MAY 15-21, 2025 MONTEREYCOUNTYNOW.COM LOCAL & INDEPENDENT FORWARD MARCH 10 | MONTEREY’S BUDGET BLUES 14 | ART BY THE PEOPLE 35 FIRST PLACE GENERAL EXCELLENCE • 2024 CA JOURNALISM AWARDS • DNA TWIST A man left millions to a foundation to support Salinas. Then a DNA test put those dollars in doubt. p. 22 By Erik Chalhoub Overlapping Halos merges crystal singing bowls, violin music and 14th-century Persian poetry. p. 32 SOUNDING OFF SPECIAL FEATURE
2 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY MAY 15-21, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com
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4 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY MAY 15-21, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com EDIT FRAME may 30–june 7, 2025 Discover the Art of the Plate at participating restaurants in Carmel-by-the-Sea with immersive food experiences, curated menus, special offers, and village-wide events set in some of Carmel’s most scenic and whimsical locations! Presented by Lead Sponsor Media Sponsors Local Sponsors Find the event calendar, participating restaurants, purchase tickets, and more at CarmelCulinaryWeek.com or scan for details! party at the plaza Carmel Plaza, Mission & Ocean Ave May |VIP : / : – : pm $ per person, $ VIP Enjoy amazing food, regional wines and live music in this beautiful outdoor setting! la dolce vita on dolores st Dolores St between th & Picadilly Park June | : –: pm | $ per person Experience the “joys of the table” at a familystyle Italian dinner along with experiential food and wine activities. pub crawl-by-the-sea May –June | $ per person Take a delicious journey to Barmel, Links Club, Vesuvio, and Flaherty’s Seafood & Oyster Bar. Enjoy a specialty cocktail and yummy snack at each location! soirée-by-the-sea La Playa Hotel, Camino Real & 8th June | VIP : / : –: pm $ per person, $ VIP Indulge in an unparalleled, one-of-a-kind food and wine experience set against a stunning coastal backdrop. culinary showdown Devendorf Park, Junipero & Ocean Ave June | : am- : pm | $ per person Bringing together chefs, fresh ingredients, and a food lover’s day of fun competition at Carmel Farmer’s Market! boho bites & beats Dolores St between 6th & the Art Association June 6 | VIP : / : –: pm $ per person, $ VIP Step into a street fair-style world of flavors, global cuisine, and a bohemian experience! th ar o th plat Village-Wide Events Produced by Carmel_Culinary_Week_2025_Weekly_FullPg_9.5x11.32_Final2.indd 1 5/14/25 7:59 AM
www.montereycountynow.com MAY 15-21, 2025 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 5 TEAM AWARDS NURSE OF THE YEAR Laurel Black, MSN, RN, CCRN ICU/CCU EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR Isabel Paredes Supply Chain PHYSICIAN EXCELLENCE IN SERVICE AND PROFESSIONALISM Rakesh Singh, MD Emergency Medicine EXEMPLAR AWARDS Pamela Yates, RN, CPN Pediatrics Exemplar - Teach Shannon Hernandez, BSN, RNC-MNN, IBCLC Mother/Baby Exemplar - Protect Rita “Kristen” Green-Meadows, BSN, RN, CCRN-CSC ICU/CCU Exemplar - Empower Jennifer Mendoza, LCSW, PMH-C Case Management Exemplar - Support Jessica Vega, BS Cancer Resource Center Exemplar - Teamwork Margarita “Margie” Reyes-Pantoja Health Promotion Exemplar - Accountability Juana Ponce Environmental Services Exemplar - Respect CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OUR NOMINEES! Scan this QR code to view a complete list. SalinasValleyHealth.com Team STAR Mobile Clinic Team DAISY Emergency Department CELEBRATING HOSPITAL WEEK 2025 ACHIEVING EXCELLENCE TOGETHER Annie Sebolino, MSN, RN, CMSRN Observation Care Unit Exemplar - Heal
6 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY MAY 15-21, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com MAY 15-21, 2025 • ISSUE #1920 • ESTABLISHED IN 1988 Gundy Rettke (iPhone 15) A picturesque rock acts like a sentinel in Garrapata State Park, where lupine and other wildflowers are popping. MONTEREY COUNTY PHOTO OF THE WEEK Send Etc. submissions to etcphoto@montereycountynow.com; please include caption and camera info. On the cover: The trio Overlapping Halos brings together different modes for an unusual layering of sound. From left, Edwin Huizinga on violin, Penny Vieregge reciting poetry by Hafiz and Deva Munay with crystal singing bowls. They perform on Monday, May 19 at Sunset Center. Cover Photo: Michelle Magdalena Maddox 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
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8 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY MAY 15-21, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com THE BUZZ FREE SPEECH Local newspapers being gobbled up by large conglomerates is nothing new—on May 1, hedge fund Alden Global Capital, which owns the Monterey Herald, announced it purchased The Press Democrat in Santa Rosa and its affiliated publications. Assembly Bill 611 by Assemblymember Alex Lee, D-San Jose, aims to require news companies to notify the public at least 120 days in advance of a sale. Legacy news organizations, defined as those that have operated for at least 10 years, among other requirements, must publish a notice in their county’s newspaper of general circulation stating its intention to sell, under the pending bill. On May 8, the bill passed in the Assembly by a 41-14 vote, and now heads to the State Senate. The California News Publishers Association opposes the bill, stating in an analysis that it would worsen a paper’s finances as “employees and advertisers head for the exits” while waiting for a sale to complete. “The proponents have no evidence that government-compelled notice of a sale of a local news organization will arrest the decline of local journalism in California,” the CNPA wrote. Good: Everett Alvarez High School’s under-construction performing arts center hit a milestone this week. As the facility goes skyward, on May 14, Salinas Union High School District officials and others had the chance to sign a steel beam that will become part of the structure. Avila Construction Company was chosen as the contractor for the $25 million, nearly 20,000-square-foot facility, which broke ground in the summer of 2024. It will include a 600-seat theater with stage, a music classroom, ticket booth, lobby, restrooms and a prop shop. The facility comes at a time when other major projects are being constructed across SUHSD, including new classroom buildings for Salinas, North Salinas and Alisal high schools. The upgrades at the district’s schools are funded by two bond measures passed by voters in 2014 and 2020. GREAT: The work by the staff of skilled nursing facilities takes plenty of mental and physical fortitude—just like athletes. For National Skilled Nursing Care Week, Carmel Hills Care Center held its ninth annual Skilled Nursing Facility Olympics on May 13. Dozens of staff members competed in a series of challenges inspired by the work and experiences within the facility. Staffers took part in such activities as a wheelchair obstacle course, a food delivery challenge where they wore vision-impairing goggles while holding a meal tray, and the “commode toss,” which is exactly as it sounds: throw a roll of toilet paper into a bedside commode. “The SNF Olympics is more than just a fun event—it’s a chance for our staff to come together, build camaraderie and gain deeper insight into the daily experiences of our residents,” said Jarrod Christensen, administrator at Carmel Hills Care Center. GOOD WEEK / GREAT WEEK THE WEEKLY TALLY That’s how many centerline miles of roads were under the County of Monterey’s jurisdiction in 2024. The mileage remains the same from the previous year. Source: County of Monterey 1,263 QUOTE OF THE WEEK “[It’s] deeply troubling.” -Supervisor Glenn Church, writing about PG&E’s plans to take its Moss Landing battery energy storage system online June 1, months after Vistra’s nearby facility caught fire. Church said the company should wait until the investigations are complete and “stronger emergency protocols are in place” (see story, montereycountynow.com). HEATABLE EATABLES! ELROY’S PRESENTS @ELROYSFINEFOODS WWW.ELROYSFINEFOODS.COM 15 SOLEDAD DRIVE (831) 373-3737 MONTEREY, CA 93940 JAMAICAN MAY CRAZY! TICKET=$140 EACH (1 TICKET SERVES TWO PEOPLE) To place your order visit www.elroysfinefoods.com or scan this QR CODE! Quantities are limited, so order soon! From Elroy’s Fine Foods Executive Chef & Culinary Director David Hardie A pre-ordered, fully prepared meal to heat & eat at home. Offered on the last Thursday of every month. GLOBALLY INSPIRED & LOCALLY SOURCED CURRIED PATTIES flaky pastry filled with a flavorful curried beef & lamb (CONTAINS: GLUTEN, DAIRY, SOY) RED PEA SOUP stewed kidney beans with pumpkin & pork (CONTAINS: GLUTEN, SOY) RICE & PEAS coconut rice cooked with kidney beans and sweet potato (GF, DF, CONTAINS: SOY) SALT FISH CALLALOO greens braised in coconut milk with smoked salted white fish (GF, DF, CONTAINS: SOY, FISH) JERK CHICKEN chicken marinated in herbs & spices and cooked on our wood fired grill (GF, DF, CONTAINS: SOY) HALIBUT ESCOVITCH steamed in banana leaves & topped with pickled peppers (GF, DF, CONTAINS: SOY, FISH) GINGER MOLASSES CAKE soaked in pineapple and rum and topped with mango whipped cream (GF, CONTAINS: EGGS, DAIRY) All items will also be available à la carte for purchase at the Prepared Foods counter on Thursday, 5/29 until sold out! *ORDER BY: THURSDAY, MAY 22ND PICK UP: THURSDAY, MAY 29TH NEXT MONTH: PUNJAB ON A PLATE *
www.montereycountynow.com MAY 15-21, 2025 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 9 OVER 2 BILLION gallons of water now stored in the Seaside Aquifer. Between ASR and Pure Water Monterey, we now have 70% of an entire year of customer water demand in storage for future use. Over the past 3 years, our Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) program has averaged almost a half billion gallons of stored water per year. Visit MPWMD.net for more. Carmel River surplus from winter rains is pumped into the Seaside aquifer Bankonit. WWW.SUNSTREETCENTERS.ORG PREVENTION•EDUCATION TREATMENT•RECOVERY SHARING OR TAKING SOMEONE ELSE’S MEDICATION CAN LEAD TO AN ACCIDENTAL OVERDOSE. MAKE SMART CHOICES. DISPOSE OF UNUSED OR EXPIRED MEDICATIONS BY VISITING A LOCAL PHARMACY.
10 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY MAY 15-21, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com 831 On an early sunny May morning, about a dozen U.S. Army soldiers in camo gear are assembled at the top of the hill inside Monterey’s Lower Presidio Park, joined by two Army veterans, two Army spouses, a baby in a backpack carrier and a large, furry black dog. They are the next marchers in a five-mile leg for what was the largest public commemoration in the country of the Army’s 250th anniversary, a 250-mile ruck march from Camp Roberts at the border of Monterey and San Luis Obispo counties to the Parks Reserve Forces Training Area in Dublin in the East Bay. The march departed Camp Roberts on Wednesday, May 7, and arrived at the gathering spot in the park in Monterey precisely at 8:30am on Friday, May 9, on the move 24 hours a day. More groups of marchers continued for another two days through Sunday, May 11. Ruck marches are traditionally used to test soldiers’ endurance, marching for long distances with a rucksack, or backpack, filled with gear. As Army installation leaders in the region were contemplating how to commemorate the Army’s semiquincentennial, organizers at Fort Hunter Liggett, in South Monterey County, hit upon the idea of recruiting soldiers and veterans to march between installations, including members of the National Guard and National Reserve, says First Sgt. Brandon Quinones, who was in charge of coordinating the historic event over the past three months. Planning the march using Google Maps, Quinones counted up the miles through the five counties. To his surprise, it was 250 miles. “That was the sign right there we were going to move forward with this,” he says. More kismet: the five-mile legs added up perfectly to 50, representing the 50 states. Quinones drove the route, and was struck by the contributions of each installation, and the unique characteristics of the landscape. “It was a good way to showcase the Army and showcase California,” he says of the march. On each five-mile leg the participants carried the Army flag and a flag marking the 250th anniversary, as well as a binder with the names of every soldier killed in action over the last 75 years. When they got to their next checkpoint, the colors and binder were handed off to the next group. (Quinones placed an airtag inside the binder to keep tabs where groups were during the march.) At first marchers were only going to be from the Army, National Guard and Reserves, but organizers opened it up to anyone who wanted to join, including all branches of the military. Some legs had more participants than others, with the less popular time slots and routes having just two soldiers. Some marchers signed up for multiple legs. On May 9, as the 16 marchers of Leg 26 waited for Leg 25 to arrive in Monterey, a brief ceremony began at 8:15am, with approximately 20 supporters, mostly from the Presidio. The Army was formed on June 14, 1775, making the forces a year older than the Declaration of Independence and 13 years older than the U.S. Constitution, Shawn Marshall, the Presidio’s director of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security, told them. Then, in classic military precision, 13 marchers of Leg 25 ascended the trail in Lower Presidio Park at 8:30am, as had been planned. Col. Stephen S. Trotter, commander of Fort Hunter Liggett, was greeted by Presidio commander Col. Daniel Artino, the flags were handed off between soldiers, as was the binder, treated like precious cargo. “This 250th birthday is not just a celebration, it is a recommitment,” Artino told the crowd before he departed for the next leg. “A recommitment to our Army values, a recommitment to our shared mission and a recommitment to each other. So today as we transfer the Army colors between our commands, may it remind us of the strength we share, the unity we foster and the history we carry forward.” The marchers slung their rucksacks on their backs and headed down the hill to Pacific Avenue, a Monterey Fire Department pickup truck leading the way through the streets. Commuters waited as the marchers crossed Pacific to Scott Street. They marched over to the Rec Trail and carried forward. March of History To mark the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary, soldiers and their supporters march 250 miles. By Pam Marino The U.S. Army’s ruck march made its way down the Rec Trail in Monterey on Friday, May 9 on one portion of a five-day, 250-mile journey from Camp Roberts to Dublin. Everyone was welcome to join service members and veterans on their trek. “This is not just a celebration, it is a recommitment.” TALES FROM THE AREA CODE DANIEL DREIFUSS Join us for an informative update from the Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center. From the bottom of the ocean to the stars and a new generator too! Find out what's new with FNMOC. resented by the City of Monterey, the Monterey Bay Defense Alliance, and the Monterey eninsula Chamber of Commerce. GET TICKETS! PRESENTED BY FRIDAY, JUNE 6, 2025 7:30 AM - 9:00 AM FERRANTE’S AT MONTEREY MARRIOTT TICKETS: $45 • INCLUDES BREAKFAST Join us for an informative panel discussion on AgTech: What Do Opportunities Look Like and Can Monterey County Be A Leader? Panelists include: Monterey County Farm Bureau: Norm Groot (Moderator); Monterey County Supervisor: Chris Lopez; Stout Technology: Ryan Mazzuca; The VINE at UCANR: Gabe Yountsey; Western Growers Association: Walt Duflock
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12 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY MAY 15-21, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com NEWS Nearly two years ago, Chartwell School received a $45 million donation from Charles “Chuck” and Claire Jacobson’s estate. Chuck, who had dyslexia, was a former board member at the K-12 private school, which focuses on students with dyslexia and other learning differences. Now, a project to expand its campus is one step closer to fruition. “We’re currently in the design and planning phase for a potential campus expansion that would significantly enhance the learning experience for our students and increase Chartwell’s ability to serve the Monterey Peninsula community,” says Danielle Patterson, Head of School. The expansion plan calls for adding five buildings on 59 acres owned by the school in Seaside. The first phase is a learning center, where students would have access to science classrooms and a digital tech lab. The second phase would be a dedicated high school for up to 180 students with personalized classrooms for small classes, a library, athletic facilities, streetlights on Numa Watson Road, plus additional parking spaces. “These facilities would further support the heart of Chartwell’s approach— project-based, experiential learning designed to empower students with complex learning profiles,” Patterson says. The project is expected to take 18 months to complete. It would nearly double the school’s capacity from 215 to 400 students, and the number of faculty and staff from 72 to 112. The expansion project is still pending permits and final approval. The Seaside Planning Commission was scheduled to discuss the project on May 14, but that meeting was canceled and the project will return to the commission for consideration at a later date. Learn and Grow Chartwell School is in the early stages of expanding its Seaside campus. By Celia Jiménez In November 2023, workers at Smurfit Westrock in Salinas voted to switch their union representation to Teamsters Local 856. Days after the election, two of the company’s longtime workers who were active in the campaign were fired. In a filing by Christy Kwon, the regional director for the National Labor Relations Board Region 32, which conducted an investigation after workers filed a complaint with the federal agency, union representatives state they believe the firing was made in retaliation and a way to discourage other workers from getting involved. Around the same time, the employees’ healthcare plan changed, which raised rates for the workers and offered fewer benefits, according to the filing. After a months-long investigation, NLRB staff determined there was enough evidence to support the union’s claims of unfair labor practices. The NLRB has now become the lead prosecutor on the case, and this week, both parties are making their case to an administrative law judge in Seaside. Tuesday, May 13 was the first day of the hearings at the Monterey College of Law, where both parties made their opening statements and began presenting evidence. Earlier in the morning, the courtroom building was empty, save for the attorneys on both sides, the judge and a courtroom reporter. Later in the day, about 20 workers staged a rally at the building, holding signs calling for “affordable healthcare” and an end to “unfair practices.” Westrock manufactures paper and packaging materials worldwide. Its Merrill Street location in Salinas specializes in corrugated packaging, used primarily for agriculture operations. A spokesperson for Westrock says the company typically does not comment on pending court matters. Ritchie Andazola, a negotiator with Teamsters, says the union is seeking reinstatement of the two workers who were fired—Frank Pulido and Jesus Felix. It also wants to see a health plan that is the same or very similar to the previous offering, where the employer paid 80 percent of the premium and the employees paid the rest. Andazola says of the roughly 110 employees at the company, nearly 40 have no medical insurance through the employer because they can’t afford the rates. Others are having difficulty paying for medication for their family members, most of which was covered with no out-of-pocket pay under the original insurance, according to Andazola. In the courtroom, Mark Keenan, the attorney representing Westrock, said during opening statements that it was “impossible” to maintain the same insurance, as the previous union representing the workers, District Council 2, notified the company on Nov. 6, 2023 that it was canceling its insurance immediately. Westrock then put the employees on an interim plan as it negotiated with Teamsters, according to Keenan. Addressing the firings, Keenan said Pulido “berated” a manager as he filed a workers’ compensation claim for his fellow worker, leading to his dismissal. Felix “screamed” and “grabbed” at a District Council 2 representative on site handing out leaflets, Keenan said. (Union representatives dispute that description of the interactions.) The hearings are expected to wrap up by May 16. The judge will then make a decision at an unknown date. Smurfit Westrock employees and others file into Monterey College of Law on May 13, where a judge was hearing a case that alleges the company violated workers’ rights. Boxed Out A trial begins for a Salinas packaging company accused of unfair labor practices. By Erik Chalhoub The proposed expansion at Chartwell School includes improving outdoor facilities, such as a new soccer field. “We are at full capacity on campus,” says Head of School Danielle Patterson. The NLRB has now become the lead prosecutor. DANIEL DREIFUSS DANIEL DREIFUSS
www.montereycountynow.com MAY 15-21, 2025 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 13 World Affairs Council of the Monterey Bay Area May Event Defining National Security Tuesday, May 27 Ambassador Robert M. Kimmitt Wilmer Hale Law Firm, Meta Platforms, Inc The term “national security” is used frequently, but its definition has evolved significantly since the National Security Council was created in 1947. During the Cold War, national security was defined predominantly by the diplomatic and military dimensions of the struggle against the Soviet Union. Robert Kimmitt, former Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Treasury and former U.S. Ambassador to Germany, will discuss how we must now be versed in emerging financial topics and concepts to understand U.S. national security. www.wacmb.org or call (831) 643-1855 5:30pm Registration • 6pm Dinner • 6:45 Speaker Presentation Reservations Required • Deadline is Tuesday, May 20 $45 for members • $55 for guests WACMB will accept auditors to this event Hilton Garden Inn, Aguajito Road, Monterey Visit our website www.wacmb.org for information and reservations Rural Residents — Take a quick survey to share how you use water at home. Your input will help guide strategies for longterm water sustainability—and survey participants could win raffle prizes! Take the survey: svbgsa.org/demandmanagement/wepp/
14 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY MAY 15-21, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com The City of Monterey is broke, and in the coming weeks and months, it will be up to the community, and ultimately the City Council, as to how to go about fixing it. Such were the contours laid out at a May 6 Monterey City Council meeting, where Public Works Director Andrea Renny highlighted the challenges ahead in funding the maintenance of the city’s aging infrastructure. But before Renny started with her presentation, City Manager Hans Uslar set the table, telling the council that many things the city has long considered assets have in practice become liabilities, properties that generate little to no revenue but come at a cost to maintain. The city owns 97 facilities totaling 396,000 square feet, must maintain 108 centerline miles of roadway, 100 miles of sewer lines, 44 miles of storm drains and two lift stations, two wharves, a marina, four parking structures, 30 surface lots and 36 parks and open spaces. Its library, police and fire stations were built in the 1950s. Meanwhile, the amount of money in the city’s general fund available this fiscal year to help pay for all that maintenance is $0. Last year, $2.5 million was available from the general fund for capital improvement projects, just 2.3 percent of the city’s budget. By comparison, Seaside, for example, was able to invest 13 percent of its general fund to that end, while San Luis Obispo allotted 25 percent. In this current fiscal year, Monterey has $21 million for capital projects, all from restricted funds. The majority ($15.7 million) comes from Measure S, a 1-percent sales tax voters approved in 2018 that expires in March 2027. Renny said that Measure S, like the four-year Measure P before it, has been critical in bringing the city’s streets up to a “good” rating from “at-risk.” She emphasized that maintaining roads before they further deteriorate saves money long-term—a dollar spent today on maintenance prevents a costlier repair later. In the next five years, Renny said the city’s infrastructure costs will total about $106 million, and for the 25 years after that, about $341 million. Rafaela King, Monterey’s finance director, will present to City Council on Tuesday, May 20 on possible funding strategies, but Uslar reiterated there would be “no magic bullet,” and that it isn’t a problem that could be solved by sales taxes or bond measures alone. “We have to ask uncomfortable questions,” Uslar said. Researchers at CSU Monterey Bay were well underway in putting a $5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture into motion—already working with 25 local farmers to implement climate-smart practices on their farms— when they received a letter announcing the remainder of their project funds had been terminated. The termination letter arrived on April 22, informing researchers with the Department of Biology and Chemistry that the project no longer met new criteria set by the USDA. Funding was halted effective immediately. They were given the option to reapply for funding by June 12 and told guidance on the reapplication process would follow. However, as of press time, no clear instructions have been provided. “We had done so much upfront work in all the different areas that we were trying to achieve,” says Stefanie Kortman, a research technician on the project. Roughly $1.4 million of the grant had already been put to use. CSUMB’s project was one of 141 others funded as part of a $3.1 billion USDA grant administered by Partnerships for ClimateSmart Commodities, a program aimed at supporting agricultural production that reduces greenhouse gas emissions and sequesters carbon. Locally, this involved smaller-scale, underserved specialty crop producers contracted to implement several practices emphasized in the grant: cover cropping, compost application and reduced nitrogen management. Farmers had begun applying these practices with technical support, while researchers were tracking the impact on soil health. The timing of the termination was disruptive, stopping research that was only a month away from completing a data collection cycle. Roughly 10 people’s salaries were impacted, ranging from students to professors to administrative positions. While they were able to secure emergency funds to continue some data collection, Kortman says the challenge is finding ways to sustain the project in the future. Tight Rope Monterey is facing a crisis with the costs needed to fix its aging city infrastructure. By David Schmalz NEWS RAISING AWARENESS Monterey County Behavioral Health hosts open houses at its clinics to share what resources it has to offer. 1-3pm Thursday, May 15 at ACCESS Salinas, 1441 Constitution Blvd., Building 400, Suite 200, Salinas. 1-3pm Wednesday, May 21 at ACCESS Marina, 299 12th St., Marina. Free. 755-4510, countyofmonterey.gov. MEET THE CADETS The Salinas Police Department hosts an open house to share information about its cadet program. 6pm Friday, May 16. Salinas Police Department Community Room, 312 E. Alisal St., Salinas. Free. 758-7094, SPOT@ci.salinas.ca.us. SCRAP YARDS Salinas Valley Recycles presents a workshop on composting, informing participants on how to turn kitchen scraps and yard trimmings into a soil amendment. 10-11am Saturday, May 17. Education Center Garden, 31400 Johnson Canyon Road, Gonzales. Free. 775-3000, svswa.org/free-compost-workshops. HOME HARDENING Supervisor Kate Daniels hosts a community meeting to discuss preparing homes for flooding and fires for residents in the San Benancio/ Corral de Tierra area. 9:30-11am Sunday, May 18. Corral de Tierra Country Club, 81 Corral de Tierra Road. Free. 647-7755, countyofmonterey.gov. WORKING FOR THE PUBLIC To celebrate National Public Works Week, the County of Monterey, City of Salinas and American Public Works Association host an event with family activities, public works equipment displays, booths and more. 11am-3pm Sunday, May 18. Toro Park, 501 Monterey-Salinas Highway, Salinas. Free. 755-4800, countyofmonterey.gov. BLOOD DRIVE Vitalant hosts blood drives to make blood available for patients in need. Eligible donors are asked to make an appointment. Noon-4pm Wednesday, May 21 at American Legion Post 41, 1110 Veterans Drive, Monterey. 10am-2pm Thursday, May 22 at Montage Medical Group, 2930 2nd Ave., Marina. Free. (877) 258-4825, vitalant.org. BASIN BOARD The Salinas Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency seeks applications for the Board of Directors’ public member seat. An applicant must be a resident or a representative of an organization within one of the six subbasins in the Salinas Valley Basin. Applications due 5pm Thursday, June 5. Free. 471-7519, svbgsa.org. Up Rooted As local climate-smart farming research advances, USDA cuts a critical funding stream. By Katie Rodriguez The cracking pavement on Munras Avenue outside Trader Joe’s in Monterey is just one example of a street that would be cheaper to repair sooner than later. E-MAIL: toolbox@montereycountynow.com TOOLBOX In the next five years, infrastructure costs will total $106 million. DANIEL DREIFUSS
www.montereycountynow.com MAY 15-21, 2025 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 15 1771 Fairway Drive, Seaside 5 beds, 4.5 baths • $2,749,000 • www.1771FairwayDrive.com 2999 Bluffs Drive, Marina 6 beds, 3.5 baths • $2,325,000 • www.2999BluffsDr.com 2727 Sea Glass Avenue, Marina 3 beds, 2.5 baths • $1,295,000 • www.2727SeaGlass.com 18270 Caldwell Street, East Garrison 4 beds, 2.5 baths • $1,279,000 • www.18270CaldwellSt.com Interested in a property? Contact us to schedule a showing! 831.624.2300 MontereyCoastRealty.com CalDRE #01871677 Locally Owned. Globally Connected. View all available listings by scanning the code www.fcsmc.org May is Foster Parent Appreciation Month. Your dedication to providing love and stability to children in need is truly remarkable. Thank you for your selflessness, patience, and unwavering commitment. Your impact is profound and deeply appreciated.
16 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY MAY 15-21, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com The 11-unit apartment complex at 359 Larkin St. built in 1932 could be a beautiful vintage showpiece of Oldtown Monterey. Instead it’s a dilapidated property with crumbling rooftops, boarded-up windows and a once-manicured landscape choked with weeds. The buildings have languished for over a year as a fight unfolds in court, with a receiver wanting to sell the property “as is” to someone who will rehabilitate it and the owner apparently delaying any sale from prison. The owner is Leslie Flores Jr., 59, the man who committed crime after crime before he was captured in dramatic style by law enforcement from a hiding spot under his Monterey home last July. In November he was sentenced to eight years and four months in prison after pleading no contest to a weapon possession charge, evading police, assault, drug charges and others. Earlier in 2024, as police were searching for Flores after he failed to appear in court in February, the City of Monterey asked a judge to appoint a receiver for 359 Larkin. City officials had been trying to get Flores to make fixes to apartments plagued by mold, lack of heat and other problems, to no avail. Richardson C. Griswold was appointed as receiver in March 2024, with the goal of making the apartments livable again. Last fall Griswold concluded the most cost-effective solution was to sell the property “as is.” The city would be repaid for its costs by the receiver and the property would hopefully be rehabilitated. He asked a judge for permission to sell it in December. Flores entered the Sierra Conservation Center in Tuolumne County on Jan. 19. On that same day, in the Monterey County Recorder’s Office, a representative of Flores filed a deed for Larkin, transferring it from Flores’ trust to a Monterey company called 43034 LLC, owned by Flores’ trust. Two months later, the attorney representing the company, Thornton Louis Davidson of Fresno, contacted the city claiming 43034 LLC is the title owner. “To date, the City has been unable to ascertain that title was validly transferred via the grant deed,” states a status report filed on April 17 with the court by the Monterey City Attorney’s Office. Bank officials share that concern. Catherine Whittle Delorey is an attorney for Washington Federal Bank, which holds the mortgage on the property. She told Monterey County Superior Court Judge Ian A. Rivamonte on April 25 that the bank was not consulted about a transfer, thereby making it invalid. Davidson was asking for a 60-day delay on the matter but the city, receiver and bank were against it. They told the judge they would agree to two weeks. Davidson then offered a 45-day continuance, which Rivamonte granted, wanting to give the parties time to discuss details further outside of the courtroom. Another status conference is scheduled for June 27. Flores will be eligible for parole in October 2026. Log Jam Monterey property owner maneuvers to delay sale of his blighted property from prison. By Pam Marino Monterey officials began red-tagging apartments at 359 Larkin St. one by one in 2023. After a receiver took over last year, the rest of the tenants moved out and all the buildings were boarded up. NEWS The complex has languished for over a year. DANIEL DREIFUSS Voted Monterey County’s Best Antique Shop ’24 ♦ 3 Card Poker ♠ Century 21st No Bust Black Jack ♣ Texas Hold’em ♥ Baccarat FULL BAR! BLACKJACK BONUS POINTS PAYS UP TO $20,000 SMALL TOWN BIG PAYOUTS! 1-800-Gambler • Gega-003846, Gega-Gega-003703, Gega-000889 Gega-000891 Gega-002838 The Marina Club Casino ensures the safety and security of all guests and team members at all times, while providing exceptional service. 204 Carmel Ave. Marina 831-384-0925 casinomonterey.com ♠ ♣ ♥ ♦ Just minutes from Downtown Monterey Where Monterey Comes To Play
www.montereycountynow.com MAY 15-21, 2025 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 17 The sound of “Beep, beep” fills Tiffany Kellogg’s classroom at Monterey Park Elementary School in Salinas. One of the students, who is the “cashier,” is scanning products with a barcode scanner before her “customer” can take them with her. At first sight, it is a couple of kids playing grocery store. To teachers, it is also a fun way for kids, while role-playing, to develop vocabulary, count the number of items they are selling or buying, and to learn about taking turns. In 2021, California approved an ambitious program: universal transitional kindergarten, or TK for all, with a full implementation for the upcoming 2025-26 school year. Over time, younger students have become eligible for TK and class sizes have been reduced as more sections are added. For the upcoming school year, students who turn 4 by Sept. 1 are eligible for TK, and teacher-to-student ratios will go from 12:1 to 10:1. Deneen Guss, superintendent of the Monterey County Office of Education, says the state initiative provides the same opportunities for all kids regardless of family income. In the previous scenario, “You either have to be able to afford high-quality childcare or you have to be able to qualify for some of the subsidized programs,” she says. There are different options to enroll, such as a full-time TK classroom, or a mixed-delivery system at a preschool program or Head Start. Kids in a mixed-delivery system will be able to enroll the following year in kindergarten. Caryn Lewis, assistant superintendent of educational services at the Monterey County Office of Education, says parents can opt for the program that best suits their children. Pacific Grove Unified School District will offer two models: TK and a preschool mixed-delivery system. “It’s a creative blend of a preschool and pre-kindergarten,” says PGUSD Superintendent Linda Adamson. One reason the district is opting to have both programs is they can use existing staff, saving at least $250,000. As part of the process, PGUSD will move its preschool program from David Avenue to Forest Grove Elementary. Alisal Unified and Salinas City Elementary school districts will offer 24 (up from 16) and 22 classes (up from 15), respectively. AUSD has added 12 classrooms designed for TK and kindergarten students, and is in the process of building six more. Despite these additions, not all AUSD TK students will have access to a classroom designed for younger students; these classrooms are 50-percent larger than regular classrooms to allow room to play, and have their own bathrooms. AUSD and SCESD are spreading the word. “We are a little behind on our enrollment,” says AUSD Superintendent Jim Koenig. The district is advertising and knocking on doors to inform parents, but he notes it can be hard for parents to send their young children to school. Maria Airada, an academic coach for teachers, says it makes a huge difference to academic outcomes when students enroll early: “They do excellent in first grade.” Study Hall Younger students have different options to enroll in transitional kindergarten programs. By Celia Jiménez TK students at Monterey Park Elementary School learn an array of skills through play. Building is an activity used to help refine motor skills, boost creativity and develop problem-solving ability. NEWS “It’s a creative blend of a preschool and pre-kindergarten.” CELIA JIMÉNEZ Gil Basketball Academy is excited to celebrate a major honor for our founder and leader, Coach Jose Gil, who has been named the Golden Whistle Award winner by KSBW 8! Coach Gil has devoted 28 years to building Alisal High School’s basketball legacy and 16 years as its Athletic Director — all while staying true to his roots and his mission to uplift youth in East Salinas. Beyond his work at Alisal, Jose launched GBA to expand athletic opportunities and life mentorship for kids throughout Salinas. His impact on the court and in the community is immeasurable. “I love coming to school every day. It doesn’t feel like a job... I want to leave a legacy behind at the school, and hopefully someone continues what I started.” Let’s celebrate a true game-changer — and thank him for continuing to invest in our youth, our city, and our future. GIL BASKETBALL ACADEMY 1522 Constitution Blvd Suite 213 Salinas GilBasketballAcademy.com WE LOVE OUR COACH GIL Ad brought to you by The Buzz PR and the GBA Family Who All Love Coach Gil
18 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY MAY 15-21, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com IN THE WEEDS Am I missing something? Why would the City need to transfer ownership? It doesn’t sound like they contribute any resources for maintenance. From City Manager John Guertin’s comments, it appears like the City is not cooperating out of pettiness (“A 4.6acre habitat reserve in Del Rey Oaks, encircled by barbed wire, is vulnerable to a new threat,” May 1-7). As a resident of DRO, I am dismayed. The City should be serving the interests of its residents, not holding grudges. I’m sure there’s plenty of residents who would see the value of clearing invasive species, especially if it doesn’t cost the City anything! Greg Stutzman | Del Rey Oaks Someone should be able to talk sense with them, without requiring a lawsuit. Walter Wagner | Salinas ROLLING FORWARD Yay, this is awesome! (“Just in time for summer, a roller skating rink is returning to Monterey,” May 8-14.) Tamie Aceves | via social media Yesss!! Karyn Lee-Garcia | via social media THINK LOCALLY Thank you for including “Tips for getting involved at the local level” on this important civics topic (“Local government provides a platform for real people to make real change,” May 1-7). It’s always so disappointing to see voter turnout in our county even for presidential elections. Having and supporting qualified candidates is especially critical as we live through the consequences of that not being the case in 2024. Running for office is not easy so thank you to those that do it for the right reasons, not because of ego and greed. Esther Malkin | Monterey Note: Malkin is a founder of Monterey County Renters United. BATTERY POWER It shouldn’t! Too dangerous! (“PG&E’s Elkhorn battery facility in Moss Landing to go back online by June 1,” posted May 8.) The neighborhood is still suffering from the fire! Why would stupid PG&E do this? Jackie Dryden | Aptos When profit becomes the ultimate goal, ethics and empathy are easily cast aside. Cheryl Robinson | Prunedale PAY TO PLAY Nazario Martínez frets that Republicans “reeked of wealth and white privilege” and are funded by “oligarchs” (“Letters to the Editor,” May 8-14). If that were true, then Trump and his supporters must have totally outspent the Democrats in the 2024 presidential elections. Not according to the New York Times! The Democrats spent $2.9 billion while Republicans spent $1.8 billion. In fact, Democrats and their party usually collect far more campaign money from Hollywood celebrities, tech billionaires and financial tycoons than any other political party. Now, who has the most oligarchs? Lawrence Samuels | Carmel ALL TOGETHER NOW I read a Washington Post newsletter highlighting a Dutch nursing home that has begun offering free housing in exchange for keeping residents company, to combat loneliness with mental health benefits for all concerned. This immediately brought to mind your article this week regarding the housing crisis for CSUMB students, one experienced by many student communities across our one country (“Frustrations mount for students looking for housing on CSU Monterey Bay’s campus.” May 8-14). Why is this cross-generational approach not being tried—or at least explored more fully—here in the U.S.? So many people in need, a loneliness epidemic, mental health crises among the young at record levels. This would be a win-win if effectively realized. Brandi Katz | Aromas HISTORY IS NOW So awesome (“The Walk of Remembrance helps us learn from a past that parallels the present,” posted May 8). Rhonda Dominguez | vis social media The Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History has a wonderful Chinese history exhibit. Pam Coz-Hill | via social media PEOPLE POWER Diversity is America’s birthright (“On May Day, workers rally for issues that impact all of us,” posted May 1). It is how we are known to the rest of the world; you might call it our brand. This administration has chosen to divide us along cultural, racial and economic lines, rather than to unite us. Remaking this country to serve only the prosperous native-born damages our brand and turns our strength into weakness. The Trump administration’s lack of due process for immigrants has brought indignation from fair-minded citizens, and protests from all over the nation. I applaud those in the streets. They have realized that ignoring others’ rights is a sure way to imperil our own. Carol Setinek | Seaside …ALL THE PEOPLE The Executive Order titled “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History” targets the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture for promoting an alleged “improper ideology.” This order threatens not only the ability of institutions to engage with the honest and truthful telling of Black history, but also our shared ability as a nation to understand Black history as a fundamental component of American history. As a Black American, I am extremely concerned about how this EO will affect the public by denying African American history. Black historical heroes like Harriet Tubman, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the Tuskegee Airmen, Maya Angelou and Jackie Robinson are already being erased by government websites which is not only immoral, but also whitewashes American history and sanitizes the atrocities this country has committed. Zoe Edington | Monterey BABY BIRDS Great news! Thanks for sharing (“Snowy plover eggs rescued from Marina State Beach hatch at SPCA,” posted April 30). Jay Donato | Salinas 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 MAY 15-21, 2025 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 19 The composition of the California Coastal Commission is, on one level, like a three-dimensional game of Tetris. The governor, the Senate Rules Committee and the Speaker of the Assembly each appoint four voting members. The 12 commissioners are a mix of six public members—Ann Nothoff of Carmel Valley is the only commissioner from Monterey County at present, appointed in 2023 by the Senate Rules Committee—and six local elected officials who come from different regions in Central, Southern and Northern California. This quasi-judicial body has jurisdiction over California’s Coastal Zone, which is larger than the state of Rhode Island. Add to all of that—staggered terms and various regions and appointing entities—politics, and things can get complicated. (Some local Coastal Commission decisions in recent memory—all of which included vigorous pressure campaigns from different perspectives— include approving Cal Am’s desalination plant in Marina; lifting affordability deed restrictions for the Moro Cojo development in Castroville; and approving Monterey-Salinas Transit’s SURF! busway.) Given the power the commission has, it follows that each appointment can be a proxy for a political alliance. In 2023, then-outgoing Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon appointed Santa Cruz County Supervisor Justin Cummings to the Coastal Commission. Cummings is unambiguously well qualified for the role—he earned his degree in ecology and evolutionary biology from UC Santa Cruz, then went on to help develop programs to train scholars from diverse backgrounds before entering politics, serving as Santa Cruz mayor then supervisor. But politically, Cummings’ appointment also looked like a slap against Rendon’s successor, Robert Rivas, D-Hollister; while the former speaker could have left the appointment to Rivas, he made his selection before he was ousted from the office, one lasting power flex. Cummings’ term on the commission ends on May 20. That means there is a chance for Rivas to slap back at Rendon, two years later. Some political insiders watching closely to see who Rivas appoints think it can be reduced to something that petty. But it’s also Rivas’ first chance to appoint a commissioner from his home district; the coastal commissioner must be an elected official from Monterey, Santa Cruz or San Mateo county, some of which overlaps with Assembly District 29. “It’s one of the most important appointments I have the opportunity to make,” Rivas tells me. “My interest is to assess all the candidates, and pick the candidate most qualified and represent our region.” Cummings would like to keep his seat, and he’s done a remarkable job of rallying support. Not only was he elected in December by his fellow commissioners as chair of the Coastal Commission, he was nominated by all three counties to be Rivas’ appointee, although it’s custom to pitch hometown names. Monterey County officials put forward Cummings, plus Monterey Mayor Tyller Williamson, King City Mayor Mike LeBarre and Monterey County Supervisor Chris Lopez; San Mateo nominated Cummings and Half Moon Bay Vice Mayor Debbie Ruddock. Cummings has also corralled endorsements from U.S. Rep. Jimmy Panetta, State Sen. John Laird and Assemblymember Dawn Addis, in addition to more current and former electeds. It might make Cummings look like a shoo-in, but in a different read, he’s advocating intensely to prove he’s built diverse alliances and deserves to keep his job. And that advocacy looks like a direct rebuttal to the rumor that Lopez is a shoo-in. When I asked Rivas about rumors of political favoritism—does he want to appoint someone from his Assembly District 29 (where Lopez lives), or get even with Rendon two years later?—he offered this assurance: “I haven’t heard any rumors, I haven’t made any promises.” Lopez lives in Greenfield and represents an inland Monterey County district. He has positioned himself as a champion of coastal access for people who don’t live on the coast. Staff members in Rivas’ office say they expect an appointment will be made by May 16. Rivas has interviewed all six nominees for the role. Sara Rubin is the Weekly’s editor. Reach her at sara@montereycountynow.com. Political Pull All eyes are on Speaker Rivas as he appoints a coastal commissioner. By Sara Rubin WRONG HOUSE…In Squid’s lair, it’s hard to believe in anything other than the food chain—no amount of prayer can save a careless Squid from becoming calamari. Squid’s personal beliefs aside, Squid believes in human Americans’ First Amendment rights to freedom of religion and freedom of speech. Some Salinas residents have taken those freedoms inside Salinas City Hall, specifically Kimberly Bryant, who has regularly—for over a year—used time at the microphone during the public comment period to offer a Christian prayer during meetings of Salinas City Council, seeming to ignore that whole separation of church and state thing. Another resident, Peter Szalai, has had enough. On May 6, he spoke after Bryant to say: “This is a podium, not a pulpit.” He added, “There are over 300 houses of worship in Monterey County. If everybody sends someone from their particular church to offer religious observation we would never get any city business done.” The issue of timing matters, given that Mayor Dennis Donohue—in the interest of getting city business done—has taken to limiting the duration of public comment periods. Squid will pray to Poseidon to help these people settle their differences peacefully, and efficiently. HOUSE RULES…As far as sports analogies go, Squid has a soft spot for “shifting the goalposts,” three words that capture an essential truth about humanity’s struggle to adapt in an ever-changing world. So Squid was amused when perusing a report from the City of Monterey about documents the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development requires in order to show compliance with the 1968 Fair Housing Act, which the city must do to receive money from HUD. In 2015, HUD instituted a rule—Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing—that required municipalities to start producing an “Assessment of Fair Housing” (AFH) report, replacing the previously required “Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice” (AFI). In 2018, however, HUD submitted a new rule that said, forget about that whole AFH thing, just submit an AFI next time, like you used to. But then in 2025, as federal agencies are being upended by sweeping cuts to funding, HUD changed the rules again, only this time, the agency isn’t requiring municipalities to submit any reports at all, just an assurance that they are “affirmatively furthering fair housing.” It’s quite a change for the federal government to have so much trust in other agencies without even checking to see if they’ve done their homework, but if Squid had to guess, there’s probably no one left to do the checking. THE LOCAL SPIN SQUID FRY THE MISSION OF MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY IS TO INSPIRE INDEPENDENT THINKING AND CONSCIOUS ACTION, ETC. “It’s one of the most important appointments.” SEND SQUID A TIP: squid@montereycountynow.com
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