles of railroad track that cuts across it. The simulation, which is viewable online, shows seawater lapping on the shoulder of the highway and the rail line inundated. That is with two feet of sea level rise, a projection expected to be reached around 2050. With five feet of sea level rise—projected to happen around 2100—the entire stretch is underwater, as is the Moss Landing State Wildlife Area, a vital salt marsh wildlife habitat. “Not taking action is not an option,” then-Caltrans Director Toks Omishakin said in the statement. But what action to take? The simulation also runs through a few different options for potential mitigation. One is to add fill to elevate that stretch of highway, while also creating more salt marsh habitat that will act as a buffer for the road, what is called an “ecotone levee.” Another is to use piles to elevate sections of the highway, but because it would allow for the free flow of water, it wouldn’t stave off degradation of the slough salt marsh habitat. These are among a suite of options discussed in AMBAG’s 2020 Central Coast Highway 1 Climate Resiliency Study. That comprehensive report estimates the costs of various options—which also include rerouting Highway 1 to the east of Elkhorn Slough—and they range anywhere from $300 million to $1.14 billion. Regardless of which option is ultimately chosen, it will take years to plan, get permitted and, perhaps most challenging, secure the necessary funding. In other words, there is no time to waste. To that end, Assemblymember Dawn Addis, D-Morro Bay, submitted a request on behalf of the Transportation Agency for Monterey County to fund some initial planning for the project. (Addis represents District 30, which includes Moss Landing and Elkhorn Slough.) The request was granted: On July 10, the state’s 2023-24 budget was signed into law, and included $1 million for TAMC to begin that planning process. TAMC is also seeking federal grant funding through the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to help move it along further. “We want to get this whole process started, and it does take a long time and we all know it’s going to be a very expensive series of projects,” TAMC Executive Director Todd Muck says. The most important part of that, he adds, is working with various parties on how to move forward. But aside from building consensus about what the best option is, the immediate goal, Muck says, is to create with Caltrans what’s called a “project initiation document” that lays out initial design concepts and a “roadmap” for the project’s phases. A king tide in December 2018, which came within a few feet of the Highway 1 bridge over Elkhorn Slough. Slow Rise Local and state agencies are wrestling with how to make Highway 1 in Moss Landing resilient to sea level rise. By David Schmalz Pacific Grove’s Fountain Avenue parking lot, with 109 spaces, is rarely full. The city issued permits for five spaces to a plumbing company. Another five are used by nearby apartment tenants. “Not taking action is not an option.” nic coury Daniel Dreifuss
www.montereycountyweekly.com JULY 20-26, 2023 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 11 www.cfmco.org • 831.375.9712 Design your giving plan. We can help. Donor Advised Funds • Charitable Estate Planning (CGAs, CRTs) • IRA Charitable Distributions • Family Philanthropy Scholarships & More 831.375.9712 | cfmco.org | DOING GOOD The Brooks donated their rental property to create a CRT. They receive income for life and will leave a legacy through a planned gift. Read their story: cfmco.org/Brooks. “We are retired teachers with a modest estate, yet we can take part in doing good things in this world.” – Barbara Brooks MBARD is offering $500 to low-income applicants in Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz Counties as an incentive to purchase a Class 1, 2 or 3 electric bicycle priced at more than $1,000. Electric Bicycle Incentive Program MONTEREY BAY AIR RESOURCES DISTRICT LEARN MORE AT MBARD.ORG 831.647.9411
12 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY july 20-26, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com In the two months after the Monterey County Board of Supervisors approved a $728,000 disaster aid program for residents impacted by this winter’s storms, local nonprofits disbursed more than $450,000 of that money to hundreds of households and thousands of people in need of assistance. The county implemented the program, approved by the Board of Supervisors in late April, through local nonprofits United Way Monterey County and Catholic Charities Diocese of Monterey—with the goal of swiftly delivering aid in lieu of slow-moving federal and state relief measures. The two charities coordinated to divide up coverage areas and to prevent duplicate payments through the program, which offers up to $750 to households in flood-affected areas. United Way administered its initial phase of funds through two organizations, Watsonville-based Community Bridges and Salinas-based Door to Hope; those two focused their efforts on Pajaro and the Greenfield-King City area, respectively. Catholic Charities, which handled its allocation in-house, prioritized South County communities like San Ardo and San Lucas. Together, the charities decided on a funding scale starting at $450 for a single-person household and moving up in $100 increments, to $750 for a household of four or more. Residents with income between 0 percent and 200 percent of the federal poverty level were eligible for payments—as were, crucially, undocumented residents. Per county guidelines, nonprofits were required to disburse their first phase of funds by the end of the fiscal year, on June 30. On United Way’s side, Community Bridges distributed more than $170,000 to residents while Door to Hope gave out nearly $38,000; that money went to more than 330 households, with the majority (around 270) located in the Pajaro area. Catholic Charities disbursed over $248,000 to more than 350 households. While the organizations prioritized those whose homes sustained flood damage, many others still needed help—such those displaced and forced to reside in hotels for weeks, or farmworkers who lost income due to flooded fields. “People were waiting for months for this assistance because they were in debt, needed money and were not able to cover basic needs,” notes Angela Di Novella, executive director of the local Catholic Charities chapter. “[The program] did meet a lot of needs that no other funding source would have been able to fill,” says Ray Cancino, Community Bridges CEO. The Transportation Agency for Monterey County is responsible for transportation infrastructure—but part of what it does is support mobility efforts within existing infrastructure. In 2016, voters passed Measure X. A small portion of Measure X funds—$500,000 a year— are designated for active mobility, such as walking and biking or providing access to transit. TAMC doesn’t offer such programs itself, but provides grants to local nonprofits to do the work of providing low-cost transportation to elders and people with disabilities— enabling them to engage in everyday activities such as going to doctor’s appointments, shopping for groceries, or socializing. The grants are awarded every three years. This year, five nonprofits received grants: Independent Transportation Network Monterey County, through which volunteers offer rides; the Blind & Visually Impaired Center of Monterey County; Partnership for Children, which transports kids in need of out-of-county medical services to their destinations; Josephine Kernes Memorial Pool in Monterey, which offers adaptive exercises; and the Alliance on Aging. While local nonprofits anywhere in Monterey County can apply for these funds, this group of recipients serves primarily the Peninsula, Salinas and North Monterey County. Chris Barrera, a member of the Measure X Citizens Oversight Committee, wants to see more emphasis on organizations serving South County: “It would be nice if nonprofits in [South County] cities could apply.” Over 15 percent of the county’s population is 65 and older; a higher proportion are concentrated on the Peninsula, notes TAMC Executive Director Todd Muck. In awarding grants, he says they factor in population and cost-benefit. “You’re making decisions based on, are you giving less rides to people and traveling farther, or more rides to people [in a] more densely populated area?” TAMC says it has made outreach efforts and is working on providing more services in South County. Relief Map County’s storm aid program has doled out over $450K to hundreds of households. By Rey Mashayekhi news Seasoned Cooking Learn how to put together a quick, easy meal using produce that is in season. Join the Blue Zones Project and Chef Chris Vicioso for a summertime cooking demonstration. The evening will include tastings, tips for healthier cooking, lessons on purchasing produce that is in season, and a free raffle. 5:30pm Thursday, July 20. Monterey Public Library, 625 Pacific St., Monterey. Free. 646-3933, monterey. org/calendar.php. Sweet Surprise Every Friday in the month of July, the Salinas Recreation Center is handing out sweet and savory treats to anyone who stops by. Enjoy a summer snack at the end of the week by stopping by one of several locations. 1-2pm Friday, July 21 at various Salinas locations: Firehouse Recreation Center, 1330 E. Alisal St.; El Dorado Park, 1655 El Dorado Dr.; Closter Park, 401 Towt St.; Central Park, 420 Central Ave. 4pm Friday, July 21 at Bread Box Recreation Center, 745 N. Sanborn Rd., Salinas. 758-7381, bit.ly/ SalinasRecTreats. Pilot Project The startup Sitos Group is introducing a pilot pyrolysis facility to Monterey County and invites the public to take a tour at this launch ceremony. The biochar production plant super-heats wood byproducts and is a way of sequestering carbon in a substance that is also useful for agriculture. 12:30-2:30pm Friday, July 21. ReGen Monterey, 14201 Del Monte Blvd., Marina. Free; RSVP required. 7442544, sitos.earth. Pocket Parks Volunteers with the Friends of Seaside Parks Association are working on neighborhood parks each week to keep them beautiful. Come make a difference in your community and help with weeding, mulching, planting and picking up trash. Children and pets are welcome. FOSPA meets 10am-noon every Saturday, rotating through parks. July 22 at Highland Otis Park (between Highland and Mendocino streets at Mingo Avenue), and July 29 at Durant Park (between Vallejo and Darwin streets off Wanda Avenue), Seaside. Free. friendsofseasideparks.org. Policing the Police The public is invited to learn about potential future oversight of the county Sheriff’s Office and implications of Assembly Bill 1185. Public comment is welcome either in-person or virtually. 5:30-7:30pm Wednesday, July 26. County administrative building, 168 W. Alisal St., Salinas, or virtually at montereycty.zoom.us/j/224397747. Free. 755-5111, co.monterey.ca.us. Fair Fare Transportation Agency funding is not all infrastructure projects—some goes to nonprofits. By Celia Jiménez Early flood aid efforts in Pajaro included essential items for impacted residents. Above, American Red Cross volunteers hand out supplies as residents return home in March. e-mail: publiccitizen@mcweekly.com TOOLBOX “People were waiting for months for this.” Daniel Dreifuss
www.montereycountyweekly.com JULY 20-26, 2023 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 13 Apply at www.centcoastfcu.com, visit your local branch, or call us at (831) 393-3480 Big Become A Member Today and Access Your Home Equity NMLS# 786119 Become A Member Today And Access Your Home Equity A home equity line of credit (HELOC) can be an easy, affordable way to nance home improvement projects, so go ahead, Dream Big! Seaside: 4242 Gigling Rd. Salinas: 1141 S. Main St. Soledad: 315 Gabilan Dr. King City: 510 Canal St. DreamBig Ready to unlock the hidden value in your home? *Terms and conditions apply. Apply at www.centcoastfcu.com, visit your local branch, or call us at (831) 393-3480 LOCATED BEHIND THE PORTOLA HOTEL & SPA | COMPLIMENTARY PARKING (831) 649-2699 | PETERBSBREWPUB.COM AWARD-WINNING CRAFT BEER BREWED ON-SITE | SEASONAL MENU 18 HDTV’S | NEW FIRE PITS & PET-FRIENDLY PATIO HAPPY HOUR 4PM TO 6PM & 9PM TO 10PM 7.26 Coastal Commission 8.2 Coastal Commission 8.9 Daniel Cortes 8.16 Coastal Commission 8.23 Reija Massey 8.30 Coastal Commission WED NIGHTS LIVE MUSIC PETER B’S BEER GARDEN 6PM TO 9PM
14 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY JULY 20-26, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com After months of lobbying Joby Aviation to expand its manufacturing presence in Marina, a coalition of local business, tech, education and government stakeholders eagerly awaits the electric aviation startup’s decision on where it will build a new factory. An announcement is expected in a matter of weeks. The Santa Cruz-based company first set up shop at Marina Municipal Airport in 2018, and has since used its 120,000-square-foot facility there to develop electric air taxis promising to shuttle passengers over short distances. Joby officially launched production at the Marina plant last month after receiving a testing certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration, celebrating the occasion by demonstrating its prototype before hundreds of guests. But as the company seeks to scale up operations ahead of its goal of beginning commercial service by 2025, it has set off a bidding war between state and local governments across the country competing to house a new 580,000-square-foot manufacturing facility expected to create up to 1,800 new jobs. “We’ve been meeting on a weekly basis since January to put together what I would characterize as a California retention effort,” says Josh Metz, executive director of Monterey Bay DART, a group promoting the development of the region’s robotics tech sector. DART has helped lead that effort—working alongside Monterey Bay Economic Partnership; City of Marina and Monterey County government officials; and education partners like UC Santa Cruz, CSU Monterey Bay, and local community colleges. That coalition, backed with support from the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz), presented a proposal to Joby this spring. The offer is centered around two property tax incentives provided by GO-Biz—a Capital Investment Incentive Program (CIIP) and an Enhanced Infrastructure Financing District (EIFD)—that would reward Joby for its estimated $700 million investment in the area. There are also curriculum and workforce orientation programs being developed by the education partners, such as UCSC’s nearby MBEST Center, that would serve not only Joby but other regional aerospace startups like Archer Aviation and Wisk Aero, with the goal of establishing the area as a tech hub for the emerging advanced air mobility sector. Despite these incentives, “There are some sizable gaps between what Joby’s been offered out-of-state to what’s been provided in-state, and that’s not a surprise,” notes Larry Samuels, special assistant to the chancellor at UCSC, who has been involved in the process. Though Joby’s leadership has expressed a desire to stay in California, according to Samuels, it remains to be seen “whether the economic realities make that a possibility.” Marina does appear to have made a select group of finalists, he adds, with Joby expected to make a decision by the end of next month. A Joby spokesperson says the company is still considering sites. Ready for Landing A local coalition awaits Joby Aviation’s decision on the location for a new factory. By Rey Mashayekhi The production area at Joby’s Marina location. California’s retention effort included a visit from Gov. Gavin Newsom to the production facility in June. NEWS The offer is centered around two property tax incentives. DANIEL DREIFUSS ♦ 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 Pacific Grove Hardware 229 Forest Avenue • 646-9144 Locally Owned and Operated BEST Hardware Store THANKS FOR YOUR VOTES! Your Hometown Hardware Store ’09-’22 take $5 OFF ANY $25 or more regular items With this ad. Exp 7/31/23 One discount per transaction We’re Open! Mon-Sun 8am-5pm YOU DON’T HAVE TO FACE IT ALONE. 24 Hour Crisis Lines Salinas: (831) 424-HELP (4357) Monterey: (831) 375-HELP (4357) www.mtryrapecrisis.org Services are bilingual and confidential Now serving Salinas and Monterey JUST FLICKSFILM SERIES Examining the true value of happiness, health, and nonviolence. A BOLD PEACE Free Event Discussion Follows Free Popcorn Costa Rica’s National Policy of Demilitarization Monterey Peace & Justice Center Seaside, CA 1364 Fremont Blvd. Friday, July 28 6:30 - 8:30 PM Doors open 6 PM
www.montereycountyweekly.com JULY 20-26, 2023 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 15 Fueled by the wet winter—not in spite of it—there have already been a handful of small wildfires in Monterey County this year. They’ve mostly been grass fires, which firefighting crews, more often than not, can quickly bring under control. The grasses are called “fine fuels,” and they take up water faster than bigger fuels like shrubs and trees, but they also dry out faster (or, in the lingo of fire, they “cure”). What about the outlook for massive wildfires that consume thousands of acres, like the type that have scorched parts of Monterey County in years past? The answer to that question isn’t entirely clear. The Southern California Geographic Area Coordination Center (OSCC), which acts as a collaborative nerve center for the federal and state agencies involved in fire response in California, does predictive modeling, and on June 30, released a report with the fire risk outlook on the Central Coast from July through October. It predicts the fire risk outlook for the entire Central Coast during the period as “normal” (the other two categories are “above normal” and “below normal”). And in terms of major wildfires, it shows the current moisture in the region’s forest is well above the average in July when compared to the most recent five- and 10-year averages. The bad news is that the moisture in the forests dropped considerably in June. “With the previous three years of drought, we are seeing trees are still stressed,” says Adrienne Freeman, a spokesperson for the U.S. Forest Service, which is part of OSCC. As far as this year’s outlook, she adds, “A lot of things depend on it: the ignition source, and how hot and dry does it stay now? And understanding it will depend on when we get precipitation again in the fall.” One thing to watch out for, and that is hard for firefighters to contend with, are fires caused by dry lightning. “Dry lightning tends to come in clusters,” Freeman says, which creates fires with multiple points of ignition and they become “very difficult to manage.” Even absent dry lightning to start a forest fire, Freeman says even small grass fires can pose a great threat to life and infrastructure. “A one-acre fire is as destructive as a 100,000-acre fire if you happen to be that house in the one acre,” she says. Matt Mehle, a fire weather program manager with the National Weather Service’s Monterey office, says that compared to recent years, the outlook doesn’t look as “dire,” though like Freeman, he concurs that the biggest risk for major fires will be lightning. And what causes dry lightning is when warm, low-lying air is surrounded by colder air, causing the warm air to rise—hence “instability”—which can result in thunderstorms higher up in the atmosphere. And higher up in the atmosphere, Mehle says, there is less moisture, “so if there is lightning, it’s less likely it will have rain.” If the coming rainy season’s precipitation is below normal, he says, this past winter’s rains will help mitigate fire risk in the short term, but beyond that, it’s highly speculative. Fire Seers What can Monterey County expect with this coming fire season? A wet winter could mean more fuel is available to burn. By David Schmalz The Anzar Fire burned 104 acres in Aromas one year ago, in July 2022. While it’s difficult to forecast fire season one year to the next, a wet winter contributes to growth that can become fire fuel. NEWS “We are seeing trees are still stressed.” DANIEL DREIFUSS QUAIL LODGE & GOLF CLUB • 8205 VALLEY GREENS DRIVE, CARMEL JOB FAIR Thursday, July 20, 2023 8 A.M. – 12 P.M. Friday, July 21, 2023 3 P.M. – 6 P.M. Fairway One Complex 3304 17 Mile Drive, Pebble Beach, CA 93953 Interviews on the spot The Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance is the week of August 14-20. Applicants must be able to work Friday, August 18 – Sunday, August 20. Please come prepared to provide proof of employment eligibility. Hiring for all areas Servers, bartenders, bussers, barbacks, cashiers, cooks, housekeepers, shuttle drivers, stewards, and valets. Special event applications will be available on-site. Questions: (831) 649-7657 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance Temporary Special Event
16 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY JULY 20-26, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com CALLED TO THE CARPET Thank you for the excellent article about the disturbing conditions at Pacific Meadows (“Tenants wait for answers about persistent problems at their affordable senior apartments,” July 6-12). I have friends living there, and I hear their frustration and upsetness over being “forgotten, spoken to rudely, inability to access help” etc. The dirty carpet is the most disturbing at the moment. But add to that list only one generator, dark stairwells during electrical outages—which means no elevators as well—and lack of maintenance for apartment problems. One friend has had a water leak through a window frame for the two years she’s been there, which allows water to flow down her wall and onto her bedroom floor. In spite of putting in requests for maintenance to come fix it, no one has shown up—for two years. It’s hard to get older. It’s hard to have limited funds. It’s not right that they also have to also deal with poor and uncaring management. It’s ironic that the parent company is named HumanGood. Christine Williams | Carmel Valley As someone who is reaching that age demographic, this story saddens and scares me. The elderly are some of our most vulnerable people. There must be something we as a community can do to help them. If their voices go unheard, we have failed to protect them. Any ideas on how to help? Linda LePine | Seaside Currently Pacific Meadows is operating at 95-percent occupancy, and this will vary from month to month. It seems like you are equating resident vacancies to staffing levels and our ability to serve the residents. Pacific Meadows is an independent living community for seniors and the staffing level is not dependent on occupancy. Funding for additional vendor services or requests for items such as generators are not connected to our staffing levels, and do not reflect our team’s ability to serve residents and maintain the community grounds, which we do with pride. Apartments are rented at the 30, 50 and 60 percent of Area Median Income. This means that apartments that must be rented at 60 percent of the AMI will have a higher rent than a 30-percent unit—those units take longer to fill vacancies due to the lower affordability but again, this does not impact our staffing levels or our ability to serve the community. Along with ECHO Fair Housing, we feel that the town hall was a productive meeting to clarify resident concerns and questions and we look forward to our next meeting with residents and partners in August. James Park | Duarte, Calif. Note: Park is senior vice president of corporate communications for HumanGood. LIKE A WEED Monterey County is also driving its legacy Big Sur growers to extinction because nobody can meet the county’s conditions (“Monterey County’s cannabis industry is struggling to survive—and claims overtaxing and burdensome regulations are to blame,” July 13-19). Big Sur is so important to the history of cannabis that the Berkeley Oral History Center is documenting it before it is all gone. The ridiculous and onerous “fire tax” that the Monterey County Regional Fire District passed, the only fire district in the state to do that, is a heavy burden. The county has reduced its tax over time while the MCRFD has raised theirs. Bob Roach | Salinas Note: Roach is the former executive director of the now-defunct Monterey County Cannabis Industry Association. “Long term, Hackett believes that the way forward for the industry is to open up cannabis retail options to pharmacies, convenience stores and other conventional outlets.” That will ease the cost factor also, since it won’t be necessary to maintain a whole building for retail sales, just a section of an aisle. There is some justification for the extra taxes on alcohol and tobacco. Because of their massive harms, they create huge social costs. Science and widespread experience have shown cannabis has no significant harms. Hence, there are no associated social costs and no justification for extra taxes. Because of its near harmless nature, the only regulation cannabis really needs is to prohibit sales to children and require adequate sanitation, as we do for all produce. John Thomas | Salinas SLACK THE ROPE I implore you to have the courage to stop promoting rodeos (“Big Week is about more than the rodeo—it’s about the city of Salinas’ identity,” posted July 13). Rodeos are nothing short of sanctioned animal abuse. Abolishing rodeos is not an attack on a particular culture. It is acknowledging that it is time to stop this barbaric practice. Many other forms of entertainment have realized that exploiting animals is not acceptable. The circus industry has stopped using animals. Sea World has stopped capturing orcas. Bull fighting has been banned in many countries. Dog fighting is illegal, as is cock fighting. So why is it acceptable to torture innocent and sentient animals? The rodeo has to stop. All of the animals in a rodeo experience pain and fear just like humans. Please do not promote the rodeo. Wendy Ledner | Salinas COURT REFORM In the year since the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision, abortion has been effectively banned in 14 states. This year, the Court overturned access to clean water, affirmative action in college admissions, and student debt relief for millions of middle- and low-income borrowers. They’ve set the precedent of overturning policies simply because they were enacted by a Democratic president. We can’t let this continue. Congress must stop the out-of-control, rightwing majority on the Supreme Court. The only way to do that is to restore ideological balance to the Court by adding four more seats. Saralinda Subbiondo | Monterey RAISE A GLASS The wines are superb (“Odonata’s new Drink Me! line gives wines—and us—a chance to relax and have fun,” June 29-July 5). Scott Moore | via social media 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 JULY 20-26, 2023 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 17 During the 2022 primary campaign for the office of Monterey County sheriff, all four candidates said they supported the creation of some type of oversight board. “I support an oversight board,” said Tina Nieto, who won the election and was sworn into office as sheriff in December. “I am not afraid.” A test of that pledge is now in the works. Earlier this year, the Monterey County Board of Supervisors created an ad hoc committee to work on the issue. The committee members—supervisors Wendy Root Askew and Glenn Church—will host their first public event on Wednesday, July 26 (for meeting details, see Toolbox, p. 14). They’ll present on some possible configurations for an oversight board and invite the public to weigh in. This is step one in what could be a lengthy process of drafting a proposal. “With any option we pursue, there are going to remain challenges in balancing the cost, the benefit, staying in compliance with the Peace Officers’ Bill of Rights,” Askew says. “The Board of Supervisors has to ensure we are utilizing all tools available to us to ensure there is transparency and accountability in the Sheriff’s Office. We all want the sheriff to be held to a high standard of accountability. Public safety depends on that trust.” A lack of trust—and lack of oversight—became clear in former Sheriff Steve Bernal’s second term, which ended last year. The Board of Supervisors censured him over revelations about a misuse of public funds in 2021; the board then publicly reprimanded him in 2022 over a failure to take steps to stop sexual harassment in the department. The board members realized they had no formal mechanism to do anything about any of it. The idea of oversight is meant to correct that. Of course, these examples are heated political issues. What matters more to most people is less about what takes place in boardrooms and more about what happens to civilians when they encounter a deputy on the street, or are incarcerated in the county jail. And there, trouble continues brewing. At least four people have died in custody in the county jail this year, since Nieto became sheriff. According to court records, a fifth person was transferred from the jail to Natividad on June 29; while hospitalized he was released from custody, and died on July 4. Nieto says things have changed under her watch. Instead of one sergeant responsible for upholding terms of a legal settlement concerning jail conditions, there is a multi-person compliance group. And she says her relationship with the Board of Supervisors so far has been positive. For instance, on Tuesday, July 18, she requested $1.5 million for an 8.2-percent pay raise for deputies, and the board voted 5-0 to grant it. What direction the board will ultimately choose remains to be seen. Assembly Bill 1185, passed in 2020, gives counties the power to craft different configurations, like an inspector general model or a committee. At the outset, Nieto says she favors an inspector general concept, partly driven by cost. “Some groups are pushing for models that are very expensive and harder to maintain,” she says. By “some groups” she is referring to the Monterey County chapters of the ACLU, League of Women Voters, and the NAACP; the Salinas and North Monterey County chapters of LULAC; Caste Action Alliance; and Monterey Peace and Justice Center. Those groups sent a letter to Askew and Church laying out a detailed proposal. It includes seven to nine appointed commissioners—current or former police officers would be ineligible. One slot would be designated for somebody with mental health expertise, one for a justice-impacted person. It could investigate and report on complaints about issues like excessive use of force, misconduct, in-custody deaths and more— the sheriff would have 30 days to respond. The commission would appoint an inspector general—with subpoena power—to conduct investigations. Its budget would be at least 1 percent of the annual Monterey County Sheriff’s Office budget, or at least $1.6 million of the $158 million annual budget. “Community trust is essential to law enforcement that is truly responsive and meets the needs of those it is intended to serve,” the letter reads. Ultimately, it will be up to the public whether the money for an oversight board is worth it. Sara Rubin is the Weekly’s editor. Reach her at sara@mcweekly.com. Policing the Police Monterey County will consider creating civilian oversight for the sheriff. By Sara Rubin BANGERS AND MASH…Squid is fortunate in that Squid can ooze freely to Monterey County’s many destinations. For others, however, the journey can be long and involve some expense—which is precisely what the Monterey County Convention and Visitors Bureau wants. Too many tourists, it seems, drive in for the day and head home with much of their coveted credit intact. So the organization is reaching out to distant places. “If you’re coming from further away, you’re going to stay longer,” MCCVB’s Rob O’Keefe says. And if you stay longer, you are going to drop more cash, or so the thinking goes. Accordingly, the bureau recently established a presence in England, contracting with a travel professional who will then spread the word to other travel professionals, who will then presumably book trips to Monterey County. It all sounds quite lovely, especially after the world was treated to postcard images of the area during weekend television coverage of the U.S. Women’s Open, during which English golfer Charley Hull made a run for the win. Squid expects this move to pay off. From Squid’s understanding of British weather, tourists from the country will not be disappointed when they arrive expecting clear, sunny skies only to find damp, dreary fog. And there’s plenty of fish and chips options, too. ROUND AND ROUND…Squid gets dizzy just thinking about the many ways in which the Monterey County Board of Supervisors has gone in circles when it comes to Laguna Seca Recreation Area. For nearly a decade, the county has been looking for an entity with money in the bank to run it, so that the county can stop bleeding cash for maintenance. After months of negotiations, on July 11, the board was set to finally approve a concession agreement for up to 55 years with Friends of Laguna Seca. “This is our best option to get out from under the obligation to the general fund,” Supervisor Chris Lopez said, a sentiment echoed by Mary Adams and Luis Alejo. But the votes weren’t all there. Supervisors Wendy Root Askew and Glenn Church had questions, specifically about a depreciation schedule. “My hope is that we end up with a 5-0 vote,” Adams said. But Church wouldn’t get on board, despite saying, “I support this concept very much.” His plan was to abstain from voting: “I find this the most difficult vote since I’ve been on the board. I don’t see a vote I can put for this, or against it.” Adams seemed bewildered. “This is crazy, we’ve come so far,” she muttered. But it turns out that abstaining isn’t even really a non-position; per county code, an abstention counts with the majority. So the board decided (unanimously) to punt the vote to July 18. Squid thought they might just keep spinning their wheels, but they finally voted 5-0 to enter into a contract. THE LOCAL SPIN SQUID FRY THE MISSION OF MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY IS TO INSPIRE INDEPENDENT THINKING AND CONSCIOUS ACTION, ETC. “I support an oversight board. I am not afraid.” SEND SQUID A TIP: squid@mcweekly.com
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjAzNjQ1NQ==