8 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY MAy 16-22, 2024 www.montereycountynow.com news Six years ago, the County of Monterey signed on as a lead plaintiff in a landmark class action lawsuit brought by the State of California against major pharmaceutical companies in the wake of the misery and deaths caused by prescription opioids. In 2021 the plaintiffs won a $26 billion settlement, with $23.5 billion mandated to be distributed among participating states, with $2.34 billion allotted to California, to be used by counties and cities for drug prevention, education and treatment. The County of Monterey received more than $2.9 million in settlement payments since 2022, according to a KFF Health News online tracker, but no money has been put to use, according to the Monterey County Civil Grand Jury in a report released on May 6. In March 2023, the Monterey County Health Department, in charge of distributing the funds, presented a draft plan to the Board of Supervisors to spend the initial payments on education, Naloxone distribution, a $100,000 media campaign and other programs, with $95,000 to hire a halftime management analyst to coordinate efforts. No date was offered for completing the department’s plan. “The fentanyl/opioid crisis is complicated and continues to require many partners in a wide variety of disciplines to respond,” a statement released by the Health Department reads, adding that a plan is “in progress” and will be completed by July 31, as requested by the grand jury. The department contends it has already been working with community partners on education and Naloxone distribution. “This funding will allow for a more robust response from prevention to treatment and beyond,” the statement reads. Payment, Interrupted Over $2.9 million in opioid settlement funds awarded to Monterey County have yet to be used. By Pam Marino Two years after Amazon backed out of a massive warehouse project in Salinas, the online retail and web services giant confirmed it is revisiting its plans to build in Monterey County’s largest city. In an email to the Weekly, Amazon spokesperson Sam Stephenson says the company has “started initial development for an operations facility in Salinas.” “Launch plans are in the very early stages and additional construction, design and permitting steps remain,” he adds. “We appreciate the support of our partners in Salinas.” While Amazon did not provide further details on the project, city records obtained by the Weekly show the project is largely the same as when it was first proposed in 2021. In late 2021, Scannell Properties filed an application to the City of Salinas for a warehouse and distribution facility, standing five stories tall—up to 110 feet—and nearly 3 million square feet. Documents listed Amazon as the intended tenant. Plans call for the facility to be located on a portion of the Salinas Ag Industrial Center, currently an agricultural lot at the corner of Abbott Street and Harris Road. The center was approved as a concept in 2009, but had not received any development applications until Scannell’s submission. In April 2022, then-City Manager Steve Carrigan said the project was tabled indefinitely, citing rising construction costs as the reasoning from the developer. The application was withdrawn due to inactivity in August 2022, according to city records. However, in November 2023, Scannell purchased the property from Uni-Kool Partners for $14.7 million, county assessor records show. When the concept was approved in 2009, the 257-acre Salinas Ag Industrial Center was envisioned as an agricultural commerce area, where new and relocated ag businesses could expand their operations. In a December letter to Walker Williams of Scannell Properties, Salinas Community Development Director Lisa Brinton wrote that some of the uses outlined in the project do not conform with the center’s specific plan, namely its mention of “driving schools,” “making products on demand” and “assembling.” Brinton requested Scannell provide more information. City records show constant communication between city officials and the developer and a consultant since late 2023, including a tour of an Amazon facility in Tracy. Recently, on May 8, city engineers approved Scannell’s request to adjust some street segments within the project. Salinas Mayor Kimbley Craig says the Amazon facility could hire more than 1,000 employees with full benefits, which include college tuition support and industry certification programs. Craig adds the project will boost the city’s property tax revenues, and Scannell will build out the infrastructure on the vacant property. More details are forthcoming as the project works through the process, she notes. Groundwork for streets is expected to begin sometime this month. “We certainly recognize the opportunity to expand jobs in Salinas, but we also want to make sure we’re doing everything we can so the residents of Salinas benefit from Amazon being here,” Craig says. The Salinas Ag Industrial Center was approved as a concept in 2009, but has remained undeveloped since then. Amazon’s project would change this empty lot. Prime Time Amazon confirms it is revisiting Salinas plans after a developer buys property. By Erik Chalhoub More than 1,500 flags were planted in the Colton Hall lawn on Aug. 29, 2022, to mark opioid deaths in the county, the families they left behind, or people in recovery. “We want residents to benefit from Amazon being here.” celia jiménez Pam Marino
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