4 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY SEPTEMBER 18-24, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com THE BUZZ FREE SPEECH In the days following conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s assassination, many public figures—from reporters to teachers and even a comic book writer—have lost their jobs or been suspended over their comments on the killing that are perceived as offensive. The Sept. 10 killing at a Utah college set off a right-wing campaign targeting those who say or write things they view as celebratory. An anonymous website went up to keep a running list of names and employers. Vice President JD Vance joined in, supporting the doxxing effort. A lecturer at CSU Monterey Bay is among those targeted. Cody Roberts posted, in part: “What about all the kids, the many broken families, from the over 258 school shootings 2020-present?” prompting threatening emails to faculty and calls to fire him. “We honor students’, employees’ and community members’ right to freedom of speech as long as it complies with CSU’s nondiscrimination policy,” a spokesperson says. Good: Many residents could use some advice on how to be more water-efficient. The Salinas Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency can do just that. The agency announced that it is expanding a pilot program that offers free home water efficiency assessments for eligible rural properties in North Monterey County. Trained advisers from WaterWise Consulting will look for leaks, review irrigation systems and inspect plumbing fixtures and appliances. Residents will receive a report with recommendations, and, if necessary, even have water-saving devices installed at no cost. “Every drop matters,” said Piret Harmon, general manager of SVBGSA. “By helping rural residents identify practical ways to use water more efficiently, we’re supporting household water savings and the long-term sustainability of our groundwater basin.” Applications are available at svbgsa.org. GREAT: Parenting is a really tough job that doesn’t come with instructions. Enter Dr. Susan Swick, chief mental health officer at Montage Health, founding director of the Ohana Center for Child and Adolescent Behavior and mother of four. She is host of a new 10-episode weekly podcast called Talkaboutable. The series launched on Sept. 9. “As both a child psychiatrist and a mom, I know that parenting is filled with moments that leave you wondering what to say or do next,” Swick said in a press release. “Talkaboutable was created to give parents real, relatable guidance to feel more confident and connected.” The podcast is funded by the Montage Health Foundation and produced with Lemonada Media. Each episode features stories from parents who are facing challenges, with Swick offering thoughts on how to make tough conversations with kids a little less difficult. GOOD WEEK / GREAT WEEK THE WEEKLY TALLY That’s how many more graduating high school seniors in California completed financial aid applications this year compared to 2024, an 11-percent increase. School districts in Monterey County fared better than the state average, with nearly 13-percent more seniors completing applications— or 67.5 percent overall—for the Class of 2025. Source: California Student Aid Commission 33,342 QUOTE OF THE WEEK “What occurred that night was completely unacceptable.” -Monterey Police Lt. Ethan Andrews, speaking about the seven suspects arrested for their alleged role in a brawl at the Monterey County Fair on Aug. 30 (see story, montereycountynow.com).
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