6 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY DECEMBER 12-18, 2024 www.montereycountynow.com THE BUZZ FREE SPEECH A reporter who lawfully obtained a police report about a former tech CEO’s arrest on suspicion of domestic violence faces a $25 million lawsuit as well as threats from the San Francisco City Attorney. After receiving the police report from the San Francisco Police Department, in 2023, Jack Poulson of Tech Inquiry published it, showing that Maury Blackman, who was then CEO of Premise Data, was arrested in 2021. Blackman wasn’t charged, so he had his record sealed. Citing California’s “anti-dissemination statute” in the penal code, which prohibits publishing information relating to a sealed arrest record, Blackman sued Poulson for $25 million, while San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu sent his own takedown demands to the reporter. On Nov. 22, the First Amendment Coalition sued Chiu and California Attorney General Rob Bonta, claiming they are using the statute to “chill journalists and publishers.” “By itself, the anti-dissemination statute threatens a host of protected speech on important public issues,” the coalition stated in the complaint. Good: Good news for those who enjoy the outdoors. Recently, the cities of King City and Marina held ribbon-cutting ceremonies to celebrate the official opening of Mills Ranch Central Park and Hilltop Park, respectively, giving residents in new housing developments parks that are closer to home. In King City, the park is located in Nino Homes’ under-construction Mills Ranch subdivision between Victoria Avenue and Boston Lane, complete with soccer fields, basketball and pickleball courts, a playground, barbecue and picnic areas. In Marina, the park is located at The Dunes neighborhood in the former Fort Ord at the corner of 4th Avenue and 9th Street. It has sitting areas, walking paths and a dog park; it’s focused on being in nature, offering a view of the Monterey Bay. Vegetation features native species locals planted in the area over the past three years. GREAT: Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance brings the world’s finest cars to the Peninsula. The folks at International Historic Motoring Awards in turn brought representatives for the event to London recently to recognize the 2024 Concours as the Motoring Event of the Year. Concours chair Sandra Button accepted the award, praising the volunteers (it takes 1,200 of them), enthusiasts and especially the automobiles themselves for making the event special. “I’m here to represent the cars,” she told the gathering. “We can’t do this without them.” Indeed, two vehicles on show at this year’s Concours were also honored. A 1934 Bugatti Type 59, Best of Show at Pebble Beach, was named Car of the Year. A 1948 Talbot-Lago T26 received Restoration of the Year. So it was a great week three times over. The 2025 edition of Concours d’Elegance takes place on Aug. 17. GOOD WEEK / GREAT WEEK THE WEEKLY TALLY The amount of cannabis sales tax revenue collected by the City of Seaside in the first quarter of the 2024-25 fiscal year, down about 77 percent from the $237,000 in revenue in the first quarter of the 2023-24 fiscal year. Source: City of Seaside $54,000 QUOTE OF THE WEEK “Mr. Flores has shown a pattern of not listening to those who want to help him.” -Monterey County Superior Court Judge Andrew Liu, speaking about Leslie Flores of Monterey, who was sentenced on Dec. 4 to eight-plus years in prison for evading police and other charges (see story, montereycountynow.com). Two Portola Plaza | Monterey, CA 93940 (831) 649-4511 | Portolahotel.com BUFFET DINNER OPEN BAR LIVE MUSIC CHAMPAGNE TOAST For more information and hotel accommodations, visit portolahotel.com PURCHASE TICKETS NOW ON EVENTBRITE
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjAzNjQ1NQ==