APRIL 23-29, 2026 MONTEREYCOUNTYNOW.COM LOCAL & INDEPENDENT HAPPY TRAILS 14 | CAN CITIZEN SCIENTISTS SAVE THE OAK TREES? 15 | FLOWER POWER 34 | LONG RUN 38 FIRST PLACE GENERAL EXCELLENCE • 2025 CA JOURNALISM AWARDS • A series of factors are squeezing local school budgets, leading to layoffs. p. 20 By Celia Jiménez MATH PROBLEM
2 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY APRIL 23-29, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com Volunteers have always been an integral part of the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Before we opened in 1984, over 350 volunteers were already on board! Divers kept exhibit windows sparkling, while our volunteer guides studied up to welcome more than two million guests that first year. Since then, over ten thousand passionate people have collectively given over five million hours of their time and talent in service of our mission. From assisting in the rescue and release of stranded sea otters to inspiring students to become ocean leaders— and in countless other roles—our volunteers have made the Aquarium a place of wonder for over 40 years. We wouldn’t be here today without our dedicated community of volunteers, and we’re forever grateful. Thank you, volunteers, for your continued support of our mission: to inspire conservation of the ocean! Thank you, volunteers
www.montereycountynow.com APRIL 23-29, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 3 For generations, our volunteers have given their time and hearts to support patients, visitors, and staff. We are proud and grateful to celebrate the people whose service has shaped our history and continues to strengthen our future. Volunteer with Montage Health Foundation Whether you’re a retiree looking to give back, a teen exploring a future in healthcare, or someone who just loves helping others, there’s a place for you in Montage Health Foundation’s volunteer family. To become a volunteer, visit montagehealth.org/volunteer. Thank you, volunteers
4 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY APRIL 23-29, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com APRIL 23-29, 2026 • ISSUE #1969 • ESTABLISHED IN 1988 Gil Lucero (iPhone 14 Pro) Swarmer flying ants on this blue fiesta flower are part of a “nuptial flight” to mate and establish new colonies, as seen at Garland Ranch Regional Park in Carmel Valley. MONTEREY COUNTY PHOTO OF THE WEEK Send Etc. submissions to etcphoto@montereycountynow.com; please include caption and camera info. On the cover: Faced with a difficult budget scenario, Washington Union School District is opting to shrink its student body and transition to a property tax-funded model, which will make it Monterey County’s third district to operate that way. It’s an extreme change for the school district, but many others are looking at school closures and/or layoffs as they confront budget deficits. 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 APRIL 23-29, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 5 Our incredible volunteers at Salinas Valley Health make a difference every day in the lives of our patients, staff and community. To them, we express our heartfelt gratitude. FOR GIVING YOUR TIME. FOR SHARING YOUR TALENTS. FOR YOUR COMPASSION AND COMMITMENT. Learn how you can get involved by scanning the QR code or by calling 831-755-0772. Mended Hearts Volunteers Marilyn and Al Stream Telecare Volunteer Veronica Polovneff Pet Therapy Volunteer Mendy Amaral with Lolli NATIONAL VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION WEEK | APRIL 19-25, 2026
6 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY APRIL 23-29, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com THE BUZZ FREE SPEECH FBI director Kash Patel filed a lawsuit against The Atlantic and reporter Sarah Fitzpatrick on Monday, April 20, alleging that the publication’s article about Patel’s supposed drinking on the job was written with “actual malice.” According to the suit, the article asserts falsely that Patel is a “habitual drunk, unable to perform duties of his office [and] is a threat to public safety.” Patel is seeking $250 million in damages. An Atlantic spokesperson told CNN that the suit was “meritless,” while Fitzpatrick wrote that she interviewed more than two dozen people about Patel for the article. “I stand by every word of this reporting. We have excellent attorneys,” she told MS NOW. Adam Steinbaugh, a First Amendment attorney, wrote on social media that while proving malice won’t be a “lay-up” as Patel states, “It will, however, accomplish the primary goal: making media outlets weighing a story think about the cost for attorneys to get a meritless lawsuit tossed.” Good: Goats are good for grazing plants down to the stubble, and that is good for fire prevention. That means the introduction of 400 goats at Palo Corona Regional Park on April 16 is good news— for the goats, and for the re-wilding process of the former Rancho Cañada golf course. The herd is grazing on 8.5 acres around what used to be the 18th hole and will continue eating (working, that is) for five more weeks removing unwanted plants and therefore contributing to productive revegetation of what will be a natural grassland populated by bunch grasses and oak trees, far from the manicured golf course it once was. “It’s a way to get vegetation management done,” says Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District General Manager Eric Morgan. It’s also a nice bonus near the park entrance: “People love seeing the goats. They’re smiling when they come in, because goats make people smile.” GREAT: Development in the City of Greenfield has been stalled because the rural city’s wastewater treatment plant is too small and too outdated to serve its current needs. City leaders have been working away at solutions, and Greenfield City Council approved a financial breakthrough on April 14 in the form of an agreement with the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board. The $111.3 million project qualified for a $75 million forgiveable loan from the regional board, meaning the City needs to finance just the remaining $36.3 million toward the overall project, to be repaid at 2.2 percent over a 30-year period. “Without this funding, the City would face significantly higher costs or delays in completing the project,” City Manager Paul Wood wrote in a memo to council. It means construction can proceed on a new plant with a capacity to treat 2 million gallons per day. GOOD WEEK / GREAT WEEK THE WEEKLY TALLY That’s how many pets were spayed or neutered at a clinic in King City on April 20. Led by the nonprofit Spay and Neuter Imperative Project of California, four surgical teams worked throughout the day, delivering the capacity of eight clinics, considered the largest effort of its kind in Monterey County. Source: Monterey County Supervisor Chris Lopez’s Office 170 QUOTE OF THE WEEK “It’s frankly extortion from the Trump Administration to pit us against each other.” -Monterey Planning Commissioner Eric Palmer, speaking when the commission voted to strike transphobic language from the city’s application for federal housing-related funds (see story, montereycountynow.com/news).
www.montereycountynow.com APRIL 23-39, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 7
8 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY APRIL 23-29, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com 831 Heat Waves—the Nashville hot chicken pop-up operated out of chef Rudolfo Ponce’s eponymous restaurant in Pacific Grove—is usually mellow on Sundays, with a few diners grabbing their lunch from 11am to 6pm, or until they run out. But this day in November was different. A DJ spinning hip-hop beckoned a line out the door of people with faces excited to see what was happening. A camera crew moved through the crowd, capturing their delight, images of the food served and—their main subject—Ponce in the background slinging chicken. The professional camera crew is directed by Alvaro Resendiz, a recent CSU Monterey Bay film studies graduate. Resendiz is making a 10- to 15-minute documentary titled Rising Heat about Ponce’s life. The documentary has wrapped filming and is currently in post-production. Resendiz hopes to submit it to film festivals locally and nationally at the end of the year. The theme is inspired by Ponce’s “hustle,” something Resendiz says he sees through a lens as a fellow Latino. “I’m a big fan of The Bear, the TV show,” Resendiz says. “It felt like the same kind of vibe [at Rudolfo’s]. Both chefs wanted to accomplish the same goals.” Ponce has never watched The Bear because he says he’s lived most of it. He was trained at the Culinary Institute of America from 2018-2019 and later trained at Michelin-star chef Thomas Keller’s restaurant Bouchon in Yountville. Like the titular character in the show, Ponce says he’s also after Michelin ranking. “It felt like a really interesting connection,” Resendiz says. “I want to tell that story but this is an actual person.” Unlike a scripted and fictional story, Resendiz and his team went into the restaurant with cameras on two different occasions—once during service as an Italian restaurant and on the Sunday during the Heat Waves pop-up. Resendiz told Ponce and his team to ignore them and work as if the cameras were not there—a cinematic technique he calls “find the wall.” “All we do is try to capture the shots we want to get,” Resendiz explains. Those include clips of people enjoying the food and Ponce working with his team, but Resendiz says the critical footage for the documentary is of the process: making food from scratch that is later transformed into the dishes. Resendiz says he’s attempting to capture the higher standard that Ponce instills in his team and himself. Ponce was able to practice his chef standards in November at the Heritage Fire event in Pebble Beach, which brought him into an arena with other local notable chefs to challenge their farm-to-table approach over an open flame. Resendiz was present at the event to capture footage there. “It’s really interesting how [Ponce] tries to set himself apart from everybody else and also give [attendees] an experience. Not just with the food, but with the way he interacts with people as well,” Resendiz says. Using a documentary format to capture what Ponce goes through in the kitchen means the footage doesn’t require scripted conflicts—some of those moments naturally happened. According to Resendiz, they weren’t as dramatic as one would see in a show like The Bear. Still, when Resendiz initially approached Ponce with the blueprint of the documentary, Ponce rejected the idea several times. “I was pretty nervous when I was first approached about it,” Ponce says, explaining he didn’t feel like his skills were mastered enough to warrant such a narrative. But Joe Huang, a social media influencer and real estate agent who assists with marketing Ponce’s restaurant, saw the potential. Huang, who has known Resendiz for about a decade, introduced him to Rudolfo’s. He also saw impressive feedback on Instagram about the restaurant. “On average we’re doing about 10,000 views per video,” Huang says, then adds that it’s not about followers or views. Rather, Ponce gets feedback in real life from people who see a video and want to try his food. Both Resendiz and Ponce agree that the documentary isn’t about publicity. “We’re trying to capture why it’s good. We’re trying to capture the story,” Resendiz says. Star Fire A filmmaker is making a documentary about the life of Pacific Grove restaurateur Rudolfo Ponce. By Sloan Campi “He tries to set himself apart from everybody else.” TALES FROM THE AREA CODE DANIEL DREIFUSS Associate Producer Joe Huang (left) and Director Alvaro Resendiz are making a documentary about Rudolfo Ponce, owner of Rudolfo’s restaurant in Pacific Grove. The film follows Ponce’s life in and out of the kitchen. TO SENIORS AND THEIR FAMILIES Monterey County Weekly in partnership with the Monterey County Area Agency on Aging will publish a directory of local professionals who provide services to seniors, people with disabilities and family caregivers. Living Well: Aging and Disability Resource Guide highlights agencies and companies in many fields including healthcare, housing, financial services and education. REACH OUT AREA AGENCY ON AGING FOR MORE INFO: 831-394-5656 sales@montereycountynow.com Living Well BEST OF MONTEREY BAY ® Living Well 2025-2026 BEST OF MONTEREY BAY® BILINGUAL GUIDE AGING AND DISABILITY RESOURCE GUIDE GUÍA DE RECURSOS SOBRE ENVEJECIMIENTO Y DISCAPACIDAD Published by AREA AGENCY ON AGING FREE | GRATIS cover_LW25.indd 2 5/15/25 12:58 PM BILINGUAL GUIDE AD DEADLINE May 8
www.montereycountynow.com APRIL 23-29, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 9 With your commitment and support at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and the PURE Insurance Championship, Monterey Peninsula Foundation donates millions annually to more than 200 local nonprofits, and in 2025 surpassed $250 million in lifetime giving. Interested in volunteering? Scan the QR code to learn more. THANK YOU VOLUNTEERS 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 SPCA MONTEREY COUNTY thanks our caring and compassionate volunteers who make all our programs possible. THANK YOU for your love! spcamc.org
10 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY APRIL 23-29, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com NEWS The race for the 19th District congressional seat, held since 2017 by Rep. Jimmy Panetta, is a packed one. Six candidates—two Democrats, two Republicans, a Libertarian and two with no party affiliation—are competing against the incumbent. Most agree that the number-one issue in the district and beyond is the affordability crisis, including Libertarian candidate Lars Mapstead of Aptos, who says he is running to be a U.S. representative because “people in this district need more choices and better representation.” Mapstead was born in Carmel and raised in Big Sur, where he says he grew up in a goat barn with no electricity. “I’ve waited tables, built businesses, created jobs and solved real problems,” Mapstead says. “I was also a Libertarian presidential candidate in 2024. I’m not a career politician, and I’m taking zero donations because I don’t want to be bought by lobbyists or special interests.” Santa Cruz County resident and Republican candidate Peter Verbica says he is running because “our district deserves practical, results-oriented leadership focused on affordability, economic opportunity and restoring trust in our institutions.” Verbica is a certified financial manager and author of Hard Won Cowboy Wisdom. “My approach is to reduce unnecessary cost drivers by reevaluating these policies, eliminating mandates that do not produce meaningful results, and focusing on practical solutions that balance environmental stewardship with economic reality,” Verbica says. “Lowering energy costs, encouraging investment, and removing barriers to growth will help restore affordability withRace for the 19th Seven candidates vie for Congress, including incumbent Jimmy Panetta. By Aric Sleeper With a short window to tackle a high-stakes problem—water—things are getting serious, fast. Members of the Salinas Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency’s (SVBGSA) advisory committee met on Thursday, April 16 to talk about potential solutions, and the consequences if deadlines are missed. The goal, under California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, is to develop projects and management actions to bring basins to sustainability by 2040 or 2042. If local groundwater sustainability agencies cannot come up with effective solutions, control could shift to the State Water Resources Control Board, which has the authority to impose pumping restrictions. That could result in fallowing farmland, impacting the county’s top economic driver. “We are asking you to develop a recommendation to the board,” SVBGSA Executive Director Piret Harmon told committee members. She said potential projects would need to be finalized by early fall. “We need a suite, a portfolio of projects. Not any single one, because it doesn’t get us there. It really comes together to be the most optimal.” The timeline came as a surprise. “That was a yikes,” Committee Chair Curtis Weeks said. The 180/400-foot aquifer, underlying areas from Castroville to Gonzales, was deemed critically overdrafted by the state in 2014 due to decades of overpumping, and is at risk of being contaminated by seawater intrusion. In 2022, the state Department of Water Resources determined that the plans submitted by SVBGSA for this critically overdrafted basin were incomplete, requiring stronger evidence to show how sustainability would be achieved. In December, the state asked for more refinement to the plan for this basin; local agencies have until April 30 to respond, showing how their groundwater plans relating to seawater intrusion in the 180/400 subbasin will actually work. For the whole region, several projects are on the table, and will continue to be discussed at the next advisory committee meeting on Wednesday, April 29. The largest is a brackish groundwater restoration project, which would extract salty groundwater before it spreads inland, then treat it before delivering that treated water back to farms or back into the aquifer. That project—the highest-cost option—is estimated to cost around $1 billion. One feasibility study discussed at the April 16 meeting was for aquifer storage and recovery, which would involve capturing excess surface water from the Salinas River and diverting that water to be stored in the aquifer for later use. The estimated capital cost would be $278 million-$383 million. Another concept includes upgrading the existing Castroville Seawater Intrusion Project to reduce groundwater pumping. That project would cost an estimated $60 million. Weeks stressed the need to come together to find a solution and maintain local control. “There’s no way today to know who is going to face these cuts,” he said. “ And there’s no way to say that [the state] won’t go into certain areas. We don’t want to have the fight, so let’s figure it out.” Projections of seawater intrusion into the 180-foot aquifer by 2040 under a “no project” scenario show a worsening problem extending further from the coast. Water Flow The clock is ticking on water projects to bring local groundwater basins into compliance. By Katie Rodriguez U.S. Rep. Jimmy Panetta, D-Carmel Valley, is facing six challengers in the June 2 primary as he seeks a fifth term. In the current term, he has hosted 26 town hall meetings (mostly by phone). “We don’t want to have the fight, so let’s figure it out.” SALINAS VALLEY BASIN GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY AGENCY DANIEL DREIFUSS RACE continued on pg. 12
www.montereycountynow.com APRIL 23-29, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 11 natividad.com BEGINS HERE GREAT CARE Having a primary care provider gives you a partner in health. From preventive care to chronic conditions, Natividad is here to help you live a longer, healthier life. WELCOMING NEW PATIENTS Natividad Medical Group offices are conveniently located in Salinas and Prunedale. Call to schedule your appointment today. (831) 755-4111 Dr. J. Mario Pauda Primary Care Provider
12 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY APRIL 23-29, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com The developers behind a Pacific Grove luxury hotel project won a request for a one-year extension of a demolition permit at the California Coastal Commission on Thursday, April 16. While that sounds like another delay, it’s also a signal that the project may be preparing to come to life, years after it was approved by both the P.G. City Council and the Coastal Commission. The 206-room hotel was initially approved by the Council in January 2022 then was appealed within weeks by a citizens group and by two members of the Coastal Commission. It took two years until the appeal was heard by the Commission, which approved the project with changes in April 2024. Several months later the city and developers, Comstock Homes, came to an agreement on vacating a portion of Sloat Avenue, situated in the middle of what would become the luxury resort. The project seemed to come to a standstill, with no word of it moving forward until recently when Foursome Development, which owns the land, requested the demolition permit extension to April 2027. The developer Comstock has also put in an extension request to the City of Pacific Grove for the project approvals, according to City Manager Matt Mogensen. Comstock Homes Vice President Debra Geiler says that although it looks as if no work is being done, behind the scenes they’ve been busy. “We certainly have been working. We’ve been working on the marine mammal plan which has taken about a year to produce,” she says, referring to one of the conditions set by the Coastal Commission to protect harbor seals at the nearby pupping beach at Hopkins Marine Station. It’s one of several required conditions “before putting a shovel in the ground,” she says. The goal is to be ready to begin demolition work this fall, during a narrow window, August to November, required to protect the seals, Geiler says. The company missed the window last year. Thom and Kim Akeman, Pacific Grove residents and volunteer harbor seal monitors for the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, protested the Coastal Commission extension, arguing that any demolition or excavation will harm the seals and pointing out that the seals have become a tourist attraction. Coastal Commission Regional Director Carl Holm said the staff believes that the issues raised by the Akemans and others have been “appropriately addressed by the plan.” out sacrificing reliability.” Santa Cruz-based software engineer and Democrat Sean Dougherty pledges to only take “clean money” for his campaign. “Beyond the clean money pledge, I think my years of experience as a software engineer, including several years of both industrial and academic work on AI, uniquely qualify me to navigate the emerging dominance of AI in our economy and personal lives,” Dougherty says. “I will not be easily bamboozled by the AI lobbyists, and I will apply my populist ideology to protect the interests of the people of this district over those of the AI industry.” Thomas Coxe is a landscape architect based in Santa Cruz County with no party affiliation, whose goals, if elected, would be “to support the schools, fund our infrastructure improvement projects and help reduce or at least stabilize the cost of living on the Central Coast. “In this era of extreme partisan division and narrow majorities in both chambers of Congress, a true Independent could have unprecedented sway in passing legislation and electing the speaker of the house,” he says. Panetta says that reducing the cost of living and supporting communities in the district will be his priorities, among others. “I will continue my work to pass legislation to increase affordable housing and accessible health care, bolster immigration reform, repeal harmful tariffs, protect our coastline, combat fentanyl trafficking, help our servicemembers and veterans, and more,” Panetta says, noting he has had 24 bills signed into law, including four during the current term. “This past year, I secured over $15 million for local infrastructure projects and community services needed in our communities. This is in addition to the total of $16 billion in federal investment that I have brought into our district.” Republican Tuka Gafari of Scotts Valley says his experience working in high tech, as a real estate agent and locomotive engineer qualify him to serve as a U.S. representative. “I’m a people person who has always helped people when I volunteered in search and rescue,” Gafari says. “So, wanting to help people, having solutions to resolve issues in our community put together is what drives me. Most importantly, I too have a family and protecting our children is key.” Ana Luz AcevedoCabrera, a professor at Hartnell College who lives in Marina, did not respond by press time. Wait List The American Tin Cannery luxury hotel project takes a step back to move forward. By Pam Marino NEWS BE PREPARED Learn how to prepare for wildfire and receive guidance from Monterey Fire on how to harden your home. Three Altadena residents impacted by the 2025 Eaton Fire will share their experience. 10-11:30am Saturday, April 25. Sunset Cultural Center, Carpenter Hall, San Carlos and 9th, Carmel. Free. (831) 624-6403. FACE THE FACTS Journalist Janine Zacharia, a lecturer at Stanford University, will discuss AI-generated propaganda in wartime and how to sort fact from fiction in a social media-driven world. The talk is presented by the California Media Literacy Coalition. 1-2:30pm Saturday, April 25. Universalist Unitarian Church, 490 Aguajito Road, Carmel. Free. medialiteracycoalition.org. MEASURED APPROACH City of Monterey voters will decide on a 0.375-percent sales tax measure on the June ballot, and property owners will vote on a proposed stormwater fee in May. City officials host a town hall meeting to discuss the measures. 6-7pm Monday, April 27. Casanova Oak Knoll Park Center, 735 Ramona Ave., Monterey. Free. (831) 646-3799, monterey.gov/elections. AGING GRACEFULLY Alliance on Aging hosts a presentation on how to understand the needs of Monterey County’s aging population. Executive Director MJ Donohue provides insights into trends and service gaps for seniors. Noon-1pm Tuesday, April 28. Salinas Valley Chamber of Commerce, 119 E. Alisal St., Salinas. Free. Register at (831) 655-1334, allianceonaging.org. MEET AND GREET Meet new Monterey City Manager Dante Hall in an open house-style gathering. Share your thoughts and hear his vision for the future. 6-7:30pm Tuesday, April 28. Monterey Conference Center, 1 Portola Plaza, Upper Level, Monterey. Free. (831) 6463760, monterey.gov/cmo. TALK OF THE TOWN Supervisor Glenn Church hosts a town hall for Oak Hills residents. 5:30-7pm Wednesday, April 29. Castroville Library Community Room, 11160 Speegle St., Castroville. (831) 755-5022, glennchurch.com. SCHOOL WALK North Monterey County Unified School District hosts school tours as the board weighs a potential bond. 9-10:30am Thursday, April 30. North Monterey County High School, 13990 Castroville Blvd., Castroville. Free. RSVP at bit.ly/NMCUSDTours. (831) 633-3343, nmcusd.org. The American Tin Cannery building in P.G. could see partial demolition this fall during a narrow window of time due to a Coastal Commission condition to protect harbor seals. E-MAIL: publiccitizen@montereycountynow.com PUBLIC CITIZEN The goal is to begin demolition this fall. DANIEL DREIFUSS RACE continued from pg. 10
www.montereycountynow.com APRIL 23-29, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 13 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 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 MontereyRentals.com marks 40 years by partnering with four local nonprofits: • Veterans Transition Center • Habitat for Humanity Monterey Bay • I-HELP • Alliance on Aging This quarter, we’re proud to spotlight Habitat for Humanity Monterey Bay, supporting affordable homeownership for local families. Quarter by quarter, we’re investing in stronger communities. Learn More @ MontereyRentals.com CELEBRATING 40 YEARS WITH PURPOSE MCWeekly (4.66x5.57)
14 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY APRIL 23-29, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com Car Week brings in roughly 100,000 visitors to Monterey County who spend $130 million over nine days, according to See Monterey, the county’s tourism bureau. The Life Time Sea Otter Classic, meanwhile, draws about 75,000 people who generate $70 million in economic impact over four days, according to a 2022 study by the organization. Per-day spending is about even when comparing both events. Yet, when the Sea Otter Classic wraps up, besides the trails at Fort Ord National Monument, there’s not much reason for visitors looking for biking experiences to return to Monterey County, as the temporary infrastructure built for the various courses during the event are bulldozed every year. Car enthusiasts, meanwhile, have plenty to look forward to year-round, especially at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. That’s the message the Monterey Off Road Cycling Association (MORCA) is trying to get across to local and state leaders: Outdoor recreation is a $1.2 trillion economy nationwide, and Monterey County needs a bigger slice of that pie. The group of mountain biking enthusiasts, who maintain the trails at Fort Ord National Monument and host events such as Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day, is working on establishing year-round biking infrastructure at Laguna Seca Recreation Area. On the second day of the Sea Otter Classic, April 17, Peter Berridge, MORCA’s vice president, led a tour for representatives from the County, Assemblymember Dawn Addis’ office, Friends of Laguna Seca and others, showing them where such a bike park could be constructed and how it would benefit the local economy. “This is a huge opportunity,” Berridge said. “Part of that opportunity is to build off the legacy of Sea Otter Classic.” Sea Otter Classic has turned into one of the most important events of the year for the bicycling industry, where representatives from companies around the world attend the expo. “This is the event,” he said. “The entire bike industry comes to show off their latest and greatest. It’s a big deal.” MORCA is eyeing a phased approach to the bike park in multiple locations of Laguna Seca Recreation Area. That could include a skills zone with a pump track and slalom course, in addition to a cyclocross loop and new trails connecting areas of Laguna Seca. Earlier this year, MORCA applied for a grant from the International Mountain Bicycling Association that would provide professional design services for the bike park, and expects to hear the status of its application in the coming months. That would then kick off a campaign to raise more than $2 million for the park. MORCA has received letters of support from Friends of Laguna Seca, the nonprofit in charge of the day-to-day operations of the track and recreation area, and County Supervisor Wendy Root Askew. It is also working with the Friends group to incorporate the bike park plans into Laguna Seca’s master plan, currently under development. Mel Harder, general manager of Friends, says that document is expected to be completed by the end of the year. Park and Ride A plan to build a bike park at Laguna Seca is gaining steam. By Erik Chalhoub Peter Berridge (left) shows Monterey County Economic Development Manager Richard Vaughn and others where a bike park could go at Laguna Seca. NEWS “It’s a big deal.” ERIK CHALHOUB Sending a heartfelt thank you to our dedicated volunteers. Your impact is truly amazing, and we appreciate everything you do. Thank you! Gathering for Women-Montery Gathering for Women provides meals, showers, clothing, case management, and other resources with a warm smile. Interested in joining our team of wonderful volunteers? Visit gatheringforwomen.org/volunteer or email volunteer@gatheringforwomen.org to learn more about our amazing volunteer opportunities.
www.montereycountynow.com APRIL 23-29, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 15 Sudden oak death is not obvious, and the name is slightly misleading. The pathogen Phytophthora ramorum has troubled California biologists for decades, attacking trees from within, typically using bay trees as vectors. While it doesn’t always prove fatal, over 60 million oaks have perished. Likened to “a cancer of our forests” by researchers, the symptoms of infected trees are difficult to confirm, unless you know what to look for. What’s more troubling, in 2024, a new, more aggressive variant emerged, with the ability to spread more easily in hotter, drier conditions. “The symptoms are very generic,” says Kerri Frangioso, a staff research associate for UC Davis and Cal Poly. She has been leading what’s been dubbed a sudden oak death (SOD) “blitz” each year in Carmel Valley, where thousands of volunteers across the state collect samples to track the spread of the disease. “With this new variant, everybody’s a bit on edge. It’s much more aggressive and has great potential to spread to other ecosystems,” Frangioso says. At the end of Boronda Road in Carmel Valley, Frangioso walks through Garland Ranch Regional Park, looking for oaks in close proximity to bay trees. She joins volunteers scattered across the county April 18-21 for this year’s SOD blitz, searching for bay leaves that show signs of sickness: browned tips bordered by a black line and a yellow halo. She plucks a bay leaf from a branch, places it in a small envelope and fills out a card noting latitude and longitude, and other information which will feed a database maintained by UC Berkeley’s Garbelotto Lab. “We’ve learned so much from this data,” she says. “Citizen scientists are also so good at collecting data. There’s no way that scientists can collect all that every year on their own.” The new variant, called NA2, was discovered through such citizen scientist efforts, which have been conducted annually since 2008. It was first detected in Del Norte County in northern California, then in Santa Clara County, with last year’s blitz confirming its presence in the East Bay Area. None has been confirmed yet in Monterey County. Samples are sent to the lab for genetic testing and to build a genetic library. Once results are processed, impacted trees are mapped, allowing the public to see which trees in their neighborhoods have been impacted or are at high risk. Funding for this project, typically provided by the U.S. Forest Service, was cut last year. The project continued thanks to anonymous donors, according to lead researcher Matteo Garbelotto, who shared the update in a seminar on the 2025 SOD blitz results. “I didn’t think this project would happen this year. Individual donors really stepped in,” Garbelotto said. “Last year we had five outbreaks detected. We had to revisit those locations where the volunteers went and resample everything. All were confirmed as NA2.” Results from this year’s blitz will be made available sometime in October. Blitz 2.0 A new variant of the sudden oak death pathogen has arrived, discovered by community scientists. By Katie Rodriguez Researcher Kerri Frangioso has been leading the local SOD blitz for decades. She inspects the leaves of a bay tree in Garland Park, looking for signs of the disease. NEWS “With this new variant, everybody’s a bit on edge.” KATIE RODRIGUEZ We start the race early– with a throwback party. ...and you’re invited to get a preview of all the action. Kick off the weekend at Laguna Seca where we crown the StubHub Monterey SportsCar Champion. We take world-class racing machines off the track and into the street, so you can experience them in a way 180 mph never allows. • Raffle and Giveaways Powered by Glastonbury • Discounts on tickets for the real race • Meet the drivers • Autograph session • iHeart Radio - LIVE FREE EVENT WEDNESDAY APRIL 29 5-7 PM Tickets and camping info at WeatherTechRaceway.com
16 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY APRIL 23-29, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com FLOCK OF CAMERAS I’m so impressed with your reporting on this topic (“Is the monitoring of license plates in Monterey County and beyond a boon for policing or another step closer to a mass surveillance state?,” April 2-8). These things move fast, and demanding rigor from our leaders is key to protecting our rights. The carelessness of assuming that these private technology companies have set the correct privacy filters without double checking them is disappointing. I’ve been deeply involved in attempts to expect/demand medical privacy along similar lines. We passed AB 352 to prevent sending abortion or trans care information to other states, which could potentially jeopardize the health of our patients and put California clinicians at risk of prosecution in other states, but the tech companies that have created electronic health records can do more to accommodate this data privacy need. We should both be able to share our records when needed in an emergency, and suppress them from the eyes of those who are not directly providing relevant care. As with these Flock cameras and the loss of privacy for all drivers, we should care about medical privacy and support good design to minimize leakage. Dr. Sumana Reddy | Salinas FAILURE TO FLY I feel for Cyn Currie and her loss of business, but this story is much bigger than that (“Paragliding instructor loses access to Sand City eco-resort property,” April 9-15). This closure has affected our entire community. There is a huge group of local pilots that met here every day and flew. It was a beautiful group of supportive individuals from all walks of life. People came from all over the country to fly this site every year. This developer even used photos of us flying in advertisements for the hotel he is trying to build. We can still fly the Marina sites, but only advanced pilots are allowed there. This closure has made it impossible for beginner pilots to fly locally and for new people to get into flying. My heart is broken for what this is doing to our paragliding community. Casey Gerstle | Seaside The Sand City dunes have been a cornerstone of the paragliding community in Monterey County for years. Development is one thing but removing access to a long-established, community-driven use of this coastline is another. Once access like this is gone, it’s almost impossible to get back. I really hope the City, Coastal Commission and developer can find a solution that preserves public access. Jake Rendina | via web ARMS RACE I found it interesting that in your photo of the day taken at the Naval Postgraduate School there were less than a dozen protesters, and yet this made the front page [of the newsletter] (“Etc. Photo,” posted April 9). No doubt the sentiments expressed are shared by many in this area, but let’s see what negotiations will bring before finalizing judgement. Iran has been at war with the U.S. since they captured our embassy and took Americans hostages. Iran has been responsible for the deaths of hundreds of Americans and has funded and armed several terrorist organizations. Women who speak their minds are killed and the LGBTQ+ community is persecuted. Last January, 30,000 protesters—like the few who were at the NPS—were murdered by the regime there. Monterey County protesters should ask themselves why they oppose getting rid of this theocratic, brutal regime that teaches “Death to America” as part of daily education lessons. Gil Stein | Aptos I have been attending the demonstrations outside of NPS since November. The original motivation was against the genocide Israel was committing in Gaza, and the protest was specific to American military transferring arms to the IDF. I’m a recent member of Veterans for Peace, having begun my military service when Nixon was in the White House. I support our troops, and I also support the protocols of the Geneva Conventions and the rules of engagement. It seems to me that regardless of a person’s thoughts on the military actions in Iran, nobody should think it makes America great when humans floating in the sea are murdered, or when bombs are dropped on noncombatants. Tony Amarante | Seaside TEMPERATURE RISING Chris Valadez’s call for prioritizing adaptation gets it wrong (“County’s climate plan misses an opportunity to prioritize practical strategies for adaptation,” April 2-8). Adaptation accepts problems, it doesn’t solve them. Imagine climate change like a hole in a ship, a hole we’ve created and are continually enlarging. There’s really no way to adapt to a sinking vessel. You can patch up the hole, but that will have little effect if you continue to make it. Our current climate disaster requires adaptation, yes, but it also requires curbing the activities that are causing it in the first place. The idea that Monterey County’s overall impact on world climate change is so small as to obviate the need for prioritizing mitigation is appealing in its simplicity. Unfortunately, it’s a flawed argument. Climate change is the sum of various actions by various actors; there is no single impact or entity that alleviates responsibility for all of the others. We all contribute to the problem, and we all have a role in the solution. The County does well in focusing on reductions in its Community Climate Action and Adaptation Plan; California law requires it. No person, county or nation is insignificant when it comes to mitigating climate change. Laura Davis and Michael DeLapa | via email Note: Davis and DeLapa work for LandWatch Monterey County. BEYOND BOOKS Old Capitol Books is the place to be in the whole Monterey area (“From 318 to 831: Miss Fortune performs at Old Capitol Books,” posted April 15). Amazing reading groups and cultural exposure to fringe, quirky and soul-stimulating is just part of what you could find there. Reza Satrap | 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 APRIL 23-29, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 17 The idea that people in crisis need mental health support is not controversial. But how to deliver the public dollars that go to the entities that actually deliver those services is another matter. In 2024, the California Legislature asked voters to support Proposition 1, which did two things. One was to approve $6.4 million for treatment and housing for veterans and people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. The other thing was to rewrite the Mental Health Services Act, the 22-year-old way of distributing funding to county governments, which could then distribute it to local organizations providing a range of interventions to patients. Voters approved Prop. 1 by a sliver, with just 50.1 percent of the vote, and now it is phasing in through 2026, as a three-year plan rolls out. What was formerly the Mental Health Services Act is now the Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA). “It is not simply a name change. It represents a major system change in how counties plan, fund and deliver behavioral health services,” Shannon Castro of the County Behavioral Health Department said in a media briefing on April 15, a week-anda-half after the draft plan was released for public comment. “We are in a significant moment of transition for behavioral health systems across California.” In general, it marks a shift from preventive work to supporting patients in crisis, focusing on the unhoused community, with services like housing. County Behavioral Health officials have historically relied on trusted community groups to provide a broader range of services like counseling, substance abuse prevention and more, funding them through the MHSA. An early proposal for the BHSA warned many of those partners—organizations like The Epicenter in Salinas, The Village Project in Seaside and United Way Monterey County—that reductions of $6.4 million in funding would be spread across their 21 organizations. Programs that resulted in a whopping 85,135 engagements in fiscal year 2024-25 would lose their primary funding source. “Monterey County Behavioral Health has historically utilized MHSA funds primarily to support direct behavioral health services across the system of care,” according to the draft plan. “Under the Behavioral Health Services Act, the shift in funding structure, combined with the 5-percent statewide allocation, results in an effective 35-percent reduction in locally available service dollars… Absorbing a reduction of this magnitude would significantly disrupt existing service capacity, including outpatient treatment, full-service partnerships, and other core supports that individuals and families currently rely upon.” The idea of shifting the focus to address but this shakeup challenges many organizations that have long relied on state funds, by way of the county, to deliver actual services to actual people on the ground. Those 85,135 engagements are 85,135 real people—whether it’s new moms facing postpartum depression, elders experiencing loneliness, children enduring bullying—who got help. The Center for Community Advocacy contracts with a licensed clinical social worker to meet farmworker clients where they are at, in the field or at church. The nonprofit historically received $250,000 annually in MHSA funds. “Where are those resources going to come from?” says CCA Executive Director Joel Hernandez Laguna. He says impacted groups are considering partnering to apply directly to the state for funding, but they expect that to be competitive. He plans to fundraise through Monterey County Gives! to keep services going. Colleen Beye is executive director of the Monterey County chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. “NAMI California strongly supported Prop. 1 because families were promised a stronger, more responsive behavioral health system,” she wrote. “Unfortunately, there is now a serious disconnect between the intent of the law and how it is being implemented at the county level.” The BHSA plan must abide by state law, not local preferences. Public comment is still welcome until 5pm on May 18. You can view the plan at bit. ly/MontereyCountyBHSAdraft and submit comments to bhsa@ countyofmonterey.gov. Sara Rubin is the Weekly’s editor. Reach her at sara@montereycountynow.com. Mental Gymnastics A new method for funding mental health is rolling out, with challenges. By Sara Rubin FISHING EXPEDITION…When Squid goes fishing, Squid figures out where the spot prawns and midwater shrimp are all hanging out and it doesn’t take long before Squid has a tasty meal. Squid discovered it’s a similar strategy for a national law firm based in Malibu seeking clients ripe for the picking in Salinas. Specifically, the Clarkson Law Firm is fishing for weary, underpaid adjunct faculty at Hartnell College through an ad suggesting that they may be entitled to compensation: “If you teach part-time at Hartnell College, you may be a victim of illegal wage theft… contact us for a free assessment today.” That California Community College adjuncts are underpaid is well known. They are paid for classroom time but have typically not been paid for work outside of the classroom, including lesson planning, grading and communicating with students. That may be about to change. In February, Long Beach City College agreed to pay $18 million to its adjuncts in a class-action lawsuit. A second lawsuit filed in Sacramento naming the California Community College as a defendant could lead to standardized pay for adjuncts across the entire system. Clarkson sees dollar signs, or it wouldn’t be fishing for clients. Squid wants all faculty to be well paid. Lawyers, not so much. WATER WAY…Squid’s heard all the sayings— whiskey is for drinking and water is for fighting; water flows downhill, except toward money—so Squid is never surprised to see insults hurled in the world of Monterey County water politics. But now the pressure is on for the Salinas Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency to actually do something, with a clock ticking most immediately toward an April 30 deadline to respond to a displeased State Department of Water Resources, which wants specifics on the plan to slow the problem of seawater intrusion (see story, p. 10). Squid has been following this saga for a while. The hydrological story is less interesting than the political story about who will benefit from new water infrastructure (and who will pay for it). Attorney Tom Virsik represents southern Salinas Valley agricultural clients, who are not directly impacted by seawater intrusion. In an April 13 letter to the SVBGSA board, Virsik wanted to clear up that DWR might take action on growers pumping from the seawater-intruded area, but not his South County clients. He also suggested an ultimatum for media interviews for SVBGSA staff: “Until educated, staff should cease communication with media so as to prevent additional misinformation.” Huh. Squid gets that irrigators and property owners will disagree about who should bear the costs, but Squid suggests the opposite: Staff of public agencies should openly talk to the press any time. THE LOCAL SPIN SQUID FRY THE MISSION OF MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY IS TO INSPIRE INDEPENDENT THINKING AND CONSCIOUS ACTION, ETC. “We are in a significant moment of transition.” SEND SQUID A TIP: squid@montereycountynow.com
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