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4 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY OCTOBER 24-30, 2024 www.montereycountynow.com THE BUZZ FREE SPEECH The Associated Press’ election data is relied upon by thousands of newsrooms around the world, and for good reason: It accurately called 100 percent of the U.S. House, Senate, gubernatorial and presidential races in 2020. The notfor-profit news cooperative will have more than 5,000 people working on election night Nov. 5, marking a new record in its 178-history, according to Executive Editor Julie Pace in an interview with Axios. It will follow 7,000 elections across the country, making about 21,000 race updates per hour. Pace noted that the surge of mail-in ballots has made it difficult to determine the number of uncounted votes. Misinformation blooms in races that have not yet been called, she added. The AP also plans to increase its live video coverage, Pace said, including from more than 30 spots in battleground states. Its customer base for election data grew by 30 percent after the 2020 election, while the number of international newsrooms using the AP’s data is also increasing. Updates will be translated into 18 languages to reflect that. Good: Good news for teens in Salinas who want to have an impact. On Oct. 22, the Salinas City Council approved a pilot program for the Salinas Youth Council, which will run until July 2025. This follows a recommendation from high school students who completed internships this summer. A prior youth commission has been dormant for more than five years. The idea is to have one student representative from each Salinas high school work together to increase youth participation in city government. In South County, the cities of Gonzales, Soledad and Greenfield have active youth councils that have had positive impacts on their communities. In Gonzales, teens’ community involvement has resulted in change, including an underage drinking ordinance, a new counselor position to support students’ mental health, and advancing and getting involved with the Gonzales Community Center. GReat: On Oct. 15, the Monterey City Council approved an agreement with MidPen Housing to build an affordable housing project behind City Hall on 26,900 square feet of city-owned land where 41 of the 42 units will be available for individuals or families making between 30-percent to 60-percent of the region’s median income. The project will be a mix of studios and one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments expected to range between $548-$1,730 per month. The project will be centered around a courtyard and have an estimated 31 parking spaces for the units, and will also include a public playground adjacent to the Vasquez Adobe, which houses offices for the city’s Recreation Department and will remain intact. The agreement calls for a 99-year ground lease—the city will retain ownership of the land—with MidPen paying rent of $1 per year. The city will be providing a $1.5 million loan for construction and financing. GOOD WEEK / GREAT WEEK THE WEEKLY TALLY The amount Monterey Peninsula Unified School District received from the California Department of Education’s California Community Schools Partnership Program to implement community schools in Seaside over the next five years. Source: MPUSD Oct. 17 board meeting $8.7 million QUOTE OF THE WEEK “Every child deserves protection and people to advocate and seek justice for them.” -Monterey County Sheriff Tina Nieto, speaking about an arrest made Oct. 17 in the death of an infant nearly 30 years ago (see story, montereycountynow.com). PUMPKIN JOIN US FOR PANDEMONIUM THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31 • 3:00 – 5:00 P.M. Highway 1 at Munras Avenue, Monterey 831.373.2705 shopdelmonte.com Highway 1 at Munras Avenue, Monterey 831.373.2705 shopdelmonte.com SHOPPING. DINING. FUN. ALL IN A BEAUTIFUL SETTING. Trick or Treat Children dressed in boo-tiful costumes are invited to trick-or-treat at participating merchants. Pumpkin Patch Free Entertainment Visit shopdelmonte.com for details.

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