8 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY JANUARY 8-14, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com It was a noble idea, to bring Monterey County residents locked away in mental health facilities located in other counties closer to home and families, but a residential mental health facility planned near Natividad Medical Center in Salinas is no more for now. The Monterey County Board of Supervisors said they couldn’t justify the cost. The county had already spent nearly $3.7 million on planning for the 96-bed Mental Health Rehabilitation Center. On Tuesday, Jan. 6, the supervisors were faced with a decision of whether to push forward and build part or all of the project, or cease work altogether. New estimates put total costs over 30 years in the range of $140 million for only one of six buildings up to $276 million for the full project. In all three scenarios presented—one, three or six buildings—the county would face annual expenses of between $9.7 million and $11.3 million. Initially, staff estimates showed that the county would make up to $200,000 annually in reimbursements for providing care. “I don’t think the county has that kind of money,” Supervisor Glenn Church said. “There’s an old saying, fish or cut bait. It’s time to cut bait.” The board voted 5-0 to cease all work on the MHRC. Currently just over 100 Monterey County residents are being treated in locked facilities in other counties around the state, according to Health Department staff. Of those, about half would be eligible for care at the MHRC; the rest would need a higher level of care elsewhere. Church called it a luxury to house a few dozen people. Citing the “unprecedented times we’re living in,” Supervisor Chris Lopez said there were forces at play outside of the county’s control, including interest rates—the county would have to borrow money for construction—and uncertainty of funding at the state and federal levels. “The project that was initially conceived…was a lot lower cost. The challenges that we’re facing as a country are what we’re staring at in these sheets,” Lopez said. Supervisor Wendy Root Askew, who took over as chair of the board for 2026 earlier in the meeting, said the need for mental health beds in the county is real “and we need to find a way to make this happen.” In a nod to the residential neighbors who staunchly protested the project, she said she would welcome such a facility in her own neighborhood. In the end, she said she couldn’t make sense of the numbers, but pledged to work on finding a future solution. With county coffers in mind, a 3-2 majority of the Monterey County Supervisors on Jan. 6 voted to create a short-term rental ordinance that would ban them in unincorporated residential areas while allowing them in commercial areas and within agricultural operations. The move comes in the wake of a lawsuit filed by Monterey County Vacation Rental Alliance against the county over its STR ordinance, which was passed in 2024. In December, the county announced it was suspending enforcement on two provisions of the ordinance based on claims in the MCVRA lawsuit that the ordinance violates clauses of the U.S. and California constitutions. One provision states that only resident property owners can pursue homestays, where owners remain in the home. The other is that only natural persons, rather than corporations or entities, may engage in commercial rentals. The lawsuit argues that non-residents are being treated differently, and corporations are discriminated against in cases of all STRs. “We are concerned that there is the potential, because of the way the lawsuit is written, there will be millions and millions and millions of dollars on behalf of [MCVRA] we would have to pay in damages. That would come out of the general fund,” Supervisor Kate Daniels said. She suggested there were bigger corporate interests behind the lawsuit: “This really feels like it’s something bigger than all of you and we have to be prudent.” Daniels and others expressed frustration that the STR ordinance they spent more than a decade crafting, striving to balance the needs of residents with protection of housing and resources, was now at risk of being derailed by litigation, but they saw no choice but to protect the county from further risk. Supervisors Luis Alejo and Chris Lopez did not support the motion. Alejo favored only dropping enforcement of the two contested provisions and opposed a ban. The lawsuit is ongoing— the next hearing is scheduled for Feb. 20. Cut Bait Supervisors nix plans for a county mental health facility over high costs. By Pam Marino NEWS ZERO EMISSIONS The draft Monterey County Zero Emissions Shared Mobility Study is now available for public review. The study aims to identify sustainable transportation options, especially in rural and low-income communities. Review period ends Thursday, Jan. 8. Free. bit.ly/ZEVStudy2025. RETIREMENT READY California Public Employees’ Retirement System hosts an event to educate members about retirement and health benefits available to them. The event includes classes for early- through mid-career members and those nearing retirement. 8:30am-4pm Friday-Saturday, Jan. 9-10. Monterey Conference Center, 1 Portola Plaza, Monterey. Free. Register at bit.ly/CalPERSMonterey2026. BLOOD BANK The American Red Cross, on the brink of a blood shortage, asks people to donate blood or platelets. Blood drives are scheduled in Monterey County. 9am-2pm Friday, Jan. 9. Compass Church, 830 Padre Drive, Salinas. 9:30am-1:30pm Friday, Jan. 9. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints, 1024 Noche Buena St., Seaside. Free. Schedule at (800) 7332767, redcrossblood.org. SERVING THE SANCTUARY Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary’s advisory council meets. Topics include a superintendent’s report for the sanctuary and other updates. 9am-1:30pm Friday, Jan. 9. Virtual via Google Meet. Free. meet.google.com/ iyp-xzvw-ojw. IN THE PUBLIC Salinas City Council meets to discuss city business. Public comment is accepted. 4pm Tuesday, Jan. 13. Salinas Rotunda, 200 Lincoln Ave., Salinas. Free. (831) 758-7381, cityofsalinas.org. HIRING NOW Monterey County Works hosts a job fair to connect local employers in the hospitality industry with job seekers. Attendees are encouraged to bring their résumés and dress to impress. 1:30-4pm Wednesday, Jan. 14. Career Center, 344 Salinas St., Suite 203, Salinas. Free. (831) 796-3335. Register at montereycountyworks.com. GREEN GIVING The Seaside Parks & Recreation Department is giving away trees to Seaside residents. Those selected will receive a one-gallon-sized tree, one bag of fertilizer and an optional tree water ring. Apply online at ci.seaside.ca.us/402/ Parks. Risk Management A majority of supervisors back ban on short-term rentals in residential areas to thwart a lawsuit. By Pam Marino With her staff, Elsa Jimenez, director of the county’s Health Department, presented four options to either build part or all of a mental health rehabilitation center in Salinas. E-MAIL: publiccitizen@montereycountynow.com PUBLIC CITIZEN “I don’t think the county has that kind of money.” DANIEL DREIFUSS
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