6 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY FEBRUARY 27-MARCH 5, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com NEWS About a month after union organizers sent a request for voluntary recognition of the Monterey Bay Aquarium Workers United (MBAWU) union, which would represent all non-management staff at the Aquarium, the request was denied by Aquarium management. Executive Director Julie Packard, who recently announced her retirement, sent a message to Aquarium employees stating: “We want to be sure we honor each of your voices…That’s why holding a secret ballot election is the best path forward.” There are two main ways workers can form a union with a private company, says Shane Anderson, organizing director with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, one of the largest labor unions in the country which is representing MBAWU. The first is through voluntary recognition if a majority of workers show support, and the second is through a formal union election filed with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). “Really what they’re doing is forcing workers to vote twice,” Anderson says. “I think a lot of our leaders were disappointed in management’s decision because the Monterey Bay Aquarium is such a stalwart supporter of ocean conservation and a leader on a lot of progressive fronts. We figured that they would also do the right thing and stand by their workers.” Aquarium workers will vote by mail by April 18, or onsite at the Aquarium on March 26-27. Ballots will be counted on Monday, April 21. “The beauty of the NLRB election route is that it doesn’t really matter what management wants,” says Anderson. “It only matters how the workers vote. If the workers vote to unionize, then there will be a union.” Union Hurdles Aquarium workers to vote on potential unionization after voluntary recognition is rejected. By Katie Rodriguez At the North County Fire Protection District’s board meeting on the morning of Tuesday, Feb. 18, Fire Chief Joel Mendoza reported some good news coming from the Moss Landing Energy Storage Facility, a month after a fire destroyed part of the site and forced nearby residents to evacuate. Drone operators monitoring the rubble noted that temperatures had gone back down to normal levels, a relief for firefighters who were concerned that recent rains would reignite the damaged batteries. Less than eight hours after the meeting ended, the battery facility flared up again, prompting emergency officials to issue a warning to residents to keep their windows shut as a precaution. The fire died down early the next morning. The volatile nature of the fire is not unlike the revenue stream the fire district receives in property taxes from the power plant, historically its largest singular source of funding. The State of California is responsible for determining the assessed value of power plants. At one point, about 25 years ago, the Moss Landing Power Plant was valued at nearly $1 billion. But since then, as the decades-old facility began its march toward obsolescence with various portions being shut down over the years, the value has dipped drastically, dropping to a low of under $200 million at one point, Mendoza recalls. Following Vistra’s investment into a battery storage facility, the property is currently assessed at nearly $1.4 billion. But changes in how that property tax revenue is distributed have diminished the amount the fire district receives, down to $106,677 this year after approaching $1 million in the early 2000s. Fire District Board President Don Chapin calls the property tax revenue both “a blessing and a curse,” saying the district has made efforts in recent years to diversify its revenue stream. Proposition 218, passed by voters in 2021, increased property taxes in the district, giving North County Fire a more stable source of revenue. Prior to that proposition, a parcel tax that went before voters in 2019 failed. The funds have allowed the department to increase its staffing to 30 full-time firefighters, up from a low of 21, Chapin says. The district, which responds to about 3,500 calls annually and serves about 42,000 residents, has three stations, in Castroville, Prunedale and Elkhorn. While the Castroville station is staffed 24/7 with three firefighters, the other stations have two firefighters apiece. “We’re doing a darn good job on a very limited revenue stream,” Chapin says. “I’m very proud of what this district does and the resources we have.” Chapin says the district maintains a balanced budget, although capital improvements are always a constant challenge—some equipment is 30 years old, in addition to dated facilities. How the possible demolition of the battery facility that burned down affects its property value, and what that means for the fire district’s revenue is unknown at this point, but “we’re going to work with whatever we get,” Chapin says, noting that another tax measure is not on the table. “A new tax measure is not in our wishlist,” he says. “We cannot just live on the backs of our people. We have to live within our means.” North County Fire Chief Joel Mendoza, seen here in January the day after the fire ignited in Moss Landing, says his crews visit the site every morning. Power Loss A dwindling source of revenue for North County Fire could further shrink after a battery fire. By Erik Chalhoub A group of Monterey Bay Aquarium employees gathered during their lunch break on Tuesday, Jan. 14 to announce their intent to unionize as Monterey Bay Aquarium Workers United (MBAWU). “We’re doing a darn good job on a limited revenue stream.” DANIEL DREIFUSS ANDREW DUDENBOSTEL
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