AUGUST 6-12, 2026 MONTEREYCOUNTYNOW.COM LOCAL & INDEPENDENT TO THE BIRDS 13 | CAR WEEK REVS UP—A CALENDAR OF EVENTS 22 | GOLDEN STATE THEATRE AT 100 30 Ten years after homicides spiked in Salinas, a retired cop looks at how policing helped turn the tide. p. 18 By John C. Murray SAFETY FIRST
2 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY AUGUST 6-12, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com AUGUST 6-12, 2026 • ISSUE #1984 • ESTABLISHED IN 1988 Erik Chalhoub (iPhone 16) The view from a mountain bike ride through a grove of manzanitas so thick it forms a tunnel on Trail 63 in Fort Ord National Monument. MONTEREY COUNTY PHOTO OF THE WEEK Send Etc. submissions to etcphoto@montereycountynow.com; please include caption and camera info. On the cover: The Police Service of Salinas’ new headquarters opened on East Alisal Street in 2020, just before indictments in the “Murder Squad” cases were announced. 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. The Weekly is an adjudicated newspaper of Monterey County, court decree M21137. Milestone Communications, Inc. is a California corporation based in Seaside, CA. Shares of the corporation are wholly owned by Bradley Zeve, Founder & CEO, Carmel Valley, CA and Erik Cushman, Publisher, Pacific Grove, CA. The Weekly assumes no responsibility for unsolicited materials. Visit our website at http://www.montereycountynow.com. 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 AUGUST 6-12, 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 AUGUST 6-12, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com THE BUZZ FREE SPEECH Ignoring the First Amendment’s guarantee of press freedom is part of doing business for the Trump Administration, as federal subpoenas of reporters, once rare, are becoming all too commonplace. Earlier this year, the government issued subpoenas that it later withdrew to reporters from the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Washington Post for various separate “national security matters,” including for reporting about issues from a Qataridonated jet to Trump. The latest was reported Aug. 1 by the New York Times, when FBI agents delivered a subpoena to freelance reporter Matthew Cole at his home, demanding that he turn over two years of sources for his 2025 article on a failed 2019 U.S. mission in North Korea. According to Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press President Bruce Brown, there have been at least four subpoenas of reporters by the government in the last few months, after only three in the last 25 years. “The public should be alarmed; the reporters will stay resolute,” Brown said. Good: There was some good news in the 2026 Point-in-Time Count, the biennial census of people experiencing homelessness: Overall homelessness was down from the 2024 count and unsheltered homelessness was down 23 percent, it was announced July 29. It was the third decline in homelessness over the past four counts. “It does demonstrate that all of the different sectors are beginning to close the gap and we are all doing exactly what the funding is asking us to do,” said Roxanne Wilson, County of Monterey homelessness services director. Homelessness was down 72 percent in unincorporated Monterey County, which Wilson attributed to encampment resolution grants used to construct units in King City, Soledad and Watsonville for people formerly homeless. A 60-percent increase in those who were homeless for the first time signaled more housing is needed, Wilson said. GREAT: There is always a need for nurses, emergency medical technicians and firefighters, but such careers require a significant commitment—especially financial—to pursue. To help ease the burden and bolster the future workforce, Monterey Peninsula College and the Monterey Peninsula College Foundation announced the launch of the Honor Grant Program on Aug. 3, providing more than $300,000 to students pursuing careers in these fields. The grants are supported by a matching donation from the Posey Family Foundation, with every dollar up to $250,000 doubled. In addition, students who receive the grant (up to $10,000 per academic year) will make monthly repayments to the foundation once they secure employment, which the college describes as a self-sustaining system. Those payments will be treated as tax-deductible charitable donations with no interest. GOOD WEEK / GREAT WEEK THE WEEKLY TALLY That’s how many backpacks will be donated to children in need thanks to the efforts of volunteers, donors and businesses who contributed to the Stuff the Bus program. The backpacks are distributed to students through the Monterey County Office of Education’s Homeless Children and Youth Services Division. Source: United Way Monterey County 6,565 QUOTE OF THE WEEK “We knew the law was on our side and we would prevail.” -Pacific Grove City Councilmember Tina Rau, after the California Fair Political Practices Commission closed an investigation into her on July 29 (see story, montereycountynow.com/ news). Voted Monterey County’s Best Antique Shop ’25 ♦ 3 Card Poker ♠ Century 21st No Bust Black Jack ♣ Texas Hold’em ♥ FULL BAR! BLACKJACK BONUS POINTS PAYS UP TO $20,000 SMALL TOWN BIG PAYOUTS! 1-800-Gambler • GEAR-000383, GEAR-000376, GEAR-000375 The Marina Club Casino ensures the safety and security of all guests and team members at all times, while providing exceptional service. 204 Carmel Ave. Marina 831-384-0925 casinomonterey.com ♠ ♣ ♥ ♦ Just minutes from Downtown Monterey Where Monterey Comes To Play
www.montereycountynow.com AUGUST 6-12, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 5 Salinas Valley Health Rheumatology | 321 East Romie Lane, Salinas, CA 93901 | 831-424-1400 ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS! FELLOWSHIP Medical University of South Carolina Charleston, South Carolina RESIDENCY Cleveland Clinic Foundation Cleveland, Ohio MEDICAL EDUCATION Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland Dublin, Republic of Ireland INTRODUCING LAUREN BERRY, MD Lauren Berry, MD, provides patient-centered care, helping individuals navigate complex rheumatologic conditions with confidence and support. Her personalized, evidence-based treatment plans are designed to improve health, function, and overall quality of life. • Diagnoses and treats autoimmune, inflammatory, and musculoskeletal conditions. • Expertise in scleroderma, lupus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis, and osteoporosis. Specializing in Rheumatology SalinasValleyHealth.com For more information about Dr. Lauren Berry, scan the QR code.
6 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY AUGUST 6-12, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com 831 Growing up can be a bumpy road for many teens, made worse when they are apathetic toward school, don’t know how to manage their emotions or associate with gangs. Having a helping hand can make a difference in how children overcome their obstacles. One local option is the Silver Star Resource Center run by the Monterey County Probation Department that offers prevention and early intervention programs for youth ages 6-21. Since 2004, the one-stop location connects youth and their families to an array of services designed to help them gain self-confidence and skills to thrive in their communities. Various organizations are involved, including Partners For Peace, Rainbow Connections, Restorative Justice Partners, the Monterey County Office of Education and more. At the Silver Star Resource Center in Salinas, parents and youth are referred to different services and workshops, including family education and anger management. Services are offered in English and Spanish, with Mixteco and Triqui interpretation. They are open for families and youth countywide. Young participants learn about the impacts crime survivors face and are encouraged to continue with their education and receive counseling. Annette Garcia, a truancy abatement officer with Silver Star, says the goal is to get to the root of the issue and prevent youth from falling into the juvenile justice system. “Our objective here is to give them all of the skill sets that they need, so that they don’t have any run-ins with the law, and that they also have a trusted space where they know they can come back and confide in us,” Garcia says. Young people are enrolled in the program in various ways. They are referred by the court (meaning it’s mandatory), by family members and educators, or they can self-report. Pamela Morris, a single mother of four children, was referred to Silver Star because of her two older children’s truancy cases for missing school. “I was very resistant, unhappy. I thought it was a waste of my time,” Morris says. Over time, Morris says she and her children experienced positive changes, and now she has a better relationship with them. “It was just a life-changing experience for my kids,” Morris says. “I’m back to being a mom, physically being there and mentally being there, instead of the other times I was checked out. I got my life back in order.” Daney Marquez’s principal referred her to the DAISY (Drug and Alcohol Intervention Services for Youth) program when she was caught smoking cannabis. The 16-year-old attends Bob Hoover Academy, an alternative high school focused on STEM and aviation, and says it took her two years to quit smoking. Many of the programs parents and youth enroll in offer a comprehensive approach. At DAISY, it goes beyond telling clients what's good or bad. “We are here more to educate them, meet them where they’re at, and understand the short-term and long-term effects of substances," says Julia Mendoza, a counselor with the DAISY program. When Zacil Pech Hernandez was 14 years old, she had anger management issues, was smoking and drinking and was involved in fights regularly. Her breaking point, she says, was when police officers were looking for her at school after a fight. “It was just like a reality check that I could go to jail for fighting, and I never imagined that I could until that point,” she says. She self-referred to Silver Star. Pech Hernandez, who is now 18, says the center turned her life around and now she’s taken a leadership role, mentoring other children in the Step Up and Strengthening Families programs, both run through Partners For Peace. Vicki Law, executive director of Partners For Peace, saw Pech Hernandez bloom while in the program. “To go from so much trauma and not knowing which direction to go into a thriving young adult—it’s amazing to me,” Law says. Pech Hernandez was the Community Alliance for Safety and Peace Youth Spirit award winner last year. Law says she sees these transformations constantly. “It’s not a one-off,” she says. Rising Stars A center helps struggling children and their families flourish through counseling and other programs. By Celia Jiménez “It was just a life-changing experience for my kids.” TALES FROM THE AREA CODE CELIA JIMÉNEZ It takes a team to put on programs at Silver Star. It includes Julia Mendoza (back row, from left), Leticia Molinero, Annette Garcia, Johnatan Portillo (front row, from left), Alexis Morales, Vicki Law and Brenda Almaraz. JOIN NOW Business is Better Together CONNECT. GROW. BELONG. Build meaningful connections, increase your visibility, and access the resources your business needs to thrive. Join the Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce today! montereychamber.com • info@montereychamber.com • 831.648.5350
www.montereycountynow.com AUGUST 6-12, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 7 WeatherTechRaceway.com JOIN US FOR AN OLD-SCHOOL STREET PARTY IN MONTEREY. We are kicking off the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion on Alvarado Street, Downtown Monterey Join us for a fun afternoon where you can see historic race cars, meet the drivers, and enjoy great music. It’s fun for the whole family. It’s a FREE event. FRIDAY, AUGUST 7 5 - 7 PM WeatherTechRaceway.com CELEBRATING JAPAN’S RACING HERITAGE AT 190 MPH. AUGUST 12-15 For 2026, the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion is proud to honor icons of Japanese motorsport. Get ready for a once-in-a-lifetime collection of authentic and historic Japanese race cars. It is a museum revving to life as legendary cars race at top speed around our storied track. Because the most fitting way to celebrate Japanese racing excellence is at full throttle. AUGUST 12-15. Tickets and camping info at WeatherTechRaceway.com
8 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY AUGUST 6-12, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com NEWS Voters in the Carmel Unified School District will decide this Nov. 3 whether to approve a $250 million bond measure to fund upgrading facilities across the district. The measure, approved by the CUSD board on June 17, is asking for less than the nearly $280 million that district officials forecast are needed to upgrade all its facilities, according to a 2019 master plan. “It’s to ensure students have reliable facilities, ensure teachers have reliable systems and to mitigate missed instructional hours—those moments that kids can’t go to school because a pipe burst,” says CUSD Board President Matt Glazer, the parent of two children attending CUSD schools. The district sets aside nearly $3 million every year to maintain and complete facilities projects, but it isn’t enough to fulfill the needs across the district. Glazer has visited all nine school sites and says the need is consistent with the district’s master plan. Some CUSD campuses were built in the 1940s and ’50s; parts of Carmel High School were built in 1939. Aging infrastructure is not unique to CUSD. Monterey Peninsula Unified and North Monterey County Unified are facing similar challenges. In 2024, MPUSD voters passed a $340 million bond, which included facilities upgrades. NMCUSD is hoping to pass a relatively modest $40 million bond measure this November for campus renovations. If approved, property owners within CUSD will pay $36 per $100,000 of assessed property value, generating $17.7 million annually until 2054. To pass, it needs 55-percent approval. The last time CUSD voters approved a bond measure was in 2005. Bond Market Carmel Unified will ask voters to approve a $250 million bond to upgrade aging facilities. By Celia Jiménez When the levee along the Pajaro River broke around midnight on March 11, 2023, the resulting flood devastated the community of Pajaro—inundating homes and businesses and leading to an abrupt early-morning evacuation of residents, many of whom were displaced for an extended period and whose belongings were damaged or destroyed. Farms also faced catastrophic floods, suffering millions in damage from the deluge. In 2024, multiple lawsuits were filed on behalf of multiple plaintiffs— including hundreds of residents, as well as agricultural operations in the Pajaro Valley such as Driscoll’s, JAL Berry Farms, and other non-farm businesses. Defendants named in the suits included the counties of Monterey and Santa Cruz, along with the Monterey County Water Resources Agency, the Pajaro Regional Flood Management Agency and Caltrans, among others. Now, after more than two years in court, those cases are nearly settled, according to court records, with specific terms not yet announced or entered into the court record. According to Chief Assistant Monterey County Counsel Kelly L. Donlon, “The parties have preliminary agreement in all the Pajaro levee flood-related cases on financial terms, but not all parties have yet agreed and we are still negotiating the non-monetary terms.” One of the lawsuits, filed by Willoughby Farms, argued that the roughly $7 million in damage the company suffered on properties including Trafton Ranch and Cox Ranch were avoidable and caused by the multiple agencies’ decisions to “defer maintenance and repair, which created an unreasonable risk of harm to Willoughby Farms,” and that “the unreasonable conduct violated California law.” “This case is about a farm devastated in multiple places by a failed levee system and sewer system along the Pajaro River,” the complaint reads. “In a series of inadequate planning, operation and maintenance decisions, the agencies named in this lawsuit failed their duties owed to Willoughby Farms.” The company’s 65-acre O’Connell Ranch is located directly adjacent to the levee. Willoughby’s attorneys argued that the case is not about harm by “unforeseeable rainfall or harm associated with a foreseeable risk of owning property near a river.” The court documents highlight that the Army Corps of Engineers constructed the levee in 1949 to reduce flooding risks to the surrounding areas, with agencies including the County of Santa Cruz and the Monterey County Water Resources Agency signing a 1947 resolution assuring the Army that they would operate and maintain the levee. Willoughby’s lawsuit alleges breaches of California’s civil and government code along with a breach of the California Constitution, which states: “Private property may be taken or damaged for a public use and only when just compensation, ascertained by a jury unless waived, has first been paid to, or into court for, the owner.” More details about the settlement terms are expected in the coming weeks. Widespread flooding in the Pajaro Valley after the levee breached in 2023 prompted multiple lawsuits by farmers and individuals against various public agencies. Flood Pain A settlement is on the horizon in multiple lawsuits filed in response to the Pajaro levee failure. By Aric Sleeper Proposed upgrades include transitioning from portable to permanent classrooms at Tularcitos Elementary School, as well as updates to plumbing and electrical, disability access and playgrounds. “This case is about a farm devastated in multiple places.” DANIEL DREIFUSS DANIEL DREIFUSS
www.montereycountynow.com AUGUST 6-12, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 9 DON’T LET YOUR FAUCET IDLE. Whether you’re here to enjoy the concours or the coastline, please remember, every drop makes a difference. • Take shorter showers • Reuse towels • Turn off tap while brushing CONSERVE AND SUSTAIN MPWMD.NET 24623 Upper Trail, Carmel 3 Beds, 2 Baths • $2,490,000 • www.24623UpperTrail.com 261 Santa Lucia Lane, Marina 4 Beds, 2.5 Baths • $1,250,453 • www.LiveMarinaStation.com 75 Ocean Pines Lane, Pebble Beach 2 Beds, 2 Baths • $975,000 • www.75OceanPines.com 471 Country Estates Terrace, Bonny Doon 2 Beds, 2 Baths • $898,000 • www.BonnyDoonSolitude.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 Virtual Staging
10 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY AUGUST 6-12, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com For years, locals have raised concerns over the growing traffic bottleneck on Highway 1 at Point Lobos State Natural Reserve. Dubbed “the crown jewel of the California State Park system,” the reserve now sees more than 500,000 visitors annually, 85-percent over the 270,000 annual capacity identified in the 1979 General Plan. “From about 10am to 2pm we’re seeing a large increase of people mostly parking along the highway and walking in, [sometimes] getting up into 4,000 to 5,000 people a day,” says John Hiles, manager of the Monterey Sector of State Parks. “It’s overwhelming the reserve.” Plans for the ParkIT! shuttle, a community-based initiative launched in 2018 to reduce congestion along the Highway 1 corridor from Carmel to Big Sur, are finally taking a step forward. On Monday, Aug. 3, the Carmel Highlands and Carmel Valley Land Use Advisory Committees voted to advance the proposed project to the County Planning Commission. The project proposal from State Parks includes utilizing the Marathon Flats parking lot at Rio Road as a 100-space park-andshuttle location, transporting visitors into Point Lobos State Reserve approximately every 15 minutes. The plan also proposes a reservation system to manage shuttle riders and parking at both Marathon Flats and within the park. “What we’re seeing, especially in seasons like this, are steep spikes of visitation,” Hiles says. “One of our goals with the reservation system is to be able to manage that use and spread it out throughout the day or the week.” At the Carmel Valley LUAC meeting, the majority of roughly a dozen locals who spoke expressed support for the shuttle system, arguing it represents a critical step toward improving safety and accessibility in the area. Opponents of the proposal questioned the location of the parking lot in a 100year floodplain, and others raised concerns about the traffic analysis. One Carmel Highlands resident, Sara Stone, shared stories of neighbors whose vehicles had been side-swiped by drivers making U-turns along the busy highway. She also told a story of a neighbor whose husband died of a heart attack, and wondered if his life might have been saved if an ambulance hadn’t been delayed by traffic congestion. “You’ve got gridlock going both northbound and southbound,” Stone said. “He may have passed away anyway, but the point is we’ll never know. That’s in our head, and I don’t want that happening to any family member I have, or any neighbor.” For nearly three decades, Pedro Gasga-Velasco worked as a landscaper for Green Valley Landscaping, owned by Mutsugu Mori, who also operates Hana Gardens in Seaside and its former location in Del Rey Oaks. According to the complaint filed in December 2025, Mori, who was a direct supervisor of then57-year-old Gasga-Velasco, allegedly “engaged in a long-standing pattern of targeting and removing older workers, particularly older Mexican employees,” and that Mori “recently terminated nearly all employees in their 40s and 50s as part of his discriminatory campaign,” including GasgaVelasco in October 2025. Mori says the allegations are unfounded and that he employs numerous longtime workers over the age of 40. Mori says that he did not fire Gasga-Velasco and that the landscaper quit his position of his own volition following an incident where Gasga-Velasco nearly caused a fire. Alongside the alleged age discrimination, the complaint states that Mori required all of his landscapers to perform daily physical exercises, including “50 push-ups, karate-style drills, sit-ups and V-holds,” and that if any employees struggled to perform the exercises that “Mori would yell at, belittle or physically manipulate workers whose form he deemed incorrect.” Mori denies those claims and says that his employees enjoy the morning exercise routine, which he asserts is not mandatory and helps prevent injuries. In addition, the court documents state that Gasga-Velasco endured racial harassment by Mori, who allegedly said that “Mexicans are not smart,” alongside physical risks associated with unsafe working conditions, which Mori calls “total baloney.” Gasga-Velasco is seeking damages, back and front pay and a declaration by the court that Mori violated the Fair Employee and Housing Act, California Labor Code and the California Business and Professions Code. Mori believes the lawsuit will be dismissed. The next hearing is set for Aug. 18 in Monterey County Superior Court. Road Relief Two land use advisory committees advance longawaited ParkIT! shuttle plans. By Katie Rodriguez NEWS FIRE FALLOUT Presenters from EMBER (Estuary Monitoring of Battery Emissions and Residues) share research on the aftermath from the 2025 Vistra battery energy storage facility fire in Moss Landing. The event includes a question-and-answer session. 9am-4pm Friday, Aug. 7. Virtual via Zoom at bit.ly/EMBERAug7. Free. BALLOT BOX The end of the candidate filing period for the November election is approaching. Filing period closes Aug. 7 (extended to Aug. 12 if incumbent does not file to run for re-election). Free. (831) 7961499, countyofmonterey.gov/elections. ON THE RANCH Big Sur Land Trust wants to hear from the public on Marks Ranch and Ferrini Ranch, located along the Highway 68 corridor. The trust acquired Marks Ranch in 2007 and is fundraising to purchase Ferrini Ranch for conservation. Survey open through Friday, Aug. 7. Free. bit.ly/MarksFerriniSurvey. LIVE EVENTS Monterey County Planning Commission meets to consider allowing the Monterey County Sheriff’s Posse to hold concerts and other events. Public comment is accepted on this and other items on the agenda. 9am Wednesday, Aug. 12. Board of Supervisors’ Chambers, 168 West Alisal St., Salinas. Free. (831) 7555025, countyofmonterey.gov. DWELL ON IT Del Rey Oaks Planning Commission meets to discuss updates to the city’s ordinance on accessory dwelling units. Public comment is accepted. 6pm Wednesday, Aug. 12. City Council Chambers, 650 Canyon Del Rey Blvd., Del Rey Oaks. Free. (831) 394-8511, delreyoaks.org. DANGERS OF DRUGS Sun Street Centers presents the Overdose & Drug Awareness Symposium. The event provides information about drug trends, the risks associated with substance use and available resources. 6-8pm Thursday, Aug. 13. Oldemeyer Center, 986 Hilby Ave., Seaside. Free. Register at bit.ly/SunStreetSymposium. (831) 753-5150. REDUCE THE RISK Pajaro Regional Flood Management Agency is developing a Local Hazard Mitigation Plan to outline ways to reduce disasters along the Pajaro River. A draft report is available for public review. Comments are due 5pm Friday, Aug. 14. prfma.org/local-hazard-mitigation-plan. Splitting Hairs Landscaper files wrongful termination lawsuit against Green Valley Landscape in Seaside. By Aric Sleeper John Hiles of State Parks (left) speaks to the Carmel Valley LUAC about the ParkIT! shuttle proposal on Monday, Aug. 3. Caltrans also supports the shuttle concept. E-MAIL: publiccitizen@montereycountynow.com PUBLIC CITIZEN “It’s overwhelming the reserve.” DANIEL DREIFUSS
www.montereycountynow.com AUGUST 6-12, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 11 LONG LIVE THE SCENIC ROUTE. Monterey Car Week is the global epicenter of car culture. Experience every mile, every event, and every unforgettable moment and take The Right Path. Help preserve the roads, landscapes, and communities that make this legendary week possible for generations to come. FRIDAY, AUGUST 7 - SUNDAY, AUGUST 16, 2026 SEEMONTEREY.COM /CARWEEK SM_CarWeek_TheWeeklyHalfPgAd.indd 1 7/28/26 1:26 PM . . ShellyMitchellLynchTeam.com Shelly@CarmelRealtyCompany.com Broker & Managing Director DRE#01217466 Digital Rendering . Acres ◆ , , www. Quatro.com . Acres ◆ , , www. ManjaresRd.com A L M T , O C M B Set within the prestigious gated communities of Tehama and Monterra, these exceptional homesites o er a rare combination of seclusion, sunshine, and proximity to the Monterey Peninsula’s most celebrated destinations. S M L Top Agents in the U.S. Acres ◆ , , www. Carina.com C , C . Acres ◆ , , www. ViaMalpaso.com V M , C Q , C M , M Digital Rendering
12 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY AUGUST 6-12, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com NEWS 3 “Five days of hell” was how one Pebble Beach resident described his experience during last year’s Car Week, addressing the Monterey County Zoning Administrator on Thursday, July 30. In addition to all the traffic caused by private events throughout the Del Monte Forest, he asked how security was going to keep “all the influencers off the streets”— referencing the explosion of social media influencers who show up, bringing their own exotic autos to show off and blocking roadways. At one point last year, the California Highway Patrol shut down an unpermitted exotic car event on 17-Mile Drive. An Instagram video posted on Aug. 13, 2025, shows the road choked with cars and dozens of bystanders. “If you could all please leave. The first people who will be cited and towed are the exotics that everyone is here to see,” a CHP officer in his vehicle announces over a loudspeaker. “Please leave in an orderly fashion. Thank you for coming.” This year the Pebble Beach Company and CHP are planning to thwart similar issues from happening. Three dedicated officers will be on patrol during the week, according to a CHP spokesperson. In addition, 17-Mile Drive will be closed to outside traffic Thursday-Sunday, Aug. 13-16, the day of the Concours d’ Elegance. At the Zoning Administrator meeting, at least two residents showed up to protest a permit request by the property owner at 1062 Spyglass Woods Drive to allow French carmaker Bugatti to host up to 150 clients for showings of the exotic cars and a party. Three other private Car Week events were also on the agenda, all on Poppy Lane. Combined, the four events were expecting up to 575 guests over the 10 days of what constitutes Car Week. Pebble Beach Company’s director of security, Peter Brown, agreed that “last year was a mess and it was not conducive to the residents.” Brown told Zoning Administrator Mike Novo that this year, private events at homes are required to have guests park offsite and take a shuttle. The company will block off parking on neighborhood streets and post tow-away signs. “We have a significant CHP and security presence throughout the week that will respond to and address [problems] immediately. We have a zero tolerance policy that week,” Brown said. “Essentially, if someone violates the rules, we will ask them to leave and not allow them back into Pebble.” Acknowledging last year’s issues, Novo said he believed Bugatti organizers would be offering a smaller event than what took place at the same residence last year and approved the application with conditions, but only for 2026—the property owner had been asking for a three-year permit. He approved the other three permits with conditions, as well. Novo said it was “incumbent on the operators to really make this work this year,” and suggested they talk to neighbors to find out what the issues are “so when we come back next year everybody will be satisfied on a good, neighborly operation for this area.” Hit the Brakes Pebble Beach Company and CHP strategize to avoid the ‘mess’ of last year’s Car Week. By Pam Marino An image from a video on Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025, shows 17-Mile Drive at a standstill with vehicles and observers gathered to watch an unpermitted exotic car event. 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www.montereycountynow.com AUGUST 6-12, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 13 There’s an old myth about why the Heermann’s gull, a smaller, red-billed seagull that’s been nesting atop businesses in Seaside, steals food from its pelican neighbors. In a world before birds were birds, as the Indigenous Seri story goes, jealousy over money sparked a family feud, eventually becoming immortalized as those ancestors were turned into birds. “Sometimes, you’ll see the gulls swoop down and grab fish from inside the pelican’s pouch,” says Kai Russel of the Audubon Society, telling the story as he looks down at three Heermann’s gulls sitting contently on the sand in front of him one Wednesday evening at Monterey State Beach. Russel, along with a number of volunteers and staff with the Monterey Audubon Society, count the gulls aggregating alongside an outfall at the beach. They’ve counted about 120 birds, some of them banded thanks to a new initiative launched this year: the Heermann’s Gull Monitoring Project. “We weren’t sure our local colony went to this spot before, but now we know because of the bands,” Russel says of these birds. “This monitoring project is the most hands-on of any project we’ve done so far.” From June 23 through the end of July, 17 volunteers patrolled Broadway during peak hours as part of the project’s outreach program. Working in pairs and adorned in identifiable vests and carrying clipboards, they spoke with passersby who were curious or concerned about the birds. Famously, the near-threatened species has selected the businesses along Broadway as its main nesting location. The local colony in Seaside is the only breeding colony in the United States. In the past, local business owners have been frustrated by the stench that accompanies the nesting birds, as well as concerns for the birds themselves. Each year, chicks make their first attempts to fly from rooftop nests—some ending up in the middle of traffic. Deb Kramer, volunteer and community engagement manager with the Audubon Society, says an initial challenge was reframing negative comments about the colony by explaining its history and clarifying that the goal is to move the birds to a better location, not keep them on business rooftops. “People would say, ‘the birds are messy, noisy and stinky,’” Kramer says. “Our response evolved, which was a great way to shift the conversation. People were more receptive to talking about them once they knew that we were in alignment with them.” Using drones, two students from CSU Monterey Bay have also been collecting data on the size of the Seaside colony and their interactions with other gulls. The City of Seaside has partnered in the project, installing signs to warn drivers of potential chicks on the road. When chicks do wander onto the road, volunteers move them to safety before Russel would come band the birds then return them to their nests. “Last year without the program, there were six deaths in one day,” Russel says. “This year, there have been six deaths total.” Bird Watch A Heermann’s Gull project begins helping track and protect the famed red-billed bird. By Katie Rodriguez Roughly 90 percent of the global population of Heermann’s gulls breed on a small island in the Sea of Cortez and are vulnerable to disruptions in food supply and habitat as global temperatures warm. NEWS “This is the most hands-on of any project we’ve done.” KATIE RODRIGUEZ Carmel Tasting Room San Carlos & 7th • 831.626.WINE (9463) Estate Winery & Tasting Room 1972 Hobson Ave, Greenfield SCHEIDVINEYARDS.COM Enjoyfriends. sips. Pouring daily from 12pm OCEAN AVE 7TH AVE 8TH AVE MISSION ST Carmel Plaza Sunset Community & Cultural Center SAN CARLOS ST DOLORES ST
14 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY AUGUST 6-12, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com NOTHING TO SEE HERE Right. And this is my natural hair color (“A report concludes there’s no long-term health risk from the Moss Landing battery fire,” posted July 29). Isn’t there an issue with the testing of surface water as the heavy metals would sink and need to be sampled from depth? No way people won’t suffer in the future from this absolute nightmare. I love Moss Landing! Denise Kay | Seaside WAITING GAME An excellent report pointing out the District Attorney’s Office does more than just prosecute criminal violators (“The DA secures a $1 million default judgment against the Mammography Center of Monterey,” July 30-Aug. 5). They also go after scoundrels that civilly violate the public’s best interest, along with adult protection cases. They do much more. Kudos to the men and women who work there, and for getting after the offender in this case. They rarely get the notice they deserve. Cecil Reece | Marina THINKING BIG That’s a nice donation (“NPS launches a powerful NVIDIA AI supercomputer, the first of its kind in the U.S. military,” posted July 23). I’m sure down the road the military will be purchasing many others, after seeing how well this one works. Now, if we could just improve our intelligence to coordinate with other countries to avoid the stupid wars we’re sometimes forced to fight. Walter Wagner | Salinas BIG BIRDS Thank you so much for your PSA for our gulls (“Slow down for the baby gulls that are learning how to fly,” posted July 28). We had a fledging come into our store (Back Porch Fabrics) in Pacific Grove. It still had its spots and had no clue what it was doing. After unsuccessfully trying to catch it, I threw a towel over it and placed it in a box. Fortunately the bar next door had a ladder and placed it on the roof with mom and dad! This was first their home. We came and built. They are trying to survive in a land we recreated. We can minimally respect their right to survive. Thanks again for your commentary. People need to hear more from supporters! Laurel Eden | Seaside POLICE PAY Use the Flock money to pay them then if it’s such a big issue (“Pacific Grove has struggled to keep its police department fully staffed due to budget challenges,” July 23-29). Brendan Glass | Monterey This is another example as to why the local police should merge, just like the fire departments did. Pacific Grove has no problem filling management positions with the police department, as retirees from other cities fill them. A “Monterey Bay Area Police Department” would require only one chief officer. Henry Leinen | Pacific Grove Part of the hiring crisis is an inept HR department, but another component is that the police or really any new employees are unable to live in P.G. due to the housing crisis, lack of any affordable housing, and of course, there was never any workforce housing or any planned. I have tremendous respect for our Police Department, but if there is such a shortage, how come three and four of them could be down at our Summer Lights event or at the Pet Parade? I don’t think P.G. is quite like what an officer has to deal with in, say Salinas or the larger cities of Monterey and Marina. But any new hire whether it be Police has got to realize they will probably need to commute like people have been doing here for years. Christie Italiano-Thomas | Pacific Grove STUDENT BODY Hopefully [it will] move to Marina or Salinas. Rents are more affordable (“After denial by MPUSD, Big Sur Charter School becomes a countywide charter school,” July 23-29). Anne Qu | via social media SHUTTER SPEED I’ve been participating in the Monterey Shootout for many years and it’s always a blast because so many artists and adventurers come to town (“The colorful underwater world is captured in a weekend-long event,” posted July 27). Too few people realize you don’t have to be a diver in order to get great photos of the underwater world here. It was great to see the reporter, Celia Jiménez, try her hand at it, despite being completely new! Stay tuned—this happens every summer, normally late July through early August—and the experiences, community, shared learning, adventures, parties, seminars and prizes rock! Suzanne Frey | Monterey FOOD FOR THOUGHT It’s great to see so many volunteers staying enthusiastic even as the festival keeps growing (“Jewish Food Festival volunteers are happy to keep up with popular demand,” July 23-29). Their dedication clearly helps create a welcoming atmosphere where everyone can enjoy delicious food, cultural traditions and a strong sense of community. Popular events only succeed when people are willing to give their time and energy, and these volunteers deserve plenty of appreciation. Their positive attitude and teamwork make the experience smoother for visitors. Adrian Torres | Seaside It was a great event! Jen Zeidberg | via social media FOR DESSERT Reba is one of our favorite people/ bakers (“Reba Wilson turned a love of baking into a business,” July 30-Aug. 5). Craig Vachon | Carmel So glad their Carmel location is reopened! Renu Jindal Jain | via social media CORRECTION A story about a federal criminal investigation and federal lawsuit filed by Taylor Farms against former employee Brian Thure incorrectly identified some of the family members he allegedly placed on payroll (“Squid Fry: Shit Storm,” July 30-Aug. 5). It was his wife’s mother and sister, not his mother and sister. 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 AUGUST 6-12, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 15 Early in the first Trump administration, there was a lot of talk in Democratic-leaning Monterey County about “the resistance.” There were protests and marches and political strategy sessions. It’s dry and far less energetic than a protest, but during Trump 2.0, the resistance is taking place in the courtroom. Early in 2025, California lawmakers set aside a $25 million legal fund to fight back against Trumpism. In the year-anda-half since, the California Department of Justice has filed 82 lawsuits challenging various federal policies. So far, those suits have led to 45 court orders granting early relief, 21 final court orders and eight additional cases in which the Trump administration backed down before a hearing, according to an analysis by California Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, D-Hollister. He and Attorney General Rob Bonta calculate that those lawsuits to date have saved at least $207 billion for Californians in the form of preserving funds for child care, food assistance, transportation, emergency preparedness, clean energy, public safety and more. “I’m incredibly proud of my team that has worked around the clock on behalf of Californians, pulling countless all-nighters along the way,” Bonta said in a statement. In 2026, this is part of what the resistance looks like: lawyers pulling all-nighters. The County of Monterey joined the latest legal challenge, taking a lead role in friend-ofthe-court briefs in a federal case, County of Santa Clara v. U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement, filed on June 10. Represented by the Public Rights Project, the County of Monterey leads a group of 26 cities and counties across the region that are seeking to block ICE from building a detention center near Gilroy on the Holsclaw Property. Already, the lawsuit is bearing fruit. On July 13, the parties acknowledged, “As a compromise, defendants have voluntarily paused construction and development activities at the Holsclaw Property and have agreed to maintain that voluntary pause until Sept. 9.” (A hearing on the request from Santa Clara County—and all the other supporting agencies—for a preliminary injunction blocking construction is scheduled for Sept. 8.) “Research unsurprisingly demonstrates that an increase in detention capacity correlates with an increase in enforcement activity in surrounding communities,” according to the friend-of-the-court brief filed on July 29. “That increase, in turn, produces significant economic harms, including reduced labor force participation, decreased business activity and lost local tax revenue. Such effects would be particularly damaging in the Bay Area and Central Coast, where immigrants play a vital role across multiple sectors within local economies… “The location of the Holding Facility also matters: situated directly between agricultural fields, it broadcasts a clear threat to local farmworking communities.” Of more than 90,000 farmworkers in Monterey and Santa Cruz counties, at least half are believed to be undocumented. More than 477,000 undocumented immigrants live in the Bay Area. The number of people personally impacted is massive. The friends of the court, or amici curiae, allege the federal government failed to adhere to the Intergovernmental Cooperation Act because local authorities were never alerted to the project. (It was outstanding reporting by San Jose Spotlight that brought it to light.) “The federal government not only failed to inform plaintiffs about the holding facility—it’s unclear they ever tried,” the brief states. “Instead, through piecemeal public statements from DHS officials, amici have had to assemble loose bits of information by which to respond to the concerns and objections of our constituents.” It’s procedural stuff, and the brief largely takes aim at economic harms. It’s dry, but in the name of human dignity. “Monterey County will not stand by silently when federal actions threaten the safety, stability and trust of our families,” said Wendy Root Askew, chair of the Monterey County Board of Supervisors. “By uniting 26 cities and counties, we are sending an undeniable message that local autonomy and community trust cannot be sidelined by federal enforcement mandates.” Sara Rubin is the Weekly’s editor. Reach her at sara@montereycountynow.com. Legal Fight The resistance against Trump’s worst instincts goes to the courtroom. By Sara Rubin ON CAMERA…Every time Squid oozes from Squid’s underwater lair to a public meeting or to pop into the Weekly office, Squid notices more and more license-plate reading cameras mounted around the county. Squid always winks one of Squid’s large eyes; a 40-year-old Pismo Beach resident decided to “intentionally damage multiple Flock Safety cameras, causing thousands of dollars in damage to public safety infrastructure in the communities of Lockwood and Bradley,” according to a statement from the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office. Photos show a black truck plowing over Flock cameras. So, how was the driver caught? You guessed it: nearby surveillance cameras were watching the surveillance cameras. The man was arrested and booked into Monterey County Jail on a charge of felony vandalism, with bail set at $30,000. Monterey County Sheriff Tina Nieto added, “Any attempts to disable these systems will not prevent us from doing our job. In this case, the suspect’s own actions were captured on surveillance cameras, leading directly to his arrest. We will continue to aggressively investigate these crimes and seek prosecution against anyone who targets public safety infrastructure.” The thought of the ever-growing flock of surveillance cameras makes Squid just want to ooze back to the sea, where the only eyes watching are those of other sea creatures. OFF MESSAGE…In its 75 years, Concours d’Elegance has never featured jalopies. Still, Squid is fortunate to have a front-row seat for the cornerstone and founding event of Car Week. While Concours needs no hype, Squid wondered how the organizers of other events try to capture attention when so much is crammed into 10 days. It didn’t take long for Squid to notice a theme. For example, a new happening—Piazza Motor Nights in Sand City—bills itself as the “opening night of Monterey Car Week.” It takes place on Monday, Aug. 10. By Squid’s count, that’s the fourth day of Car Week, with a dozen events already in the books. The Monterey Motorsports Festival is “Car Week’s closing evening” on Saturday, Aug. 15, or so they say. Serata Italiana takes place at the same time. And ceremonies at Concours—on Sunday—stretch past 5pm. When Squid checked into See Monterey’s media roundtable, it was more of the same. The Central Coast Poker Rally’s car show? “One of the few free events.” Squid had to tick through Squid’s limbs twice to tally the actual number of free events. Meanwhile The Paddock promised cars “that haven’t had a place before,” such as muscle cars and hot rods. Squid sees plenty of both during Car Week. Alas, the only show interested in Squid’s jalopy is Concours d’Lemons. And that gathering speaks for itself. THE LOCAL SPIN SQUID FRY THE MISSION OF MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY IS TO INSPIRE INDEPENDENT THINKING AND CONSCIOUS ACTION, ETC. “It broadcasts a clear threat to local communities.” SEND SQUID A TIP: squid@montereycountynow.com
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