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!
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