10 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY NOVEMBER 20-26, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com Juan Heredia learned about the tragedy unfolding in Big Sur while he was at home in Stockton. As he watched the news on TV with his wife about the 15- to 20-foot waves that swept a 7-year-old away from her family at Garrapata State Park on Friday afternoon, Nov. 14, he believed with certitude that he would be able to locate her, even after other searches had so far been unsuccessful. So, he drove. It took him about three hours to get to the scene of the incident on Sunday, Nov. 16 after two full days of searching during daylight hours. He had never been to Big Sur before, and it was his first time conducting a recovery mission in the ocean. The waves were big and the storm was steady; a multi-agency largescale operation had been suspended the night prior. When he arrived, local lifeguards tried to prevent him from going out for his own safety. “I’m the one that chooses the risk. They have to somehow understand that I’m doing this for the family,” he says. “But I understand that they don’t want more tragedy.” The risk, however, extends beyond his own safety. In incidents like these, there is a careful process and protocol that are followed out of respect for the family, according to sources familiar with such procedures. For self-appointed missions in unfamiliar places, it is a fragile space for Heredia to enter—and one he is still relatively new to. His first recovery was in March 2024, where he helped a family locate their son who drowned in a river in Stockton. A hobby diver (both a free diver and a scuba diver), that was his first time helping with such a search, and what he thought would be his last. Five more requests of similar nature led him to create the nonprofit Angels Recovery Dive Team in August that year. Since, he’s helped recover 15 people. “We never say body,” Heredia says. “We always say son and daughters, because that’s what they are.” At about 1:20pm on Nov. 16, two days after she was swept out by the surf, Heredia located Anzi Hu of Calgary, Alberta, about a half-mile north of where she was last seen. Her father, 39-year-old Yuji Hu, drowned in an attempt to rescue her, and was recovered by an off-duty peace officer. The child’s mother, who followed her husband and daughter into the water was able to return to shore. She survived and was treated for hypothermia. A 2-year-old child on the beach was unharmed. Salinas City Council voted 6-1 on Tuesday, Nov. 18 to move forward with transferring ownership of two downtown city-owned properties to Taylor Fresh Foods. The development agreement for the properties would include a hotel, commercial space and housing. These properties are across from Salinas City Hall, at the intersection of Lincoln Avenue and West Gabilan Street. Parking Lot 8 is primarily used by downtown visitors, while Parking Lot 12 is mainly used for city employees during the week. For Lot 8, Taylor envisions building a hotel and commercial area, and making Lot 12 into a multi-family residential area with 66 units. Estimated timelines— after project approval— range from three to eight years and one to five years, respectively. Since the residential area would have more than 10 units, it should meet the city’s inclusionary housing requirements. The affordable units could range from 12 to 20 percent of the total, or the developer could pay in-lieu fees. Taylor representatives said they would prioritize the housing project since the city has a long-standing housing crisis. Lisa Brinton, the city’s community development director, says this step locks the potential project into abiding by current laws and regulations, but notes it won’t be a done deal until it closes escrow. “Either party can walk away and terminate the agreement,” Brinton says. Some residents and council members shared concerns about potential parking issues. The housing project proposal includes 90 parking spaces and city staff added they could look for alternatives, like turning the old police station next door into parking. In 2020, both properties became surplus and went up for grabs for private developers. Next steps include appraising the properties, agreeing to a purchase price and environmental assessments. The agreements are expected to come back to council for final approval on Dec. 2. If it moves forward, Taylor Fresh Foods would pay in cash. Deep See The diver who found a 7-year-old lost at sea describes his process. By Katie Rodriguez NEWS PUBLIC PROCESS North Monterey County Unified School District Board of Trustees meets and accepts public comment. 6pm Thursday, Nov. 20. North Monterey County High School media center, 13990 Castroville Blvd., Castroville. Free. (831) 633-3343, nmcusd.org. SHOPPING FOR GOOD Goodwill Central Coast opens its new, and largest, store in Salinas. Family activities take place throughout the day. 9am-7pm Friday, Nov. 21. Goodwill Central Coast, 1425 N. Davis Road, Salinas. Free. ccgoodwill.org. HELPING HANDS Survivors of suicide loss are encouraged to attend the third annual Hope and Healing in Monterey County event. Support and resources will be offered. 10am-1pm Saturday, Nov. 22. United Way Community Impact Center, 232 Monterey St., Salinas. Free. (831) 4008673, salinas-california.isosld.afsp.org. IN DEVELOPMENT Monterey Planning Commission meets to consider proposed projects. Public comment, as always, is welcome. 4pm Tuesday, Nov. 25. Colton Hall, 580 Pacific St., Monterey. Free. (831) 6463885, monterey.gov. FESTIVE VOLUNTEERING California State Parks is looking for wayfinding volunteers for the 41st annual Christmas in the Adobes. Wayfinders provide direction and help to eventgoers. Event runs Dec. 12-13. 20 Custom House Plaza, Monterey. isabella. brown@parks.ca.gov. POWER UP Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments is creating a plan for electric vehicle charging stations to best meet needs while being more resilient to climate change. Public input is welcome. Provide feedback by Dec. 31. ambag. org/plans/electric-vehicle-planning. GIVE BACK This year, 213 local nonprofits are part of Monterey County Gives! Read about their Big Ideas and donate to help their efforts. Donations accepted through midnight on Dec. 31 at montereycountygives. com. WATER WISE Salinas Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency offers free home water efficiency assessments to rural residents in northern Monterey County. Residents could receive free devices to help save water and energy. Assessments run through Jan. 31. Free. svbgsa.org. Infill Rising Housing and commercial projects in downtown Salinas move one step forward. By Celia Jiménez Juan Heredia is a hobby freediver and scuba diver from Stockton. He began conducting self-appointed recovery missions in the spring of 2024. E-MAIL: toolbox@montereycountynow.com TOOLBOX “I’m the one that chooses the risk.” MIKE MCCLINTIC
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