OCTOBER 1-7, 2026 MONTEREYCOUNTYNOW.COM LOCAL & INDEPENDENT SURFING SALINAS 5 | SUBPOENA-HAPPY MONTEREY CANDIDATE 13 | WHAT WOULD STEINBECK DRINK? 36 Prop. 40 is a one-time tax on the roughly 200 billionaires in California, including Mark Zuckerberg—and one of dozens of ballot measures you get to vote on. Our editorial board weighs in. p. 16 TAX THE BILLIONAIRES?
2 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY OCTOBER 1-7, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com OCTOBER 1-7, 2026 • ISSUE #1992 • ESTABLISHED IN 1988 Ming Yu (Canon EOS R5, Canon RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L) The USAF Thunderbirds give a demonstration of formation flying during the California International Airshow at the Salinas airport. Pilots filled the sky on Saturday-Sunday, Sept. 26-27. MONTEREY COUNTY PHOTO OF THE WEEK Send Etc. submissions to etcphoto@montereycountynow.com; please include caption and camera info. On the cover: Meta founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg is one of an estimated 200 billionaires in California who would be subject to a “billionaire tax” if voters approve Proposition 40. Two competing measures would cancel out Prop. 40. Cover photo: Creative Salim / Shutterstock.com 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) ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Jeanette Bent jeanette@montereycountynow.com (x132) 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 katie@montereycountynow.com (x102) STAFF WRITER Aric Sleeper aric@montereycountynow.com (x127) STAFF WRITER Chrissa Olson (California Local News Fellow) chrissa@montereycountynow.com (x130) 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 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 OCTOBER 1-7, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 3 FREE COMMUNITY FLU CLINICS Flu vaccines provided by Salinas Valley Health Mobile Clinic Wednesday, October 7| 4:00pm–7:00pm Main Street Middle School 441 Main Street, Soledad, CA 93960 No appointment needed We believe vaccinations save lives. For more information about our FREE Community Flu Clinics, scan the QR code. Or, contact the Health Promotion Department at 831-759-1890. Aurora Robledo, MD Family Medicine
4 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY OCTOBER 1-7, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com THE BUZZ FREE SPEECH The United States of America joined the likes of North Korea, China and Russia by releasing its own state-run TV on Sept. 21: Trump TV. Three days after President Donald Trump banned three news organizations—CNN, Politico and MS NOW—from the White House, he announced the launch of a government-funded 24/7 stream on YouTube, highlighting the “Trump Administration’s biggest moments all in one place,” according to the stream’s description. The launch was quickly criticized from both sides of the aisle, with California Gov. Gavin Newsom calling it “truly autocratic behavior from a failed president” and Senator Thom Tillis, R-North Carolina, comparing it to messaging from former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Further complicating matters is Trump’s attempt to file a federal trademark for the name “Trump TV” using his private company. Such a move could require a licensing agreement between the federal government and the Trump Organization, with trademark attorney Josh Gerben telling Newsweek, “It is likely the first time in United States history that this has happened.” Good: Over the past decade, Naomi Raymundo has grown from a participant in the First Tee - Monterey County program to a coach mentoring the next generation through golf. Now, the 17-yearold Salinas resident can add another notch on her résumé: golf champion. Raymundo won the girls’ pro-junior title at the PURE Insurance Championship Impacting First Tee on Sept. 23 at Pebble Beach Golf Links. She teamed up with PGA Tour Champions professional Stewart Cink, with the pair finishing at 18-under par to capture the title. “This tournament is something I’ve wanted to do for so many years,” Raymundo said. First Tee teaches young people life skills through golf. The PURE Insurance Championship gathered 80 teens from First Tee chapters across the country. Local participants showed up to support Raymundo. “It shows how much of a family we are,” she said. GREAT: The Monterey Institute of International Studies lives. Just over a year after former owner, Vermont-based Middlebury College, announced it would shut down the Monterey campus and graduate programs, Soka University of America closed a deal last week to acquire the school and plans to keep many programs. Over a dozen former Middlebury staff now work for Soka, and at least three former staff members who had been laid off were rehired. Future waves of employment transitions are expected in the coming weeks. “The world-class graduate programs continuing at Monterey are a strong fit with Soka University of America’s mission and educational values,” Ed Feasel, president of Soka, said in an earlier statement announcing the acquisition of MIIS. The application period for prospective students for fall 2027 opens on Oct. 1. GOOD WEEK / GREAT WEEK THE WEEKLY TALLY The amount awarded to the City of Pacific Grove by the California Coastal Conservancy to help repair the Lovers Point Pier, damaged during a storm in December 2020. A 2023 estimate put the repair cost at $1.5 million. The California Coastal Commission issued a Coastal Development Permit waiver in December 2025. Source: City of Pacific Grove $750,000 QUOTE OF THE WEEK “I don’t think there is a more beautiful place in the world.” -Gina Dalma, who has been hired as the new president and CEO of the Community Foundation for Monterey County, replacing the retiring Dan Baldwin (see story, montereycountynow.com/ news). H I L LT O P 871 JESSIE STREET 831-646-3975 EL ESTERO 777 PEARL STREET 831-646-3873 Pre-registration by appointment only. Please call the Preschool location of your choice for a registration appointment. Visit www.monterey.gov/rec for more info. learn - engage - play - socialize Tuesday – friday, 3 hours per day THE CITY OF MONTEREY must be “potty” trained years 3-5 for ages preschool p r o g r a m The Monterey Peninsula is a leader in water conservation. Thank you for your commitment to being water wise! Learn more at: montereywaterinfo.org/events JOIN US FOR FREE CONSERVATION WEBINARS Join us for free, interactive workshops in October and November, presented by Green Gardens Group via Zoom. Wednesday, October 7 Drip Irrigation Fundamentals 6–7:15 p.m. Wednesday, November 11 Rainwater is Free – Catch It! Use It! 6–7:15 p.m.
www.montereycountynow.com OCTOBER 1-7, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 5 831 Jeff Smallwood gets up early on Saturdays. On Sept. 19, he’s been up since about 6am checking surf reports and deciding which beach to head to. “If the waves are too big we’ll go to the beach near Wharf 2,” he says. On this day, in a couple of hours, a school bus is going to meet him at Los Padres Elementary School to take him and 27 kids to Casa Verde Beach in Monterey, but not before breakfast burritos from El Charrito arrive to fuel up the day. By 9:30am, volunteers have met Smallwood and the East Salinas kids at the tiny parking lot on the corner of Tide Avenue and Beach Way in Monterey’s Del Monte Beach Neighborhood. There, they hand out wetsuits and rash guards to the kids, who range in age from fourth-graders to high schoolers. As Smallwood opens the bins and starts pulling out wetsuits and green rash guards to match sizes to participants in the Salinas Surf Club, other volunteers arrive with coffee from Six Over Coffee Co. and pastries and from Ad Astra to set out on a table on the beach. “We really rely on our small businesses to make this day even more special for our kids and our volunteers,” Smallwood says. The Salinas Surf Club is a grassroots organization that’s been busing kids from Salinas out to the beach for more than 11 years. The mission is simple: for six or seven Saturdays per school year, give Salinas Valley children a chance to come to the beach, learn about ocean safety, and get them on a surfboard to have fun. Smallwood says in addition to the over-a-dozen volunteers who show up in wetsuits and red rash guards, the organization partners with the California State Parks Peace Officers and California State Parks Lifeguards, who provide training to the volunteers. Kids participate at no cost to their families. “Some kiddos have been surfing with us for about six years, and for some, this is their first day ever being in the ocean,” Smallwood says. Because of the range of experience, Smallwood says it’s important to let children discover the ocean at their own pace. Some are confident on the first day and are ready to get on a board larger than they are as a volunteer coaches them. But if kids don’t want to get in the water the first day, that’s OK too. Julian Elizalde and Fernando Carmona, both 13 years old, are the former. They’ve been coming to the Salinas Surf Club outings for four years. “The first time I was pretty nervous because of the ocean, you know?” says Elizalde, who didn’t know how to swim when he first showed up. He says he overcame his fear of the ocean during that first year. Carmona agrees, despite already knowing how to swim when he started. Still, he says, the ocean instilled a fear in him to overcome, which he did. Though East Salinas is only a little more than 20 miles from the beach, Smallwood says transportation is the biggest barrier to getting kids out there. For many, the Salinas Surf Club is their first exposure to swimming as a life-preserving skill. As the morning progresses, some children in wetsuits are already wading into the whitewater and splashing around before volunteer James Welsh calls them into a circle where a row of surfboards and bodyboards are lying on the beach. Once gathered, the volunteers are on the oceanside facing the kids, whose eyes are toward the ocean, and Welsh begins leading them through a series of stretches and warmup exercises. The kids get a little distracted by the sight of a pod of three or four dolphins swimming by in the knee- to shoulder-high waves on this overcast morning. Once Welsh goes over how to properly pop up on a surfboard, the kids quickly grab their preferred board and go with volunteers into the ocean. Some are one-on-one while others are in small groups. Carmona and Elizalde are among the small groups, and say they are hoping to learn some new tricks for the day. Elizalde is training to stand up on one leg while surfing, while Carmona wants to catch some waves and get some photos doing it. While the two boys dive into the waves, several others are already being pushed into waves by volunteers. Some ride in on their belly while others are quick to stand up. Surf’s Up The all-volunteer Salinas Surf Club gives kids from East Salinas a chance to experience the ocean. By Sloan Campi “For some, this is their first day ever being in the ocean.” TALES FROM THE AREA CODE STEVE SOUZA At Casa Verde Beach in Monterey, volunteers with the Salinas Surf Club let children from Salinas discover surfing and the ocean at their own pace. Some participants start out with no swimming knowledge but eventually learn to stand up on waves. 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 JOIN NOW
6 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY OCTOBER 1-7, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com NEWS First approved in 2014, Measure S, formerly Measure P, is a 1-percent sales tax to fund street, sidewalk, storm drain and ADA repairs and improvements in the City of Monterey. Slated to expire March 31, 2027, it is up for an eight-year renewal this November. Monterey Public Works Director Andrea Renny stresses how important the tax revenue is to maintain critical infrastructure. “A brand-new street has a Pavement Condition Index of 100,” Renny says. “If you’re able to maintain it, you spend a lot less money and you’re expanding the life of the street. Before Measure P/S, we were at [PCI] 54, which is at risk of failing. Our streets were in very poor condition. After Measure P/S, for the past 12 years, we went from a pavement condition index of 54 to 79.” Renny points out that a PCI of 79 is better than about 90 percent of Bay Area cities. But without the funding, which is roughly $12 million per year, she expects that score will ultimately drop. “What we’ll see is that the index is going to degrade from 79 over the years without that continuous maintenance,” Renny predicts. Measure S funding has provided $6 million for storm drain pipes, pump stations and channel upgrades—more than 1,000 repaired and rehabilitated street segments—$7.5 million in sidewalk repairs and has been used for 375 ADA-compliant curb ramp installations, among other improvements and repairs. According to the argument against the initiative, filed by Monterey resident Lori Mazzuca, homeowners are frustrated that they are still responsible for the cost of repairing sidewalks adjoining their property when Measure S funds are intended to fund sidewalk repairs along with streets, storm drains and ADA improvements. Street Talk City of Monterey officials warn streets will degrade if Measure S fails. By Aric Sleeper South County cities have banded together to ask for $3 million from U.S. Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-San Jose, for automated license plate readers, or ALPRs, to address public safety concerns. Led by the District 3 county supervisor, the mayors of Gonzales, Soledad, Greenfield and King City, along with Supervisor Chris Lopez, signed a draft letter asking for funding for surveillance technology, citing increased violent crimes and inadequate law enforcement staffing. In a July 16 version of the draft letter, the mayors and the supervisor said they would use the funding specifically for Flock cameras on a threeyear contract. An updated draft no longer specifies that they would seek the money for a Flock contract. The most recent draft is generalized to describe license plate reader technologies. The money could come through a Congressional Directed Spending request. If submitted and approved, members of Congress can direct funds from annual federal appropriations bills to projects in their own communities. Soledad would be the fiscal agent. Lopez says public safety requires multiple solutions. The letter highlights $10 million in funding for youth and after-school programs in South County as part of the solution. The funding request has not yet been submitted to Lofgren’s office. Lopez says he does not have a specific deadline for submitting it. But the landscape for ALPRs has changed since the first version circulated in July. On Sept. 22, Lopez was one of two dissenting votes, along with Supervisor Luis Alejo, when the Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 to end the use of Flock cameras by the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office. In a statement, Lofgren acknowledged concerns about the misuse of Flock cameras by immigration law enforcement agencies. California law enforcement agencies have previously broken state law by sharing data with immigration enforcement. Soledad Mayor Anna Velazquez says the sharing of Flock data with ICE greatly concerns her. In March, the city implemented rules to prevent use by immigration enforcement, given the many immigrants and mixed-status families in Soledad. She signed the letter after two “egregious and heinous” murders in Soledad, in which Miguel Godoy was shot and killed in front of his daughter while leaving a soccer game, and when Elizabeth Saavedra and Aldo Mandujano were killed in what police believe was a gang-related shooting. Velazquez says she has not received much feedback from the community about the use of ALPRs. For Soledad, its proposed share of the federal funds would be $400,000 for 14 license-plate reader cameras, 16 public safety cameras, a Drone-asFirst-Responder system and more. After the Flock cameras for the Sheriff’s Office were voted down, Velazquez says it signaled that they needed to revise the letter to not commit to any one company. Not all ALPRs are owned or run by Flock. For example, King City contracts with SurveillanceGrid. “[Flock] is just a business to me,” King City Mayor LeBarre says. “The technology is what’s important.” As he cast a dissenting vote in favor of keeping Flock, Chris Lopez described a need in South County. “We don’t all live in the same Monterey County,” he said. Flock Together South County cities plan to ask for $3 million for surveillance technology. By Chrissa Olson “If Measure S doesn’t renew, we are not going to be able to make the same investment that we are making now,” Monterey Public Works Director Andrea Renny says. “[Flock] is just a business to me.” DANIEL DREIFUSS DANIEL DREIFUSS
www.montereycountynow.com OCTOBER 1-7, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 7 NO ON MEASURE Q! DON'T GIVE THE MARINA CITY COUNCIL A BLANK CHECK!! STOP THE 7% FOREVER UTILITY TAX! SIX REASONS TO VOTE “NO” 1 The Highest Utility Tax on the Peninsula 2 "911” is in The Name, But Not in The Law Marina wants to charge you a 7% tax on your utilities—more than any other city on the Monterey Peninsula. Pacific Grove is 5%, Monterey is 2%, and Carmel charges nothing. Why should Marina pay the most? Don't be fooled by the title. This is a general tax, which means the city can spend your money on anything. Not a single dollar is legally required to go to 911, police, or fire. 3 Renters, Homeowners and Businesses Pay the Price 4 Corporations Get Breaks, You Get Taxed The 7% tax on PGE, water, cell and landline, cable and streaming service utility bills are already skyrocketing. This tax will keep growing automatically as rates go up. While City Hall hands out tens of millions in tax breaks and subsidies to developers and a luxury car dealership, they want $3.83 million a year from your pocket—permanently. That’s your money going to them! 5 Empty Promises on Fire Stations 6 The Council Hopes You Won’t Read Past The Title The city promises a new fire station, but with $29.8M available, they have no plans, no location, and no schedule. The council could have proposed a temporary measure with strict spending rules. They chose a permanent tax that they hope you won't question and which can easily pass with just 50% plus one vote. Learn more at nomarinauut.com Paid for by Voters for Responsible Taxes FPPC#1494824
8 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY OCTOBER 1-7, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com Conditions are lining up for a potentially rough winter in Big Sur, a fact not lost on the community as the Timber and Plaskett fires simmer down. On the back patio of the Big Sur River Inn on Monday, Sept. 28, dozens of residents and local and state officials gathered for a Big Sur Multi-Agency Advisory Committee meeting to discuss lessons from this summer’s fires. The Plaskett and Timber fires, the third- and fourth-largest fires in the state this year, have burned more than 55,000 acres combined and are 99- and 88-percent contained, respectively. Attention has now turned to the burn scars, potential debris flows during heavy rains, and what needs to be done to prepare. “You can put a fire out with a fire hose,” said Kirk Gafill, Nepenthe owner and president of the Big Sur Chamber of Commerce. “You cannot stop a debris flow with your vehicle, a tractor, or sandbags, so people need to look at those in a very different way.” In response to the National Weather Service forecasts of a “very strong El Niño event through the fall and winter,” Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sept. 21 proclaimed a state of emergency to bolster preparedness. The proclamation directs state agencies to pre-position equipment and supplies. Caltrans is continuing emergency cleanup and repairs on fire-damaged slopes, according to John Olenick with Caltrans, and is inspecting problem areas and cleaning culverts. Assemblymember Dawn Addis, D-Morro Bay, said her office has been pressing the state to ensure the Central Coast is prepared to receive state resources, and that Newsom’s office has confirmed her request. Mike Higgins, vice president of operations at Post Ranch Inn, said he and U.S. Rep. Jimmy Panetta, D-Carmel Valley, are in the final stages of getting a NOAA weather repeater installed at a nearby Coast Guard tower to broadcast local emergency and marine weather data. A Burned Area Emergency Response report is also being developed to assess downstream flood risks and identify areas in need of stabilization. Big Sur Fire Chief Matt Harris has urged residents to prepare their properties in case emergency resources are limited. One million sandbags are currently available at the fire station, and staff are available to answer questions. “You guys have to prepare yourselves and your properties for the eventual floods,” Harris said. “It’s going to come down to individuals asking for help.” Gonzales residents celebrated with clapping, big smiles and hugs on Monday, Sept. 28 after the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) of Monterey County approved the Vista Lucia project 6-0. “I’m elated,” says Gonzales Mayor Jose Rios, noting the unanimous decision. “Can’t ask for anything better.” “There’s just not enough housing,” says Anna Mae Gazo, a long-time Gonzales resident and board member of nonprofit housing developer CHISPA, which is named as the developer of 211 affordable housing units in Vista Lucia’s first phase. Two LAFCO commissioners, Matt Gourley and Chad Lindley, recused themselves from voting on the project, citing potential conflicts of interest. Both live in South County, and the geographical composition of LAFCO has recently come under fire as Gourley seeks reappointment to the public member seat. (Commissioner Kate Daniels, a county supervisor, was absent and South County’s Chris Lopez attended as an alternate.) The Vista Lucia project will add 771 acres to the city and calls for 3,498 homes over a 30-year periods, doubling the number of homes in the city. It also calls for 79 acres of parks and three news schools. LandWatch Monterey County has opposed various elements of the project, citing the cost of the eventual housing, that an agricultural easement is located nine miles away rather than adjacent to the land and the use of groundwater. “We definitely need more housing, but we don’t need more large single-family homes that cost $700,000 or $800,000,” LandWatch Executive Director Michael DeLapa says. “That isn’t going to help the people in our community.” Commissioners met behind closed doors earlier in the meeting to discuss a potential lawsuit from LandWatch over the project’s water supply. “LAFCO cannot approve the annexation without a legal water supply and must instead deem the annexation application incomplete,” attorney Mathew Emrick wrote to LAFCO on Sept. 14 on behalf of LandWatch. Big Niño Big Sur locals and officials prepare for a strong El Niño post-fires. By Katie Rodriguez NEWS PUBLIC SAFETY Seaside Fire Department hosts an open house to share information about fire safety. The event includes interactive activities, live demonstrations, a barbecue and more. 10am-1pm Saturday, Oct. 3. Seaside Fire Department, 1635 Broadway Ave., Seaside. Free. (831) 899-6790, ci.seaside.ca.us. OPEN DOORS North County Fire welcomes all to its open house. Meet local firefighters, take part in station tours and join other activities. 5-8pm Tuesday, Oct. 6. Fire Station 1, 11200 Speegle St., Castroville. Free. (831) 633-2578, ncfpd.org. GUN SHY Marina City Council meets to consider extending a ban on new firearm businesses for an additional year, among other agenda items. Public input is accepted. 6:30pm Tuesday, Oct. 6. Council Chambers, 211 Hillcrest Ave., Marina. Free. (831) 884-1278, cityofmarina. org. FLU FIGHTERS Salinas Valley Health offers a community flu vaccine clinic. The clinic is open to all. 4-7pm Wednesday, Oct. 7. Main Street Middle School, 441 Main St., Soledad. Free. (831) 759-1890, salinasvalleyhealth.com/flu. MEET THE CANDIDATES League of Women Voters of Monterey County moderates a candidate forum for Salinas mayor (6-7pm) and City Council (7:158:30pm). 6-8:30pm Wednesday, Oct. 7. Hartnell College, Steinbeck Hall, Student Center Building C, 411 Central Ave., Salinas. Free. (831) 648-8683, my.lwv.org/california/monterey-county. FIRED UP Marina Fire Department opens its doors to the public with live demonstrations, food vendors and activities. The open house focuses on how to safely use and charge lithium ion batteries. 3:30-6:30pm Thursday, Oct. 8. Fire Station 1, 208 Palm Ave., Marina. Free. (831) 275-1700, cityofmarina.org. SAFE STREETS Transportation Agency for Monterey County is developing its Active Transportation Plan with the goal to make streets safer for pedestrians and bicyclists. The public is invited to share thoughts through a survey. Survey ongoing at bit.ly/ TAMCActiveTransport. Growth Spur LAFCO approves annexation for Vista Lucia, a 3,500-home development in Gonzales. By Celia Jiménez Burn scars from the Timber Fire at Manuel Peak are visible just northeast of Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. More than 55,000 acres have burned in two fires in Big Sur. E-MAIL: publiccitizen@montereycountynow.com PUBLIC CITIZEN “You have to prepare yourselves and your properties.” CAL FIRE
www.montereycountynow.com OCTOBER 1-7, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 9 PAID POLITICAL AD | AUTHORIZED BY JIMMY PANETTA FOR CONGRESS | P.O. BOX 103, CARMEL VALLEY, CA 93924. FEC# C00592154 JIMMYPANETTA.COM Fighting for our values in the 19th Congressional District ON NOVEMBER 3RD OR VOTE BY MAIL 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
10 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY OCTOBER 1-7, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com With incumbent Seaside City Councilmember Alex Miller forfeiting his seat on council as he throws his hat in the ring for mayor, and incumbent Councilmember Rita Burks competing against five others to remain in one of two at-large seats up for reelection Nov. 3, the Seaside City Council may experience a shake-up. When the Weekly sat down to discuss the issues with Seaside City Council candidates, many cited the need for creative, multi-pronged strategies, including Lacey Raak. “Sixty to 65 percent of our community are renters and that’s an important demographic that we need to support,” Raak says. “We need more [housing] supply but supply alone is not going to solve the problem.” She points to affordable workforce housing units built on state-owned land like on the CSU Monterey Bay campus, co-op housing and microhousing as ways to provide affordable housing. Candidate Ken Fittro, a retired special education teacher, administrator and swim coach, believes that housing affordability can be addressed on the City Council by bolstering partnerships with nonprofits such as CHISPA. “They are nonprofits but they are also developers,” Fittro says. “I think that the job of a city councilperson is to develop those partnerships.” Burks, who works as the principal of the Dual Language Academy of the Monterey Peninsula, has served on the council since 2022. She says she would work toward building a mix of market-rate and affordable housing. “I’d also look at ways to reduce unnecessary development costs, streamlining the approval process for affordable housing and leveraging our city-owned land and partnerships to expand affordable housing opportunities,” Burks says. “At the same time, we must protect the character of our neighborhoods.” Karla Lobo, who previously served on the city’s Parks and Recreation Commission, wrote in her candidate statement, “For more than 30 years, I’ve worked across the public, private and nonprofit sectors helping turn plans into completed projects.” To increase affordable housing supply, she says she would work to modify the state’s Regional Housing Needs Allocation to call for more below-market-rate units and explore streamlining the city’s permitting process. Candidate Annalisa Mitchell serves as the president of the Hamilton Ellis Martin Plaza Board, overseeing a 192unit affordable housing community, and as a board member of the Seaside Civic League. “People should not have to choose between paying their rent and putting food on the table,” she says. “We need more affordable and workforce housing, and we need to protect the affordable housing we already have,” Mitchell says. “Our children and grandchildren who leave for college should be able to come home, find a job, and afford to stay in the community they grew up in.” Candidate Dennis Volk did not respond to interview requests. Crowded Contest Six candidates vie for two at-large seats on the Seaside City Council. By Aric Sleeper Lacey Raak, a sustainability professional, was the founding chair of Seaside’s Environmental Commission and is now running for office for the first time. NEWS “The job of a city councilperson is to develop partnerships.” DANIEL DREIFUSS
www.montereycountynow.com OCTOBER 1-7, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 11 Monterey Peninsula College’s marketing budget has more than doubled in the last several years, with a contract approved in May worth $750,000 for the 2026-2027 academic year with a San Ramon-based company. That marketing and public relations company was also awarded a $650,000 contract in 2025 and another contract covering Feb. 1-June 30 for $531,000. The total for all three contracts is over $1.9 million. A 2025 survey of 88 colleges by the California Community Colleges was conducted to gauge marketing spending in order to boost enrollments after decreases related to Covid-19. According to that survey, during the 2022-23 academic year, MPC spent $366,331 on marketing. The average across the colleges surveyed was $482,000. Hartnell College spent just over $791,200 in 2025-2026, including two full-time salaries, benefits and employer taxes plus other expenses. Only $58,000 was designated for outside contract services. The most recent marketing contract was approved by the MPC Board of Trustees on May 27 for $750,000 with Armanino Advisory LLC, doing business as Piccadilly. In addition, the board approved an $8,000 contract with Voler Strategic Advisors, another public relations company. Piccadilly CEO Vintage Foster spoke to the board on Feb. 25, stating that his company’s marketing ads in 2025 resulted in increased social media impressions and website visits. Whether it had resulted in increased enrollment was not discussed. Foster stressed that MPC had to compete with other nearby colleges like Hartnell. “The place where you have the most opportunity is to create a new way to tell your story that’s refreshing and positions you as the essential voice in this region around education after high school,” he said. Piccadilly has produced a series of professionally crafted short ads with a “Be It” theme, found on the college’s YouTube page. Some of the titles include “Be Outstanding,” “Be a Superhero,” or “Be a Healer.” One local marketing professional who has done contract work for MPC in the past, Sam Spadoni of We Create Content, says the college is spending too much on contracts that are not specific. “For the amount of work they are doing, it seemed completely outrageous,” Spadoni says. He contends the amounts being charged are more in line with what a larger college in a bigger city might spend. “This is MPC, not USC,” he says, referring to the University of Southern California. MPC officials did not respond to repeated requests for information. A full response has not been provided to a Public Records Act request first submitted in August. MPC’s enrollment has not returned to pre-pandemic levels. The college reported over 12,600 students in the 2018-2019 academic year. By 20242025, the most recent data, it was over 11,400, just slightly up from 2022-2023 when it was 10,950. Marketing Blitz Monterey Peninsula College’s marketing budget rivals those of some big city colleges. By Pam Marino Monterey Peninsula College is spending big on an outside marketing and communications contractor in a bid for increased enrollment. It’s not clear if recent marketing has improved numbers. NEWS “It seemed completely outrageous.” NIC COURY Ken Fittro SEASIDE CITY COUNCIL Serving Seaside — Stronger Together KenFittro4Seaside.com Ken’s Priorities: • Public Safety • Infrastructure and Facilities • Affordable Housing • Youth and Older Adult Programs Paid for by Fittro for Seaside City Council 2026 FPPC#1490027 ✓ 40+ Year Seaside Resident ✓ Retired Special Education Teacher and Swim Coach ✓ Community Volunteer ✓ Advocate for Youth, Older Adults, and Families ✓ Comitted to a Stronger Seaside Ken with his wife Nancy Towne, Retired Seaside Recreation Director PREVENTION•EDUCATION TREATMENT•RECOVERY ARE YOU IN HIGH SCHOOL AND NEED OF COMMUNITY HOURS? JOIN THE STEPS PROGRAM THIS FALL AND RECEIVE COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS OR JOB OPPORTUNITIES. MEETINGS ARE TAKING PLACE IN SALINAS, SEASIDE, & SOUTH MONTEREY COUNTY. WWW.SUNSTREETCENTERS.ORG
12 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY OCTOBER 1-7, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com FLOCK OF CAMERAS Definitely a double-edged sword. I love the crime-solving abilities after the crime. But the potential privacy/ data mining abuse is a real concern. Good decision (“County supervisors vote to take down all sheriff’s Flock cameras,” posted Sept. 22). Dennis Kirby Plummer | Spreckels Wow. That’s bold leadership. Christian Parley | Monterey Good news! At least it’s a speed bump in the tracks of the coming surveillance state freight train. Michael Steelman | Monterey Some folks are unlikely to be kidnapped. I, however, would be happy for any evidence that is available because I’m not doing anything I need to worry about. If you’re not doing anything unconstitutional, you should have no worries (“A community-led group forms to oppose law enforcement’s use of surveillance technology,” Sept. 17-23). Kathy Keeler-deHaaff | via social media They need to convict people using them for nefarious purposes. They should only be viewed with a search warrant by authorized law enforcement. A misuse of the system should result in consequences. Evelyn Bass | Gonzales There is no expectation of privacy in public spaces. They do not violate the Fourth Amendment. Abuse of the information, if it occurs, is a separate crime that should be prosecuted if proven. Mark Demel | Monterey SEEING SIGNS It seems incredibly petty for the city to make such a major issue out of campaign signs being posted only one to four hours early (“Seaside mayoral candidate Alex Miller is fined for posting political signs early,” Sept. 17-23). Alex Miller made a minor timing mistake, not some serious offense that harmed the community. Spending time and resources pursuing a $7,000 fine over a few hours feels disproportionate and unnecessarily punitive. The city should focus on issues that meaningfully affect Seaside residents, rather than making an example out of a technical campaign-sign violation. Jared Wiegand | Seaside Everyone understands that rules matter, but there should also be some common sense and perspective in how they are enforced. Do people get a speeding ticket for going 5mph over the limit? No. This wasn’t a campaign trying to ignore the rules for days—it was a matter of a few hours. The city’s decision to pursue such a steep penalty over something so minor comes across as petty and disproportionate. Seaside has much bigger issues to address, and residents deserve better than seeing city resources focused on this. Shanda LeBoeuf | Seaside All sign restriction ordinances have lost in court time and time again. This is nothing new and has been litigated many times for over 20 years. The average cost to cities is several hundred thousand dollars. All for a few hours. Someone is making a political point. Roland Soltesz | via social media MEASURE FOR MEASURE I love Celia Jiménez and Pam Marino’s take on the Measure H initiative in Salinas (“The fate of rent stabilization in Salinas moved from town halls to city council and now to the ballot box,” Sept. 17-23). The Yes on H folks failed to acknowledge and realize that landlords have an unfair advantage in the court system with evictions so tenants need an extra layer of protection with the ordinances proposed in Measure H. That’s why Salinas residents need to vote No on H! Repealing the protections puts the tenants back in the clutches of the court system, essentially stripping tenants of any protections from predatory landlords. Eloise Shim | Salinas It is one tool and not a solution to the overall problem. Examples of positive outcomes do exist in California where policy actions have been taken, in addition to rent control, to ensure development is also encouraged. The reality is we already have statewide rent control but renters are often left to figure that out (and how to enforce it) on their own. Mark Ackermann | via social media As a past mayor of Marina, I oppose Measure Q (“Our endorsements on local ballot measures and state propositions on the Nov. 3 ballot,” Oct. 1-7). Nothing requires the tax be utilized for police or fire facilities. Misleading statements falsely allude the purpose of the new tax precisely for this. Where is a plan for the amount of funds and revenue sources that will be needed long-term for these critical facilities and services? Why hasn’t this issue earlier been elevated to a priority? Why hasn’t some initial effort with existing funds occurred? Jim Perrine | Marina As part of Marina’s Citizens Facility Advisory Committee, we volunteered our time to help the expert come to a solution. Our City of Marina needs to build. Two years ago I campaigned for Measure U, however it did not pass. The responsibility of building our City of Marina will lay in the hands of the people who live in our city. It will take all of us to do it. I ask for support for our police and fire departments, the people who are there for us to keep us safe everyday. May Holland Dungo | Marina CORRECTION A story about allegations against Vince Malfitano misstated the details of an account reported by a dental assistant in California Dental Board records (“In Monterey’s election for mayor, challenger Vince Malfitano seeks to unseat the incumbent,” Aug. 27-Sept. 2). She did not claim Malfitano placed her hand on his groin, but that as he “pulled [her] hand toward his groin area [the assistant] pulled her hand away from respondent’s grip and told him that his behavior made her feel uncomfortable.” In addition, the story described unwanted sexual touching as “sexual assault,” a term that does not appear in the Dental Board’s report. It has been updated instead to use the Dental Board’s term “sexual misconduct.” 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. LETTERS continues on pg. 14
www.montereycountynow.com OCTOBER 1-7, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 13 There’s nothing like a campaign for public office to prompt people to unearth long-buried skeletons in the closet. That is how it’s gone for Vince Malfitano, a newcomer to local politics who is running to be mayor of Monterey, and who has left a long trail of official investigations into his conduct as a dentist, as a casino owner and, most recently, as an assisted living facility operator. Staff Writer Aric Sleeper covers Monterey for the Weekly, and as he set out to report on Malfitano, he found out about this long trail. He read the public records produced by various agencies—the California Dental Board, HUD’s Inspector General, etc.—and wrote news stories about their findings. Those findings are pretty sensational, but the practice is rather routine in a day in the life of a journalist. Then a shocker: Sleeper was served with a subpoena on Monday, Sept. 21. This was the day before he planned to cover another installment in the soap opera of this campaign, a hearing in Monterey County Superior Court where Jody Compagno Crossman is seeking a restraining order against Malfitano after they had a verbal confrontation in her workplace, Compagno’s Deli, on Saturday, Aug. 22. That there was an argument is not in dispute. In court papers, Malfitano describes his reaction when he saw Crossman. “I looked at her and said I am going to sue you for defamation because I know it was you that defamed me,” he wrote. “I know it was you that brought all this dental stuff to the Republican Party offices and the Coast Weekly,” using the long-since-retired name of this newspaper. According to Crossman, his insults quickly escalated to “you piece of shit,” and “fucking bitch.” She requested a restraining order. A judge denied a temporary order until a court hearing, now scheduled for Oct. 20. This would seem to be about a personal conflict, but for Malfitano, it quite clearly appears to be about his relationship to the press. “A person has sent 25-year-old documents from my past profession to the Coast Weekly to cause me harm. I believe it is her,” Malfitano wrote in his defense. If it wasn’t clear he wants to identify suspected sources interacting with a news organization, the subpoena served on Sleeper is quite clear. It asks him to produce “ALL communications between YOU and any member of the public RELATED to Vincent M. Malfitano in any way.” Beyond “any member,” it names individuals: all members of Monterey City Council and others who have recently submitted letters to the editor published in the Weekly and/or posted social media comments. This is an intimidation tactic, and it comes from a playbook President Donald Trump himself could borrow from. Mayor Tyller Williamson and housing advocate Esther Malkin have also been subpoenaed in the case. Yet neither Malkin, Williamson nor Sleeper were present during the alleged confrontations. They have nothing to do with the restraining order case, other than Sleeper did his job as a journalist and wrote about it. Representing the Weekly, David Loy, legal director of the First Amendment Coalition, wrote to Malfitano’s attorney, Tracy Henderson, on Sept. 23: “The subpoena is an unlawful incursion on press freedom and should be withdrawn immediately.” It has not been withdrawn. That’s despite ample legal protection thanks to the California Shield Law, which protects journalists from producing any unpublished information— notes, drafts, communications with sources, etc. Combined with a journalist’s privileges afforded by the First Amendment, Loy wrote, there is zero legal justification to force a journalist to reveal their sources. Those legal protections apply even if the information published by the Weekly (or any other news outlet) is confidential. In this case, ironically, it’s all public records that any member of the public can see— this reporting is based not on secrets, but the public record. And by running for mayor, Malfitano is now a public figure. But when Sleeper and I spoke to Malfitano in the courthouse hallway, he lasted about a minute before losing his temper and shouting at Sleeper: “I hope you preserve all your garbage.” That, apparently, is how he views the First Amendment. Sara Rubin is the Weekly’s editor. Reach her at sara@montereycountynow.com. Bully Pulpit Monterey mayoral candidate takes on the local press and suspected sources. By Sara Rubin DEAD ON ARRIVAL…As a cephalopod columnist, Squid is all too familiar with the phrase “stop the presses.” Squid has an endless supply of ink, so it wouldn’t be a crisis if something needed to be reprinted. But Squid realizes humans aren’t so fortunate, and it costs time and money to roll the presses, so they better make sure all’s good before the ink hits the paper. Marina resident John DiCarlo, however, called for the Monterey County Elections Department to stop the press—after the ink already dried. On July 15, the Marina City Council finalized the language for Measure Q, a 7-percent utility users tax on the November ballot. On Sept. 1, DiCarlo filed a petition in Monterey County Superior Court, arguing that the ballot question was misleading. Measure Q is a general fund tax, meaning it can be used for any city purpose. The measure, and the fliers promoting it, calls it a “911 Emergency, Public Safety and Community Services Measure.” DiCarlo argues it needs to be changed to strictly “City of Marina 7% Utility Users Tax Measure.” Marina City Attorney René Ortega says the last day for someone to file a timely lawsuit requesting a change was July 27. “Both legally and practically, it is too late for the Council to make any changes to the ballot question,” he says. Judge Ian Rivamonte agreed, denying DiCarlo’s petition on Sept. 8. Squid knows deadlines exist for a reason. DiCarlo learned that lesson in the courtroom. BUZZ OFF…Besides that ever-replenishing ink supply, Squid thinks cephalopods enjoy many advantages compared to their human counterparts, including statocysts instead of ears. Humans are so sensitive to so many sounds at so many frequencies. And that was true at the Monterey Jazz Festival Sept. 25-27 at the Monterey County Fairgrounds, where dozens of acts played a lot of fabulous music. There was also the persistent sound of commercial and private aircraft overhead thanks to the nearby Monterey Regional Airport, and a flight path that went directly over the main stage. Add to the mix the jets participating in the California International Airshow Salinas, held on the same weekend. But most people seemed to be talking about something else: a drone hovering over the main stage on Friday night. Some angry audience members made their way straight to MJF Managing Director Bobbie Young, who assured them it was some kind of rogue pest—nobody affiliated with the festival would fly such a big, loud drone so obnoxiously close to the stage. A few hours later, Young had an update for Squid’s colleague: It was indeed their own marketing team, perhaps gathering footage of a crowd covering their ears to block the buzz—not the best marketing material. THE LOCAL SPIN SQUID FRY THE MISSION OF MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY IS TO INSPIRE INDEPENDENT THINKING AND CONSCIOUS ACTION, ETC. “The subpoena is an unlawful incursion on press freedom.” SEND SQUID A TIP: squid@montereycountynow.com
14 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY OCTOBER 1-7, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com LETTERS OPINION PARK N RIDE They should run a free shuttle from the Barnyard or Crossroads Shopping Centers to Point Lobos to free up parking and congestion along the highway (“Monterey County Supervisors move to pursue no-parking restrictions near Point Lobos,” posted Sept. 22). Shawn Adams | Monterey MONEY MATTERS A key duty of local leadership is working effectively with state and federal agencies to secure funding and execute public projects (“HUD audit found money problems with Monterey mayoral candidate’s assisted living facility,” Sept. 24-30). An active federal exclusion status or recurring state tax disputes raises practical questions about a candidate’s ability to seamlessly navigate intergovernmental relationships on day one. Barrie Riddoch | Monterey Licensed facilities care for elderly and infirm folks, who count on owners to follow the law. When you do things that impact a community that cares for dependent adults, I question your ability to run a city ethically. Kymm Navarette | Salinas WATER WAY Christopher Bunn [of the Salinas River Management Unit Association] rightly observes that the Pajaro River is an encouraging example of a public flood project (“Letters,” Sept. 10-16). The Salinas River is not the Pajaro. On the Pajaro, land is managed by a public agency for a single purpose. On the Salinas, most of the floodplain is privately owned. Here, flood-reducing work is done through the Salinas River Stream Maintenance Program, a partnership of the Resource Conservation District, Water Resources Agency, Farm Bureau, and landowner-led River Management Unit Association. Participation is voluntary. That is a property choice and it leaves a risk where owners do not enroll, but it is not the absence of a program. Flood preparedness extends beyond the Salinas River. The Water Resources Agency monitors storm activity and coordinates with the County Department of Emergency Management when flooding is predicted. Nacimiento and San Antonio dams provide the greatest flood reduction. Until there is landowner agreement on an alternative, the voluntary program remains the charted course. Ara Azhderian | Carmel Note: Azhderian is general manager of the Monterey County Water Resources Agency. ON TRAIL So awesome to see this result (“Ensen Community Park in Salinas expands with a 67-acre restoration area,” Sept. 17-23). Congratulations to everyone who worked so hard on this project. Barbara Bastian | via social media JUST JAZZ Just a wonderful event. Thank you, Monterey Jazz Festival (“The Monterey Jazz Festival’s theme, ‘Only in Monterey,’ rings true in its 69th outing,” posted Sept. 28). James R. Goulart | Moss Landing FILM ROLLING Kudos on your pledge to go back to the movie theaters (“Saving Maya Cinemas is good for the movies— and more broadly, for downtown,” posted Sept. 15). Unfortunately, especially in the summer, there isn’t much for an adult to see. On the other hand, those action movies do bring in families and teens which appears to have bumped up theater profits. I make it a point to check out the Cinemark online once a week to see if there’s anything interesting. See you at the movies. Ruthie Carter | via email FAMILY RESTAURANT Great food and great people! (“After closing a longtime barbecue location, Johnny Carmona reinvented himself at Pajaro golf course,” Sept. 24-30.) Debbie Lerma | Watsonville They are the best! Maggie Alba | Watsonville LETTERS continued from pg. 12 C XC U V 25% off x - 99 99 * ® ® ** ® ® ® C $ $ x $ 999 99 * Q ® ™ ** $ $ 999 Y D s r bu ed 9/1/26 2:49 PM 1130 Fremont Blvd (831) • 215 • 6242 Located in Laguna Plaza The Peninsula’s Downtown Shops, restaurants, hotels and businesses Spend some time with us Downtown… oldmonterey.org 11:30am-close, 10am Sat & Sun 484 Washington Street Downtown Monterey 831.643.9525 www.melvilletav.com WOOD FIRED PIZZAS, BURGERS, PASTA, SALADS & SANDWICHES INDOOR, PATIO DINING & TAKEOUT HAPPY HOUR FOOD & DRINK SPECIALS DAILY 4-6PM WEEKEND BRUNCH Family-Owned. Locally Loved. Since 1980. Open Daily from 8am 1992– 2025 VOTED BEST Comfort Food Family Restaurant Desserts Now Open in Sand City! 434 Alvarado St. Monterey 831.375.1400 rosinesmonterey.com 2160 California Ave., Sand City 831.291.5182 caffebyrosines.com ’25 Celebrating 12 years in Downtown! Sunday–Thursday 11:30am-10pm Friday–Saturday 11:30am-11pm 426 Alvarado St. Monterery 831-655-BEER asb.beer Monterey County’s Best Local Beer/Brewery Best Bar for Gen X Best Server-Chelsea Dalhamer Best Place to Eavesdrop Best Podcast - KRML’s ‘Pub Talk”
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