NOVEMBER 12-18, 2026 MONTEREYCOUNTYNOW.COM LOCAL & INDEPENDENT COUNTY VS. ICE 8 | STOPPING THE STINK IN MARINA 10 | AMP REVAMP 13 | RETHINKING GELATO 36 WHATEVER IT TAKES Nonprofit executives weigh in on leadership, plus the joy (and burden) of work. p. 18 By Aric Sleeper and Bradley Zeve One community, 208 nonprofits. Find your cause and step up for one, or all, as Monterey County Gives! kicks off.
2 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY NOVEMBER 12-18, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com NOVEMBER 12-18, 2026 • ISSUE #1998 • ESTABLISHED IN 1988 Anne Vallone (Cannon EOS 80 lens 18-300) With a mix of rain and sun, it’s rainbow season around the Monterey Bay. MONTEREY COUNTY PHOTO OF THE WEEK Send Etc. submissions to etcphoto@montereycountynow.com; please include caption and camera info. On the cover: Ron Johnson got into the nonprofit sector more than 30 years ago after a career in the NFL because he enjoys working with youth, something he continues doing in his role as president and CEO of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Monterey County. Cover art: 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) 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 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 NOVEMBER 12-18, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 3 No appointment needed We believe vaccinations save lives. For more information about our FREE Community Flu Clinic, scan the QR code or contact the Health Promotion Department at 831-759-1890. Aurora Robledo, MD Family Medicine Tuesday, November 17 2:00pm–6:00pm Hartnell College Student Center (Next to Starbucks) 411 Central Avenue Salinas, CA 93901 FREE COMMUNITY FLU CLINIC Flu vaccines provided by Salinas Valley Health Mobile Clinic
4 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY NOVEMBER 12-18, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com THE BUZZ FREE SPEECH Nearly 70 percent of Americans believe social media has too much power in politics, while 55 percent say the same about news organizations. The recent Pew Research Center study of about 3,500 adults also found that 6 percent of respondents said social media has too little influence, compared to 14 percent about news organizations. Republicans and Democrats both similarly agreed on the influence of social media companies, yet they differed when asked about news organizations, with 69 percent of Republicans saying the news is too influential, while only 43 percent of Democrats said the same. The study notes such a gap is similar to sentiments both sides have toward the news media in general. But if there’s one thing those on both ends of the political spectrum can agree on, it’s the trustworthiness, or lack thereof, of social media; about 6 in 10 Republicans and Democrats said they have little to no trust in information posted on social media platforms, according to the study. Good: An initiative by two national organizations will have a big impact on the lives of eligible seniors in Monterey County. The Food Bank for Monterey County is one of four facilities selected for the launch of a home grocery delivery program from the delivery platform Instacart and Feeding America, a nonprofit network of over 200 food banks. It provides funds to eligible seniors with mobility limitations, allowing them to shop remotely or through the food bank. The groceries are then delivered directly to their homes. “Nothing is drawn from the food bank’s own inventory,” says Instacart spokesperson Michael Campbell. “All groceries come through Instacart.” Second Harvest Heartland in Minneapolis, Food Lifeline in Seattle and New York’s FeedMore are the other recipients of the senior home delivery program, selected based upon unmet demand for senior home grocery delivery. GREAT: In the latest development in the decades-long saga to fill the missing link in the Rec Trail along the Monterey Peninsula coast, the City of Sand City entered into an agreement with the Transportation Agency for Monterey County to use TAMC’s 100-foot swath of inactive railroad land for the next 30 years. The agreement would give Sand City the rights to the land (almost) rentfree, which will allow it to apply for more grants and build on the land. Sand City will pay TAMC about $10,000 per month for parking spots along the trail. “It feels great,” Vibeke Norgaard, city manager of Sand City, says of the agreement. “When I started as city manager, this had been in plans for 20 years.” Two major steps are left: obtaining enough funding for construction, and agreement with the City of Seaside to build on its land. (An agreement with Seaside car dealers for parking has already been reached.) GOOD WEEK / GREAT WEEK THE WEEKLY TALLY That’s the percentage of Monterey Peninsula College students who live closer to Marina than they do Monterey. The Board of Trustees voted to increase the budget for the college’s Marina campus expansion to $108 million. Source: Monterey Peninsula College 45 percent QUOTE OF THE WEEK “It might not be perfect, but I would say it’s pretty damn good.” -County Supervisor Kate Daniels, before the board voted to approve the County of Monterey’s housing element on Tuesday, Nov. 3 (see story, montereycountynow.com/news).
www.montereycountynow.com NOVEMBER 12-18, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 5
6 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY NOVEMBER 12-18, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com 831 During the day, the Golden State Theatre looks as if it’s napping, getting its beauty sleep before a night out, but the truth is that a lot is going on inside the building. Noise and traffic at the glass lobby doors are typically caused by preparations for an evening show, although lately much of it relates to the slow, ongoing and careful renovation of the historic venue. Downtown Monterey wouldn’t be the same without the façade of the building, which this year celebrates its 100th birthday. These days it’s mainly a concert venue, but for anyone who loves old-fashioned theaters, spending time inside the Golden State Theatre is a visual treat. Nearly every corner holds a detail worth a second look, and a century of performances seems to linger in the walls. On a September afternoon, it’s artist Lisa Haas who stands proud in the theater lobby. She is wearing blue jeans and a leather jacket over a white T-shirt, and has the voice of a rock star. Haas and her crew have just finished renovating the shabby walls and the splendid ceiling of the lobby. It took more than two weeks of work: removing the old paper, sanding the surfaces, and recreating and re-installing the intricate design the original designers set out to conjure in 1926. A lift was involved, and much of the painting was done onsite, with the crew working overhead. “We use different products than in the 1920s, but everything else is exactly the same,” Haas says about her work. The result looks new and shiny— elegant, long ivory yellow panels in a double red frame, with the central ornament kept ambiguously somewhere between floral and heraldic. The theater was designed by the San Francisco architectural firm Reid Bros. in a modernized school of Spanish construction, meant to give off the effect of a Moorish or Castilian castle, “partaking just the least bit of the colonial scheme to make it fit in admirable fashion, into the magnificent setting of the city where civilization’s feet were first planted upon the Western coast of the United States,” as the program issued for the 1926 opening put it. “Steel grilles, miniature balconies and typical Monterey tile serve to bring out that touch which speaks in romantic terms of days of yore. An indirect lighting system of unique design brings out every nook and cranny of the Alvarado Street exposure to the best advantage.” The theater opened with 1,600 seats at a time when Monterey’s population was only about 6,000, making it the largest theater between San Francisco and Los Angeles. Standing under the restored ceiling today, it is easy to see what the program’s authors were reaching for. The colors are crisp, the lines are clean, and the lobby once again feels like a grand entrance rather than a mere passageway to the auditorium. “There is so much to this theater,” Haas says. “Somebody needs to write a book or something.” Haas is a decorative painter, muralist, painting contractor and color consultant with 25 years of experience. Perfection in color and finish matching is her specialty, and she has long been interested in restoring murals and paintings in old buildings. It is work that demands patience as much as skill, since every brushstroke has to respect what was there before, and what the original artists intended. A Monterey resident, she has been interested in the theater building for a long time, working closely with the current and previous owners, as well as with Martin Schmidt, the good spirit of the theater, who has been overseeing a slow, painstaking, but always forward-moving renovation of the venue. While he doesn’t believe that, at this pace, the theater can be fully restored in his lifetime, he tirelessly keeps going, step by step. Restoring a century-old building is rarely a one-time job. Paint fades, plaster cracks and materials age, so some work has to be done more than once. The lobby ceiling at the Golden State Theatre had been restored before by EverGreene Architectural Arts. For Haas, finishing one project simply means looking toward the next. “The lobby ceiling is done, it’s time for the mezzanine,” she says. She hopes to be involved in more restoration work at this beloved venue, helping make sure the Golden State Theatre is ready for its next 100 years. Back Stage Golden State Theatre’s restored lobby is a step into the architectural wonders of its time. By Agata Popęda “There is so much to this theater.” TALES FROM THE AREA CODE NIK BLASKOVICH Monterey artist Lisa Haas specializes in restoring paintings in old buildings. She is using her expertise in the painstaking Golden State Theatre restoration project. 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
www.montereycountynow.com NOVEMBER 12-18, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 7 I want to extend my sincere thanks to everyone who supported my reelection campaign—our volunteers, donors, friends, family, neighbors, endorsers, and, most importantly, the voters who placed their trust in me. I also want to recognize the City and County staff, election workers, and poll workers whose time and dedication help make our elections possible. This campaign was about bringing people together, recognizing that despite our differences and backgrounds, we all share a commitment to the future of Monterey. I am honored by the opportunity to continue serving as your Mayor, and I look forward to continuing the work. Let’s build our future, together. MAYOR TYLLER WILLIAMSON With gratitude to the Monterey community A HEARTFELT MONTEREY! PAID FOR BY TYLLER WILLIAMSON MONTEREY MAYOR 2026 FPPC # 1487101
8 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY NOVEMBER 12-18, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com NEWS Back in February of 2025, Deputy Monterey County Counsel Henry Smith circulated a memo to elected officials and department heads about U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity, noting that the Board of Supervisors had declared Monterey County to be a “place of trust and safety for immigrants.” The four-page memo included guidance on what to do if an ICE agent appeared on County property. “County employees are not required to speak or interact with federal law enforcement agents,” it read. If ICE officers arrived in any public areas, County staff were directed to notify a supervisor, but take no other action. If ICE requested access to any non-public area, “Employees may not help facilitate access.” Over the next year-and-a-half, ICE activity remained relatively minimal in Monterey County, even as the agency, under direction of President Donald Trump and his administration, was active elsewhere in the country fulfilling a campaign promise to crack down on immigrants living in the U.S. without authorization. On Sept. 29, 2026, the Board of Supervisors discussed further preemptive protections, guided mostly by a pending proposal by the agency to build a detention center in Santa Clara County. The board voted 5-0 to ban the construction of such facilities in Monterey County, and also to prohibit the use of county property for civil immigration enforcement activities. Within weeks, that policy was tested. On Oct. 27, ICE agents posted up on the large County campus in Salinas that includes the Monterey County Jail, Natividad Medical Center, Juvenile Hall and various Health Department buildings. When the jail went into lockdown, meaning no inmates were being released, ICE left the area. County Supervisor Wendy Root Askew says she personally notified agents onsite about the policy prohibiting such activity. (Legal observers with Solidarity Network Monterey County Rapid Response confirmed one individual was detained on Tuesday, Oct. 27 while leaving a county health clinic.) A week-and-a-half later, on Nov. 5, Monterey County Counsel Susan Blitch sent ICE a cease-and-desist letter, instructing the federal agency to end its use of County property for immigration enforcement activity. “Their operations also forced our jail to temporarily shut down last week,” she wrote. “ICE vehicles have also been seen driving with complete disregard to the safety of pedestrians in the area.” She alleged various parking violations by ICE, and also attached a copy of County Policy Number G-271, forbidding the use of Countyowned property for civil immigration enforcement activity. As of the Weekly’s deadline on Nov. 10, the agency had not responded, but a few hours after Blitch sent the letter, ICE officers were back in Salinas outside the jail. The Sheriff’s Office, which operates the jail, again put the facility under temporary lockdown, meaning no new inmates were booked or released. ICE was met with dozens of protesters who held a high-energy gathering to oppose the agency’s presence. They ordered pizza; through speakers, they played hip-hop, reggaeton and more. “I come from an immigrant family and I will not allow ICE to come into our cities and terrorize our community,” says Lisa Navarro, a 35-year old Salinas resident and protester. Navarro says ICE’s presence in Salinas hasn’t impacted her everyday life, but she has seen changes in her quieter neighborhood. “My neighbors are scared and I need to let them know that I’m here with them,” she says, noting youth soccer and football games she’s attended recently have had low attendance. “I’ve seen a lot of practices being canceled.” The Salinas Regional Soccer Complex, on County-owned land, is across Constitution Boulevard from the campus where ICE has been active. The soccer complex is listed in County Counsel’s cease-and-desist letter, along with Natividad. County officials have noted the proximity of these facilities could dissuade patients from seeking medical care. “This is incredibly disruptive from an intended intimidation strategy,” Root Askew says. “People are trying to heal 100 yards away from where we are. This is not OK. This is not safe.” Celina Alejo, a mother of three who lives in Salinas, says in Spanish she showed up after work to join the demonstration. Alejo works as a medical interpreter at clinics in Salinas, primarily serving farmworkers. “I’m here for them because I have a job thanks to them,” Alejo says. She says her work has dropped in the past few days from a usual seven or eight interpretations per day to just one to three. “It affects me financially and affects me as a human being to watch injustice,” Alejo says. The protest on Nov. 5 remained mostly peaceful, with momentary flare-ups of tension. “Please remain peaceful and look out for one another,” Patty Padilla-Salsberg, president of LULAC’s Salinas Chapter 3315 said in a statement. “The strength of our community shines when we stand together, raise our voices, and defend each other’s dignity and rights.” ICE officials have not responded to a request for comment. Sara Rubin contributed to this report. Dozens of protesters formed a line outside of the Monterey County Jail on Thursday night, Nov. 5, to oppose the presence of ICE officers, who left around 8:05pm. Icy Chill Protesters clash with ICE officers outside the Monterey County Jail in Salinas. By Celia Jiménez “This is not OK. This is not safe.” DANIEL DREIFUSS DANIEL DREIFUSS
www.montereycountynow.com NOVEMBER 12-18, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 9 LIMITED-TIME OFFER 15-Month Share Certificate 4.75% APY* Now is the Time to Earn More. *APY = annual percentage yield. Minimum opening deposit $100,000; maximum deposit $20,000,000. One promotional certificate per member. Funds must not have been on deposit in any Monterey CU account in the 6 months before opening. Early withdrawal penalties apply. Available as of 11/10/2026; subject to change or cancellation at any time. 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 In addition to our Regular Menu we will offer the following specials: First Course: Endive Salad, Wild Mushroom Soup or Duck Confit Entrée: Diestel Farms Turkey or John Dory Dessert: Pumpkin Roll The scenic C restaurant overlooks a spectacular waterfront setting on the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Do you live an InterContinental life? 750 Cannery Row, Monterey 831.642.2013 www.intercontinental.com/montereyic Blue meets blue at the C restaurant + bar Located next to the Monterey Bay Aquarium 750 Cannery Row Monterey, California 93940 831.375.4500 www.ictheclementmonterey.com The reimagined C restaurant overlooks a spectacular waterfront setting on the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. The C restaurant + bar, where every table o ers a blue water view. Serving breakfast and dinner Wednesday through Sunday. Located at InterContinental The Clement Monterey, a 208 room hotel on historic Cannery Row. Thanksgiving Dinner, Thursday, November 26, 2–8pm
10 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY NOVEMBER 12-18, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com For years, fall brings a familiar kind of smell in Marina. Sometimes it’s the essence of a hot, starchy vegetable wafting through the neighborhoods, sometimes it’s a water holding pond that turned septic. Over the years, Marina Mayor Bruce Delgado and County Supervisor Wendy Root Askew have hosted multiple town hall meetings to discuss the issue, which trends during fall and winter as wind patterns and temperatures trap the smells closer to the ground. “As complaints come in, the sources of those odors are doing their level best to address those issues,” Richard Stedman of Monterey Bay Air Resources District said at a July 7 town hall meeting. “What we’ve seen is [the smell] gets worse when the weather gets really bad or we get warm, humid weather.” While not all odors can be controlled, some can. ReGen Monterey, which operates a landfill, recycling and composting facility, is one of many industrial operations in the area that contribute to the stench. The agency is investing $8.7 million in a new composting system, partially supported by a $3 million CalRecycle grant and an additional $1 million investment from compost operator Keith Day. The project will transition its composting operation to a system known as CASP, or Covered Aerated Static Pile. The new system aims to reduce both odors and emissions while shortening ReGen’s composting process (for residential green waste) from 90-120 days to approximately 30 days. For decades, ReGen has used a process called windrow composting, which involves separating the organic material into long rows (windrows), and using heavy machinery to turn the rows every few days. The new system will cover the organic material with a membrane and use automated technology to manage airflow, temperature and irrigation simultaneously. This process will help materials break down more efficiently, and capture gases and odors before they release, and cut down the need for diesel-powered equipment. Construction began in May and is expected to be completed by year-end. “Composting operations have increased due to state requirements to divert organics out of landfills, so there is potential for composting odors to increase,” Delgado says. “This all makes it important and timely to take action to reduce compost odors that can affect Marina residents. CASP is an expensive but needed project.” More landscaping and a better parking plan was what the Carmel City Council asked for last fall from a proposed JB Pastor mixeduse building on Dolores Street, the vision of Monaco developer Patrice Pastor, who named the building after his father. Over a year later, Pastor’s company, Esperanza Carmel, delivered on the landscaping and parking, as well as adding three affordable units. The Carmel Planning Commission approved the 13,887-square-foot, two-story project in a 5-0 vote on Nov. 4, giving it high marks, especially for the affordable one-bedroom apartments, each under 500 square feet, joining eight market-rate units. Esperanza representative Christopher Mitchell told commissioners they added the affordable units because “we know there is a lot of pressure” on the city to add affordable housing. Commissioner Stephanie Locke called the units “a big bonus” that “everyone should be extremely happy about.” Not everyone was happy. Former commissioner Julie Wendt called them “shameful,” contending the developer was clustering three “inferior” apartments at the rear, creating “economic segregation.” (Assembly Bill 491, adopted in 2021, states that developers “shall not isolate” lower-income units to a specific area of a mixed-income development.) Commissioner Michael LePage said the opponents’ argument was “missing the point.” The addition of the affordable units demonstrated what providing housing downtown would look like, he said. Commissioner Stefan Karapetkov only requested that Esperanza add more natural light to the units. It’s the second approval of the project by the Planning Commission. In 2025, commissioners approved an earlier version that was appealed by 11 residents to the City Council, which in turn sent it back to the Planning Commission asking for more parking and landscaping. The new plan puts parking underground and increases spaces from 12 to 19. The public has until Nov. 19 to appeal the Planning Commission’s decision. Sniff Test A new composting project at ReGen Monterey aims to reduce odors and emissions. By Katie Rodriguez NEWS BE PREPARED The Monterey County Department of Emergency Management hosts a winter storm preparedness town hall meeting for Pajaro residents. 5:30pm Thursday, Nov. 12. Pajaro Middle School, 250 Salinas Road, Pajaro. Free. readymontereycounty.org. RENTAL RIGHTS The City of Monterey and ECHO Housing host a virtual meeting on the Tenant Protection Act of 2019. Learn about your rights as a renter. 2-3pm Friday, Nov. 13. Via Zoom at bit. ly/MontereyTenantsNov13. Free. (831) 646-3995, monterey.gov/housing. SCAM SHIELD Learn how to protect yourself from financial scams. The talk is presented by cybersecurity expert Francisco Rodriguez and hosted by Monterey City Councilmember Jean Rasch and Monterey Vista Neighborhood Association. 10:15-11:30am Saturday, Nov. 14. Monterey Public Library, 625 Pacific St., Monterey. Free. bit.ly/ MontereyScamTalkNov14. PUBLIC PROCESS The Monterey County Board of Supervisors meets to consider various agenda items. Public input is accepted. 9am Tuesday, Nov. 17. Board of Supervisors’ chambers, 168 West Alisal St., Salinas. Free. (831) 755-5066, countyofmonterey.gov. FIRE WISE North County Fire Protection District Board of Directors meets to consider various district business. Public comment is accepted. 10am Tuesday, Nov. 17. Castroville Library, 11160 Speegle St., Castroville. Free. (831) 633-2578, ncfpd.org. POINT MADE Salinas Valley Health offers a community flu clinic, open to all. 2-6pm Tuesday, Nov. 17. Hartnell College Student Center, 411 Central Ave., Salinas. Free. (831) 759-1890, salinasvalleyhealth.com/flu. GATHER THE POSSE Monterey County Planning Commission meets to consider allowing the Monterey County Sheriff’s Posse to host eight concerts a year, among other projects. Public input is accepted. 9am Wednesday, Nov. 18. Board of Supervisors’ Chambers, 168 West Alisal St., Salinas. Free. (831) 7555025, countyofmonterey.gov. FUTURE TEACHERS Learn about pathways to get into teaching or advance an existing career at this discussion over pizza. 5:30-6:30pm Thursday, Nov. 17. Monterey County Office of Education, 901 Blanco Circle, Salinas. Free. (831) 755-0300, montereycoe.org. Hard Fought The JB Pastor building in Carmel wins approval for a second time after years of struggle. By Pam Marino A compost turner (above) regularly turns the material to help manage heat and moisture levels. CASP will reduce the frequency of turning, as oxygen will be piped in. E-MAIL: publiccitizen@montereycountynow.com PUBLIC CITIZEN “CASP is an expensive but needed project.” REGEN MONTEREY
www.montereycountynow.com NOVEMBER 12-18, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 11 CELEBRATE THANKSGIVING Celebrate Thanksgiving at the Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa and enjoy a thoughtfully prepared buffet of seasonal favorites and coastal specialties by Chef Michael Rotondo Thanksgiving Day Buffet 11am – 6pm $145 ADULTS $49 CHILDREN (Ages 6-13; free under 6) montereyplazahotel.com | 400 Cannery Row, Monterey For reservations montereyplazahotel.com/dining/thanksgiving-dining-2026 Raw Bar Charcuterie Display California Cheese Selection Soup and Small Plates Hot Buffet Pastry Chef’s Selection How to Donate 1. Visit www.mcgives.com 2. Choose your favorites 3. Click on DONATE button 50 DAYS 208 NONPROFITS 2026 MCGives! GOALS $16 million 8,500 DONORS by midnight Dec. 31, 2026 DEC. 1 #GivingTuesday is an international day of giving. You can participate through Monterey County Gives! DEC. 31 The Monterey County Gives! campaign ends at midnight. SCAN TO DONATE
12 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY NOVEMBER 12-18, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com Elaine Sherer steps inside the empty shell of what was once envisioned as a spacious, two-story restaurant overlooking Moss Landing North Harbor and beckons a visitor to imagine what could be. “Welcome to the world of possibilities,” she says. In Sherer’s imagination, the white walls and concrete floors are already teeming with images of the magnificent sea life that lives in the water just below the building, fanning out into Monterey Bay. This is the site of what Sherer plans on becoming the Moss Landing Coastal Center, an immersive experience, with LED walls and floors that make visitors feel as if they are underwater and interacting with the whales, fish, otters, sea lions, harbor seals, rays, squid and other creatures. Sherer has spent two years dreaming of what the MLCC space will become, working with scientists and partners. The group is taking meetings with four companies vying for the opportunity to make the immersive experience a reality, including creators of the Las Vegas Sphere. The outer shell of the building, next door to Sea Harvest Restaurant at 2460 Highway 1, was constructed in 2018-2019 at a cost of $3.5 million by the Moss Landing Harbor District, a special district created in 1943 to own, develop and manage the harbor and surrounding land. Recently, the district completed the inner shell at a cost of $4 million. The district’s elected board of commissioners planned to lease the 9,500-square-foot building to a restaurant, but restaurants are getting smaller. The average size of a full-service restaurant today is 6,000 square feet. The building sat empty for seven years, unable to attract a tenant. Sherer, who previously worked for the nonprofit Marine Mammal Center in Marin County as its retail director, saw the building in 2024 and decided it was the perfect spot for a marine science visitor center, similar to the Seymour Marine Discovery Center in Santa Cruz. She hopes to inspire the next generation of marine biologists. The center has 501(c)(3) status with the IRS and is waiting on California to grant tax-exempt status. What makes the location ideal, Sherer says, is where it sits on top of the Monterey Submarine Canyon. The Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute is just across the harbor. Local researchers are already participating in the planning of MLCC and four advisory councils are being assembled. (The nonprofit’s board of directors will be chosen from the advisory councils.) Upstairs, Sherer imagines a conference room with its own LED wall, where researchers can meet with colleagues from around the world in person and virtually. That space would offset costs of the first-floor visitor center, keeping entrance fees low. On Sept. 30, the Harbor District commissioners voted 5-0 to approve a nonbinding letter of intent between the district and MLCC for a 10-year lease agreement, with the cost to be negotiated. Harbormaster Tommy Razzeca says there are other parties interested in the space. The Gateway A new vision is unfolding to turn an empty building into a high-tech marine visitor center. By Pam Marino Moss Landing Harbor District recently completed construction on the building, at a total cost of about $7.5 million. The harbormaster reports multiple entities are now interested in leasing the space. NEWS “Welcome to the world of possibilities.” DANIEL DREIFUSS Quality feed & pet supplies • DIY dog & cat vaccines • Premium hay at great prices Low cost vaccination clinic for dogs & cats. Microchipping. Prescription flea/tick medication. Open every Saturday 12pm-3pm 101 W. LAUREL DR, SALINAS • (831)443-6161 Mon-Sat 9am-6pm Sun 10am-5pm $5 OFF Any purchase of $25 or more $20 OFF Any purchase of $100 or more WE HAVE PREMIUM HAY! $10 OFF Any purchase of $50 or more QUALITY YOU CAN SEE, NUTRITION THEY CAN TASTE! EXPIRES 11-4-26. CANNOT BE COMBINED WITH OTHER DISCOUNTS OR OFFERS. LIMIT 1 COUPON PER CUSTOMER. NOT VALID ON HAY, SHAVINGS, SERESTO, MAX BULLY, SPORTSTRAIL, NUTRA-NUGGETS, OR LIVE ANIMALS. MUST PRESENT ENTIRE PHYSICAL COUPON AT TIME OF PURCHASE. COUPON MUST COME DIRECTLY FROM THE MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY. REPRINTS OR PHOTOCOPIES NOT VALID. FORAGE ALFALFA ALFALFA GRASS TIMOTHY MIX $23.00 $28.00 $34.00 $36.00 FALL DECORATING? WE HAVE STRAW BALES! RICE STRAW WHEAT STRAW $16.99 $18.99 BACK IN STOCK! 12-02-26 carmel plaza carmel-by-the-sea trunk show luxury sportswear made in italy fri-sun nov 13th-15th *Take larger quantities—like leftover turkey fryer oil—to your local household hazardous waste collection facility Scrap the drain to protect critical infrastructure and the environment! ClogBusters.org TRASH* Cooking oil and grease GREEN CART Food scraps without a bag RECIPE FOR CLOG-FREE HOLIDAYS • Southern Monterey Bay Dischargers Group ReGen Monterey •
www.montereycountynow.com NOVEMBER 12-18, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 13 Since he took over as executive director at Access Media Productions in August, following the loss of the nonprofit’s contract with the City of Monterey in April, Mike Buffo has been making big changes to keep AMP afloat. “Our organization is facing severe financial trouble,” says Buffo, a producer, cinematographer and director. “The Monterey contract was 54 percent of our revenue. We did all of their meetings for many years…So we have been pruning the weeds around our expenses and evaluating everything we do.” The City of Monterey contracted with AMP since 1998 to record and stream its public meetings. But given the city’s ongoing structural deficit, it ended its relationship with the longtime partner earlier this year and contracted with the Monterey County Office of Education instead, saving the city about $150,000 annually. Since taking the reins of AMP in the aftermath, Buffo has been finding traditional ways to cut expenses, like reducing staff, while concurrently working on strategies to make the nonprofit more attractive to new clients, including redesigning AMP’s logo (without using AI, Buffo says), revising its website and creating an online portal for clients to request consultations, among other technical improvements. “Our cities see us in one way, but we’d like them to see us in more than one way,” Buffo says. “The one way is that we are the technicians who are reliable and that they need to be compliant with their transparency demands but we’d like for them to also see us as documentarians for city activities: cultural events, parades, announcements and PSAs. We want to expand our roles, because if we don’t we’re just going to die.” Buffo has brought on new clients that he worked with through his video production company, House of 8 Media, including the Carmel Public Library Foundation, Wholehearted Chorus and American Institute of Architects Monterey Bay. He is also working with an AMP client, the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District, to develop job training programs for students and a pilot program that features livestreams of local high school sports. “We have students serve in broadcast roles, as the camera operators and the sideline correspondents, in collaboration with AMP staff as mentors,” he says. “The students get volunteer hours, and we produce a multi-camera livestream for NFHS [National Federation of State High School Associations], as well as for our register portal, Channel 27 and Vimeo.” The biggest move for AMP since the leadership change is a physical one. The nonprofit moved from its longtime headquarters on Tyler Street in Monterey to a former elementary school in Seaside, which also houses the nonprofit All-In Monterey County. “We’re setting up a couple of classrooms and taking over the library,” Buffo says. “My hope is that this will be a gathering space for training for youth and the public at large.” Amping Up After losing its biggest account, Access Media Productions changes leadership and locations. By Aric Sleeper One change for Access Media Productions (AMP) under Mike Buffo’s leadership was a move on Nov. 8 from downtown Monterey to the former Marshall West Elementary School in Seaside. NEWS “We want to expand our roles, because if we don’t we’re just going to die.” DANIEL DREIFUSS Insured by NCUA 1The dividend rate and Annual Percentage Yield (APY) accurate as of 10/01/2026. The dividend rate and APY may change at any time. There is no minimum balance required to earn the stated APY. The minimum deposit for the 9-month, 4.30% APY New Money Certificate special is $500. The special 9-month new money term savings certificate can only be opened in-branch or by phone and funded with new money. New money is defined as funds not on deposit at Golden 1 in the 30 days prior to the certificate account opening. The APY is based on an assumption that dividends will remain in the account until maturity. Any fee, withdrawal or transfer reduces earnings and there may be penalties for early withdrawal. These certificates are not extended to organization accounts. Rates and terms are subject to change without notice. Call 1-877-GOLDEN 1 (1-877-465-3361) for current rates. 100626-MTW Visit a branch, call 1-877-465-3361 or scan to learn more Earn up to 4.30% Limited-time offer with a Term Savings Certificate APY1 Cornucopia Community Market offers quality nutritious and environmentally safe products, free of artificial additives and preservatives. Your Local Health Food Store Open MOn-Fri 9aM-7pM Sat & Sun 10aM-6pM 831-625-1454 26135 Carmel Rancho Blvd, Carmel (at the mouth of Carmel Valley) Thanksgiving Blessings Your Source for Local and Organic Food for a Healthy Lifestyle • All Organic Produce • Healthy Groceries • Organic Meat • Bakery • Cheeses • Wines • Supplements • Bulk Goods • Body Care • Amazing Gifts
14 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY NOVEMBER 12-18, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com VOTE COUNT Dismal data (“A look back at how candidates did at showing up to the polls in recent elections,” posted Nov. 3). Voting is a right and a responsibility. In our house we like to say, “Didn’t vote? Oh, well, then make sure to keep your pie hole shut!” Maury Treleven | Gonzales “We do not have government by the majority. We have government by the majority who participate.” -Thomas Jefferson Mike Moeller | Marina Note: Moeller is the mayor-elect of Marina. RACE IS OVER Mayor Oglesby and his wife [Rita Cummings Oglesby] are pillars of positive community in Seaside (“Ian Oglesby leads in Seaside’s mayoral race; Rita Burks looks certain to retain council seat,” posted Nov. 3). They show up for so much greatness and are class acts—glad to see the mayor able to continue as a powerful leader for Seaside. Erin Morse | via social media Outstanding news. The best man won (“Pacific Grove Mayor Nick Smith heads for another term; an incumbent and a newcomer lead for council,” posted Nov. 3). Mark Sarvas | via social media A win for decency and kindness (“Mayor Tyller Williamson heads to commanding win for another term,” posted Nov. 3). Mark Peake | via social media Shelley Cabanillas’ solution-oriented approach will enhance our council (“A Del Rey Oaks councilmember may lose his seat as two challengers lead in election results,” posted Nov. 5). She is determined to work to see that the FORTAG project is completed to the level promised and that any future development on the Fort Ord property is thoroughly considered with the involvement of our community. Shelley is a peacemaker and has the experience and skill set needed for the Del Rey Oaks City Council. Her genuine optimism will represent our city well as we move forward together. Victoria Lucido | Del Rey Oaks ICE MELTING So proud of my community (“Protesters clash with ICE officers outside the Monterey County Jail in Salinas,” posted Nov. 6). Tamryn Clegg | via social media Thank you protesters! We must protect the most vulnerable among us and not allow this continued tyranny. Our election has made clear—the people have spoken. Carol Kersten | via social media Proof our community doesn’t want law and order. Federal agents doing their jobs and people are bitching about it. Allen Lorscheider | Castroville Let the federal officers do their job. We do not need criminal illegals being let back into our communities. And the whole waving of the Mexican flag is absolutely ridiculous because this is America. Victoria Anne Gonzales-Bergquist | via social media Abolish ICE. Jessie Call | Sand City It’s an incredibly beautiful feeling knowing that absolutely none of these waste-of-time protests have stopped or slowed down federal ICE from doing their jobs. Just goes to show that these protests mean absolutely zero at the end of the day. Ryan Shearer | via social media I’m so proud of the County for handling this whole ICE BS the way they have (“Monterey County Counsel sends a cease-and-desist letter to ICE to end its use of County property,” posted Nov. 5). Good on them. Alexis Teplitzky | Big Sur STANDING TOGETHER Nice job expressing the frustration that so many of us feel (“An immigration detention matters not just to a family, but a community,” Nov. 5-11). Ken Wright | Big Sur UP STAGE I could watch this documentary 100 times (“A new documentary on the Shakespeare of Chicano theater, Luis Valdez, streams for free until Nov. 4,” Oct. 29-Nov. 4). Cathy Chavez Miller | via social media My wife and I were fortunate and honored to attend a screening at El Teatro Campesino. Such an awesome documentary. Steve Harris | San Juan Bautista It is awesome! Frances J. Vasquez | Riverside MAGNETIC PULL He’s always been a talent with a camera. No surprise! (“Daniel Cutino rides a wave of social media success posting metal detecting videos,” Oct. 29-Nov. 4.) Oliver Cripe | Santa Cruz One of my favorite programs! Camille Miller | via social media Great guy making great content. Rock on, Daniel. Ron Decker | via social media TAKE 10 Sarah [Kabat-Marcy], Michael [Marcy] and Michelle [Estigoy] are the best—great people. We worked together in Post Ranch and when they opened their own restaurant, I knew they were going to do amazing (“Carmel’s Cultura continues to thrive after a decade by keeping things consistent,” Oct. 29-Nov. 4). Congratulations. Marco Perez | Seattle So incredibly proud of this crew. Germaine Esquivel | via social media We love Cultura! Always warm and charming service, great food and cocktails. Thank you all! Esther Murray | Saratoga CORRECTION A story about places that appear in East of Eden inaccurately reported that the Abbott House, which is depicted in the Netflix series, still stands today. It does not (“A look at the real Salinas Valley places at the heart of East of Eden,” Nov. 5-11). 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 NOVEMBER 12-18, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 15 Kevin Dayton is a policy wonk, by nature and by profession. He built a career out of keeping tabs on dozens of government agencies and updating his clients on issues that may matter to them. In recent years, those local clients included the Salinas Valley Chamber of Commerce and Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce and, until a few years ago, the Salinas City Center Improvement Association. (His work with the Monterey Peninsula Taxpayers Association was mostly in a volunteer capacity.) Dayton has monitored a big range of government affairs issues. Then a confluence of those issues came down on him and his family, driving them away from California after 12 years in Monterey County. Dayton lost one Sacramentobased client because they replaced his role with AI. “They said, ‘You do a great job but we think we can have a computer do it at one-tenth of the price,’” he says. (He doesn’t hold it against them: “Everyone’s got to watch the bottom line.” But, he adds, “To think a machine is going to do it all is just the wrong direction for civilization.”) Dayton has long been tracking declining enrollment in K-12 schools—a symptom, he says, of the impossibly high cost of housing that makes the region out of reach for families with children—and his wife, Nancy, found herself in the crosshairs of that trend. She worked as a principal of a school in Santa Cruz County that closed, putting her out of a job. The other factor was the impossibly high cost of health care. In October, the family— two adults and one child (their eldest is in college)—got a $4,100 monthly bill for insurance. “That was a hard hit for us,” Dayton says. “Health insurance is just out of control here.” His wife had already gotten a job at a school in Asheville, North Carolina and moved out there. Then Dayton got a call from a recruiter about an opening at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, which “advances the principles of free markets and limited government.” He moved to Midland, Michigan the first week of November for his new job. On Tuesday, Nov. 17, the Monterey County Board of Supervisors is set to approve a resolution honoring Dayton’s contributions to this community. The resolution credits Dayton for “diligently reviewing public meeting agendas, participating in local government proceedings, and writing extensively on labor, water, housing and economic issues.” Ironically, it is those same issues that have driven him and his family out of the state. “There’s a lot of rich people and a lot of poor people that serve them and not a lot of people in the middle,” Dayton says. “The middle is sort of ignored.” In the realm of health insurance in particular, he understands why the federal government would act to end subsidies against middle-class families like his—they earn too much to need subsidies. They had previously benefited from Obamacare subsidies that made their health plan manageable. Then HR 1, or the “One Big, Beautiful Bill” ended those subsidies, sending their cost of insurance skyrocketing. Meanwhile, as both people who are poor and middle-class watch their health insurance slip away, the bureaucracy needed to implement it is expanding. On Nov. 17, the County Department of Social Services is asking the Board of Supervisors to approve the pass-through of $7.1 million in state funding for administrative support to increase the number of eligibility specialists by 25 (up from 240), starting Nov. 30. Annette Gallegos, assistant deputy director of the Department of Social Services, says these workers will be needed to help manage an estimated 47,000 enrollees, who in 2027 will be required to renew every six months. Another roughly 24,000 people will need their eligibility reassessed based on new requirements. It’s the worst of all worlds: Driving away middle-class families that can no longer afford health care, and driving poor people off of Medi-Cal (and making it more cumbersome for everyone). Meanwhile, the bureaucracy needed to deliver bad news about eligibility is the only place seeing new growth. The Blue Wave has arrived too late to solve this big pile of problems, even if the voters have spoken to say something we already knew is true: The costs of everything are just too damn high. Sara Rubin is the Weekly’s editor. Reach her at sara@montereycountynow.com. Cost Pressure Despite a Blue Wave election, much damage has already been done. By Sara Rubin CHECK-OUT TIME…With shrimp-flavored popcorn in tentacle, Squid watched the fight over Measure M in Carmel to raise the transient occupancy tax from 10 percent to 12 percent. It’s a tax paid by hotel guests, not residents, a no-brainer way to raise money to pay for much-needed infrastructure and services. If you listened to Carmel innkeepers, raising the TOT would mean economic doom for the tiny town. The innkeepers raised over $30,000 and bought multiple ads in the Carmel Pine Cone urging a “no” vote, including one based on a 1769 English political cartoon depicting members of Parliament about to slay the goose that laid the golden eggs, the goose representing trade with America. Under the title “Carmel Council Killing the Golden Goose,” the innkeepers’ ad showed someone wielding a sword labeled “Measure M,” with the goose labeled “Carmel’s 42 Inns & Hotels.” The measure won by a huge margin—1,149 to 506, as of the latest ballot count on Nov. 9. Squid wondered how much those 506 “no” votes cost. As of Oct. 17, Citizens Against Carmel Hotel Tax Increase reported spending $25,588. Divided by 506, that’s $50.56 per vote. As it turns out, the only ones to lay an egg on Nov. 3 were the innkeepers. MILLING AROUND…Squid prefers oozing to dancing as a modality of movement, but sometimes Squid finds the motivation to meet a dress code (“dressy nightlife attire”) and ooze over to 201 Main in downtown Salinas to let off some steam on a Friday night. Never has Squid paid much attention to the venue’s maintenance and restoration needs, calculated at a cool $1.8 million. That’s according to an application submitted by building owner Gerry Kehoe to the City of Salinas, seeking a Mills Act contract. These contracts give property owners reduced property taxes in exchange for a 10-year work plan to protect historic buildings, in this case a 1907 structure that was remodeled almost a century ago, in 1927, to resemble its look and footprint of today. The 16-percent savings to Kehoe would be roughly $3,343 per year (with the property tax bill estimated at $17,551 with Mills Act approval), a loss to the City of just $491 per year. How he’s going to pull off all of the work with those limited dollars remains a head-scratcher to Squid—there’s elevator maintenance and a fire sprinkler system, plus repairs to damaged masonry, historic windows, complete restoration of the 5,000-square-foot basement and 1898 bank vaults—but they say something is better than nothing. In September, Kehoe’s request won a 6-0 yes recommendation from the Historic Resources Board, then on Nov. 10 (after Squid’s deadline), went to the Salinas City Council for the final say. THE LOCAL SPIN SQUID FRY THE MISSION OF MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY IS TO INSPIRE INDEPENDENT THINKING AND CONSCIOUS ACTION, ETC. “The middle is sort of ignored.” SEND SQUID A TIP: squid@montereycountynow.com
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