APRIL 17-23, 2025 MONTEREYCOUNTYNOW.COM LOCAL & INDEPENDENT ART TO REMEMBER 6 | SLOW DRIP ON DESAL 10 | THE DUDE ABIDES 24 | BIG SUR NIGHTS 31 | SKY HIGH 36 FIRST PLACE GENERAL EXCELLENCE • 2024 CA JOURNALISM AWARDS • Writer Susan Orlean has become a celebrity by writing nonfiction that dives deep into unusual stories. p. 18 By Agata Popęda STRANGER THAN FICTION
2 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY APRIL 17-23, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com APRIL 17-23, 2025 • ISSUE #1916 • ESTABLISHED IN 1988 Jessica Cedillo (Canon EOS R6, Mark II with Canon, 70-200mm, IS II F/2.8 lens.) On Friday, April 11, Mikey Moore caught for Stevenson School’s JV baseball team in a hard-fought 5-5 tie against Alisal JV. The game, played at Alisal High School in Salinas, went one extra inning before ending in a draw. MONTEREY COUNTY PHOTO OF THE WEEK Send Etc. submissions to etcphoto@montereycountynow.com; please include caption and camera info. On the cover: Writer Susan Orlean is known for her love of animals and her stories about them. She now resides in Los Angeles, but she used to have a farm in upstate New York, where she kept, in addition to her regular cohort of cats and dogs, rescue donkeys. She speaks in Carmel on Tuesday, April 22. Cover photo: Corey Hendrickson etc. Copyright © 2025 by Milestone Communications Inc. 668 Williams Ave., Seaside, California 93955 (telephone 831-394-5656). All rights reserved. Monterey County Weekly, the Best of Monterey County and the Best of Monterey Bay are registered trademarks. No person, without prior permission from the publisher, may take more than one copy of each issue. Additional copies and back issues may be purchased for $1, plus postage. Mailed subscriptions: $300 yearly, prepaid. The Weekly is an adjudicated newspaper of Monterey County, court decree M21137. The Weekly assumes no responsibility for unsolicited materials. Visit our website at http://www.montereycountynow. com. Audited by CVC. FOUNDER & CEO Bradley Zeve bradley@montereycountynow.com (x103) PUBLISHER Erik Cushman erik@montereycountynow.com (x125) EDITORIAL EDITOR Sara Rubin sara@montereycountynow.com (x120) ASSOCIATE EDITOR Erik Chalhoub ec@montereycountynow.com (x135) FEATURES EDITOR Dave Faries dfaries@montereycountynow.com (x110) STAFF WRITER Celia Jiménez celia@montereycountynow.com (x145) STAFF WRITER Pam Marino pam@montereycountynow.com (x106) STAFF WRITER Agata Pope¸da (x138) aga@montereycountynow.com STAFF WRITER Katie Rodriguez (California Local News Fellow) katie@montereycountynow.com (x102) STAFF WRITER David Schmalz david@montereycountynow.com (x104) STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Daniel Dreifuss daniel@montereycountynow.com (x140) DIGITAL PRODUCER Sloan Campi sloan@montereycountynow.com (x105) CONTRIBUTORS Nik Blaskovich, Rob Brezsny, Robert Daniels, Tonia Eaton, Paul Fried, Jesse Herwitz, Jacqueline Weixel, Paul Wilner CARTOONS Rob Rogers, Tom Tomorrow PRODUCTION ART DIRECTOR/PRODUCTION MANAGER Karen Loutzenheiser karen@montereycountynow.com (x108) GRAPHIC DESIGNER Kevin Jewell kevinj@montereycountynow.com (x114) GRAPHIC DESIGNER Alexis Estrada alexis@montereycountynow.com (x114) GRAPHIC DESIGNER Lani Headley lani@montereycountynow.com (x114) SALES SENIOR SALES EXECUTIVE Diane Glim diane@montereycountynow.com (x124) SENIOR SALES EXECUTIVE George Kassal george@montereycountynow.com (x122) SENIOR SALES EXECUTIVE Keith Bruecker keith@montereycountynow.com (x118) CLASSIFIEDS BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Keely Richter keely@montereycountynow.com (x123) DIGITAL DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL MEDIA Kevin Smith kevin@montereycountynow.com (x119) DISTRIBUTION DISTRIBUTION AT Arts Co. atartsco@gmail.com DISTRIBUTION CONTROL Harry Neal BUSINESS/FRONT OFFICE OFFICE MANAGER Linda Maceira linda@montereycountynow.com (x101) BOOKKEEPING Rochelle Trawick 668 Williams Ave., Seaside, CA 93955 831-394-5656, (FAX) 831-394-2909 www.montereycountynow.com We’d love to hear from you. Send us your tips at tipline.montereycountynow.com. Subscribe to the newsletter @ montereycountynow.com/subscribe Go to montereycountynow.com We Deliver… NEWS • ARTS • ENTERTAINMENT FOOD • DRINK • CALENDAR Local news everyday
www.montereycountynow.com APRIL 17-23, 2025 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 3
4 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY APRIL 17-23, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com THE BUZZ FREE SPEECH Gannett, the largest newspaper chain in America that owns the Salinas Californian, will no longer publish information about its workforce demographics and has eliminated references to diversity on its website. The move comes after President Donald Trump’s pledge to eliminate initiatives that promote diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in the federal government. When asked by a writer from Nieman Lab about the decision, a Gannett spokesperson said the company is “adapting to the evolving regulatory environment” and referred to Trump’s Jan. 22 executive order on DEI. In 2020, Gannett announced it would publish annual staff diversity reports, and in 2023, about 34 percent of its hires were people of color. In February, Gannett changed its “Inclusion” page to “Culture,” and changed a quote from CEO Mike Reed, which previously read, “If we don’t have an inclusive and diverse culture, we’ll fail at everything else.” “While we will no longer publish workforce demographic metrics or sustainability and inclusion reports, Gannett is deeply committed to our ethical business model,” spokesperson LarkMarie Antón told Nieman Lab. Good: Good news for outdoorsy people who live in Salinas and Marina—both cities broke ground for park enhancement projects in April. In Salinas, Closter Park, one of the most popular in the city, will get a makeover that includes fitness stations, new ball fields, an event space and more. The project will cost nearly $10 million and will be funded with a combination of Proposition 68, American Rescue Plan Act and city funds. In Marina, the second phase of Glorya Jean Tate Park has begun and includes basketball and pickleball courts, an exercise area and other amenities. The project has an $8 million price tag, and construction is expected to take less than a year to complete. Marina is also embarking on a process to develop an inclusive playground for children of all abilities, and a designer from Playgrounds by Leathers and Associates visited schools and the Community Center on April 14 to gather feedback. GREAT: Renowned conservationist Jane Goodall visited multiple venues across the Monterey Peninsula during the week of April 7 to celebrate the launch of Wildlife Conservation Network’s Sea Otter Fund. One visit included a ride on Monterey Bay Eco Tours’ electric catamaran, where she spoke on the importance of protecting the southern sea otter as guests cruised the waters of Elkhorn Slough. The Sea Otter Fund aims to support efforts to restore the otter’s populations among its coastal habitats. “Jane Goodall is my all-time hero,” Monterey Bay Eco Tours Wendy Kitchell said in a statement. “The work she does, and the people she surrounds herself with, inspire me to be a better person every single day. Her visit to Moss Landing—and touring the slough on our electric boat, designed to have minimal environmental impact—was an absolute dream come true.” GOOD WEEK / GREAT WEEK THE WEEKLY TALLY That’s the new course record in the women’s 66-mile Fuego XL cross-country race, set by Haley Batten of Utah on Saturday, April 12 during the Life Time Sea Otter Classic. Batten, who beat the second-place finisher by more than 26 minutes, also won the Life Time Grand Prix gravel race on Thursday, April 10. Source: Life Time Sea Otter Classic 4 hours, 33 minutes and 34 seconds QUOTE OF THE WEEK “My goal is to not sway the deck, but heavy the deck toward Seaside residents.” -Danny Bakewell Jr., developer of the Campus Town project, on giving priority of the new homes to Seaside residents (see story, montereycountynow.com). Monterey County Bank’s 12-month CD Offering Grow your savings with a secure 12-month Certificate of Deposit at 4% Interest Rate. 4% Interest Rate / 4.07% APY* Minimum Deposit: $100,000 Opening Your CD Is Easy! Visit any of our locations or call our branch managers for assistance: Carmel Valley: Nam Nguyen, Branch Manager Salinas: Diana McColl, Branch Manager Monterey: Karen Speed, Branch Manager Pacific Grove: Simi Johnson, Branch Manager montereycountybank.com *APY info: The annual percentage yield assumes interest will remain on deposit until maturity. A withdrawal will reduce earnings. Early Withdrawal Penalty: If your Account has not matured, any withdrawal of all or part of the funds from your Account may result in an early withdrawal penalty. Available to new funds only. Annual Percentage Yield is accurate as of 2/18/2025. 2020 INFORMATIONAL SESSIONS AND INTERVIEWS TO BE HELD AT 2:00 PM AT THESE LOCATIONS THE SUPERIOR COURT URGES YOU TO PARTICIPATE IN IMPROVING YOUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT! Greenfield Tuesday May 12 Monterey Wednesday May 13 www.monterey.courts.ca.gov/grandjury (831) 775-5400 Extension 3014 Salinas Thursday May 14 Monterey Courthouse Wednesday, May 7 at 2:00 pm Salinas Courthouse Thursday, May 8 at 2:00 pm King City Courthouse Friday, May 9 at 10:30 am www.monterey.courts.ca.gov/general-information/grand-jury (831) 775-5400 Extension 3014 The 2025–2026 Civil Grand Jury Needs You! 2025 INFORMATIONAL SESSION AND INTERVIEWS TO BE HELD AT THESE LOCATIONS
www.montereycountynow.com APRIL 17-23, 2025 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 5 Mother’s Day SUNDAY, MAY 11th | 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM Celebrate Mom in style with an elegant Mother’s Day Buffet at Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa.Treat her to a decadent dining experience featuring a lavish selection of chef-curated dishes, fresh seafood, gourmet entrées, and delectable desserts. There will also be fun activities available such as create your own Mother’s Day Cards and a festive banner to take family photos in front of. $125 ADULTS $49 CHILDREN (Ages 6-13) Free for children under 6.Tax and service charge not included. Pricing for children adjusted upon arrival, kindly book for the total seats desired. RESERVATIONS (831) 645-4058 Bu et EASTER Join us for a delightful Easter celebration featuring exquisite coastal cuisine, thoughtfully prepared by Executive Chef Michael Rotondo. Enjoy festive drinks and fine wines available as enhancements to make the occasion even more special. The Easter Bunny will be there to spread joy, along with tasty treats. There will also be a kids' buffet, exciting egg hunts, and plenty of fun activities for the little ones. SUNDAY,APRIL 20th | 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM RESERVATIONS $125 for adults| $49 for children (ages 6-13) Free for children under 6.Tax and service charge not included. Pricing for children adjusted upon arrival, kindly book for the total seats desired.
6 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY APRIL 17-23, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com 831 Just after 4:20pm on Sept. 17, 1963, a makeshift farmworker bus, heading east along a farm road a mile south of Chualar, came to a stop about 15 feet from a rail crossing. The bus carried 58 men, including the driver, all returning home after a day working in celery fields. Of those 58, 53 were braceros—contract workers from Mexico under the federal Bracero Program, which started in 1942. The driver and foreman of the crew, Francisco Gonzales Espinoza, who reportedly had tunnel vision, did not see the Southern Pacific freight train barreling north toward the crossing as he began to drive slowly over the tracks. By the time he heard the train’s whistle, there was no time—the train struck the back half of the makeshift bus at about 65 mph, whipping it around 190 degrees off the track. Espinoza, the driver, was the only one unscathed. Bodies were strewn everywhere—23 men were pronounced dead at the scene and nine later died from their injuries. A reported 9,000 people attended the Sept. 25 funeral for the 32 men—31 braceros and one undocumented immigrant from Mexico—at the Palma High School gymnasium. The morning after the crash, Ernesto Galarza, a labor organizer in San Jose, got a call from the Salinas Central Labor Council and was told, “Turn on your radio. There’s been a farm labor bus collision in Chualar. Better come and look. This town is full of dead Mexicans.” Galarza, who had advanced degrees from Stanford and Columbia, was subsequently appointed by the U.S. House Committee on Education and Labor to investigate the crash. His findings, which he delivered in a report to Congress in April 1964, shed light on the unsafe practices in the industry—for one, the bus was a converted flatbed produce truck with a canopy put on top; it had never been inspected. The report helped, over time, lead to safer transportation for workers, and the state tightened up its inspections. Congress, meanwhile, let the Bracero Program expire in 1964. At the crash site today, there’s a wooden cross reading “32 Braceros” that local activist Juan Martinez, who died in 2022, placed there about 15 years ago. In 2024, a more durable cross made of steel was put next to it. When County Supervisor Luis Alejo was in the State Legislature in 2013, he worked with Martinez to put up the Bracero Memorial Highway signs along a 15-mile section of Highway 101 between Chualar and Soledad. But that didn’t seem like enough: About a yearand-a-half ago, Alejo approached Jacquie Atchison, executive director of the Arts Council for Monterey County, about creating a mural in Chualar to memorialize the crash, and the braceros. The idea took off from there, and last summer, a call was put out for artists to submit proposed mural designs. The winning image was created by Seaside artist Hanif Panni. In the middle, a bracero, eyes closed, has his head tilted skyward, and an explosion comes out of his head, a mix of flames and vegetables. On the left side is the bus and a roadside cross reading “32 Braceros,” and on the right, braceros work in a field using a short-handled hoe, aka “the devil’s arm,” a tool the state Supreme Court outlawed on April 17, 1975. At 4:30pm on Friday, April 18, a day after the 50th anniversary of that historic ruling, Alejo, Supervisor Chris Lopez and Arts4MC are hosting an unveiling of Panni’s work, the “Bracero Legacy Mural,” which Panni recently completed after spending much of the last month painting it on the wall of Chualar Market along Jackson Street. Alejo is thrilled with how it came out. “Hanif is just a tremendous artist,” he says. Around 20 organizations will be in attendance, Alejo says, as well as bracero groups, lowriders, dancers from Chualar Elementary and free tacos from a taco truck. It’s a celebration, and recognition, of the sacrifices and contributions the bracero workers made to the local community. “For me,” Alejo says, “it’s an example of where history intersects with beautiful art.” The Bracero Legacy Mural unveiling celebration starts at 4:30pm Friday, April 18 at Chualar Market, 24335 Grant St., Chualar. Labor of Love A stunning new mural in Chualar captures the beautiful, painful legacy of bracero farmworkers. By David Schmalz A California Highway Patrol spokesperson at the time of the 1963 Chualar crash called it “the biggest single fatal vehicle accident in the history of California.” Seaside artist Hanif Panni (above) memorialized the lives lost in the crash with a new mural. “It’s where history intersects with beautiful art.” TALES FROM THE AREA CODE DANIEL DREIFUSS The Chamber Includes We are inclusive, guided by our commitment to be an organization where all members have a sense of belonging, feel respected, valued, and are provided a level of service and support that enables them to be successful. If you're looking for a platform to initiate important conversations and grow your business, we invite you to be part of our award-winning business community. Join Today! • montereychamber.com • info@montereychamber.com • 831.648.5350 JOIN TODAY!
www.montereycountynow.com APRIL 17-23, 2025 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 7 WE CARE. Since MPWMD was formed in 1978, we’ve passionately pursued the conservation of natural resources on the Monterey Peninsula and an affordable and sustainable water supply. The results speak for themselves. Pure Water Monterey Provides 38% of the Peninsula’s water. The Expansion will increase it to 60% later this year. Seaside Aquifer Storage and Recovery In 2024 we saved a half million gallons of surplus Carmel River rainwater for future use. Carmel River Steelhead Rescue and Restoration We’ve rescued 500,000 Steelhead from drying portions of the Carmel River since 1989. Lift Cease and Desist Order on Carmel River Working to eliminate the moratorium on new housing as early as the end of the year. For more on these projects, see the MPWMD Annual Report in next week’s MCWeekly REALLY.
8 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY APRIL 17-23, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com NEWS For over a decade, sewer rates for Salinas residents have remained the same: $5.45 per month since 2012. This fiscal year, the city is facing a funding shortfall. “Necessary infrastructure repairs and upgrades have not been financially possible,” Finance DTA, a consulting firm, reported in a study. For the next decade, DTA calculated, the city will need $114.8 million to maintain the current level of service it provides. David Jacobs, director of public works, says part of the system is very old. “Most of the sewer lift stations in the city were built in the ’60s and we have maintained them, but they’re getting to end of life,” Jacobs says. Salinas operates its own sanitary sewer collection system covering 12,430 acres, then sends the wastewater to Monterey One Water to be treated. (M1W is the agency that bills residents for both services, so they would see an increase reflected on their M1W bills.) The proposed rates would triple, then would increase by 2 percent every fiscal year over the next decade. A single-family home, for example, would pay $16.35/month as early as July instead of $5.45/ month today, then would pay $19.54/month by 2035. The council is set to vote on the proposed sewer rates on Tuesday, April 22. If approved, it would trigger steps required by Proposition 218, starting with sending informational notices to property owners, setting a hearing date and a protest process, giving people a chance to override the approved increases with 50 percent opposition. Since increases would impact those living on a fixed income, the city is exploring implementing a subsidy program. Increased rates could take effect July 1. Drain Pipe Salinas City Council prepares to vote on sewer rate increases, potentially tripling rates. By Celia Jiménez After about six years and multiple delays in attempting to get a 13,000-square-feet multi-use project built near 7th Avenue and Dolores Street in Carmel, Monacobased developer Patrice Pastor finally cleared a major hurdle on April 9: a 4-0 approval of the project by the Carmel Planning Commission. For some projects that might be all that’s needed to move forward. For a project as controversial as Pastor’s, it’s likely it will face an appeal, delaying the project even further. While there was support from residents and business owners for the project during the meeting, others objected to its size, asking commissioners to scale it back and increase the setback from a neighboring building, among other changes. “Simply put, as proposed it’s too big for our little village, especially in the service commercial zone,” said Ian Martin, a former planning commissioner, who argued the project should be reduced in size by at least 3,000 square feet. Parking was also at issue during the meeting, since the project will eliminate a parking lot used by the 7th & Dolores restaurant and an annex building next door that now serves as a wine bar. The JB Pastor project, with 5,100 square feet of retail downstairs and eight apartments upstairs, proposed 12 spaces, 10 with a shared parking lift system. Under the code such a project would require at least 17.6 spaces. The city’s in-lieu parking program allows for paying a fee if a developer has “diligently” attempted to add parking but cannot—Esperanza Carmel, Pastor’s company, is making that claim and is willing to pay over $54,000 per space to cover 5.6 spaces. At least two of the commissioners expressed concerns that Esperanza had not fully explored underground parking The four planning commissioners present were, as Chair Michael LePage put it, “all over the map” in their opinions. (Commissioner Erin Allen was absent.) It appeared the project could be headed for defeat, until LePage made the case that the developer had complied with all the commission’s previous direction and suggested a few minor changes to improve privacy for a neighbor. “I am genuinely pleased with the outcome, despite the somewhat subjective and not entirely rational interventions throughout the process,” Pastor says in a written statement. He says that process “is the system we must work with, accept and continue moving forward.” Opponents have until April 23 to file an appeal. Meanwhile, Esperanza’s other project, Ulrika Plaza at Dolores and 5th Avenue—colloquially referred to as “The Pit,” because the previous structures were demolished by the last owner and have sat empty since Pastor bought the property several years ago—is progressing through the permitting process, according to Anna Ginette, the City’s community planning and building director. She says Esperanza has submitted applications for a building permit, demolition permit and construction and have been in the plan check phase since February. Once plan check is complete, the next step would be to apply for a temporary encroachment permit, since there’s not enough room for construction equipment on site. That permit would have to be approved by the City Council. The JB Pastor Building, seen in a digital rendition above, is proposed to replace a smaller existing building on Dolores Street in Carmel, shown in the inset photo. One Step Forward Developer Patrice Pastor gets approval for one of his Carmel projects—for the moment. By Pam Marino The City of Salinas’ aging sewer system includes 292 miles of gravity pipes and 11 lift stations. As of a 2023 study, the system was moving 10.46 million gallons of wastewater per day. “It’s too big for our little village.” COURTESY CITY OF CARMEL COURTESY CITY OF SALINAS DANIEL DREIFUSS
www.montereycountynow.com APRIL 17-23, 2025 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 9 (831) 718-9041 • merrillgardensmonterey.com 200 Iris Canyon Rd, Monterey, CA 93940 Lic #275202591 Enjoy Lunch on Us! As you may have guessed, that means you can dine whenever you’d like and how often you’d like. Anytime Dining at Merrill Gardens Senior Living Funny, our dining schedule is the same as yours. PROGRAMS FOR ALL AGES ALL YEAR LONG! THE CITY OF MONTEREY FOR MORE INFO + REGISTRATION MONTEREY.GOV/REC (831) 646-3866 SCAN ME! play! MONTEREY PRESCHOOL ADULT & SENIOR PROGRAMS ADULT SPORTS LEAGUES GYMNASTICS YOUTH DANCE CLASSES SCHOOL BREAK & SUMMER CAMPS YOUTH SPORTS LEAGUES & CAMPS AND MUCH MORE!
10 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY APRIL 17-23, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com Since 2010, California American Water, the investor-owned utility that provides water to the Monterey Peninsula, has pursued building a desalination project to bolster the local water supply and put an end to its illegal overpumping of the Carmel River. In that time, the volume of documents born out of that effort—including by those trying to kill the project— could fill a warehouse. Meanwhile, a cheaper project— Pure Water Monterey, which recycles wastewater—has outpaced Cal Am’s efforts, and has already added enough water to the local portfolio to allow Cal Am to stop its overpumping, although a cease-and-desist order from the state remains in effect. And with the Pure Water Monterey expansion coming online later this year, the Peninsula’s supply will exceed 12,000 acre-feet. In the last water year, meanwhile, the Peninsula’s demand dipped below 9,000 acre-feet. That raises some obvious questions: Why build a costly desal project if the water isn’t needed? (For Cal Am, the incentive is clear: profit.) Isn’t the California Public Utilities Commission supposed to ensure customers aren’t saddled with unnecessarily high rates? The CPUC approved Cal Am’s project in 2018 when the possibility of a Pure Water Monterey expansion was unknown. The California Coastal Commission approved a scaled-down version of the project in 2022—with a slew of conditions—despite objections from the City of Marina, where it would be located, and others who argued the water was no longer needed. Cal Am has said it plans to start construction of the project by the end of the year, but in order for that to happen, certain dominoes need to fall the right way. The most immediate inflection point will be a pending decision by a CPUC administrative law judge about the Peninsula’s projected water demand in the coming decades. Cal Am and other parties—including Monterey Peninsula Water Management District, Marina Coast Water District and the CPUC’s independent Office of Ratepayer Advocates—submitted their future demand estimates last May. Nearly a year has gone by and there is still no decision about which of those assessments is most accurate, and the CPUC extended its deadline to June 30. The Coastal Commission’s approval included a condition that, before Cal Am is issued a permit, the final determination by the CPUC must show a need for the water by 2050. Cal Am projected 14,480 acre-feet of demand by 2050—which would trigger a need for desal—while the other projections were far less, the highest being 11,203 acre-feet of demand by 2050, well below the threshold needed to move forward with desal. Cal Am officials expect to get approval—they’ve said they anticipate starting construction by the end of this year. But there are a variety of other mandatory milestones and conditions imposed on the project in play. One is that, per CPUC’s 2018 approval, if the expansion of Pure Water Monterey moved forward—as it has—Cal Am would need to outline to the CPUC its operational strategy about how the desal project would impact the company’s shareholders versus its ratepayers. That has not yet happened. The Coastal Commission’s approval also requires Cal Am to submit a relief program to the Coastal Commission for the low-income ratepayers in Cal Am’s service area to offset the increased water rates related to desal. Cal Am has not yet submitted anything to the CPUC on that matter, and the CPUC is solely authorized to approve Cal Am’s rates. Another open question is the project’s cost. CPUC’s approval capped the cost at $279.2 million, but MPWMD’s estimation, based on expenses Cal Am has filed to the CPUC, is that Cal Am has already spent well over $100 million on the project—maybe even closer to $200 million—and construction hasn’t even started yet. How the project will be financed is also a question. CPUC’s approval required a “securization” process to reduce financing costs, i.e., gain lower interest rates through the help of a public agency like MPWMD. But MPWMD backed off after Cal Am secured even cheaper financing from the State Water Board’s State Revolving Fund. However, that financing was revoked in late 2022 due to a “lack of progress.” Cal Am has not since approached MPWMD on that matter, and has declined to answer the Weekly’s question about how the project will be financed. There is also a question about California Environmental Quality Act requirements: the Coastal Commission’s approval calls for the project to be built in two phases—the first for a 4.8-million-gallons-perday project that must operate for a minimum of two years before being expanded to a 6.4-million-gallons-perday project, the size approved by the CPUC. That would essentially mean two construction projects, which was not contemplated by the project’s environmental review. Lastly, there is outstanding litigation with the City of Marina as to whether Cal Am—with its lease of the former Cemex sand mine property—has the right to export water from the property. Josh Stratton, a spokesperson for Cal Am, offered only a short, broad response to a detailed list of questions from the Weekly. He writes that the CPUC already approved the project, and adds, “We are a highly regulated utility which must receive CPUC approval for rate adjustments.” Push, Pull Cal Am’s desal project has bureaucratic momentum, even with open questions. By David Schmalz NEWS ROAD WORK Caltrans hosts a community meeting to discuss upcoming improvements on Merritt Street and Highway 183 in Castroville. Projects include rehabbing the pavement, bridge maintenance, improving aesthetics and more. 5:30-7:30pm Thursday, April 17. North County Recreation Center Gym, 11261 Crane St., Castroville. Free. bit.ly/ MerrittProject. SERVING THOSE WHO SERVED The Stand Down and Resource Fair, hosted by the County of Monterey, offers services to veterans, including healthcare enrollment assistance, legal services, clothing distribution and more. 9am-3pm Friday, April 18. Veterans Service Office, 2620 1st Ave., Marina. Free. 647-7613, countyofmonterey.gov. FACE TO FACE Monterey City Councilmember Jean Rasch hosts a meet-and-greet event. The public is invited to share their thoughts on the city and ask questions. 2pm Saturday, April 19. Monterey Public Library Community Room, 625 Pacific St., Monterey. Free. monterey. gov. READY TO HIRE Monterey County Works hosts a job fair to connect local employers with job seekers. Attendees are encouraged to bring their résumés and dress to impress. 1-4pm Wednesday, April 23. Career Center, 344 Salinas St., Salinas. Free. 796-3335. Register at montereycountyworks.com. TALKING HOMELESSNESS Community Human Services and Gathering for Women host a discussion on addressing homelessness. Guest speaker Kevin F. Adler will draw from his book, When We Walk By, exploring the root causes of housing instability, among other topics. 2-4pm Thursday, April 24. Middlebury Institute of International Studies, Irvine Auditorium, 499 Pierce St., Monterey. $20 donation to benefit Casa de Noche Buena. chservices.org/event. KNOW YOUR RIGHTS Community Bridges hosts a series of sessions led by immigration attorney Matthew Weisner. These sessions, presented in Spanish, are designed to help Pajaro residents understand their legal rights and explore available pathways to lawful immigration. 6-8pm Thursday, April 24. Pajaro Middle School Media Room, 250 Salinas Road, Pajaro. Free. 688-8840, communitybridges.org. Opponents of Cal Am’s desal project crowded into the County of Monterey building in Salinas for a California Coastal Commission hearing on Nov. 17, 2022. E-MAIL: toolbox@montereycountynow.com TOOLBOX Another open question is the project’s cost. DANIEL DREIFUSS
www.montereycountynow.com APRIL 17-23, 2025 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 11 PEELS & PITS CÁSCARAS Y HUESOS GO IN YOUR GREEN CART VAN EN EL BOTE VERDE C M Y CM MY CY CMY K SVR Green Bin MCWeekly Print Ad [04.04.25].pdf 1 4/4/25 9:55 AM For 30 years, CASA of Monterey County has supported children and youth in foster care and, more recently, the juvenile justice system with guidance and advocacy. Join us in making a dierence—become a CASA volunteer and help change a child’s future with your time, heart, and voice. Learn more at casaofmonterey.org Open Mon-Fri 8:30am–5pm 384 Olympia Ave, Seaside (831) 583-9820 HansAutoRepair.com Seaside's first certified green business "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Save the planet!" {Bruce and Russell say:
12 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY APRIL 17-23, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com The needs are great and the funds are finite—a reality that set the stage for over six hours of discussion at a March 25 County Board of Supervisors meeting as they undertook the task of weighing demands against a projected $39.7 million deficit in the coming year, and debated how the county budget sausage should get made. Departments brought forward augmentation requests, totaling over $121.1 million, including over $63 million in capital projects. It was a preliminary meeting, intended to discuss each department’s needs in advance of formal budget hearings set for May 28-29. The largest request came from the Sheriff’s Department, with a $30 million augmentation request, followed by Public Works, Facilities and Parks with $8.2 million; the District Attorney with $4.6 million; the Public Defender with $2.9 million; the Department of Social Services with $2.1 million; and the Department of Emergency Management with $1.7 million. “I’m feeling very cautious as I walk down this path, knowing how significant the needs are that are being asked for,” Supervisor Wendy Root Askew said. “I’m just honestly saying, I don’t know how we pay for this.” Supervisors unanimously agreed on maintaining funding for all currently filled positions and emphasized the challenge of sustainably managing rising baseline costs—salaries, health care, retirement—that impact the county’s ability to retain staff. Looking ahead at projected deficits, Supervisor Glenn Church underscored that cuts made this year can help mitigate future shortfalls. Supervisors discussed their priorities, which include the Pajaro library; infrastructure and health care improvements at the county jail; development in Chualar; enhancements to the Department of Emergency Management’s alert and warning system; and more. In addition to property taxes and transient occupancy tax—two of the county’s main revenue drivers—other funding options under consideration include a one-time $8.4 million contingency reserve, Development Set-Aside funds for economic and cultural organizations, and Fund 478, a reserve for building improvements. Measure AA, a 1-percent sales tax increase approved by voters last year, took effect on April 1. County officials anticipated it would generate $29 million a year. However, it remains unknown how much they will collect or how it will be allocated. It has only been in effect for a little over two weeks, and no revenue has been reported yet. The county’s hiring freeze implemented in October as a cost-saving measure remains in effect. Moving forward, officials are looking at not filling vacant positions, eliminating long-term unfunded roles, and increasing the use of technology to improve efficiency in county operations. “Our departments are and have been doing much more with less,” County Administrative Officer Sonia De La Rosa said. “At the same time, we have to arm them with the resources they need to move forward.” Reality Check As costs climb above revenue, County Supes begin identifying the most critical needs. By Katie Rodriguez “We’re going to be very deliberate and thoughtful as we build with the limited resources that we have,” CAO Sonia De La Rosa told the Board of Supervisors. She is the top staffer in a workforce of 5,000. NEWS “I’m just honestly saying, I don’t know how we pay for this.” DANIEL DREIFUSS “I brought my Subaru to Hartzel on advice of a friend and I was so pleased with the service & attention I got from them. Not only finished on time, but under the estimate I was given. Very rare these days. So pleased with the whole experience & great peace of mind knowing it was done correctly. Highly recommend this guy.” —David F., Seaside 2/14/19 510 California Avenue | Sand City | 394.6002 hartzelautomotive.com EXPERT SERVICE WHEN YOU NEED IT. Subaru Mazda Lexus Infiniti Saab vintage MG SCHEDULE YOUR NEXT SERVICE ONLINE TODAY Quality feed & pet supplies • DIY dog & cat vaccines • Premium hay at great prices Low cost vaccination clinic for dogs & cats. Microchipping. Prescription flea/tick medication. Open every Saturday 1:30pm-4:30pm. 101 W. LAUREL DR, SALINAS • (831)443-6161 Mon-Sat 9am-6pm Sun 10am-5pm $5 OFF Any purchase of $25 or more $20 OFF Any purchase of $100 or more NEED CHICKS? WE HAVE THEM! $10 OFF Any purchase of $50 or more CANNOT BE COMBINED WITH OTHER OFFERS. LIMIT 1 COUPON PER CUSTOMER. NOT VALID ON HAY SHAVINGS, PETLOCK, ADVANTAGE/ADVANTIX, OR SERESTO COLLARS. MUST PRESENT ENTIRE PHYSICAL COUPON AT TIME OF PURCHASE. CHICKS ARRIVE EVERY FRIDAY! OUR CHICK BREEDS: RHODE ISLAND RED BARRED ROCK AMERAUCANA GOLDEN SEX LINK BLACK SEX LINK CORNISH CROSS PULLETS: $7.00 CORNISH: $4.50 HURRY! THEY SELL OUT FAST ClogBusters: Southern Monterey Bay Dischargers Group • Monterey One Water ClogBusters.org Good habits protect the environment & public health from sewer overflows! www.FlushSmartCalifornia.org DON’T FLUSH paper towels • wrappers • wrappers • wipes • • wipes • floss • hair • tissues • cotton swabs • rags • cat litter
www.montereycountynow.com APRIL 17-23, 2025 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 13 Those who live along tributaries are, for the most part, well aware that the beauty of living beside running water can come at a cost. It was a point underscored by those who attended a flood project meeting on March 27, many of whom are all too familiar with how quickly the Carmel River can transform. The challenge, they agreed, is how to mitigate the impacts of flooding in the most timely and effective way. Atmospheric rivers made 2023 a catastrophic year for Monterey County, most notably in Pajaro, where a levee breach destroyed homes and businesses. But the storms also pushed the Carmel River to historic levels. In January, just a few months before the Pajaro floods, the Carmel River reached 12.69 feet, one of the highest levels on record. Using the Pajaro floods and an exceptionally rainy year as a catalyst, the Monterey County Water Resources Agency partnered with the office of State Sen. John Laird’s, D-Santa Cruz, to propose a study focused on flood mitigation along the Carmel River, particularly near known hot spots in Carmel Valley: the Dampierre Park and Paso Hondo neighborhoods. That proposal was awarded $230,000 as part of a $20 million allocation in the state budget; that funding was received at the end of last year. “$230,000 sounds like a lot of money, right?” says Ara Azhderian, general manager for the agency. “But for this kind of work, it really isn’t. So we want to be very efficient in our use, which is why we wanted to start that public outreach piece.” Several factors make the Paso Hondo and Dampierre Park area the focus of the study. These neighborhoods are especially susceptible to flooding and have been evacuated in recent years, with the added challenge that some homes were built before the area was designated a floodplain. County Supervisor Kate Daniels saw water seeping through cracks in her own garage floor during storms in 2017—the result of a raging river with nowhere to go due to storm debris. The area is also a focus because the berm has changed over the years. The project aims to identify ways to reroute floodwater away from nearby neighborhoods. The project can be broken down into several components, Azhderian says. Over the next year, they’ll work with consulting firm Balance Hydrologics to study river flow under various conditions and update floodplain maps. The last flood model for the Carmel River was completed 15 years ago, as part of a 2006 FEMA Flood Insurance Study, and will be updated through the Carmel River Flooding Impacts Study. Then, using this new data, they’ll create different flood scenarios. After the study will come the biggest hurdle: turning the model into a buildable design, implementation, and securing needed permits. “On the quick side of things, you’re five years out,” Azhderian says. “Five to eight years is reasonable. It could be longer—there are just so many variables at this point.” Flood Control County Water Resources Agency gets funding to study flood mitigation efforts along Carmel River. By Katie Rodriguez An ariel shot of the Carmel River near Carmel Valley Village, showing debris left behind as the river receded following intense rains in January 2023. NEWS “On the quick side of things, you’re five years out.” DANIEL DREIFUSS A BENEFIT EVENT FOR MEALS ON WHEELS OF THE MONTEREY PENINSULA A 501(C)(3) EXEMPT ORGANIZATION • TAX ID 94-2157521 MEALS ON WHEELS OF THE MONTEREY PENINSULA PURCHASE TICKETS AT MOWMP.ORG/WOMENWHOCARE WOMEN WHO CARE COCKTAIL PARTY Saturday, May 17 from 6PM-10PM $100 Per Person The Grill at Point Pinos 79 Asilomar Ave, Pacific Grove Join us for an unforgettable evening as we honor a remarkable woman for her dedication and impact on our community. This year, we proudly celebrate Mary Warburton Boland for her outstanding community contributions and support of our mission.
14 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY APRIL 17-23, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com RENT DUE The newly-elected majority on the Salinas City Council wasted little time to begin repealing last year’s rent control ordinance (“Salinas City Council revisits a rent stabilization ordinance passed last year, eyeing a repeal,” April 10-17). Sure, there are arguments against rent control efforts as they tend to suppress the availability of housing. However, with rent for a 370 square foot garage conversion ADU going for $2,300/month, it’s hard to be on the side of property owners. And, in the past few decades that Salinas did not have a rent control ordinance, why has there been no to little low- to moderate-income housing built to meet ample demand? The council should spend far more of its time and politics looking at what the city can do to encourage the building of more housing. Peter Szalai | Salinas Unbelievable. The council has yet to receive any significant quantitative data about these ordinances; instead, they are responding to narrative reports at council meetings from “surprised” non-complying landlords. One has to wonder if the council’s motives are ideological, overly pro-market-force remedies. This is the kind of thinking that has gotten working-class Salinas in trouble in the first place. To repeal these ordinances three months in would be a hasty, impatient rush to judgment, not consistent with modern leadership. John Silva | Salinas One interesting feature of the months of discussion is that owners of houses in Salinas now cannot sell a house if the tenant does not want to leave and the seller cannot find a buyer who wants a tenant. This now seriously limits the seller’s rights and first-time new home ownership as that home gets sold to an investor and as laws, rules, ordinances and regulations become more egregious/expensive, fewer small business/family property owners will remain in the market. Potential landlords have already indicated they do not see Salinas as a good or even viable investment, which will bode well for corporate ownership. Michael Bolinger | Salinas POWER POSITION Santa Cruz County Supervisor and California Coastal Commission Chair Dr. Justin Cummings is one-of-a-kind. No other candidate comes close to matching his level of expertise, experience, and environmental and social justice values (“Monterey County supervisors select nominees for a California Coastal Commission seat, April 10-16). Cummings was appointed to the Commission in 2023. With empathy and efficacy, he quickly focused on the need for more housing in the Coastal Zone. Cummings joins an extremely rare club of scientists who have served on the Coastal Commission. And as the only African American ecologist to have ever served on the Coastal Commission, he is in a club by himself. We urge Speaker of the Assembly Robert Rivas to reappoint one of the most qualified and committed Coastal Commissioners in the history of the Commission. Michael DeLapa | Carmel Valley Note: DeLapa is executive director of LandWatch Monterey County. PEDAL FORWARD Local officials and parks and land managers should take note—last week our hotels, restaurants, businesses and families thrived through mountain biking (“Preparing the trails for Sea Otter Classic’s 6,000-plus bikers is a never-ending process for volunteers,” April 10-16). This is a sport and community of outdoor recreationists recognized nationally for their contributions to community development and stewardship. But for Monterey County, thriving through mountain biking lasts only one week, then the Life Time Sea Otter Classic slalom course gets bulldozed and the downhill course closes to public access. Community input for new park spaces clearly show a population in favor of bike amenities, but the deciding boards continue voting against bikes. Even the Sierra Club has reframed its position on bike access, but here exclusion prevails over inclusion. Peter Berridge | Pacific Grove Note: Berridge is vice president of the Monterey Off Road Cycling Association. UP RISING I am disappointed that you didn’t take more pictures of the huge Hands Off! protest that happened at Window on the Bay (“Photos and Video: Thousands of demonstrators voice their opposition to Trump in Monterey; hundreds protest in Salinas,” posted April 5). Also, you should have mentioned the Hands Off! rally that happened at the same time in Watsonville. Thank you, however, for the coverage you did give to this event. Sidney Ramsden Scott | Pebble Beach Thousands of local residents protested over policies of the Trump administration (“A weekend protest draws thousands to decry the presidential administration—and perhaps marks an inflection point,” posted April 7). This was a countrywide event and there was not one bit of coverage of this event in the [print edition of Monterey County Weekly]. This deeply saddens me, and is very irresponsible of the Weekly. I did see some reporting online but nothing in the paper. Cara Weston | Monterey ROCK ON I want to urge everyone to attend MPC’s musical We Will Rock You (“Hot Picks,” April 10-16). The acting and singing talent is top notch, the set and costumes clever and inventive and the band amazing. It is a fun time and I hope that our community supports this amazing group of young people who have clearly put so much effort into this production. Sara Harnish | Carmel CORRECTIONS A column about Seaside City Council’s vote to give themselves raises (“Squid Fry: Pay Pals,” April 10-16) stated the vote inaccurately. It was 4-1, Dave Pacheco dissenting, not 5-0. A story about new rules for rental fees misstated where certain fees appeared (“A new law requires landlords to be upfront about charges and limits certain tenant fees,” April 3-9). An advertisement including a $308 “lease admin fee” did include the fee. LETTERS • COMMENTSOPINION Submit letters to the editor to letters@montereycountynow.com. Please keep your letter to 150 words or less; subject to editing for space. Please include your full name, contact information and city you live in.
www.montereycountynow.com APRIL 17-23, 2025 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 15 Sacramento is less than 200 miles from Salinas, about a three-hour drive. But it can feel a world apart, even for elected officials who straddle both worlds. Those include one of the most powerful people in California, Speaker of the Assembly Robert Rivas, D-Hollister. Rivas says when he first arrived in the Capitol six years ago, colleagues thought he was from San Bernardino County—they hadn’t even heard of San Benito. “I remember how isolating it felt when I got here,” Rivas said on Wednesday, April 9. “My colleagues didn’t know much about the Central Coast, the diverse communities we represent.” The people who do know are the people elected to represent those communities in Rivas’ Assembly District 29. In an effort to bridge the gap, Rivas and his Salinas district staff invited local elected officials for a day trip to the Capitol on April 9. I joined the group of 18 county supervisors, city council members and mayors, starting with coffee and breakfast burritos from El Charrito to board a bus at 7am. The feeling of isolation cuts both ways. Some of them told me that especially since Rivas assumed greater responsibility as Speaker in 2023, a role that includes traveling the entire state, not just to and from his district, they’ve felt he is less accessible. One day of meet-andgreets, photo ops and presentations cannot transform relationships, but it can certainly help to reset them. Rivas spoke first, followed by other state-level elected leaders representing the region—Assemblymember Dawn Addis, D-Morro Bay, who represents neighboring coastal District 30, and State Sen. John Laird, D-Santa Cruz, who represents all of Monterey County, as well as Assemblymember Ash Kalra, D-San Jose, whose district includes part of San Benito County. Committee chairs—also elected Assembly members—and staffers serving on Assembly committees on transportation, housing, public safety and the budget came next. “I have seen firsthand when we work together we are not only stronger, but we are much more effective,” Rivas told the group. “The ability to build relationships here in Sacramento makes all the difference.” Of course, what difference those relationships make remains to be seen. It’s a tough budget year for the state, so not everyone’s wishlist can or will be fulfilled. “Our budget affects your budget,” District Director Dominic Dursa said on the bus ride up, referring to the looming $68 billion state budget deficit. “This year especially, with things being interesting, shall we say, it seemed important [to help create these relationships]. It doesn’t hurt to tell us about budget asks.” Despite—or perhaps because of—challenges at the state level and a philosophy of government destruction and chaos at the federal level, local officials I spoke to were generally enthusiastic about a day dedicated to relationship-building. “How does nature produce a diamond?” Soledad City Councilmember Fernando Cabrera asked. “Compression— we are in a compression time. Right now we are under a lot of pressure, but how many diamonds can we bring out of that?” Monterey County Supervisor Wendy Root Askew recently traveled to Washington, D.C. in the early days of the Trump administration where she was demoralized to meet with congressional representatives. “I walked away feeling like we are on our own,” she told me. “If there’s anything I can take home from my experience in D.C., it’s that if there ever was a time to build local relationships so we are prepared for whatever it may be, it is now.” Just a few hours later, as if to prove the point, Askew connected via social media to members of the Otter Dreamers Club at CSU Monterey Bay who were on the Capitol grounds protesting. As much as the intent of the program was to make connections between local and state elected officials, there was a spontaneous connection to a student club; supervisors Askew, Glenn Church and Luis Alejo converged with the group in the Capitol for a photo op, and then Rivas’ director of communications, Nick Miller, led them on a tour of the Assembly chamber. One by one, the students stood at the lectern as Askew took their photos. “I have seen the future,” she said, “and the future looks good.” Sara Rubin is the Weekly’s editor. Reach her at sara@montereycountynow.com. Across the Divide Can a field trip to Sacramento help local leaders get more done? By Sara Rubin ACCESS DENIED…In this cephalopod’s experience, social media is where only vampire squid hang out— it’s a good place for sucking the life force from other creatures. So Squid mostly avoids social media, but follows a few accounts to stay informed. Those include accounts of local politicians, who use social media to toot their own horns, but also to provide useful information. For County Supervisor Glenn Church, his staff— primarily policy analyst Leonie Gray—post about upcoming events, like Aromas Earth Day and a meeting on Highway 183 improvements in Castroville. So Gray was surprised on March 18 to receive a notice from Meta, the company that owns Facebook and Instagram, saying Church’s Instagram account was suspended because it “doesn’t follow our Community Standards on account integrity.” Those standards require accounts avoid egregious practices like promoting crime, sexual exploitation or violent content— nothing wrong with announcing a new fee structure for North County wells, it would seem. Gray followed the instructions to verify Church’s identity, including taking photos of him from multiple angles. But to no avail; Meta responded almost immediately to say it had disabled the account. “It seems to me like their whole review process was not run by a human,” Gray tells Squid’s colleague. Did Instagram’s AI analysis mistake Church for an AI-generated politician? Squid (not a human) reached out to Meta to ask, but didn’t hear back from either human or robot. PRICED OUT…One nice thing about the sea is there’s plenty of real estate, and if ever a species becomes too numerous, the food chain eventually sets things right. It’s an elegant if violent process that’s worked for millions of years, at least until humans started messing things up, something you unfortunately excel at. But building housing, not so much—which is why Squid was long a cheerleader for the 106-unit apartment complex on upper Broadway Avenue in Seaside called Sea Grove. On Thursday, April 24 at 10am, Sea Grove is hosting a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the project (though people have been living there for weeks already), but if you were hoping to land one of the 16 below-market-rate units, too bad— they were all scooped up within 30 minutes when applications opened up last October. And a representative from Sea Grove says the market-rate units are filling up too, which Squid finds surprising given that one-bedroom apartments start at $3,796 per month. By Squid’s rough calculation, a person would need to earn at least $150,000 a year to float that. That’s beyond Squid’s budget, but nonetheless Squid might ooze on over to take a tour—it might be catered, and in this economy, Squid’s always hunting for a free meal. THE LOCAL SPIN SQUID FRY THE MISSION OF MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY IS TO INSPIRE INDEPENDENT THINKING AND CONSCIOUS ACTION, ETC. “Our budget affects your budget.” SEND SQUID A TIP: squid@montereycountynow.com
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjAzNjQ1NQ==