THE GREAT WINE UNWINDING JUNE 19-25, 2025 MONTEREYCOUNTYNOW.COM LOCAL & INDEPENDENT LOCAL MILITARY INSTALLATIONS FACE DEEP CUTS 10 | GO WESTON 28 | WANT FRITES WITH THAT? 34 FIRST PLACE GENERAL EXCELLENCE • 2025 CA JOURNALISM AWARDS • As consumer preferences hit the wine market, some local winemakers are making changes. p. 16 By Dave Faries
2 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY JUNE 19-25, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com JUNE 19-25, 2025 • ISSUE #1925 • ESTABLISHED IN 1988 Brian Thayer (Pixel 7) The Weekly’s Editor Sara Rubin looks at sun spots through a telescope at the Monterey Institute for Research in Astronomy’s Oliver Observing Station on Chews Ridge in Carmel Valley. MIRA leads occasional public tours of the station. MONTEREY COUNTY PHOTO OF THE WEEK Send Etc. submissions to etcphoto@montereycountynow.com; please include caption and camera info. On the cover: Wine glasses are raised in a toast on a sunny afternoon at Folktale Winery in Carmel Valley. But the market for wine does not appear so bright, as consumption has dropped noticeably in recent years. Cover Photo: Daniel Dreifuss 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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4 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY JUNE 19-25, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com THE BUZZ FREE SPEECH As tensions escalated in Los Angeles over raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement earlier this month, journalists on the ground documenting the protests have reported being shot by police with rubber bullets and forcibly prevented from filming. Freelance photographer Michael Nigro told NPR that a non-lethal bullet fired by an officer struck the helmet he was wearing. “It felt very, very intentional…a chilling effect to convince us to go away and not document what’s occurring,” he said. On June 16, the Los Angeles Press Club and Status Coup announced they had filed a lawsuit against the Los Angeles Police Department, alleging officers violated journalists’ First Amendment rights and state laws. The suit comes about a week after the First Amendment Coalition and other organizations sent a letter to LAPD and the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department, warning that legal liability was coming over their alleged actions. “Our democracy depends on an informed public,” said Carol Sobel, the lead counsel for the plaintiffs. “When press rights are threatened, it’s the public that suffers.” Good: For Pajaro Valley Unified School District students interested in a career in the aviation industry, this fall they will be able to take advantage of a new Career Technical Education pathway at Pajaro Valley High School. The district partnered with several organizations including Monterey Bay DART, City of Watsonville, Watsonville Municipal Airport, Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 119, Tango Flight and Joby Aviation (which manufactures aircraft at the Marina Municipal Airport). Students will get hands-on training and learn skills in aircraft maintenance, aviation safety and flight systems. “The RV-12 Airplane Build Lab represents a bold extension of our commitment to cultivating an inclusive, future-ready workforce by directly engaging high school students in hands-on, high-tech learning,” Monterey Bay DART Executive Director Josh Metz said. GREAT: The first day of summer is Friday, June 20, meaning the weather is about to heat up in the inland areas. As the dry season gets underway, there will be plenty of thirsty wildlife. This week, the Monterey County Fish and Game Advisory Commission and Parks and Lakes Division unveiled a wildlife “guzzler” at Toro County Park. The guzzler consists of a sheet metal apron that covers a water tank, which catches rainwater and diverts it to the tank. It is estimated that six inches of rain is needed to fill the 1,100-gallon tank. The parks division funded supplies for the project, while commissioners donated their time to construct it. “It’s really great to see commissioners not only come to meetings to conduct the public’s business but also get out in the field and build things that truly benefit wildlife, protecting it for future generations,” said Commissioner Kevin Kreyenhagen, who designed the guzzler. GOOD WEEK / GREAT WEEK THE WEEKLY TALLY The number of units of Narcan—the antidote for opioid overdoses—that have been distributed since February 2024 by the Monterey County Health Department through re-purposed newspaper distribution boxes, and more recently through four vending machines in Salinas and Marina. Another 8,060 units of fentanyl test strips have also been distributed. Source: Monterey County Health Department 8,020 QUOTE OF THE WEEK “It’s not about the left or the right, it’s just about standing together with other people.” -Wild Fish co-owner Liz Jacobs, after the restaurant’s manager was taken into ICE custody (see story, montereycountynow.com). JOB FAIR Monday, June 30, 2025 8 A.M. – 12 P.M. Tuesday, July 1, 2025 3 P.M. – 6 P.M. The Inn at Spanish Bay Ballroom 2700 Seventeen Mile Drive, Pebble Beach, CA 93953 Interviews on the spot The Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance is the week of August 11 – 17. Applicants must be able to work Friday, August 15 – Sunday, August 17. Please come prepared to provide proof of employment eligibility. Hiring for all areas Bartenders, bussers, cashiers, cooks, housekeepers, purchasing clerks, servers, shuttle drivers, stewards, valets, and many more. Special event applications will be available on-site. Questions: (831) 649-7657 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance Temporary Special Event Seaside’s Premier European Auto Service Experts and Dealership Alternative (831) 230-8031 Monday – Friday 8:00am - 5:30pm 684 Ponderosa St, Seaside, CA 93955 www.MarlowMotorWerks.com Proudly servicing Mercedes, Sprinter, BMW, Audi and Land Rover with precision and passion!
www.montereycountynow.com JUNE 19-25, 2025 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 5 831 Marty Glick was a young attorney when he came to work in Salinas in 1966, fresh off two years in the U.S. Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division bringing voting rights cases and criminal cases against the Ku Klux Klan. Glick was among the handful of attorneys launching the Salinas office of California Rural Legal Assistance, and one week into the job he asked the community workers what was important, what mattered to them. One of them, Jose Perez, returned with a short-handled hoe—el cortito—which farmworkers referred to as the “devil’s arm” in Spanish. Not long after, Glick hired an attorney fresh out of law school, Maurice “Mo” Jourdane, to come work for CRLA in Salinas. Jourdane quickly learned about el cortito too when, just a few weeks into the job in 1969 and playing pool after work in Soledad, he asked the farmworkers what was ailing their backs. Sebastián Carmona returned from his truck with a short-handled hoe. The workers told Jourdane he needed to use it in the fields himself to see how bad it was, and it took him no more than a few hours to understand the back-breaking pain of being hunched over all day. Glick tasked Jourdane with finding a legal way to fight el cortito, and after spending a day researching at Stanford, Jourdane told Glick he couldn’t find any law, just a state industrial regulation regarding unsafe hand tools. In that single regulation, Glick saw a way in, and the two attorneys set about recruiting doctors and workers to testify and make a case to the state Industrial Safety Board that the tool was unsafe and injured workers’ backs. It was a six-year legal fight— Carmona was the lead plaintiff—that culminated with the California Supreme Court banning the use of the short-handled hoe on April 7, 1975, a historic victory for farmworkers. Fifty years later, Ignacio Ornelas, a Stanford historian and Salinas native, got together with Monterey County Supervisor Luis Alejo in Salinas after an April 18 mural unveiling in Chualar, which commemorated the braceros who died in a 1963 bus accident. In the mural, Alejo saw workers hunched over in a field using el cortito, and it got him talking to Ornelas about another commemoration, one to celebrate the historic 1975 ruling and the role CRLA’s local attorneys played in it. Alejo had in mind a June 10 commemoration in the Board of Supervisors chambers, and Ornelas suggested a flyer—a friend of his had connections with Los Tigres Del Norte, the legendary San Jose-based Mexican American band that has sold over 32 million albums in the past 50-plus years, and who performed their first concert in the state prison in Soledad in 1968 when they were teenagers. What if the county could commemorate the band at the same time? Alejo sent out a formal invitation, co-signed by Ornelas, to the band’s management, and three weeks later, they heard back—the band would be coming. Ornelas worked to make sure Glick and Jourdane would make it, and Alejo worked with county staff to educate them on the event’s importance. CRLA’s Mike Meuter in Salinas helped get in touch with the families of the plaintiffs in the historic case. Then Alejo was at an event at CSUMB and saw pioneering playwright Luis Valdez, founder of El Teatro Campesino and writer of Zoot Suit and La Bamba, and asked if he would be the keynote speaker at the June 10 commemoration. Valdez agreed. As everything was coming together, Jourdane and his wife Olivia reached out to famed activist Dolores Huerta, 95, who also agreed to show up. When June 10 finally arrived and the ceremony began, Valdez kicked it off with an inspired speech, tying current events to the historic struggle, and that victories like CRLA’s fight against el cortito are “the grassroots of democracy.” “Let us embrace each other, let us teach the young people, the future is theirs if they grab it and work with patience,” Valdez said. And then, after all the heartwarming speeches, they all gathered—legends of the Latino movement alongside county supervisors and staff—for a group photo. It could be titled, “Si se puede.” Field Day How a historic legal victory 50 years ago led to a historic, June 10 celebration of Latino movement legends. By David Schmalz Civil rights attorney Marty Glick holds a short-handled hoe, known as el cortito, during the Monterey County Board of Supervisors meeting on June 10, honoring those who fought to outlaw the tool 50 years ago. “Let us teach the young people, the future is theirs.” TALES FROM THE AREA CODE DANIEL DREIFUSS DRIVE CUSTOMERS TO YOUR BUSINESS during Car Week BEST OF MONTEREY BAY® HOME & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE Haven PUBLICATION DATE: August 14, 2025 AD DEADLINE: July 28, 2025 Published by Best of Monterey Bay® Haven home & LifestyLe magazine AwArd winning design • Home ConCierge CrAft olive oil • rAre wHiskey interior remodeling 2024-2025 free cover_HAVEN_24.indd 1 8/1/24 4:20 PM FOR MORE INFO: 831-394-5656 sales@montereycountynow.com
6 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY JUNE 19-25, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com NEWS Monterey and Salinas were sites of peaceful yet spirited No Kings protests on Saturday, June 14, drawing the largest crowds in recent memory. At least 5,000 people joined the Monterey event, lining both sides of Del Monte Boulevard at Window on the Bay, stretching for nearly a half-mile. In Salinas, nearly 2,000 people lined both sides of a four-block section of South Main Street. American flags featured prominently in both protests, with patriotic displays on Flag Day and for the 250th birthday of the United States Army. The nationwide No Kings protest movement was planned in response to President Donald Trump requesting a military parade to mark the occasion—which also falls on his 79th birthday—on June 14. Approximately 2,000 No Kings protests were organized across the U.S. on the same day, drawing millions of protesters speaking out in resistance. Many signs focused on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, including signs that read: “Bring JC home,” referring to Juan Carlos Portillo, a Salvadoran immigrant who lives in Seaside and works in Pacific Grove. The asylum seeker was detained by ICE on June 4. Other messages included: “I like my ICE crushed,” “Fuck ICE,” “Break ICE,” and “ICE melts under heat.” Camila Castro of Salinas says she came out to the protest to represent “those who cannot speak,” her family and other loved ones who are scared in light of the Trump Administration’s efforts to detain and deport people. She was heartened by the strong show of support. “I think it’s beautiful. It’s kind of nice to know I’m not the only one feeling sad, alone and angry,” Castro says. People Power No Kings protests draw massive crowds in Monterey County. By Pam Marino and Sara Rubin When the Monterey Museum of Art brought in two consulting firms in 2021 to 2023 to help guide the museum’s leadership in weighing the options for the organization’s future, the feedback was near-universal: Focus on MMA’s Pacific Street property across from Colton Hall, the heart of Monterey’s historic downtown. That advice spurred MMA to purchase the historic Miller Adobe in 2023, a stone’s throw away from MMA’s museum in a property leased from the City of Monterey at 559 Pacific St.—there’s just a patch of grass between them. To help pay off the loan for the Miller Adobe purchase, MMA sold its 1.81-acre property at 590 Perry Lane in Monterey on June 6 for $2.3 million. The buyer, Mitusugu Mori, who owns the Hana Gardens nurseries in Del Rey Oaks and Seaside, plans to turn the property back into a nursery. MMA acquired the property in 2020 from the Sumida family, whose Cypress Gardens nursery at the location shuttered in 2017 after 65 years. (Five years later, the nonprofit sold it at a small loss.) “It was a holding of the museum we just needed to move beyond,” says MMA Executive Director Corey Madden, who came on in 2020, after the Perry Lane property had been acquired. Where exactly “beyond” leads is somewhat of an unknown, but Madden says MMA is doubling down on downtown. “The city is very enthusiastic about the museum being a hub of the cultural district,” Madden says. “Being next to the library, Colton Hall, Cooper Molera—this is where there’s really tremendous opportunity for us.” The opportunity Madden sees is one of transformation, a reengagement of the community to make a relatively small place—MMA’s Pacific Street campus—into a catalyst for the city’s historic district. Madden notes that MMA has the only art museum between San Jose and Santa Barbara that’s been accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. Madden expresses a deep sense of museums’ purpose and value. Before museums, art could only be seen in the homes of the wealthy, but with public support that started taking hold during the Depression, Madden says, museums delivered art to the masses. It’s a dynamic that reflects that the museum is not just for the public, but that it also needs the public to thrive. “We need to come out strong to the public and say, ‘We need you.’ We want the public to be aware that we are working on something wonderful,” she says. “This is an important moment to forge the community’s future.” The sale of the Perry Lane property also puts to rest, for the time being, what the future holds for the site, which the city’s state-mandated Regional Housing Needs Assessment plan listed as an opportunity site for housing. Community Development Director Kim Cole says the property has plenty of water credits, but building housing on it would require Cal Am to put in a new water meter, which is currently prohibited by a state ceaseand-desist order against the company for its historic overpumping of the Carmel River. Monterey Museum of Art Executive Director Corey Madden says the April 5 block party (shown) gave a taste of the vision for MMA’s downtown campus going forward. Building Block The Monterey Museum of Art sells a property, seeking to advance its vision of a downtown art hub. By David Schmalz Page McDonald of Carmel has protested previously but says this one felt different, especially after a Minnesota legislator was assassinated earlier that day: “Everything feels much more dire.” “This is an important moment to forge the community’s future.” STAFFORD BAIN VISUALS NILS ERIKSON
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8 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY JUNE 19-25, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com What could Monterey County look like if it became a friendlier, more accessible place for seniors and people living with disabilities? Considering that a newly released action plan advocates for more housing, better communication, more health care specialists, improved transportation and access to outdoor spaces, among others, it would look like a better place for all residents, says Teresa Sullivan, facilitator of the Local Aging and Disability Action Plan for the Alliance on Aging. Two years ago, Alliance on Aging received a $200,000 grant from the California Department of Aging to create the LADAP, modeled after the California Master Plan for Aging created by Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2019. The Alliance decided to focus on rural areas of the county plus the greater Salinas area, where access to services for seniors and those living with disabilities was more limited. Working with 37 organizations and 15 community members as an advisory group, the Alliance held 45 meetings collecting information, and conducted a community survey. That was followed by eight community forums in various locations called “Solutions Summits,” where over 230 people shared their ideas, Sullivan reported to the Monterey County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, June 17. Of those, over 190 were Latino and nearly all were over age 60. The result was the action plan, which is now being implemented by working groups that were formed out of the advisory council. The main goals include: increasing civic participation; improving communication; disaster preparedness; creating more access to health specialists; ensuring that programs like Meals on Wheels and other mobile programs continue; promoting the building of accessory dwelling units; increasing social activities; and improving transportation. Supervisor Wendy Root Askew asked Sullivan if they had considered making changes to the plan if “the rug is pulled out from underneath” nonprofits and agencies in the county that rely on federal funds to provide services, in light of Trump Administration policies. “Our goal is to stay focused on the plan,” Sullivan responded. Even if resources go away, they will hopefully come back in the future. “I’m the ultimate optimist, and we have to keep positive and we have to have this plan.” Finding a childcare provider can be challenging in Monterey County for various reasons, including affordability, lack of providers and long waiting lists. “When the process is too burdensome, potential caregivers may become discouraged and walk away,” Marina City Councilmember Jenny McAdams says. “Updating our local policies is a small but meaningful way for the city to show support, appreciation for caregivers, and understanding of the challenges facing working families.” She was inspired to look at the issue after attending the Cal Cities Community Services Policy Committee meeting in January. She requested the council consider an ordinance to make it easier for childcare and adult care providers to start a commercial or in-home childcare business in the city. The proposed ordinance includes expanding the zones where these types of businesses can operate and enables them to move into existing commercial spaces, including offices and retail. It would also remove a 300-foot radius restriction between childcare centers. Council voted unanimously on June 3 to move forward with the ordinance. It is scheduled to return to council for a vote on Tuesday, June 24. It would align with Senate Bill 234, also known as Keeping Kids Close to Home Act, which became effective in 2020. The law facilitates childcare businesses in residential zones. California has a childcare crisis. According to kidsdata.org, a program of the nonprofit Population Reference Bureau, only 17 percent of kids ages 0-12 in Monterey and San Benito counties have access to licensed childcare. That’s below the statewide average of 25 percent. The lack of childcare may cause tragic consequences. In May, the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office arrested Maria and Johanna Marquez for involuntary manslaughter after a 3-month-old died under their care. They were allegedly operating an unlicensed daycare, with up to 30 children, in their home in Royal Oaks. Aging Plan An action plan for seniors seeks to make the county better for all. By Pam Marino NEWS BOOSTING BUSINESS El Pajaro Community Development Corporation launches in-person services in Soledad. Weekly sessions include business advising, bilingual training workshops, access to business financing and more. 9:30am-1pm Thursdays beginning June 19. Soledad Gateway Center, 502 Front St., Soledad. Free. 722-1224, elpajarocdc.org. BEAUTIFY THE BEACH Surfrider Foundation hosts monthly beach cleanups. This month’s cleanup takes place on International Surfing Day. Yoga begins at 9am, beach cleanup at 10am Saturday, June 21. Del Monte Beach, Municipal Wharf 2, Monterey. Free. Register at bit.ly/ BeachCleanupJune21. (408) 489-1806, monterey.surfrider.org. READY TO DEFEND Monterey Peninsula residents are invited to Carmel Prepares, an event hosted by the Carmel Community Emergency Response Team and Carmel Police Department focused on defensible space, home hardening and fire extinguisher training. Attendees will receive guidance from Monterey Fire, Cal Fire, Carmel Police and others. 10-11am Saturday, June 21. Sunset Center, Carpenter Hall, San Carlos and 9th, Carmel. Free. 620-2000, ci.carmel. ca.us/carmel-prepares. PUBLIC FACING Monterey County Board of Supervisors meets and accepts public comment. Let your representatives know what is working and what needs improvement. 9am Tuesday, June 24. Board of Supervisors chambers, 168 West Alisal St., Salinas. Free. countyofmonterey. gov. PLANNING PROCESS Monterey County Planning Commission meets to consider various projects, including a plan to remove 53 oak trees on a Salinas property and a proposal to construct a single-family home in Royal Oaks. 9am Wednesday, June 25. Board of Supervisors chambers, 168 W. Alisal St., Salinas. Free. countyofmonterey. gov. FIXING FELINES SPCA Monterey County offers free spay and neuter surgeries for feral cats. Services include the cat’s spay or neuter surgery, rabies vaccinations, FVRCP vaccines and ear tipping. Walk-ins available 7-8am MondayFriday. SPCA Monterey County, 1002 Highway 68, Salinas. Free; appointments also available for a $25 deposit. 373-2631, spcamc.org/feral. Kid Care Marina considers changing its municipal code to promote more childcare options. By Celia Jiménez Seniors gather for a nutrition class at The Hub in Salinas, a program of the Alliance on Aging. A new action plan calls for more learning and social opportunities for seniors. E-MAIL: toolbox@montereycountynow.com TOOLBOX “We have to keep positive and we have to have this plan.” DANIEL DREIFUSS
www.montereycountynow.com JUNE 19-25, 2025 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 9 MONTEREY COUNTY GIVES! 2025: Request for Proposals About Monterey County Gives! Monterey County Gives! supports big ideas and demonstrated impact from local nonprofits. MCGives! is a partnership of Monterey County Weekly, the Community Foundation for Monterey County and the Monterey Peninsula Foundation. The Fund has raised and contributed over $82.8 million for local nonprofits, including over $14.28 million last year. Over $600,000 in Matching Funds Thanks to our key partners, we have commitments of $600,000 to kick-off the campaign, which runs mid November to midnight Dec. 31. Nonprofits—Apply to THANKS TO OUR KEY PARTNERS MONTEREYCOUNTYGIVES.COM NOVEMBER 14 - DECEMBER 31, 2024 JOIN THE BAND It takes all of us to create a thriving, vibrant community. The 206 local nonprofits in Monterey County Gives! invite you to join in. PRINT | WEB | MOBILE cover_mcgives_2024.indd 1 10/30/24 11:44 AM APPLICATION DEADLINE JULY 31 Apply online at: mcgives.com/ rfp2025 PRINT | WEB | MOBILE June is National Reunification Month. The County of Monterey’s Family and Children’s Services is looking for Resource Parents to support foster children and families on their journey to reunification. learn how you can help keep families together, visit fcsmc.org Foster Youth in Monterey County Partner. Protect. Support.
10 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY JUNE 19-25, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com The commander of the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, Col. Christy Whitfield, was diplomatic when someone at a World Affairs Council of Monterey Bay luncheon asked after her speech in February about possible budget cuts under the Trump Administration. As long as teaching foreign languages to military members is a Department of Defense priority, “we’ll be able to continue our mission,” she said. The mission continues for now, but with fewer instructors, civilian staff and a smaller budget in the 2025-2026 fiscal year. Military.com reported recently that the U.S. Army is headed for a major reorganization and the elimination of at least 2,000 positions, according to internal documents. DLI was specifically listed for a $30 million budget cut. “The Army has a long history of managing transformation to meet evolving mission requirements, and the Department of Defense is currently engaged in a deliberate, department-wide workforce shaping effort aligned with national defense priorities,” a statement from a DLI spokesperson states. Since February there have been two opportunities for employees to resign with full pay until the end of September. The first came when the infamous “Fork in the Road” letter was sent to government employees. A second opportunity took place in April. A source with access to DLI internal data says the number of instructors decreased by almost 200 between early February to early April, before the second offering, from nearly 1,450 to just under 1,250. The number of government service employees dropped by 18, from 168 to 150. A DLI spokesperson confirms that about 9 percent of DLI’s employees “voluntarily requested participation” in the resignation programs, although some still have an opportunity to change their mind for a limited time. Another 5 to 8 percent of the civilian workforce has been slated for a reduction in the coming months across the Army, before the end of the budget year on Sept. 30. The spokesperson said DLI “has not received specific [DoD] guidance on additional percentage targets or local impacts currently.” Whitfield says in a written statement that they “are taking all necessary steps to reshape our civilian workforce and modernize the organization while balancing the ability to meet our mission objectives and preserve our instructors’ career progress and aspirational goals. [DLI]’s workforce is our most important and valued asset.” From Monday, June 16 to Friday, June 20, employees have another opportunity to take early retirement and/or resignations, leaving by July 11 with a lump sum of up to $25,000. If it needs to, the Army will then begin layoffs, known as Reduction in Force, or RIFs. The American Federation of Government Employees is encouraging anyone who regrets not taking the “Fork in the Road” option to consider applying to protect other employees from being eliminated during RIFs. Force Reduction Facing a $30 million budget reduction, DLI is offering more early retirement and resignations. By Pam Marino DLI in Monterey is being forced to reduce its staffing level as the Army makes cuts across the board. A spokesperson said they are implementing cuts with “care, transparency and respect.” NEWS “[DLI]’s workforce is our most important asset.” DANIEL DREIFUSS 247 Main StreetSalinas, CA 93901 TEL 831.758.4011 FAX 831.655.8781 AllianceOnAging.org WWW.SUNSTREETCENTERS.ORG PREVENTION•EDUCATION TREATMENT•RECOVERY NARCAN (NALOXONE) CAN SAVE LIVES! NARCAN AND FENTANYL STRIPS ARE AVAILABLE FOR FREE AT OUR DIFFERENT OFFICE LOCATIONS.
www.montereycountynow.com JUNE 19-25, 2025 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 11 Valentin Resendiz-Luna, a San Lucas resident for 20 years, has seen the community shrink over time due to the chronic lack of clean drinking water. For nearly 14 years, San Lucas residents have been receiving their water on a limited schedule: On Tuesdays, households can pick up two 5-gallon containers, and on Thursdays, 15 gallons total. But this doesn’t cut it for many families—meaning they must drive eight miles to King City to purchase more water that’s safe to drink. “When my kids come over and we have cups of coffee, on a good weekend, I’ll go through 10 gallons easy,” Resendiz-Luna says. “I can just imagine how families that have six, seven or eight people are living.” The community of roughly 324 has been stuck for years due to concerning levels of nitrate, manganese and iron in their water, which has made it unsafe to drink. The issue has stalled housing development and has become a problem for local schools. But Tuesday, June 10, the San Lucas County Water District held a hearing which ended in a 5-0 vote in favor of a long-term drinking water solution. “It’s just been a heartbreaking issue to have to continue to deal with all these years and with so many potential starts, but here we are,” says County Supervisor Chris Lopez. “It finally feels like we’ve turned that corner.” Four pathways were discussed, outlined in a final engineering report produced by the State Water Resources Control Board in February. While a pipeline solution has been in discussion for years, it was ultimately decided against due to high capital costs, estimated around $30 million. Local officials and community members largely supported Alternative 4, in favor of creating a new well with onsite treatment and estimated to cost about $15 million. As part of the vote, ownership of the water system will be transferred to Cal Water King City, pending their approval. The goal, Lopez adds, is to keep water bills low—around $90 a month, and about $60 for those who qualify for the low-income program. The vote marks the first step in an unknown timeline with many stages ahead. The State Water Resources Control Board’s Division of Financial Assistance and the Division of Drinking Water will meet with representatives from the San Lucas Water District to discuss funding and lay out next steps, according to a spokesperson with the Rural Community Assistance Corp. Funding for the project will be pieced together from the state, nonprofits, the county and granting agencies, kicked off by $1 million secured by Rep. Zoe Lofgren’s, D-San Jose, office; Lofgren and U.S. Senator Adam Schiff, D-California, are advocating for over $3.6 million in federal funding for San Lucas. “We’ve been promised this in San Lucas so many times before, and people have just lost hope,” ResendizLuna says. “Now we just have to wait for all the red tape to be able to break ground.” Hit Refresh The San Lucas Water District votes in favor of a potential solution to their water issues. By Katie Rodriguez Residents of San Lucas in South County have gone 14 years without water clean enough to drink due to high levels of nitrates, manganese and iron. NEWS “It finally feels like we’ve turned that corner.” NIC COURY
12 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY JUNE 19-25, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com JACKS OUT OF A BOX So much history here! Thanks for the article. I’ve long been interested in David Jacks (“For decades, David Jacks ruled the Monterey Peninsula like a monarch. His legacy can be seen all around us,” June 5-11). Stacy Steele | Carmel Thank you for your article. You buried the lead though. “The Rape of Monterey”—that’s what the theft of the entire Monterey Peninsula from the City of Monterey and eviction of the Mexican people from those lands by David Jacks and Delos Ashley used to be known as locally. Wonder why no one talks about this anymore? The reason we don’t know our history around here is it benefits powerful people who want us to forget. Don’t forget the Monterey Pueblo, the people who lived there and what might have been. Jason Johnston | Prunedale Great story! I learned so much. Just to think that John C. Frémont boarded the same ship, as Jacks was leaving! A must-read. Thank you. Hans Uslar | Monterey My grandfather (times four) William Jack was the father of David Jack [changed to Jacks in the U.S.] of Monterey fame/notoriety. I have researched and written about Jack for many years, my specialty being his formative years in Crieff, Scotland. John Walton is clearly a distinguished educator, and on the whole his treatment of Jack is fair although betrays a left-wing liberal bias, which I understand is not uncommon in the halls of Californian academia. I do also understand that it could be said that my family connection to Jack could introduce bias but I do try to be balanced, and I have duly reported on the issues which are believed to have given Jack his historical “black eye.” There is no doubt in my mind that views of Jack are often colored by political perspective. A number of myths have taken hold, which took root once the Jack family (the Californian branch) died out in 1962. One is the suggestion of notices for the 1859 auction sale being posted in English in Spanish-speaking areas, and vice-versa. There is absolutely no evidence of this, or survival of any such notices. Indeed, your own piece confirms that proper notice was given in the press. Very easy to besmirch a man when neither he or his family are there to provide their own alternative account. No, Jack wasn’t perfect—none of us are. However, when I look at some of the antics of certain persons in the USA and elsewhere since his time, he was a heavenly angel by comparison. Congratulations on your excellent article and thanks for keeping the Jack name in the public eye. Kenneth Jack | Parthshire, Scotland PAST AND PRESENT Thank you to Karen Brown, Philip Laverty, Rudy Rosales and others for your enduring efforts to secure this and other recognitions (“Monterey City Council to consider a formal apology to Indigenous communities,” June 5-11). Our families were born, lived and died on Dutra Street and in surrounding areas. We are the survivors and descendants of survivors. Our resilience will continue to carry us through the challenges of time and circumstance. Hope Casareno | San Francisco While we were not the ones who physically participated in the removal and abuse of indigenous peoples, we reap the benefits. I believe that until this country recognizes its injustices done to many groups of people, we will never heal and will be bound to repeat them. Sadly, we are there again now. Thank you, Monterey, for your part in healing us. Elizabeth Marisol | Salinas FIRE SIDE It’s encouraging to see Cal Fire dedicating resources to educating homeowners about wildfire risk and preparation (“Inspectors are going door to door to educate property owners on wildfire risk,” June 5-11). A 2023 study estimates climate change has increased the risk of extreme daily wildfires in the state by 25 percent. The time to act is now. Beyond defensible space, home hardening is the most reliable means to protect our homes when wildfires hit. We can reduce the flammability of homes and structures through fire-resistant roofing, siding and covering vents with mesh that prevents embers from entering. Defensible space is an important part of the solution, but home hardening is the only way we can stop risks like flying embers in a firestorm that can fly three miles. Home hardening must be a part of the education Cal Fire is providing to homeowners in the field. Education is the first step toward change! Jamie Yale | Los Angeles JAIL HOUSE The exit of Wellpath from Monterey County Jail isn’t a solution—it’s the long-delayed admission of failure (“As Sheriff’s Office negotiates a new health care contract in the jail, current provider Wellpath says they’re out of the running,” June 12-18). For years, the public has watched as incarcerated people have died under suspect conditions, while a private contractor collected millions under court oversight and still failed to meet basic standards of care. Now, we are told a new provider is being selected—quietly, behind closed doors. Health care inside our jail is not just a line item in a budget—it’s a moral obligation under the law. The current approach—waiting until contracts expire, cycling through vendors with troubling records and reacting to lawsuits—is reactive governance at its worst. We cannot keep swapping one troubled vendor for another and calling it progress. What’s required now is independent, structural accountability. A civilian oversight committee with subpoena power. An Inspector General who reports to the public. Bill Lipe | Salinas OUT AND PROUD Sam Gomez is amazing! You’ve got so much of my respect, Sam (“As an activist, Sam Gomez is dedicated to helping others feel welcome and accepted, whoever they are,” June 5-11). Rachael Holder | via social media Go Sam! Such a wonderful person. Jessie Bucci-Carter | via social media 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 JUNE 19-25, 2025 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 13 Sometimes, this is what democracy looks like. It is a group of members of the Monterey County Food System Coalition meeting via Zoom, reviewing a draft letter line by line, word by word. “Dear Senator [Last Name],” their draft letter opens. “I’m writing to urge you to protect and strengthen the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) as budget negotiations continue. SNAP is a lifeline for 5.5 million Californians…” As they work on the bullet points showing evidence of the benefits of that lifeline, Mia McKernan, a program manager at Aspire Health, suggests adding a mention of reduced health care costs, sharing a link to a 2017 study showing that SNAP recipients on average had $4,800 lower annual health care costs than non-recipients. This kind of advocacy work is new for the coalition, which formed more than six years ago to bring various voices active from the food and agriculture realm together. Now, as they look at potential state budget reductions and federal policy changes, the group’s work is being put to the test. “It’s just so crazy how devastating it’s going to be if it...I don’t even want to think about it,” McKernan says as they discuss their letter to senators during a late May meeting, about a week after the federal reconciliation bill (called the One Big, Beautiful Bill) passed out of the House of Representatives and moved over to the U.S. Senate. The House version would represent the largest cuts to SNAP in American history, about $267 billion. The bill would create a work requirement for most recipients, taking away food assistance from roughly 3.2 million American adults per month, according to an analysis by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. “If anything, we need to broaden eligibility,” McKernan says. The coalition is a nonpartisan group that implements programs meant to boost healthy food production, distribution and consumption. Genevieve LeBlanc is the senior policy lead for food systems at Blue Zones Monterey County, and oversees the coalition. The group brings together leaders from institutions that procure a lot of food (schools, hospitals), health and public health officials, ag industry representatives and nonprofits active in the food sector with a mission “to strengthen human, economic and environmental health for all.” Among past successes, in 2023 the group worked with nonprofit Fullwell among other partners to launch Double Up Food Bucks at La Princesa Market in Salinas. The brilliantly crafted state initiative, funded with $35 million in 2023 for a two-year period, is a win-winwin for growers, consumers and grocers. Shoppers at participating stores who pay for groceries using CalFresh receive 50-percent off at checkout when they buy California-grown, fresh produce, up to $15 a day. The CalFresh Fruit & Vegetable EBT Pilot Project followed with $10 million in state funding to try a similar (but automated) program at a handful of grocery stores across the state, including Santa Fe Foods in Salinas. The pilot was set to run through Jan. 31 of this year, but ended early—it ran out of funds because it was so popular. A priority for the Monterey County Food System Coalition is getting the state to restart these initiatives, which are dependent on Gov. Gavin Newsom’s signature on the budget bill by June 30. His proposal included zero dollars. While advocates— including the coalition—had requested $63 million, the pending budget includes $36 million, a something-is-better-thannothing compromise that would at least allow the program to continue. Advocacy is new for this coalition, but the group was already in place and ready to start taking action. The restoration of some state funding felt like a good indicator of success, LeBlanc says, noting support from local representatives in Sacramento. What’s less obvious is what will happen in Washington, but at least there’s an infrastructure in place to defend the nutrition needs of this community. That will be needed as we face massive pending SNAP cuts, in a country that has failed to eradicate hunger. “It feels like the time calls for this,” LeBlanc says. “There are things I didn’t think were ever at risk—like SNAP—and that changes everything. I felt an inner: We’ve got to do something.” Sara Rubin is the Weekly’s editor. Reach her at sara@montereycountynow.com. We Are What We Eat A local food coalition advocates for solid ground amid political chaos. By Sara Rubin DEEP BREATHS…Squid is still wondering, what was the big fuss over Monterey Public Library’s Drag Queen Storytime on June 11. Squid thinks: Kudos for being inclusive. “The library is here to tell stories for everyone,” Library Director Brian Edwards says. The event sold out; more than 100 people showed up. To Squid, the event looked pretty similar to other storytimes and everyone seemed to have fun, adults as well as kids. “A lot of people in this room, like me, come from spaces where being queer is not celebrated. Experiencing these types of events as an adult is extremely impactful as well,” says Nick Zafiratos, communications officer for Monterey Peninsula Pride. Good vibes aside, it sparked a protest outside of the venue, Oscar’s Playground. Protesters had signs labeling the event as “grooming” or “immoral.” If anything was immoral—or rather, demoralizing—Squid notes the star of the show, Saint Sellos, didn’t feel comfortable sharing their real name due to the potential for online harassment. Too bad the haters didn’t just listen in; the event was fun. It was not sensational. All in attendance survived. For those who are still grudging: Take a deep breath. Inhale…exhale. If that doesn’t work, maybe tune in on Tuesdays at 12:30pm to another Monterey Public Library offering—mindfulness sessions. AG ASK…Squid isn’t big on technology—it doesn’t work very well underwater. But Squid does get excited when Squid hears about new projects that work on land. So Squid has been eagerly waiting for the launch of Reservoir Farms, a new ag tech incubator promised in spring 2025, a season that has come and gone. During a budget hearing of the Monterey County Board of Supervisors on May 28, Squid got an idea of why—the project needs cash. Jackie Cruz, a VP at Hartnell College, requested the board match an $895,000 grant from the California Jobs First initiative. Reservoir CEO Danny Bernstein added, “A local match strengthens our competitiveness as we go after millions more in grant dollars and significantly more public and private funding.” (He notes this is not to fund the whole initiative, but to send a clear signal to Sacramento that Monterey County is serious.) Four companies have already committed, he said, bringing $20 million in venture capital with them. “But,” Bernstein said, “they will only commit if we can deliver the infrastructure they need.” In a tight budget year, board members were attracted to the potential revenue Reservoir Farms could bring in, promising to create high-paying jobs in agriculture. So they voted 5-0 to offer support. However, $50,000 was all they could offer. That leaves $845,000. That’s a lot of green, and it does not grow in local fields. THE LOCAL SPIN SQUID FRY THE MISSION OF MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY IS TO INSPIRE INDEPENDENT THINKING AND CONSCIOUS ACTION, ETC. “It feels like the time calls for this.” SEND SQUID A TIP: squid@montereycountynow.com
14 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY JUNE 19-25, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com The Moment is Now Federal orders to deploy the military to crack down on Los Angeles protests are un-American. By Gavin Newsom FORUM California is no stranger to immigration enforcement. But instead of focusing on undocumented immigrants with serious criminal records and people with final deportation orders—a strategy both parties have long supported—this administration is pushing mass deportations. What’s happening now is very different than anything we’ve seen before. In response, everyday Angelenos came out to exercise their Constitutional right to free speech and assembly, to protest their government’s actions. In turn, the State of California and the City and County of Los Angeles sent our police officers to help keep the peace. With some exceptions, they were successful. But this was different. President Donald Trump, without consulting with California’s law enforcement leaders, commandeered 2,000 of our state’s National Guard members to deploy on our streets—illegally, and for no reason. This brazen abuse of power inflamed a combustible situation, putting our people, our officers and the National Guard at risk. That’s when the downward spiral began. As the news spread throughout LA, anxiety ramped up. Protests started again. By night, several dozen lawbreakers became violent and destructive. They vandalized property. They tried to assault police officers. Thanks to our law enforcement officers and the majority of Angelenos who protested peacefully, this situation was winding down. But that’s not what Trump wanted. He chose escalation; he chose more force. He chose theatrics over public safety—he federalized another 2,000 Guard members and deployed more than 700 active U.S. Marines. These are men and women trained in foreign combat, not domestic law enforcement. We honor their service and bravery. But we do not want our streets militarized by our own armed forces. Meanwhile, ICE agents are arresting dishwashers, gardeners, day laborers and seamstresses. Trump’s government isn’t protecting our communities—it is traumatizing our communities. And that seems to be the point. Authoritarian regimes begin by targeting people who are least able to defend themselves. But they do not stop there. This is a president who, in just over 140 days, has fired government watchdogs that could hold him accountable for corruption and fraud. He’s declared a war on culture, history, science—on knowledge itself. California may be first, but it clearly won’t end here. Other states are next. Democracy is next. Democracy is under assault right before our eyes. The moment we’ve feared has arrived. It’s time for all of us to stand up. Justice Louis Brandeis said it best: In a democracy, the most important office is not president, and it’s certainly not governor. The most important office is the office of citizen. We must all stand up and be held to a higher level of accountability. You are the antidote to the fear and anxiety. What Donald Trump wants most is your silence. Gavin Newsom is governor of California. This story is excerpted from a June 10 speech. OPINION Democracy is under assault right before our eyes. reopening June 26th Voted Monterey’s Favorite Sports Bar 22 HDTV’s & Craft Beer Pet-Friendly Heated Patio & Fire Pits Live Music Summer Series Revitalized Menu $5 Happy Hour 4pm to 6pm & 9pm to 10pm $2 Million Renovation LOCATED BEHIND PORTOLA HOTEL & SPA | COMPLIMENTARY SELF OR VALET PARKING (831) 649-2699 | PETERBSMONTEREY.COM |
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