6 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY JULY 27-AUGUST 2, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com THE BUZZ FREE SPEECH How can artificial intelligence support a thriving local news ecosystem? This is the question that the American Journalism Project (a venture philanthropy focused on supporting nonprofit local news organizations) and OpenAI (the company behind ChatGPT) are asking, and hoping to answer, through a new partnership announced July 18. OpenAI will give AJP $5 million for the expansion of the organization’s work, plus commit up to $5 million in OpenAI API credits that AJP can distribute to the newsrooms it supports. In general, past tech company investments in news organizations have not worked out very well for the news organizations (see: the abrupt end to Facebook parent company Meta’s interest in the Facebook News tab). But AJP, which was founded in 2019, seems hopeful about this instance. “To ensure local journalism remains an essential pillar of our democracy, we need to be smart about the potential powers and pitfalls of new technology,” Sarabeth Berman, CEO of the American Journalism Project, said in a statement. “With this partnership, we aim to promote ways for AI to enhance—rather than imperil—journalism.” Good: Options for children and teens in psychiatric crises have been few in Monterey County in the past, so it’s good news that the Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula has opened a Crisis Stabilization Unit for youth ages 17 and younger, according to an announcement on July 17. It joins an existing unit for adults that opened in March. Both are designed to provide a place of respite and targeted care for patients who are in crisis ,but do not require hospitalization. In addition to giving patients a quiet place to regroup, CSUs help free up space inside emergency rooms. “If we transfer a patient with a mental health concern to a more therapeutic environment more quickly, it benefits our patient and clears a bed in the [ER] for another patient to be seen,” said Dr. Veronica Searles Quick, director of crisis psychiatry. GREAT: Students at Forest Grove Elementary School will have a STEM Flex Lab this back-to-school season, thanks to seven years of work by Pacific Grove Unified School District to modernize its tech labs. Kids will have access to 3D printers and software to code and design, and will be encouraged to work on robotics and other projects. The objective, says Matthew Binder, PGUSD’s director of educational technology, “is to foster more student collaboration around meaningful kinds of realworld-based projects.” This is the second such space at PGUSD, and a third is coming this winter to Pacific Grove Middle School. PGUSD is using funds from Measure A, approved in 2014 for education technology, and Measure D, approved in 2020 for facilities upgrades and renovations. GOOD WEEK / GREAT WEEK THE WEEKLY TALLY Number of grants made, totaling $31.2 million, by the Community Foundation for Monterey County in 2022. The majority (64 percent) went to organizations serving Monterey County. About $9.5 million (30 percent) of grants were made through Monterey County Gives! Source: Community Foundation’s 2022 annual report 2,277 QUOTE OF THE WEEK “Salinas, with its revitalization of Main Street, was a perfect fit.” -Michael Foley, owner of Heirloom Pizza, on plans to open a second location in Salinas in August. Live@ Heirloom Pizza Company will offer live music and a Tiki bar as well as the deep-dish pies the original Monterey spot is known for (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
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