10 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY november 21-27, 2024 www.montereycountynow.com On Friday, Nov. 15, as the sun set on a crisp evening, farmworkers, teachers and members of Californians for Pesticide Reform assembled in front of CineLux Green Valley in Watsonville holding signs, gathering in protest about a controversial pesticide that remains in use on farms in Monterey County. The chemical is 1,3-dichloropropene, a cancer-causing fumigant that is used to eradicate pests in the soil. It’s also known as 1,3-D or Telone, manufactured by Dow Chemical. It’s a chemical that has been banned in 34 countries, yet remains the third most used pesticide in Monterey County, according to a 2021 report by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR). “There is a simple, science-based solution,” said Angel Garcia, codirector of Californians for Pesticide Reform. “DPR, you need to limit exposure to 1,3-D to all people living in California because at the end of the day, it is imperative that science must drive our regulations and not racist politics.” On Nov. 14, DPR released a draft regulation proposing allowable levels that exceed those recommended by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment to address the potential 40-year working lifetime cancer risk. The draft also includes guidelines that consider only certain groups, which farmworkers and local teachers argue make incorrect assumptions about who is exposed to this chemical and when. “It’s good that DPR is finally using the OEHHA findings for some. But why not all?” Jacob Sandoval, state director of California League of United Latin American Citizens, said in a press release. “Everybody should get the same health protective regulation that keeps 1,3-D levels below the 0.04 parts per billion per day standard set by OEHHA.” The chemical was banned for a period of time, about five years in 1990, following the state Air Resources Board citing high levels of the pesticide found in air quality readings taken in the Central Valley. DPR will hold in-person and virtual public hearings on the proposed regulations in January, including one in Salinas on Thursday, Jan. 16 at 5:45pm at the National Steinbeck Center. It plans to adopt a final draft in August 2025. “My parents work in the fields, my cousins and uncles. It’s sad to see how my community has been targeted,” CSUMB student Rocio Ortiz said at the protest. “Communities like Watsonville are sacrifice zones for corporate profits. We have to fight back against this attack on farmworker communities.” The glamour of flashy cars and high speeds in Fast & Furious don’t translate the same way in real life. A sideshow—or illegal street racing—can be exhilarating for some, but can also be dangerous. Sideshows can disrupt traffic; tricks can include having passengers hanging out of a vehicle or seated on the windows. On Saturday, Nov. 9, a sideshow in Prunedale took a tragic turn; 18-year-old Adrian Puga was shot and later died at the hospital. Sheriff’s deputies continue looking for clues to find the killer, requesting videos and photos from people who were at the scene. It is a misdemeanor to organize, participate in or watch illegal car racing, which may be an obstacle to gathering documentation from the event, although the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office reports they are receiving information. Sideshow participants can face fines of up to $1,000 or 90 days in jail, vehicle impoundment and driver’s license suspensions. According to the Salinas Police Department, sideshows happen at least twice a month in the city, ranging from 50 to 200 cars, while California Highway Patrol has reported 233 incidents between Prunedale and Soledad since January. Zachary Dunagan of Salinas PD says sideshows are more common in summer, and aren’t easy to track since they happen at different times and locations and are often over within an hour. “They’re quick, efficient—that’s what makes it the hardest [to enforce],” he says. Many happen in empty parking lots, where drivers race or do donuts. Parking lots are also a popular place for local car clubs to gather; sideshows have affected their meetups because attendees get confused with the racers, says Victor Cervantes, president of Street Life Lowrider car club. Illegal race gatherings have been a more prevalent issue in larger cities, prompting CHP last year to start a campaign called “Street Racing & Sideshows—Thrills That Kill” to educate the community about traffic safety. In September, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed several laws to aid crackdowns. Clear the Air Community orgs push back against lax draft regulations about the fumigant 1,3-D. By Katie Rodriguez news Air Traffic Control The Salinas Airport Commission meets to receive updates on the Salinas Municipal Airport’s operations. 6pm Thursday, Nov. 21. City Council Rotunda, 200 Lincoln Ave., Salinas. Free. cityofsalinas.org. Future Workforce The City of Greenfield invites those ages 18-24 to apply for an internship. The four-month program places participants in various governmental departments. Application period closes on Monday, Nov. 25. 674-5591, ci.greenfield. ca.us/523/Internship-Program. In Development The Monterey Planning Commission meets to consider proposed development projects. Public comment, as always, is welcome. 4pm Tuesday, Nov. 26. Colton Hall, 580 Pacific St., Monterey. Free. 646-3885, monterey.gov. Be a Part of History Monterey State Historic Park needs wayfinders (direction givers) for its annual Christmas in the Adobes event taking place Friday, Dec. 13 and Saturday, Dec. 14. All volunteers will be given a free meal and a ticket to the event for the night that they don’t work. Interested individuals should contact Richard Fletcher at 718-7695 or richard.fletcher@parks.ca.gov. Climate Action The County of Monterey is developing a Community Climate Action and Adaptation Plan to provide a framework for mitigating and adapting to the effects of climate change. Those who live and work in the county are invited to be a part of the process. Survey ongoing at qrco.de/ccaap-survey. Virtual community meeting 6-8pm Wednesday, Dec. 4. climate@countyofmonterey.gov. Funding Blocks The unincorporated Monterey County area and cities of Marina, Gonzales, Greenfield and Sand City are seeking proposals for projects to be funded with HUD Community Development Block Grants for 20252026. Projects include affordable housing, public facilities and economic development. Comments accepted through Dec. 16, and applications are due Jan. 17. A workshop will be held 9-10am Monday, Dec. 16, County of Monterey Government Center, 1441 Schilling Place, second floor, Salinas. bit. ly/3UQie9i. Deadly Race Sideshows have long been a problem for law enforcement; one in Prunedale turns deadly. By Celia Jiménez Angel Garcia, codirector of Californians For Pesticide Reform, speaks at a protest in Watsonville on Friday, Nov. 15. e-mail: toolbox@montereycountynow.com TOOLBOX “Science must drive our regulations and not racist politics.” Katie Rodriguez
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