JULY 24-30, 2025 MONTEREYCOUNTYNOW.COM LOCAL & INDEPENDENT ICE’S CHILLING EFFECT 12 | WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF MIIS? 13 | MBFC HALFTIME REPORT 33 | SHAKE IT 39 FIRST PLACE GENERAL EXCELLENCE • 2025 CA JOURNALISM AWARDS • Monterey County’s Head Start program faces scrutiny and leadership turnover at a time of existential concern. p. 18 By Sara Rubin
2 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY JULY 24-30, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com JULY 24-30, 2025 • ISSUE #1930 • ESTABLISHED IN 1988 Kellie D. Morgantini (iPhone 15 Pro Max) Ripples in green water. In the right wind conditions, even a bottle floating in a pond near Oak Park east of Greenfield can be pretty. MONTEREY COUNTY PHOTO OF THE WEEK Send Etc. submissions to etcphoto@montereycountynow.com; please include caption and camera info. On the cover: The Monterey County Office of Education hired a third-party auditor last year to investigate the Early Learning Program, which includes the federal Head Start and California State Preschool Program. Findings led to two resignations and a variety of structural changes. Cover Illustration: Alexis Estrada etc. Copyright © 2025 by Milestone Communications Inc. 668 Williams Ave., Seaside, California 93955 (telephone 831-394-5656). All rights reserved. Monterey County Weekly, the Best of Monterey County and the Best of Monterey Bay are registered trademarks. No person, without prior permission from the publisher, may take more than one copy of each issue. Additional copies and back issues may be purchased for $1, plus postage. Mailed subscriptions: $300 yearly, prepaid. The Weekly is an adjudicated newspaper of Monterey County, court decree M21137. The Weekly assumes no responsibility for unsolicited materials. Visit our website at http://www.montereycountynow. com. Audited by CVC. FOUNDER & CEO Bradley Zeve bradley@montereycountynow.com (x103) PUBLISHER Erik Cushman erik@montereycountynow.com (x125) EDITORIAL EDITOR Sara Rubin sara@montereycountynow.com (x120) ASSOCIATE EDITOR Erik Chalhoub ec@montereycountynow.com (x135) FEATURES EDITOR Dave Faries dfaries@montereycountynow.com (x110) STAFF WRITER Celia Jiménez celia@montereycountynow.com (x145) STAFF WRITER Pam Marino pam@montereycountynow.com (x106) STAFF WRITER Agata Pope¸da (x138) aga@montereycountynow.com STAFF WRITER Katie Rodriguez (California Local News Fellow) katie@montereycountynow.com (x102) STAFF WRITER David Schmalz david@montereycountynow.com (x104) STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Daniel Dreifuss daniel@montereycountynow.com (x140) DIGITAL PRODUCER Sloan Campi sloan@montereycountynow.com (x105) CONTRIBUTORS Nik Blaskovich, Rob Brezsny, Robert Daniels, Tonia Eaton, Paul Fried, Jesse Herwitz, Jacqueline Weixel, Paul Wilner CARTOONS Rob Rogers, Tom Tomorrow PRODUCTION ART DIRECTOR/PRODUCTION MANAGER Karen Loutzenheiser karen@montereycountynow.com (x108) GRAPHIC DESIGNER Kevin Jewell kevinj@montereycountynow.com (x114) GRAPHIC DESIGNER Alexis Estrada alexis@montereycountynow.com (x114) GRAPHIC DESIGNER Lani Headley lani@montereycountynow.com (x114) SALES SENIOR SALES EXECUTIVE Diane Glim diane@montereycountynow.com (x124) SENIOR SALES EXECUTIVE George Kassal george@montereycountynow.com (x122) SENIOR SALES EXECUTIVE Keith Bruecker keith@montereycountynow.com (x118) CLASSIFIEDS BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Keely Richter keely@montereycountynow.com (x123) DIGITAL DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL MEDIA Kevin Smith kevin@montereycountynow.com (x119) DISTRIBUTION DISTRIBUTION AT Arts Co. atartsco@gmail.com DISTRIBUTION CONTROL Harry Neal BUSINESS/FRONT OFFICE OFFICE MANAGER Linda Maceira linda@montereycountynow.com (x101) BOOKKEEPING Rochelle Trawick 668 Williams Ave., Seaside, CA 93955 831-394-5656, (FAX) 831-394-2909 www.montereycountynow.com We’d love to hear from you. Send us your tips at tipline.montereycountynow.com. Subscribe to the newsletter @ montereycountynow.com/subscribe Go to montereycountynow.com We Deliver… NEWS • ARTS • ENTERTAINMENT FOOD • DRINK • CALENDAR Local news everyday
www.montereycountynow.com JULY 24-30, 2025 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 3 Like a lot of you, we were born at Community Hospital. montagehealth.org It was the doctors at Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula that brought Montage Health into the world. Our goal was to deliver exceptional care to more people, more effectively, by expanding beyond the hospital and into the community. Today, we’re much more than a hospital. We’re urgent care centers, wellness centers, primary care doctors, health insurance plans, and a groundbreaking mental health program for youth. Community Hospital is still our beating heart and a great place to be born.
4 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY JULY 24-30, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com THE BUZZ FREE SPEECH Two-thirds of Americans support federal funding for public radio, a survey conducted by The Harris Poll concluded, even though Congress approved $1.1 billion in cuts to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The survey, conducted July 9-11 among 2,089 adults, found that 58 percent of Republicans and 77 percent of Democrats supported funding public radio with taxpayer dollars. Also, 7-in-10 respondents, of both Republicans and Democrats, agreed that they rely on public radio for public safety. With the cuts, which President Donald Trump advocated for, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting will lose its federal funding for the next two years. Most of that money goes to National Public Radio and the Public Broadcasting Service, which have been in the crosshairs of the current presidential administration due to its perceived bias against Trump. The House and the Senate approved the cuts on mostly party-line votes, with two House Republicans voting against it. Good: The Covid-19 pandemic was a terrible time, especially for those that lost loved ones—at least 940 people died in Monterey County due to the virus between 2020 and 2023. A memorial is now under construction to remember those that passed, as well as honor health workers and other helpers, the County of Monterey announced on July 15. Located at the county’s government center in Salinas and funded mostly by donations, the memorial includes five transparent colored panels representing each of the five county districts, composed of pieces of colored glass to signify the county’s diversity. It’s expected to cost $340,000 and will be completed in early August. “Each life lost to Covid-19 mattered and leaves a hole in the hearts of loved ones, family members, friends and surrounding community,” said Supervisor Luis Alejo, whose office contributed $100,000 of its discretionary funds. GREAT: In February the Monterey High School girls wrestling squad captured their first-ever Central Coast Section championship. Last week, Monterey wrestlers took to an even bigger mat. Tillia Perry and Sophia Sevaaetasi of the girls team were joined by Manuel Ruiz and Gabriel Dela Rosa from the boys team at the 2025 USA Wrestling Junior and 16U national championships, held July 10-19 at the Fargodome in Fargo, North Dakota. The event set a record, with 8,531 entrants across all weight classes, competing on 30 mats inside the stadium. Perry competed at 120 pounds freestyle and made it to the round of 128, as did Sevaaetasi at 125 pounds. Ruiz grappled through five matches at 132 in both GrecoRoman and freestyle. Dela Rosa made it through nine matches at 120 in both formats. GOOD WEEK / GREAT WEEK THE WEEKLY TALLY That’s the percentage of local nonprofits that expect to reduce their services in the next six months, according to a survey of 86 organizations on how shifting federal funding priorities will impact them. About 10 percent have already discontinued some activities. Source: Community Foundation for Monterey County 29 percent QUOTE OF THE WEEK “To watch them eat star thistle is like… how is your mouth handling that?” -Michael Klain, co-founder of California Grazing Co., the company contracting with the City of Monterey to manage the goats and sheep grazing on the Old Capitol Project site as a way to reduce potential wildfire fuel (see story, montereycountynow.com).
www.montereycountynow.com JULY 24-30, 2025 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 5 Thinking about changing your healthcare plan? If you are considering a change in insurance coverage, make sure you are fully informed about costs, trade-offs and limitations. Salinas Valley Health accepts: Aetna Anthem Blue Cross Aspire Blue Shield of California Central California Alliance for Health Cigna Coastal Health Administrators Community Health Plan First Health Health Net Health Smart/InterPlan: Humana Choice Care MultiPlan Pacific Health Alliance Private Healthcare Systems, Inc. Three Rivers Provider Network TriCare TriWest UnitedHealthcare • Some plans may limit access to emergency care, urgent care and maternity services. • Some plans restrict which hospitals you can visit, impacting how far you may have to travel. • Some plans restrict access to physicians, limiting which providers will be covered on your plan. Scan the QR code to search for locations and services. Our team at Salinas Valley Health provides exceptional and compassionate healthcare. Our multifaceted healthcare system includes more than 300 board-certified physicians with expertise in a broad range of specialties. With a network of 46 locations in the tri-county area, our patients have access to emergency care, acute care, routine services, imaging and specialty care right here close to home. Consistently earning awards and recognition for high quality.
6 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY JULY 24-30, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com 831 It was her first week in Monterey County when, at age 11, Marleen Bush first went to Del Monte Beach. She was born and raised in Hawaii, until her father’s military career brought the family to Fort Ord. She still remembers him bringing them to the local beach their very first week in town, surprised by how cloudy and how cold the water was—this was not the Pacific Ocean that they were used to. But then they saw outrigger canoes, designed based on the double-hulled Polynesian vessels that indigenous people used thousands of years ago to populate the region, including the Hawaiian islands. It was the nascent Hi’ilani ‘O Ke Kai, a Hawaiian cultural club founded in Monterey in 1984. The nonprofit group is some 200 members strong and provides two major offerings: outrigger canoeing and hula dance. Bush, then a child, is now considered a founding member, and she is the head kumu (teacher) for the hula halau, or hula school. Dozens of dancers converge on Tuesday nights at the Moose Lodge in Del Rey Oaks, mostly wearing athletic clothing. When it’s time for the beginner group to start, about 50 dancers pull on colorful, patterned hula skirts and start to warm up. Bush and other leaders sit on the stage and each pound an ipu heke, a large double gourd drum, to make a beat. Bush calls out moves in native Hawaiian and in unison, the dancers rotate their hips to the right, then the left; they reach their arms up, then down. As the routine ramps up, they knock their knees together, then apart, all counting in unison. They get to 45, and Bush calls out: “Is it painful yet?” It’s athletic, but the dancers move gracefully, appearing to exert little effort. As they go on to practice a series of dance routines, they keep smiling through the music. “It’s not a race, the goal is to dance together—with control,” Bush says as they learn new choreography in one piece. They practice a routine to the English-language song “White Sandy Beach” playing from a boombox, and the knee emphasis from the warm-up returns. Bush nods with confidence after they complete it: “OK, three songs down, out of 18 we have to learn for our luau.” The annual luau, held at Sherwood Hall in Salinas each September, is the club’s biggest fundraiser, and features dancers of all shapes and body types, and all ages—as young as 4—on stage. (Bush herself started dancing hula at 2 back in Hawaii.) “Tickets sell out faster than a Taylor Swift concert,” Bush says of the luau. That’s partly because everyone wants to bring their family members, in keeping with the spirit of the club— something that Bush and other hula elders emphasize. “It’s more than just a canoe club, it’s a lifestyle. We call each other brothers and sisters,” Bush says. She just became a godparent to fellow dancer Serena Huerta’s new baby. Heidi Woodward was also raised in a military family, moving around frequently. She says Hawaiians would connect everywhere, even in Germany, to create a community. “We find each other,” she says “It’s how you perpetuate your culture—sharing food, drink, dance.” Hula dancing is perpetuating an ancient cultural practice with roots in worship; it was an art form meant to honor the gods. Christian missionaries objected to the practice and in 1830, Queen Ka’ahumanu, a Christian convert, banned hula, an edict that lasted for two years. Today, hula and outrigger canoeing are back on the world stage, including in Monterey County’s inclusive club, which welcomes members of all ethnicities, alongside many who are Polynesian. Despite a colonialist disruption, the traditions are again being passed down. “It is truly a family affair,” says Mel Latham, whose two daughters, 26 and 24, dance in the front row for every song in the beginner and advanced sessions on a recent Tuesday night. Latham danced since childhood, any type of dance, including ballet. Now Tuesday night hula halau is an important ritual. “Hula is my love,” she says. “It’s that happy place I can’t live without.” Hi’ilani ‘O Ke Kai hula club performs at 9pm Saturday, July 26 at Lovers Point, Pacific Grove. Free to attend; $200/annual club membership; $300/family membership. More information at paddle.kekai.org. Sea Song A hula group is more than a dance class or cultural club— it is an extended family. By Sara Rubin “It’s that happy place I can’t live without.” TALES FROM THE AREA CODE DANIEL DREIFUSS Marleen Bush teaches a hula class at the Del Rey Oaks Moose Lodge. Dancers of all ages from children to advanced adult groups take part in these classes, which are among the offerings of the Hawaiian cultural club Hi’ilani ‘O Ke Kai. SAVE THE DATE Friday, September 12 • Monterey Marriott Annual Leadership Luncheon Thursday, October 16 • TBD Monterey Bay Business Expo UPCOMING EVENTS See the full schedule of events and register today at montereychamber.com REGISTER TODAY!
www.montereycountynow.com JULY 24-30, 2025 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 7 THE FASTEST RACING ON EARTH RETURNS TO MONTEREY JULY 25-27 Watch fearless racers tackle one of the most daunting corners in motorsport— the legendary Corkscrew, dropping a jaw-clenching six stories through a blind left-right twist. This isn’t just racing, it’s a high-speed plunge into adrenaline. AN EPIC STORY FULL OF TWISTS AND TURNS. IndyCar Street Party on Alvarado Street, Thursday, July 24, 5:30 – 7:30 pm Tickets and information at WeatherTechRaceway.com
8 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY JULY 24-30, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com NEWS Eight community members took to the podium at the County Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, July 8 to express their growing concerns of workplace hostility towards Black and brown employees. A few specifically named Debra Wilson, chief contracts and procurement officer, who has worked for the County for more than 25 years. That week, on July 7, Wilson filed a discrimination complaint with the state Civil Rights Department, alleging she was unjustly placed on administrative leave on June 13, despite strong job performance throughout her tenure since she began in 1997. Wilson followed up with a lawsuit filed the same date in Monterey County Superior Court, accusing top County leaders of engaging in or allowing acts of discrimination, harassment and retaliation. In her lawsuit, Wilson, who is Black, alleges she faced disparate treatment over the years based on her race, including being denied promotions, in several instances underpaid for “special assignments” while her colleagues received bonus pay, and was subjected to racially hostile conduct. She was placed on administrative leave, with no return date given, after being asked to come in for a “check-in” meeting with County Administrative Officer Sonia De La Rosa, the suit claims. This is pending an investigation into planned travel for site visits with bidders for a contract to provide health care in the Monterey County Jail, according to her suit. County officials declined to comment, noting they had not yet been served with the lawsuit. Wilson declined to comment through her attorneys at the San Diegobased Pride Law Firm. Leave to Amend County’s top procurement official sues over allegations of racial discrimination. By Katie Rodriguez Two isolated “surgical safety incidents” that took place at Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula in 2024 and earlier this year sparked investigations by the California Department of Public Health, the Weekly has confirmed with officials at Montage Health, CHOMP’s parent nonprofit company. The 2024 incident took place in the orthopedics department. The incident in 2025 took place in obstetrics and gynecology, according to Montage’s director of marketing and communications, Mindy Maschmeyer. In an email sent to staff on July 11 obtained by the Weekly, Montage President and CEO Dr. Michael McDermott called the incidents a “serious matter,” adding that CHOMP was “not at risk of shutting down and remains fully operational.” McDermott took over as CEO in March. “We are implementing a focused plan of correction to address the issues identified and to further strengthen our surgical safety protocols,” McDermott wrote. “These are not just corrective actions—they are preventative measures that reflect our deep commitment to learning, accountability and continuous improvement.” What exactly happened during the two incidents is unknown. Maschmeyer cites federal privacy laws preventing the release of specific details. “What I can say is that these were unrelated events that, thankfully, did not cause permanent patient harm,” she says by email. McDermott stressed that in 2024, CHOMP reported fewer than half the patient safety incidents compared to the statewide average, based on CDPH data. The statewide average for complaints/reported incidents was 44 per hospital; CHOMP’s number was 18. Eight of those were unsubstantiated by CDPH investigators, the rest were “substantiated without deficiencies,” meaning an event happened but regulations were followed. Maschmeyer says that even though the events took place in two specific departments, the corrective actions are “system-wide and designed to improve both responsiveness and prevention… “Our goal is not only to meet regulatory expectations, but to exceed them—ensuring the safest possible environment for our patients, staff and community.” A CDPH spokesperson says they cannot comment on specific incidents or ongoing investigations. CHOMP’s license status has not been impacted, according to CDPH. Maschmeyer says a quality assurance and quality improvement program used by the hospital—a federal requirement of all hospitals that care for Medicare and Medicaid patients— includes “systematic reviews of patient care, root cause analysis when harm occurs and continuous monitoring of performance indicators.” In one example, CHOMP had reports of two deficiencies related to documentation of administering pain medication. “These findings were part of CDPH’s routine audits and not tied to any specific patient complaint or investigation,” Maschmeyer says, adding that hospital administrators addressed the issue by providing training to staff on accurate and timely documentation. The Department of Public Health has recorded six complaints at CHOMP (shown above, with a robot assistant) year to date, compared to a statewide average of 15. Medical Exam CHOMP is investigated by the state for two separate surgical incidents this year and last. By Pam Marino Outside of her county job of more than 25 years, Debra Wilson has also served as a minister at the Monterey County Jail and is the owner of a coffee company called Black Kafe. “These are not just corrective actions— they are preventative measures.” DANIEL DREIFUSS DANIEL DREIFUSS
www.montereycountynow.com JULY 24-30, 2025 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 9 25 PRIZES • 2 High Efficiency Clothes Washers 1 Dishwasher • 4 iPads • Monterey Bay Aquarium Family Passes • Plant Nursery Gift Card • Visa Gift Cards! MontereyWaterInfo.org/WaterChallenge NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. Void where prohibited. The sweepstakes is open only to California-American Water Company water customers in the Monterey County District of California who complete and submit a Summer Splash Water Challenge Giveaway entry form (“gameboard”) with correct answers by mail by July 31, 2025, to MPWMD Summer Splash, P.O. Box 85, Monterey CA, 93942 or online at www.montereywaterinfo.org/waterchallenge by July 31, 2025 and who are at least 18 years of age as of the date of entry. Start: 12:01 a.m. PDT on 7/1/2025; deadline: 11:59 p.m. PDT on 7/31/2025. Two (2) Winners will receive a High Efficiency Clothes Washer (ARV $900), one (1) Winner will receive a High Efficiency Dishwasher (ARV $700), four (4) Winners will receive an Apple iPad (ARV $470), one (1) Winner will receive a $200 gift certificate/card to a local plant nursery (ARV $200), two (2) Winners will receive a Family Pack of Passes to the Monterey Bay Aquarium (ARV $230), ten (10) Winners will receive a $100 Visa Gift Card (ARV $100), one (1) Winner will receive a Monterey Zoo Family Ticket (ARV $160), four (4) Winners will receive a Cinemark Movie Gift Card (ARV $50). OFFICIAL RULES: https://www.montereywaterinfo.org/water-challenge-rules / SPONSORS: The Monterey Peninsula Water Management District, 5 Harris Ct, Building G, Monterey, CA 93940 and California-American Water Company, 511 Forest Lodge Road, Pacific Grove, CA 93950
10 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY JULY 24-30, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com It’s been more than 50 years since Sand City’s leaders have sought to develop the city’s coastline. In 1970, the City Council approved the first proposed development on the coast, a 178-unit apartment complex called “The Dunes.” Every attempt has been swept away by a sea of regulation and financing challenges but one: Monterey Bay Shores, a 368-unit “eco-resort” north of Scribble Hill on a 39-acre site, 28 acres of which would be graded and transformed. And now, even that project has been thrown into question, as an ongoing court fight continues over who controls the property, all while a mountain of debt grows ever larger. The California Coastal Commission twice denied the project—first in 2000 and then 2009—but developer Ed Ghandour, through his company Security National Guaranty (SNG), sued both times and won. The courts more or less forced the agency to approve the project in April 2014, pending a slew of conditions that had to be met before a permit was granted that would allow construction. But within months, court documents reflect, cracks were starting to appear. By January 2015, the property was encumbered with $27 million in senior debt and $50 million in junior debt, and a senior debt holder threatened foreclosure by September. In July 2015, Ghandour was introduced to real estate investor Mahender Makhijani, and over the next two months, Ghandour urged him to loan money to the property for a stake in the project, the permit for which Ghandour described as “imminent.” Makhijani and a group of other investors formed Evariste Group LLC, which reached an agreement with SNG in September 2015 to loan $27 million to the property for a stake in the project. SNG—Ghandour—would retain control over management of the property pursuant to agreement. In that agreement, however, Ghandour made a number of promises that courts found he violated, and in May 2016, a Sonoma County Superior Court judge granted Evariste’s motion to remove Ghandour as manager. (Neither Ghandour nor Evariste or Nano Banc representatives responded to requests for comment; this account is drawn from court papers.) Among those broken promises: Ghandour had said the property would be clear of all other debt with Evariste’s loan, and that he wouldn’t spend more than $25,000 per month on the project without approval from Evariste’s investors. The Coastal Commission finally granted a coastal development permit in November 2015, and by that time Ghandour told Evariste he’d already spent about $250,000 of working capital on the project less than two months after the loan. Evariste also learned that two of SNG’s attorneys had not been paid, and were threatening to assert liens on the property. The court granted Evariste control of the property in May 2016 and Ghandour lost his appeal of that decision in October 2017. Meanwhile, the Coastal Commission finally gave the green light for grading to commence on the site in February 2017, and grading did, for a short time. Litigation between the two parties was ongoing—each was accusing the other of fraud—and in 2022, the court ruled in favor of Evariste, ultimately awarding the company over $2 million in attorneys’ fees and $650,000 in damages. SNG appealed again, and in March of this year, the Court of Appeal upheld the trial court’s decision. But there’s still more litigation pending. SNG sued Evariste and others in September 2023 in Orange County Superior Court over a $37 million loan they took out against the property the month prior, without SNG’s knowledge or consent. In January of this year, the court denied SNG’s attempt to take back control of the property pending the litigation, determining that there were no damages; court documents reflect SNG never made any loan payments, and by August 2023 owed Evariste $76 million. The new loan—at a 5-percent interest rate—went to pay down the old one, which was accruing at a 20-percent interest rate. That case goes to trial Aug. 1. Meanwhile, Makhijani and another Evariste principal—as well as Nano Banc, which floated the $37 million loan—are on the losing side of a more than $100 million real estate fraud case in Orange County involving the historic Hotel Laguna, and a bankruptcy court judge is now sifting through the wreckage to decide how to mitigate the damage for defrauded investors. What about the fate of the so-called “eco-resort”? The project’s permit remains active indefinitely, but the world has changed dramatically in recent years, and costs keep climbing. Will another investor ever swoop in and spend the money to build a luxury resort on the shore of an ever-rising sea? Is there profit in that? The answers are as clear as the churning tide. Pounding Sand An ownership dispute over Sand City’s ‘eco-resort’ property drags on as debts keep mounting. By David Schmalz NEWS IN SESSION North Monterey County Unified School District Board of Trustees meets and accepts public comment. 6pm Thursday, July 24. North Monterey County High School media center, 13990 Castroville Blvd., Castroville. Free. 633-3343, nmcusd.org. DRIVING DONORS The Arts Council for Monterey County presents a program for small organizations on how to build donor relationships. Monterey Symphony President and CEO Nicola Reilly shares how to approach donor development. 10am Friday, July 25. Marina library community room, 190 Seaside Circle, Marina. Free. RSVP at bit.ly/rsvpbizworks. OPEN FORT The latest updates on the environmental cleanup of the former Fort Ord will be shared at an upcoming open house. Information and a bus tour of the sites are offered. 9am-1pm Saturday, July 26. 4522 Joe Lloyd Way, Seaside. Free. (800) 8529699, fortordcleanup.com. BUILDING UP Monterey County Works hosts a job fair to connect local construction employers with job seekers. Attendees are encouraged to bring their résumés and dress to impress. 1:30-4pm Wednesday, July 30. Career Center, 344 Salinas St., Salinas. Free. 796-3335. Register at montereycountyworks.com. PLANET ACTION The City of Salinas hosts a virtual workshop on its Climate Action Plan, with a chance to ask questions. 6-7pm Wednesday, July 30. Online via Zoom. Register at tinyurl.com/ SalinasCAP30. COUNTY SERVES Supervisor Chris Lopez hosts a grand opening celebration for a District 3 office in King City. The winners of the “We Are Southern Monterey County” painting and photography competition will also be announced. 5:30pm Thursday, July 31. District 3 office, 1011 Broadway St., Suite C, King City. Free. RSVP at 755-5033 or district3@countyofmonterey.gov. HELP SHAPE SERVICES The Counties of Monterey and San Benito, along with Lead Me Home Continuum of Care, are working on a joint application to secure a new round of State Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention funding. The public is invited to share opinions on the types of services these funds should support. Survey ends Aug. 3. Available in English at bit.ly/HHAPEnglishSurvey and Spanish at bit.ly/HHAPSpanishSurvey. The construction of Monterey Bay Shores—if it ever happens—would see 28 acres of dune habitat graded, and 50 truckloads of sand hauled off the site daily for one year. E-MAIL: toolbox@montereycountynow.com TOOLBOX Each party was accusing the other of fraud. DANIEL DREIFUSS
www.montereycountynow.com JULY 24-30, 2025 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 11 Live Full Open a LIVE FULL CHECKING account and earn up to $833* a year with 8.33% APY* on your first $10,000 and GET $225** cash bonus! We’re Here For The Life You’re Living *APY = annual percentage yield. APY available 6/12/2025; subject to change. APY is variable and can change after account opening. $833 earnings assumes that for 12 months, APY does not change, balance does not fall below $10,000, and account activity requirements are met. APY on portion of balance that exceeds $10,000 will be between 8.33% and 0.18%. Fees may reduce earnings. Monterey CU membership and checking account eligibility required. **Incentive is paid in the form of a check for mobile deposit only. Monterey CU membership and checking account eligibility required. Other restrictions apply. For membership requirements and other information, visit www.montereycu.com or call or visit any branch. O er subject to change or cancellation at any time. AMERICAN SHARE YOUR SAVINGS INSURED TO $500,000PER ACCOUNT INSURANCE This institution is not federally insured, or insured by any state government. THE CITY OF MONTEREY BEST SUMMER EVER!2025 SUMMER REGISTRATION IS OPEN! We are offering the following camps and programs plus much more. Follow Monterey Recreation on Facebook and Instagram or online at monterey.gov/rec for updates and program information. REGISTER ONLINE NOW! Flag Football Camp (7–14 yrs.) June 16–20 Imagine Dance Camp (4–8 yrs.) June 2–6, June 9–13, June 23–27, June 30 – July 3, July 7–11 Summer Fun Playground Program (5–10 yrs.) Offered M–F from 9am–4pm and located at neighborhood parks. June 16 – August 1 (7-week program) Whispering Pines Day Camp (5–9 yrs.) Weekly sessions offered M–F, June 16 – August 1 Camp Quien Sabe Youth Overnight Camp (7–15 yrs.) Weekly sessions offered M–F, June 23 – August 1 Tiny Tots Summer Camp (3–5 yrs.) Monday–Friday, 3 hours per day June 2–27, June 30 – July 25 Playwell LEGO® Camps (5–12 yrs.) June 16–20, July 21–25, July 28 – August 1 Summer Art Camp (7–13 yrs.) June 23–25, June 30 – July 2, July 7–9, July 14–16 Beach Volleyball (9–18 yrs.) June 9–13, June 16–20, June 23–27, July 7–11 Challenger International Soccer (7–14 yrs.) June 9–13, June 23–27, July 7–11, July 21–25 Track and Field Camp (7–13 yrs.) July 14–18 Basketball Camp (7–13 yrs.) July 21–25 REGISTER NOW! SCAN ME! to register on Amilia FOR MORE INFO + REGISTRATION MONTEREY.GOV/REC Registration is available online 24/7 at monterey.gov/rec. Full program information is posted on the Monterey Recreation registration website at monterey.gov/rec. Questions? Email: montereyrecreation@monterey.gov.
12 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY JULY 24-30, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com A helicopter surveying ag fields near Pajaro and law enforcement officers wearing green uniforms on the 1400 block of San Juan Road turned on alarm bells in the community on Wednesday, July 16. The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department was serving a search warrant with assistance from the California Department of Cannabis Control and California Department of Fish and Wildlife, but many local residents believed it was an immigration raid. Rumors quickly spread on social media. People thought it was U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, with a raid mirroring those that happened in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties a few days prior. Farmworker Jaime Alanis Garcia was severely injured when he fell from a greenhouse roof in Camarillo during the raid, and later died from his injuries. Those fears turned out to be misplaced. An officer from an unidentified participating agency was recorded speaking into a camera in a video that was posted (and later removed) on Instagram by an anonymous account under the name Salinas Chronicle. “We’re serving a search warrant related to illicit cannabis activity. That’s all that’s going on. No, ICE is not here,” the officer says. Monterey County Sheriff’s Cmdr. Andres Rosas, an agency spokesperson, says the local sheriff was notified in advance of the cannabis farm investigation, but did not participate. The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office also did not issue any statements about who was or was not present, deferring instead to officers from other agencies on the scene. “We can’t put information out if it potentially jeopardizes an investigation,” Rosas says. He adds that state agencies provide courtesy notifications to local law enforcement before taking actions like these, while federal agencies (like ICE) may choose to or not. “Federal agencies do not have to notify us of anything,” Rosas says. While local agencies are cautious not to release information that could jeopardize other organizations’ investigations, some departments have decided to release information about ICE immediately after local activity, hoping to cut down on rumors. “We want to give our residents real information so they’re not acting off of misinformation. Misinformation often causes chaos, and that is not what we want to be doing here in Seaside,” Seaside Police Chief Nick Borges says. He adds they share information because communication is key to building trust. “I don’t want to lose anyone who will only report crime to us. My concern is that if there’s fear in our community, people are not going to report if they’re a victim of a crime,” Borges says. That’s a sentiment that Monterey County Sheriff Tina Nieto has shared. Speaking at a press conference in support of immigrant communities in June, alongside officials from Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz counties, she said, “Public safety isn’t served by fear…it’s built through trust.” Fear in the Fields Local law enforcement agencies worry that fears of ICE could compromise cooperation. By Celia Jiménez “We are committed to ensuring that all who call this place home are seen, respected and safe,” Monterey County Sheriff Tina Nieto said during a June press conference supporting immigrants. NEWS “Misinformation often causes chaos.” DANIEL DREIFUSS Quality feed & pet supplies • DIY dog & cat vaccines • Premium hay at great prices Low cost vaccination clinic for dogs & cats. Microchipping. Prescription flea/tick medication. Open every Saturday 1:30pm-4:30pm. 101 W. LAUREL DR, SALINAS • (831)443-6161 Mon-Sat 9am-6pm Sun 10am-5pm $5 OFF Any purchase of $25 or more $20 OFF Any purchase of $100 or more DIVERSIFY YOUR FLOCK! $10 OFF Any purchase of $50 or more CANNOT BE COMBINED WITH OTHER OFFERS. LIMIT 1 COUPON PER CUSTOMER. NOT VALID ON HAY, SHAVINGS, PETLOCK, ADVANTAGE/ADVANTIX, OR SERESTO COLLARS. MUST PRESENT ENTIRE PHYSICAL COUPON AT TIME OF PURCHASE. COME GET YOUR CHICKS, DUCKLINGS, AND BABY TURKEYS! CORNISH CROSS: PULLET CHICKS: MALE DUCKLINGS: FEMALE DUCKLINGS: WHITE TURKEYS: BRONZE TURKEYS: $4.00 $7.00 $13.00 $20.00 $17.00 $23.00 carmel plaza carmel-by-the-sea 8106 new arrivals carmel-by-the-sea sport coats soft coats outerwear trousers knitwear shirting
www.montereycountynow.com JULY 24-30, 2025 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 13 On July 1, his first day on the job, Middlebury College President Ian Baucom shared a video message of “greeting and gratitude” with the campus community. He spoke about the students, the faculty, the magic of a residential liberal arts college. “You’ve helped me see a Middlebury whose history and whose values have prepared us to meet the shifting currents and possibilities of this complex moment,” he said. “That fills me with optimism for our future.” He also acknowledged some existential challenges. “This truly is a complex moment, for Middlebury and all of higher education,” Baucom said. He praised a culture of asking questions. And he posed big questions about the future of the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey. Baucom listed MIIS and other Middlebury institutions (Bread Loaf Writers Conference, the Collaborative in Conflict Transformation)—and raised the question of their future. “It’s my preliminary sense that we haven’t yet fully articulated how all those parts fit together,” Baucom said. “I’d like us to take the opportunity to do so, to identify what kind of institution we are and aspire to be: so our whole can be more than the sum of its parts, and so those parts can work better together toward a common end. “We cannot, however, do so without definitively resolving the future of MIIS and its range of academic programs. That question has been left open for too long. It is time to answer it, and we will, within my first year as president if not sooner. Whatever the answer on MIIS, we must continue to be a Middlebury for the world, an institution for students, faculty, languages, and ideas from around the globe. That commitment has long defined us. In a time when many nations—ours included—are turning inward, that resolute openness to the world must remain defining of what we are for.” Middlebury, based in Vermont, took over MIIS in 2005. Governance changes over the next decade included a name change to Middlebury Institute. The graduate school’s degree programs focus on global leadership, with master’s in subjects like Interpretation for Diplomats and Executives, Nonproliferation and Terrorism Studies, and Global Governance and Policy. MIIS administrators said they are not granting interviews on this topic. But the dialogue before Baucom’s post has been playing out in a student publication, The Middlebury Campus. According to a news story published on May 8, over 300 faculty and students in Vermont walked out of class for a rally against Middlebury budget cuts. They called for a reversal on cuts to staff retirement benefits, and for Middlebury to disassociate from MIIS, among other things. According to the story, MIIS contributes $8.7 million to Middlebury’s deficit. A group of four MIIS professors rebutted with a letter to the editor, disputing those facts. “Any perception that MIIS has been protected from austerity measures is false; instead, we have been asked repeatedly to tighten our belts,” they wrote. MIISing Out Middlebury’s new president raises questions about the future of MIIS in Monterey. By Sara Rubin Flags from around the world adorn the campus of the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, representing its diverse student body, with 526 students from 44 countries. NEWS “We cannot do so without resolving the future of MIIS.” DANIEL DREIFUSS
14 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY JULY 24-30, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com EXTRA SPECIAL Enjoyed your article (“They are probably the most accessible yet least noticed governmental bodies—special districts tasked with delivering essential services,” July 17-23). As someone new to public office I have enjoyed learning about things like this and also being part of it in my work with the City and the Regen board. It’s a big responsibility running a complex and important agency. It is also a bit of a concern to me that the board is made up of people who may have had little knowledge of their business when joining the board. Big decisions are made at every meeting, including long-term strategic planning issues. It blows my mind to think about how many cities and special districts there are and that each of them have to do what we have to do as a city. Lots of moving parts and it never stops! Add in having new participants that have voting powers coming in every two years, and it gets even more complicated. Dale Byrne | Carmel Note: Byrne is mayor of Carmel. Fabulous article! I had no idea we had so many special districts in the county. And so many opportunities for people to contribute! Glen Grossman | Pacific Grove SPRAY DOWN I spent several hours of my precious summer break before my junior year at Greenfield High attending the court hearing on fumigant pesticide use near Monterey County schools that Sara Rubin wrote about (“Pesticide permits go on trial in a case that could change the ag industry,” July 17-23). I admit I couldn’t understand most of what the attorneys and judge were saying—very technical. However, I was listening the whole time and never heard the County, State or growers’ attorneys say a word about what I thought was supposed to be the most important issue: protecting the health of kids like me. Instead, what I heard was it’s just too hard to write down the conditions to prepare for hazardous pesticide applications, because there is such a huge number of these applications. Alexia Rangel | Greenfield This story covers the “stakes” for Big Ag regarding fumigant pesticide use, but avoids the costs to our farmworker communities. In the profits over people struggle, Big Ag interests whine about the money they would lose if the County and State actually enforced permitting laws, but for the People, the stakes are higher incidences of cancer and asthma. Chloropicrin is banned in 43 countries. It was called “the vomiting gas” in WWI, because it seeped into soldiers’ gas masks, forcing them to discard the masks and then be exposed to more deadly biological weapons. It’s now illegal on the battlefields, but today still commonly used near school grounds. As for 1,3-dichloropropene, that’s banned in 40 countries. The air monitor on the grounds of Ohlone Elementary School has registered 1,3-D concentrations more than twice the lifetime cancer risk level established by the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, since testing began at the end of 2011. Jacob Sandoval | Salinas WAR AND PEACE I found Ava Homa’s contribution poignant and spot on (“Missiles and headlines come and go. But Iran’s repressive regime continues to endure,” July 10-16). People are the losers in these political disputes. Her line “mistaking ruin for rebirth, bombs for liberation” is especially true. Thank you for including her piece. Karen Calley | Monterey PUSH BACK In these tough times with the MAGA monster in Washington controlling our lives, I am very grateful to have Rep. Jimmy Panetta representing us on the Central Coast (“Squid Fry: Popularity Contest,” July 10-16). He’s fighting the fight and is doing all he can to keep us informed via emails, town halls, virtual meetings and informing us that he’s there for all of us. He gives us hope! We must be patient and change will come. Keep the faith; keep protesting (“Good Trouble Lives On protests set for Salinas and Monterey,” posted July 16). Thank you, Jimmy! Susan Harris | Carmel Valley This so-called movement looks more like a ritual gathering of aging white progressives and a handful of neocon remnants who never forgave the Republican base for rejecting their globalist agenda (“A growing volunteer group in Aromas continues a nationwide rally against the Trump Administration,” posted July 18). These protests don’t represent grassroots democracy. They represent a particular ideological clique desperate to maintain cultural relevance while clinging to a narrative of perpetual crisis. Civil liberties aren’t being eroded by the people they protest. If anything, they’re eroding under the weight of state overreach, censorship and selective enforcement championed by the very ideology they defend. Bill Lipe | Salinas DINNER RESERVATIONS I would pick Villa Azteca in Salinas (“Monterey County’s best restaurants get national recognition—and a visit to Chez Noir shows why,” posted July 17). Everything a restaurant should be. Fun, welcoming with inventive delicious beautiful food. It is my favorite, hands down. A place to relax, a place to celebrate in every way. Pamela Takigawa | Carmel Valley Try Foray. Better food, no condescension. Michael and Caroline Chang are amazing, and in comparison, bring to mind what Ginger Rogers said about Fred Astaire: “Yes, he is a good dancer. But I do everything he does, backwards, and in heels.” David Glickman | Pebble Beach RIDE ON The Salinas horse parades are a wonderful tradition, which I’ve been watching for more than 70 years (“A long-time parade tradition brings the community spirit of rodeo to the streets of Salinas,” July 17-23). Some things are just meant to stay the same! Walter Wagner | 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 JULY 24-30, 2025 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 15 It’s a big deal when a multi-agency group of law enforcement officers serves a warrant on a cannabis farm, complete with a helicopter and drones, in the middle of working farmland. There’s no way people won’t notice a major police operation is going down. That’s what happened on Wednesday morning, July 16, when the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department served a search warrant on a cannabis farm in Pajaro. Public Information Officer Mara Rodriguez declines to release much information, as the investigation is pending, but says it is connected to a case in San Bernardino County, and that several thousand pounds of processed cannabis were seized and destroyed by the agency. Rodriguez says the search warrant, signed by a San Bernardino County Superior Court judge, was based on suspected illicit marijuana cultivation, including the use of pesticides that are illegal in the U.S., among them fumigants from China. The California Department of Cannabis Control joined the operation and has seized and embargoed thousands more pounds of cannabis, pending the investigation. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife was involved as well. More information is likely to be released in the coming days from the agencies involved. But in the early morning hours that the local investigation was underway, as my colleagues Erik Chalhoub and Celia Jiménez have reported (see more, p. 12), the fear of who might be there caused more than a stir. Volunteer groups of legal observers who monitor activity by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers arrived at the scene. They found a major law enforcement operation investigating alleged violations of the California penal code, but no ICE raid. But the tangible fear that any sign of law enforcement activity—a van, a helicopter, an officer wearing a bulky bullet-proof vest—might be la migra is permeating the community. Some of it unfolds on social media, where posts about suspected ICE activity followed by debunking (or, occasionally, confirmation) abound. Some of it unfolds in the fields, where some crewmembers left jobs early that day. Some of it unfolds privately in people’s minds and hearts, as they wrestle with what is and is not safe. This would seem to be part of the strategy that the Trump administration is deploying. Even if ICE cannot be everywhere at once, the fear that they might appear at any moment is changing people’s lives. This is true not just of immigrants whose status in this country is illegal, but of immigrants who do have legal status, even citizens. I hear repeatedly from friends and acquaintances about it. One, from Mexico, is considering moving back. Another, from Canada, felt flutters of fear while returning from a trip and passing through U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the airport. This is happening in what is supposed to be the freest nation on Earth. Of course, creating a climate of fear is part of the autocratic playbook. And of course it might motivate more people to “self-deport,” the Trump administration’s term of art for “flee from your own community and family and job because we don’t want you here.” The ICE website even offers this glossy guidance: “If you’re illegally present in the U.S., you don’t have to— and shouldn’t—wait for ICE officials to arrest you. Instead, you can leave on your own terms.” As if these are people’s own terms. On Thursday, July 17, the U.S. Department of Justice announced that it had sent requests to sheriffs in “multiple major California counties” seeking to compel them to produce “lists of all inmates in their jails who are not citizens of the United States, their crimes of arrest or conviction, and their scheduled release dates.” Note that not citizens phrase, which includes many legally present immigrants—a wide net that can be interpreted to again refer to sowing fear. (Note as well that inmates in county jails include people who have not been convicted of any crime, but may be awaiting trial.) Officials at the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office say it does not appear Sheriff Tina Nieto received such a request from the DOJ. Even if she did not, the specter of ICE has already asserted itself. Sara Rubin is the Weekly’s editor. Reach her at sara@montereycountynow.com. Sowing Chaos Even when ICE isn’t in town, the fear that they might be unsettles people. By Sara Rubin TOUCH AND GO…Squid tries to abide by all the laws humans have created, even absurd ones. At least cephalopods don’t wear shoes, making that high heels permit requirement in Carmel irrelevant. When Squid visits friends in Los Angeles, Squid is sure not to hunt moths under streetlights, which remains illegal in that city. Squid perked up on July 16 when the Monterey Peninsula Airport District board considered repealing three ordinances—two passed in 1978, one in 1979—regulating airport hours, plane altitudes, touch-and-go landings and such. Thing is, the airport never enforced the ordinances, as they are preempted by the Federal Aviation Act, and attorney Scott Huber gave the board a presentation that concluded, “Each of the three ordinances are invalid, unconstitutional, and/or are ineffective. As your counsel, it is my recommendation that [they] be repealed for those reasons.” A few in the public chimed in, with one suggesting there should be an environmental review on the impact of repealing the ordinances. That was the whole point, Huber then told the board—repealing the ordinances will have no impact, because they’ve never been enforced. Next, the board spent more than an hour polishing the language of its now-official “Voluntary Fly Quiet Program,” a voluntary set of guidelines— not enforceable—that the airport encourages all non-airline pilots to adhere to. Only board member Jonathan Ahmadi voted against the adopted language, as he felt it reasonable to ask that flights be discouraged from 11pm-7am. The majority went with the hours of midnight-5am, thinking that would generate fewer complaints. Only time will tell. ROCK N’ RULE…Speaking of federal laws, members of the Ninth District Judicial Conference (federal courts in nine western states) are meeting at the Hyatt Regency in Monterey as Squid inks this column. Their conference started Monday, July 21 and ends on July 24. It’s the first time in 11 years it has been held in Monterey, and that means only some of the most influential decisionmakers of our time—Mary H. Murguia, Chief Judge of U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and U.S. Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan among them— are in town this week. So too are members of the band The Recusals, “a unique rock band composed primarily of federal judges from the Northern District.” What? Federal judges rockin’ “I Fought The Law”? Squid’s colleague caught up with the conference organizers, eager to know more: When and where would The Recusals perform? Sadly, Squid’s colleague was informed, the band “will be playing a private event that is closed to the public and media.” Lame! Is that what the Deep State is? Squid would appeal the matter, but to who? THE LOCAL SPIN SQUID FRY THE MISSION OF MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY IS TO INSPIRE INDEPENDENT THINKING AND CONSCIOUS ACTION, ETC. This is supposed to be the freest nation on Earth. SEND SQUID A TIP: squid@montereycountynow.com
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