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
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