AUGUST 7-13, 2025 MONTEREYCOUNTYNOW.COM LOCAL & INDEPENDENT COPS CRACK DOWN ON CAR WEEK 8 | SAVE THE MONARCHS 13 | STOP AND SMELL THE COFFEE 36 FIRST PLACE GENERAL EXCELLENCE • 2025 CA JOURNALISM AWARDS • Monterey County’s immigrant community adapts to life under a constant threat. p. 18 By Celia Jiménez WITH BATED BREATH
2 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY AUGUST 7-13, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com AUGUST 7-13, 2025 • ISSUE #1932 • ESTABLISHED IN 1988 Keira Silver (Canon EOS 4000D, 100mm-300mm lens.) A seagull feasts on an octopus among the tide pools at Point Lobos State Natural Reserve. MONTEREY COUNTY PHOTO OF THE WEEK Send Etc. submissions to etcphoto@montereycountynow.com; please include caption and camera info. On the cover: Isabel, a Triqui farmworker who lives in Greenfield, with her two sons. She and her husband prefer to keep their family close to home and are limiting their time outdoors because they fear an encounter with ICE agents that could lead to the family being separated. Cover photo: Celia Jiménez 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 AUGUST 7-13, 2025 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 3 ALL STAR WEEKEND MARK MARTIN • BILL ELLIOTT • BOBBY LABONTE • KEN SCHRADER DANNY SULLIVAN • DARIO FRANCHITTI • SCOTT PRUETT • ZAK BROWN GRAND MARSHAL OF THE IROC CLASS AL UNSER JR. INTERNATIONAL RACE OF CHAMPIONS COME JOIN OUR AUG 13-16 RACE ON AUG 16 JEFF GORDON • KURT BUSCH AND MANY MORE! SEE CHAMPIONS RACE! TICKETS ON SALE NOW WEATHERTECHRACEWAY.COM PAVED PARKING STILL AVAILABLE SCAN FOR TICKETS AND VIP PACKAGES OR VISIT US AT
4 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY AUGUST 7-13, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com THE BUZZ FREE SPEECH As the federal government works to attack journalists in the courtroom, those on the ground report a growing number of physical attacks, primarily during coverage of protests against the current presidential administration. In July, the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker, a project of the Freedom of the Press Foundation, documented 14 arrests or detentions of journalists, 64 assaults by federal officers or police, eight instances of equipment being damaged and two where they were searched. Another two dozen other reports are also being investigated. Of the 75 affected journalists, most reported being exposed to a chemical irritant at least once, according to the Tracker. Independent journalist Mason Lake told the Tracker that federal agents intentionally shot him with a crowd-control munition while he was covering a protest against ICE in Oregon. “They were aiming specifically down the barrel of my lens,” Lake said. “They see me. They just want to get rid of me.” Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Press Club was granted a temporary restraining order against the Los Angeles Police Department, which prevents the police from limiting journalists’ ability to do their job at protests. Good: Despite uncertain federal funding, the Monterey County Preschool Service Corps will continue for another year. The board of United Way Monterey County approved a plan that will see up to 30 Corps members tutoring young children enrolled in Head Start programs in classrooms throughout Monterey County in the 2025-26 school year. The program had been humming along normally since 2020, but earlier this year, abrupt federal cuts to AmeriCorps meant shutting down the program midyear. The feds notified the state which notified the local grant recipient (United Way) that the funding stream was over. United Way scrambled to find money to keep the tutors paid through the end of the school year, but weren’t sure about what was next. They’ve now won a grant from the state for up to $500,000 and are recruiting on an accelerated timeline, hoping to get people trained and into classrooms by Oct. 1. GREAT: A plan to turn a former hotel in King City into housing for the unhoused was in danger of falling through, after its then-owner Shangri-La went into foreclosure on the property. But earlier this year, King City officials agreed to purchase the hotel for $4.4 million, selling it to the Housing Authority of the County of Monterey for $1.1 million. On July 30, officials gathered to break ground on the project, now known as Casa de Esperanza. The hotel will be converted into 46 studio apartments for primarily those who were relocated from encampments along the Salinas River. The Housing Authority now seeks a contractor for the project, which is estimated to be completed by January. The estimated $16.7 million cost of the conversion is coming from local and state sources. Once complete, the Housing Authority will oversee operations and contract with an outside agency to provide supportive services. GOOD WEEK / GREAT WEEK THE WEEKLY TALLY That’s how much visitors spent in Monterey County during Car Week in 2024. In 2014, the number was $55 million. Source: See Monterey $130 million QUOTE OF THE WEEK “It feels like the right time to pass the torch.” -Mario Catalano, Cibo’s owner for 35 years, on selling the downtown Monterey restaurant to Carmel restaurateur Dudley Ashley (see story, montereycountynow. com). HEATABLE EATABLES! ELROY’S PRESENTS @ELROYSFINEFOODS WWW.ELROYSFINEFOODS.COM 15 SOLEDAD DRIVE (831) 373-3737 MONTEREY, CA 93940 SAVOR SENEGAL TICKET=$140 EACH (1 TICKET SERVES TWO PEOPLE) To place your order visit www.elroysfinefoods.com or scan this QR CODE! Quantities are limited, so order soon! From Elroy’s Fine Foods Executive Chef & Culinary Director David Hardie A pre-ordered, fully prepared meal to heat & eat at home. Offered on the last Thursday of every month. GLOBALLY INSPIRED & LOCALLY SOURCED All items will also be available à la carte for purchase at the Prepared Foods counter on Thursday, 8/28 until sold out! *ORDER BY: THURSDAY, AUGUST 21ST PICK UP: THURSDAY, AUGUST 28TH NEXT MONTH: BRINGING ON THE BAYOU! * NDAMBE stewed black eyed peas with sweet potatoes & red palm oil, served with a baguette and pickled okra (GF, VEGAN, CONTAINS: SOY. BAGUETTE CONTAINS GLUTEN) SALADU NEBBE black eyed pea salad with cucumber, tomato & lime (GF, VEGAN) MANGO AVOCADO NIAMBAAN sweet, creamy, spicy & sour, with chile and tamarind (GF, VEGAN) DIBI HAUSA grilled beef kabobs seasoned with chiles, ginger & peanuts (GF, DF, CONTAINS: FISH, SOY) POULET YASSA FONIO chicken stewed in caramelized onions with lime & mustard, served over fonio (GF, DF, CONTAINS: SOY) THIEBOUDIENNE the original jollof rice - heavily seasoned rice with tomato & vegetables, topped with herbed fish. Senegal’s national dish. (GF, DF, CONTAINS: FISH) PEANUT & BANANA TART peanut butter cookie crust filled with coconut millet & banana pudding (GF, CONTAINS: DAIRY, EGGS) *
www.montereycountynow.com AUGUST 7-13, 2025 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 5 girl boy girl Mission St. & 7th Avenue Carmel~by~the~Sea 831-626-3368 girlboygirlboutiquecarmel Open 7 days COMPLIMENTARY PARKING paloosh Ocean Ave & Dolores St. Carmel~by~the~Sea 831-626-2773 palooshboutiquecarmel Open 7 Days ZIMMERMAN ULLA JOHNSON logo TWP La DOUBLEJ ISABEL MARANT SPRWMN PETER COHEN A.L.C Sea ny NILI LOTAN forte-forte logo VERONICA BEARDlogo Ann Mashburn ROSE CARMINE logo SABLYN IRO JONATHAN SIMKHAI LISA YANG BROCHU WALKER La Prestic Ouiston logo VINCE XiRENA alice + olivia Saloni The GREAT SMYTHE ALIX OF BOHEMIA Theory ANNIE BING Hunter Bell Frank & Eileen Enza logo MOTHER R13 MOUSSY VINTAGE CITIZENS of HUMANITY AGOLDE RE/DONE AMO ATM FREECITY Aviator Nation and many more … HANDBAGS ISABEL MARANT Golden Goose VERONICA BEARD logo Jerome Dreyfuss Maria La Rosa Clare V. SHOES IRO ULLA JOHNSON logo ISABEL MARANT Golden Goose LOEFFLER RANDALL DEAR FRANCES forte_forte logo JEWELRY SINGLE STONE JACQUIE AICHE Renato Cipullo Logan Hollowell Lionheart logo zofia day EF Collection Gigi Clozeau and more ... girl boy girl Mission St. & 7th Ave. Carmel-by-the-Sea 831-626-3368 LoveShackFancy
6 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY AUGUST 7-13, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com 831 At first, it sounds like there might be a problem with Tom Scardina’s timeline in his memory. The 82-year-old who grew up in Pacific Grove remembers he first developed an affection for Roadsters by driving them around Pebble Beach starting at age 14—too young to have a driver’s license. But it’s not a timeline memory lapse. “Everyone drove before they were 16 then,” Scardina explains. “They never checked you for a driver’s license. There was only one Pebble Beach security cop and he wasn’t going to stop you, he had better things to do.” Those early, under-age days behind the wheel were the beginning of a lifelong passion for Scardina, who today owns three 1929 Ford Roadsters, plus three other classic cars—a 1940 Hudson, a 1962 Ford Falcon and a ’37 Ford Coupe. He drives them only rarely, and works on them in the big garage at his Pebble Beach home. “I’ve always had a passion for cars, always,” he says. “I built a couple of cars from scratch. But I don’t sell them, I keep them. It’s a hobby.” His Roadsters were mass produced by 1929, and don’t qualify for swanky Car Week events like Concours d’Elegance even if they share a classic look. But this passion is not about showing cars—it’s a hobby, and a social group. Scardina and some of his fellow collectors have connected over their mutual love of cars and shared tips about rebuilding and improvements. Carlin Erickson of Seaside worked for 40 years at Butts Chevrolet Cadillac (now the site of the Hyundai dealership), where he had access to tools for personal use, and a career’s worth of expertise. He found a 1955 Chevrolet Model 150—just a body with no transmission, no engine—that had been sitting in a barn for years. He spent some six years getting it running. “It’s incredible to create it with your own hands,” he says. Erickson’s expertise is in body work, and it shows. He made his own custom paint color, a radiant, eye-catching shade of turquoise. “The owner of the shop and I got together one night over a few beers and we came up with that color,” he says. Erickson painted all six of Scardina’s cars. Erickson is a few years younger than Scardina, and was friends with Scardina’s younger brother growing up. The older kids provided a gateway to car culture and independence. “As a little kid I’d go up to their houses and see these cool-looking hot rods they had and that got me started,” Erickson says. As soon as he was old enough he got his first car—a 1950 Chevrolet with no brakes and a wrecked front end—and a lifetime passion began. “I’ve been working on cars ever since,” he says. And in their younger years, he remembers driving around and parking along scenic spots in P.G. to look for girls. “We would cruise nightly,” Erickson says. Scardina recalls a rented garage with a dirt floor for $3 a month that he and his buddies would use to build cars. They’d get parts at wrecking yards. (Scardina says yards would weigh the teens when they went in and then when they went out, to avoid anyone pocketing metal.) These cars connect collectors to each other, and to another era. “Today everybody wants a Tesla or something like that,” Scardina says. (His around-town car is a 2025 Ford pick-up. It’s a necessity not just for transportation, but securing lower insurance rates for collector cars, requiring proof you won’t be driving around in them.) While the group doesn’t really show their cars, they enjoy parking near Car Week events where passersby admire them. Erickson sometimes joins in the Gold Coast Rods show on Broadway in Seaside. They also do some DIY events; for the past few years, they’ve celebrated fellow car enthusiast Ken Hinshaw’s birthday with a friends’ car show, bringing their beloved vehicles to Hinshaw’s spacious backyard in Pacific Grove, parking among the fruit trees. It’s not a cruising scene, but it’s a peaceful gathering of friends with their cars who get to compare notes. There’s Erickson next to his vivid Chevy, and Scardina’s deep black Roadster which, of course, Erickson painted. “We’ve been doing this for 60-some years,” Scardina says, “and we’re no better than we were 60-some years ago.” Cruise Control The hot rod era endures for lifelong car enthusiasts, with or without the elevation of Car Week. By Sara Rubin “I’ve always had a passion for cars, always.” TALES FROM THE AREA CODE DANIEL DREIFUSS “I don’t go on big vacations or anything—this is just my life,” Tom Scardina says of his classic car collection. He’s built all six vehicles himself. 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 AUGUST 7-13, 2025 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 7 Walk, bike or use local shuttles. Leave nature as you find it. Spread kindness wherever you go. montEREY SeeMonterey.com/RightPath Car Week is back and in full throttle. Come share your love of motorsports…and show a little love to this wonderful place, too. That means enjoying all of the natural offerings of Monterey County responsibly, so future generations can, too. Let’s take the right path—together. FRIDAY, AUGUST 8 – SUNDAY, AUGUST 17, 2025 ROLEX MONTEREY MOTORSPORTS REUNION KICK-OFF RACE CAR SHOW For camping and ticket information please visitWeatherTechRaceway.com Friday, August 8 | 5:00-7:00 PM Alvarado Street, Downtown Monterey Join us for the Kick Off ! See Historic Race Cars, Meet the drivers and enjoy some great music |
8 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY AUGUST 7-13, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com NEWS Like humans, many young animals desire independence and want to leave the nest, perhaps before they are ready. The number of fledgling seagulls that can be found as roadkill recently, before they were able to fly, is one example. But sometimes it’s not by choice. Ciera DuitsCavanaugh, manager of the SPCA Monterey County Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Center, says her team has taken in many baby birds who have fallen out of their nests. “It seems like this season the parents just chose rooftops that were not the greatest to nest on,” she says. It happens some years. There are also years when high numbers of opossums and other mammals end up in trouble and in need of assistance. Usually, these peaks don’t converge. But, Duits-Cavanaugh says, “this season, all those peaks are having the same year.” The SPCA’s rescue center in recent weeks continues to break its record for the number of wildlife in its care for any one day. On Aug. 1, that number stood at 220; a little more than half are birds. “It’s pretty nonstop” for the team of eight—plus volunteers—from 7am into the early evening, she says. The birds are on 30-minute timers for care, whether that be feeding, cleaning out their enclosures, weighing them and more. That’s in addition to the rest of the animals, which may require medications, tending to their wounds and other care, along with managing the front of the house duties including phone calls and walk-ins. Those who see an injured animal or find one acting unusual are encouraged to call the SPCA at (831) 264-5427. “We appreciate the public’s assistance in helping out with these animals, getting them the help if they need it,” DuitsCavanaugh says. Rescue, Rehab, Release SPCA Monterey County takes in record numbers of injured animals. By Erik Chalhoub This may be Carmel Interim Police Chief Todd Trayer’s first Car Week—he only took over the position on Aug. 5— but he’s ready for the influx of devotees that descend on the village each year in search of exotic autos. Trayer had veteran officers drive him through the village on a reconnaissance mission and came away with ideas to add on to what the city has already done to discourage dangerous driving antics. “We are repeating a similar pattern as last year with a few of my tweaks that I think will keep it safer for pedestrians,” Trayer says. In addition to adding speed bumps and barriers to Ocean Avenue as was done in 2024, they are adding bollards to alter directions of streets, as well as additional patrol vehicles and posting tow trucks closer to the action to quickly whisk away impounded cars. In a city survey of residents last fall, many praised the barriers on Ocean Avenue, along with other enforcement efforts, citing an improvement in tamping down problems. Some said there was room for refinements. “They were somewhat effective at preventing and calming reckless driving in the business district,” wrote one person, who added that too many drivers did not adhere to stop signs and speed limits. They called exotic cars “too noisy and reckless.” One resident complained about the rowdy crowds. “Having Ocean Avenue become the equivalent of a college town Halloween party is really unacceptable,” they wrote. Some mentioned that they noticed that troublesome driving moved to Rio Road where it’s easy to gain speed coming down a hill heading eastbound toward Highway 1. Trayer says they’ll have a visible presence on that road this year. “We’re going to have all hands on deck, with high visibility,” Trayer says. In Monterey, where drivers of high-performance cars have been known to race through the tunnel on Lighthouse Avenue at speeds of 100mph and higher, Lt. Ethan Andrews says the Monterey Police Department is planning a “massive presence” around the city, building from Wednesday, Aug. 13 through Sunday, Aug. 17. Last year MPD reported making 251 traffic stops, issuing 165 citations, towing five cars and making 18 arrests. The numbers were slightly down from 2023, except for arrests, which went up by eight. “We will have essentially the same staffing model and the same zero tolerance for unsafe driving,” Andrews says. MPD will be focusing on speeding, reckless driving, speed contests and equipment violations, including modified exhaust pipes, unlawful lighting and illegal smog modifications. “It’s not a good time to come to Monterey if your vehicle has any illegal modifications,” Andrews says. And as usual, officers will be posted at the tunnel. “You’d think they’d figure it out. It’s not a secret,” he adds. Social media has brought new enthusiasts and new challenges, as people arrive to show off exotic autos, sometimes leading to dangerous maneuvers for the benefit of a bevvy of cameras ready to post to the internet. “Car Week is obviously such a popular event where people come from all over the world,” Trayer says. “It’s a beautiful event, as long as people are safe.” The 2022 Prancing Ponies show during Car Week (above) is a permitted event in Carmel. The challenge for police comes at night when exotic cars cruise the streets. Drive Safe Local law enforcement prepares to clamp down on Car Week bad behavior. By Pam Marino A young great horned owl gets a check-up at the SPCA Monterey County Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Center. Birds make up the majority of the SPCA’s patients. “We’re going to have all hands on deck.” DANIEL DREIFUSS SPCA MONTEREY COUNTY
www.montereycountynow.com AUGUST 7-13, 2025 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 9 • Take a 5 minute shower • Turn off faucet when brushing • Save water at every turn M P W M D . N E T Welcome to Car Week. Shift Gears for Water Savings. PREVENTION•EDUCATION TREATMENT•RECOVERY NARCAN (NALOXONE) CAN SAVE LIVES! NARCAN AND FENTANYL TEST STRIPS ARE AVAILABLE FOR FREE AT OUR DIFFERENT OFFICE LOCATIONS. WWW.SUNSTREETCENTERS.ORG DO YOU WANT TO GO INSIDE PRISON AND LEARN WITH THE INCARCERATED? Members from the public engage in weekly discussions with inmates, sharing life stories related to empathy-building topics. Anyone over 18 is welcome to join! Come by the Transformative Justice Center! 439 Tyler Street, Monterey Offered Mondays from 4pm-6pm over 8-week cycles at CTF Soledad Prison - a voluntary commitment is required. Contact Program Director – Megan McDrew for more information and to sign up. Space is very limited! mmcdrew@transformativejusticecenter.org TransformativeJusticeCenter.org
10 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY AUGUST 7-13, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com Since California legalized recreational marijuana in 2016, licensed growers in Monterey County have been under a roof. Now, full-sun cultivation, where the crop is grown entirely outdoors, is entering the picture. The Monterey County Cannabis Program announced plans to work with John Cummings, a farmer in South County, who is seeking approval as the county’s first fully outdoor commercial cannabis grower. “The project is moving along,” Cummings said at a County Board of Supervisors Cannabis Committee meeting on July 31. “With any luck, this is going to come off the ground here pretty quickly.” The news comes alongside growing pains for new cannabis operators as they try to enter the legal market, a trend reflected in data shared at the meeting. There are currently 53 active commercial cannabis businesses in the unincorporated county (excluding cities), eight dispensaries and 45 cultivators. The program is also working with 11 potential new businesses. Since March, six businesses have closed. Michelle House, who leads the Cannabis Program, says the rapidly evolving nature of the industry impacts the ability to build and establish sustainable business models. “Because it is so new, it changes all the time,” she says. “The face of this will [likely] be totally different in three months.” High upfront costs, land preparation, regulatory requirements involving multiple agencies and shifting supply chains still compound one another as barriers to entry. Add to that, House says, are the ongoing challenges with the illegal market and lingering taboos attached to cannabis’ federal classification as a Schedule I substance. Cannabis land use permits have declined over the years, from 22 new permits in fiscal year 2021-22 to five two years later. No new cannabis land use permits were approved in 2024-25. House attributes this decline to the recycling of permits on existing parcels rather than issuing new ones. “Cannabis runs with the land...when a farm closes and a new farm comes on board, there’s not a new [permit], so you’re not going to see that number grow now over these last few years.” Looking forward, she remains optimistic. She says there are innovative additions, like microbusinesses and onsite consumption, they are exploring. “There are lots of things that have to happen to get a business up and going,” she says. “I’m trying to think out of the box for ways for people to grow their business.” For years, the foot of Fisherman’s Wharf in Monterey has come to resemble an outdoor mall. You can find anything from potted plants to handmade jewelry to a “Let’s Go Brandon” flag from the entrepreneurs who set up and take down their mobile, outdoor storefronts daily. On weekends, the area is bustling with hundreds of customers. It’s a phenomenon that began in 2019, after the Monterey City Council passed an ordinance establishing local sidewalk vending rules, in compliance with a 2018 state law. “Sidewalk vending provides important entrepreneurship and economic development opportunities to low-income and immigrant communities,” SB 946 states. “Sidewalk vending contributes to a safe and dynamic public space.” But the concept grew so much, with an average of 33 sidewalk vending applications per year, that by 2024, Monterey city officials were hearing concerns about negative impacts, such as aesthetics, obstructing pedestrian travel on the Rec Trail and competition for brickand-mortar businesses. By early 2025, Monterey City Council was looking to amend its sidewalk vending ordinance, with a maximum of 32 square feet per vendor—with space for just 13 at the foot of the wharf, with no customer seating allowed, among other restrictions. Business representatives from Fisherman’s Wharf and Cannery Row voiced support; vendors argued it would destroy livelihoods. Vendors showed up to deliver impassioned remarks to council on Tuesday, Aug. 5. “Everyone I talk to loves us, and the handmade art we sell,” said caricature artist Brian Iglesias. “We’ve never done anything wrong. Without us, people aren’t going to have as many reasons to come spend their money in Monterey.” Despite the emotional pleas, Council voted 5-0 to approve the ordinance. “It’s disappointing to see how we got here, that there wasn’t a greater opportunity to collaborate and find common ground,” Mayor Tyller Williamson said. He added they are open to revisiting the topic in the future. Sun Grown Amid industry uncertainty, County looks to broaden and grow its cannabis program. By Katie Rodriguez NEWS PRETTY CITY The City of Salinas is accepting applications for neighborhood beautification grants. Those interested in applying must attend an information session. Noon-1pm Friday, Aug. 8. Virtual via Zoom. Application deadline is Aug. 29. Free. 758-7166, salinasneighborhoods@ci.salinas.ca.us. MEET YOUR REP Meet County Supervisor Kate Daniels and her staff and discuss issues in the San Benancio and Corral de Tierra neighborhoods. 9-10:30am Saturday, Aug. 9. Cypress Community Church fellowship room, 681 Highway 68, Salinas. Free. 6477755, district5@countyofmonterey.gov. STAY HEALTHY Doctors for a Healthy Salinas commemorates World Indigenous Peoples Day with an update on indigenous peoples’ health needs in Monterey County, a community garden presentation and more. 10am-noon Saturday, Aug. 9. Natividad Creek Park, 1395 Nogal Drive, Salinas. Free. 578-5353, healthproviderseace@ gmail.com. PUBLIC FACING Salinas City Council meets and, as always, accepts public comment. Tell your elected officials what they are doing well and what you think they can do better. 4pm Tuesday, Aug. 12. Salinas Rotunda, 200 Lincoln Ave., Salinas. Free. 758-7381, cityofsalinas.org. ON THE DAIS The Monterey Peninsula Unified School District Board of Education meets and accepts public comment as the 2025-26 school year begins. 6:30pm Tuesday, Aug. 12. District Services Center, 540 Canyon Del Rey, Del Rey Oaks. Free. 645-1200, mpusd. net. PLANNING AHEAD Monterey County Planning Commission meets to consider allowing the construction of a single-family home on San Benancio Road in Salinas, as well as review a proposed lot line adjustment in Carmel. 9am Wednesday, Aug. 13. Board of Supervisors chambers, 168 W. Alisal St., first floor, Salinas. Free. 755-5025, countyofmonterey.gov. STATE OF DRO Del Rey Oaks Mayor Scott Donaldson and City Manager John Guertin host the State of the City event. Residents are invited to hear city updates and ask questions. 6-8pm Wednesday, Aug. 13. Moose Lodge, 555 Canyon Del Rey Blvd., Del Rey Oaks. Free. 394-8511, delreyoaks. org. Where the Sidewalk Ends Monterey City Council votes to end sidewalk vendors congregating at the foot of the wharf. By Sara Rubin Licensed cannabis growers in Monterey County have used three cultivation methods: indoor (with artificial lights), outdoor in a greenhouse, or a hybrid approach. E-MAIL: toolbox@montereycountynow.com TOOLBOX “Because it is so new, it changes all the time.” DANIEL DREIFUSS
www.montereycountynow.com AUGUST 7-13, 2025 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 11 FUNDED BY A GRANT FROM sortwithheart.org Put food scraps in your green cart Food is tradition. Family. Culture. Just like Grandma used to say— nothing goes to waste. Every peel, husk, and leftover has a purpose. When we throw food in the trash, we waste more than a meal, we lose the love and labor that went into it. But when we put food scraps in the green organics cart, we honor that labor of love while protecting our future. California’s SB 1383 law keeps food out of landfills, reducing pollution and turning scraps into compost that nourishes local farms and gardens.
12 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY AUGUST 7-13, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com Before the Spanish arrived to the Central Coast some 250 years ago, members of the Esselen Tribe, who numbered about 1,000 souls, occupied a number of villages throughout the Santa Lucia Mountains. According to Tom Little Bear Nason, chair of the Esselen Tribe of Monterey County, among those villages was “Cappanay,” an Esselen name that translates to “little tules” in English or “tularcitos” in Spanish. It was the Esselen’s largest inland village, Nason says, a gathering place along a trade route from the Salinas Valley to the sea. Now, the land once home to that village is back under tribal ownership: On July 18, The Wildlands Conservancy (TWC) sold the 1,720-acre Tularcitos Creek property to the nonprofit Esselen Tribe of Monterey County for $8.6 million, with $6.6 million from the state Wildlife Conservation Board and $2 million from the State Coastal Conservancy. This comes after TWC, a nonprofit that preserves land for public recreation, purchased the land in 2023 for $35 million—$26 million of that from state agencies—as part of its 14,142acre Rana Creek Ranch acquisition. The initial state funds didn’t apply to the Tularcitos Creek property, which TWC intended to sell to the tribe once funding was found. That funding came from a state budget surplus year in 2022. “We’re thrilled to see this extraordinary landscape returned to its original stewards, where it will be protected, restored, and cared for with the cultural knowledge and connection that only the Esselen people can bring,” Frazier Haney, executive director of TWC, said in a statement. State Sen. John Laird, D-Santa Cruz, added, “Protecting this land and returning it to the care of the Esselen Tribe is a meaningful step in preserving California’s natural and cultural heritage. It reflects how we can work together—state agencies, conservation partners and tribal nations—to protect important places for future generations.” The entire Rana Creek Ranch and Tularcitos Creek properties were once part of the larger 26,581-acre Rancho Los Tularcitos, where Nason says his father Fred worked for 50 years. The Tularcitos Creek property, Nason says, “gives us a place to hang our hat.” The tribe is co-stewarding Rana Creek Ranch with TWC. Tribal members have completed training in fire and forestry management, and now have their own natural resources department. The long-term vision at Tularcitos Creek, Nason says, will be a place for gatherings and ceremonies for all tribes, educational programs and guided trips through the land. Work has begun to raise money for things like a nursery, cultural center and fire department. The land will also give the tribe a place to repatriate Indigenous remains found elsewhere, like those unearthed during construction projects. “This gets our people back home,” Nason says. “If we find our ancestors, we select where we want to bury them. These lands are giving us the opportunity to do that.” Land Back Using state grants, the Esselen Tribe of Monterey County acquires 1,720 acres in Carmel Valley for $8.6 million. By David Schmalz The Tularcitos Creek property is rich in diversity, filled with springs, meadows and oak woodlands. “Now we can care for it as our ancestors did,” says Tom Little Bear Nason, chair of the Esselen Tribe. NEWS “This gets our people back home.” DANIEL DREIFUSS Voted Monterey County’s Best Antique Shop ’24 ♦ 3 Card Poker ♠ Century 21st No Bust Black Jack ♣ Texas Hold’em ♥ FULL BAR! BLACKJACK BONUS POINTS PAYS UP TO $20,000 SMALL TOWN BIG PAYOUTS! 1-800-Gambler • GEAR-000383, GEAR-000376, GEAR-000375 The Marina Club Casino ensures the safety and security of all guests and team members at all times, while providing exceptional service. 204 Carmel Ave. Marina 831-384-0925 casinomonterey.com ♠ ♣ ♥ ♦ Just minutes from Downtown Monterey Where Monterey Comes To Play
www.montereycountynow.com AUGUST 7-13, 2025 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 13 It was a disturbing scene that Natalie Johnston and her team from the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History came across on Jan. 25, 2024, on a property adjacent to the P.G. Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary. There on a lawn lay about 200 monarchs either dead or in the throes of death. The insects were spasming, their bodies curled, their wings flipped forward from the force of the spasms, all classic signs of pesticide poisoning. “They’d come so far, they’d lasted so long,” says Johnston, fighting back tears, recalling how the monarchs traveled thousands of miles from the north to overwinter along the California coast. “All of that just for them to die in a place that should have been safe.” Johnston, the interpretative programs manager for the museum, was there that day with staff and volunteers for a weekly count of the overwintering population inside the sanctuary and on private properties surrounding it. They found piles of monarchs on the lawn of a private residence, as well as dead or dying monarchs around the perimeter of the house. That day they counted 2,000 monarchs, meaning 10 percent of the population was wiped out in a mass mortality. The die-off was significant in light of the fact that the Western monarch population has been fighting for existence, with numbers dwindling by 95 percent since the 1990s. Last December the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed listing monarchs as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The team contacted city officials who advised them to collect specimens. Officials talked to the property owner who denied using any pesticides. (The owner’s name and property location have not been disclosed.) They also contacted the Monterey County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office, as well as the Xerces Society, which tracks overwintering populations each year. Eventually they connected with the U.S. Geological Survey, which agreed to determine which poisons were involved in the monarchs’ deaths. The results are now part of a recently published study, one of only a few that documents the impact of urban pesticide use on monarchs. Researchers identified five pesticides and associated metabolites including eight insecticides, two herbicides and two fungicides. Each butterfly contained, on average, seven pesticides. Three insecticides were detected at or near their lethal dose. And while the source remains unidentified, the report suggests that the culprit could have been pyrethroid products used for outdoor ant control. Staci Cibotti, pesticide risk prevention specialist for Xerces, says the incident highlights a point often overlooked: It’s not just in agriculture where monarchs and other pollinators face danger from pesticide exposure. “This incident is a demonstration of how vulnerable monarchs are as they migrate and are overwintering,” she says. Cibotti suggests people rethink using pesticides in their yards. Even if products are sprayed on nonpermeable surfaces like walls, walkways and driveways, they can still wash off onto the surrounding soil. Unsafe Harbor A mass die-off of monarchs gives researchers a rare look at poison use in urban settings. By Pam Marino People discovered a group of hundreds of monarchs dead or dying in Pacific Grove on a species counting day in 2024. They showed signs of pesticide poisoning that is the subject of a new study. NEWS Each butterfly contained, on average, seven pesticides. KAT MORGAN
14 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY AUGUST 7-13, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com FAMILY PLANNING Saved my daughter’s and my life! Planned Parenthood is essential in the health of our community. That is men, women, children, family (“Monterey County Planned Parenthood clinics are spared from closure in wake of Medicaid cuts,” July 31-Aug. 6). Daphne Engelken | Salinas I remember when my wife and I didn’t have insurance, and she needed access to birth control and OB-GYN services like Paps, etc. Planned Parenthood was there to provide those vital services. It’s such a shame that America has become so blind to this. Matthew Conway | via social media Shame on how American society has become so blind to the effects of abortions and disregard of unborn lives. Let’s start there, how about that? Carlos Gonzalez | Salinas Planned Parenthood isn’t just about abortions! I have had life-saving mammograms there, Pap smears to detect cancer and more. I’ve gotten birth control there. I’ve even taken my sons there for condoms and health care because I couldn’t afford health care anywhere else. Kathy Jacques-Jarvis | via social media This is going to devastate our communities. Shame on all of you that voted for this. Alex White | Pacific Grove UP RISING Bill Lipe has all the tropes down pat “globalist agenda” (“Letters,” July 24-31). Was he trying for a knee-jerk reaction or did he really have something to say? Protests are one way to combat the actions of a tyrant and they are not an “ideological clique.” I think he is mad that it is implied he is a cultist of Donald J. Trump and is striking back. I will attend the rally Rage Against the Regime (“Rage Against the Regime protest in Monterey attracts several hundred demonstrators,” posted Aug. 4). I’m focused on how the government is taking down an exhibit in the Smithsonian that describes the president’s two impeachments. Trump’s willingness to erase history from the American people is alarming and needs to be in the forefront of our consciousness. I am one of the 3.5 percent that will not comply. Yvonne Battaglia | Marina WORK FORCE This is an exemplary county employee who is a bright light in our county workforce (“County’s top procurement official sues over allegations of racial discrimination,” July 24-31). This is undoubtedly going to be an expensive error costing taxpayers a lot of money at the end of the day. Kymm Navarette | Salinas SHOP DROP I share your thoughts (“Bright spots remain at the Barnyard in Carmel, despite its struggles,” posted Aug. 2). I remember how much I loved roaming through the Barnyard in its early days. Browsing at the Thunderbird bookshop was so special; Mae ran it so well. And there was the wonderful clerk who had a PhD. He was fun and knew every book in the store. Katie Rodriguez’s article defined the change so well (“Restaurants are struggling to stay in business at Carmel’s Barnyard Shopping Village,” Aug. 1-6). So sad! Joanne Kelly | Pacific Grove I loved hearing your memories from the 1970s of the Thunderbird bookstore. I also remember going to the bookstore and then having breakfast— what a wonderful treat. Wish they could bring the Thunderbird back. Karen Blank | Marina I lived in Carmel when all of that was a field. Flip Hatten once owned it. He used to fix my car when I was in high school. All gone now—too many people. Richard Douglas Varlay | Alamogordo, New Mexico ROAD WORK That’s why the road work is so slow around here (“Caltrans employees fired after reportedly taking part in booze-filled party with a stripper during work time,” posted July 31). They’re standing around on the job trying to recover from their hangovers instead of speeding up the shoveling! Elizabeth Barratt | Monterey REVVING UP When was the last time that “car week” was actually a week instead of 10 days? (“Car Week brings in big numbers—and headaches—to Monterey County,” posted July 30.) Kate Novoa | Big Sur SOMETHING SPECIAL I thought this article was very informative (“They are probably the most accessible yet least noticed governmental bodies—special districts tasked with delivering essential services,” July 17-23). It clearly explained what a special district is, who is instrumental in Monterey County’s special districts, and how special districts compare to other forms of local government. Kudos to Pam Marino for a thoughtful and well researched article. Eloise Shim | Salinas RISING STAR We stopped and listened to him play along with a friend in downtown Salinas a while back (“At just 9 years old, Rawley Kampf is a phenom on the saxophone after picking it up less than a year ago,” July 31-Aug. 6). They were amazing! His proud dad was nearby. Great job parents and Rawley! Mindy Gularte Carpenter | Salinas NIGHT LIFE It was the last decent spot at night. Going downhill just like the rest of the town (“The downtown Monterey Italian favorite Cibo is sold to a Carmel restaurateur with ideas,” posted July 30). Heather Ann Morales | Salinas Downtown Monterey is dead. Marek Piecyk | Salinas Monterey is for the newly wed or nearly dead. It’s never really been a place to party anyway; San Jose is for that. Gina Guzman | Seaside Such an amazing location, should have an amazing restaurant. Shawn Adams | Monterey Hope they keep the same happy hour! Stephen Posko | Monterey 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 AUGUST 7-13, 2025 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 15 Traveling through certain landscapes, I like to play a game: Imagine what it once looked like, before modern human impact. If you try hard enough, you can imagine grizzly bears tromping through the wetlands of the Salinas Valley, or windswept coastal grasslands where Carmel neighborhoods now stand. Usually this exercise means going back in time. The idea that we can go forward in time and reclaim certain heavily impacted landscapes as habitat seems elusive. But in Monterey County, two such projects are now underway. At Palo Corona Regional Park, construction on the banks of the Carmel River is restoring habitat and a more natural shape to a river channel that for years ran through a golf course; that former golf course is being revegetated with native plants (and also lined with recreational paths for humans—this is, after all, the 21st century). Just downriver, the Big Sur Land Trust is awaiting final federal funds for its Carmel River FREE project that would similarly restore the floodplain. Meanwhile, Big Sur Land Trust is about to cross the finish line on a long-anticipated project. Part of Ensen Community Park in Salinas will open on Sunday, Aug. 17, a major achievement for the nonprofit, a fabulous new asset for Salinas and a rare success story of transforming industrial agricultural land back to nature, flood control and community recreation. The park is located at Carr Lake, which was drained to make way for agriculture. In the 1920s, the Reclamation Ditch was built and the multiple lakes were converted into 480 acres of farmland that for a century have been owned by three farming families, the Hibinos, Higashis and Ikedas. Finally, in 2014, the Ikeda family was ready to sell their 73 acres; the Big Sur Land Trust bought the property in 2016 for $4 million and a promise to create a community-serving park— and the organization’s first urban park—within 10 years. “One of the things we are most proud of is we made a promise that we kept,” says Rachel Saunders, BSLT’s vice president of conservation. “For decades, people had been dreaming about, how can this be transformed to serve the community?” The public input process began almost right away, in 2017, when over 120 people came to a meeting. They were asked to complete the prompt: “My dream for Carr Lake is ___.” Those dreams were blended with the constraints of the land itself—historically it was a lake, and it still seasonally floods with regularity. That meant no housing and limited infrastructure. The resulting plan features a six-acre park (the part opening on Aug. 17) on higher ground, and a 67-acre habitat area with 1.7 miles of trails slated to open in 2026. (Due to that natural flooding cycle, these trails likely won’t be entirely accessible year-round. BSLT has an agreement with the city to continue doing maintenance on the habitat portion, but the city will be responsible for the smaller park portion.) Saunders says the total cost is about $39 million, raised largely from a bevy of state agencies. The parkland will all be transferred to the City of Salinas for free. (The city contributed $1 million toward the six-acre park, which cost about $13 million to build.) Next, fundraising will begin in earnest for ongoing maintenance, and a friends group will form to keep up the shiny new equipment. I went out to see the park and take a hard hat tour with Saunders, while some play structures are still in process of being installed. (The big, steep slide is ready for prime time.) While we’re there, a man with a car full of kids drives up to ask if it’s open yet; Saunders says this is a daily occurrence. People are eagerly anticipating the skate area, the dog park, the playground, the shaded barbecue pits, the basketball court, the pickleball court. These highuse areas include turf, which then thoughtfully transitions to native grass and then to the habitat area. Standing in the park with Saunders, she notes that the traffic noise from Sherwood Drive and Natividad Drive has quieted; walk a mile out into the habitat area (now a construction site), and she says it fades to just a murmur. “When you are standing out there, it becomes peaceful,” she says. “This is restoration in all the ways that you can think about it—natural and human.” Sara Rubin is the Weekly’s editor. Reach her at sara@montereycountynow.com. From Farm to Park Big Sur Land Trust and Salinas cut the ribbon on Ensen Community Park. By Sara Rubin TURDS ‘N TURF…Squid was driving the old jalopy around the other day when Squid slowed to stop, along with other cars, to watch a mama goose and her goslings make their way across Canyon Del Rey, taking their sweet, adorable time as they marched from the grass in front of Seaside City Hall to Laguna Grande Park. Drivers pulled out their phones for pictures, and it was a fleeting moment of grace. But those geese, Squid has come to learn, are no longer so welcome at Laguna Grande Park, a bonafide birding hotspot, because they—being wild animals—are unable to fully practice the “leave no trace” ethos: A goose gotta poo. Squid’s not sure why some humans find it so hard to say that word, but members of Seaside City Council were careful to not step in it during a budget workshop in June. Councilmember Dave Pacheco—when considering how to spend $250,000 of unallocated funds for Neighborhood Improvement Commission projects—suggested using the whole pot to put toward replacing the grass at Laguna Grande Park with artificial turf. The park’s lawn “has become a goose haven,” Pacheco said. “They are in control.” He added you can’t walk at the farmers market because the ground is “full of stuff.” Mayor Ian Oglesby was fully on board, adding, “Some of the happiest times happen at Laguna Grande, but we all know when we’re over there what we’re conscious of.” C’mon, just say it! PARTY POOPERS…Squid tuned into a Carmel City Council meeting on Monday, Aug. 4 for a hearing on Esperanza Carmel’s proposed J.B. Pastor building, owned by Monaco developer Patrice Pastor, and quickly got the shrimp-flavored popcorn popping. First, Mayor Dale Byrne said that his impartiality had come under question due to Pastor’s donation 16 months ago to Carmel Cares, of which Byrne is a cofounder and is listed as its president and chief caring officer. Byrne called the concern misplaced. “There is no personal gain, only shared civic pride,” he said. On the advice of Carmel City Attorney Brian Pierik, he recused himself and left. Councilmember Bob Delves then chimed in, disclosing that a project appellant, Rich Pepe, threw him a campaign party at one of Pepe’s restaurants at a value exceeding $1,000. He recused himself and left. Next, Councilmember Hans Buder spoke up, revealing that Pepe had also thrown him a party. Buder gave back enough money to satisfy campaign finance law, then recused himself anyway. When it became clear that the council wouldn’t have a quorum, Pierik told Buder he was legally required to participate. After six hours of discussion—and a lot of shrimp-flavored popcorn—the three remaining councilmembers delayed a decision until Sept. 8. Squid predicts cheaper campaign parties in Carmel’s future. THE LOCAL SPIN SQUID FRY THE MISSION OF MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY IS TO INSPIRE INDEPENDENT THINKING AND CONSCIOUS ACTION, ETC. “We made a promise that we kept.” SEND SQUID A TIP: squid@montereycountynow.com
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