4 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY september 28-october 4, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com THE BUZZ FREE SPEECH On Aug. 17, the Weekly made a request under the California Public Records Act to the City of Pacific Grove asking for a log of calls between City Councilmember Luke Coletti and City Attorney Brian Pierik, from Jan. 1, 2022 through Aug. 17, 2023. Such requests by journalists for logs of calls between public officials are quite common. Despite the Weekly not asking for the topics of the calls—just when they occurred and how long the calls lasted— Pierik denied the request on Aug. 29, basing his decision on a California code regarding attorney-client and work product privileges. According to attorney David Loy of the First Amendment Coalition, the code Pierik cites “does not typically apply to the mere fact that such a communication occurred, the date and time of the communication and the identities of the participants.” Loy based his opinion on case law decided by the California Supreme Court. The Weekly made a second request on Sept. 4, citing that case law. Despite the precedent, Pierik denied the request again on Sept. 19. Good: Martin Dunes, just south of the Salinas River National Wildlife Refuge, might be the most pristine dune habitat in Monterey County, and that’s at least in part because its 125 acres are managed by an exemplary steward: the Big Sur Land Trust. On Sept. 15, BSLT announced that Montage Health, which was bequeathed some of the 125 acres, had donated its share to the land trust, meaning that BSLT now owns nearly 74 percent of the total area. “We are grateful for Montage Health’s outstanding example of inspiring love of land across generations, conservation of our unique Monterey County landscapes, and access to outdoor experiences for all,” Jeannette Tuitele-Lewis, BSLT’s president and CEO, said in a statement. BSLT organizes guided hikes and volunteer stewardship days for the public to get out and experience the unique and extraordinary habitat. GREAT: When Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 104 on Sept. 13, it provided $17 million in much-needed money for dam safety projects at both the Nacimiento and San Antonio reservoirs. After the Oroville Dam spillway failure in 2017, a statewide assessment of dams and spillways was initiated, during which it was found both Nacimiento and San Antonio dams, completed in 1957 and 1967, respectively, were in need of some work. The $17 million will go toward design and permitting over the next two years for a new spillway at San Antonio, as well as the rehabilitation of Nacimiento’s plunge pool over the next four. In a statement, Ara Azhderian, general manager of the Monterey County Water Resources Agency, thanked a host of state and county elected officials representing the region, calling their work on the matter a “key component of the success in securing this critical funding.” GOOD WEEK / GREAT WEEK THE WEEKLY TALLY The amount raised toward Maui fire recovery by the Hawaiian Luau hosted on Sunday, Sept. 24 by Roy’s at Pebble Beach in the Inn at Spanish Bay. Ticket sales were already underway when disaster struck in Hawaii. The team at Roy’s and Pebble Beach Company instantly switched gears to direct funds to the recovery effort. Source: Roy’s at Pebble Beach $32,000 QUOTE OF THE WEEK “That’s football— it’s a crazy sport. You can win it quickly, you can lose it quickly.” -Monterey Bay F.C. head coach Frank Yallop after his side conceded two quick goals in the 90th and 93rd minutes against San Diego on Sept. 20, losing 3-2 (see story, mcweekly.com). ♦ 3 Card Poker ♠ Century 21st No Bust Black Jack ♣ Texas Hold’em ♥ Baccarat FULL BAR! 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Tickets available at www.celticsociety.org Celtic Society membership discount recognized. $30 ADVANCE / $35 DOOR Kids prices available. Call or text 831-224-3819 for more info. www.stmarysbythesea.org We Speak German… CARS! Mercedes, BMW, Porsche, Audi, Volkswagen and Mini-Cooper Using current modern technology our experienced staff will diagnose, maintain and repair your German car. Certified Monterey Bay Green Business 373.5355 249 DelaVina, Monterey www.ccrepairmonterey.com
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