JULY 9-15, 2026 MONTEREYCOUNTYNOW.COM LOCAL & INDEPENDENT FIREWORKS TAKE THE HEAT 10 | A COUNTRY STAR 30 | AT HIGH SPEED 33 | OFF THE PITCH 36 Angélica Negrón is changing the face of the Bach Festival, and the way we listen to music. p. 20 By Agata Popęda • How a long-time Big Sur artist cultivated space for Bach BACH AND FORTH
2 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY JULY 9-15, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com www.MontereyWaterInfo.org/WaterChallenge 2 High Efficiency Clothes Washers 1 High Efficiency Dishwasher • 4 Apple iPads 2 Gift Certificates / Local Nursery • 2 Monterey Zoo Family Tickets 4 Cinemark Movie Gift Cards • 1 0 Visa Gift Cards 25 PRIZES! NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. Void where prohibited. The sweepstakes is open only to California-American Water Company water customers in the Monterey County District of California who complete and submit a Summer Splash Water Challenge Giveaway entry form (“gameboard”) with correct answers by mail postmarked by July 31, 2026, to MPWMD Summer Splash, P.O. Box 85, Monterey CA, 93942 or online at www.montereywaterinfo.org/waterchallenge by July 31, 2026 and who are at least 18 years of age as of the date of entry. Start: 12:01 a.m. PDT on 7/1/2026; deadline: 11:59 p.m. PDT on 7/31/2026. Two (2) Winners will receive a High Efficiency Clothes Washer (ARV $900), one (1) Winner will receive a High Efficiency Dishwasher (ARV $700), four (4) Winners will receive an Apple iPad (ARV $470), two (2) Winners will receive a $200 gift certificate/card to a local plant nursery (ARV $200), ten (10) Winners will receive a $100 Visa Gift Card (ARV $100), two (2) Winners will receive a Monterey Zoo Family Ticket (ARV $160), four (4) Winners will receive a Cinemark Movie Gift Card (ARV $50). SPONSORS: The Monterey Peninsula Water Management District, 5 Harris Ct, Bldg. G, Monterey, CA 93940 and California-American Water Company, 511 Forest Lodge Road, Pacific Grove, CA 93950. July 1-31
www.montereycountynow.com JULY 9-15, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 3 Like a lot of you, we were born at Community Hospital. montagehealth.org It was the doctors at Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula that brought Montage Health into the world. Our goal was to deliver exceptional care to more people, more effectively, by expanding beyond the hospital and into the community. Today, we’re much more than a hospital. We’re urgent care centers, wellness centers, primary care doctors, health insurance plans, and a groundbreaking mental health program for youth. Community Hospital is still our beating heart and a great place to be born.
4 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY JULY 9-15, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com JULY 9-15, 2026 • ISSUE #1980 • ESTABLISHED IN 1988 Ellen Jahn (Olympus E-M10) A tired goat takes a rest in a tire (get it?) in a sunny spot in Prunedale. MONTEREY COUNTY PHOTO OF THE WEEK Send Etc. submissions to etcphoto@montereycountynow.com; please include caption and camera info. On the cover: Angélica Negrón is the featured composer of the 89th edition of the Carmel Bach Festival, which starts on July 11. Cover photo: Catalina Kulczar 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, pre-paid. 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) EDITOR/SALINAS VALLEY NOW Joseph Treviño joseph@salinasvalleynow.com STAFF WRITER/SALINAS VALLEY NOW Royvi Hernandez royvi@salinasvalleynow.com (x140) 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 JULY 9-15, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 5 Your care, your baby, our focus Having a child is one of life’s most significant events. We o er nationally recognized patient-centered care from pre-natal screenings through delivery and beyond. Our Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit is equipped to treat amongst the most medically fragile of babies. Like generations of families, you can rely on us for comprehensive and compassionate maternity care for both mother and newborn. Learn more at SalinasValleyHealth.com/maternity Call 831-757-DOCS or one of our clinics today to schedule an appointment. MATERNITY & FAMILY-CENTERED CARE Salinas Valley Health Medical Center 450 East Romie Lane, Salinas 831-757-4333 Obstetrics & Gynecology 250 San Jose Street, Salinas 831-758-8223 PrimeCare 355 Abbott Street, Suite 100, Salinas 831-751-7070 Kenneth Jones, MD
6 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY JULY 9-15, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com THE BUZZ FREE SPEECH Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito is not retiring. While an NPR story erroneously stating the opposite was live for only five minutes, it set off a humiliating incident for a veteran reporter who admitted to making a “rookie mistake.” As she was leaving the Supreme Court on June 30, reporter Nina Totenberg misheard an announcement about a retirement. She had assumed it was meant for Alito, and after consulting with her editor, they published a prewritten story about the justice that was meant to run when he actually did announce his retirement. When the Supreme Court did not make an official announcement, and when other outlets weren’t picking up the story, NPR knew it had made a mistake. “It was the worst professional mistake of my more than 50 years in journalism,” Totenberg wrote to Alito. “I could go on, but I don’t know what else to say except that I am so, so sorry.” In an article posted on NPR explaining the story’s retraction, NPR Executive Editor Krishnadev Calamur said he’ll be reviewing the process for posting breaking news. “This sort of shit should not happen,” he said. Good: In 2005, King City City Council approved the Mills Ranch Specific Plan, a 92-acre, master-planned residential and community development in King City, located near San Antonio Drive and Spreckels Road. The project includes hundreds of single-family homes, commercial space and park space, mostly under development by Nino Homes. Now, the affordable units are coming; Nonprofit Community Housing Improvement Systems and Planning Association Inc. (CHISPA) will celebrate the groundbreaking of Mills Ranch Apartments on Wednesday, July 15. The project will provide 40 two- and three-bedroom apartments; 30 units will be reserved for farmworker families. CHISPA secured a nearly $11.7 million state grant for the project. As part of the grant, King City committed to completing about $3.2 million in bicycle, pedestrian and landscaping improvements. GREAT: Congratulations to Kelsey Pfendler, who completed a solo row from Monterey to Honolulu, arriving on land Friday night, July 3, after more than 43 days on the water. She became the third woman ever to make the journey solo. Pfendler set out to become the first American woman to solo row the 2,400mile journey. She not only succeeded at that goal but also beat the overall record, setting a new speed of 43 days, 17 hours and 55 minutes. (The previous record was 55 days, set by a male rower.) Pfendler also became the fastest woman and the youngest person to row from California to Hawaii. As she rowed her 132-square-foot boat into Honolulu harbor July 3, hundreds of spectators lined the shore chanting, “Kelsey, Kelsey!” “I was shell-shocked coming into the harbor, people chanting my name,” Pfendler says. “It was really intense. I had a lot of emotions.” GOOD WEEK / GREAT WEEK THE WEEKLY TALLY The amount the Carmel City Council approved on a 4-1 vote to insert into the 2026-2027 budget to contribute to See Monterey for tourism marketing and a visitor management study. Councilmembers said in June they weren’t sure they wanted to contribute. Source: Carmel City Council meeting, Monday, July 6 $292,947 QUOTE OF THE WEEK “The larvae are gregarious settlers.” -Kerstin Wasson, researcher coordinator at Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve, on a project that is reintroducing oysters to the estuary (see story, montereycountynow.com/newsletter).
www.montereycountynow.com JULY 9-15, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 7 bIG SUR DESERVES RESPECT. SEEMONTEREY.COM/RIGHTPATH See Monterey_Drive With Care_MCW_HalfPage.indd 1 7/7/26 5:33 PM Insured by NCUA 1The dividend rate and Annual Percentage Yield (APY) are accurate as of 05/27/2026. The dividend rate and APY may change at any time. There is no minimum balance required to earn the stated APY. The minimum deposit for the 16-month certificate special 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. This certificate is not extended to organization accounts. Rates and terms are subject to change without notice. Call 1-877-GOLDEN 1 (1-877-465-3361) for current rates. 0526-MTW Visit a branch, call 1-877-465-3361 or scan to learn more Limited-time offer 4.15% with a Term Savings Certificate Earn up to APY1 Clark and Toshia Struve partner with the Community Foundation for Monterey County through their donor advised fund to simplify their giving. Turn your generosity into lasting impact. We can help. Donor Advised Funds • IRA Charitable Distributions • Charitable Estate Planning (CGAs, CRTs) • Family Philanthropy • Scholarships & More 831.375.9712 | cfmco.org | If you’re lucky enough to be able to give, you do. It feels good.” – Clark and Toshia Struve GENEROSITY in Action
8 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY JULY 9-15, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com 831 The parking lot at the corner of Fremont Boulevard and Ord Grove Avenue in Seaside is usually quiet, but once a month it comes to life with people clad in motorcycle gear. They rustle through ice-filled coolers as hot dogs sizzle on a grill in the parking lot. Motorcycles of all shapes and sizes rev and circle around the convening. It’s a monthly Bike Night that draws anywhere from 40 to 100-plus motorcyclists from around Monterey County to chat and show off their bikes. At Cycle Gear’s Seaside location, all kinds of motorcyclists are present with their rides, ranging from adventure and touring BMWs to choppers, cruisers and even minibikes. The free event includes sodas, snacks and water, along with gear giveaways from Cycle Gear, a national motorcycle gear retailer. Representatives from motorcycle law firms, motorcycle training and education organizations and the California Highway Patrol come to talk to riders about their resources under tents. Retired Army veteran Monroe Bonfoey is manning the grill and offering free hot dogs. “I turn my customers onto [Cycle Gear] for helmets and gear—they’re about the best,” Bonfoey says. He’s not an employee of the company, but he attended the Motorcycle Mechanics Institute in Arizona at age 57 where he obtained a certification to service BMW and Honda motorcycles. To him, the fellowship of riders is the reason he shows up, the spirit of Bike Night. “It’s a community-building event to get people to hang out,” Cycle Gear Seaside store manager Daniel Salinas says. “You don’t even have to bring a motorcycle.” The gathering is an opportunity for riders to share stories about how they got into the hobby. Salinas himself has been riding motorcycles for two decades. Bree Martinez, one of the few women at Bike Night, rides a 2024 Kawasaki Ninja 400 wrapped half in pink and the other half in purple with flower graphics, along with a decal of her Instagram handle @V6baddy. Purple is a favorite color of hers, while the pink represents her mother, who also rides. “I like to hang around and learn different things about bikes and meet new people,” Martinez says, adding she wants to see more female riders at events like this. People from different ages and riding styles are talking to each other next to a row of bikes parked in front of the shop. A group of about six riders pulls into the parking lot, all on minibikes, some of which are no higher than twoand-a-half feet off the ground. One of them is Cristian Calvo, riding a Honda Ruckus—a thick-wheeled contraption that sounds like a muffled lawnmower. “It’s really small and really slow,” Calvo says, as another minibiker shouts, “Yeah, it can’t go on the highway!” as he zips around the lot. Beyond chit-chat, safety is a common topic of discussion. Matthieu Wooden, attending his first Bike Night, talks about how events like these can benefit those who don’t ride. “Bikers are probably the safest drivers on the road, despite what Hollywood and the movies may tell you,” he says, adding that fellow motorcyclists he’s encountered have also told him to make sure he’s riding with protective gear. “We look out for each other. You feel seen.” Toward the end of the event, Salinas gathers the attendees together from the elevated walkway near the entrance to announce upcoming events and raffle off a few prizes. He says that the crowd usually ebbs during the rainy or winter months, but picks up in the summer especially before the MotoAmerica race weekend at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca (see story, p. 33). As the event concludes, some riders continue milling around the parking lot while others mount their machines to ride away, acknowledging each other with waves and head nods as they pull out. Bonfoey, who continues to chat with others, testifies to the size of the rider population in Monterey County. “It’s pretty active,” he says of the community. “It’s big.” Bike Nights happen at 5pm on the second Tuesday of each month (next on July 14) at Cycle Gear, 2001 Fremont Blvd., Seaside. Rev Together A monthly gathering at a motorcycle shop in Seaside brings diverse riders together. By Sloan Campi “We look out for each other. You feel seen.” TALES FROM THE AREA CODE ALBERT LUCAS JR Cycle Gear’s Bike Nights are a chance for motorcyclists to share stories. “There’s definitely a camaraderie when we’re out there on two wheels versus all the cars,” store manager Daniel Salinas says. LET' S CELEBRATE! 2026 BUSINESS EXCELLENCE AWARDS Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce Presented by Join Us in Celebrating Excellence Across Our Business Community! Thursday, July 23 6:00 - 9:00 PM Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa Get Tickets at montereychamber.com
www.montereycountynow.com JULY 9-15, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 9 On Earth Nominations open July 9 - 26 The Bestest Show Cast your Vote: MontereyCountyNow.com/BestOf Best of Monterey County®
10 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY JULY 9-15, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com NEWS With preventative campaigns and measures, such as closing the Home Depot parking lot in Seaside at dusk over the Fourth of July weekend, local law enforcement agencies including the Seaside Police Department report that this year’s holiday weekend was calmer than years past. The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office reported 85 calls for service in unincorporated Monterey County. Seaside Police Chief Nick Borges says officers made five arrests over the holiday weekend; the majority of those were related to impaired driving. “While illegal fireworks activity was still present, it was significantly lower than in previous years,” Borges says. “Last year marked the first measurable decline in illegal fireworks activity, and this year we saw an even greater improvement. The days leading up to the Fourth of July were also substantially quieter than in years past, demonstrating that our sustained enforcement efforts, proactive education and strong community partnerships are making a meaningful difference.” Seaside Police also experienced a reduction in hotline tips and calls for service related to fireworks, Borges says: “These trends reflect the positive impact of our collaborative approach to improving public safety.” Salinas Division Chief and Fire Marshal Chris Knapp’s team will be reviewing drone footage from the holiday and will tentatively begin issuing citations, starting at $1,500, on July 10. Salinas also offers payment plans and an appeals process; no appeals filed in 2025 were granted and all citations upheld. In Monterey, no fireworks-related citations were issued, but officers made three DUI-related arrests over the holiday weekend. Go Fourth Seaside Police report less citations and incidents for this year’s Fourth of July weekend. By Aric Sleeper What started as a traditional mixed-use development on Lighthouse and Hoffman avenues in Monterey, with five residential condominiums over ground-floor commercial space, has shifted from the conventional 12-month rental model to offer “extended stays” of 30 days or more. “Extended stay is appealing to anyone who cannot commit to one full-year lease, has sold their home and/or furnishings, or is on a shorter-term assignment,” Hideaway on Hoffman owner Anna Russell says. “This offering is critical for our community as employers in the area are seeking contract employees with greater frequency in almost every field. People in general are on the move, now more than ever.” The project, originally advertised as providing “much-needed housing” in the building that was once home to Paper Wing Theatre, ran into some scheduling issues during development. After delays, as the project began to come together, Russell saw the potential for the extended-stay offering versus longer-term leases. “Being right in downtown New Monterey, close to the bike path and a quick drive to Carmel and Salinas, it is an ideal location for extended-stay clients—near the attractions and close to many employers, walkable yet has the feeling of a modern apartment building in a larger city,” she says. “Convenient, comfortable, beautifully designed and furnished.” Russell explains that “extended stay” is another way to say “midterm rental,” which typically ranges from 30 days to 12 months and that her property management company, De Tierra Rentals, started offering mid-term rentals about six years ago during the pandemic due to demand. Rentals of less than 30 days are illegal in the City of Monterey, and according to Monterey Planning Manager Levi Hill, an “extended-stay unit” isn’t a listed use classification in the City’s Zoning Code or the Lighthouse Specific Plan. He says the property at 601 Lighthouse Ave. is currently permitted as a mixed-use development with five residential units and 922 square feet of commercial space. “The property is not permitted as a Visitor Accommodation Facility and is not permitted for rentals for periods of 30 days or less,” Hill says. “In the event that units located at 601 Lighthouse are rented for a period less than 30 days, it would become a code enforcement matter, as such uses are not permitted.” Although Russell had intended for some units to have shorter-term stays of five days, with no other clients booking the unit for the remaining 30 days, the City of Monterey said otherwise. Following a letter from the City, she will no longer be able to offer any stay short of 30 days to stay compliant with the law. Russell says the ground-floor commercial space will be transformed into a community meeting space and market, envisioned as a “third space,” dubbed “The Temple Market” to honor the building’s previous name. It is slated to open next year, with a focus on women-owned businesses. “My hope for the Hideaway on Hoffman is that it fills a housing need, creates connection in the community between locals and visitors alike, and contributes to the amazing legacy of the Monterey Labor Temple building,” she says. One of the five extended-stay units at Hideaway on Hoffman, which promises the “comforting touches of a home” in an online posting. Temporary Digs Hideaway on Hoffman development in Monterey offers mid-term stays, not long-term leases. By Aric Sleeper Seaside Police Sgt. David Dillon picks up an illegal firework after catching someone trying to light it on July 4. SSPD issued 30 citations as of press time; more are anticipated. “People in general are on the move.” DANIEL DREIFUSS DANIEL DREIFUSS
www.montereycountynow.com JULY 9-15, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 11 2448 Bay View Avenue, Carmel 2 Beds, 2 Baths • $4,749,900 • www.2448BayView.com 254 Santa Lucia Lane, Marina 4 Beds, 3 Baths • $1,310,593 • www.LiveMarinaStation.com 15050 Breckinridge Avenue, East Garrison 3 Beds, 2 Baths • $975,000 • www.15050BreckinridgeAve.com 5220 Saddle Ridge Road, Lake Shastina 4 Beds, 2 Baths • $459,000 • www.MtShastaLakeShastinaViews.com Interested in a property? Contact us to schedule a showing! 831.624.2300 MontereyCoastRealty.com CalDRE #01871677 Locally Owned. Globally Connected. View all available listings by scanning the code PREVENTION•EDUCATION TREATMENT•RECOVERY READY TO MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD? Join the STEPS Program and be part of something bigger. Advocate for change, build leadership skills, and make a real impact in your community. WWW.SUNSTREETCENTERS.ORG 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
12 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY JULY 9-15, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com For the sixth consecutive year, strawberries retained the top spot among Monterey County’s agricultural commodities, while the wine industry continued to decline, according to the 2025 Monterey County crop report released on July 7. While several commodities reported gains, the overall gross production value of agricultural commodities declined 3 percent from 2024-25, dropping from $5 billion to $4.8 billion. “But, it’s a very good figure,” Agricultural Commissioner Juan Hidalgo said at a July 7 press conference. “It shows how stable agriculture is in our county, given the challenges that our growers face.” Strawberries’ gross production value rose to $1.1 billion. Leaf lettuce, which includes romaine and other varieties, topped $1 billion for the first time, an increase of 7 percent from 2024. Head lettuce, the county’s third most valuable crop, declined 2 percent in value. “Margins continue to shrink for many of our farming operations,” said Norm Groot, executive director of the Monterey County Farm Bureau. He detailed how a study they commissioned in 2025 showed that 13 percent of production costs go toward regulatory requirements in California. “That’s about $1,600 per acre each year. Doing business in California is tough.” Last year was largely characterized by fluctuating tariffs impacting exports, pest challenges like the diamondback moth, and high production costs linked to farm machinery and fertilizers produced in other countries. Overall, vegetable crops saw a decrease in value by 4 percent; the fruit and nuts category saw a decrease of 1 percent. Wine grapes are part of that category, and declined for a second year in a row with a 25-percent loss in gross value. Amid growing public scrutiny over pesticide use, the report’s theme is “25 Years of Organics.” It highlights “how organic agriculture has grown into a trusted, nationally regulated system defined by strong standards.” While organic agriculture accounts for 18 percent of the entire value of the sector, organic acreage has decreased by 2,143 acres since 2024. Hidalgo said that “is not entirely uncommon because of the [nature] of crop rotations.” “We still see strengths, particularly Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots and onions,” Groot said. “It’s the diversity of our crops that keeps Monterey County as the fourth-highest producing county in our country.” Across schools in Salinas, minority students have reported feeling unwelcomed and experiencing racism from their peers. This issue came under increased scrutiny after incidents on Salinas Union High School District campuses, including Salinas High students in 2021 mutilating a Black doll then posing with it and stomping on it. In 2023, students at Rancho San Juan High School produced stereotypical depictions to celebrate Black History Month, such as using cotton to simulate ice cream (millions of enslaved people were forced to work in the American cotton industry). Parents and community members demanded solutions to pervasive racism in SUHSD and elsewhere. Last year, SUHSD responded to those demands and created a committee of teachers, administrators, parents, students and representatives of local organizations, including the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) and National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), to address this issue. They organized town halls to get feedback from the community. After nearly a year of work, the SUHSD board approved an anti-hate policy on June 23. This policy establishes procedures to prevent and respond to any type of hate-motivated behavior, including discrimination, hate speech, harassment and bullying. “The end goal, of course, is to provide a safe, inclusive environment for all of our students,” SUHSD Board President Nathalia Carrillo says. SUHSD is seeking partnerships with other school districts to address the issue regionally. “It is pervasive in our schools, not just the high school district, but absolutely the elementary school district too,” says Vanessa Robinson, an SUHSD board member and elementary school teacher. The district has reached out to Santa Rita Union and Alisal Union school districts so far. Carrillo says SUHSD students have led the way to shape a more welcoming environment and share that work with their peers. Cash Crop Strawberries thrive and wine grapes decline, per 2025 Monterey County crop report. By Katie Rodriguez NEWS TRAFFIC CALMING City of Monterey is planning a temporary demonstration project of a traffic circle and other infrastructure at the Madison/Herrmann/Larkin intersection. City officials will be on hand to discuss the project and answer questions. 6-8pm Thursday, July 9. Monterey Public Library Community Room, 625 Pacific St., Monterey. Free. (831) 646-3921, engineering-admin@monterey.gov. FEE SCHEDULE Seaside County Sanitation District board meets to discuss proportional capacity fees for accessory dwelling units. Public comment is accepted. 9:30am Tuesday, July 14. City Council Chambers, 440 Harcourt Ave., Seaside. Free. (831) 899-6825, ci.seaside.ca.us. OPEN DOOR Monterey City Councilmember Jean Rasch holds open office hours. Drop by to share ideas and concerns. 4-5pm Thursday, July 16. City Hall, 580 Pacific St., Monterey. Free. (831) 625-3200. WATER WORKS State Water Resources Control Board accepts comments as it considers modifying the cease-and-desist order against Cal Am. The order, enacted in 2009, prevents the utility from setting new water meters. Comments due by July 20. bit.ly/CalAmCDO. RATE RELIEF Marina Coast Water District is now accepting applications for its new customer financial assistance program. Those who qualify will receive a $20.83 monthly credit on their fixed water charge. Applications are accepted through July 31. (888) 282-6816, bit.ly/MCWDCARES. LAND WATCHERS The Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) of Monterey County is seeking applications from residents to fill a public member seat. The commission regulates the boundaries of cities and special districts, establishes spheres of influence and conducts studies of government services. Deadline to apply is 5pm Friday, Aug. 14. (831) 754-5838, monterey.lafco.ca.gov. POWER OF READING Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has launched in Monterey County, and children from birth to age 5 can receive books in the mail every month. Enroll at bit.ly/4fg5Nir. Free. Face of Progress Salinas Union passes an anti-hate policy to create a welcoming environment for students. By Celia Jiménez Strawberries again had the highest gross production value in Monterey County, with a 3-percent increase over 2024 to $1.1 billion in 2025. E-MAIL: publiccitizen@montereycountynow.com PUBLIC CITIZEN “It shows how stable agriculture is in our county.” DANIEL DREIFUSS
www.montereycountyweekly.com JULY 9-15, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 13 INSIDER SQUID SAYS: THIS JULY SUPPORT LOCAL & INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM HOW TO JOIN Go online at insider.montereycountyweekly.com Or by mail: 668 Williams Ave., Seaside, CA 93955 Your contribution level: $500 $150 $50 $20 $15 $10 Other $_ ______ Contribution schedule: Monthly Annual One-time Name_________________________________________________________________________ Address_ ______________________________________________________________________ City, State_ ____________________________________________________________________ Email_ __________________________________ Phone________________________________ May we include your name in public acknowledgements? Yes How would you like your name to appear?__________________________________________ No, I would prefer to be anonymous Payment: Credit card number_ ____________________________________________________________ Expiration date __________________________CVV code_ _____________________________ Name/Billing address (if different from above)_ _____________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ The holiday that honors this nation’s founding is a perfect time to take stock of the freedoms we enjoy. Here at Monterey County Weekly, we put the freedom of the press at the top of our list of things to celebrate. It turns out, however, that a free press is an expensive enterprise. Our editorial department is the largest of any media operation covering Monterey County and the costs of providing professional, trustworthy journalism are substantial. Please join over 3,000 of your friends and neighbors and become a Weekly Insider today. We are asking the people who appreciate our local and independent journalism to help fund the operation. We designate all those who contribute as Insiders. Scan the QR code to become an Insider. In honor of Independence Day, the Weekly is offering an Insider incentive program. If you sign up to give $15/month from now through July 15, or make a onetime contribution of $150 or greater, we’ll send you a Squid tote bag. JOIN YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS AND BECOME AND INSIDER 070926
14 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY JULY 9-15, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com Dr. Shomir Banerjee did not appear nervous as he sat in Monterey County Superior Court in Salinas on Thursday, July 2, dressed in a blue button-down shirt and khaki pants, awaiting his sentencing hearing. Banerjee was arrested on felony charges in February for his role in a $3.2 million hospice fraud scheme, but quickly admitted guilt to the California Department of Justice in hopes of securing probation instead of prison time. Listed as a concierge doctor in Monterey and as a physician for a Gonzales medical clinic, Banerjee was not a leader in the fraud conspiracy, but rather a physician hired as a medical director to certify patients for end-of-life care from a hospice service, Fountain Hospice, based in Los Angeles County. Instead of approving qualified patients, Banerjee and two other physicians, were certifying people who did not need the care, and in many cases did not know their identities were being used. In addition to defrauding federal and state governments by illegally collecting Medicare and Medi-Cal reimbursements, the defendants harmed people who were signed up—when they attempted to use their benefits they were denied because they were listed as hospice patients, investigators found. Authorities discovered some people were enrolled in hospice care for years and were transferred between the three companies to escape detection. In court on July 2, California Deputy Attorney General Bianca Yip told Monterey County Superior Court Judge Andrew Liu that Banerjee approached officials soon after the arrest, acknowledging culpability. He originally was facing 30 felony charges, later negotiated down to one: health care fraud. “Unlike the [hospice facility owners], he got a stipend. He did not share in the profits,” Yip said. “The state believes he is less culpable.” Banerjee received two years of mandatory supervision instead of a possible five-year prison term and an order to pay restitution: $679,207 for Medi-Cal fraud and $758,797 for Medicare fraud. Liu ruled during an earlier hearing on May 27 that Banerjee is also prohibited from engaging in any hospice care businesses and from directly billing Medicare or Medi-Cal. Liu rejected the State’s request that Banerjee be prohibited from practicing medicine, arguing it was overbroad. The case against one of two hospice owners, Flor Zulema Mora, is ongoing in Monterey County Superior Court. Mora is listed as the owner of the Gonzales clinic where Banerjee is also listed as a physician, Ocean Breeze Multi-Speciality Clinic. It shares an address with another company, The Art of Palliative Care. Both are no longer operating, according to Mora, who answered the phone for the palliative care company. “I didn’t commit fraud. If anything, we’ve given a lot of free services to the community,” she says. “I’ve been dragged into this mess by my business partners.” Mora says she feels Banerjee “is innocent as well.” End Game A Monterey doctor is sentenced for his role in a larger $3.2 million hospice fraud scheme. By Pam Marino Dr. Shomir Banerjee is listed as a physician for a now-closed medical clinic in Gonzales, which shares an address with another closed business, The Art of Palliative Care. NEWS “The state believes he is less culpable.” DANIEL DREIFUSS ’25 Carmel Schach Festival Rapid tournament open to all players, novice to master! Blitz Tournament limited to chess players experienced with the chess clock. Saturday, July 11, 2026 9:15 AM - 5:45 PM $20 entry $5 for youth players 831.624.3285 Torres & 4th, Carmel carmelyouth.org
www.montereycountynow.com JULY 9-15, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 15 During President Donald Trump’s first term, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management approved a plan to make 725,500 acres of federal public lands and mineral estate available for oil and gas leasing in the Bay Area and Central Coast. The counties of Monterey and Santa Cruz, alongside environmental groups, argued the decision failed to consider meaningful alternatives and disclose environmental impacts, leading to a lawsuit in 2020. On June 23, roughly six years later and during Trump’s second term, the BLM issued a new Record of Decision after a court settlement required it to take a closer look. The agency reaffirmed its original decision, leaving the 725,500 acres eligible for future leases. “More oil and gas development is not only a threat to our health,” says Cooper Kass, an attorney at Center for Biological Diversity, a plaintiff in the case, “but also safety, climate, and a strain on taxpayer funds when those wells need to be cleaned up.” So far, BLM has begun environmental reviews for 50 parcels, according to Kass, almost all of which are in the Bakersfield field office and one in Fresno in the Central Coast planning area. Once those reviews are complete, the BLM may decide whether to offer the parcels for lease through a competitive bidding process. According to BLM, the decision to open federal lands for potential leasing is in alignment with Interior Secretary’s Order 3418 “Unleashing American Energy,” which is designed to expedite fossil fuel expansion and remove impediments. BLM published a report identifying areas with the greatest potential for future gas and oil development. It identifies Monterey County as one of two main areas in the Central Coast field office area, along with areas in Fresno County. Nearly all well development since 2002 in the Central Coast planning area occurred in Lynch Canyon Oil Field near San Ardo and the Monroe Swell Oil Field near Greenfield, the report states, and in Fresno County. The Salinas Basin in South Monterey County is regarded as favorable for petroleum development, while the Monterey Peninsula, the Gabilan Range and Northern Santa Lucia Range are considered geologically unfavorable and therefore not expected to see future oil development. “New oil and gas leases could jeopardize our vibrant coastal economy, threaten our environment and undermine our way of life in California’s 19th Congressional District,” says U.S. Rep. Jimmy Panetta, D-Carmel Valley. There are almost 500 idle wells in Monterey County—wells that are no longer productive but can still leak oil and pollutants—97 percent of which are located above groundwater sources. Oil drilling draws up water from underground, which is injected back into aquifers considered exempt, or no longer a source of drinking water. “There’s tremendous concern about injecting that contaminated water back underground,” Kass says. “It can migrate, if there’s any imperfections in that process, into beneficial-use groundwater.” Oil Options BLM leaves Monterey County open to potential oil and gas leases. By Katie Rodriguez Most oil and gas activity in California is on private land, and the same is true in Monterey County, where activity is centered in the San Ardo Oil Field. NEWS “There’s tremendous concern.” DANIEL DREIFUSS EARN3.50APY*% 9-MONTH CERTIFICATE LIMITED-TIME OFFER 831.647.1000 www.montereycu.com APY = annual percentage yield. Minimum opening deposit $10,000. Maximum $20,000,000. Limit to one promotional share certi cate per member. O er available for limited time starting 06/16/2026 and subject to change or cancellation without notice. Early withdrawal penalties apply. 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 I-HELP Monterey Bay, providing nightly shelter, meals, and support for individuals experiencing homelessness across Monterey County. Quarter by quarter, we’re investing in stronger communities. Learn More @ MontereyRentals.com CELEBRATING 40 YEARS WITH PURPOSE MCWeekly (4.66x5.57)
16 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY JULY 9-15, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com WATER FLOW Thank you so much for the extensive explanation (“It’s a critical year to pick a solution to save Monterey County’s aquifers. The questions are how, and who pays? June 25-July 1). I don’t remember seeing another article that put as much effort into explaining the situation as you did here. I still have questions, but it will be a very helpful resource to keep handy as a reference. Susan Courrejou | Salinas PRISON TIME This would have a large financial impact on Soledad! Sounds like it will happen (“To cut costs, state legislative office suggests closing a Soledad prison,” June 25-July 1). Jay Donato | Salinas TEACH IN I’m afraid this new principal is holding these people accountable—and [would] like to give our children some foundations to stand on instead of letting them run wild. They want to blame everyone else but their poor teaching abilities (“Pajaro Middle School teachers and parents demand the principal’s removal,” June 25-July 1). Pajaro Valley [Unified School District] has been a circus for years and people wouldn’t want to come work with teachers unions who don’t even come to the table. They go out, cry, boycott and still come up short in state test scores. They get upset and just babysit our kids vs. teaching them what they’ll need in real life. Alex Rivera | via social media This headline is the equivalent of: “Baristas and some customers demand removal of coffee shop manager.” Since when do some teachers and parents get to decide who the boss is? Jim Knowlton | Beaufort, South Carolina Teachers know best. Parents don’t work there. Elizabeth Marisol | Salinas Can the students read and do math at grade level? Maybe it’s the underperforming teachers that need to go. Larry Lycett | Santa Cruz PAY TO PARK Pacific Grove leadership continues to focus on finding new ways to generate more revenue from our visitors (“P.G. City Council approves further study of paid parking; adopts ParkMobile for existing spaces,” posted June 18). Tens of thousands of tourists come to our coastline each year and that the City bears the cost of maintaining roads, parking pullouts and beach access. If attracting and benefiting from tourism is such a priority, then why hasn’t leadership made providing adequate public restrooms at our most visited destinations—from Lovers Point to Asilomar—a priority as well? Before asking how to collect more money from visitors, shouldn’t we first ensure we are meeting one of their most basic human needs? Public restrooms are not a luxury—they are essential infrastructure. If City leadership is serious about promoting tourism, then investing in basic amenities should come before discussing new ways to increase visitor revenue. Christie Italiano-Thomas | Pacific Grove PAY TO LIVE No one disputes that the cost of living is a serious concern. But when Councilmember Kim Barber asked to agendize a discussion on creating a task force to study Monterey’s affordability challenges and develop practical solutions, I about lost it (“Squid Fry: Double Standard,” June 25-July 1). While well-intentioned, the proposal seems disconnected from the realities of what a city government can actually accomplish. What meaningful impact could a “Cost-of-Living Task Force” realistically have on affordability? The primary drivers of affordability—housing prices, inflation, grocery costs, gasoline, utilities, insurance, interest rates—are largely regional, state or national issues that a city simply cannot control. While Monterey is operating with a structural budget deficit and is considering increased fees and other revenue measures to balance its finances, I doubt whether a task force would produce any meaningful results. Deborah Roberts | Monterey For once, Squid got the headline exactly right. Its “Double Standard” column perfectly describes the column itself. Squid dismissed Councilmember Smith’s request for a discussion of a red, white and blue crosswalk while portraying Councilmember Barber’s request for staff to develop an affordability task force—with no defined plan, budget, funding source, timeline or measurable outcome—as a “valuable use of city resources.” What Squid omitted is equally telling. Questions have been publicly raised about taxpayer-funded maintenance of the rainbow crosswalk, and the City Council has already voted to agendize a discussion of how that maintenance occurred and whether it was authorized. Perhaps Squid should spend less time reaching for the shrimp-flavored popcorn and more time taking notes. Lori Mazzuca | Monterey LEADER SHIFT He sounds well qualified, with a strong physics background (“CSU Chancellor appoints an interim president to replace the departing Vanya Quiñones,” posted June 18). Walter Wagner | Salinas TROPHY SHELF Congratulations on the impressive number of honors you received at the California Journalism Awards (“This awards season provides good reminders to celebrate a rockstar team,” posted June 24). I rely on the Monterey County Weekly not only to stay informed about what’s happening in our community, but also for the thoughtful, in-depth reporting you provide on issues that matter to Monterey County. At a time when we should all be concerned about protecting a free and independent press, the Weekly continues to serve our community with integrity, insight and professionalism. Well done, and kudos to your entire team for providing such exceptional local journalism. Your work not only brings tremendous value to our community but also reflects a level of excellence recognized by your peers in the industry. Ann Kern | 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 JULY 9-15, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 17 There is something quaint about the idea of the neighborhood school, a place that kids can walk to, and that puts them in a classroom among their neighbors, with decisions about which school a child attends based on their address. Such rules (and exceptions to those rules) evolve along with the politics, budgets and attitudes around public education. And they are being tested in a back-and-forth unfolding between Salinas City Elementary School District and the Monterey County Office of Education. In the 2023-24 school year, 549 students who lived in SCESD boundaries transferred to other school districts, mostly to nearby Spreckels to the west, Santa Rita to the north, or Alisal to the east. That number represented 7 percent of average daily attendance. “That’s a significant number of students,” Superintendent Rebeca Andrade told the MCOE board on June 10. SCESD’s board took a new direction, denying more student requests for interdistrict transfers. A spike in denials resulted in a spike in appeals starting last year and continuing this year, with multiple appeal hearings before the MCOE board. As appeals have come up, with eight more scheduled for Wednesday, July 15, parents have gone to the microphone to plead their case, some more persuasively than others. There are child care needs (the babysitter who does school pickup and lives right near an out-of-district school), parents’ work schedules and impossible drop-off times, relationships with teachers and friendships. “We feel it’s in our children’s best interest to maintain structure and stability,” said one dad of two children who had transferred to Spreckels. Again and again, the MCOE board has agreed with the appellants, whatever their reasons, overturning SCESD’s denials. That is despite Andrade’s plea that MCOE uphold the denials. “When we are overturning so many, it really does have a huge impact,” she said. SCESD also has an influx of students who transfer in, many families drawn to a dual-language immersion program. The same year 549 students left the district, 524 students who lived outside the district enrolled in SCESD; in 2024-25, 629 students transferred in, more than the 468 who transferred out. That trend repeated in 2025-26. These numbers matter because each student equals incoming revenue from the State of California to fund public education, and demographic projections show the number of school-age children continuing to decline. School administrators plan budgets and hire or lay off teachers well before the school year. Declining enrollment creates financial pressure, leading to a lower tolerance for transfers, MCOE Superintendent Deneen Guss said: “That’s why we’re seeing this now and we haven’t seen it through the years.” MCOE attorney Thomas Manniello added some context. “I don’t want this to sound cynical, like a district’s just chasing money,” he said. Less revenue makes it harder to fund good programs: “The question is, are you looking at that district’s goal or this individual transfer student’s educational continuity? You have to balance that.” For now, MCOE is balancing in favor of the individual students. That’s based on an analysis of state law by Manniello, that once a transfer is approved, it must be maintained until the student completes the highest grade level at that school. It’s an interpretation SCESD disputes. “It’s alarming,” MCOE Board President Heather Owen says of SCESD’s denials. “It seems like they should be granting these.” More broadly, Owen says, “There is some value also in allowing parents and families to choose what is right for them. It is a balance.” While the two boards fight over how to read state law, the whole process seems to miss the bigger question: Who gets to decide where students attend school? Even Manniello noted that transfers can be driven not by genuine needs but by darker impulses: “In some cases, it’s driven by white flight.” I think of one family that appealed for their daughter, getting ready to start second grade in Spreckels instead of at El Gabilan Elementary in Salinas. “The school they are recommending is primarily a Spanishspeaking school,” the mom said. “She doesn’t speak any Spanish.” In fact, El Gabilan is one of SCESD’s schools that does not offer dual immersion; all classes are taught entirely in English. Sara Rubin is the Weekly’s editor. Reach her at sara@montereycountynow.com. School Choice Salinas City Elementary clashes with County Board of Ed on school transfers. By Sara Rubin CITY SEARCH…Squid has had to navigate the gamut of government websites in Monterey County for years, and even now gets frustrated while trying to find the right meeting agenda or set of building plans, as no two city sites are quite alike. Concurrently, Squid is skeptical of generative AI—not only because of the environmental toll but also out of principle and to ensure no human questions Squid’s use of em dashes. That said, Squid was impressed watching a presentation from Seaside City Manager Greg McDanel about an AI-powered search engine now available on the city’s website, which can answer essentially any question typed into the search bar—in numerous languages, from German to Russian to Spanish. The City of Salinas also launched its own AI search option named “Sali,” a chatbot that speaks 75 languages. Squid tried asking Sali some questions, but didn’t get very far. Salinas Public Information Officer Sophia Rome says maybe Squid was doing it wrong: “If that information doesn’t exist already on the website, it will direct you to the person you should talk to.” Both tools are intended to benefit the public with easier-to-find information, as well as city staff, who may field fewer questions. Still, with the amount of energy AI needs to function, Squid wonders if the environmental cost of convenience is worth it. BAIT AND SWITCH…Squid often oozes over to get shrimp-flavored snacks at Trader Joe’s or to cheer on Monterey Bay FC at Brass Tap (proudly disturbing the few sensitive neighbors who chose to live in a busy commercial area). With home prices reaching over $2 million, it seems it’s mostly wealthy Silicon Valley types who can live there—and they soon might also be the only ones who can afford to visit. Marina City Council heard a presentation from Dadwal Management Group on July 1 for its proposed “upper upscale” hotel. A long-agreed-upon plan had the developer building two modest hotels. But they commissioned a report showing there is more money to be had in a hotel for the wealthiest— the affluent can always afford to travel, regardless of how terrible the economy is. The developer is also seeking an estimated $25 million transient occupancy tax-sharing agreement with Marina. The council agreed 4-1 to bring such an agreement back for consideration, with Councilmember Brian McCarthy dissenting. “How do I get in on that deal?” McCarthy said, tongue-in-cheek. “Let me bid for something, say I’m going to provide it, then say I’m not, but if you give me $25 million, I’ll do something else for you.” Squid hopes to get in on that deal as well, but won’t plan to spend a night in the hotel—looking at the back of Target and REI doesn’t sound too appealing. THE LOCAL SPIN SQUID FRY THE MISSION OF MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY IS TO INSPIRE INDEPENDENT THINKING AND CONSCIOUS ACTION, ETC. “It really does have a huge impact.” SEND SQUID A TIP: squid@montereycountynow.com
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