www.montereycountyweekly.com september 14-20, 2023 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 15 Agribusiness companies are no strangers to politics. From the local level to Washington, D.C., the farming industry is deeply involved in advocating for policies that leadership see as good for farming. From state-level regulations on water quality (see story, p. 8) to subsidies for certain crops to federal border policy that impacts the ability of farmworkers to travel between California and Mexico, growers have a stake in policy. So it comes as no surprise that local agribusiness leaders are politically engaged. But what is surprising is to see some industry leaders throwing their weight behind a polarizing presidential candidate who has positioned himself as an enemy of policies that enable the local agribusiness workforce to exist. Where former president (and current Republican candidate) Donald Trump wanted a border wall, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis wants to build the same wall but better and faster. DeSantis’ platform includes banning sanctuary cities in the U.S. (Salinas sued Trump after his administration threatened to take away the City’s federal funding over a designation meant to protect undocumented immigrant residents). DeSantis supports a system called E-Verify to affirm legal status, something local ag leaders have long opposed—it could blow up an open secret that Monterey County’s agricultural workforce includes many people without papers. But never mind that list of problematic policies. Local ag leaders are hosting a brunch with DeSantis on Thursday, Sept. 28 (address provided only upon RSVP; I reached out to the organizer, Republican fundraiser Ann Kramer, and did not hear back about the event details). The cost to attend is $3,300 per person or $5,000 per couple, a donation to the campaign. The host committee includes a who’s who of leaders in local Big Ag: Linda and Bruce Taylor (Taylor Farms); Sandy and John D’Arrigo (D’Arrigo Bros.); Shelly and Steve Barnard (Mission Produce); Susan and David Gill (Rio Farms); Steve Church (Church Brothers); Pam and Bardin Bengard (Bengard Ranch). Maybe they are supporting DeSantis because he’s less outwardly toxic than Trump. But he’s promoting a platform that would be awful for Salinas Valley agricultural workers— and, therefore, awful for the companies that rely on them. Besides those policies, DeSantis is also proudly anti-“woke”— code for opposing any policy that makes a workplace more accepting and inclusive. He’s opposed to vaccine mandates, while the Salinas Valley ag industry led the way in offering vaccination clinics and protecting essential workers during the Covid-19 pandemic. What signal are they trying to send by supporting DeSantis? Sometimes leaders give to candidates in opposing parties, perhaps trying to curry favor and influence no matter who wins. In June, Bruce Taylor gave $3,300 to DeSantis, according to Federal Election Commission records. Three months earlier, he gave $3,300 to a Democrat, U.S. Rep. Zoe Lofgren, whose district includes Salinas. David Gill has given to congressional Democrats Lofgren and Jimmy Panetta, and also Republicans Kevin McCarthy, Devin Nunes and Jeff Denham. Church, meanwhile, gives to both Panetta and the Monterey County Republican Party. In 2020, Bardin Bengard gave $437.50 to Trump, and in 2016, gave him $2,000. One member of the host committee who did take my call, public relations professional David Armanasco, says his mind isn’t made up yet on DeSantis. “I thought it would be a good idea for me to meet him in person and see what I think of him,” Armansco says. “My purpose is to meet him and make up my mind. Nobody is in love with Trump —that’s why there is interest in seeing who this guy really is. I am not really happy with the choices that we have at this point.” I’m sure a lot of locals would be interested in meeting candidates face to face, but $3,300 is a little steep. There may, however, be other locals in attendance. A coalition is considering planning a protest. Salinas community organizer Corina De La Torre says: “We are deeply concerned about our ag leaders inviting such a divisive candidate to Salinas, and call upon them to reconsider their support and invitation.” A protest may send a signal to local leaders, but it may not be needed on the national stage. Polls show DeSantis flailing. Sara Rubin is the Weekly’s editor. Reach her at sara@mcweekly.com. Bite the Hands that Feed Us Salinas ag leaders host Ron DeSantis for a campaign fundraiser. By Sara Rubin Walled Off…For three years, Squid has watched the push-and-pull between Carmel and landowner and developer Patrice Pastor of Monaco, who has two big projects for his company Esperanza Carmel that he wants to build in the village—Ulrika Plaza at Fifth and Dolores, and the JB Pastor Project near Seventh and Dolores. Pastor finally received approval from the Carmel Planning Commission for the Ulrika multiuse design last month, after three tries. The proposed JB Pastor building, also multi-use, is another story. Pastor was thwarted by the city in his original plans to demolish a former bank community room to make space for the entire project, so he agreed to build around it. But that meant covering up a decorative aggregate concrete exterior wall panel designed by the “father of stamped concrete,” Brad Bowman of Carmel Valley. Pastor proposed moving it and the Carmel Historic Resources Board approved the idea in July. That didn’t sit well with city councilmembers Karen Ferlito and Alexandra Dramov, who appealed the decision. It went to the Carmel City Council on the evening of Tuesday, Sept. 12, just after the Weekly’s deadline. Squid isn’t sure Pastor will win favor on this one. Not long before the council convened, it was discovered that a crew working for Pastor installing story poles stepped in it: Workers drilled poles right into the top of the panel itself. Oops. Math problem…Squid isn’t a numbers genius, but as Soledad City Council prepared to cast a divisive vote on Wednesday, Sept. 6, Squid was ready with shrimp-flavored popcorn. The question for the council, as they transition from at-large elections to districts: Should they have four council districts with a mayor elected at large, or five districts with a rotating mayor? Of course, the 3-2 battle fell on predictable lines—members voted in their own interests and the five district map was approved. As the battle began, there was one rule shared with people in the packed City Hall: No personal attacks. Of course, that didn’t last. An enraged Gloria Ledesma (wife of former mayor Fred Ledesma, the architect of the map that eventually prevailed) shouted her comments and called Mayor Anna Velazquez, her husband’s political rival, a hypocrite. While the approved map means that Velazquez lost—she cannot run again in 2024—Squid thinks perhaps she’s the biggest winner. She will no longer have to endure a hostile environment in council chambers. Or maybe things will change before the 2024 election cycle. Velazquez’s supporters were already talking about a recall effort before the council meeting even ended, although City Clerk Darlene Noriega hasn’t yet received recall documents. Squid will make more popcorn. the local spin SQUID FRY THE MISSION OF MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY IS TO INSPIRE INDEPENDENT THINKING AND CONSCIOUS ACTION, ETC. “Nobody is in love with Trump.” Send Squid a tip: squid@mcweekly.com
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