OCTOBER 2-8, 2025 MONTEREYCOUNTYNOW.COM LOCAL & INDEPENDENT SURVIVAL STRATEGIES 8 | ALL ABOARD? 15 | UP IN THE AIR 32 | TASTE TEST 36 | FOOD TRUCKIN’ 38 FIRST PLACE GENERAL EXCELLENCE • 2025 CA JOURNALISM AWARDS • Death doulas support the dying and their loved ones. Their numbers are growing. p. 20 By Pam Marino KEEPING VIGIL DISCOVER THE CREATIVITY OF ARTISTS FROM MONTEREY COUNTY Vol. 2 Noelle Correia “Incubation 3” Celine Picus “An Unfurling of Rebirth” O C T O B E R 11-12 & 18-19, 2025 SAT. & SUN. 11 AM - 5 PM Mary Hill “When the Hibiscus does the CanCan” Presented by open-studios-guide_2025.indd 1 8/27/25 2:30 PM Open Studios Art Tour Guide inside
2 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY OCTOBER 2-8, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com We’re proud to be ranked among the top-performing banks in the nation by American Banker, Newsweek, S&P Global and the Independent Community Bankers of America. Now that’s strength you can bank on when you put your money where your life is. 300 Bonifacio Place | Monterey 480 S. Main Street | Salinas 831.457.5000 | wccb.com Local Strength. National Recognition. From the Central Coast to Silicon Valley, businesses trust West Coast Community Bank because we deliver. Jorge Reguerin VP SBA Business Development Officer Lillian Mulvey AVP Loan Portfolio Manager Vern Horton Client Relations Manager Member FDIC Equal Housing Lender
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4 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY OCTOBER 2-8, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com OCTOBER 2-8, 2025 • ISSUE #1940 • ESTABLISHED IN 1988 Ryan McMillen (iPhone 14) A beautiful sky illuminates the final race of the season in the Monterey Peninsula Yacht Club’s Wednesday night Sunset Series. The season winner, an Olsen 25 named Shifty, is shown above. MONTEREY COUNTY PHOTO OF THE WEEK Send Etc. submissions to etcphoto@montereycountynow.com; please include caption and camera info. On the cover: David Hahklotubbe at El Estero Cemetery in Monterey. He’s been a death doula since 1998, helping people create a more comfortable death, as well as helping their families in grief. The number of doulas has been increasing in recent years, with some preferring the term end-of-life doula. Cover image: Daniel Dreifuss etc. Copyright © 2025 by Milestone Communications Inc. 668 Williams Ave., Seaside, California 93955 (telephone 831-394-5656). All rights reserved. Monterey County Weekly, the Best of Monterey County and the Best of Monterey Bay are registered trademarks. No person, without prior permission from the publisher, may take more than one copy of each issue. Additional copies and back issues may be purchased for $1, plus postage. Mailed subscriptions: $300 yearly, prepaid. The Weekly is an adjudicated newspaper of Monterey County, court decree M21137. The Weekly assumes no responsibility for unsolicited materials. Visit our website at http://www.montereycountynow. com. Audited by CVC. FOUNDER & CEO Bradley Zeve bradley@montereycountynow.com (x103) PUBLISHER Erik Cushman erik@montereycountynow.com (x125) EDITORIAL EDITOR Sara Rubin sara@montereycountynow.com (x120) ASSOCIATE EDITOR Erik Chalhoub ec@montereycountynow.com (x135) FEATURES EDITOR Dave Faries dfaries@montereycountynow.com (x110) STAFF WRITER Celia Jiménez celia@montereycountynow.com (x145) STAFF WRITER Pam Marino pam@montereycountynow.com (x106) STAFF WRITER Agata Pope¸da (x138) aga@montereycountynow.com STAFF WRITER Katie Rodriguez (California Local News Fellow) katie@montereycountynow.com (x102) STAFF WRITER David Schmalz david@montereycountynow.com (x104) STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Daniel Dreifuss daniel@montereycountynow.com (x140) DIGITAL PRODUCER Sloan Campi sloan@montereycountynow.com (x105) CONTRIBUTORS Nik Blaskovich, Rob Brezsny, Robert Daniels, Tonia Eaton, Paul Fried, Jesse Herwitz, Jacqueline Weixel, Paul Wilner CARTOONS Rob Rogers, Tom Tomorrow PRODUCTION ART DIRECTOR/PRODUCTION MANAGER Karen Loutzenheiser karen@montereycountynow.com (x108) GRAPHIC DESIGNER Kevin Jewell kevinj@montereycountynow.com (x114) GRAPHIC DESIGNER Annie Cobb annie@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 OCTOBER 2-8, 2025 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 5 FREE COMMUNITY FLU CLINICS Flu vaccines provided by Salinas Valley Health Mobile Clinic Wednesday, October 8 4:00–7:00pm Main Street Middle School 441 Main Street Soledad, CA 93960 Thursday, October 16 4:00–7:00pm North County Recreation Center 11261 Crane Street, Castroville, CA 95012 Saturday, October 25 11:00am–2:00pm Taylor Farms Family Health & Wellness Center 850 5th Street Gonzales, CA 93926 Monday, October 20 4:00–7:00pm Boys & Girls Club Monterey County Salinas Clubhouse 85 Maryal Drive Salinas, CA 93906 No appointment needed For questions, contact the Health Promotion Department at 831-759-1890. WE BELIEVE VACCINATIONS SAVE LIVES.
6 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY OCTOBER 2-8, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com THE BUZZ FREE SPEECH Earlier this year, the Pentagon kicked out news outlets that had office space within the facility for years, replacing them with right-wing, proTrump organizations. Now, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is attempting to further restrict media coverage of the military’s activities by demanding outlets sign a pledge to not publish any information without first getting a sign-off from a government official. The memo was sent to reporters on Sept. 19, with Hegseth later writing on X that members of the media could “wear a badge and follow the rules—or go home.” News outlets have vowed to push back, but what that might look like has yet to be determined. “If the news about our military must first be approved by the government, then the public is no longer getting independent reporting. It is getting only what officials want them to see,” National Press Club President Mike Balsamo told Military.com. Republican legislator Don Bacon of Nebraska called the policy “amateur hour.” “This is so dumb that I have a hard time believing it is true,” he said. Good: Good news for Soledad residents: the city is increasing its water sustainability efforts that will be beneficial during severe droughts. On Sept. 27, the city hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for its Recycled Water Conveyance Project, which aims to create a citywide recycled water distribution system. The treated water will save millions of gallons of freshwater and provide irrigation to city parks, sports fields and schools. The project is made possible thanks to a $16.66 million state grant under the Budget Act of 2021 and administered by the Urban Community Drought Relief Program of the Department of Water Resources. Once complete, the project is estimated to generate 165 acre-feet of water annually, or 54 million gallons, delivered through five miles of bright purple pipes that are currently being installed. GREAT: Since 2011, the Carmel Woman’s Club has given out $108,000 in scholarships to women pursuing a college degree. For its 100th anniversary, the club set an audacious fundraising goal for its scholarships—which it surpassed. The Carmel Woman’s Club announced that its centennial celebration on Sept. 20 raised more than $105,000. The event featured live musical performances, signature paella from Chef Brandon Miller, tastings from Carmel restaurants, a classic car show, face painting, vintage photo booths, family games and historic exhibits showcasing Carmel’s past. The club was founded in December 1925 with the goals of “mutual help, intellectual advancement, social enjoyment and united effort for the welfare of the community.” Its membership doubled during the pandemic to more than 460 members. GOOD WEEK / GREAT WEEK THE WEEKLY TALLY The number of medical residents who have graduated from the Natividad Family Medicine Residency Program since 1975, many of whom remain practicing locally. The program celebrated its 50th anniversary with a reunion event on Sept. 20. Source: County of Monterey 358 QUOTE OF THE WEEK “He was just a cool cucumber. He was somebody that you could count on.” -Retired Salinas Fire Capt. Edward Lauderdale, speaking about firefighter Joshua Hostetter, who died unexpectedly on Sept. 10 (see story, montereycountynow.com). HEATABLE EATABLES! ELROY’S PRESENTS @ELROYSFINEFOODS WWW.ELROYSFINEFOODS.COM 15 SOLEDAD DRIVE (831) 373-3737 MONTEREY, CA 93940 TANTALIZING TRANSYLVANIA 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 ZACUSCA Charred eggplant, tomato, and pepper dip served with a baguette (DIP - GF, VEGAN) (BAGUETTE - CONTAINS: GLUTEN) CIORBA ARDELENEASCA DE PORC Sour soup with smoked pork, tomatoes, tarragon, and sour cream (GF, CONTAINS: DAIRY) MITITEI Garlicky pork, lamb, and beef sausage (GF, DF) BALMOS Creamy polenta with cheese & sour cream (GF, CONTAINS: DAIRY) SAREMALE Stuffed cabbages with pork, sauerkraut, and grape leaves topped with cultured cream (GF, CONTAINS: DAIRY) CIOLAN AFUMAT CU FASOLE Braised smoked pork shank with white beans & tomatoes (GF, CONTAINS: DAIRY) HENCLES A sweetened leavened dough with a creamy custard, and apples & grapes (CONTAINS: GLUTEN, DAIRY) All items will also be available à la carte for purchase at the Prepared Foods counter on Thursday, 10/30 until sold out! *ORDER BY: THURSDAY, 10/23 PICK UP: THURSDAY, 10/30 NEXT MONTH: THANKSGIVING DINNER! * *
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8 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY OCTOBER 2-8, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com 831 Recipes for Living in Big Sur was first published in 1981 with the goal to support the then-fledgling Big Sur Historical Society, founded in 1978 to preserve and promote Big Sur’s rich cultural heritage. Still relevant, it’s now in its fifth edition. In 2025, the group released a new book, Recipes for Surviving in Big Sur, filled with previously unpublished community-provided family favorites, next to a fresh batch of stories. While the first book focuses on the early history of Big Sur and its families, the second volume celebrates the spirit of survival, much needed in those who live in the place where fires, road closures, mudslides and big storms happen often. The new book commemorates resilience in disasters, pulling people and resources together to help fight the elements or evacuate those stranded during the 1973 Coast Gallery slide, the 1985 Rat Creek Fire, the storms of 1995 or the 2016 Soberanes Fire. You can cook your way through them, finding reports from the disasters and personal memories appearing next to appetizers, soups, entrées and desserts. Some recipes seem outright awkward—Calgary Hamburger Soup, Jack’s Belly Packers (pancakes with wheat germ), golden milk—others just intriguing, such as Palo Colorado Canyon Winter Style Breakfast Burrito, courtesy of Big Sur postmaster Andrew Luersen, or Big Sur Steelhead Trout Rillette from Big Sur Lodge. How about Partington Pie with meat and lentils? Or “Hermit” cookies from Immaculate Heart Hermitage in Big Sur? It’s hard to glance over Chocolate Destruction, a cake that gets “demolished in seconds,” as the recipe’s author promises. Some dishes were invented during a disaster, for example, a vegetable omelet improved with a can of lima beans or a mushroom soup enriched by a can of condensed milk. No water, no heat and prolonged isolation call for culinary innovations. Big Sur Historical Society President David Wood—his favorite recipe is the lemon meringue pie—shared that more than 100 individuals and organizations contributed recipes and 70 contributors provided narratives. Another 20 people offered illustrations and photographs related to wildfires, slides and Highway 1 closures. “It is a tribute to a community that has persevered and thrived in the face of adversity,” Wood says. The book is a treasure of stories from Big Sur and its institutions, starting with the Big Sur Fire Brigade and the Carmel American Red Cross Ambulance service. There are stories of potlucks, brave volunteers, unusual Thanksgivings and resourceful animals, such as Jack, the cat who during a fire swam the Big Sur River. Thanks to his frantic meows, he was found many days later, skinny and stuck in the hollow of a redwood tree. There is also a story of the Big Sur library, a project started by Anne Hadden in 1913. Hadden would haul books on mules to make sure the community was exposed to literature and educational materials. Describing the 2013 Pfeiffer Fire, survivor Peggy Goodale recalled how she was awoken at 11pm by the sound of exploding ammunition from a neighbor’s property. “I ran uphill to see where the massive cloud of smoke was coming from,” she said. Radio broadcasts reported that the fire was starting to cross over Pfeiffer Ridge. She grabbed some essentials and drove out the emergency road exit. “Home burned to the ground. Life goes on,” Goodale said. Of course, that includes food. The book project was assembled by Wood, whose grandparents lived in Big Sur and who has many childhood memories from the area, plus a handful of other society members (there are 160 members total). The book culminates with tips, information about survival basics and resources. There is a list of notable fires and highway slides since 1981, as well as “the essential surviving Big Sur supply inventory,” advising on all the items you should keep in your pantry. There is a shorter list of absolute musts, which includes olive oil, salt, pepper, rice, pasta, soy sauce, lemons, garlic, herbs, hot sauce and—always— flowers on the table. Recipes for Surviving in Big Sur is available online at bigsurhistory.org and in select local stores/gift shops, such as Henry Miller Memorial Library in Big Sur. Survival Mode A new book shares stories of the resilience—and food— of Big Sur residents during disasters. By Agata Popęda “It is a tribute to a community that has persevered.” TALES FROM THE AREA CODE DANIEL DREIFUSS David Wood, president of the Big Sur Historical Society, shows off a copy of the group’s new book, Recipes for Surviving in Big Sur. Members dedicated hundreds of hours compiling the contents of the book. CLAIM YOUR BOOTH! EXHIBITOR REGISTRATION NOW OPEN Connecting businesses throughout Monterey County THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2025 1:00 PM - 4:30 PM DEL MONTE SHOPPING CENTER EXPO BUSINESS monterey bay 2025 PRESENTED BY REGISTER NOW AT MONTEREYCHAMBER.COM
www.montereycountynow.com OCTOBER 2-8, 2025 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 9 MRY Metamorphosis Open House Y u e Invi ed OCTOBER 22, 2025 Wednesday 4:30–6:30 p.m. Monterey Regional Airport Location Details: 200 Fred Kane Drive Monterey, California 93940 Learn the latest updates to the airport's Safety Enhancement Program. Speak directly with subject-matter experts and sign up for a tour of the construction site. RSVP for the open house and a tour of the construction progress by October 17. montereyairport.com/event/open-house The Monterey Peninsula is a leader in water conservation. Thank you for your commitment to being water wise! Learn more at: montereywaterinfo.org/events JOIN US FOR FREE CONSERVATION WEBINARS Join us for free, interactive workshops in October and November presented by Green Gardens Group via Zoom. Thursday, October 9 Eat Your Garden 6 p.m.–7 p.m. Wednesday, November 12 Landscape Myth Busters 6 p.m.–7 p.m. Tuesday, October 28 Rainwater is Free – Catch It! Use It! 6 p.m.–7:15 p.m.
10 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY OCTOBER 2-8, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com NEWS Merritt Street is the main thoroughfare in Castroville, connecting commuters from Salinas to Santa Cruz County. It backs up often— further exacerbated by a major project now under construction to make the roadway more pedestrian-friendly—so drivers look to side roads to save minutes or seconds. Those roads include Geil and Seymour streets through neighborhoods where children walk to Castroville Elementary School. Many intersections leading up to the school are wide and not controlled by a four-way stop, which can make it challenging for pedestrians to cross. A demonstration project is underway along those roads, between Cooper and Salinas streets, featuring curb extensions, traffic circles and crosswalks, with the goal to assist pedestrians and slow down traffic. The North Monterey County Safe Routes to School Plan was developed by the Transportation Agency for Monterey County, Ecology Action and the County of Monterey, to recommend infrastructure improvements and other projects that aid students walking and biking to North County schools. It was funded by a $665,000 Caltrans grant as well as $127,000 from Measure X. This year, the public voted on which projects they would like implemented, divvying $1 million allocated to the program. Planner Amelia Conlen says TAMC will seek sign-off from the Board of Supervisors on Oct. 14, and later determine a funding source. The North Monterey County Unified School District board OK’d the plan in August. For the temporary Castroville project, TAMC is gathering public input before the demonstration concludes on Oct. 8. So far, Conlen says, neighbors have offered some positive feedback about speeding reduction. “We have also heard concerns about parking.” Curbing Traffic A pilot project in Castroville shows how roads can be safer for North County students. By Erik Chalhoub After several years in the making, Monterey Peninsula Unified School District is now a few months away from housing its first tenants in workforce housing. The project moved quickly, thanks to a $340 million school bond voters approved in 2024. “What made this possible was including teacher staff housing in Measure A as an allowable expense,” Superintendent PK Diffenbaugh says. MPUSD purchased a $35.2 million apartment complex, developed by Brad Slama, located at 2300 Garden Road in Monterey, near the airport. The building previously served as an office space. The building has 64 units, primarily studios and one-bedroom apartments. “It’s not going to meet every employee’s needs right in terms of their family set-up,” Diffenbaugh acknowledges, adding that he hopes in the future they can offer more options with two- and three-bedroom units geared more for families. Below-market-rate rents will range from $1,265/month for studios to $1,628/month for two-bedroom units. (According to Zillow, the average rent price for a one-bedroom apartment in Monterey is currently $2,275/month.) Tenants will be able to reside for up to five years, with a one-time option for a two-year extension. The district followed Salinas Union High School District’s model and purchased existing apartments instead of building its own. Two factors fueled this approach: time and money. “It allows us to move in much quicker and reduces cost,” Diffenbaugh says. The MPUSD board approved guidelines for the application process on Sept. 23, including setting aside 13 units for employees who live outside the district and five units for new hires. Most of the units, 70 percent, will be for certified staff, including teachers, counselors and librarians, while 30 percent are for classified staff, such as bus drivers, custodians and clerks. “The vast majority will be for current employees to focus on retention,” Diffenbaugh adds. Lack of housing, high rent prices and low starting salaries are some factors that make it difficult for young professionals to establish or start a family in the area. It also contributes to high turnover rates in school districts. Andrea Gonzales, 30, is a firstgrade teacher who’s been in the district for eight years. She commutes from Hollister to Crumpton Elementary in Marina. On a good day, Gonzales says her commute takes about 45 minutes, but other times it can take twice as long. “I worry about being late a lot, just in case there’s traffic or an accident,” Gonzales says. Gonzales plans to apply for the lottery process and says that getting a unit would be a game-changer, saving time and money and improving her quality of life. “I would go from driving two-plus hours a day to only 30 minutes a day,” she says. Eligible staff members can apply to be selected in a lottery process that will take place in November. Employees at different income levels, except those who work in management, are eligible to apply, with priority given to low-income individuals. The first tenants will be able to move in starting this December. MPUSD is putting the final touches on its workforce housing units in Monterey, and will add security cameras before the first tenants move in December. School House MPUSD sets guidelines and prepares to hold a lottery for staff housing in November. By Celia Jiménez A temporary traffic circle was installed at the intersection of Geil and Speegle streets in Castroville, part of a demonstration project in the area to make it safer for pedestrians. “I would go from driving two hours a day to 30 minutes.” CELIA JIMÉNEZ ERIK CHALHOUB
www.montereycountynow.com OCTOBER 2-8, 2025 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 11 Insured by NCUA 1The dividend rate and Annual Percentage Yield (APY) accurate as of 10/01/2025. The dividend rate and APY may change at any time. 4.15% APY, 6-month Term Savings Certificate must be opened by phone or in-branch with new money. New money is defined as funds not on deposit at Golden 1 in the 30 days prior to the certificate account opening. There is no minimum balance required to earn the stated APY. The minimum opening deposit for this 6-month certificate is $500. The APY is based on an assumption that dividends will remain in the account until maturity. Any fee, withdrawal or transfer reduces earnings and there may be penalties for early withdrawal. Call 1-877-465-3361 for current rates. We reserve the right to change or discontinue this program at any time. Rates and term are subject to change without notice. 1025-MTW 4.15% APY1 for 6 months Visit a branch, call 1-877-465-3361 or scan to learn more Limited time offer Earn more with a Term Savings Certificate One voice can be the di erence for a child or youth in foster care. Be that voice. Over 50 local children are waiting. Become a CASA volunteer. casaofmo 831.222.3965 nterey.org 1/8v MULCH MADNESS FREE Truckload or Bags OCT 11 Two Cubic Yards of Mulch per Service Address Only California American Water or Monterey Peninsula Water Management District Customers eligible to participate. Must bring water bill showing where mulch will be used and photo ID. Stay in vehicle and drive through verification station before proceeding to loading area. Mulch will be loaded into pick-up trucks with assistance from a tractor. Bring your own tarp to cover mulch during transportation. Bagged mulch will also be available in smaller quantities for those without a truck. Supplies may be limited and are on a first-come, first-served basis. For personal use only. Not for resale. Saturday, Oct 11, 9am to Noon 14201 Del Monte Blvd. (one mile north of Marina at ReGen Monterey) 831.658.5601 MONTEREY PENINSULA MANAGEMENT DISTRICT
12 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY OCTOBER 2-8, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com Faced with deteriorating sewer infrastructure and rates that had not gone up in over a decade, Salinas City Council voted in April to approve rate increases. “It is pretty critical that we move this forward…we need to maintain our infrastructure,” Finance Director Selina Andrews told council. Since 2012, Salinas residents paid $5.45/month for their sewer service. A study by a third-party consultant found that service payments were insufficient to provide the necessary revenue for infrastructure improvements. After City Council’s approval, ratepayers had an opportunity to weigh in and protest the new rates under Proposition 218. The city sent out 34,537 notices on July 11 to property owners, giving them an opportunity to oppose the increases. If more than 50 percent (15,952) of those recipients did so, the increase could not take effect. As of Sept. 19, the city received only 58 protest responses opposing the rate change, and on Sept. 23, City Council voted 6-1, with Andrew Sandoval opposing, to certify the new rate structure, tripling bills effective Oct. 1. With the new rates, the bill for a single-family home will go up from $5.45/month to $16.35/month, and will increase to $17.70 by 2029. The council also voted on the same day to establish an assistance program to help low-income residents pay their sewer bills. Council unanimously approved the program and will provide financial assistance covering 15 percent of bills for low-income ratepayers, benefiting up to 5,096 people. Council set aside $150,000 to fund the program. The assistance program will run independently from sewer bills to make it accessible to people in multi-family units, including apartments, duplexes and mobile homes. Eligible ratepayers will receive a one-time annual payment for 15 percent of their sewer charges for the fiscal year. People participating in PG&E’s California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) program may qualify; individuals enrolled in the city’s Affordable Income and Rent Limits programs or the Section 8 Housing Choice voucher program are not eligible because they already receive utility assistance. Salinas operates its own sanitary sewer collection system, covering 12,430 acres, and then sends the wastewater to Monterey One Water for treatment. (M1W, which serves a bigger region, is the agency that bills residents for both services, so they will see the increase reflected on their M1W bills.) There are multiple water stories happening right now in the Monterey Peninsula, following parallel tracks. There’s the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District’s effort to buy out Cal Am’s local system, which is working its way through litigation. And there’s Cal Am’s effort to build a desalination project in Marina, which Cal Am has repeatedly said it intends to start building by the end of this year. The latest update to the most recent chapter of that saga is that on Sept. 22, MPWMD, Marina Coast Water District and the City of Marina filed a motion with the California Public Utilities Commission asking that the agency set aside its Aug. 14 approval of the Peninsula’s water supply and projected demand in 2050 due to vagueness on multiple issues created by a dilemma that has long been known: The CPUC approved a 6.4 million gallons-per-day project in 2018, and the California Coastal Commission approved a 4.8 mgd project in 2022, which is the size that Cal Am intends to build, at least initially. There is a lot that hasn’t been sorted out, including how a smaller project would impact ratepayers, and who has to pay for water if there’s no demand for it. Whether or not the CPUC will reopen a hearing it has just closed will be up to the CPUC, but for the public agencies making the motion, it preserves the right to litigate the decision in the future. Meanwhile, the Pure Water Monterey expansion is right around the corner, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony set to take place on Thursday, Oct. 2. The expansion brings the recycled water project up from 5 million gallonsper-day to 7.6 mgd of purified water injected into the Seaside Basin. So now, MPWMD General Manager Dave Stoldt is laser-focused on convincing the State Water Board to lift its cease-anddesist order against Cal Am so that finally, Peninsula ratepayers can install new water meters. “Let’s lift the guardrails and see if we can handle prosperity,” Stoldt says. Drain Pipe Sewer rates in Salinas triple after Prop. 218, and an assistance program launches. By Celia Jiménez NEWS HOUSING RIGHTS A workshop presents information about housing-related rights for tenants, landlords and property managers. Representatives from ECHO Housing and Housing Resource Center of Monterey County present. 6-7:30pm Thursday, Oct. 2. North Salinas High School Library, 55 Kip Drive, Salinas. Free. Also available via Zoom at bit.ly/4nnm8CA. 566-0824, echofairhousing.org. FIRE IT UP Seaside Fire Department hosts its annual open house. The family-friendly event includes live demonstrations, barbecue and more. 9am-2pm Saturday, Oct. 4. Seaside Fire Department, 1635 Broadway Ave., Seaside. Free. 899-6790, ci.seaside. ca.us/824/firedepartment. LIVE TO LEARN This community wellness carnival makes it fun to learn about resources to maintain physical and mental health for all ages. In addition to interactive workshops, there are optometrist eye screenings, recycled glasses distribution, diabetes tests, hearing tests and more. 9am-3pm Sunday, Oct. 5. Monterey County Office of Education, 901 Blanco Circle, Salinas. Free. 755-0301, montereycoe.org. ON THE DAIS The Hartnell College Board of Trustees meets and accepts public comments. 5:30pm Tuesday, Oct. 7. Hartnell College, Alisal Campus, 1752 E. Alisal St., Salinas. Free. hartnell.edu/about/ hccdgb. LOOKING TO HIRE Monterey County Works hosts a job fair to connect local employers with job seekers. Attendees are encouraged to bring their résumés and dress to impress. 1-4pm Wednesday, Oct. 8. Career Center, 344 Salinas St., Suites 205206, Salinas. Free. 796-3335. Register at montereycountyworks.com. CUT BACK Marina Tree Committee meets to consider a permit that will remove up to 95 trees along California Avenue. The trees are along a segment of the Fort Ord Regional Trail and Greenway project. 5:30pm Wednesday, Oct. 8. City Hall, 211 Hillcrest Ave., Marina. Free. 8841251, cityofmarina.org. MONEY MOVES CSU Monterey Bay Business Professor Subhra Saha leads a session covering strategies to build generational wealth. Noon-1pm Thursday, Oct. 9. CSUMB Business and IT Building, Room 112, 3052 Divarty St., Marina. Free. Also on Zoom. bit.ly/MoneyMovesOct9. Drip, Drop A recycled water expansion is coming soon to the Monterey Peninsula—desal, not so much. By David Schmalz Parts of Salinas’ aging sewer infrastructure are nearing the end of their life. Revenue from a rate increase is slated to go toward improvements. E-MAIL: toolbox@montereycountynow.com TOOLBOX The city received only 58 protest responses. COURTESY OF CITY OF SALINAS
www.montereycountynow.com OCTOBER 2-8, 2025 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 13 All year long! PROGRAMS FOR ALL AGES THE CITY OF MONTEREY Scan QR code for more info + registration MONTEREY.GOV/REC (831) 646-3866 play! MONTEREY • Preschool Programs • Youth Sports Leagues & Camps • School Break & Summer Camps • Gymnastics & Dance • Art Classes • Adult Sports Leagues • Adult & Senior Programs And much more! 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.
14 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY OCTOBER 2-8, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com It’s been a long seven years of stops and starts for a proposed 75-unit, 100-percent affordable housing development on East Market Street in Salinas, but the pace is picking up, in part thanks to state legislation that streamlines approvals for the much-needed housing. Instead of multiple public hearings that could bog down the process, the project got a single informational hearing before the Salinas City Council on Sept. 23 as it heads toward administrative approval through the city’s Community Development Department. Sibley Simon is founder and president of New Way Homes, a nonprofit that makes use of investor funds to build affordable housing. “It’s taken a lot of work to figure out this site in a lot of different ways and work with the city on this, but we hope we’re at the point we can move more rapidly now,” he told the council. The project sits at 467 and 479 East Market St., currently the site of an aging storage unit business and a vacant lot. Simon formed Envision II LLC for the project—Envision II purchased the vacant lot in 2019 for $799,000. Simon said they will soon own the storage unit property as well. The first plan drawn up was eventually determined to be too expensive to build, given the rise in material costs over the past five years. “Housing is just a lot more expensive to build now,” Simon said. In the meantime, they discovered that the vacant site had a leaking gas tank underground that wasn’t on any records. The company received a $2 million grant from the state to clean up the site. Simon said there is more testing and cleanup ahead they hope to complete next year. New plans are being drawn up that Simon said they think they can get funding for. Those include a six-story building with five floors of housing, from studios to three-bedroom apartments, and above-ground-floor commercial space that will feature a kitchen incubator with nonprofit El Pájaro Community Development Corporation. El Pájaro CDC works with entrepreneurs to help them start, maintain and expand small businesses, in this case, food-related businesses. Simon hopes to break ground by spring 2027. Envision II submitted a Notice of Intent to use Senate Bill 423 and Senate Bill 330, also known as the Housing Crisis Act of 2019, both of which streamline the process to build affordable housing. SB 423 took effect on Jan. 1, 2024, extending the provisions of Senate Bill 35 that created a ministerial approval process for urban infill projects that provide multi-family or mixed-use where at least two-thirds of the square footage are for residential use. The public hearing on Sept. 23 fulfilled one requirement of SB 423, to hold a public meeting in order to give the public and the council an opportunity to comment. “I’m very happy that we’re moving forward,” Councilmember Gloria De La Rosa said. “If there are any barriers please let us know, so we can get this project and other projects that are going to come forward, so we can get housing built for everyone.” Speed Up A 100-percent affordable housing development in Salinas finally gets going. By Pam Marino A rendering of the design of a proposed 100-percent affordable housing development on East Market Street in Salinas. A previous design was deemed too expensive to build. NEWS “I’m very happy that we’re moving forward.” NEW WAY HOMES FUND
www.montereycountynow.com OCTOBER 2-8, 2025 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 15 The dream of expanded rail service between Monterey and the Bay Area is real, and while it’s within sight, it’s not yet within reach. On Sept. 24, the board of the Transportation Agency for Monterey County approved amending an agreement with the City of Salinas and Monterey-Salinas Transit for a rail extension to Monterey County. The agreement dates back to 2017, and was set to expire at the end of this year— the amendment extends the expiration date to Dec. 31, 2030, another five years. There are two construction projects currently in design, one for a layover facility in Salinas, and the other to add a link to the Union Pacific tracks south of the Gilroy Station, which would allow trains to move both directions, instead of just alternating from one to the other depending on the time of day. Right now, TAMC Executive Director Todd Muck says his agency is still working with Union Pacific on the designs for both, which TAMC will ultimately construct. Muck calls the process “iterative,” and says the plans are being sent back and forth, receiving further tweaking and refinement. “If they continue to participate like they have, we can get through that by next year,” Muck says. Concurrently, he adds, TAMC is working with the State Division of Rail and Caltrain so that when the missing link comes, there will be rail service ready to take advantage of it. Those discussions are still in their early stages, he says, but the hope is for two round trips a day to San Jose, and looping in Amtrak’s Capital Corridor train on top of the existing, once-per-day Coast Starlight. “If it all worked well,” Muck says, “it will be as early as 2028 for that to start.” Cost estimates being what they are in a world of dynamic markets, Muck says the latest budget estimate for both the Salinas and Gilroy projects is $46.8 million, the majority from state funds. Also on Sept. 24 when the TAMC board met, they heard an entirely unrelated rail update, one that tied up a loose end. When TAMC bought the Monterey Branch line tracks from Union Pacific in 2003 using $9.2 million in Prop. 116 funds—intended to be used for rail—there was never any follow-up from the state, and it just sat there. But when MST proposed its SURF! busway project, which is currently being constructed over the tracks from Marina to Sand City, opponents brought it to the attention of the California Transportation Commission, which then forced TAMC to reappraise the current value of the tracks—$16.7 million as of late 2024—and apply it toward a Prop. 116-eligible project. TAMC and CTC have identified the project: the Pajaro/Watsonville Multimodal Station, which the board agreed to. That means the Southern Branch Line is no longer subject to Prop. 116 requirements—TAMC is free to do with it what it wants. Still, Muck maintains, “It doesn’t change the reason we bought it, to preserve it for future rail.” On Track It may be arriving later than hoped, but expanded rail service to the Bay Area is getting closer. By David Schmalz There is currently just one train every day connecting Salinas to the Bay Area. The hope is to have four as soon as 2028. NEWS When the missing link comes, there will be rail service ready. MARK C. ANDERSON ♦ 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 Voted Monterey County’s Best Antique Shop ’24
16 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY OCTOBER 2-8, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com NEWS DESERT It’s a shame KION will no longer be a true local broadcast station (“The entire newsroom at Salinas TV station KION is dissolved as San Franciscobased KPIX takes over,” posted Sept. 23). Salinas, Monterey and Santa Cruz are not aligned with the San Francisco Bay Area. Robert McGregor | Salinas Thank you for what you have written regarding the end of KION. I, too, feel for the KION employees who are now without jobs. I do not see how KPIX could fill the void left by the dissolution of KION. Thank you for being a voice of reason for our community in these trying times in which we are living today. I faithfully read Monterey County Now. Lou DeFonzo | East Garrison This is not a good way for KPIX to start off here in Monterey County. It would seem they would want to transition into the community with our trusted newscasters that we so much grown to trust and love; hopefully they will rethink and retain our local news personalities, otherwise maybe tough times ahead. I usually tune into both local stations, but will most likely be watching [KSBW] Channel 8. Mary Ann Carbone | Sand City Sad day. As a resident of Santa Cruz, I felt that neither Channel 8 or [KION] Channel 46 covered us very well and I don’t expect a San Francisco station to even know we exist. This is happening all over the nation as the large conglomerates are wanting more profits. I read about stations in the Carolinas being shut down and getting news feeds from large metro stations 400 or more miles away. As Alan Jackson said in his song, “little man getting gobbled up by big corporations who don’t care.” Ronald Salwasser | Santa Cruz I hope KPIX hires back the local folks as a Monterey bureau. We are not San Francisco, as much as I love the city. Peri Basseri | Monterey I maintain [former KION news director] Scott Rates is the best TV journalist in the area. So much deeper than any other local anchor. Paul J. Ingram | Carmel BRIDGE TO NOWHERE Classic waste of money by the city (“The future of Seaside’s San Pablo pedestrian bridge is clouded by climbing costs,” Sept. 18-24). Darion Dirk Bonnet | via social media DREAMING BIG Thank you, Celia, for sharing the story of Maria Elena Manzo with us (“After years of working in the fields, Maria Elena Manzo began a career changing lives,” Sept. 18-24). Stories like hers demonstrate how much richer and better off communities are when immigrants are welcomed and supported. I agree with what the Pope told Ms. Manzo: “The world needs to let mujeres guide. When mujeres guide, things happen.” Joanna Gallagher | Monterey TO THE MOVIES I am very excited to learn about the forming of Osio Arts Foundation (“A nascent nonprofit is angling for another revival of downtown Monterey’s Osio Theater,” Sept. 25-Oct. 1). I will do what I can to encourage our friends and neighbors to support this effort. It’s been five long years that the Osio has been closed. I hope there will be a lot of interest in reviving the arts and culture in the downtown area of Monterey. Diane Rowe | Seaside I REALLY hope to see it reopen! Malcolm John Dryden | Aptos The community wants this. Let us know what we can do. Karen Kostner-Stults | via social media The news that a group has formed to fund the opening of the Osio was music to these ears. Its closing was a serious blow to the art film lover, a sad end to a heroic effort to keep quality entertainment here, so absent in other communities. It would support a contingent of filmmakers who regularly win artistic awards but lack the funding of the big budget, alien-heavy projects whose soundtracks cause temporary deafness. I hope the Osio restoration campaign will be successful, and bring us all back to why we love films in the first place. Monterey is in so many ways a center of culture: Let’s add back art films into our unique mix. Susan Meister | Pebble Beach MUSIC FIRST Guitars Not Guns continues to serve youth by providing them the gift of music with guitars and free lessons through chapters located throughout the country. GNG is dedicated to reestablishing chapters that serve Monterey County (“Nonprofit Guitars Not Guns disbands four regional chapters, including Monterey County’s,” Sept 4-10). I was disheartened to read the article based on an interview of Mr. Vagnini, a former volunteer, chapter director and national board member. The article appeared to reflect a single point of view and did not present the full story. The facts can be found on our website. Current President Donna Hammond is highly qualified for the position and her leadership continues years of volunteer support, including heading up her own chapter, Allen’s Gift, dedicated to the memory of her son cut down by gun violence. The national board adopted a new policy to protect the mission of the organization’s past, present and future and unfortunately the leadership of the Monterey chapter chose not to comply. GNG remains steadfast in our mission and must ensure all chapter leadership operates under the same policies and guidelines. Richard Salazar | via email Note: Salazar serves on the national Guitars Not Guns board of directors. CORRECTION In the article “The upcoming screening of a prison documentary can change the way you think about life on the inside” (Sept. 25-Oct. 1), the name of the film was incorrectly identified. The eight-part YouTube mini doc series is called Time Together, while the documentary that was screened on Sept. 27 is titled Going Inside: Empathy in Action. 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 OCTOBER 2-8, 2025 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 17 There’s something that happens in small-town civics. People who get involved in one thing participate in another. The Venn diagrams of local engagement have a lot of overlap. For instance, before he was a Salinas City Councilmember, José Luis Barajas was a board member of Salinas Valley Pride. He receives no financial compensation for this volunteer role meaning that technically, according to the California Fair Political Practices Commission’s conflict-of-interest rules, he can vote on matters related to the group. But when council was preparing to vote on Sept. 23 on community sponsorships, including $5,000 to Salinas Valley Pride, Barajas recused himself. “I found there to be no conflict, but in an abundance of caution and being mindful of community sensitivity, I wanted to make a clear delineation,” Barajas says. “This is setting a good example and a good bar.” It is an example others should follow. While FPPC’s conflict-of-interest rules focus on financial interest—ownership of property, sources of income— there is also the matter of public perception and integrity. It’s unfortunately not a bar that has been met recently in Carmel. In the ongoing saga of the 13,000-square-foot J.B. Pastor Building proposed for Dolores Street, recusals have been a major issue, standing in as a proxy for perceived opponents or allies of the developer, Esperanza Carmel. (A group of 11 people appealed the Planning Commission’s approval of the project, raising various grievances about land use and parking, kicking the decision up to City Council. Spoiler alert: Council eventually kicked it back to the Planning Commission, so the sixyear-long proposal continues.) Before a first hearing on Aug. 4, two councilmembers announced they had received campaign contributions from an appellant. Mayor Dale Byrne founded the nonprofit Carmel Cares, which received a $100,000 donation from Esperanza Carmel, so City Attorney Brian Pierik advised him to recuse as well. Those recusals threatened to shrink the number of voting members from five to two—too small for a quorum, as Staff Writer Pam Marino reported. One councilmember returned a portion of the campaign gift, putting him at the FPPC’s allowable threshold to participate in the vote, so a three-member quorum was formed, minus Byrne and Councilmember Bob Delves, who also recused. Byrne could have kept it classy and said simply that he wanted to maintain integrity, or at least the perception thereof. Instead he read a prepared speech arguing he should stay. “I have no financial interest in this matter and no legal or ethical conflict,” Byrne said. “It’s disheartening when honest public service is met with suspicion.” Another way of looking at it: It’s heartening when honest public service is met with expectations of clear, bright lines. When council revisited the topic on Sept. 8, Byrne read another speech, making the same points. “These tactics may very well succeed in the short term but they erode the trust we need in government,” he said. I’d argue it’s the opposite: Setting a high bar helps build trust in government. Carmel Cares is not a problem—in fact it’s a civic gem getting people involved in beautifying and improving Carmel’s infrastructure. The problem is that the same developer whose project was now before council had given a significant gift to the nonprofit. At a City Council meeting on June 30, council accepted a donation valued at the equivalent of $262,097 from Carmel Cares, plus 8,544 volunteer hours from March 2024-June 2025 on a range of projects making life and infrastructure in Carmel better. That’s to be celebrated. Pierik told Byrne point-blank then that it was necessary for him to disclose (but not to recuse) whether he served on Carmel Cares’ board before voting to accept the gift on behalf of the city. Byrne says he stepped down from the board last year when he began his campaign for mayor, and has continued on in an unpaid executive director role as Chief Caring Officer for the all-volunteer organization. Byrne feels frustrated that he is being forced to make a choice between his two roles. If his interpretation of how to maintain public trust is relinquishing his volunteer role, rather than disclosing it, that’s a shame. Sara Rubin is the Weekly’s editor. Reach her at sara@montereycountynow.com. Conflict Resolution Elected officials have a duty to avoid conflicts of interest, real or perceived. By Sara Rubin CHANNEL CHANGE…In Squid’s screen time, Squid has been watching season 1 of The Paper on Peacock, a mockumentary about a newsroom suffering from disinvestment by its corporate owner—a paper company for which the fictional Toledo Truth Teller newspaper is incidental and the more valuable asset is toilet paper. For a nonfictional corollary, Squid has been watching Channel 46, where until last week, KION included a lineup of local news anchors and meteorologists talking about local news and weather. That changed on Sept. 23 when owner News-Press & Gazette Company announced the Salinas newsroom was shutting down and all 13 employees were losing their jobs, and instead they would run content from KPIX, based in the San Francisco Bay Area. The news was announced to viewers by KPIX anchor Juliette Goodrich, who said: “I’m so excited to announce that we’re expanding our coverage,” with a focus on “delivering hyper-local stories.” Squid so far has seen a story about a San Mateo woman who has started a highway billboard campaign looking for a husband; stalking suspects arrested in Morgan Hill; an Oakland Police policy update on high-speed chases; the list goes on. Curious about those “hyper-local stories,” Squid visited the KION website, where until last week Squid could select local news by county—Monterey, San Benito or Santa Cruz—and instead just found options for “U.S./World,” “Entertainment” or “Money.” For a primer on the latter, Squid needs to look no further than the empty Salinas newsroom of KION/Telemundo. RAIN CHECK…Out of all the underthe-sea snacks to choose from, Squid’s go-to is shrimp-flavored popcorn. But Squid recognizes that’s not everyone’s favorite, too fishy perhaps. For some sweet-toothed humans on land, it’s strawberries, which besides being healthy and delicious, are a major economic driver in Monterey County. They maintain the top revenue-generating spot year over year, with a gross production value of more than $1 billion in 2024, a 15-percent increase from 2023, according to the annual crop report prepared by the County Ag Commissioner’s Office. However, the beloved crop is also kind of messy. Agricultural Commissioner Juan Hidalgo acknowledged this not-so-sweet news ahead of the rainy season, sending out an announcement on Sept. 22 warning farmers to protect their neighbors’ property from erosion and runoff. “The risk is much higher in sloping fields and those planted with strawberries,” Hidalgo wrote. “The plastic mulch that covers strawberry beds reduces rainwater infiltration, and increases runoff.” Squid, all too familiar with dusting off shrimp popcorn crumbs from Squid’s tentacles, wonders what sort of mess this has created for humans on land. THE LOCAL SPIN SQUID FRY THE MISSION OF MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY IS TO INSPIRE INDEPENDENT THINKING AND CONSCIOUS ACTION, ETC. “This is setting a good example and a good bar.” SEND SQUID A TIP: squid@montereycountynow.com
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