12 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY september 21-27, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com The Bible, in the Book of Matthew, quotes Jesus as saying no one can serve both God and money. In the end, you will be devoted to one and despise the other, he said. Leaders of the Diocese of Monterey are apparently choosing money in a lawsuit they filed against the Carmel Mission Foundation, an independent, secular nonprofit the diocese helped create and partnered with for a decade to benefit restoration of the historic mission. The diocese’s lawsuit, filed May 8 in Monterey County Superior Court, accuses the foundation of breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, breach of contract and other alleged offenses in the handling of money related to the renovation of the Downie Museum, completed in 2021. (The museum has never reopened.) The suit alleges that an estimated $6.3 million in funds raised for renovations was “lost, misused and consumed through excessive administrative costs, mismanagement and/or self-dealing,” according to court documents. The foundation clapped back in a response filed July 10, denying all accusations and charging that the diocese knows its claim of a misuse of funds is untrue. The intent of the diocese is to shut down the foundation and use donor money for its own purposes, the foundation argues. Foundation attorney Forrest Shryock says their evidence shows there was no impropriety. “There can be disputes about how projects should be run, but it’s one thing to have a difference of opinion and quite another to accuse someone of fraud because you disagree with how they’re running the project,” he says. The suit was filed not long after the foundation’s board voted to transfer its money to a fund at the Community Foundation for Monterey County. “We made this decision because we believed that we had a fiduciary responsibility to our donors to make sure their donations were used for the intended purpose of restoring and preserving the Carmel Mission property,” said Richard Denier, foundation board chair, in court documents. (An attorney for the diocese did not respond.) The diocese sought a temporary restraining order which was granted, blocking a transfer of funds. But in a hearing on July 21, Judge Vanessa Vallarta made no ruling on a permanent injunction and expressed doubts that the diocese had proved its case, Shryock says. She told the two sides to work out a resolution. The next hearing is scheduled for Nov. 17. During the deluge that battered the Central Coast in 2019, a crucial access point into the Big Sur backcountry was lost: A trail around the western border of Los Padres Reservoir, and ultimately connected to the Carmel River Trail, partially slid out. The timeline for when it would get repaired was an open question—it was owned by California American Water, whose local employees are primarily focused on keeping the water system running, and on fighting off a public buyout by the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District. Enter the nonprofit Ventana Wilderness Alliance, which recruited a team of volunteer wilderness rangers to do all the legwork to establish a rerouted trail that would bypass the slide and finish at the same destination. The amount of work those volunteers did—and the scope of the activities they carried out—is nothing short of impressive. They worked with the County Planning Department to secure grading permits (it helped that some of the volunteers, Aengus Jeffers and Laura Lawrence, are land-use attorneys). They also included ecologist Nikki Nedeff and archaeologist Su Morley, who also moved that process along, while Bellinda Taluban helped with engineering and Aaron Cole assisted with mapping. The trail is now done, but not yet open to the public, because the easement for the property—originally granted in 1949 to the U.S. government—must still be updated. To that end, Cal Am is working with the U.S. Forest Service. Cal Am spokesperson Josh Stratton writes via email that the two entities “anticipate executing the easement agreement soon,” after which the trail would be open to the public and a vital access point to the backcountry restored. Forest Service spokesperson Michael Papa writes via email that a new easement is required because the old 15-foot right-of-way path no longer exists. VWA Executive Director Mike Chamberlain declined to comment until the easement process plays out. Church Bell A legal battle brews between the Monterey diocese and the Mission Foundation. By Pam Marino news Block Party King City residents living in District 5 are invited to a block party to meet City Councilmember Robert Cullen and to join in festivities like music, tacos, face painting and more family-friendly fun. 5:30-7:30pm Thursday, Sept. 28. 300 block of Forden Drive, King City. Free. 385-4848, kingcity.com. Peace Signs International Day of Peace is around the corner and you can celebrate it locally. The Peace Coalition of Monterey County hosts its annual celebration with a potluck gathering and screening of the film Peace One Day. 6-8:30pm Friday, Sept. 22. Monterey Peace and Justice Center, 1364 Fremont Blvd., Seaside. Free. 9157257, cm_crockett@sbcglobal.net, peacecentral.wordpress.com. Water Ways Save Our Shores invites you to a different way of enjoying beach time: a beach cleanup to celebrate California Coastal Cleanup Day. 9am-noon Saturday, Sept. 23 Meet at the parking lot off Sand Dunes Drive north of Monterey Tides Hotel, Seaside. Free. 462-5660, saveourshores.org. Into the Woods Join Los Padres National Forest officials and partner groups for National Public Lands Day. Learn about community service projects planned and in the works at the Monterey Ranger District, and join in planting, painting and gardening projects at the ranger station. Wear sturdy shoes, gloves and sun protection. 9am-noon Saturday, Sept. 23. U.S. Forest Service Monterey Ranger District, 406 S. Mildred Ave., King City. Free. 385-5434, fs.usda.gov/detail/ lpnf. talk to the manager Monterey City Manager Hans Uslar gives an update on city programs and policies. Tune in virtually to hear from him and ask questions. 9:30-10am Wednesday, Sept. 27. Virtually at youtube.com/cityofmonterey. Free. 646-3799, monterey.org. Snap and win September is National Library Card Sign-up Month, and Monterey County Free Libraries is celebrating with a photo challenge. The challenge is an “out and about.” To participate, submit a photo that includes your library card and tag MCFL on Facebook (@eMCFL) or Instagram (@e_mcfl). Winners will take home a prize basket. Saturday, Sept. 30 is the last day to participate; winners will be announced on Oct. 2. For more information, contact your nearest MCFL branch. Map at co.monterey.ca.us/government/departments-i-z/library. Easing Up Four years after washout, a trail into the Ventana Wilderness has a reroute—but no easement. By David Schmalz The Carmel Mission Foundation collected donations specifically for renovations like those completed in 2021. The Diocese of Monterey disputes the costs involved. e-mail: publiccitizen@mcweekly.com TOOLBOX The suit alleges an estimated $6.3 million was “lost.” Daniel Dreifuss
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