10 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY MARCH 26-APRIL 1, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com NEWS As the partial U.S. government shutdown continues, those deemed essential workers, including Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers at the Monterey Regional Airport and across the country, are feeling the effects of nearly six weeks without pay. To help TSA officers working at Monterey Regional Airport, Executive Director Chris Morello says the Airport Operations Department has installed a gift card drop-off box at the airport for public donations. “TSA has been here at MRY working every day since the partial shutdown began,” Morello says. “We join all airports across the country and urge Congress and the Administration to quickly restore funding and ensure back pay to affected personnel at [the U.S. Department of Homeland Security].” Morello says the airport has not experienced any significant delays so far, unlike many other airports in the country. The Trump Administration deployed Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers to more than a dozen airports on March 23, including San Francisco International Airport, which led to the detention of two people. To help motivate U.S. Congress members to work toward an end to the shutdown, Delta Airlines announced that it has suspended specialty services to members of Congress flying Delta. And in an open letter sent on March 15, CEOs from nine airlines urged Congress to pay its essential workers. “TSA officers just received $0 paychecks,” the letter reads. “That is simply unacceptable. It’s difficult, if not impossible, to put food on the table, put gas in the car and pay rent when you are not getting paid.” TSA officers at MRY declined to comment. In Limbo TSA workers at Monterey Regional Airport continue to work without pay during shutdown. By Aric Sleeper The City of Marina is evicting the Marina Equestrian Center’s concessionaire, citing multiple violations of a 2022 agreement. Woodside-based Chaparral Country Corporation was awarded the concessionaire contract after the city put out a call for proposals in 2020. That was after the volunteer group that had run the center on Fifth Avenue for more than 25 years faced concerns about its ability to safely manage the property. Since Chaparral Country Corporation took over, some have cited the company’s spotty track record at its other horse facilities in the state, and raised concerns about its Marina operations. In the past couple of years, however, Doug Hatran and a business partner have taken over operations, spinning off into a new company, Chaparral Ranch Marina. Visitors to the equestrian center spoke up during a council meeting on March 5 to say things have improved since Hatran took over. Yet, City Manager Layne Long told the council that city officials found violations with the agreement in 2025 and issued notices to Chaparral Country Corporation. (The Weekly has requested copies of the notices under public records law and is awaiting a response.) According to a city staff report, those violations included “failure to maintain the property in good condition, failure to comply with applicable laws, lapse in required insurance coverage, unauthorized assignment of the agreement, and failure to submit required revenue reports and payments.” Hatran served as a silent partner with Chaparral Country Corporation before starting his own company and operating the facility. He says he’s been working to uphold the agreement, but has faced pushback from the city in some instances, such as repairing barns and plumbing without waiting for a bidding process (“My horses need water,” he says). Chaparral Country Corporation, along with the City of Marina and Hatran, are named as defendants in a lawsuit filed in February by two former employees in Monterey County Superior Court, alleging workplace discrimination and unlawful termination when they reported animal welfare concerns. Hatran dismisses the claims, saying the employees were fired for their job performance, and he views the suit as retaliation. “They were not in the right place,” he says. The 27 acres of land were deeded to Marina in 1998 by the National Park Service with the caveat that the property only be used for recreational purposes or as a public park. City Council has asked staff to draft language for a Request for Proposals for a new concessionaire. The RFP could direct applications to come up with a plan that operates an equestrian center in addition to other recreational uses on the rest of the property, such as camping. Hatran says the city has encouraged him to apply to the RFP, but he doesn’t plan on it. He’s currently looking for land in unincorporated Monterey County to continue operations he provided in Marina, such as free riding lessons for children and other family-friendly activities. “I don’t see the purpose of continuing if they are going to add elements to this park that might be a liability to having horses and children together in one place,” he says. Marina Equestrian Center’s manager is looking for a property to house Chaparral Ranch’s activities, as he is being evicted from the Fifth Avenue space (above). Out to Pasture Marina evicts equestrian center operator as it ponders expanded uses of the property. By Erik Chalhoub About 60 U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers work at Monterey Regional Airport. They are not being paid due to a partial federal government shutdown. “I don’t see the purpose of continuing.” DANIEL DREIFUSS DANIEL DREIFUSS
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