october 17-23, 2024 montereycountynow.com LOCAL & INDEPENDENT houses of the future 14 | Monterey Bay Aquarium at 40 16 | New Life for the Dead Cassettes 39 The Monterey County Media Literacy Coalition is finding ways to teach us all how to think critically. p. 22 By Sara Rubin Fact or Fiction? First Place General Excellence • 2024 CA Journalism Awards •
2 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY october 17-23, 2024 www.montereycountynow.com october 17-23, 2024 • ISSUE #1890 • Established in 1988 Jay Edelman (Canon EOS R. 16-35mm lens, at 24mm. ISO 640.5 second exposure.) The “Comet of the Century” as seen from the Big Sur coast around 7:45pm on Monday night, Oct. 14. Nepenthe is in the foreground. Monterey County photo of the week Send Etc. submissions to etcphoto@montereycountynow.com; please include caption and camera info. On the cover: How information flows (and how quickly) contributes to the spread of misinformation. Media literacy educators note that many of us are not just consumers of media, but also curators and producers, thanks to social media platforms. Cover illustration: Karen Loutzenheiser with art from Shutterstock 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
www.montereycountynow.com OCTOBER 17-23, 2024 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 3 Get a mammogram. Talk to your doctor about when to start. Get active — do things you love. Limit alcohol. The more alcohol you drink, the greater the risk. Quit smoking. There’s a link between smoking and breast cancer risk. Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight increases the risk of breast cancer. Breastfeed. It may play a role in breast cancer prevention. Talk to your doctor about affects of hormone therapy. Eat a healthy diet. 1 5 2 6 3 7 4 8
4 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY october 17-23, 2024 www.montereycountynow.com THE BUZZ FREE SPEECH Many people find it difficult to distinguish fact from fiction when it comes to election-related news, according to a Pew Research Center survey of nearly 10,000 U.S. adults released Oct. 10. About three-quarters of those surveyed said they have seen inaccurate news, while 52 percent reported they couldn’t determine what was true or not. Republicans are less likely than Democrats to say it is easy to find reliable information. People were also surveyed on how they get their news, and from which outlets: 63 percent of adults ages 65 and older say television is their main source of political news, while 46 percent of the 18-29 demographic say they turn to social media. Fox News (69 percent) was the top outlet among Republicans, while ABC, CBS and NBC (82 percent) are the outlets of choice for Democrats, according to the survey. While 58 percent of those surveyed said the media is doing a good job of covering the presidential election, a majority of Republicans said the opposite. And if you’re feeling exhausted, you’re not alone—about 6 in 10 of the respondents said they are worn out by the amount of coverage of the campaigns. Good: Good news for ongoing revitalization efforts in Salinas’ Chinatown and for Asian Cultural Experience of Salinas: On Sept. 21, the City of Salinas closed escrow on the Republic Café, a former restaurant and banquet hall in Chinatown. “ACES is now tasked to renovate the interior of the building and create the Salinas Chinatown Museum and Cultural Center,” the nonprofit announced. The acquisition is part of the City’s efforts to revitalize the neighborhood. In 2022, the City Council approved the purchase of two historic buildings in Chinatown: Republic Café and Lotus Inn. The purchase agreement includes a condition: If the Republic Café is code-compliant within 10 years, ACES can lease the lower floor for $1 a year for 50 years. The latest Chinatown Revitalization Plan, approved in 2019, seeks to restore and maintain the culture and historical identity of the neighborhood. GREAT: After a two-year absence, the stars of Trans Am racing’s National Championship are back on track at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in 2025. The announcement brings more of the raw horsepower, American muscle beasts to the iconic track that had been left to the regional Trans Am Western Championship series in 2023 and 2024. “Many of our drivers wanted to return to the track,” says Michael Printup, COO of Parella Motorsports Holdings, in charge of the series. “Being able to return to a back-to-back weekend with Sonoma Raceway made a West Coast swing logistically feasible, so we jumped at the opportunity.” The national series features stars like Chris Dyson, Amy Ruman and Monterey County resident Thomas Merrill in multiclass racing. Dyson was the last driver to win a national series race in the top class at Laguna Seca. Race weekend is scheduled for May 2-4, 2025. GOOD WEEK / GREAT WEEK THE WEEKLY TALLY That’s the projected budget deficit for the County of Monterey’s 2025-26 fiscal year. On Oct. 15, the Board of Supervisors approved a hiring freeze on positions funded by general fund revenue. Source: County of Monterey $20 million QUOTE OF THE WEEK “I feel like I had a life experience and then played the show.” -DJ ayokay, speaking about his performance at the first-ever Worlds Away festival in Monterey (see story, montereycountynow.com). * Borrowers must be members of Bay Federal Credit Union and your business be eligible for Bay Federal membership. Qualification of membership is defined as the business headquarters is located within Santa Cruz, Monterey, or San Benito Counties. Must meet membership and account criteria, all loans subject to approval. Only commercial properties located within the state of California are eligible for financing. Rates and terms will vary based on collateral and credit. Programs, rates, terms, conditions, and services are subject to change without notice. Other restrictions may apply. 831.479.6000 • www.bayfed.com • 888.4BAYFED Federally Insured by NCUA | Equal Housing Lender 1524 N. Main Street | Salinas Now Offering Commercial Real Estate Loans No pre-payment penalties Purchase or refinance Loan amounts up to $5,000,000 Multi-family units, farm & agriculture, office space, warehouses and other properties Visit a branch today!
www.montereycountynow.com OCTOBER 17-23, 2024 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 5 For more information on our cancer services, visit SalinasValleyHealth.com/cancer or call 831-759-1951. To learn more and watch the Villegas‘ story, scan the QR code. In early 2023 Araceli Villegas was diagnosed with a genetic form of breast cancer. Shortly afterwards, Hong Zhao, MD, recommended that her fraternal twin be checked. Unfortunately, Angelica also tested positive. The National Breast Cancer Foundation estimates that one in eight women, or approximately 12%, will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. “When they tell you ‘you have cancer,’ the first thing that goes through your head is that ‘I’m going to die,’“ said Araceli Villegas. “I [was] always happy to see Dr. Zhao on Fridays. Her angel voice gave me that comfort that I was going to be okay.” Courageous Hearts: Navigating Breast Cancer Araceli Villegas (left) and fraternal twin Angelica Villegas navigated breast cancer together. “If I can do it, you can do it too!” — Angelica Villegas Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Early detection can save lives. Schedule your mammography screening today.
6 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY OCTOBER 17-23, 2024 www.montereycountynow.com 831 On Sept. 21, as visitors explore the newly opened GumperCastro Library at the Monterey County Historical Society campus in Salinas, they are mostly focused on the painted, rectangular windows spilling brilliant light into the room above the bookshelves. On one is a painting of the historic Boronda Adobe—just a stone’s throw away outside the door—and on the other, an exquisite rendering of the local coastline at the Carmel River beach before the arrival of the Spanish, with the hues blending together like watercolors. There is also a framed glass piece, standing on a table in the center of the room, that is another painting of the Boronda Adobe and is for sale in a silent auction. It ultimately sells for $1,100. The questions many are asking are: How long did these take to paint? How were they painted? One of the visitors then turns to Gail Spencer, who is sitting quietly watching others admire her art, and says they should ask her. Suddenly, she’s surrounded by people, peppering her with questions. Spencer is a retired elementary school teacher who taught for years in the Santa Rita Union School District, but she was an artist before becoming a teacher. She majored in fine arts at Occidental College and then spent about a year-and-a-half studying at the Academy of Art in San Francisco, after which she worked as a graphic designer for many years before going into teaching. But it was her elementary school teaching that seeded her inspiration for her current art form: alcohol-based ink on glass. She had used it once for a crafts project in her elementary school class, and struck upon it again this past year to solve a novel problem: The Gumper-Castro Library was intended to be a recreation of a reading room from the 1880s, outfitted with materials from the former mansion of Jesse D. Carr, recovered from the City of Salinas when it was torn down in the 1960s. The problem—or one of them—that needed solving was what to do about the two window frames above the bookshelves. They were too small and constrained for stained glass, so Spencer, who along with her husband Tom are volunteers for the Historical Society, struck upon the idea of painting alcohol-based ink on the windows instead. (Tom, a retired contractor, did all the finishing woodwork in the library, a yearslong project.) “Those were my first big major paintings. The first one took two months, the second one took about six weeks,” Spencer says. “I would say my style is evolving.” That’s because the medium is new to her, and she says the alcohol presents unique challenges. “The alcohol is really different,” she says. “A lot of the way I paint it is to let the alcohol ink do its thing. It’s a really hard medium to control.” On a recent weekday at her North Salinas home, Spencer demonstrates the process in the upstairs studio. The piece she’s working on now is a commission for a University of Arizonarun hospital, where her daughter is a trauma surgeon, to paint a “monsoon sunset.” She’s currently working on the sky and clouds, and she squirts some blue ink on a pane of glass laid across her working table and then, with a latex glove on her right hand, uses a finger to smear the ink across it. Then she waits for the alcohol to evaporate, which will lock the pigment in place. To create clouds, she uses an aspirator—a rubber bulb you can squeeze to eject air—to blow on the ink. For the finishing touches, she uses various tools, including fine brushes, and in some cases, a toothbrush—for the Boronda Adobe piece she auctioned off, which was set at night, she put alcohol in a toothbrush and flecked it onto the glass, creating little clear circles that, in aggregate, make it look like a starry sky. “Every time I do a new piece, I learn new ways to manipulate the ink and textures,” she says. “That’s kind of the joy of it for me—experimenting. And also the colors of the ink are so brilliant. I think that’s why a lot of people are attracted to [the] medium.” Seeing it Through A retired elementary school teacher in Salinas has shown remarkable talent at her new hobby: painting on glass. By David Schmalz Gail Spencer says alcohol-based ink is a medium that is difficult to control—which makes her work all the more unique. Each piece is a constant learning process. “That’s kind of the joy of it for me— experimenting.” TALES FROM THE AREA CODE DANIEL DREIFUSS The Chamber Connects At the Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, we are connectors, providing our members with valuable introductions to new customers and referral sources. If you're looking for a platform to initiate important conversations and grow your business, we invite you to join our business association on the Monterey Peninsula! Join Today! • montereychamber.com • info@montereychamber.com • 831.648.5350
www.montereycountynow.com OCTOBER 17-23, 2024 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 7 District 3 – Who are We? Skyline and Upper Monterey Vista, With Homes Surrounded by Trees What Are Our Primary Issues? • Safety: Fire protection, Forest and Vegetation Management, and Dealing with the Results of the Climate Crisis • Maintaining a Robust Neighborhood and Community Improvement Program (NCIP) • Affordable Housing for All of Us and for the Next Generation • Strong Neighborhoods and Vital Neighborhood Associations Who Knows Our Issues and Since 2012 Actively Works to Resolve Them? JEAN RASCH EXPERIENCE AND PARTNERSHIP COUNT www.jeanrasch.com Paid for by the Committee to Elect Jean Rasch Council District 3 2024 FPPC #1468148 JEAN RASCH MONTEREY CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 3 Endorsed by Monterey County Weekly Monterey County Democrats Democratic Women of Monterey County Monterey County New Progressives Public Water Now Monterey County Weekly
8 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY october 17-23, 2024 www.montereycountynow.com news During a trip to Palo Alto in June 2023, President Joe Biden announced the Climate Resilience Regional Challenge aimed at projects that improve coastal resilience against sea level rise, drought, wildfire and other climate change impacts, as part of the Inflation Reduction Act. Of the hundreds of applications that NOAA received for the funding, only 19 projects were selected, with Monterey and Santa Cruz being the only counties in California to receive a grant. (Over $3 billion was requested across all applications, 28 times more than the $575 million available for this first-of-its-kind initiative.) The California Marine Sanctuary Foundation received $71.1 million, starting on Oct. 1. “We’re relying on all of you and what we do best here,” U.S. Rep. Jimmy Panetta said to project partners on Oct. 11 in Moss Landing. “We’re relying on our numerous research institutions along the crescent of Monterey Bay to collaborate on reducing the risk of floods of fires.” Grant funds will support five fire risk reduction projects across over 7,000 acres. Ten projects will receive funds to improve the condition of coastal habitats, focused on mitigating the impacts of flooding in low-lying areas. The Foundation has also created a revolving fund that offers a flexible way to finance climate adaptation projects as well as rapid response to urgent needs, without being restricted to fiscal year limitations. “The demand signaled that communities recognize what is needed and are organizing around it,” says Rebecca Smyth of NOAA. “And that is an encouraging message: that we as a nation are really trying to think ahead about these disasters, rather than be victims of it.” Crisis Intervention The California Marine Sanctuary Foundation is putting a $71 million grant into action. By Katie Rodriguez It was an extensive collaboration that enabled Salinas to open the first state-subsidized Homekey project in Monterey County in December 2020, initially housing over 60 people who either had no homes or were on the brink of homelessness. The County of Monterey joined the city and partnered with a host of other agencies and nonprofits in the effort to facilitate the purchase of a hotel by a developer and move residents in. At the time, it was a success story. Last year, cracks in that story began to emerge, after it became apparent the Homekey developer, Shangri-La Industries, was in trouble. Court cases stacked up for unpaid construction bills followed by the company defaulting on loans, not just for its initial Salinas project at 545 Work St., but also two other Salinas Homekey projects, plus one in King City and others in Southern California. The company is now embroiled in lawsuits, including one that alleges its chief finance officer misused funds. The Work Street property was foreclosed on with a debt of $15.9 million. Dearborn Street Holdings - Series 1 LLC, based in Indiana, acquired the property on April 26. With just over 50 people’s homes in jeopardy, it was time for agencies to collaborate again, this time to find new homes so the residents would not fall back into homelessness. The plan is to keep the property as a Homekey project, but it is “in desperate need of repairs,” says Lisa Brinton, Salinas’ community development director. Residents representing 45 households received a 60-day notice to move out by Oct. 16 so that renovations could begin. Brinton began meeting weekly with Roxanne Wilson, the county’s homeless services director, Zulieka Boykin, executive director/president/ CEO of the Housing Authority of the County of Monterey, and representatives from other agencies including the County’s Health and Behavioral Health departments. “It really truly is all hands on deck,” Wilson says. At the request of the County, the Coalition of Homeless Services Providers—a federally designated agency known as a Continuum of Care that does the initial screening of potential recipients of vouchers and homeless services using a formula that determines need—paused its system in order to prioritize the “highly acute” Homekey residents. Doing so allowed them to be prioritized for services through agencies and nonprofits within the continuum. Boykin says residents were eligible for federal emergency housing vouchers. As of Oct. 14, at least 14 families had moved into housing. Others have received vouchers and are on the cusp of securing rentals. Around half of the 45 households are headed directly into permanent housing. Brinton calls the collaboration that made it possible “impressive,” adding, “the number we have going into permanent housing is even more impressive.” Salinas, Brinton says, is using a California Emergency Solution Housing grant, as well as a grant for rapid rehousing from United Way, to pay for rental application fees, deposits, storage and moving expenses. For those still waiting for homes, the County amended its contract with service provider Step Up on Second Avenue—the original nonprofit that previously partnered with ShangriLa—to safely shelter the remaining residents as they wait. Dan Lawson and Dianna West (left) pack their belongings in preparation to move out of Salinas’ Homekey project by Oct. 16. New owners are planning renovations. Turn Over Agencies pull together to get residents out of a troubled Homekey project and into homes. By Pam Marino Robert Mazurek, executive director of the California Marine Sanctuary Foundation, was joined by dignitaries at Moss Landing Marine Labs on Oct. 11 to celebrate a $71.1 million climate grant. “It really truly is all hands on deck.” Daniel Dreifuss Daniel Dreifuss
www.montereycountynow.com OCTOBER 17-23, 2024 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 9 2932 Cuesta Way, Carmel 3 beds, 3.5 baths • $9,200,000 • www.2932CuestaWay.com 7595 Paseo Vista, Monterey 4 beds, 4.5 baths • $5,695,000 • www.7595PaseoVista.com 18820 Cachagua Road, Carmel Valley 8 beds, 6.5 baths • $4,999,000 • www.MassaEstateWinery.com 14318 Hitchcock Road, Carmel Valley 4 beds, 3.5 baths • $1,950,000 • www.14318HitchcockRoad.com Interested in a property? Contact us to schedule a showing! 831.624.2300 MontereyCoastRealty.com CalDRE #01871677 Locally Owned. Globally Connected. View all available listings by scanning the code 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! Our 65+ Bay Area locations let us peek at a lot more boos. In-person or virtual visits at Pediatrics – Monterey genpeds.stanfordchildrens.org
10 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY october 17-23, 2024 www.montereycountynow.com In recent months the city of Salinas has seen an increase in pedestrian fatalities, including the death of a 3-year-old in July, after a driver ran a red light on East Alisal Street. Anecdotally, residents report more jaywalking, groups of kids riding bicycles dangerously and blocking traffic, cars blocking pedestrian crossings and more. In response, the Salinas Police Department has increased efforts to improve safety on the roads and mitigate reckless behaviors. City officials are seeking community input on streetscape plans, hoping for improvement. On Sept. 24, the city accepted two grants meant to improve traffic enforcement and education, and to reduce vehicular collisions and fatalities. Combined, Salinas received $268,831 from the California Office of Traffic Safety for 2025 projects. Ecology Action, a Santa Cruz-based nonprofit, will be in charge of providing training on bicycle and pedestrian safety. Also in September, council adopted the 2024 Salinas Active Transportation Plan to update the current plans that were over 20 years old. It will bring the city up to code with California’s 2008 Complete Streets Act, which requires cities and counties to incorporate street plans that will serve all users— including pedestrians and cyclists. Councilmember Anthony Rocha said it was important to adopt and implement bike infrastructure, otherwise it would impact quality of life into the future. “It has to come with the funding to maintain that bike infrastructure moving forward if we want this to be successful,” Rocha said. Currently, Salinas has 95 miles of bikeway but there are significant gaps, leaving cyclists on high-speed roads with heavy traffic, which can be unsafe and challenging to ride on. Main, Alisal and Market streets are on the top three for bicyclist and pedestrian collisions, according to the Active Transportation Plan. In surveys, many residents shared they didn’t feel safe on bike lanes and that sidewalks are narrow and in poor condition. The goal of this plan is to identify community needs and focus on projects that improve connectivity and the safety and mobility experience for cyclists and pedestrians. It calls for an interconnected trail system across the city. The plan includes increasing protected bike lanes from 9.4 miles to 59.7 miles. “If we want to encourage people to ride their bicycles, we need to maintain bike lanes safely.” Councilmember Tony Barrera said. Voters in North Monterey County will decide on three property tax measures in the Nov. 5 election that benefit schools and parks. While none overlap, one measure is going before the same district of voters that passed a property tax increase in March for a different entity. Pajaro Valley Unified School District, which operates three schools in North County, seeks voter approval of Measure M, a $315 million bond to renovate campuses across its 34 schools and construct teacher housing, among other things. The bond would add $60 per $100,000 assessed value of properties within the district for the next 30 years. PVUSD Chief Business Official Jenny Im says with the way schools are funded in California, there is little money to use to upgrade aging infrastructure without seeking bonds. PVUSD’s last bonds were in 2012 and 2002, which “made a tremendous impact on our schools and students,” Im says, adding that studies show that upgraded classrooms boost student learning and achievement. “It has now been over a decade and we must prepare for the next decade or more of facility and technology needs.” In March, voters approved Measure N, a $116 million bond measure for Watsonville Community Hospital which added $24 per $100,000 of assessed value on property tax bills in the district whose boundaries are nearly identical with PVUSD. Pajaro Valley Health Care District Board Chair Tony Nuñez says with the Measure N funds, the health care district was able to exercise its purchase option in September for the hospital building and its property for $40 million from its Alabama-based owner, and expects the deal to close within 90 days. While Measure N required two-thirds approval, Measure M needs 55 percent to pass. Voters within the North County Public Recreation District will be asked to approve Measure EE, an $82-per-parcel tax to support that district. Measure D, Aromas-San Juan Unified School District’s $44 million bond, is also on the ballot. Safe Street Salinas City Council bets on infrastructure to make roads safer for pedestrians. By Celia Jiménez news Flu Fighters Monterey County Health Department is partnering with local organizations to provide no-cost flu vaccine clinics around the county. 4-7pm Thursday, Oct. 17 at San Ardo Elementary, 62428 Center St., San Ardo; 11am-2pm Saturday, Oct. 19 at Mid Carmel Valley Fire Station, 8455 Carmel Valley Road, Carmel. Free. mtyhd.org. Talking Water New Monterey Neighborhood Association and the League of Women Voters present a forum featuring the candidates for Monterey Peninsula Water Management Board of Directors District 3. 7pm Thursday, Oct. 17. Hilltop Park Center, 871 Jessie St., Monterey. Free. newmontereyneighborhood.org. Park Beautification Friends of Seaside Parks Association organizes weekly work days to clean up and maintain parks throughout the city. 10am-noon Saturday, Oct. 19. Durant Park, corner of Wanda Avenue between Vallejo and Darwin streets, Seaside. Free. friendsofseasideparks.org. Grilling the Candidates Candidates running in the Nov. 5 election for various City of Salinas seats participate in a forum. The forum, conducted in English and Spanish, is moderated by Pastor Artis Smith and Univision’s Adriana Frederick Sutton. 6pm Monday, Oct. 21. UFW, 118 East Gabilan St., Salinas. Free. infobhc@ actioncouncil.org. Public Service Salinas City Council meets and accepts public comment. Tell your elected officials what they are doing well and what you think they can do better. 4pm Tuesday, Oct. 22. Salinas Rotunda, 200 Lincoln Ave., Salinas. Free. 7587381, cityofsalinas.org. Exercise Your Right The deadline to register to vote is approaching. If you miss the deadline, you can still register and request a provisional ballot. 11:59pm Monday, Oct. 21. Same-day voter registration begins Tuesday, Oct. 22 up to Nov. 5. registertovote. ca.gov. Working on the Highway Caltrans hosts a public meeting on the Highway 101 South of Salinas project, which would relocate two interchanges on Highway 101 at Grant and Main streets in Chualar and at Abbott Street. Left-turn maneuvers along the highway would also be removed. 4-6pm Wednesday, Oct. 23. Ag Center Conference Room, 1432 Abbott St., Salinas. Free. bit.ly/101southofsalinas. Bonding Together North County voters are being asked to approve three tax measures. By Erik Chalhoub In December 2023, Salinas received $16 million in federal funds to implement the Williams Road Safe Street Corridor Project, increasing mobility options on Williams. e-mail: toolbox@montereycountynow.com TOOLBOX The plan includes increasing bike lanes from 9.4 to 59.7 miles. Daniel Dreifuss
www.montereycountynow.com OCTOBER 17-23, 2024 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 11 BRIAN PEREZ it starts with trust Brian will bring: •Support of Neighborhood Associations •Focused on Revitalizing North Fremont Street •Improving Quality of Life in OUR District •Leadership from Military & Public Safety Experience •Enhancing Services at Casanova Oak Knoll Park Center MONtErEY CitY COuNCiL — DISTRICT 4 www.Perez4District4Monterey.com Paid for by the Committee to Elect Brian Perez Monterey City Council, District 4 FPPC ID# 1470834 VOTE 4 for all residents QUALITY SERVICES for seniors & youth SAFE & CLEAN RECREATION DIVERSE HOUSING neighborhoods options @JENNYFORMARINA As Councilmember I have worked hard to ensure: Support youth prevention services! www.SunStreetCenters.org Prevention • Education • Treatment • Recovery Preventing alcohol and drug addiction by offering education, prevention, treatment and recovery to individuals and families regardless of income level. VISIT LOCAL PHARMACIES FOR MORE INFORMATION. Use a medicine disposal bin to remove unneeded medications from your home as a measure of preventing medication misuse and opioid addiction from ever starting. DON’T FLUSH. DON’T TRASH. As your representative, she will make you proud. Vote for Celia Barberena for MPC Trustee, Area 4 New Monterey, PG and Pebble Beach Endorsed by: Monterey County Weekly Experienced, Ethical, Collaborative More information at celiabarberena.com Campaign FPPC Number: 1470717
12 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY OCTOBER 17-23, 2024 www.montereycountynow.com For the third time since 2022, the District 1 seat on Greenfield City Council is vacant. This time, it is because of a court decision that nullified an appointment to the position. On July 11, Superior Court Judge Thomas Wills ruled the City Council’s appointment of Drew Tipton to the seat was illegal because of a failure to properly notify the public of the intended decision to appoint him. On Oct. 8, the council voted 3-0 not to appeal the judge’s decision (Tipton abstained). Tipton served in this capacity for about a year. Since his appointment was invalidated, it’s still unknown what will happen to the decisions he made in that span of time. “The City Council has not yet decided how to handle the decisions voted on by Mr. Tipton nor how they will handle the vacancy should it occur prior to the election,” City Manager Paul Wood says via email. “These items will likely appear on council meeting agendas soon.” The seat is now vacant again; Tipton resigned on Oct. 15. “The bullies are going after someone who has more time (collectively) on the dais or on boards relating to the City of Greenfield than the rest of the Council combined,” Tipton wrote in a resignation letter on Oct. 15. The saga began in 2022, when districting took effect. Tipton lost to his colleague in District 1, Angela Untalon (who had previously been elected at-large), by 17 votes. Then in 2023, she moved out of the district and resigned, and the council appointed Luis Dominguez to replace her. Six weeks later, Dominguez announced he was moving out of the district so he too would be resigning. On Sept. 12, 2023, the council was set to discuss filling the new vacancy, with the agenda reading they would “determine a process to fill the District 1 Council Member seat.” The Brown Act requires government agencies in California to post agendas in advance, so the public knows what they are voting on and has the option to participate. The agenda indicated the topic at hand was choosing a process—but council voted 2-1 that night to appoint Tipton. That prompted Andrew Sandoval (a Salinas resident and council member in that city) to file a lawsuit, claiming the council violated the Brown Act. Wills agreed. In his decision, he wrote, “The Brown Act unambiguously states that an agenda shall describe ‘each item of business to be transacted or discussed’ at the meeting. Here, the council failed to disclose in its Sept. 12 meeting agenda that it would be considering the appointment of Mr. Tipton.” District 1 is still midterm, and two candidates are running on Nov. 5 for a partial term to serve until 2026: Stephanie Garcia, a litigation paralegal who has long been engaged in city issues, and Belen Garcia, a retired educator who is campaigning on the importance of uplifting young people. In her candidate statement, Garcia acknowledges the churn in representation: “If elected, I pledge to fulfill the remainder of the term.” Chair Change Greenfield City Council accepts a court decision deeming Drew Tipton’s appointment illegal. By Celia Jiménez The transition to district elections in Greenfield has been rocky, with three different council members representing District 1 since its inception in 2022. Now it is vacant again. NEWS It’s still unknown what will happen to the decisions he made.
www.montereycountynow.com OCTOBER 17-23, 2024 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 13 Repeal The Cannabis Fire Tax The Cannabis Fire Tax has become an unfair burden on a new industry that is struggling with over-taxation. Over half our local cannabis cultivators have already closed because of high taxes and low prices. The Fire Tax must end so the industry can continue providing many good jobs, revenue for the County and economic benefits for the community. When cannabis businesses fail, they pay no taxes to the County and workers lose their jobs. The Fire District is primarily funded by Property Taxes and cannabis properties also pay high property taxes. The Fire Tax is very costly and is raised every year for inflation. Green plants growing in a greenhouse are at low risk of fire. Please vote YES on Measure DD to repeal the Fire Tax and save Monterey County businesses and jobs. Support local farmers and vote YES on Measure DD! PAID FOR BY RIVERVIEW FARMS
14 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY october 17-23, 2024 www.montereycountynow.com The future of workforce housing on the Central Coast may well look like a three-bedroom, twobath house tucked away on a lot at 1045 Cass St. in Monterey. The house, which the public is invited to check out at a 5pm ribbon-cutting ceremony on Oct. 22, is a product of a partnership between two companies both committed to building healthy, affordable communities—ReVision West, a development company that owns the lot, and Shibusa Systems, a construction tech startup focused on eliminating every possible inefficiency from the homebuilding process. On a recent afternoon, ReVision CEO Diane Coward, Shibusa’s CEO Katy Reynolds and Chief Technology and Innovation Officer Michael Gwynn lead a tour of the 1,100-squarefoot home, which they imagine (not accounting for the cost of the land) will cost $375,000 or less to build. The way Shibusa is able to pull those numbers off is by minimizing labor costs and waste of materials during construction. It works like this: Shibusa provides exact specifications for each home— everything’s been engineered and designed down to a single nail. Then, as the homes are being built, orders are put in to the suppliers as the process moves along so that supplies arrive when they’re needed. In materials like wood flooring, pieces are pre-cut to minimize cutting onsite, reducing both the cost of labor and materials. As six workers shuffle around the house putting in the finishing touches, Gwynn says that essentially, anyone who’s ever built anything with Legos could build a Shibusa house—one just has to put the pieces together. (There are competitors like Abodu, a Silicon Valley-based startup that builds prefabricated accessory dwelling units, and relies on a factory with sophisticated manufacturing equipment.) Shibusa emphasizes good materials—no drywall for walls, for example, only high-quality wood—that homeowners (or renters) would want to live in. Per the developer’s needs, a home can also be modified on order— Shibusa’s system is modular—to add a bedroom, floor, porch, etc. The homes are designed to be elevated from the ground, creating a more hospitable crawl space to install utilities and to eliminate the need for a solid concrete slab foundation, which saves on cost, carbon emissions and creates a more permeable landscape. ReVision partnered with Shibusa, which recently relocated from New Orleans to Monterey, because it believes in their system and sees it as a way, Coward says, “to shoot for the missing middle” in the housing market. ReVision, using Shibusa’s designs, is currently developing a 15-unit multifamily project in Marina, with construction expected to start soon, and is in talks with CSU Monterey Bay and the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District, among others, about building workforce housing. Coward says ReVision’s goal is to build between 200-1,000 units in the next five years. Reynolds says Shibusa aims to be delivering the designs for an average of 10,000 units annually by 2030. Building Blocks A new partnership aims to make a meaningful—and meticulous—dent in the housing crisis. By David Schmalz Shibusa Systems Chief Technology and Innovation Officer Michael Gwynn says there’s only two inches of wasted wood in each row of a Shibusa home’s floor panels. NEWS Everything’s been designed down to a single nail. DANIEL DREIFUSS This project was supported, in part, by grant number CFDA 90SAPG0094-05 from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington D.C. 20201. Grantees undertaking projects under government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official Administration for Community Living policy. It’s tIme to talk about medIcare coverage Medicare costs, medicare advantage (Part C), and the prescription drug plans (Part D) change each year... learn more at one of our Free medicare updates Presentations Salinas: Alliance on Aging - Mon 10/21 at 3pm (English) Salinas: Alliance on Aging - Thurs 10/24 at 3pm (Spanish) King City: King City Library - Tues 10/29 at 2pm (English) and 3:30pm (Spanish) Call to learn more about our FREE service in your area! 800-434-0222 www.allianceonaging.org Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program - ‘HICAP’
www.montereycountynow.com OCTOBER 17-23, 2024 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 15 Community Events 301 E. FRANKLIN ST., MONTEREY CA (831) 646-3730 MONTEREYSPORTSCENTER.ORG 4:00 - 6:00 PM PUMPKIN PLUNGE TAKE A PLUNGE IN THE POOL TO PICK YOUR PUMPKIN SUNDAY, OCTOBER 27 SCAN TO RESERVE YOUR PUMPKIN DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS MARIACHI JALISCIENCE, GERARDO ZAMBRANO, CALPULLI OCELOCIHUATL & DANZANTES DEL VALLE 6:00 - 8:30 PM *BRING PHOTO ID FOR ADMISSION PUMPKINS ARE LIMITED! KIDS ACTIVITIES WITH OHANA & THE HEALING ART PROGRAM PROVIDED BY MONTAGE HEALTH ENJOY A VARIETY OF DELICIOUS FOOD FOR PURCHASE FROM VENDORS LIVE PREFORMANCES BY: MONTEREY SPORTS CENTER PRESENTS
16 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY october 17-23, 2024 www.montereycountynow.com Forty years ago, the Monterey Bay Aquarium began making history for connecting people to local ocean environments in breathtaking ways. On Oct. 20, 1984, the Aquarium doors opened to the public along Cannery Row, bringing in 10,681 visitors on its grand opening and welcoming nearly 2.4 million visitors in its first year. For someone who has never visited, it’s hard to fully capture both the sheer variety of species and the immersive experiences that the Monterey Bay Aquarium offers, let alone describe the feeling of walking through its halls. It’s one thing to look at one of the live cameras, where you can watch sea otter training sessions and penguin feeding sessions from home (or anywhere with an internet connection). Or to read about the Open Sea exhibit, where yellowfin tuna, a hammerhead shark and 400-pound turtles swim in a 1.2 million-gallon tank that spans 90 feet across and 35 feet high. But it’s another thing to watch creatures you’d otherwise never see in person drift past your eyes, separated only by a glass wall. To be in such close proximity to kelp forests, deep-sea fish and invertebrates, or stand beneath a swirling pool of sardines overhead, is an entirely different experience. Most importantly, it’s an experience that can spark curiosity about these animals and underwater environments—and this was the precise goal of the Aquarium’s founders. Following the collapse of the sardine fisheries in the 1950s, David Packard (co-founder of HewlettPackard) and his wife, Lucile, funded the construction of the Monterey Bay Aquarium, with a total investment of $55 million. Three years later, they established the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) in Moss Landing. The Aquarium and MBARI work closely together to this day, striking a balance between research and public engagement to educate visitors about local marine environments and the species adapting to our changing oceans. Today, the Aquarium occupies over 3 acres, and pumps in up to 2,000 gallons of seawater per minute, first to the Kelp Forest exhibit before getting directed to the many other tanks. Eighty percent of the marine life featured in the Aquarium—about 81,000 animals and plants representing 771 species—is native to California waters, a majority of which are from the Monterey Bay. Over the last 40 years, the Aquarium has had many impressive firsts. It’s the only aquarium in the country that exhibits bluefin and yellowfin tuna, salmon snailfish, ocean sunfish and pyjama squid, to name a few. And it’s the first in the world to successfully exhibit and release great white sharks, to showcase deep sea animals like vampire squid, flapjack octopus and strawberry squid, and to reintroduce rescued southern sea otter pups to the wild through its unique surrogacy program, pairing pups with adult female otters who raise them and teach pups how to groom and forage, as they would in the wild. One of the most striking and popular exhibits is the jellyfish exhibit, where visitors can meander through dark tunnels as jellyfish of all species drift gracefully by, illuminated by soft backlighting. The Aquarium is also one of the first to culture (or grow) many of the jellyfish that are on display. “People have even proposed in front of the brown sea nettle exhibit,” a volunteer shares. This month, the Aquarium is also celebrating 25 years of its Seafood Watch program, which tackles the complex challenge of educating the public on making better choices when it comes to eating fish. The program ties together the Aquarium’s exhibits and even its dining options, with clear ratings based on the health of different fisheries and their fishing practices, guiding people toward more sustainable options. Forty years in, these initiatives— designing new exhibits for visitors, educating students and the general public about ocean conservation and seafood, a successful otter surrogacy program—are widely known, with the Aquarium itself attracting 2 million visitors a year. (Since opening in 1984, it’s hosted 70 million people.) In celebration of its 40th anniversary, the Aquarium is thinking again about how to welcome locals in, and offering Monterey County residents free admission throughout the rest of October. In addition, through the Aquarium’s recent partnership with the Museums for All program, individuals and families receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits now have the opportunity to visit free of charge—making the wonders of the ocean more accessible to all. Monterey Bay Aquarium is at 886 Cannery Row, Monterey. Open 10am-5pm daily. $65/general admission; $50/youth, seniors; $45/children ages 5-12; free/children 4 and under; free/up to four people for CalFresh/EBT cardholders. 648-4800, montereybayaquarium.org. Free locals’ tickets are available on a limited basis at montereybayaquarium.org/locals. Blue Marble Monterey Bay Aquarium celebrates 40 years of putting ocean education and conservation at the forefront. By Katie Rodriguez news Above: African penguins dive, waddle and float by Monterey Bay Aquarium visitors. Since it opened, the Aquarium has welcomed 70 million people. Below: The Open Sea exhibit is the Aquarium’s largest tank, home to sea turtles, bluefin and yellowfin tuna, a hammerhead shark and more. Eighty percent of the marine life featured — about 81,000 animals and plants representing 771 species—is native to California waters. Daniel Dreifuss Daniel Dreifuss
www.montereycountynow.com OCTOBER 17-23, 2024 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 17 County of Monterey’s Family and Children’s Services is here to protect the preservation of families by recruiting Resource Families who protect youth involved in the Child Welfare System. To learn how you can help keep families together, visit fcsmc.org Foster Youth in Monterey County Partner. Protect. Support. *Cannot combine. 10% off labor only. Must present coupon at check-in. Shop supplies and any additional parts extra. Limited time only. VOTED BEST SIT-DOWN AIRPORT RESTAURANT IN THE COUNTRY BY USA TODAY READERS FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW! VISIT MRY FOR DINNER WITH A VIEW! MONTEREY REGIONAL AIRPORT / 200 FRED KANE DR / MONTEREYAIRPORT.COM
18 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY october 17-23, 2024 www.montereycountynow.com Both Sides Thanks so much for taking the time to lay out the issues and candidates (“Politics isn’t pretty—but it’s time for voters to make choices. Our endorsements in local, state and national elections,” Oct. 10-16). It is painstakingly difficult to sort through everything to make decisions based on limited knowledge. You provide enough information to determine what and who makes sense for the individual voter. I appreciate the behind-the-scenes of the local politics of the individual cities. Most of us would not know any of that. Carol Moreali | via email You are consistently true to form, touting and endorsing the Democrat candidates. Again, I will simply do the opposite! Vince Tuminello | Pacific Grove In Salinas… Your article was misleading to the question of where Margaret D’Arrigo resides (“Squid Fry: Forwarding Address,” Sept. 19-25). As a very good friend, I know she has been in Maple Park in South Salinas for several years. Margaret was born and raised in Salinas, and while she was able to move to the Toro/Corral area while she and her husband were raising their children, she had her children enrolled in Lincoln School’s Dual Immersion Program. In her children’s high school years at Palma and Salinas High School, she relocated to South Salinas. She has purchased a new home in the same neighborhood. She is not going anywhere. Margaret not only supports many organizations and businesses with her time, treasure and talent, she also supports her community by patronizing local Salinas businesses in her daily life. She walks her talk. She is a true example of a woman who believes in brighter futures. Sheryl Merrill | Salinas Thank you for exposing the huge donations at play (“Big business is spending big money in Salinas elections,” Sept. 26-Oct. 2). I am appalled at how so much corporate money has infiltrated all levels of our elections (in Salinas, it’s from agriculture and real estate). It’s sad that we have to research who’s funding who, with hidden interests reflected. Keep up your investigative reporting! Thank you for revealing how these political action committees aim to influence our voting. Karen Cameron | Salinas When I purchased my current home, Chris Barrera was my realtor and he did an excellent job. His attention to detail will be a benefit as mayor. One of his opponents is a former mayor who was responsible for the dysfunctional Green Vehicles fiasco, the Renaissance Partners debacle, the Measure K sales tax failure and more. Chris has the talents and the ability to be mayor, and make Salinas a better place for all. Eric Petersen | Salinas And in Monterey… City Council District 3 candidate Jean Rasch is supported by people and organizations with diverse perspectives. Those varied supporters recognize that Jean is independent, open-minded, and has the experience and knowledge needed to meet our neighborhood and city challenges. Jean is an accomplished individual with years of experience advocating and working for the Monterey Vista neighborhood. District 3 should be represented by a city council member who is not beholden to a particular party or bound by an agenda. Pat Venza | Monterey Eric Palmer is the best candidate for the District 3 seat because his work and parenting have taught him patience in decision-making. Jean has demonstrated that she does not take time to consider issues when she decided to criticize and insult Eric without knowing that he had advised city staff that he would be leaving early from the two-hour orientation to pick up his children (“Squid Fry: Fighting Words,” Oct. 3-9). As you note, “He worked for the City of Monterey for many years in communications, and knows how local government makes sausage.” Eric didn’t need the orientation but attended for as long as he could. He will make thoughtful decisions that will make lives better for those who live and work in Monterey who otherwise are just trying to make ends meet. Mark Lasnik | Monterey Since Gino Garcia has been representing District 4 on Monterey City Council, he has supported affordable housing development, the rental assistance program and rental registry; redevelopment of the North Fremont corridor; a light rail system for the Peninsula; neighborhood improvements; police and fire equipment; and cannabis retail. He has the knowledge of government, planning, and finance and the ability to advocate effectively for our district. Laura Nagel | Monterey school bell I am excited to support Chelsea Lenowska for the Monterey Peninsula College Board of Trustees Area 3. Her leadership, public service dedication and fresh vision make her an ideal candidate. Her background in higher education, federal law enforcement and her current role at the Naval Postgraduate School provide a wealth of experience. Chelsea is committed to ensuring MPC’s success while being fiscally responsible. Above all, she’s a champion for Monterey County. Her passion for education, innovative approach and new voice will benefit the community. Carolyn Swanson | Pacific Grove I would like to express my support for Libby Downey for MPC Board of Trustees in Area 3. Libby has consistently demonstrated a deep commitment to improving education and ensuring our local community college remains a valuable resource. There has been a lot of focus on age in this election cycle. While I agree that new voices and fresh perspectives can make boards stronger, experience matters. Libby has dedicated many years of service to this community and brings deep knowledge which will provide great benefit as MPC moves forward. Amy Stocker | Monterey 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.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjAzNjQ1NQ==