8 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY SEPTEMBER 3-9, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com For the first time since 2008, Marina will have a new mayor. Current Mayor Bruce Delgado is not seeking reelection. Three candidates are running to fill the role: Current Councilmember Liesbeth Visscher, health care professional Mike Moeller and Hartnell College professor Ana Luz Acevedo-Cabrera. Marina’s next mayor will have to contend with public facilities that officials say are no longer adequate to meet the needs of a growing populace. Marina voters will also decide on Measure Q, a utility users tax to help fund new facilities. With a background in engineering, Acevedo-Cabrera says she has spent her life coming up with solutions for problems that affect the community. She views the lack of workforce housing, the cost of living and public safety as some of the issues facing Marina. She decided to run because she sees the majority of the council as “disconnected from the reality of the community.” Acevedo-Cabrera says the 7-percent tax is too high for many residents. The current public safety building is inadequate for police and fire, she says, but could be used as a city hall. Moeller works as a respiratory care practitioner for Santa Clara Valley Healthcare. He first got involved in civic life in Marina when he joined a group of residents opposed to a proposed casino in 2022. The council, in response to the public outcry, eventually nixed the casino plan. Since then, Moeller has been active in various organizations, founding a local chapter of the Repair Cafe and recently became president of the nonprofit Marina in Motion. He also served on the City Facilities Citizens Advisory Committee, which recommended a tax to fund new facilities. But Moeller says the 7-percent tax is too steep, and a lower tax that only focuses on public safety facilities would be easier for voters to swallow. Visscher was first elected in 2022, and says she’s running for mayor to help steer ongoing projects to the finish line, including an aquatics center, a longterm maintenance plan and downtown revitalization. She views the Cypress Knolls property as Marina’s last option for a large housing development, one that could be dedicated to “missing middle” housing. Visscher says the city can’t justify spending to update current facilities that are already too small and lack ADA accommodations. She supports Measure Q, and if it passes, says she will look for ways to reduce the tax rate in the future if elected. state regulators of a distributor license held by DB A Distribution LLC, a separate entity with no King City permit. An amended notice issued by the City May 27 added new allegations that Lalehzadeh had shipped cannabis through a private carrier and violated state and federal drug laws. “There was a violation of trafficking and distribution. That was one of the key findings. Mr. Lalehzadeh does not have a transportation license for cannabis in King City or with the state,” Arreola says. “There was evidence that cannabis had been transported by his company, and that is not allowed.” At the June 2 administrative hearing, Lalehzadeh invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self‑incrimination and declined to answer questions about entities other than DB A Growth LLC. In court papers, he insists that at no time did he admit to operating any business in King City without a license. Lalehzadeh is now asking the court to reinstate DB A Growth’s cultivation permit and protect an $11.7 million purchase agreement for the company that he says depends on the licenses remaining in good standing. (Lalehzadeh declined to comment for this story.) From the City’s perspective, Arreola says, “I feel our finding of facts and decision is pretty solid. I’d be very surprised if a judge were to say differently. We’re doing our best to understand where Mr. Lalehzadeh is at, but also make sure that he’s following the rules.” The 150 Don Bates Way property, which County Assessor records show Lalehzadeh’s partner purchased for $3.5 million in 2021, has been posted for sale online with an asking price of $18 million. A real estate listing describes it as a “power-ready data center campus” opportunity with 55,000 square feet of space across five buildings. “The campus is fully secured and gated, and the property will be delivered 100-percent vacant at the close of escrow,” according to the listing, which also notes 8.31 megawatts of power already onsite. “The property provides a compelling platform for operators seeking deployable compute capacity in Northern California without the constraints of the Silicon Valley power grid.” A data center is not yet a permitted use of the site. “I mean, he’s not wrong. I guess it is an opportunity, but that type of use would certainly come to the Planning Commission and the Council before it was approved,” Arreola says. “My guess is it would be met with quite a bit of scrutiny.” Hand Off Three vie to fill the seat of Marina’s longtime mayor Bruce Delgado as he retires. By Erik Chalhoub NEWS MOBILE MAMMOGRAMS The Soledad Community Health Care District is expanding access to breast cancer screening by offering mammograms to women ages 40-74 through a mobile clinic in partnership with the Central California Alliance for Health and Alinea Medical Imaging. 8am-5pm Friday, Sept. 4. SCHCD parking lot, 600 Main St., Soledad. Cost depends on insurance. Advance registration required. (831) 678-2665, soledadmedicalclinic.com/mobile-mammography. BUDGET WITH A BREW City of Monterey officials host dropin sessions to share information about the budget. Voice your feedback directly to City leaders. 9-10:30am Friday, Sept. 4. Monterey Donuts, 2440 North Fremont St., Monterey. Free. (831) 646-3940, monterey.gov/roadmap. LOUNGE ACT Monterey County Planning Commission meets to consider recommending an ordinance allowing cannabis lounges in unincorporated areas of the county. Public comment is accepted. 9am Wednesday, Sept. 9. Board of Supervisors chambers, 168 W. Alisal St., Salinas. Free. (831) 755-5025, countyofmonterey.gov. FOR RENT Monterey County Zoning Administrator meets to consider three requests for vacation rentals at homes in Carmel, among other agenda items. Public input is accepted. 9:30am Thursday, Sept. 10. Government Center, Thyme Conference Room, 1441 Schilling Place, Salinas. Free. (831) 755-5025, countyofmonterey.gov. MEET THE CANDIDATES Hear from candidates running for Monterey City Council and mayor. A forum is hosted by Monterey Commercial Property Owners Association, Monterey County Association of Realtors and Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce. 5:30-8pm Thursday, Sept. 10. Middlebury Institute of International Studies, Irvine Auditorium, 499 Pierce St., Monterey. Free. Register at bit.ly/ MontereyCCForum26. BLOCKS OF FUNDING The cities of Monterey, Salinas and Seaside are preparing reports outlining how they used federal Community Development Block Grant Program funds. Draft reports are available for public review. Monterey’s and Salinas’ reports are viewable through Sept. 15; Seaside’s is through Sept. 16. Free. monterey.gov; salinas.gov; seaside.ca.us. Bruce Delgado has served as mayor of Marina since 2008. He is not seeking reelection and is endorsing Councilmember Liesbeth Visscher as the next mayor. E-MAIL: publiccitizen@montereycountynow.com PUBLIC CITIZEN She sees the council as “disconnected from the reality.” DANIEL DREIFUSS WEED, continued from pg. 6
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