6 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY March 28-April 3, 2024 www.montereycountyweekly.com THE BUZZ FREE SPEECH If you write a message in a public place, what rights does somebody have to erase that message? That question is part of the basis of a lawsuit filed on March 18 in Monterey County Superior Court by Sara Khalil, Maryam Khalil and Pearl Warrick against Max Steiner. Steiner also faces misdemeanor charges in connection to the Oct. 12 incident, in which he confronted the trio just after they had written “Free Gaza” out of plants on a sand dune widely known as Scribble Hill in Sand City. The criminal case focuses on whether Steiner grabbed and threw a smartphone (he is charged with assault and vandalism), while the civil case focuses on the right to free speech. “All members of our community have the right to peacefully express their opinions and disagree in a manner that enables the vibrant marketplace of ideas,” according to the suit. That Steiner removed the message in an allegedly violent and threatening manner is the basis of the suit, not simply that it was removed. “We stand firmly against the actions that sought to silence these voices through intimidation and physical harm,” said civil rights attorney Jeffrey Wang of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, which is representing the plaintiffs. Steiner has not yet filed a response in court. Good: It’s a good week for pastry-chefsin-training. Rancho Cielo Youth Campus in Salinas received $1 million in federal funding, making it one of 14 projects in Rep. Zoe Lofgren’s, D-San Jose, district to be awarded through the Congress’ Community Project Funding initiative. The funds will be used to expand Rancho Cielo’s Drummond Culinary Academy with a new 1,200-square-foot pastry kitchen. Rancho Cielo plans to create a social micro-enterprise, giving students real-world experiences in the culinary world and helping them gain entrepreneurship skills. The kitchen will be adjacent to the central kitchen and dining room, including a lab/ classroom, production room, administrative office, storage space and restrooms. “This funding will allow us to offer more specialized training and continue shaping the next generation of culinary professionals,” says Drummond Culinary Academy Executive Chef Estevan Jimenez. GREAT: The City of Salinas will have a new park next year: Ensen Community Park. The six-acre facility at Carr Lake will have picnic areas, playgrounds, courts, a dog park and more. The park concept has been years in the making and construction on the first phase, Ensen Community Park, is set to begin by March 31 and wrap up in 2025. (“Ensen” is an indigenous word that means blackberry. Blackberries were an important fruit in the diet of indigenous peoples who lived in the area that is now Carr Lake.) On March 19, the City and Big Sur Land Trust entered into a memorandum of understanding for the nonprofit to transfer the park to Salinas as each phase is completed. The “ultimate goal” is to turn all 73 acres of Carr Lake into a city park. The second phase includes a 67-acre restoration area. For this project, BSLT has raised more than $27 million in donations; the entire project is expected to cost $40 million. GOOD WEEK / GREAT WEEK THE WEEKLY TALLY Hours of work completed by three Moxi robots in Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula in one year. Since the first one was acquired on March 15, 2023, the robots have fulfilled tasks like delivering prescriptions to and from the pharmacy, saving staff time. Source: Montage Health annual meeting 11,000 QUOTE OF THE WEEK “I hate endings like this.” -Monterey County Sheriff Tina Nieto, speaking about the efforts to find missing hiker Caroline Meister in the Ventana Wilderness. Her body was found at the base of a waterfall on March 22 (see story, mcweekly.com). *APY =annual percentage yield. To earn 8.33% APY on the first $10,000 of balance for any monthly statement cycle, you must make at least 25 debit card purchases, have logged into MCU online banking at least once during the 90 days preceding the end of the statement cycle, and be enrolled in e-statements. Portion of the balance that exceeds $10,000 earns 8.33% to 0.18% APY. Fees may reduce earnings. Dividend rates and APYs are variable and may change after account opening. MCU may determine debit card purchase requirement is not met if cardholder manipulates transactions (for example by making multiple small dollar purchases at the same merchant on the same day) to meet eligibility requirements. Rates accurate as of 03/18/2024; subject to change without notice. **Member must not have had an MCU checking account in the previous 12 months or have previously received an incentive to open an MCU checking account. Member must meet eligibility requirements and enroll in MCU’s online banking and mobile deposit services. One per household, determined by residence address. $200 paid in the form of an MCU check that can only be deposited to an MCU account via mobile deposit. Not available on business accounts. Limited time offer; subject to change without notice. on the first $10,000 with our Wealth Builder Checking Account! And you may qualify for a $200** account opening bonus today! Visit a branch nearest you: Monterey . Salinas . Hollister Monday - Friday | 10:00 am to 5:00 pm or call us at 831.647.1000 www.montereycu.com Try Us First. We Pay The Highest! MONTEREY COIN SHOPPE Since 1970 same street for 40 years Open Mon-Thur 11am-4pm and Friday by appointment only. Call for an appointment: 831.646.9030 449 Alvarado St., Monterey www.montereycoinshoppe.com WE BUY GOLD AND SILVER, JEWELRY, COINS, DIAMONDS, WATCHES, ART & RARE ANTIQUES
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjAzNjQ1NQ==