september 26-october 2, 2024 montereycountynow.com LOCAL & INDEPENDENT Party Like It’s 1699 6 | Medicare Mix-Up 12 | Films of the world 35 | Prost to Oktoberfest 43 Jazz Cat Fall Arts Issue Darin Atwater, Monterey Jazz Festival’s new artistic director— the third in its 67-year history—has a vision for the future that respects the past. p. 40
2 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY september 26-october 2, 2024 www.montereycountynow.com September 26-october 2, 2024 • ISSUE #1887 • Established in 1988 Jean Perkins (Samsung A54 phone) A bright bit of sunlight peaks over the mountains at sunrise, as seen from Chews Ridge in the Santa Lucia Mountains in the Los Padres National Forest. Monterey County photo of the week Send Etc. submissions to etcphoto@montereycountynow.com; please include caption and camera info. On the cover: The 67th annual Monterey Jazz Festival, running Sept. 27-29, is Darin Atwater’s first as artistic director. He succeeded Tim Jackson at the conclusion of the 2023 event, and is tasked with shaping the iconic festival’s artistic vision well into the future. Cover photo: Daniel Dreifuss etc. Copyright © 2024 by Milestone Communications Inc. 668 Williams Ave., Seaside, California 93955 (telephone 831-394-5656). All rights reserved. Monterey County Weekly, the Best of Monterey County and the Best of Monterey Bay are registered trademarks. No person, without prior permission from the publisher, may take more than one copy of each issue. Additional copies and back issues may be purchased for $1, plus postage. Mailed subscriptions: $300 yearly, prepaid. The Weekly is an adjudicated newspaper of Monterey County, court decree M21137. The Weekly assumes no responsibility for unsolicited materials. Visit our website at http://www.montereycountynow. com. Audited by CVC. Founder & CEO Bradley Zeve bradley@montereycountynow.com (x103) Publisher Erik Cushman erik@montereycountynow.com (x125) Editorial editor Sara Rubin sara@montereycountynow.com (x120) associate editor Erik Chalhoub ec@montereycountynow.com (x135) features editor Dave Faries dfaries@montereycountynow.com (x110) Staff Writer Celia Jiménez celia@montereycountynow.com (x145) Staff Writer Pam Marino pam@montereycountynow.com (x106) Staff Writer Agata Pope¸da (x138) aga@montereycountynow.com staff writer Katie Rodriguez (California Local News Fellow) katie@montereycountynow.com (x102) Staff Writer David Schmalz david@montereycountynow.com (x104) Staff photographer Daniel Dreifuss daniel@montereycountynow.com (x140) Digital PRODUCER Sloan Campi sloan@montereycountynow.com (x105) contributors Nik Blaskovich, Rob Brezsny, Robert Daniels, Tonia Eaton, Paul Fried, Jesse Herwitz, Jacqueline Weixel, Paul Wilner Cartoons Rob Rogers, Tom Tomorrow Production Art Director/Production Manager Karen Loutzenheiser karen@montereycountynow.com (x108) Graphic Designer Kevin Jewell kevinj@montereycountynow.com (x114) Graphic Designer Alexis Estrada alexis@montereycountynow.com (x114) Graphic Designer Lani Headley lani@montereycountynow.com (x114) SALES senior Sales Executive Diane Glim diane@montereycountynow.com (x124) Senior Sales Executive George Kassal george@montereycountynow.com (x122) Senior Sales Executive Keith Bruecker keith@montereycountynow.com (x118) Classifieds business development director Keely Richter keely@montereycountynow.com (x123) Digital Director of Digital Media Kevin Smith kevin@montereycountynow.com (x119) Distribution Distribution AT Arts Co. atartsco@gmail.com Distribution Control Harry Neal Business/Front Office Office Manager Linda Maceira linda@montereycountynow.com (x101) Bookkeeping Rochelle Trawick 668 Williams Ave., Seaside, CA 93955 831-394-5656, (FAX) 831-394-2909 www.montereycountynow.com We’d love to hear from you. Send us your tips at tipline.montereycountynow.com. now [nou] adverb at the present time or moment Monterey County Now Local news, arts and entertainment, food and drink, calendar and daily newsletter. Subscribe to the newsletter: www.montereycountynow.com/subscribe Find us online: www.montereycountynow.com
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4 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY SEPTEMBER 26-OCTOBER 2, 2024 www.montereycountynow.com THE BUZZ FREE SPEECH Monterey County native and national leader Ben Jealous—formerly president and CEO of the national NAACP and currently executive director of the Sierra Club—was set to speak to his home NAACP branch at the 52nd Annual Life Membership Banquet on Saturday, Sept. 21. Then came a request by NAACP of Monterey County leadership to stay silent on topics they worried could make the dinner’s sponsor, Chevron, “uncomfortable” during the event. Jealous refused. On Sept. 19, he wrote a letter to the board, calling Chevron’s donation “blood money,” and urging them to return Chevron’s check. “The real danger in the precedent being set by the [branch’s] actions is demonstrated by what the fossil fuel industry has done to Black communities across the country,” Jealous said. “Big Oil appears not only to be trying to use a relationship with the NAACP to publicly absolve itself of this history, but to enlist an ally in their agenda.” In a statement, NAACP said: “We will continue to evaluate this sponsorship with an open mind.” Good: Construction recently began on River Road in Salinas on a new behavioral health center that will provide the first beds for children and teens in crisis who are Medi-Cal members. The Seneca Family of Agencies in partnership with Monterey County Behavioral Health are embarking on a renovation of Seneca’s existing 27,500-square-foot center (formerly known as the Kinship Center) that will add a four-bed crisis stabilization unit and a four-bed children’s crisis residential program for children ages 6 to 17. “This facility will provide a safe and nurturing environment for children and youth in crisis, offering them the essential stabilization and therapeutic support they need within their own community,” says Dawn Henson, regional executive director for Seneca Central Coast. The project is being financed through a variety of state and federal funding sources totaling $5.5 million. Programming is anticipated to begin in spring of next year. GREAT: The digital divide narrowed this week with the launch of broadband services in San Lucas. Internet provider Spectrum announced service is now available to nearly 100 homes and businesses in the South County community, and to mark the occasion, held a celebration on Sept. 23 with information on how to sign up. The news follows a similar project by Spectrum earlier this year that connected more than 170 homes and businesses in the neighboring community of San Ardo. In September 2021, the Board of Supervisors approved $1.935 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds to expand broadband in areas of the county with limited or no internet access, partially funding the South County projects. “The Board of Supervisors are making equitable and meaningful investments of ARPA dollars to expand true broadband access in the often-forgotten stretches of Monterey County,” Monterey County Supervisor Chris Lopez said. GOOD WEEK / GREAT WEEK THE WEEKLY TALLY That’s how much grant funding CSU Monterey Bay’s teacher training program received from the U.S. Department of Education. The Residents Offering Outstanding Teaching for Students (ROOTS) program trains teachers for local TK-12 schools. Source: CSU Monterey Bay $5.8 million QUOTE OF THE WEEK “[He] did not demonstrate true remorse.” -Statement from Monterey County District Attorney’s Office on the Sept. 18 parole release of David Leonardo, who was convicted of second-degree murder of a toddler in 2011 (see story, montereycountynow.com).
www.montereycountynow.com SEPTEMBER 26-OCTOBER 2, 2024 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 5 Monday, October 7 4:00–7:00pm Palma School 919 Iverson Street Salinas, CA 93901 FREE COMMUNITY FLU CLINICS Monday, October 14 4:00–7:00pm Boys & Girls Clubs of Monterey County Harden Youth Center 85 Maryal Drive Salinas, CA 93906 Saturday, October 12 11:00am–2:00pm Central Park 207 5th Street Gonzales, CA 93926 Salinas Valley Health Community Flu Clinic in partnership with the Monterey County Health Department. No appointment needed. For more information call 831-759-1890. Protect yourself and your loved ones. Get your flu shot. STOPPING THE FLU BEGINS WITH YOU For more information, scan the QR code.
6 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY September 26-october 2, 2024 www.montereycountynow.com 831 Is Monterey County ready for yet another way to consume arts and culture? Christina Bailey, who just made a big comeback from Nashville to Monterey, is betting yes as she presents residents with five nights of something that will start as a book club, followed by four nights of partying. The title of this music education event series is Baroque & Unknown, of which Bailey is the director. The theme is the question: Where are the women? Or to be more precise: Where are all the women composers in the history of music? Or to be very, very specific: Where are the female composers of the Baroque era? Bailey seems to have an answer, and after attending all five nights of the event, you will hopefully have one too. Bailey is the founder of The Creative Voice, “dedicated to fostering creative expression in adults,” she says. Her company is first and foremost a voice studio, but a voice studio with great ambitions. Prepared by the University of Maryland’s Boulanger Initiative, with help from a grant from the Arts Council for Monterey County, she is launching a series that shines a spotlight on the unknown women composers of the Baroque era, combining immersive music education, live performances and curated experiences while spotlighting local nonprofits. Each of the five nights will feature thought-provoking discussions with guest speakers from across the nation, interactive exhibits and live music performances from local musicians—all designed to create an unforgettable night of music history, disguised as a party. Each night will feature 15-20 minutes of music, actors in Baroque attire, “and a feast table with small bites and prepared-for-the-occasion cocktails.” The goal of the series is to honor unheard voices in classical music and also ask, “What if a music history lesson felt like a cocktail party?” while inviting Monterey music lovers into a night of music, conversation and even immersive theater. A former rock musician, Bailey once led the local band Honeymoon (voted Best Band by readers of the Weekly in the early 2010s). Bailey still loves rock, but also enjoys classical music. On top of that, she is an experienced event organizer and coordinator. The series will highlight the lives and works of 10 unknown composers, such as the queen of Mexican Baroque, Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz (1651-95)— only one of her works survives to this day. Each evening will also feature an overarching cultural question, fostering robust community discussions on topics such as “Where are the women and how can we uplift them?” and “How can we sustain our creative social circles?” Expect conversations to cover broader cultural influences, including a special focus on Mexican Baroque during a Día De Los Muertos celebration. Among the performers are the Central Coast Chamber Choir, women from The Creative Voice and Wendi Kirby Music. Stephanie Valadez and the Mecate Ensemble present the sole surviving work of Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz—alongside a new composition by Valadez, a composer and executive director of Xicameri Productions—and selected musicians from the Monterey Symphony. Valadez is a guest speaker that evening (Nov. 1), and joins a lineup of speakers including Kathryn Radakovich from the Boulanger Initiative of the University of Maryland; musicologist Charissa Noble from San Diego State University; Nicola Reilly, executive director of the Monterey Symphony; and John Wineglass, a local composer. The Baroque & Unknown series is just the beginning. Upcoming themes such as “Romantic & Unknown” and “Barrio and Unknown” will further highlight composers from various musical traditions and backgrounds, continuing the mission to amplify historically overlooked voices. Baroque & Unknown 7pm Thursday, Sept. 26; 6:30pm Thursdays Oct. 3, Oct. 17, Nov. 1, Nov. 14. Wendi Kirby Music, 550 Hartnell St., Monterey. $30/book club night; $50/per night (except book club); $240/all-access pass. thecreativevoice.co/baroque. Baroque Bash A new event series brings the unknown female composers of the Baroque era to life. By Agata Pop˛eda “I believe this series will have a big impact on both music lovers and students,” says Christina Bailey of her new music education series, Baroque & Unknown. “What if a history lesson felt like a cocktail party?” tALeS From tHe AreA coDe DANIEL DREIFUSS
www.montereycountynow.com SEPTEMBER 26-OCTOBER 2, 2024 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 7 Vote For Jean Rasch Your Democrat for Monterey City Council, District 3 The Choice of Neighbors Jean Rasch, nurse-midwife and special needs trust attorney, has a proven record of volunteer community advocacy: • 10 years of actively supporting the neighborhood and Monterey Vista Neighborhood Association (MVNA), regularly speaking up for residents at City meetings, and serving as MVNA President for the past 3 years • 10 years of listening to residents’ concerns and working to find solutions • 10 years of critically analyzing all sides of an issue and keeping an open mind • 10 years of forging successful compromises that are still working today • 10 years of making residents her #1 community priority • 9 years of representing MVNA on the City of Monterey Neighborhood and Community Improvement Program (NCIP) and serving as Vice Chair 2021-2023 Her opponent is a member of a self-appointed “slate,” a slate without women, a slate chosen without District 3 discussion or input. A three-person slate on the City Council creates a majority voting bloc. This majority slate comes with an unknown agenda and can reduce the public’s opportunity to be fully heard. The City of Monterey needs all points of view to be fully considered. Councilmembers should reach decisions with open minds and only after all facts are critically analyzed, discussed, and assessed with public input. Councilmembers are now elected by district. Councilmembers must balance the views of their district voters and the needs of the city as a whole. A bloc of councilmembers with pre-formed ideological views is detrimental to the long-term welfare of the City of Monterey, no matter what the political party or topic. A majority voting bloc stifles discussion, impedes the robust assessment of issues, suppresses true representation, and creates increased polarization. Support The Democratic Process VOTE FOR JEAN RASCH To support Jean’s campaign or to learn more about the “slate,” visit www.jeanrasch.com Paid for by the Committee to Elect Jean Rasch Council District 3 2024 Do you want to go InSIDE PRISon anD lEaRn wItH tHE InCaRCERatED? Members from the public engage in weekly discussions with inmates, sharing life stories related to empathy-building topics. Anyone over 18 is welcome to join! Offered Mondays from 4pm-6pm over 8-week cycles at CTF Soledad Prison - a voluntary commitment is required. Contact Program Director – Megan McDrew for more information and to sign up. Space is very limited! Professor Megan McDrew mmcdrew@transformativejusticecenter.org TransformativeJusticeCenter.org
8 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY september 26-october 2, 2024 www.montereycountynow.com news When the Pebble Beach Equestrian Center was about to be shuttered in June, ahead of its demolition on Sept. 10, there were five horses left that needed new homes. The center’s managers turned to the Equine Healing Collaborative asking if they’d take the horses. Executive Director Jennifer Fenton took all five. Now Fenton’s equine therapy business is facing its own possible closure. EHC’s 56-acre location on Highway 68 is up for sale, with an asking price of $6.3 million. EHC just completed two years of a five-year lease and they had hoped to be in a position to purchase it by then, Fenton says. Unless they can come up with enough money to buy it now, they’ll likely have to close. “We absolutely need to purchase this property. We need to stay here for the community,” Fenton says. The program sees between 500 to 700 people a month between its large Salinas location and a smaller location in Felton. Some clients as young as 10 are experiencing suicidal ideation, she says. “Moving is not an option, considering how many rescues we have on property,” she says. “It would be incredibly difficult to find a location to accommodate us as well as the number of people who come here for services.” Fenton has mounted a fundraising campaign in hopes of raising at least $1 million. Meanwhile, the options for equine-related businesses continue to shrink in the county. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s annual Census of Agriculture, the population of “horses, ponies, mules, burros and donkeys” in Monterey County decreased by over 200 from 2017 to 2022, from 571 to 343. Horse Trade An equine therapy practice struggles to stay afloat in the face of losing its location. By Pam Marino A year ago during September’s National Suicide Prevention Month, Jonathan Scott, the resiliency coordinator for the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, circulated the post’s Resiliency Newsletter to faculty featuring the month’s theme: “You are a light in somebody’s life.” Scott, an Army civilian employee, coordinated suicide prevention workshops for the month, including “Suicide Prevention for Families,” and “Value of Life Training.” Less than three weeks after the awareness events concluded, Scott, 36, died by suicide on Oct. 17, according to a death certificate dated Feb. 5, 2024, issued at the conclusion of an investigation into his death by the Monterey County Coroner’s Office. It was the fourth suicide of a DLI employee since 2022—three educators died by suicide during that year alone. In the past 12 months there have been two deaths by suicide among students, according to a DLI report obtained by the Weekly. “It’s really hard to have a closing statement other than the guy in charge of stopping suicides at DLI committed suicide. That’s horrible,” says Matt Snowden, former DLI faculty president, now living in Texas. Snowden says he interacted with Scott on resiliency efforts when he was still working at DLI. “Resiliency” is the term the military uses for the psychological skill to deal with adversity and thrive in high-stress situations, and is used in conjunction with suicide prevention efforts. According to an article published on the U.S. Army website on May 1, DLI invested in a resiliency effort that began in April 2023 in response to “behavioral health challenges” at the institute. DLI chaplains created a “three-phase joint resiliency program” that was rolled out across the entire institute. According to the article, the organizers presented at over 60 large sessions and more than 34 small group sessions, with a combined total of 750 hours of individual counseling. One chaplain was quoted as saying, “We think the program is working.” In the past 12 months, there were over 50 instances of suicidal ideation among students, seven attempts and two completions, according to a report shared with staff on Sept. 13. Military and academic stress, along with family issues were cited as main contributors to some of the incidences. “DLI is aggressively taking on the challenge of suicide prevention,” a spokesperson writes by email. He adds that year-round efforts seek to help students, servicemembers and civilian employees. Additional training is planned for supervisors on how to address mental health and suicide, as well as establishing trauma response teams for military and civilian workers. The Department of Defense requires annual mandatory suicide prevention training for servicemembers, but within the last year announced that the training is optional for civilian employees. In 2022, the most recent statistics available, the suicide rate among active duty members increased by 3 percent, according to the Department of Defense, although they noted it was below 2020’s average. Most suicides were among young enlisted men, the report said. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges, help is available 24/7 by dialing 988, or at 988lifeline.org. Groups across the Presidio of Monterey that focus on suicide prevention are working on identifying and reducing risks, according to a DLI spokesperson. Bugle Blare The Defense Language Institute continues to experience suicides, despite prevention efforts. By Pam Marino Equine Healing Collaborative Executive Director Jennifer Fenton and her team utilize over 40 rescue horses in Salinas to treat children, teens and adults for behavioral health issues. “We think the program is working.” Daniel Dreifuss Daniel Dreifuss
www.montereycountynow.com SEPTEMBER 26-OCTOBER 2, 2024 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 9 MAY 03 2025 CATALYST QUARTET WITH TODD PALMER, CLARINET JAN 11 2025 ISIDORE STRING QUARTET FEB 22 2025 NOV 09 2024 PACIFICA QUARTET APR 05 2025 VIANO QUARTET JUILLIARD STRING QUARTET Sunset Center, Carmel | 7:30 pm | pre-concert talk 6:30 pm chambermusicmontereybay.org | (831) 625-2212
10 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY september 26-october 2, 2024 www.montereycountynow.com Locke-Paddon Community Park is an oasis in the middle of Marina—but everyone agrees it is lacking in attention. A growing chorus of Marina residents want to see a well-maintained pond, access to the water and a new garden to celebrate the local Asian community. City representatives will present a vision for the park to the board and staff of Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District on Wednesday, Oct. 2. The park is primarily owned by MPRPD and maintained by the City of Marina. The lease and maintenance agreement is over 20 years old, and the city is seeking to reevaluate it, although MPRPD General Manager Rafael Payan says the park district isn’t interested in reassessing their arrangement, in which the city is primarily responsible for maintenance. The 17-acre park is the largest in Central Marina and is home to facilities like the Marina branch of Monterey County Free Libraries and Martin Luther King Jr. sculpture garden, as well as nature: There is avian life around the pond—great for birding—and flora includes willow trees. In a July report, city officials recognized they have not done a good job in maintaining and improving the park and its pond. “If we really want this to be a central park, there’s a lot of work that needs to be done to make the park visible and inviting,” says Marina resident Jeff Markham, a member of Friends of Marina Parks. “It does kind of look like a jungle out here.” The park’s most recent master plan is from 2005; the City Council approved $100,000 this fiscal year and will hire a contractor to develop a plan to maintain the pond (part of the pond is on city property); two years ago, council allocated $250,000 for an Asian garden. Members of the nonprofit Asian Communities of Marina have been involved in developing plans for the garden. ACOM and FOMP members have spoken up at MPRPD meetings to advocate for improvements and the Asian garden. “We really packed the place because it’s very important for us to feel like we have visibility in our communities,” says Kathy Biala, ACOM president and a Marina City Council member. Payan cautions that any changes and additions could be a lengthy process. Other agencies, including the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, would be involved. Biological and cultural assessments would likely be required as well. A very large, toothed marine mammal is hanging around our local waters more than we previously thought. Researchers from the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute’s Ocean Soundscape Team published a paper on Sept. 23 detailing a seven-year study that monitored sperm whales through their sounds, revealing that while these elusive creatures are rarely seen, they are frequently heard. “That was the first thing about this project that was really surprising to myself and my collaborators,” says Will Oestreich, U.S. National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow at MBARI. “These animals are not commonly seen in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.” Sperm whales are known to be cryptic animals; they forage in the deep ocean for extended periods of time and typically live far away from shore, which makes them especially difficult to study. But in 2015, a tiny underwater microphone about the size of a thumb was deployed a few thousand feet below the surface and placed on a tripod on the ocean floor. It continuously captured the clicking sounds of these animals, sending the recordings back to the MBARI research station for analysis. Sperm whales, known for producing some of the loudest sounds of any marine mammal species, were the primary focus as it might reveal information about a lesser known ecosystem: the deep sea. Like bats, these animals use echolocation, allowing researchers to determine the number of whales, their frequency, sex, and whether they’ve found food. “These clicks start to get closer and closer together as they’re honing in on their prey, until they become so close it just sounds like a buzz of sound,” Oestreich says. “That’s the moment that some unlucky deep sea squid or fish has been successfully acoustically tracked by the top predator of that ecosystem. “A lot of the really deep water in the sanctuary is challenging to observe. What we’ve done here is to establish a baseline.” In Park Marina officials and residents push to revive improvements at Locke-Paddon Park. By Celia Jiménez news Sounding Off Monterey County Supervisor Chris Lopez hosts a listening session to hear from residents about issues in District 3. 5:30pm Thursday, Sept. 26. San Ardo Union Elementary School, 62428 Center St., San Ardo. Free. 755-5033, countyofmonterey.gov. Throw it Away The Seaside Neighborhood Improvement Commission is sponsoring a citywide cleanup. Bins, open to Seaside residents only, will be set up to take trash. 8:30am-noon Saturday, Sept. 28. Highland Otis Park, Mingo Avenue at Mendocino Street; Mal’s Market parking lot, 1264 Noche Buena St.; near Ord Terrace School, La Salle Avenue and Lincoln Street; Pachetti Dog Park, Noche Buena Street at Kimball Avenue. Free. ci.seaside.ca.us. Family Fun The City of Salinas celebrates the groundbreaking of the Hebbron Family Center with the Fall Harvest Festival, featuring activities such as pumpkin decorating, facepainting, food, music and more. 11am-3pm Saturday, Sept. 28. 683 Fremont St., Salinas. Free. cityofsalinas.org. Meet the Dogs Peace of Mind Dog Rescue hosts a fall-themed open house and adoption event. Noon-2pm Saturday, Sept. 28. Peace of Mind Dog Rescue, 615 Forest Ave., Pacific Grove. Free. RSVP at 718-9122, info@peaceofminddogrescue.org. Future Opportunities The City of Salinas seeks feedback on what elements residents would like to see at the Intermodal Transportation Center. Survey ends 11:59pm Sunday, Sept. 29. tinyurl.com/SalinasITC. Race to Office Candidates running in the Seaside mayoral and city council election speak in a forum. 5:30-9pm Monday, Sept. 30. Oldemeyer Center, Laguna Grande Hall, 986 Hilby Ave., Seaside. Free. my.lwv.org/california/monterey-county. Coffee Conversation Soledad Police Department hosts Coffee with a Cop, an opportunity for the public to meet local officers. 10am Tuesday, Oct. 1. Soledad Police Department, 236 Main St., Soledad. Free. 755-5111, cityofsoledad.com. More Coffee and donuts Join members of the Monterey Police Department over a cuppa for an opportunity to get to know your public safety officers. 9-11am Wednesday, Oct. 2. Tidal Coffee, 400 Cannery Row, Monterey. Free. 646-3965, montereypolice.org. Noisy Neighbors New research shows endangered sperm whales are present in Monterey Bay. By Katie Rodriguez Jeff Markham of Friends of Marina Parks shows an area of the pond covered in algae at Locke-Paddon Park. He is also running unopposed for a seat on the MPRPD board. e-mail: toolbox@montereycountynow.com TOOLBOX “It does kind of look like a jungle out here.” Daniel Dreifuss
www.montereycountynow.com SEPTEMBER 26-OCTOBER 2, 2024 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 11 PROGRAMS FOR ALL AGES ALL YEAR LONG! THE CITY OF MONTEREY FOR MORE INFO + REGISTRATION MONTEREY.GOV/REC (831) 646-3866 SCAN ME! play! MONTEREY PRESCHOOL ADULT & SENIOR PROGRAMS ADULT SPORTS LEAGUES GYMNASTICS YOUTH DANCE CLASSES SCHOOL BREAK & SUMMER CAMPS YOUTH SPORTS LEAGUES & CAMPS AND MUCH MORE! LOCATED BEHIND THE PORTOLA HOTEL & SPA | COMPLIMENTARY PARKING (831) 649-2699 | PETERBSBREWPUB.COM HAPPY HOUR SUNDAY BREAKFAST 4PM TO 6PM LATE NIGHT 9PM TO 10PM 9:30AM TO 11AM MONTEREY’S FAVORITE SPORTS BAR CATCH ALL YOUR FAVORITE TEAMS ON 18 HDTV’S samara joy josé james mavis staples stanley clarke n•forever MONTEREYJAZZ.ORG 350 ARTISTS 87 SHOWS 3 DAYS OF MUSIC TICKETS ON SALE NOW! EASTWOOD SYMPHONIC FEAT. MONTEREY SYMPHONY DONALD LAWRENCE & COMPANY TICKETS START AT $60
12 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY SEPTEMBER 26-OCTOBER 2, 2024 www.montereycountynow.com Seaside City Hall has seen quite a bit of upheaval in the year 2024, with resignations and firings at top positions, including city manager. It also looks like it’s going to be an unusually expensive year for the city, as there have been times where it’s not clear who is minding the store. On Sept. 5, City Council approved reimbursing the federal government for Medicare expenses of $493,159, plus unknown accrued interest, for medical expenses the feds believed to have been incurred by former city employees that may or may not have been related to a worker’s compensation-related ailment. This comes after the city received notices from the federal Commercial Repayment Center, aka CRC, in October and December 2023 and January 2024 advising the city of worker’s compensation claims it was making on behalf of Medicare expenses of what CRC believed to be former city employees. Per protocol, Seaside Acting HR Director Samantha Alcaraz Sakhrani says those notices should have been forwarded to Seaside’s insurance claims adjuster to potentially appeal those claims and have them reduced or eliminated, but that never happened. She also says the most expensive claim ($468,758) was for hospice care for a former employee, and not worker’s compensation-related, and that the other four are for people she doesn’t think ever worked for the city—perhaps Seaside, Oregon. In a report to City Council on the matter, current city officials blame the mistake squarely on former HR director Sandra Floyd and former city manager Jaime Fontes, who were both terminated by the city earlier this year. “Neither the former [HR Director] nor their supervisor took discernible action to file challenges to the amounts due within the challenge period and as a result, the city is obligated to pay the full amount.” Alcaraz Sakhrani says CRC’s notices were found in boxes left in Floyd’s office, and not discovered until this summer. But Floyd disputes that—she says the boxes weren’t hers, and that they were left in the office by former HR director Roberta Greathouse, who preceded Floyd. Moreover, she says she never saw the claims, which weren’t addressed to her, but to the city, and she believes they would have gone to the finance department. Floyd filed a claim with the city Aug. 29 for an unspecified amount greater than $10,000, claiming retaliation and harassment, specifically against City Attorney Sheri Damon, who she accused of starting “a sham investigation against me as a ruse to bully and harass me along with those employees who complained against her.” Her claim came after a similar claim from Fontes earlier this year, which broadly outlined the same plot points— essentially, that there were personnel investigations happening that were not duly authorized by the city manager, pursuant to the city’s code, but that instead were allegedly initiated by Damon for what they claim was retaliation. (Citing pending litigation, Damon declined to comment.) Fontes filed a lawsuit against the city Sept. 19. Blow Back It’s been a rough year in Seaside City Hall, and the water is muddied as to where the blame lies. By David Schmalz Interim City Manager Craig Malin, left, is trying to stabilize City Hall leadership. On Sept. 19, City Council hired a national recruiting firm to find his permanent replacement. NEWS “As a result, the city is obligated to pay the full amount.” DANIEL DREIFUSS Low cost vaccination clinic for dogs & cats. Microchipping. Prescription flea/tick medication. Open Sat 2:30pm-4:30pm • Sun 11am-1pm Premium pig feed now on sale Purina Honor SHow 719 - $21.99 (normally $31.49) Purina Honor SHow 819 - $20.99 (normally $29.49) 101 W. Laurel Dr, Salinas • (831)443-6161 Mon-Sat 9am-6pm Sun 11am-5pm $5 OFF Any purchase of $25 or more $10 OFF Any purchase of $50 or more $20 OFF Any purchase of $100 or more CAnnot be Combined with other offers. Limit 1 Coupon per Customer. not vALid on hAy shAvings, frontLine/AdvAntAge, or seresto CoLLArs. must present Coupon At time of purChAse. Swine and Dine! Quality feed & pet supplies • DIY dog & cat vaccines • Premium hay at great prices 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
www.montereycountynow.com September 26-october 2, 2024 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 13 Proceeding number A2207001 before the California Public Utilities Commission began on July 1, 2022 when California American Water filed an application to increase revenues from ratepayers. The utility company pitched a tiered plan: A $55.8 million increase in 2024 (18.7 percent), followed by $19.6 million in 2025 (5.5 percent), then $19.9 million (5.3 percent) in 2026. “California American Water’s main focus is our customers,” the application reads. It went on to note cost pressures: capital investment, labor costs, inflation and anticipated decrease in water sales as customers increasingly emphasize conservation. That last part poses a fundamental problem to utility companies: They make money by selling a product (in this case, water) and it’s a product we are encouraged to use less of. That’s where utilities rely on what are known as decoupling mechanisms, formulas that enable the company to bill customers with a surcharge. The idea is that if actual water sales fall short of projected revenue, a utility company can still collect the difference to reach its target. This has long been the way Cal Am has sold water. But in a proposed decision released on Aug. 27 by Administrative Law Judge Jacob Rambo, it’s time for it to come to an end. “A forecast is just that, a forecast, a reasonable prediction,” Rambo wrote. “It is not a guarantee. As with all investments, Cal Am’s equity investors assume some risk.” Rambo’s proposed decision will be taken up by the CPUC, as early as Oct. 17 for a vote. Commissioners may choose to adopt his 64-page proposal, or something different. And Cal Am is advocating for something different. Since Rambo’s decision was released, representatives of Cal Am, National Association of Water Companies and California Water Association have logged 11 one-on-one meetings with commissioners or their representatives about the proposed end of the decoupling mechanism. In a brief filed earlier this year in defense of decoupling, Cal Am wrote: “California’s water supply is increasingly at risk as it confronts more frequent and extreme droughts and floods, rising temperatures, aging infrastructure and other challenges made more acute by climate change. This is not a time for half-measures.” Decoupling is the major sticking point, but on most issues, Cal Am and the Public Advocates Office reached a settlement, and Rambo proposed the commissioners adopt it. Their agreement calls for lower revenue than what Cal Am initially pitched in its 2022 application: A $20 million increase (6.4 percent) in 2024, $15.5 million (4.7 percent) in 2025, and $15.4 million (4.4 percent) in 2026. In total, that is $44.3 million less than originally sought over three years. Melodie Chrislock, managing director of Public Water Now, is organizing ratepayers to post comments on the CPUC website urging commissioners to adopt Rambo’s proposed decision. “We need hundreds of comments to offset Cal Am’s lobbyists,” she says. “The cost of water right now is a major issue.” Pay Scale A proposed three-year rate schedule for Cal Am leads to a battle over how utilities can bill for water. By Sara Rubin Melodie Chrislock of Public Water Now says fighting to keep water rates low is her primary focus right now while other big projects, like a public buyout of Cal Am, are in court. NEWS “A forecast is just that, a forecast.” DANIEL DREIFUSS CITY OF MARINA REMINDS YOU TO… PROTECT OUR WATER AND WILDLIFE RECYCLE AND PICK UP LITTER! Artwork by Los Arboles Middle School Student “I brought my Subaru to Hartzel on advice of a friend and I was so pleased with the service & attention I got from them. Not only finished on time, but under the estimate I was given. Very rare these days. So pleased with the whole experience & great peace of mind knowing it was done correctly. Highly recommend this guy.” —David F., Seaside 2/14/19 510 California Avenue | Sand City | 394.6002 hartzelautomotive.com EXPERT SERVICE WHEN YOU NEED IT. Subaru Mazda Lexus Infiniti Saab vintage MG SCHEDULE YOUR NEXT SERVICE ONLINE TODAY
14 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY september 26-october 2, 2024 www.montereycountynow.com Taking a stand Thank you so much for your eye-opening coverage of this principled man (“The local NAACP asked Ben Jealous, Sierra Club’s national leader, if he was willing to acquiesce to Chevron. He said no,” posted Sept. 19). Ben Jealous is on the right side of history for sure. June Henry | Monterey Integrity, so rare! Zoya Scholis | Seaside Vote Count Thank you for rebuking the recent attempt to undermine our elections (“Squid Fry: Party Line,” Sept. 12-18). Readers should be aware that United Sovereign Americans (USA) is a national organization with a nationwide strategy to create doubt about American elections, an effort shared by and financed by adversaries like Russia, China and Iran. Christopher Wray and other U.S. officials have warned us repeatedly to be alert to an increase in such efforts, whether it’s online propaganda or supported by groups like USA. It’s also a part of a homegrown strategy to challenge the 2024 election results if Trump loses. Do not be duped. As Squid proposes, tour or volunteer with our hardworking Monterey County Elections Department to see for yourself how we register citizens, manage elections and count their votes. Christina Lund | Pacific Grove Water Slide The Sixth District Court of Appeal confirmed that the Monterey Peninsula Water District is not entitled to collect the water supply charge, which has amounted to tens of millions of dollars from ratepayers (“Squid Fry: Water Way,” Sept. 19-25). Time for us to reconsider pursuing Measure J that, in my opinion, will end up costing ratepayers additional tens of millions of dollars in related legal fees and achieve nothing. Voters were told it was “a feasibility study that will cost us nothing.” That is far from the truth and there is reason to question the way MPWMD collects and spends ratepayer money. John Tilley | Pacific Grove No Fixed Address And we all need to get a Real ID by May 7. It seems like the people with multiple homes really don’t care about the rest of us who may not be able to get a Real ID because we have no address (“Some charming, oldschool ways of life are worth holding on to. Is not having an address one of them?” posted Sept. 20). I tried to get a pair of shoes sent to me but the company that makes them declined to sell them to me because they could not verify my UPS address, as it’s not linked to a residence. I pay for both a P.O. Box and a UPS box and it’s still not sufficient. I asked one of the mayoral candidates, “What are the benefits of not having an address?” Do you think he had an answer? Of course not. Claire Fay | Carmel I love the charm of Carmel-by-theSea’s address system. It is like a little code to be solved. When we lived in D.C., the city sent each home a small metal, reflective “license plate” with our house number. We could stick it in a front window or put it on a gate, wherever an emergency vehicle could find it at night. Something like that could be a simple solution—assigning a street number to homes for emergency, insurance or delivery purposes, while keeping the current P.O. Box system in place. Sharon Houy | Pacific Grove Share the Growth I read your coverage of the Beacon Economics report, that we need more housing to be able to diversify with industries other than ag and hospitality (“A first-ever report shows Monterey County’s economy needs to diversify,” Sept. 19-25). In Marina we are building not only new affordable homes but we are building a brand-new state-of-the-art coastal community with new upscale dining and drinking establishments, a Trader Joe’s is coming, and we already have a state-of-the-art movie theater and an REI, all within walking/biking distance from these new homes. Marina is now leading the way with housing and the new future in travel at Joby. And we have more land space to grow in the techno-industrial industry where you might find higher-paying jobs. Perhaps nowhere on the coast of California is another city growing the future like Marina. I think Marina is the future here in Monterey County. Scott Paul | Marina Boogie Nights The Oldtown nightlife scene hasn’t been this lively since the 1980s (“Salinas’ nightlife scene invites people to have fun while also celebrating the city’s historic downtown,” Sept. 12-18). Miguel Banda | via social media 201 Main is definitely the hottest actual nightclub! Randall Maldonado | Salinas Quiet Time I learned to meditate about 50 years ago (“An invitation to join your neighbors in taking a collective deep breath in trying out meditation,” posted Sept. 18). It is something I do every day no matter what. It has proven to be the most important and rewarding investment I ever made…in myself. I urge you to find the time and make the time...for you. E.A. Singer | Carmel Valley I’d like to share my own experience with transcendental meditation, in the hope that it encourages more people to explore this practice. After years of gentle encouragement from Jo Ann Gesner, a respected local TM teacher, I finally embraced TM on Oct. 4, 2010. Within just 10 days, I realized I should have begun much sooner. Meditating for 20 minutes, twice a day, brought a sense of calm to my restless “monkey mind” almost immediately. But beyond the quiet moments, the practice transformed how I navigated both my business and personal life. Stress gave way to a steady joy that infuses all parts of my day. The benefits have only deepened over time, and I wholeheartedly recommend TM to anyone seeking balance and peace. Patricia Hamilton | Pacific Grove Note: Hamilton serves on the advisory board of Meditate Monterey County. Letters • CommentsOPINION Submit letters to the editor to letters@montereycountynow.com. Please keep your letter to 150 words or less; subject to editing for space. Please include your full name, contact information and city you live in.
www.montereycountynow.com september 26-october 2, 2024 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 15 How much money does it take to win a local election? In Salinas, business interests are betting it takes six figures. Out of 14 candidates seeking four open council seats and the role of mayor this Nov. 5, three have already raised in excess of $100,000. While the next campaign finance reporting deadline is Sept. 26, a review of filings so far—including individual reports of gifts that exceed $1,000— shows more than $681,000 has already flowed into these five races. And more is coming. In June, retired county supervisor Butch Lindley registered a PAC called Protect Salinas. That enables donors to give sums that exceed the $5,500 individual maximum, such as $25,000 each from Church Brothers, D’Arrigo Bros., Tanimura & Antle and Scattini Farms’ companies. The PAC now has over $110,000 in the bank. On Sept. 20, Protect Salinas reported spending just about $5,000 on slate mailers supporting three candidates for council: Jose Barajas (District 1), Gloria De La Rosa (District 4) and Aurelio Salazar Jr. (District 6). Meanwhile, those three have also raised significant funds. Along with Margaret D’Arrigo (for District 3) and Dennis Donohue for mayor, these candidates have collectively raised over $538,000 as of Sept. 24. (That compares to $143,000 total for the nine candidates running opposite the business-backed slate.) The California Real Estate PAC gave the maximum $5,500 to each council candidate on the slate; agribusiness companies Braga Fresh, Ocean Mist Farms, the Nunes Company and Taylor Fresh Foods gave multiple candidates on the slate $5,500 each. Perhaps it should come as no surprise that business interests are throwing their weight into Salinas City Council elections. There was a time that they enjoyed a certain amount of influence in City Hall. A new, fiercely progressive council has been seated in Salinas, and it’s been uncomfortable. For example, on Sept. 24, they passed Monterey County’s first rent stabilization ordinance. Beyond policy, there is the matter of style that has upended the way things used to be in Salinas City Hall. First-term councilmembers Orlando Osornio (District 4) and especially Anthony Rocha (District 6) are not deferential. They are not afraid to disrupt the status quo. Salazar, a Hartnell College trustee who is challenging Rocha, says the current council is governing through bullying and intimidation. “It’s failed leadership,” Salazar says. He sees the money coming in as proof that Rocha has pushed too far: “If you create an uncomfortable business environment for ag and for hospitality, what are you going to do when they pack up and leave? His politics are going to push this into being a ghost town.” Notably, nobody is running for council on an anti-business platform. Many opposite the business-backed slate are in fact businesspeople. Chris Barrera, who is running for mayor, is a real estate agent; in District 1, Alex Ayala is a general contractor; Osornio previously operated a food truck catering business. There are some heavy hitters on the other side. Former county supervisor Jane Parker cofounded the Monterey County New Progressives PAC, which gave $5,500 each to Barrera, Rocha and Cary Swensen in District 3. Unions and small businesses are throwing down. (Osornio, for example, received $1,000 each from the Sheet Metal Workers’ Local 104 and Coastal Dental.) But overall, it’s a tough matchup. Rocha, who has raised $40,000 in “corporate-free” contributions, is unsurprised by the hefty spending in support of his opponent (Salazar has raised nearly triple, $114,500, so far). “The City Council is making significant strides in changing the power structure of our community to make sure residents are heard,” Rocha says. “Groups that are used to being in control are upset they have to be one stakeholder amongst many. We are not saying we are not interested in hearing from business—we want to hear from business as one stakeholder.” And there is precedent. Jyl Lutes, one of Rocha’s predecessors in District 6, lost her seat of 18 years when she was outspent 4-to-1 by Tony Villegas in 2016. Besides trying to win, industry appears to be sending a message: If your policies don’t reflect our agenda, we will try to unseat you. Sara Rubin is the Weekly’s editor. Reach her at sara@montereycountynow.com. Buying City Council Big business is spending big money on Salinas City Council elections. By Sara Rubin Naming Names…As a resident of a cutthroat marine ecosystem, Squid is well-acquainted with the transience of life, and as such, Squid has never had much of a desire to have Squid’s name on something, nor does Squid believe in the principle of it. (Though likewise on principle, Squid does want a Seaside Star in Squid’s honor.) All around us, there are things named after dead people, mostly white men, who the general public has no idea about—they just got here earlier than us. And in some cases, those names replaced another name, like Fremont Peak, which was once Gavilán Peak, but was named after Fremont following his conquering mission to win California for the United States in the 1840s. “Gavilán” means “sparrow-hawk” in Spanish, though in this case, it’s a falcon. How much cooler is that than a peak named after a dead conqueror? But the City of Seaside loves to name stuff after people, and on Sept. 19, City Council approved the street names of “Phase 1A” of the nascent Campus Town development, and the city stayed on brand. While the city’s policies suggest naming streets with a theme, like flora, fauna or geologic features, the council went a different direction—naming the streets after people. The phase’s main artery will be Rubio Avenue, named after former mayor Ralph Rubio, and there’s even a Bakewell Court, named after the developers of the project, Danny Bakewell Jr. and Danny Bakewell Sr. Seaside’s gonna Seaside. Chair Exercise…Maybe we owe it to Clint Eastwood for making chairs famous in the world of politics, thanks to his conversation with an empty chair at the Republican National Convention in 2012. But the Monterey County Democratic Central Committee is giving Eastwood a run for his money, as two people lay claim to the chairpersonship. On Sept. 3, committee members voted 24-7 to change their bylaws pertaining to when new leadership roles take effect. After a ferocious debate about the nature of the term “immediate,” Ian Oglesby took over from Karen Araujo, saying the chair-elect was now immediately in office. But Araujo has not stepped down. In her interpretation of “immediate” she still holds the gavel—the transition will take place in 2028, only after the next presidential election. Ten days after the vote, she sent a fundraising email to Democrats and wrote: “It falls upon us to unite and reclaim the moral compass of our communities, state and nation.” It would seem to fall to MAGA Republicans to fight it out over who actually is in charge (remember Jan. 6?) but here’s a power struggle for the ages, right in the county’s own Democratic Party. Squid will have plenty of shrimp-flavored popcorn within a tentacle’s reach as it all unfolds. the local spin SQUID FRY THE MISSION OF MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY IS TO INSPIRE INDEPENDENT THINKING AND CONSCIOUS ACTION, ETC. “We are changing the power structure of our community.” Send Squid a tip: squid@montereycountynow.com
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