MARCH 19-25, 2026 MONTEREYCOUNTYNOW.COM LOCAL & INDEPENDENT FARM TEAM 8 | VISTRA CLEANUP PICTURE 12 | SENIOR HOUSING IN TRANSITION 13 | SHORT BUT MIGHTY 38 FIRST PLACE GENERAL EXCELLENCE • 2025 CA JOURNALISM AWARDS • Deletions, denials and absurdly high fees are among some tactics used to obstruct the release of public records. The annual Foilies Awards recognize the worst in government transparency. p. 18 By the Electronic Frontier Foundation and MuckRock
2 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY MARCH 19-25, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com MARCH 19-25, 2026 • ISSUE #1964 • ESTABLISHED IN 1988 Michael Marsh (Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra) A peaceful scene while paddling on a still and windless Elkhorn Slough at sunrise. This view shows Fremont Peak in the distance (the tallest point on the horizon). MONTEREY COUNTY PHOTO OF THE WEEK Send Etc. submissions to etcphoto@montereycountynow.com; please include caption and camera info. On the cover: Public records belong to the public…except when government agencies and sometimes private companies put up a fight to keep them secret. The annual Foilies Awards recognize the worst examples of government transparency. Cover art: Shelby Criswell 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 MARCH 19-25, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 3 If you know Community Hospital, you know Montage Health. montagehealth.org The fact is, we’ve always been here. You’ve just known us by a different name. The people at Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula created Montage Health to deliver exceptional care to more people, by expanding our services beyond the hospital. Today, we’re urgent care centers, wellness centers, primary care doctors, health insurance plans, and a groundbreaking mental health program for youth. Still independent, nonprofit, locally owned, and accountable only to the community we serve.
4 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY MARCH 19-25, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com THE BUZZ FREE SPEECH Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr doesn’t like how the media is covering the U.S.-Israel war in Iran, so he’s threatening to cancel broadcasting permits of those he deems “fake news.” “Broadcasters that are running hoaxes and news distortions—also known as the fake news—have a chance now to correct course before their license renewals come up,” Carr wrote on X. Critics, though, say Carr’s threats have no teeth. The FCC has control over the airwaves for local TV stations such as ABC, yet cable news and streaming platforms are not licensed by the government agency. Any attempt by the federal government to revoke a station’s license would result in a First Amendment case, one that the FCC would likely lose. “The FCC can issue threats all day long, but it is powerless to carry them out,” said Anna Gomez, the only Democratic commissioner on the FCC. “Such threats violate the First Amendment and will go nowhere. Broadcasters should continue covering the news, fiercely and independently, without fear of government pressure.” Good: Pajaro is more prepared than ever for any disaster that may come its way. On March 13, North County Fire Protection District unveiled new high water rescue equipment at a celebratory event marking the renovation of the Pajaro Park soccer field and playground after the 2023 flood. The equipment includes a truck that is able to tread up to 50 inches of water and carry up to 16 people, according to Fire Chief Joel Mendoza. For the areas the truck can’t reach, the fire district now has a motorized boat to navigate tight areas. A skid steer, also added to the district’s repertoire, allows crews to clear out muck and load sandbags into trucks, among other duties. The equipment was purchased with the help from the $20 million in relief funds awarded by the state. In addition, Mendoza says 10 of the district’s 30 firefighters are now certified in swiftwater rescue. GREAT: Congratulations to Carmel Valley’s own Conall Jones, a documentary film producer who has claimed the highest honor in his field: an Oscar. Jones was nominated for the second time, alongside director Joshua Seftel, for best short documentary, and on March 15 clinched the Academy’s nod for All the Empty Rooms. The 34-minute film closely records the empty bedrooms of four children who were killed in school shootings. Jones joined Seftel onstage for the big moment, but his speaking time went to Gloria Cazares, mom to Jackie Cazares, who was murdered at age 9 at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas in 2022. “Since that day, her bedroom has been frozen in time,” Cazares said. “We believe that if the world could see their empty bedrooms, we’d see a different America.” Jones has maintained even an Oscar should not detract from the focus of this project: the grieving families. GOOD WEEK / GREAT WEEK THE WEEKLY TALLY That’s how many calls for service Monterey Police Department received in 2025. That number is 5,000 less than 2024. Overall department activity was down in 2025 compared to the previous year, although felony arrests increased from 236 to 390. Source: Monterey Police Department 2025 annual report QUOTE OF THE WEEK “We want to win the championship. That’s why I’m here.” -Sebastian Lletget, the U.S. national team and MLS star who signed with Monterey Bay FC (see story, montereycountynow.com/news). 40,328 MyMCB Mobile Banking Made Simple. Secure. Wherever You Go. Download MyMCB Mobile Today! With MyMCB Mobile, you can: • Check balances and transactions. • Deposit checks with your phone. • Transfer funds quickly. • Pay bills on the go. • Set custom account alerts. • Use secure biometric login. Disclosure: MyMCB Mobile requires Online Banking enrollment and a compatible mobile device. Certain features such as Mobile Check Deposit may be subject to eligibility, daily limits, or processing times. Message and data rates may apply. Some account restrictions may apply. [MCB. 2026.0311 montereycountybank.com 2020 INFORMATIONAL SESSIONS AND INTERVIEWS TO BE HELD AT 2:00 PM AT THESE LOCATIONS THE SUPERIOR COURT URGES YOU TO PARTICIPATE IN IMPROVING YOUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT! Greenfield Tuesday May 12 Monterey Wednesday May 13 www.monterey.courts.ca.gov/grandjury (831) 775-5400 Extension 3014 Salinas Thursday May 14 Monterey Courthouse Wednesday, May 6 at 2:00 pm Salinas Courthouse Thursday, May 7 at 2:00 pm King City Courthouse Friday, May 8 at 10:30 am www.monterey.courts.ca.gov/general-information/grand-jury (831) 775-5400 Extension 3014 The 2026–2027 Civil Grand Jury Needs You! 2026 INFORMATIONAL SESSION AND INTERVIEWS TO BE HELD AT THESE LOCATIONS
www.montereycountynow.com MARCH 19-25, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 5 $$ EXPECT YOUR SETTLEMENT $$ THE MONTEREY PENINSULA TAXPAYERS ASSOCIATION WON ITS LAWSUIT ON BEHALF OF RATEPAYERS. SCAN TO JOIN MAILING LIST IN 2018 THE VOTER APPROVED WATER SUPPLY CHARGE WAS DUE TO SUNSET. THE MONTEREY PENINSULA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT CONTINUED TO CHARGE THE FEE, APPROXIMATELY $3M PER YEAR TO RATEPAYERS. THE MONTEREY PENINSULA TAXPAYERS ASSOCIATION WON REPEATEDLY IN COURT TO AWARD YOU, THE RATEPAYERS, A SETTLEMENT. JOIN US TO KEEP OUR GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABLE. CONTACT: MONTEREYPENINSULATAXPAYERSASSN@GMAIL.COM WHEN GOVERNMENTS LOOK TO TAX THE PEOPLE INSTEAD OF GETTING THEIR FINANCES IN ORDER YOU CAN COUNT ON MPTA TO FIGHT FOR YOU.
6 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY MARCH 19-25, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com 831 Some races begin with jittery runners awaiting the sound of an official’s gun as their toes edge up against the starting line. The Dewey Backyard Ultra begins entirely differently. People mingle and chat in a driveway and front lawn, then line up (roughly) with a mailbox representing the starting line for a collective group countdown: 3, 2, 1. The runners set out from the cul-de-sac in front of Garrett De Witt’s Toro Park house, wrap around the neighborhood along Highway 68, and then turn onto Fort Ord National Monument for a scenic jaunt past a pond and along a lush stream bed. The course turns back at a flag, and runners return on a reverse-lollipop loop to De Witt’s (aka Dewey’s) mailbox, clocking in at exactly 4.167 miles. This number is not arbitrary: When repeated 24 times, as in the number of hours in a day, a runner will have completed 100 miles. (In 2025, one participant, Jenny Jacox, in the second annual Dewey Backyard Ultra did just that, beginning the loop every hour on the hour for 24 hours.) For the third annual, which began at 9am on Saturday, March 14, the rules of engagement remained the same as ever: You do not need to go 100 miles and you do not need to be fast. The last person still running is the winner, whatever their pace. (Diane Clifton claimed victory among women with 44 miles, and Frankie Mora was the winner with 58.3 miles, or 14 laps over 14 hours.) Bryan Banks of San Benancio showed up hoping to run a 50K—that’s 33.3 miles, or eight laps—in honor of turning 50 this year. He completed six laps and then quit, but afterwards says he’s feeling great about it: “I realized that’s the longest I’ve run in one day in 10 years. I’m happy with my 24 [miles]. It’s nothing to feel ashamed about.” There is no shame in this backyard race, and that is part of the point, according to De Witt and race cofounder Matt Ledoux, who works as a tennis pro at Chamisal fitness club. The friends and fellow-runners compete at a variety of levels—they did their first 100-miler in 2024, and have a 250-mile race in Arizona coming up—and across big terrain. But the Dewey is meant to be inclusive and fun and welcoming to everyone, even those who might complete just one lap (like this reporter) and people who want to push their mileage goals, but are not prepared to end up 50 miles out in the wilderness with a knee twinge. Lots of kids participate, some in sandals. De Witt ran three laps then took his son to a T-ball game, then returned later for a bonus three laps before joining in for food and camaraderie on the front lawn, checking in with continuing runners between laps. (Faster runners get a longer rest between laps as a digital clock keeps moving toward the hourly starting time.) “If felt like everyone could give everybody else a hug, because everyone was just happy to be there,” De Witt says. Ledoux adds: “That’s the energy we have been trying to hold onto. If you’re trying to win the lap every time, maybe this isn’t for you.” The race has grown in just three years from about 20 people to 80, through word of mouth. De Witt works as a firefighter for the Salinas Fire Department, and the event was a fundraiser for the union’s nonprofit, Salinas Firefighters Foundation, which launched in 2024 to raise money to provide scholarships to young people pursuing public safety careers. Ryan Macoubrie, president of the foundation, joined the Dewey with plans to run two laps. But back at the mailbox after lap two, snacking on a muffin with the clock counting down toward 11am for the start of lap three, Macoubrie says: “My chief is doing three, so I have to do three.” His girlfriend, Taylour Matz, chimes in: “I knew he was going to do that!” This kind of personal challenge is what De Witt and Ledoux hope runners bring to their unusual race—going a distance that feels like a push, even if it’s not 100 miles or a marathon. The event has also pushed its limits in just three years, gaining sponsors (like the Big Sur International Marathon and El Charrito, which provided burritos as part of a buffet lined up in De Witt’s garage). The next-door neighbor set up a bounce house on the front lawn. “The enjoyment for us is seeing people that really don’t even run have a good time,” De Witt says. On the Run Three years in, a backyard ultramarathon race has become a tradition for runners at all skill levels. By Sara Rubin “That’s the longest I’ve run in one day in 10 years.” TALES FROM THE AREA CODE KYLE VILLAVICENCIO / COPILOT GOOSE PHOTOGRAPHY Runners starting a lap in the Dewey Backyard Ultra on Saturday, March 14 (the start and finish line are the mailbox). Laps begin every hour on the hour for up to 24 hours. BEYOND THE HANOI HILTON: A conversation with former naval flight officer and vietnam pow larry fries Enjoy light breakfast, an update from Monterey Bay Defense Alliance Chairperson Fred Meurer, and a conversation with Guest Speaker Larry Friese followed by a Q&A WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15 • 7:30 - 9:00 AM MONTEREY CONFERENCE CENTER TICKETS: $45 REGISTER AT: MONTEREY.GOV/MBDAEVENTS
www.montereycountynow.com MARCH 19-25, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 7
8 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY MARCH 19-25, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com NEWS Beside the 100-yearold barn with freshly painted lettering that reads “Reservoir Farms,” two people stand next to a table with a tray of small cameras and wires, along with a photo of a head of lettuce blanketed in a range of neon colors. The colors depict the stress of the plant, nutrient deficiencies and its overall health, explains Ray Lok, founder of Agtom, a Hong Kong-based company that moved to Salinas earlier this month. His company is one of the 12 now at Reservoir Farms, an innovation center in Salinas aiming to bridge the gap between ag tech and local agricultural needs. “Our members have had a seat at the table from the very beginning to make sure this isn’t innovation for innovation’s sake, but rather innovation focused on solving the labor, cost and sustainability pressures,” said Walt Duflock of the Western Growers Association at the grand opening on March 16. Lok and the other startups will use the barn, owned by the Tamagni family, as a prototyping studio, as well as 24 acres of dedicated farmland for commercial testing leased by Tanimura & Antle. Most agricultural robotics companies need around $50 million to $100 million to reach commercialization, Duflock added, while Reservoir aims to cut that cost in half by saving roughly two years of development time, allowing startups to test immediately in real-world conditions. One company aims to use steam to solve soil disease challenges; another is creating smart valves and sensors in irrigation systems to track water usage in real time. While it offers promise, Norm Groot of the Monterey County Farm Bureau says, “The biggest challenge will always be: How are growers going to be able to afford it?” Innovation Station Reservoir Farms is officially open for business, with 12 ag tech companies setting up shop. By Katie Rodriguez Every day since a fire tore through the Casanova Plaza apartment complex in Monterey on Monday, March 9, sending six residents to the hospital and leading to the death of a 95-year-old woman, resident Brooke Falk has returned to the area to search for her lost 10-year-old cat, Sassy, who reportedly leapt from a third-story balcony during the fire. Falk recounts her experience from around 3:40am that morning, when she was awakened by the beeping of a smoke detector outside of her thirdfloor apartment and then a banging sound. “At the same time, my cat, who was sleeping on the bed, sat up very fast and her ears went flat and then she immediately went underneath the bed,” says Falk, who then got up and walked to the hallway. “The second I opened the door, there was a voice that said, ‘Give me your hand, Brooke. Give me your hand. The building is on fire.’” A billow of smoke rushed into her apartment and Falk was taken aback, but she held onto the hand of who she soon realized was her neighbor, Lino Chavez. “He is my guardian angel,” Falk says. “He saved my life.” In the hallway, as it filled with smoke, Falk remembered Sassy, hiding under the bed, and fled back to her room without Chavez. “I got on my hands and knees because I knew she had gone under the bed, but I could not reach her,” Falk says. Chavez pleaded with Falk to go. As smoke filled her apartment, Falk, barefoot and in her pajamas, realized she had to leave without Sassy. She found Chavez in the darkness and the two neighbors felt their way down the hallway, hand-in-hand, by staying close to the wall. They soon found the stairwell and escaped the burning building. Falk and Chavez were transported to the hospital along with others and treated for smoke inhalation. She was later released and checked into the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel where Falk and the other displaced residents were temporarily given lodging and food. After she settled into her room, Falk went back to Casanova Plaza to search for Sassy and found that her apartment was destroyed, the roof burned away. “I assumed Sassy was dead because she was trapped in there with no ventilation,” Falk says. But a neighbor witnessed the cat leap from the balcony and told Falk that she landed on her feet, and then collapsed. After a moment, Sassy ran away. The 84 surviving residents of Casanova Plaza are currently being housed in the Country Inn and Suites in Marina or staying with family, while the Housing Authority of Monterey County and the Monterey Fire Department continue to assess the building. (For the 74 in the hotel, HACM is covering the cost.) Monterey Fire Chief Patrick Moore says the cause of the fire is still unknown. “The immediate focus is on resident safety and determining when units may be safely reoccupied,” says Zulieka Boykin, executive director of the Housing Authority. “We expect to have more information later this week regarding when residents can return to the building and what additional steps may be needed. Longerterm decisions will depend on the outcome of inspections and any necessary repairs.” “I’ve been to the property every day, three times a day, looking for her, calling for her and I’ve yet to find her,” Brooke Falk says of her missing cat, Sassy. Searching for Sassy After a devastating fire in Monterey, a death and displacement haunt former residents. By Aric Sleeper Local agriculture industry representatives and elected officials attended the grand opening celebration of the new research hub on Monday, March 16. “He is my guardian angel. He saved my life.” DANIEL DREIFUSS DANIEL DREIFUSS
www.montereycountynow.com MARCH 19-25, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 9 Daily THE BIBLE TRUCK We Pray Montetey Presents We Pray Monterey Presents LET’S CONTINUE TO STAND WITH OUR YOUTH TO PUSH TOWARDS A HEALTHIER FUTURE. THE NUMBER OF HIGH SCHOOLERS WHO VAPE HAS DECREASED BY 15% FROM 2019 TO 2025! WWW.SUNSTREETCENTERS.ORG PREVENTION•EDUCATION TREATMENT•RECOVERY
10 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY MARCH 19-25, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com If you are a property owner in California, you are responsible for paying property taxes. That means you’ve probably gotten some mail from the Monterey County Treasurer-Tax Collector’s Office requesting that you pay up. In the case of 23 owners of 36 different parcels in Monterey County, it also meant that their long-delinquent payments landed them on a list of properties that will go up for auction online starting at 8am on Saturday, March 21, with a closing time of 1pm Wednesday, March 23. Posted under the header “Special Opportunity” on bid4assets.com, the updated auction portal lists 15 parcels because some property owners have “redeemed” their delinquency, generally by paying what they owe. Such is the case with Calvary Church in Prunedale, which occupies two parcels spanning both sides of Prunedale North Road connected by a pedestrian bridge. The parcels, owned by Calvary Community Church of Salinas Inc. and valued at $2.2 million combined, had been publicly posted for starting bids of $17,300 and $56,850. Church officials did not respond to requests for an interview, but a staff member contacted onsite says they simply got their paperwork in order. (Property owners have a deadline of 5pm Friday, March 20 to redeem the properties and be de-listed. For prospective buyers, a March 17 deadline to register to bid has passed.) “When it comes to the auction process, it is our last resort after many mailings, certified mailings and personal contacts at times, after a long process, generally five years,” says County Treasurer-Tax Collector Jake Stroud. “Our goal is to always help property owners and work with them to make their payments and resolve any potential delinquency and avoid an auction.” These auctions generally take place about every two years, selling off properties that are at least five years delinquent on taxes. The last one took place on May 29, 2024. As of press time, properties still listed for the March 20-21 auction include a 4,614-square-foot lot adjacent to Highway 1 in Sand City with a minimum bid of $2,750 (and assessed value of $3,155) and a 6-acre lot along Highway 156 in Castroville with a minimum bid of $18,550 and an assessed value of $128,110. The minimum bid amounts are determined by the Tax Collector based on factors such as how much is owed plus any penalties. Properties that do not sell will be reposted May 23-27. For months, leaders of Salinas Union High School District have discussed entering into an agreement with Verizon Innovative Learning Schools, in which VILS would provide tablets or Chromebooks to middle school students and staff. The negotiations came to a halt after Verizon paused the deal. “This news is deeply disappointing to a district with 85 to 90 percent of students in poverty,” Superintendent Zandra Jo Galván said right after the board passed a resolution on Thursday, March 12, approving a fouryear agreement with VILS. The initiative was set to replace more than 5,000 student Chromebooks, which district officials estimated would cost between $350 and $600 each (and included a monthly 30-gigabyte data plan), valued at up to $3 million. The proposal also included $696,000 worth of tech support and staffing from VILS, all at no cost to the district. “The loss of this level of external support creates a gap in the district’s ability to sustain and expand technology access at the level our students need,” Galván adds. VILS is a nationwide initiative Verizon funds and implements with partner Digital Promise, a nonprofit focused on speeding up educational innovation. VILS provides devices, internet access, support and more to students and teachers at no charge to schools. Teachers and parents expressed opposition to the SUHSD board about the initiative, questioning the level of parental control and Verizon’s privacy policies. “The partnership was paused by Verizon after it became clear that support from our labor partners had not been reached during the review process,” Galván says, noting many policies, including privacy and parental control, are similar to existing ones in SUHSD. “We determined it was not the right time to move forward with the partnership,” Digital Promise representatives said in a statement, noting they are open to working with the district on future projects. Verizon representatives did not respond to questions from the Weekly. Low Bidder County Tax Collector lists delinquent properties for biennial auction. By Sara Rubin NEWS LEADERS OF TOMORROW Teens ages 13-18 are encouraged to attend the Salinas See Our Youth Summit to hear from community leaders. Topics include job preparedness and life after high school. 8:30am-2pm Saturday, March 21. Sherwood Hall, 940 N. Main St., Salinas. Free; RSVP in advance. (831) 758-7166, soyouth.eventbrite.com. DIVE INTO DOWNTOWN Help shape the future of Marina’s downtown at an interactive workshop. Learn about plans to implement the Downtown Vitalization Specific Plan and share priorities for future amenities. 5-8pm Tuesday, March 24. Marina library, 190 Seaside Circle, Marina. Free. cityofmarina.org/downtownvitalization. ROAD DIET A project to reduce the number of lanes on Broadway Avenue from Fremont to General Jim Moore boulevards in Seaside and add pedestrian and bicyclist improvements begins in the fall. Learn more about the project at an upcoming event. 6-9pm Tuesday, March 24. Seaside Fire Station, 1635 Broadway Ave., Seaside. Free. (831) 899-6835, ci.seaside.ca.us. PUBLIC PROCESS Seaside Planning Commission meets to consider a permit for a residential care facility and a plan for a triplex. Public comment is accepted. 6pm Wednesday, March 25. Seaside City Council Chambers, 440 Harcourt Ave., Seaside. Free. (831) 899-6707, ci.seaside.ca.us. STAY CALM Salinas’ Public Works Department gives an update on the city’s traffic calming program. The meeting will be presented in Spanish with English translation. 6-7pm Wednesday, March 25. Salinas City Hall, Valley Conference Room, 200 Lincoln Ave., Salinas. Free. (831) 7587241, salinas.gov. LOCAL UPDATE Monterey County Supervisor Glenn Church hosts a town hall meeting for the communities of Creekbridge, Santa Rita and Boronda. Residents are encouraged to ask questions to Church, along with guests from the County of Monterey. 5:30-7pm Thursday, March 26. Everett Alvarez High School, 1900 Independence Blvd., Salinas. Free. (831) 755-5022, glennchurch.com. JUSTICE FOR ALL The draft environmental justice element aims to improve environmental health in unincorporated Monterey County. Public feedback is accepted. Review period runs through May 11. Free. (831) 783-7508, countyofmonterey.gov/generalplanupdates. Off Screen Verizon backs out from a deal to give millions of dollars’ worth of devices to Salinas Union. By Celia Jiménez Calvary Church parcels on both sides of Prunedale North Road were listed for auction until church officials got current with paperwork and the parcels were de-listed. E-MAIL: publiccitizen@montereycountynow.com PUBLIC CITIZEN “When it comes to the auction process, it is our last resort.” SARA RUBIN
www.montereycountynow.com MARCH 19-25, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 11 559 PACIFIC STREET MONTEREY, CA 93940 MONTEREYART.ORG SATURDAY, APRIL 11TH 11 AM–4 PM SAVE THE DATE FOR MONTEREY MUSEUM OF ART’S 4TH ANNUAL Free and open to all, this vibrant arts festival transforms downtown Monterey into a bustling hub of art and creativity. Insured by NCUA 1The dividend rate and Annual Percentage Yield (APY) are accurate as of 03/03/2026. There is no minimum balance required to earn the stated APY. The minimum opening deposit for the 7-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-GOLDEN 1 (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. 0226-MTW 3.60% APY1 for 7 months Visit a branch, call 1-877-465-3361 or scan to learn more Limited time offer Earn more with a Term Savings Certificate
12 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY MARCH 19-25, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com The location of the Vistra battery plant fire poses obvious risks. The battery energy storage system (BESS) facility at Moss Landing, which went ablaze on Jan. 16, 2025, is adjacent to residential areas, businesses, agricultural lands and protected wildlife areas, most notably the Elkhorn Slough. Yet, if there is a silver lining to this unprecedented event, it is that the fire broke out next to Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, a world-renowned research station that’s been collecting continuous data on local environmental conditions for years. In the nearly year-and-a-half since the incident, reports detailing the possible fallout of airborne heavy metals—and what that means for residents and the environment—have been a source of tension and confusion. At a County Board of Supervisors meeting on March 17, County officials reported that about two-thirds of the intact modules have been de-energized and transported offsite for recycling, and Moss 100, the smaller indoor battery facility next door, will not be going back online. Dozens of concerned residents voiced mostly frustration. Their comments followed presentations from county officials, state toxicologists, local researchers and citizen scientists outlining their findings. “The issue here is that it looks like it’s clean, but [the Department of Toxic Substances Control] is only talking about a narrow area, and those of us who were polluted are suffering,” said Ed Mitchell, presenting on behalf of the group Never Again Moss Landing. The reports painted a patchy picture at best. State toxicologists Weiying Jiang and Michael Garland with DTSC presented preliminary findings on human health and ecological risks. They reported that sampling data showed no significant health risks to off-site residents and no ecological risk, though both conclusions remain under review. However, researchers with EMBER—the Estuary Monitoring of Battery Emissions and Residues group— reported evidence of metal fallout across areas of Elkhorn Slough. They found that these particles were rapidly deposited across the marsh and then washed away by rain and tidal action. “This is a very clear smoking gun of battery metal deposition on our wetlands,” said Kerstin Wasson, research coordinator at Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve. “It was redistributed downstream in the estuarine system, but it did not disappear.” Supervisor Kate Daniels and Wasson later clarified that differing results do not necessarily mean the findings are contradictory or incorrect. “We just need to compile them,” Wasson said. “Science uses it all, and the county should synthesize the findings.” Daniels added that the EMBER findings—and the need for more data— could present an opportunity for collaboration between local researchers and Vistra. “Make the polluter pay,” Daniels said. “I’d like to see if Vistra would fund this ongoing effort. It would be very beneficial to have this ongoing research, and the community would be more trusting if it came from well-renowned entities here in Monterey County.” Health Plan A patchy picture of contamination from the Vistra battery plant fire emerges. By Katie Rodriguez Prunedale resident Ed Mitchell argued that state and federal agencies understood the risks, and sampled in ways that diluted contamination. “This stuff is affecting people,” he said on March 17. NEWS “This is a very clear smoking gun.” KATIE RODRIGUEZ ’25 ♦ 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
www.montereycountynow.com MARCH 19-25, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 13 It was announced almost a year ago that the Housing Authority of the County of Monterey (HACM) would be taking over Pacific Meadows, a 200-unit, low-income senior apartment complex in Carmel Valley, from previous building owner HumanGood, one of the largest nonprofit senior housing providers in the country. After months of delay, the transfer was supposed to be complete on Feb. 20—or so residents thought. HumanGood workers packed up computers and other items and left without a word to HACM sometime that week. According to residents, there was no one at the front desk to provide assistance and no one to collect trash from buildings for days. For a time trash began piling up. A maintenance worker who lives on property, previously an employee of HumanGood, began taking out the trash even though he wasn’t getting paid. “I couldn’t believe it. Management just walked away,” says Mark Wilbur, a volunteer who has been delivering meals to Pacific Meadows for Meals on Wheels of the Monterey Peninsula for a couple of years. “I thought residents were overreacting, but they weren’t.” By Feb. 25, word reached HACM officials, who hired the maintenance worker and began the process of taking over, but residents say they still felt in the dark. Some contacted Monterey County Supervisor Kate Daniels asking for help. On March 12, Daniels and HACM Executive Director/CEO Zulieka Boykin met with residents to explain what was happening and answer questions. “We went in to ensure the best transition possible,” Daniels says. “The Housing Authority always owned the land, but it didn’t own the building and didn’t manage the property. “I have optimism now that we have an opportunity to make things better,” Daniels adds. Although HACM is separate from the County, supervisors appoint HACM’s board and have some input. “I as a supervisor have more access to work with the Housing Authority than with HumanGood,” Daniels says. (The buildings were previously owned by the American Baptist Homes of the West but the land was owned by HACM. ABHOW merged with two other church senior housing groups in 2016, becoming HumanGood. Residents say problems began once HumanGood management took over and cuts were made to services and maintenance.) Originally, HACM was supposed to take over last May, but issues at the federal level with the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation delayed the transfer, Boykin says. Currently HACM officials are transferring Pacific Meadows’ data, which could take a couple more weeks. A website allowing residents to pay online is being set up but for now, everything is being done on paper. An onsite manager and second offsite manager will also be hired, along with another maintenance worker. Skip Out A rocky hand-off between owners leaves senior apartment residents in a lurch. By Pam Marino Residents at Pacific Meadows say there was a lack of cleaning and maintenance by former owner HumanGood. Stained carpets, like the one above, shown in 2023, continue to be an issue. NEWS “Management just walked away.” DANIEL DREIFUSS Camp Quien Sabe Overnight Camp >> Whispering Pines Day Camp >> Tiny Tots Summer Camp >> Summer Fun Playground Program >> Sports Camps >> Specialty Camps >> LEGO® Camps >> Gymnastics Programs >> And so much more! SUMMER REGISTRATION NOW OPEN! MONTEREY.GOV/REC WHERE SUMMER BUILDS MORE THAN MEMORIES. Scan here for more info + online registration. Whispering Pines Day Camp and Camp Quien Sabe Overnight Camp ADVENTURE good vibes good vibes v Camp Counselors at Summer Programs LEADERSHIP POSITIVITY CONFIDENCE THE CITY OF MONTEREY friendship friendship f h COMMUNITY
14 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY MARCH 19-25, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com FARM WORK Sorry, but it’s not just farmworkers and their families. It’s the majority of us (“New report examines farmworker vulnerability in Monterey County amid climate, immigration and tech changes,” posted March 12). Aaron McDougal | via social media While the UCSC study on farmworker livelihoods in Monterey County includes some recommendations which ag has already been advancing, it relies on self-reported surveys and anecdotal interviews which makes the report prone to bias. For example, it suggests wages can fall below California’s $16.90/hour minimum wage, which would be illegal and is contradicted by broader, national surveys. USDA statistics show California field workers average $18.58 to $18.70 per hour. In the Salinas Valley, workers can earn over $30/ hour during peak harvest seasons. The study ignores California’s stringent farm labor protections, which have become a national model, and that farming costs have risen 44 to 64 percent in recent years due to increasing regulatory compliance costs. As price-takers in a competitive global market, farmers cannot pass these increasing costs on. Farmers prioritize a safe and equitable work environment for their employees. They value their workers and often exceed compliance standards to protect them. Housing costs, interest rates, inflation, tax levels, energy and gasoline costs affect all employees in our region, not just agricultural workers. The report calls for practical, equity-based solutions and longterm regional prosperity. We agree. However, we need accurate analysis and collaborative efforts on shared issues—not industry scapegoating. Chris Valadez | Salinas Note: Valadez is president of the Grower-Shipper Association of Central California. IN PARK They could probably charge more (“Carmel considers how to corral the Car Week chaos with a paid parking plan,” March 12-18). I like being able to go places without having to be stuck in traffic for two hours. Pedro Valencia-Gallardo | San Jose This is ridiculous. Was an RFP put out for this project?  CJ Howard | via social media What about people who have to work there and park downtown? Kelly Lynn Clark | via social media It’s always so difficult working in Carmel during this time. I hope this doesn’t make it worse to find parking. Catherine Ogas | via social media Wow. I never go there any other time of the year. I’m not made of money. This would 100-percent stop me from going downtown and ever visiting any stores. I like walking around looking at cars and shops and eating. You charge us to park, you can forget us supporting businesses. Isack Mickens | Sacramento OFF THE DOCK I love Moss Landing (“Freediving group finds a home in Moss Landing, where shipbuilders and conservationists work together,” March 12-18). However, any mention of this unique town needs to say, again and again: The lithium-ion battery facility no one knew was there and its explosion and fire last year left a 50-mile radius of heavy metals—nickel, cobalt and more. Reports by the EPA initially said contamination wasn’t bad but they only tested the surface soil, a totally inadequate method (“Moss Landing researchers release findings on heavy metals from battery fire,” Dec. 4-10). In spite of this, I will always support the town and any business here. To me it is what Monterey was 40 years ago—buying fish right off the boat, etc. Denise Kay | Seaside CAMP GROUNDED Profit above all else (“LUAC backs reconfiguration of two Big Sur campgrounds,” March 12-18). Cheryl “Rebelle” Robinson | Prunedale So much for “Keep Big Sur Wild.” Jen Randall | via social media LIVING HISTORY This was a great historical story about this region. Thanks to Pam Marino for writing it! (“Juan Bautista de Anza’s expedition 250 years ago was historic. Commemorating it today is complicated,” March 12-18.) Rosalind Burgundy | Monterey Great article. James Ryan | Monterey TRAVEL PLANS Off Path Enterprises, the company that owns Travel Off Path, also owns sites called Cancun Sun, Cabo Sun and Bali Sun. They have news on resorts in Baja and, of course Bali, Indonesia (“Squid Fry: Travel Ban,” March 5-11). In selecting sites to focus whole websites on, “They prioritize areas where they can build and sustain supporting online social communities to maintain reader interaction.” Interesting to speculate why they wouldn’t want to build us a social community, but from what Squid reports, if they’ve ever been here they didn’t stick around long enough to get acquainted. Arnold Seibel | Pacific Grove BREATHE DEEP Congratulations Del Rey Oaks and Pacific Grove on their A report card from the American Lung Association (“Two local cities, DRO and P.G., get an A grade for tobacco control,” posted March 17). If these two cities can do this, why can’t your city also do this? Send your elected officials a picture of your city’s report card. Ask them to improve your city’s grade. We all have a right to breathe clean air. Also, maybe someday soon we will ban the sale of cigarette filters to help protect the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Dale Hillard | Salinas Note: Hillard is a past chair of the Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Monterey County. YOUNG LEADER Cindy is the best! (“For Cindy AguilarCastañeda, community involvement started early and now she supports a younger generation,” March 12-18.) Paul Richmond | Monterey 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 MARCH 19-25, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 15 Seth Pollack was very much alive and well on the morning of Friday, Dec. 5, when he set out for his usual morning bike ride from his home in Monterey through Pebble Beach. It was a clear, sunny day. He wore a helmet, like he always did. He was riding down 17-Mile Drive in the right-hand lane, crossing the intersection with Crespi Lane at 9:15am. An SUV was heading the opposite direction on 17-Mile Drive and making a left turn onto Crespi, across Pollack’s path. If the driver, Dana Rene Lauchlan, had seen the biker, she would have waited a minute and everyone would have gone about their day and their life. But Lauchlan told CHP officers that with the sun in her eyes she did not notice him and made her left turn directly in his path. She felt the impact, she said, without even realizing what had happened, and she did not know what or whom she had struck. Pollack had been launched into the air over her windshield, crashed through the sunroof and landed in the backseat where he died within minutes from blunt force injuries that fractured his spine, left femur, a right rib and more. The details of his injuries and the crash that killed him are spelled out in the Monterey County Coroner’s report and in the CHP’s final report, completed on Feb. 19 by Officer Ryan Moore. Moore recommended the District Attorney charge Lauchlan with misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter, and on March 6, the DA did just that, sending her a citation. She is scheduled to be arraigned on April 8; if convicted, the maximum sentence for this crime is one year in prison and one year on probation. The documents that reveal this order of events, what happened and how, are standard-issue in the criminal justice system, devoid of any emotion. They are all pieces of a process, with nameless figures (Vehicle #1 and Vehicle #2) although of course they underpin the intensely emotional reality of grief for families, individuals and for a community. Pollack, 66, retired in 2022 from a 25-year career at CSU Monterey Bay. He was the first faculty director hired at CSUMB’s Service Learning Institute, bringing students into the community to volunteer and learn through direct action assisting service organizations. As he said shortly before he died: “I teach people how to be a mensch in the world.” Lauchlan declined to be interviewed for this story, but undoubtedly she is grieving too. Not only must she endure a fatal mistake she made, but her husband of 38 years, Michael James Lauchlan, died at 63 from cancer at their home in Pebble Beach on Sept. 26, just two-anda-half months before the crash, according to an obituary. Any of us who drive a car must admit we have done stupid or careless things, lost our focus for a minute or turned blindly into the sun and hoped for the best. Her error will haunt everyone involved forever. This is true of every collision when a driver kills someone, an unrelenting reminder that decisions we casually make every day can result in life or death. On Monday, March 16 the surviving family members—two sons and three daughters—of Yuriana Lopez Reyes sued the driver who killed her, at age 42, while she was walking across the street in Salinas on Nov. 5, 2024. The next day, March 17, Pollack’s widow, Naomi Pollack, filed suit against Lauchlan for wrongful death and negligence. In a statement, the Pollack family writes, “Seth Pollack spent his life teaching people how to see clearly—to look past easy narratives, sit with complexity, and do the hard work of understanding. It is a painful irony that in the days after his death, the story of how he died became one of those easy, inaccurate narratives.” They are referring to a CHP statement immediately following the crash that Pollack was on the wrong side of the street, later determined to be unfounded. CHP spokesperson Jaskaran Bhaurla says this kind of discrepancy between a first impression and a final investigation is normal. “There’s always follow-up that needs to be done,” he says. “That’s why we say, ‘It’s an ongoing investigation…we are going to investigate it to its fullest,’ which is what the officer did.” The story may be corrected—and of course, Lauchlan will have her day in court to tell a different version of events—but the loss cannot and never will be corrected. Sara Rubin is the Weekly’s editor. Reach her at sara@montereycountynow.com. Wheels of Justice Criminal charges and a lawsuit seek justice for a slain bicyclist’s family. By Sara Rubin DEEP POCKETS…It’s that time of year when Squid’s sea-snail mailbox starts filling up again, thanks to the political mailers. In Squid’s lair, your likelihood of being elected has more to do with your place on the food chain than how many sand dollars you keep on hand. In the human world, it seems to be quite closely connected to cold, hard currency, hence fundraising begins in earnest well before campaign season. In some cases, like that of Congressional District 19, represented since 2016 by Jimmy Panetta, the war chest is so full that nobody has raised enough to offer a remotely serious challenge. There is fellow Democrat Hannah James and Independent Ana Luz Acevedo-Cabrera, who so far report zero dollars. As of Dec. 31, Republican candidate Peter Coe Verbica had $13,481 on hand and Green Party candidate Sean Dougherty $3,339. These amounts are the equivalent of little sand crumbs left behind from a broken sand dollar compared to Panetta’s $4,626,288 in the bank. (Compare that to neighboring District 18, represented by Zoe Lofgren: She reported $716,844 on hand, also a lot for her district with only Republican Shane Lewis reporting any dollars in the bank at…$16. Barely enough to buy a sandwich these days.) There are lots of small donors who gave amounts to Panetta like $25, and there are so many PACs—political action committees for Dunkin’ Brands, Gilead Sciences, the National Roofing Contractors Association, Boeing, Blackrock, the American Soybean Association and many more—that donated. A bunch of PACs also gave to Lofgren, with a notable exception. AIPAC, or the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, gave nothing to Lofgren last year, but a whopping $96,000 to Panetta, accounting for 15 percent of his 2025 fundraising total. Meanwhile on the Monterey County Board of Supervisors, there’s also some PAC donor action (although humans and small-time local companies are better represented). The PAC for Santa Clara County Employee Management Association gave to two sitting supervisors, Glenn Church and Chris Lopez—weird, since they’re in a different county. Squid was even more intrigued to see supervisors donating to each other, throwing some financial muscle behind their friends and allies on the board. Luis Alejo gave $5,500 from his 2028 campaign fund to Lopez, and Kate Daniels gave $100 to Lopez, who is unopposed. Alejo’s 2028 committee also gave $1,000 to Ramon Gomez—technically to Gomez’s reelection campaign for North County Fire Protection District board, formed before he decided to run against Church instead. They say that politics is who you know, but of course it’s also if who you know has cash on hand. Squid will continue watching to see who’s dipping into whose piggy banks. THE LOCAL SPIN SQUID FRY THE MISSION OF MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY IS TO INSPIRE INDEPENDENT THINKING AND CONSCIOUS ACTION, ETC. “I teach people how to be a mensch.” SEND SQUID A TIP: squid@montereycountynow.com
16 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY MARCH 19-25, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com Disinfo Wars ‘AI disinformation’ creates a virtual battlefront while real war rages in the Middle East. By The Arab Weekly FORUM President Donald Trump has accused Iran of using artificial intelligence as a “disinformation weapon” to misrepresent its wartime successes. “AI can be very dangerous, we have to be very careful with it,” Trump said on March 15, shortly after he posted on Truth Social accusing Western media outlets without evidence of “close coordination” with Iran to spread AI-generated “fake news.” The comments come amid renewed tensions between the Federal Communications Commission and broadcasters after Trump took aim at media coverage of the U.S. and Israel’s war with Iran (see “Free Speech,” p. 4). Meanwhile, AI-created videos circulating on X depict American soldiers captured by Iran, an Israeli city in ruins and U.S. embassies ablaze, a surge of lifelike deepfakes despite a policy crackdown to curb wartime disinformation. The Middle East war has unleashed an avalanche of AI-generated visuals, dwarfing anything seen in previous conflicts. In a bid to protect “authentic information” during conflicts, X announced it would suspend creators from its revenue-sharing program for 90 days if they post AI-generated war videos without disclosing they were artificially made. Subsequent violations will result in permanent suspension. The new policy is a notable pivot for a platform heavily criticized for becoming a haven of disinformation since Elon Musk completed his $44 billion acquisition of the site in 2022. But disinformation researchers remain skeptical. “The feeds I monitor are still flooded with AI-generated content about the war,” Joe Bodnar of the Institute for Strategic Dialogue says. “It doesn’t seem like creators have been dissuaded from pushing misleading AI-generated images and videos about the conflict.” Fact-checkers have identified a stream of AI fakes about the war, many from accounts with blue checkmarks that can be purchased. The flood of AI-fabricated visuals, mixed with authentic imagery from the Middle East, continues to grow faster than professional fact-checkers can debunk them. And Grok, X’s own AI chatbot, appeared to make the problem worse, wrongly telling users seeking fact-checks that numerous AI visuals from the war were real. Last month, a report from the Tech Transparency Project said X appeared to be profiting from more than two dozen premium accounts belonging to Iranian government officials and state-controlled news outlets pushing propaganda, potentially in violation of U.S. sanctions. (X subsequently removed blue checkmarks for some of them.) Even if X’s demonetization policy were strictly enforced, a vast number of users peddling AI content are not part of the revenue-sharing program. Those users are still subject to being fact-checked through Community Notes but last year, a study by the Digital Democracy Institute of the Americas found that more than 90 percent of X’s Community Notes are never published. This story was originally published in The Arab Weekly. OPINION The war has unleashed an avalanche of AI-generated visuals.
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