FEBRUARY 5-11, 2026 MONTEREYCOUNTYNOW.COM LOCAL & INDEPENDENT FEAR AND THE FEDS 8 | MONTEREY’S BUDGET CRUNCH 12 | SNAKE BIT 34 | GROWING THE PIE 36 FIRST PLACE GENERAL EXCELLENCE • 2025 CA JOURNALISM AWARDS • CLOSING THE LOOPScientists are scaling up the conversion of trees into biochar. p. 18 By Katie Rodriguez
2 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY FEBRUARY 5-11, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com FEBRUARY 5-11, 2026 • ISSUE #1958 • ESTABLISHED IN 1988 David Lehrian (Sony A7RV, Sony 28-60mm, Nauticam Housing, Nauticam WWL-2 wet lens, Marelux strobes, f5, 1/160 sec, ISO 250.) Welcome to the kelp forest. Pile perch and rubberlip seaperch are shown swimming through giant kelp at San Carlos Beach in Monterey. MONTEREY COUNTY PHOTO OF THE WEEK Send Etc. submissions to etcphoto@montereycountynow.com; please include caption and camera info. On the cover: The Elkhorn Slough Foundation is transforming eucalyptus groves into biochar and partnering with local researchers to understand how this soil amendment can be best used by local growers. Cover photo: Daniel Dreifuss etc. Copyright © 2026 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) SENIOR STAFF WRITER Pam Marino pam@montereycountynow.com (x106) STAFF WRITER Celia Jiménez celia@montereycountynow.com (x145) STAFF WRITER Agata Pope¸da aga@montereycountynow.com (x138) STAFF WRITER Katie Rodriguez (California Local News Fellow) katie@montereycountynow.com (x102) STAFF WRITER Aric Sleeper aric@montereycountynow.com (x127) 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, Jesse Herwitz, Luz Rimban, 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. NEWS • ARTS • ENTERTAINMENT • FOOD • DRINK • CALENDAR Subscribe to the newsletter @ montereycountynow.com/subscribe READ MORE NOW ONLINE NEWSLETTER Go to montereycountynow.com LOCAL NEWS EVERYDAY AT MONTEREY COUNTY NOW
www.montereycountynow.com FEBRUARY 5-11, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 3 A landmark hospital. And so much more. montagehealth.org Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula is the beating heart of Montage Health. Today, we’re much more than a hospital. We’re urgent care centers, wellness centers, primary care doctors, health insurance plans, and a groundbreaking mental health program for youth. Through it all, we remain an independent, nonprofit healthcare organization. Locally owned. And accountable only to the communities we serve.
4 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY FEBRUARY 5-11, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com THE BUZZ FREE SPEECH The term “news desert” is familiar to most. But in Los Angeles, the opposite is happening: a news “superbloom.” Over the past year, five outlets have gone live in the city—many sprouting up due to the downsizing of the Los Angeles Times—including a digital startup and the California Post, the New York Post’s venture into the West Coast. Online outlet L.A. Reported’s staff includes Karin Klein as the editor, who was previously on the Times’ editorial board but left after owner Patrick Soon-Shiong pulled the paper’s endorsement of Kamala Harris as president in 2024. “Jeff Bezos (the owner of the Washington Post) and Patrick Soon-Shiong have not been the model of billionaire ownership that I think is going to lead to great, sustainable, really ethical journalism in the future,” Klein told the nonprofit outlet Poynter. Other outlets have relied on philanthropy. LA Local, a website that launched in early January, reported it raised $19 million. USA Today Co., meanwhile, which owns the Salinas Californian, launched its Today Californian newsletter in January, staffed by a team of six reporters. Good: Beginning Feb. 1, ReGen Monterey, a publicly owned waste management agency, began supplying power to Central Coast Community Energy (3CE), a community aggregator that supplies renewable energy to more than 1 million customers across five counties on the Central Coast. ReGen and 3CE approved a three-year contract under which 3CE will pay up to $5 million to purchase the power generated from ReGen’s landfills. Since the 1980s, ReGen has generated renewable energy by capturing methane, a byproduct of landfills, and turning it into electricity. Under the agreement, 3CE will purchase 3 megawatts of electricity from ReGen, power that 3CE sees as more reliable than other forms of renewables such as wind and solar. For ReGen, the contract provides a steady revenue stream to potentially expand or upgrade its landfill gas-to-energy facilities. GREAT: The nonprofit Osio Arts Foundation took a step toward reviving operations at the Osio Theater, which has been shuttered since 2020. Eight of the nine nonprofit board members met on Feb. 2 at the Osio in downtown Monterey to vote on a letter of intent from Green Valley Corporation—the landlord of the building—to decide if terms for a lease were agreeable to them. They unanimously decided to move forward, meaning that an operational lease will be drafted in the coming weeks. Board president Sam Al-Maqtari has a vision to revive the space as an arthouse theater and develop partnerships with other arts organizations. Once a lease is agreed upon and signed, the foundation will become an operator and can begin structural renovations to the building, which they expect will cost upward of $300,000. The group is fundraising for that, as well as upgrades of projector equipment. GOOD WEEK / GREAT WEEK THE WEEKLY TALLY That’s the initial tally of how many Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula nurses voted in favor of joining a union. There were 750 eligible voters during the Jan. 28-30 voting period. Hospital executives have recognized the vote to unionize. Source: National Labor Relations Board QUOTE OF THE WEEK “The East side doesn’t need symbolism.” -Chris Barrera, president of LULAC Council #2055, speaking against a proposed arch for the Alisal neighborhood before the Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 to allocate $100,000 of District 1 discretionary funds for the project (see story, montereycountynow.com/ news). 479 Happy Valentine’s Day From Gathering for Women - Monterey gatheringforwomen.org ~ 831-241-6154 #gatheringforwomen We’re sending love to all of our supporters! Your generosity, whether through donations or volunteering, helps us spread joy and care to the women we serve.
www.montereycountynow.com FEBRUARY 5-11, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 5 VACCINATIONS SAVE LIVES For more information visit SalinasValleyHealth.com/heartmonth RICHARD GERBER, MD Cardiology Getting the shingles vaccine can help protect you from painful shingles (also called zoster). It may also lower your chance of having a heart attack or stroke. CELEBRATING HEART MONTH
6 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY FEBRUARY 5-11, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com 831 It’s 11am on a Tuesday and the Monterey County Free Libraries’ Seaside branch is about to open. A few people are waiting outside the building this mild winter morning. One of them is a young mother with three children—two toddlers, a boy and a girl, and a baby in a big cart-like stroller. This energetic quartet is here to join the story time about to start in the spacious room just past the entrance of the library. There sits librarian and children’s author Carol Diggory Shields with a stack of books on the table next to her. She is wearing colorful clothes and a big smile directed at the story time crowd that is now gathering and settling down on the prepared chairs in front of her, on their caregivers’ laps or on the floor. Soon, there will be even more movement and stir because singing and hand clapping and making noises on behalf of all inhabitants of the animal farm is about to begin. The group is diverse and the issues are universal, for example: What sound does a piglet make? There is a girl holding onto the hand of her grandmother, as if this grip is the only thing stopping her from floating into the air from the excitement that shines in her eyes. There is another adult with a boy about 6 years old; they are quiet and follow all the story time instructions. “Does anybody have a finger?” Diggory Shields asked between the books and after wrist exercises. “Then put them in the air!” As many readers know from their own experiences, story time, the staple of most libraries’ weekly programming, is much more than reading a book aloud. It’s also not just about listening to a book—it’s an exercise in early literacy, enunciation of words, social awareness, body awareness and more. According to librarian Alison Day, who is responsible for outreach and youth services at Monterey County Free Libraries—that includes conducting story time training for staff across the system—a story time requires two to three books, but there are other elements built in, such as opening and closing songs, finger play and exercises in modeling behavior. Interactive activities are at the core of the event, from books that are engaging on the physical level (with things like pop-up elements and sounds) to collectively crawling on a soft mat with images of dinosaurs in front of Diggory Shields. Story time at libraries is directed at babies and toddlers; the oldest group is preschoolers. Day lists four types of story time at MCFL: baby, family, toddler and preschool story times. They take place almost daily in Monterey County; more than 10 out of 16 branches in the MCFL have them. The events are typically 25-40 minutes long, depending on the atmosphere and the level of audience engagement. “Flexibility is crucial” is Day’s advice to those who run story times. “You have to have confidence, be a bit of a performer,” she says. “Not only children, adults have to buy into it too.” The same logic applies for the reader/performer as well. “Reading a book that I truly enjoy is non-negotiable for me,” says Library Assistant Stephanie Monteagudo, who has been facilitating story time every other week for two years now in King City. “I know that if I read a book that I am not enjoying, that it will translate over to the families attending.” Monteagudo’s favorite book to read for story time is The Monster at the End of This Book by Jon Stone. “It reminds me of when I used to read it to my little brother so I do have an emotional attachment to it,” she says, “but it is also downright hilarious and I just really love reading it out loud.” Library Assistant Jacob Halstead is new to story time programming and describes elements that are as much about stage presence as youth literature. “Projecting voice, showing the storybook in a way that the entire audience can see it, integrating props such as puppets or felt story boards, changing tone and cadence or even their whole voice to fit the story,” he says, describing how to do the job. “Right now, my favorite story time book is The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld,” Halstead adds. “My favorite activity uses story time scarves called ‘popcorn kernels.’ Participants ball up their scarves and when we say ‘pop’ in the song, they throw the scarves up in the air.” After story time, librarians encourage families to “stay and play,” inviting them to be at home in these public spaces. Page Turner Story time at the library is not just about reading out loud—it’s a performing art. By Agata Popęda “It is downright hilarious and I love reading it out loud.” TALES FROM THE AREA CODE DANIEL DREIFUSS Carol Diggory Shields keeps the audience engaged as she reads during a story time gathering at the Seaside branch of Monterey County Free Libraries. Elevate Your Business with MPCC Take your business further with meaningful connections, advocacy, and resources designed to help you grow. From high-impact networking and Chamber events to education, promotion, and a strong voice on issues that matter, MPCC is here to support your success all year long. If you're looking for a platform to initiate important conversations and grow your business, we invite you to be part of our award-winning business community. Join Today! • montereychamber.com • info@montereychamber.com • 831.648.5350 JOIN TODAY!
www.montereycountynow.com FEBRUARY 5-11, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 7 Last year, we surpassed $250 million in lifetime giving. Every ticket purchased supports charities in the tri-county region. Thank you to our fans for helping make this milestone possible. We hope you’ll join us at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, February 12-15, 2026. For tickets and more information, visit attpbgolf.com.
8 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY FEBRUARY 5-11, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com NEWS To beautify the city of Seaside and encourage local entrepreneurs to open up shop downtown, City Councilmember Alexis García-Arrazola is proposing placing a commercial vacancy tax on the November ballot. “I’ve done these business tours since 2020 when I was first elected, and the thing that kept coming up was that there are a lot of vacancies downtown and we need to stir up more business,” García-Arrazola says. He first floated the idea of a combined vacant commercial and residential tax in 2022, which he says ultimately withered on the vine due to the residential side of the initiative. This time around, he says the proposed tax would only apply to empty business space. The details of the potential measure are still in the works as the Seaside City Council mulls a report about the roughly 30 commercial vacancies in the city, requested by GarcíaArrazola and set to be presented on Thursday, Feb. 5. “I know people are going to push back, but sometimes, this is what needs to happen,” GarcíaArrazola says. “People want a community that’s vibrant.” With the revenue generated by a commercial vacancy tax, GarcíaArrazola hopes to provide seed money for affordable housing projects in the city. Darryl Choates, owner of Deja Blue on Broadway, says he supports the tax, which he sees as a way to reduce blight and force out-of-town property owners to pay their fair share of city services like police and fire. “Some of them don’t care if the properties are rented or not because they have so much property,” Choates says. “But here in Seaside we want the area to grow and we want everybody to participate.” Just Lease It Seaside Councilmember Alexis García-Arrazola is on a mission to fill vacant commercial spaces. By Aric Sleeper The video circulating on social media shows a man’s face as he addresses the camera in Spanish, warning fishermen to avoid federal roads while going to Lake San Antonio in South Monterey County. He says he is in the Tijuana airport waiting for a flight to Guerrero; he says he was detained in South County by a U.S. Army soldier, then later handed over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, leading to his deportation. He says at least seven others experienced the same. While the Weekly has been unable to independently confirm his account, his story aligns with other reports of federal law enforcement contacts on federal lands that led to immigration enforcement on a stretch of Jolon Road through the U.S. Army’s Fort Hunter Liggett. Monterey County Supervisor Chris Lopez addressed the issue during a board meeting on Jan. 27, noting that residents might not even be aware they are traveling onto federal land. “The thought that my kids would be torn for me simply for having chosen to take them fishing with a broken taillight is absolutely horrendous,” Lopez said. Sheriff Tina Nieto says, “We have had ICE activity in our South County area on federal properties,” noting the sheriff doesn’t have primary jurisdiction on federal lands. (Fort Hunter Liggett officials didn’t respond to requests for comment. The Weekly has filed a U.S. Freedom of Information Act request seeking additional information.) Since December, the volunteer group Monterey County Solidarity Network, which tracks immigration enforcement, reported that at least eight Monterey County residents have been detained or turned over to ICE in South Monterey County, including one on Jolon Road on Jan. 16 and at least 15 more near Lake San Antonio on Dec. 30 and 31 (eight were San Luis Obispo residents). On Monday, Feb. 2, the County of Monterey shared an interactive map and a list of federally managed areas across the county. The county statement, issued by an ad hoc committee appointed to address immigration issues, urges the public to be aware of the jurisdiction and follow all laws. It suggests that before visiting, people should: “Check which agency manages the land; Review rules and regulations; Respect closures, fire restrictions, and safety notices; Consider avoiding these areas entirely.” Various areas across Monterey County are multi-jurisdictional, meaning different agencies may conduct traffic stops or conduct law enforcement investigations. People may be subject to different laws when on federal land. For example, possession of recreational or medicinal marijuana is illegal in national parks, post offices and federal buildings, although it is legal for adults 21 and older in California. People could also be subject to immigration enforcement. The county’s list includes Fort Hunter Liggett, Camp Roberts, Fort Ord National Monument, Naval Postgraduate School, Los Padres National Forest, Pinnacles National Park and more. U.S. Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-San Jose, says her staff is in touch with local authorities and gathering information about this matter. “I’m committed to ensuring all federal agents are following the law,” Lofgren says via email. County officials released a map (online at bit.ly/federal-lands-us) and a list of areas under federal jurisdiction, including recreational lands and military installations. Territory War Following immigration detentions, county officials issue an advisory urging caution on federal land. By Celia Jiménez Alexis García-Arrazola’s reflection in an empty window on Seaside’s Broadway Avenue. He is proposing a tax on vacant commercial properties in hopes of pushing owners to rent them out. “We have had ICE activity in our South County area on federal properties.” ARCGIS HUB RENDERED BY ESRI LANDSCAPE DANIEL DREIFUSS
www.montereycountynow.com FEBRUARY 5-11, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 9 STAY NEW, STAY NOW AND SAVE UP TO 35% Experience the best of the Central Coast at Monterey County’s newest destinations— Courtyard Sand City Monterey and Residence Inn Sand City Monterey, now open! From modern rooms to spacious suites with full kitchens, both hotels offer vibrant amenities like fire pits, onsite dining, heated pools, electric bike rentals, and live entertainment at The Lido Stage. Celebrate our grand opening with an exclusive local offer available to California residents. Call (831) 855-4100 and ask for the “Discover Monterey” rate by March 31, 2026. TWO UNIQUE EXPERIENCES. ONE ADDRESS. *Offer valid for California residents only. A valid government-issued ID must be presented at check-in. Limited number of rooms are available for this promotion. Tax is additional. Offer does not apply to groups of 10 or more rooms. Offer cannot be combined with any other promotions. Blackout dates may apply. Advance reservations required. Other restrictions apply. Rates are per room, per night and based on availability at the time of reservation.
10 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY FEBRUARY 5-11, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com “A Temblor Strikes” was the headline of the Carmel Valley Association Weekly Bulletin on Jan. 22, alerting readers to a proposed 90-unit housing development slated for 17.4 acres of the former Carmel Valley airfield located on Lupin Lane in Carmel Valley Village. CVA President Marianne Gawain wrote that the community was “rocked” by the news. “The former airfield has served not only as valued open space but as an important staging area for firefighting crews,” she said. She raised broader issues of increased traffic and difficulties evacuating during fires. “We are very distressed about this proposal,” Gawain says, adding it’s too early to say more—CVA is still researching the project. The Carmel Valley Master Plan dictates that only 24 units are allowed on the parcel, currently being used by Griggs Nursery to store plants. Twenty-four units would be the case if the County of Monterey currently had a state-certified housing plan, called a housing element, but the element is over two years late, leaving the county open to Builder’s Remedy, which under state law means that as long as a project includes a certain percentage of affordable units, the county is limited in how it processes the application. As long as the project meets certain standards, it must be approved even if the number of units exceeds current zoning. The letter came with a preliminary development application that calls for 20 below-market and deed-restricted duplex units—11 low-income and nine moderate-income—well above the nine units that would be required by the state. The remaining 70 units would be market-rate single-family homes. Developer Patrick Orosco of the Orosco Group in Monterey says that under state rules with a target density of 20 units per acre for housing opportunity sites, the 29.5-acre former airfield could be developed to 590 homes. The surrounding neighborhood is four units per acre, while his project is three per acre. The 24 units would never be feasible. Orosco says he spent months considering how to reduce “threats to the landscape, culture, traditions and community fabric of the Valley” in planning the project. His answer was to preserve assets the community values, including Santa’s Fly-In, a 67-year tradition, as well as a jogging path used by residents. His goal, he says, is to build modest homes that attract families who will live in the village full time. For the first time, thanks to mandates from the state’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), a local effort to collect reliable data on small, private wells in the Salinas Valley groundwater basin is underway. The effort, run by the Monterey County Water Resources Agency (MCWRA) in partnership with the Salinas Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency (SVBGSA), aims to fill a major data gap under SGMA by building an inventory of these wells to assess their vulnerability and create drought contingency plans. “We are not asking rural residents to report the extractions,” says Piret Harmon, general manager of SVBGSA. “Because the hydrogeology is quite complex, it makes a big difference where exactly and how deep they are, how old they are, because that’s the only way we can truly understand where we need to focus our efforts in assuring everyone has sustainable groundwater.” Big picture, residential groundwater use is relatively small; agriculture accounts for 90 percent of groundwater use in Monterey County. Many private, smaller wells are shallow and disconnected from larger water systems, making them more vulnerable during droughts. While the data is critical for identifying areas of concern that may require specific emergency planning or new infrastructure, a challenge has been getting people to register. “We think right now, about 5 percent of the people who we were hoping to have registered have registered with us,” says Amy Woodrow, senior hydrologist with MCWRA. The deadline was extended from Jan. 31 to March 31 due to low initial registration. (Registration is free; call (831) 755-4860 or visit svbgsa.org/gmp.) Officials estimate thousands of wells will need to be registered, although the exact number is unknown. The estimate is based on County Health Department well permits, state well-drilling records, and parcels known to not be part of a water system. Flight Plan An application to build 90 units on the Carmel Valley airfield alarms neighbors. By Pam Marino NEWS HAPPENING CITY Soledad Mayor Anna Velazquez presents the State of the City address. Learn about the city’s accomplishments in 2025 and plans for 2026. 6pm Thursday, Feb. 5. Soledad Community Center, 560 Walker Drive, Soledad. Free. (831) 223-5000, cityofsoledad.com. BUDGET TAKES SHAPE Share input on the City of Salinas’ budget priorities for the upcoming fiscal year. A workshop is scheduled while a survey is ongoing. 6-8pm Thursday, Feb. 5. Salinas Police Activities League, 100 Howard St., Salinas. Free. salinas.gov/2026-2027Budget. GIVE BLOOD Donate blood to save a life—and for a chance to win a $500 gift card. 10am-2pm Friday, Feb. 6. Hilltop Park Center, 871 Jessie St., Monterey. Free. Make an appointment at vitalant.org or (877) 258-4825. DUNES DAY Help restore the native dunes while creating habitat for the Smith’s blue butterfly. This planting event is organized by the Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District and Habitat Stewardship Project Monterey Bay. 10am-1pm Saturday, Feb. 7. Marina Dunes Preserve, 3325 Dunes Drive, Marina. Free; registration required. (831) 372-3196, habitatstewardshipproject.org. PUBLIC PROCESS Greenfield City Council meets to discuss city business. Public comment is accepted. 6pm Tuesday, Feb. 10. City Hall, 599 El Camino Real, Greenfield. Free. (831) 674-5591, greenfieldca.gov. EQUALITY FOR ALL League of Women Voters of Monterey County presents a talk titled “Strengthening Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Today’s Changing World.” Jacinto Salazar III, director of IDEAA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Anti-Racism and Accessibility) at Monterey Peninsula College, is the speaker. 11:30am Wednesday, Feb. 11. Unitarian Universalist Church, 490 Aguajito Road, Carmel. $25 includes lunch; make lunch reservations by Feb. 9 at (831) 236-1611 or beverlygb@ gmail.com. lwvmryco.org. TAX SEASON Get free help with your taxes. Alliance on Aging offers tax counseling, while the United Way VITA tax program helps those who earned $67,000 or less in 2025. Alliance on Aging: 9am-3:30pm Wednesdays through April 8; make an appointment at (831) 655-1334. United Way VITA: 9:30am-12:30pm Saturdays through April 11. Make an appointment at (831) 372-8026. myfreetaxes.org. Well, Well A local effort is underway to build an inventory of smaller wells, but it is slow going. By Katie Rodriguez One feature of the property that developer Patrick Orosco plans to maintain in his proposal is a path regularly used by neighborhood residents for walking and jogging. E-MAIL: publiccitizen@montereycountynow.com PUBLIC CITIZEN His goal is to build modest homes that attract families. DANIEL DREIFUSS
www.montereycountynow.com FEBRUARY 5-11, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 11 MONTEREY PENINSULA Col lege NEW YEAR. FRESH START. SPRING AHEAD! mpc.edu/findaclass Spring Classes Start January 27th ENROLL TODAY! *Early Spring Classes: Jan 6-25 MONTEREY PENINSULA Col lege NEW YEAR. FRESH START. SPRING AHEAD! mpc.edu/findaclass Spring Classes Start January 27th ENROLL TODAY! *Early Spring Classes: Jan 6-25 MONTEREY PENINSULA Col lege NEW YEAR. FRESH START. SPRING AHEAD! mpc.edu/findaclass Spring Classes Start January 27th ENROLL TODAY! *Early Spring Classes: Jan 6-25 26 MONTEREY PENINSULA Col lege NEW YEAR. FRESH START. SPRING AHEAD! mpc.edu/findaclass Spring Classes Start January 27th ENROLL TODAY! *Early Spring Classes: Jan 6-25 *Early Spring Classes: Jan 5-24 PREVENTION•EDUCATION TREATMENT•RECOVERY NATIONAL MEDICINE ABUSE AWARENESS MONTH According to the 2022 Monitoring the Future Survey, 1 in 31 teens report misusing over-the-counter OTC cough medicine to get high. Let’s continue to educate the public about the dangers of abusing prescription and OTC drugs. WWW.SUNSTREETCENTERS.ORG
12 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY FEBRUARY 5-11, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com With expenses outpacing revenue, the Monterey City Council is exploring numerous strategies to address the city’s structural deficit, including raising taxes and defunding neighborhood improvement projects. At a special council meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 28, City Finance Director Rafaela King outlined the circumstances that contributed to the city’s budgetary shortfall. “It’s an ongoing issue as long as the growth in expenses outpace the growth in revenue,” King said. She mentioned that although city staff had come up with creative “onetime solutions” to balance the current year’s roughly $11.6 million shortfall by not funding vacant positions, for example, they anticipate that expenses will outweigh income by about $12 million again in the next fiscal year. The biggest expense is the city’s growing workforce, which increased from under 420 full-time employees in 2021 to 488 in 2025. King pointed out that from fiscal year 2024-2025 to 2025-2026, salary and benefits expenses for the city went up by about $6 million due to regular cost of living increases of about $3 million, overtime, retirement and other factors. Operating and technology expenses also increased by about $5.7 million in that time period. After considering multiple avenues out of the structural deficit, the City Council voted on Wednesday, Jan. 28 to move forward with two tax measures on the June ballot. Those include a measure to increase sales tax by 0.375 percent, which sunsets in nine years, and an 8-percent parking tax. Later the same day, the city’s Neighborhood and Community Improvement Program Committee considered a charge from the City Council to provide recommendations to defund between $3 million and $4 million in projects that are inactive or not yet started. The committee members were asked to rate projects from 1 to 10, with 10 equating to a project that should remain funded and 1 being a project that should be unfunded. The task was not welcomed by many committee members, who suggested they rate every project as a 10 and let the council decide, such as Skyline neighborhood representative Dennis Duke. “My recommendation is that we vote high numbers on all of these projects other than the ones that are low-lying fruit and recommend that they take our $3.5 million from next year,” he said. “And frankly, they need to clean up their own budget because they won’t get a tax increase. They won’t get other sources of revenue and they need to clean up their expense house.” Despite the pushback, the NCIP Committee ultimately scored the projects 1-10, and unanimously approved a motion made by Duke stating the committee’s position: “While we have voted on these projects as directed, our preference is for the previously approved NCIP motion to utilize the $3.5 million of the 2026-27 cycle funding as needed to assist the city in the budgetary shortfall.” Falling Short Monterey City Council advances two tax measures to curb budget woes. By Aric Sleeper Monterey City Council voted to put two tax measures on the June primary ballot and may also green light others for the November election, including an admissions tax and vacant home tax. NEWS “Frankly, they need to clean up their own budget.” DANIEL DREIFUSS CONGRATULATIONS 2025 Employee of the Year Fred Simkins Fred began his career with MST on March 3, 2003, joining one of the largest Coach Operator classes in MST history with 15 drivers. Over the past two decades, Fred has built an impressive record behind the wheel, earning recognition for over 20 years of safe driving, multiple Perfect Attendance Awards, and numerous Coach Operator Performance Excellence Awards. His dedication has also been celebrated through Employee of the Month honors in 2005, 2008, 2014, 2017, and 2025, and he previously earned Employee of the Year in 2008 for exceptional performance. Fred’s contributions extend far beyond his driving record. Known for his curiosity and commitment to accuracy, he is never hesitant to ask questions, raise concerns, or alert MST staff to potential issues. Early in 2025, Fred identified a critical problem when Aspire Health Group ended its contract with Anthem Blue Cross, leaving 164 MST employees and their dependents, along with more than 2,500 Monterey County residents, without access to Aspire’s health services. Fred worked tirelessly with MST staff, Blue Cross, CalPERS, and his fellow employees to gather information and advocate for a resolution. He even spoke at a CalPERS board meeting, where his persistence prompted health insurance executives to visit the Monterey Peninsula. Thanks to Fred’s determination, CalPERS successfully mediated a new agreement between Aspire Medical Group and Anthem Blue Cross—an outcome that safeguarded healthcare access for thousands of local residents. Fred embodies MST’s mission both on the road and within our facilities. His positive attitude, collaborative spirit, and unwavering dedication inspire his peers and strengthen our organization. Please join us in congratulating Fred Simkins, MST’s Employee of the Year for 2025, and in celebrating his remarkable contributions to our community. EMPLOYEES OF THE MONTH FOR 2025 JANUARY Ursulla Scardina FEBRUARY Daniel Merillana MARCH Johnny Castillo APRIL Kaleb Aquino-Lopez MAY Fred Simkins JUNE Charles Kirk JULY Daniel Rodriguez AUGUST Greg Burchell SEPTEMBER Kelly Soriano OCTOBER Ezequiel Rebollar NOVEMBER Grace Ibarra DECEMBER Asuzena “Susie” Flores Connecting communities. Creating opportunity. Being kind to our planet.
www.montereycountynow.com FEBRUARY 5-11, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 13 U.S. Army veteran Kelly Potter calls her one-bedroom apartment in Monterey her “safe place.” Struggling with sexual trauma she suffered during her service from 1975-1978 and the resulting PTSD, it became a haven for her in 2018, a place where she could rest, heal and bake the cookies she is famous for among friends. Since a misstep on the beach that turned into a major knee injury over eight months ago, it’s become her entire world. She struggles to walk and depends on friends to bring her food and do her laundry. Potter initially sought treatment at the Maj. General William H. Gourley VA-DoD Outpatient Clinic in Marina and was referred to an orthopedic surgeon at the Palo Alto VA Medical Center, 74 miles away. She asked to be treated closer to home through VA Community Care, available with approval when veterans live more than 60 miles from a VA hospital. Four months went by before Potter says she was told she would have to go to the Palo Alto VA for the surgery instead. That was followed by another call saying she was approved for Community Care because no surgery slots were available at the hospital until spring 2026. More months went by with no progress toward an appointment. Potter worried her injury would become permanent. “My legs and toes are going numb,” she says. “We are taught in the military to ‘suck it up, buttercup,’” she says. “We’re taught to be silent and follow the rules and regulations.” But Potter says she wasn’t willing to stay silent and she felt angry knowing other veterans faced similar delays. “I just want you to know I’m angry for all of us,” she says. Despite her struggles with PTSD, Potter began contacting federal officials including U.S. Rep. Jimmy Panetta, D-Carmel Valley, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins and President Donald Trump. “It does limit me, but it doesn’t shut me up,” she says. Community Care, formalized by Congress through the 2018 MISSION Act, has had a history of challenges. According to testimony by the Disabled American Veterans to the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs on Jan. 28, 2025, there were reports of veterans being denied eligibility or waiting long periods to get appointments, similar to Potter’s experience. The DAV blamed “administrative burdens,” including long waits for VA staff to share patient records with non-VA doctors, among other issues. In early January, Potter reached out to state and local sources and heard back from a caseworker in Panetta’s office. She also received help from the California Department of Veterans Affairs and the Monterey County Office of Military & Veterans Affairs. An advocate at her church, a veteran himself, reached out to the Marina clinic’s leadership on Potter’s behalf. Potter finally saw a Monterey doctor on Jan. 19 and her surgery is scheduled for March 13. A new medication is relieving her pain in the meantime. “I’m feeling more hopeful,” she says. Injured List An Army veteran waiting for surgery highlights issues with VA Community Care. By Pam Marino Veteran Kelly Potter injured her knee last April then had to wait eight months to see a local surgeon through VA Community Care. The program has faced challenges in providing timely care to veterans. NEWS “It does limit me, but it doesn’t shut me up.” DANIEL DREIFUSS Couples Sweetheart Special 80 mins - $435 or 110 mins - $500 Couples Warm Honey Bubble Bath Soak, Then enjoy Two Signature spa services. Choose a 50 or 80 minute Couples Massages Or Facials offered in Separate Rooms. Singles Chocolate Raspberry Dream Facial 50 mins - $230 or 80 mins - $265 Singles’ Raspberry Enzyme Chocolate Mask. The treatment is finished with a Luxurious Chocolate Cherry Serum, Leaving your skin radiant & irresistibly soft. Gifts Certificates can be purchased on-line at spaontheplaza.com and printed from home, and there is no expiration date. Each booking includes a gift Roses, Split of Champagne & a Box of Chocolates To Book Email or Call Us Reserve@spaontheplaza.com Voted Best Skin Care in 2025 for the 14th time and Best Spa 7 Times ValentineS’s pecials Specials STEAM ROOMS - POOL - JACUZZI - FITNESS CLUB MEMBERSHIPS - WELLNESS CENTER - FREE PARKING 201 ALVARADO ST. DOWNTOWN MONTEREY • 831-647-9000 SPAONTHEPLAZA.COM Monterey One Water • ReGen Monterey • Southern Monterey Bay Dischargers Group GREEN CART Food scraps without a bag TRASH Cooking oil and grease www.ClogBusters.org SCORE BIG, KEEP OUT OF DRAINS fats, oils & grease FOG
14 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY FEBRUARY 5-11, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com ICED OUT Why would the Sheriff’s Department waste any of our county dollars or time doing anything for ICE? (“Residents demand transparency and urge Sheriff’s Office to cease cooperation with ICE,” posted Jan. 29). In fact, they should be protecting the safety of our residents. I lived in Salinas for 33 years. I lived in a part of Salinas that had a lot of non-citizens. They were good neighbors, and part of the reason I miss Salinas. Matt Brysch | via social media The vast majority of the country supports and wants immigration laws enforced. Shout in the wind all you want and protest peacefully and legally all day long. But when you whine to an agency that doesn’t have anything to do with making the law, then you’re wasting your time. Wendy Darling | via social media It’s time to fire Kristi Noem. That won’t fix everything but keeping her in power guarantees more violence, more cover-ups and more blank checks for abuse. Millions of people are demanding accountability and an end to the lies coming from Noem and this entire regime. We must get ICE out of our communities, investigate the use of deadly force, and stop funding this war against our own people. Lauren Keenan | Salinas NURSES UNITED It’s about time! So glad. You deserve proper representation and support (“Nearly 500 of CHOMP’s 800 nurses vote in favor of joining a union in historic vote,” posted Jan. 30). Shirley Ambelang | via social media I’m from Monterey and a CNA member working in San Francisco. Best thing that’s ever happened. Congratulations and welcome to CNA! Beverly Lue | via social media I worked at CHOMP 20 years ago and we tried for a union but the union pulled back at the last minute due to underwhelming interest from nurses. Now a whole new generation of nurses are there. Gen Z and millennials are a force to be reckoned with, they question norms and stand strong against corporate numbnuts. Congrats to you all for bringing in the union. We stand united! Gina Watts | via social media CROSSING GUARD I read Celia Jimenez’s article with a sense of déjà vu (“Local cities and youth councils expand their messaging and outreach about safer streets,” Jan. 22-28). As a Salinas Union High School District teacher who used to bike to work, I have been hit by cars twice. Apparently, I just missed the educational video that was supposed to stop that from happening. The problem isn’t ignorance. Drivers know they should slow down, stop at crosswalks and watch for cyclists. Instead, they speed, scroll their phones, blow through stop signs and flee the scene—confident nothing will happen next. Education doesn’t fix indifference; enforcement does. I’ve spoken at City Council about being struck by vehicles. The solution offered? Social media campaigns and coloring books. Meanwhile, traffic fatalities rose from six to seven last year—seven people dead, but plenty of Instagram content. Salinas received nearly $200,000 in traffic safety grants. If enforcement exists, it’s very well hidden. Maggie Power | Salinas SCHOOL BLUES Nobody wants to try it, but an answer that would save tons of overhead dollars would be to merge local districts (“Faced with declining student enrollment, school districts confront growing deficits,” Jan. 29-Feb. 4). Jim Landman | via social media If there is declining enrollment then there needs to be smaller budgets. That is how the real world functions. Mark Reeder | via social media MISSING MONEY Thank you for the piece about the funding, or lack thereof, of newsrooms and AI research (“Free Speech,” Jan. 22-28). Please keep drawing our attention to the problem and keep us updated. A well informed public is just as important as the equal opportunity to vote. Susan Courrejou | Salinas OUT FOR HIRE Congratulations! You sound fantastic for the job (“Following a nationwide search, Monterey is set to appoint a new city manager,” posted Jan. 30). Meredith MacDaniel | Pacific Grove Welcome, Dante Hall, to Monterey. We look forward to your leadership, collaboration with our community, and the positive impact your experience will bring as we work together to shape Monterey’s next chapter. Dot Findlater | Monterey OFF THE MENU I was disappointed to read this article (“While other classics become trendy, pâté makes barely a mark on restaurant menus,” Jan. 29-Feb. 4). While intended as lighthearted food writing, it overlooked important health and ethical concerns surrounding pâté. It is typically made from liver and animal fats, making it high in saturated fat and cholesterol—both linked to heart disease, our nation’s leading cause of death. Promoting organ meats as trendy indulgences feels out of step with current nutritional guidance. Equally troubling is the animal suffering behind many pâté products. At a time when we face preventable chronic disease and growing awareness of animal sentience, celebrating pâté as “the new in thing” feels misguided and, frankly, in poor taste. Dee Pinder | Salinas I enjoyed Dave Faries’ article on the few restaurants serving pâté these days, but he missed a stellar example offered by Chef Soerke Peters at Mezzaluna in Pacific Grove. Pâté lovers should not miss this silky treat. Susie Brusa | Corral de Tierra CORRECTION A writeup about a new exhibit at the Monterey Museum of Art (“Visuals,” Jan. 29-Feb. 4) inaccurately attributed the artwork shown. The image published is by Debra Achen, not Tony Bellaver; both artists’ work appears in the exhibit Landscape ReEnvisioned. 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 FEBRUARY 5-11, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 15 That the American experiment—a pluralistic society in which all are welcome, and all have an equal voice—is a work in progress 250 years on may be a surprise to no one. It is certainly not a surprise to Rosalyn Green and her daughter Tinisha DunnAlcantara, two generations of Seaside organizers who inherited a legacy from their elders. Both are leaders in the Monterey County Black Caucus, and both are participating in February’s Black History Month events this year. They are quick to note that the heritage of this occasion extends beyond their own family lineage: It is the 100th year since Carter G. Woodson, who born in 1875—just over two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed—created the first Negro History Week to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. They remain worthy symbols of the work in progress: Champions of freedom whose achievements we celebrate, while also reminding us all of the continual effort. “One-hundred years is monumental,” Green says. “This month-long celebration, we hold it to be very sacred.” Dunn-Alcantara is also quick to note that the spirit of the month is celebration, but that does not mean resting on their laurels. “The celebration is the work,” she says. “Black joy is a part of our work. The excellence, the brilliance, the rebellion, the building—it’s all a part of the work.” This blend of work and celebration is reflected in a busy lineup of events this month, which has already begun. There was an expo on Feb. 4 featuring historic Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), and CSU Monterey Bay’s annual all-Black gala takes place on Feb. 7 (see p. 26). On Feb. 3, CSUMB screened the 1992 film Malcolm X, shining a light on the controversial civil rights organizer. More is coming, with an emphasis on education and storytelling, encouraging Black community members to find their own personal narrative and put it in context. The Monterey County Black Caucus (and others) will be at New Hope Baptist Church in Salinas (221 King St.) on Sundays, Feb. 8, 15 and 22 following church services at 11:30am. On Tuesday, Feb. 10 (9am-noon), they’ll be at the International School of Monterey (1720 Yosemite St., Seaside). An annual Black history program takes place at 3-6pm on Sunday, Feb. 15 at Oldemeyer Center in Seaside (986 Hilby Ave.) to showcase leadership from the past, present and future. At 5pm Wednesday, Feb. 25, the community is invited to celebrate Black culture and food at a night market at Everett Alvarez High School (1900 Independence Blvd., Salinas). Some events address specific problems: A blood drive encourages Black donors to contribute what can be life-saving for patients with certain genetic diseases (9:30am-1:30pm Thursday, Feb. 19 at the Helen Rucker Center at CSUMB); a workshop on cooperative housing focuses on ownership and affordability (10am-noon Saturday, Feb. 21 at the Oldemeyer Center). And against this backdrop, the community is grieving for Ronald Chyron Tinsley, a 31-year-old Black man from Seaside who was killed by a police officer during a traffic stop on Jan. 18; his funeral took place on Feb. 4. As law enforcement officials continue investigating the facts of the case (such as a struggle over a handgun), organizers are asking the public to remember the context. “The continued loss of Black lives at the hands of police is devastating,” said Andrea Manzo, executive director of Building Healthy Communities Monterey County. As some of the same fights continue, like the role of policing in Black communities, organizers are also finding solidarity with other urgent civil rights causes, like protecting immigrants. Knowing the history (and learning from it) is helping local leaders keep the spirit of Black History Month going at 100. “Some of the same things we are still dealing with,” Green says. “Fighting against anti-Blackness and for visibility and vitality for Black communities is at an all-time high and extremely important. We want to make sure the legacy continues, until we can righteously sing the lyrics of ‘Free At Least.’” And when we do get there, all voices are welcome—because until all of us are free, none of us are truly free. Sara Rubin is the Weekly’s editor. Reach her at sara@montereycountynow.com. Rhyme of History The 100th Black History Month revisits many familiar themes. By Sara Rubin PERSONHOOD…First thing’s first: Squid is a cephalopod, not a person, so Squid is simply a bystander in this fight. But Squid is always curious about deliberations in the human realm of who qualifies as a person. That’s part of the argument the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District is making in its case before the State Water Quality Control Board urging the state to lift a cease-and-desist order on the Monterey Peninsula’s history of overpumping. The gist of the district’s argument is that thanks to a combination of conservation (less demand) and recycled water (more supply), the state should let the area out of water jail. California American Water is in the uncomfortable position of asking the state to keep the order in effect—unless and until the utility company’s desalination plant is built, that is. It’s more of the same debate that’s been happening for a long time, but Squid is amused by the latest backand-forth. Cal Am’s argument is that MPWMD is not actually “aggrieved,” but Squid thinks Cal Am missed the bigger point—MPWMD is surely aggrieved, but is quite unambiguously not a person. But no matter; the debate is less about personhood than whether there is sufficient water. As the arguments pile up, Squid is still waiting for a shoe to drop in this saga that has been going on since 1995— enough for 30 generations of squid. RINSE, REPEAT…Another February, another chance for Squid to give up on Squid’s new year’s resolutions after one month. Another year at the Monterey County Board of Supervisors means a rotation to a new chair (this year that’s Wendy Root Askew) and a deja vu battle for which supervisors get appointed to influential committee positions. Just like last year, that battle on Feb. 3 included which two supervisors would get voting positions on the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO). And in this rerun, Supervisor Luis Alejo again leaned on a claim of racism to log his opposition to Root Askew’s nominations (herself and Supervisor Kate Daniels). “This county is 60-percent Latino and there is no Latino representation whatsoever on LAFCO,” Alejo said. “That’s an injustice and we’ll keep raising that. In a diverse county like ours, we should make sure it represents the people.” Daniels was quick to point out there had been other opportunities for other entities (such as a group of the county’s 12 mayors) to appoint a Latino to LAFCO—but inconvenient political alliances got in the way. As the board voted 3-2 (again) to make the appointments, Root Askew said, “We can agree to disagree about the issues and then move onto the next item.” Except Squid expects to see this one in the reruns yet again. THE LOCAL SPIN SQUID FRY THE MISSION OF MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY IS TO INSPIRE INDEPENDENT THINKING AND CONSCIOUS ACTION, ETC. “Black joy is a part of our work.” SEND SQUID A TIP: squid@montereycountynow.com
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