august 17-23, 2023 montereycountyweekly.com LOCAL & INDEPENDENT inside the jail 12 | marina as reality television set 14 | creepy and kooky 31 | Eat and drive 36 Made in the ShadeCars had a colorful past; supercar stars at Concours; Lemons hasn’t soured; and more. p. 18 Published by Best of Monterey Bay® Haven home & LifestyLe magazine KitcHen cHic • curb AppeAl • DreAm Drives HigH biDs • Fine vines • cAviAr cool 2023-2024 Free cover_HAVEN_23.indd 1 8/3/23 3:27 PM Home and Lifestyle Magazine inside Car Week | 2023
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What does an overdose look like? If someone is overdosing, remember to D.O.S.E. z Slow or absent breathing z Confusion, sleepiness, or unresponsiveness z Small pupils z Blue lips or blue discoloration of skin z Dial 911 z Open naloxone kit z Spray naloxone z Evaluate response (be prepared to give additional doses if needed) How to save a life from an opioid overdose You can save a life with naloxone, the reversal medicine for an opioid drug overdose. Carry it everywhere you go. Naloxone can be given even if you are unsure that an overdose is happening. California’s Good Samaritan Law protects you from legal liability so you can act without hesitation. Learn where to get naloxone and how to use it at montagehealth.org/prescribesafe www.montereycountyweekly.com AUGUST 17-23, 2023 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 3
4 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY august 17-23, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com august 17-23, 2023 • ISSUE #1829 • Established in 1988 Jerry Loomis (Sony 7r4, Sony 200 to 600mm lens) A group of adorable barn swallow chicks seen in Moss Landing. Young swallows usually leave the nest after about three weeks. Monterey County photo of the week Send Etc. submissions to etcphoto@mcweekly.com; please include caption and camera info. On the cover: From the Model T to today, black has been a popular color for cars. While yellow has been common in the past, car buyers soured on the color in recent times. Since 1971, only 4 percent of cars on American roads wore a coat of yellow. Cars of all colors make appearances at Car Week events. Cover photo by Daniel Dreifuss etc. Copyright © 2023 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. No person, without prior permission from the publisher, may take more than one copy of each issue. Additional copies and back issues may be purchased for $1, plus postage. Mailed subscriptions: $120 yearly, pre-paid. The Weekly is an adjudicated newspaper of Monterey County, court decree M21137. The Weekly assumes no responsibility for unsolicited materials. Visit our website at http://www.montereycountyweekly.com. Audited by CVC. Founder & CEO Bradley Zeve bradley@mcweekly.com (x103) Publisher Erik Cushman erik@mcweekly.com (x125) Editorial editor Sara Rubin sara@mcweekly.com (x120) features editor Dave Faries dfaries@mcweekly.com (x110) associate editor Tajha Chappellet-Lanier tajha@mcweekly.com (x135) Staff Writer Celia Jiménez celia@mcweekly.com (x145) Staff Writer Pam Marino pam@mcweekly.com (x106) Staff Writer Rey Mashayekhi rey@mcweekly.com (x102) Staff Writer Agata Pope¸da (x138) aga@mcweekly.com Staff Writer David Schmalz david@mcweekly.com (x104) DIGITAL PRODUCER Kyarra Harris kyarra@mcweekly.com (x105) Staff photographer Daniel Dreifuss daniel@mcweekly.com (x140) contributors Nik Blaskovich, Rob Brezsny, Sloan Campi, Paul Fried, Jesse Herwitz, Jeff Mendelsohn, Jacqueline Weixel Cartoons Rob Rogers, Tom Tomorrow Production Art Director/Production Manager Karen Loutzenheiser karen@mcweekly.com (x108) Graphic Designer Kevin Jewell kevinj@mcweekly.com (x114) Graphic Designer Alexis Estrada alexis@mcweekly.com (x114) Graphic Designer Lani Headley lani@mcweekly.com (x114) SALES senior Sales Executive Diane Glim diane@mcweekly.com (x124) Senior Sales Executive George Kassal george@mcweekly.com (x122) Senior Sales Executive Keith Bruecker keith@mcweekly.com (x118) Classifieds business development director Keely Richter keely@mcweekly.com (x123) Digital Director of Digital Media Kevin Smith kevin@mcweekly.com (x119) Distribution Distribution AT Arts Co. atartsco@gmail.com Distribution Control Harry Neal Business/Front Office Office Manager Linda Maceira linda@mcweekly.com (x101) Bookkeeping Rochelle Trawick rochelle@mcweekly.com 668 Williams Ave., Seaside, CA 93955 831-394-5656, (FAX) 831-394-2909 www.montereycountyweekly.com We’d love to hear from you. Send us your tips at tipline.montereycountyweekly.com. We can tell you like the print edition of the Weekly. We bet you’ll love the daily newsletter, Monterey County NOW. Get fresh commentary, local news and sundry helpful distractions delivered to your inbox every day. There’s no charge, and if you don’t love it, you can unsubscribe any time. SIGN UP NOW Sign up today at montereycountyweekly.com/mcnow
www.montereycountyweekly.com AUGUST 17-23, 2023 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 5 Apply at www.centcoastfcu.com, visit your local branch, or call us at (831) 393-3480 Big Becom Today Your NMLS# 786119 Become A Member Today And Access Your Home Equity A home equity line of credit (HELOC) can be an easy, affordable way to nance home improvement projects, so go ahead, Dream Big! Seaside: 4242 Gigling Rd. Salinas: 1141 S. Main St. Soledad: 315 Gabilan Dr. King City: 510 Canal St. DreamBig Ready to unlock the hidden value in your home? *Terms and conditions apply. Apply at www.centcoastfcu.com, visit your local branch, or call us at (831) 393-3480 DR. BRYNIE KAPLAN DAU, MS, DVM Voted Monterey County’s BEST VETERINARIAN TWO YEARS IN A ROW! ’22 ’21 SURGERY DERMATOLOGY FELINE AND CANINE MEDICINE PREVENTATIVE CARE AND MUCH MORE Now Offering Regenerative Medicine, PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) and Laser Therapy Utilizing the body’s own cells to heal and regenerate damaged tissues in acute and chronic conditions 1023 Austin Avenue, Pacific Grove • 831-318-0306 www.pacificgroveanimalhospital.com
6 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY AUGUST 17-23, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com THE BUZZ FREE SPEECH A leader in journalism education, Ray Hiebert, got his first introduction to Monterey County when he was assigned to basic training at Fort Ord during the Korean War. He returned after a 50-year career when he retired to Carmel Valley and became a member of St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church and a fan of the local classical music scene, especially the Monterey Symphony and Carmel Bach Festival. Hiebert died at age 91 on Aug. 5. His career in journalism education began in 1968 when the University of Maryland invited him to revamp its journalism department and he became the first dean of its Philip Merrill College of Journalism four years later. The U.S. State Department invited him in 1976 to give lectures on freedom of the press in 13 African countries. “The experience changed his life, taking him around the world as a journalism lecturer and program director,” according to an obituary. He continued to provide various fellowship and training opportunities to young journalists for decades. Hiebert’s first journalism job was at age 10 delivering The Bakersfield Californian and the Los Angeles Times. Good: Three CSU Monterey Bay Police officers were honored through the CSU Police Department’s 2023 Police Commendations “for bravely going above and beyond their normal duties in serving the public and bringing honor to themselves and the university,” according to the CSU Chancellor’s Office. Officer Luis Deeb and Deputy Chief John Short each received a Lifesaving Medal for their quick actions: Deeb rescued an unconscious victim of a traffic collision in Seaside; Short helped save the life of an unhoused man near the campus who overdosed on fentanyl. Corporal Heather Murphy received a Medal of Valor for bravery. Murphy was part of the regional Special Response Unit Crisis Negotiations Team that responded to a shooting and hostage situation at Patisserie Bechler in Pacific Grove in 2020. Murphy negotiated a surrender and the suspect was taken into custody. GREAT: Renewable energy projects can have the advantage of being a win-winwin—saving money, doing good for the environment and, in the case of Rancho Cielo, serving as a real-life training opportunity for students. On Aug. 15, the Salinas nonprofit announced plans to install a 13,000-square-foot solar array that will cost $650,000. It’s expected to pay for itself in five years thanks to reduced energy costs. Plus, thanks to the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act and clean energy tax credits, Rancho Cielo will get back 30 percent, or $200,000, of the project cost. U.S. Rep. Jimmy Panetta, D-Carmel Valley, was on campus to announce the federal benefit supporting this infrastructure. Rancho Cielo’s students, who train in practical job skills like construction and culinary arts, will help built the project. Construction will start right away and the solar array is expected to be up and running by Jan. 1, 2024. GOOD WEEK / GREAT WEEK THE WEEKLY TALLY The total amount distributed in rent and utility assistance to 920 households in Monterey County from July 1, 2022-June 30, 2023. Funds came from both federal and state sources in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Source: United Way Monterey County $6,632,479 QUOTE OF THE WEEK “The parties now desire to fully and finally settle all claims.” -A separation agreement signed by Carmel Unified School District and former superintendent Ted Knight, who resigned on Aug. 11 in exchange for a payment of $770,000 and an agreement to drop all claims against CUSD. Those included a lawsuit and civil rights complaint (see story, mcweekly.com). SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH REQUEST FOR COMMUNITY INPUT The Pacific Grove Unified School District Board of Education has selected Leadership Associates as the Executive Search firm to conduct the recruitment and comprehensive search process for the selection of our next district superintendent. The Board is soliciting community responses to the following questions: 1. What personal and professional qualities for an incoming superintendent will be a match for the District? 2. What are the strengths of the District, and what are the challenges you see for the Distric in the coming years? The District will host two Open Forums, which are available to the general public. No appointment is necessary to participate. These Open Forums are an opportunity for you to hear about the search process. They are also an opportunity where your ideas will be heard regarding the questions mentioned above. The Open Forum will be held on: WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2023 • 5:30-6:30 P.M. IN PERSON & VIRTUAL LOCATION: DISTRICT OFFICE, 435 HILLCREST AVENUE, PACIFIC GROVE Join Zoom Meeting: https://pgusd.zoom.us/j/87566810427?pwd=K0xEdUx4S3o5S1FjQmlpbjR5ZTJLZz09 Meeting ID: 875 6681 0427 Passcode: 561475 THURSDAY, AUGUST 24, 2023 • 5:30-6:30 P.M. IN PERSON & VIRTUAL LOCATION: DISTRICT OFFICE, 435 HILLCREST AVENUE, PACIFIC GROVE Join Zoom Meeting https://pgusd.zoom.us/j/89409485038?pwd=S3lpM3N1MkptSzdldjhNRlpwWjEwQT09 Meeting ID: 894 0948 5038 Passcode: 576032 We hope to see you at the Open Forums. www.cfmco.org • 831.375.9712 Donor Advised Funds • Charitable Estate Planning (CGAs, CRTs) • IRA Charitable Distributions • Family and Business Philanthropy Scholarships & More 831.375.9712 | cfmco.org/MOCI | A Memorandum of Charitable Intent helps you direct gifts from your estate or charitable fund at the CFMC to benefit the nonprofits of your choice. Creating this simple, flexible document is a complimentary service designed to give you peace of mind knowing your wishes will be fulfilled. Plan your giving Music. Arts. Youth. Environment. Education. Whatever your passion, we can help you design a giving plan to meet your goals. When you name the Community Foundation for Monterey County as your charitable beneficiary, you create a lasting legacy. Marty Wolf is composing his legacy through the Martin R. Wolf Family Fund. Read his story: cfmco.org/Wolf
www.montereycountyweekly.com AUGUST 17-23, 2023 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 7 AUG COMMUNITY DAY 20 SUNDAY $35 TICKET CORKSCREW MUSIC FOOD OPEN PIT LANE KIDS ZONE & FERRIS ON TRACK EXCITEMENT CAR CORRAL PARADE LAPS PACE CAR RIDES HILLCLIMB WHEEL
8 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY AUGUST 17-23, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com 831 Even back in 1939, the Monterey Chamber of Commerce knew the city’s rich history was good for business. Chamber members, with help from the Monterey History and Art Association and a Custom House historian, created a tourist map of nearly every historical site they could identify—55 in all. “A round trip of 2.8 miles passing in front of, or close by, the principal historic buildings and sites of ‘Old Monterey,’” it said at the top. The starting point was the Royal Presidio Chapel, taking users past adobe buildings, hitting other important spots like Colton Hall and Custom House along the way. The map was primarily designed for driving, but over time evolved into an urban walking trail known as the Path of History. There are other self-guided history paths in Monterey, like the Monterey Walking Path of History developed by the California State Parks for Monterey State Historic Park. Combined with issues like missing markers on the city’s route, it’s confusing for those interested in touring. “It’s hard to find a single source of what the path is,” said Monterey Library and Museums Director Brian Edwards at a meeting on Aug. 3, introducing the public to a draft report by a consulting firm hired by the city to reimagine the path. The sites on the 1939 map were no doubt historic then, but the map is trapped in time. It mainly focused on the Mexican and early American eras of the city, with no buildings from the early 20th century. There was nothing about Indigenous people or the waves of immigrants who came in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The city’s current Path of History has just one site referencing the first inhabitants. “One of my goals here is to make everything more accessible to the public and, with that, it’s also telling our new story,” Edwards told the gathering of about 20 people inside the Japanese American Citizens League building, constructed in 1926 in the heart of what was then a thriving “Japan Town.” Two additional paths are proposed by consultants Page & Turnbull, incorporating more immigrant stories and early-20th-century buildings. The Pearl District Cultural Heritage Walk would loop from near the Sports Center through the neighborhood up to Fremont Street and back. The district housed primarily Japanese and Sicilian fishing families, as well as those from Portugal, and includes other noted sites, like the former African American USO building, now the Portuguese Community Center. The New Monterey Cultural Heritage Walk would take people on a stroll from Lower Presidio Park through New Monterey to Cannery Row. That path begins at the landing site of explorer Gaspar de Portolá and Father Junipero Serra, then past sites important to the city’s development in the early 1900s. Page & Turnbull Associate Principal Christina Dikas said there was still more outreach needed to local tribes. Some members of other tribes had expressed concern about making sacred sites public. (One workaround, Dikas said, was sharing stories of Indigenous peoples in between stops.) The next morning most of the group gathered at the corner of East Franklin and Washington streets for a sample tour of the Pearl District walk. Dikas led the way, with P&T Principal-incharge Ruth Todd taking notes, as she had the night before, recording suggestions. Although consultants had done extensive research into Monterey’s history, some local experts and longtime residents—like Tim Thomas, known for his historic walking tours, who now serves as chair of the Monterey Museums and Cultural Arts Commission—piped up, pointing out sites they may have missed. “It’s a good beginning process,” Thomas said later. Part of the accessibility Edwards referred to includes using a digital app which can be more easily updated than brochures and physical markers, although eventually those would also be used, budget allowing. The city recently began using an interactive digital map at cityofmonterey.stqry. app. It includes text, audio and images to make stories of each point along the way come alive—a far cry from the paper maps of 1939. History Making Monterey officials get to work creating a historical walking path that includes stories of people on the margins. By Pam Marino Christina Dikas (right), a consultant with Page & Turnbull, leads a public walk on a proposed future history path that begins near Jacks Park in Monterey. Monterey Library and Museums Director Brian Edwards (left) helps direct participants. “It’s a good beginning process.” TALES FROM THE AREA CODE DANIEL DREIFUSS PRESENTED BY WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 6, 2023 PORTOLA HOTEL & SPA • 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM $75 MEMBERS • $90 PROSPECTIVE MEMBERS INCLUDES LUNCH Join us for lunch as an impressive panel of federal, state and local elected officials cover topics such as: new projects taking place in their jurisdictions, new business coming to the region and important issues that have impacts on the future viability of our economy. REGISTER NOW AT MONTEREYCHAMBER.COM EVENT SPONSORS
www.montereycountyweekly.com AUGUST 17-23, 2023 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 9 AUG 2023 COMMUNITY FORUMS to receive public input and provide additional info are planned in English and Spanish. Start Time: 6:00 pm Accessible in person, online, or via phone Marina: Marina Library, 190 Seaside Cir Tuesday, August 1, 2023 (English) Wednesday, August 2, 2023 (Spanish) Salinas: El Gabilan Library, 1400 North Main St Thursday, August 3, 2023 (English) Monday, August 7, 2023 (Spanish) Seaside: City Council Chambers, 440 Harcourt Ave Tuesday, August 22, 2023 (English) Thursday, August 24, 2023 (Spanish) Zoom/Phone: Available for all dates Visit montereyonewater.org/zoom-forum for phone details or to join virtually Presentation will be the same at each forum Customer Service: 831-372-2385 or 831-449-6366 Proposed Billing Change Monterey One Water is considering a change to its wastewater billing process to address customer feedback. If approved, bi-monthly billing will cease on July 1, 2024 and a fee for wastewater service will be included on a parcel’s annual Property Tax Bill.
10 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY august 17-23, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com news Traverse the Big Sur coast and you’ll find yourself wondering how a highway came to exist in such a precarious, spectacular location—this is never more the case than when the literal cracks start to show. Last winter wasn’t easy on Highway 1, and the months since have been characterized by myriad repair projects from Garrapata to Gorda. The biggest ongoing project is at Paul’s Slide— the same tricky piece of earth at mile marker 22 that slid in May 2017. The area has gates at both its northern and southern ends, which have been closed since Jan. 8, 2023. Seven months and $24.4 million in repairs later, there is no estimate for reopening. (The $24.4 million figure accounts for several repairs through Aug. 6 between mile markers 20.9 and 42.2 that are all part of the same Caltrans contract with Papich Construction; work on Paul’s Slide specifically began in April.) The lack of a reopening timeline is not to say it is not an active project. “Our engineer team reports the contractor is starting fill work at the south end and completing a cut slope at the north end,” Caltrans spokesperson Jim Shivers writes via email. But the land is still moving—“We have suspended work (slide removal) in areas where earth movement has been detected.” It’s not just would-be roadtrippers that this extended closure impacts— the slide divides Big Sur’s South Coast (now only accessible from the south) from its northern reaches (only accessible from the north). Drivers going either direction are now diverted inland to alternate north-south roads, such as Highway 101. This leaves an economic mark—Kirk Gafill, Big Sur Chamber of Commerce president and general manager at Nepenthe, says the closure has meant a roughly 30- to 35-percent reduction in guest traffic to Big Sur businesses, a figure that’s consistent with similar Highway 1 closures over the past 40 years. Scenic Route Paul’s Slide on Highway 1 in Big Sur remains closed—with no estimated reopening. By Tajha Chappellet-Lanier Michaela Kuenster has plans to open a music venue with alcohol sales in downtown Pacific Grove, but already the protests have begun, typical of the town where a small but loud cadre of residents oppose most everything new. Her use permit was appealed by one resident on Aug. 11 and others filed a complaint with the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC). Kuenster feels like she’s living in the fictional town of Bomont from the 1984 film Footloose, in which Kevin Bacon’s character fights the town leaders who outlawed dancing. “We’re living in the town of Footloose, but I’m about to ‘Kevin Bacon’ it,” Kuenster says. The music on her first Instagram post for her proposed record store and live music venue, Pop and Hiss, is the movie’s theme song by Kenny Loggins. (She named the business for the imperfect sounds one hears on old records or cassette tapes. “It sounds a little gritty, a little unclean,” she says.) She’s proposing to turn the former space of a silk screening shop at 215 Forest Ave. into a record store, with a live music space and bar in the back of the building facing 220 Grand Ave. The parking lot of the shop will be used for outdoor seating with a food trailer. It’s a dream the piano teacher has had for a while. Then early this year, the building she’d been eyeing became available, as well as a new type of liquor license available exclusively for music venues, thanks to a rule that went into effect on Jan. 1. The license, a Type 90, was so new that the agents at the Salinas ABC office weren’t sure how to process it at first. Kuenster was the first in Monterey County to apply for it. The license allows live music venues to have a full bar without the sale of food; minors are allowed on premises. P.G. code doesn’t exactly address Kuenster’s plans, but Community Development Director Anastacia Wyatt issued a conditional administrative use permit on July 17, finding that alcohol sales are allowed in the downtown commercial district. Conditions include no food or alcohol between the hours of midnight-7am, and decibel limits on music indoors and outdoors, with no outdoor music after 10pm. Loud music late into the night isn’t in Kuesnter’s plans, she says. She envisions more of an acoustic music venue for all ages, where up-and-coming musicians have a place to play, including her own students at the Pacific Grove Arts Center. She believes the family-friendly space will bring a new activity to P.G. “The kids that come in [to piano lessons] are desperate for something to do,” she says. “I don’t understand why there’s such resistance.” The first test for Pop and Hiss comes in an administrative zoning hearing at 10am Monday, Aug. 21, in the P.G. council chambers. Should Kuenster prevail, objectors could appeal to the Planning Commission and later City Council, which could push back opening beyond her intended October start date. She’s waiting to hear from the ABC on the status of the protest. If it’s found to have merit, it could take from six to 18 months to secure the liquor license. Renovations are underway inside the Pacific Grove building Michaela Kuenster hopes to make into a record store on one end and a music venue on the other. Spoil Sports A few complaints serve to block a proposed live music venue in downtown Pacific Grove. By Pam Marino Ongoing work at Paul’s Slide, seen here on Thursday, Aug. 10. In July, due to slide activity, Caltrans announced it would not attempt to estimate a reopening date until further geotech investigations could be completed. “I’m about to ‘Kevin Bacon’ it.” Daniel Dreifuss Caltrans
www.montereycountyweekly.com AUGUST 17-23, 2023 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 11 If you would like to volunteer — or — if you are a senior who would like to sign up for the service, contact Maura at (831) 625-4557. Volunteers needed for Telecare program Montage Health Foundation’s Auxiliary Telecare program matches seniors with a warm and friendly voice that checks in and provides great conversation on a daily basis over the phone. This volunteer opportunity can be done safely at home or in the Telecare office at the hospital. Our Telecare volunteers make a world of difference in the lives of their phone call recipients. HEATABLE EATABLES! ELROY’S PRESENTS @ELROYSFINEFOODS WWW.ELROYSFINEFOODS.COM 15 SOLEDAD DRIVE (831) 373-3737 MONTEREY, CA 93940 AUGUST: THE ISRAELI TABLE TICKET=$112 EACH (1 TICKET SERVES TWO PEOPLE) BABA GANOUSH Burnt Eggplant Dip served with Flatbread (VEGAN, BREAD CONTAINS GLUTEN) FATTOUSH Vegetable & Flatbread Salad with Yogurt-Mint Dressing (CONTAINS DAIRY, GLUTEN) TABOULI SALAD Bulgur Wheat, Fresh Herbs, Lemon (VEGAN, CONTAINS GLUTEN) MEJADRA Spiced Rice with Lentils & Fried Onions (GF) KOFTA Lamb Meatballs with Herbs & Pine Nuts served with Harissa & Yogurt (GF, VEGAN) FALAFEL Fried Chickpea Fritters served with Zhoug (GF, VEGAN) MALABI Creamy, Chilled Pudding topped with Dates, Walnuts & Rose (GF, CONTAINS NUTS, DAIRY) To place your order visit www.elroysfinefoods.com or scan this QR CODE! Quantities are limited, so order soon! *Order by: Thursday, August 24th *Pick up date: Thursday, August 31st *Next month: Oaxaca or nada! All items will also be available à la carte for purchase at the Prepared Foods counter on Thursday, 8/31 until sold out! From Elroy’s Fine Foods Executive Chef & Culinary Director David Hardie A pre-ordered, fully prepared meal to heat & eat at home. Offered on the last Thursday of every month. GLOBALLY INSPIRED & LOCALLY SOURCED
12 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY august 17-23, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com The release of previously sealed court reports documenting the state of medical and mental health care at Monterey County Jail has revealed an institution failing to meet the standards of a 2015 class-action settlement over inmate conditions, according to neutral monitors tasked with inspecting the facility. The reports emerged after attorneys representing the jail’s inmates won a court battle over their release against the County of Monterey and Wellpath, the jail’s contracted health care provider. As a result, thousands of pages of documents were publicly filed on the case docket on Thursday, Aug. 10, providing unprecedented insight into the jail’s treatment of the people housed there. The detailed inspection reports by the court-appointed neutral monitors— who have regularly visited the Salinas facility since 2017 per the terms of the settlement—specify how the jail has consistently fallen short of the settlement’s standards on medical, mental and dental health care for inmates. The most recent released report, written by medical monitor Dr. Bruce Barnett in December 2022, found Monterey County Jail “not compliant” with 11 out of 12 quality indicators cited in the settlement’s court-approved implementation plan—including intake screening, access to care, continuity of care, outside care referrals, intoxication/detoxification care and infection control. Barnett noted that the jail’s compliance “seems to have deteriorated since the last audit” written in July 2022, citing persistent issues including “long delays in attending to patient requests for medical services.” Barnett noted that “few, if any of my recommendations issued [during the previous audit] have been implemented.” In a court filing released with the documents, attorneys representing the inmates alleged “egregious and largely unchanged levels of noncompliance by Wellpath since monitoring began in 2017.” In addition to medical care standards at the facility, they cited how monitors “have never found Wellpath substantially compliant” in all but two of the 17 mental health care quality indicators outlined by the implementation plan, and pointed to understaffing at the jail—another issue meant to be addressed by the settlement—as a factor in its “consistent noncompliance.” Lawyers representing the inmates claim this state of affairs has led to the excessive death rate at a jail where 25 incarcerated people have died since the 2015 settlement. Monterey County Jail’s annual rate of 361 deaths per 100,000 people, as of May 31, is more than twice the national average of 167 deaths per 100,000 incarcerated people, according to the attorneys. They note how neutral monitors found that 18 of the 19 jail deaths they fully reviewed “could have been prevented with adequate treatment.” Attorneys for the inmates are seeking a court ruling at an Aug. 24 hearing to find the County and Wellpath noncompliant with the settlement, which could potentially see millions of dollars in penalties imposed on the defendants for continuing to fail to meet the terms in the future. Van Swearingen, a partner at San Francisco-based law firm Rosen Bien Galvan & Grunfeld, which is representing the people who are incarcerated, describes the release of the monitor reports as “monumental” in bringing more transparency around conditions at Monterey County Jail. “The people who have been incarcerated have been subject to horrible conditions,” Swearingen says. “They know this is happening to them, but they didn’t know the extent to which Wellpath and the County have utterly failed to meet their court-ordered obligations.” County spokesperson Nick Pasculli says the government “respect[s] and will comply with the ruling” prompting the release of the documents. Representatives for Wellpath did not respond to requests for comment. Last year, the County Board of Supervisors renewed the company’s contract, at a cost of over $44.3 million through Dec. 31, 2025—the duration of the Hernandez settlement agreement. In addition to documenting deaths at the jail, case studies in the neutral monitor reports include multiple instances where inmates were found to have active or latent tuberculosis, yet were not isolated and did not receive prompt followup care. Some inmates with chronic medical ailments, including HIV, were not seen by qualified physicians until their conditions worsened. The reports also recount cases where inmates suffering from mental illness did not receive the attention required, leading to suicide or other causes of death. Inadequate women’s health care arises repeatedly in the case studies, such as several instances of misdiagnosed and untreated vaginitis. Earlier this year, one female inmate was repeatedly admitted to the hospital for bleeding after what a monitor described as consistently “deficient care” by Wellpath that could have potentially led to her death. Another female inmate, who requested help terminating her pregnancy in February 2023, was not able to do so until nearly two months later due to Wellpath’s slow response. She eventually terminated the pregnancy just shy of the 23-week gestation mark that would bar abortion in California in non-health-threatening cases. Bad Path Newly released documents detail Monterey County Jail’s failure to improve health care. By Rey Mashayekhi news Park in the Making The Big Sur Land Trust is at work on transforming Carr Lake in Salinas into a 73-acre park, including a 67-acre habitat restoration area. The public is welcome to submit suggested names for both. Submit your name ideas and hear an update on the process at this meeting; food and child care are available. 6-8pm Thursday, Aug. 17. Carr Lake project site, 618 Sherwood Drive, Salinas. Free. 625-5523, bigsurlandtrust.org/carr-lake-salinas. Water Bill Monterey One Water is considering a change to its wastewater billing process to address customer feedback. If approved, bi-monthly billing will cease on July 1, 2024 and a fee for wastewater service will instead be included on annual property tax bills. Learn about the change and weigh in at this public meeting. 6pm Tuesday, Aug. 22. Seaside City Hall, 440 Harcourt Ave., Seaside. Free. 372-2385, montereyonewater.org/billing-update. Cleanup Crew Keep Pacific Grove beautiful and volunteer to help clean up Perkins Park. A group regularly picks up trash, pulls weeds, and rakes leaves. Gloves and tools are provided, or you can bring your own. Check the P.G. city calendar the day before to confirm the meeting spot. 10am Wednesday, Aug. 23. Perkins Park, 901 Ocean View Blvd., Pacific Grove. Free. 648-5722, acolony@cityofpacificgrove.org, cityofpacificgrove.org. Block Party The King City Police Department hosts a block party for the city’s District 4 residents, inviting the public to mingle and meet with City Councilmember Carlos Victoria, as well as local law enforcement officers. All ages are welcome. Expect food, games and a live performance by Juanito Aguilar y Su Grupo Coronado. 5:30pm Thursday, Aug. 24. Sussex Circle, King City. Free. 385-4848, kingcity.com. Speak Up Monterey County is working on an environmental justice element of its general plan. Officials are conducting a survey for residents to provide their thoughts and experiences on safety and environmental justice issues and disparities in unincorporated Monterey County. Those who live, work or own property in unincorporated areas are encouraged to fill out the five-to-10-minute survey. Take the survey at bit.ly/ EnvironmentalJusticeElement2023. Free. 783-7058, co.monterey.ca.us/ generalplanupdates. Rather than addressing health care shortcomings as required by a 2015 settlement, conditions at Monterey County Jail have in some cases “deteriorated,” per monitors. e-mail: publiccitizen@mcweekly.com TOOLBOX “Wellpath and the County have utterly failed to meet their court-ordered obligations.” nic coury
www.montereycountyweekly.com AUGUST 17-23, 2023 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 13 to hit the road. Download the See Monterey App to make the most of your trip. Welcome to the scenic route. Wherever your wheels take you in Monterey County, please stay safe, follow all guidelines, leave no trace, help us strive toward sustainability, and treat this place with respect. WARNING: For more information, please call: 1-800-523-3157 8-23 Crude oil, gasoline, diesel fuel, and other petroleum products can expose you to chemicals including toluene and benzene, which are known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. These exposures can occur in and around oil fields, refineries, chemical plants, transport and storage operations, such as pipelines, marine terminals, tank trucks, and other facilities and equipment. For more information go to: www.P65Warnings.ca.gov/petroleum. The foregoing warning is provided pursuant to Proposition 65. This law requires the Governor of California to publish a list of chemicals “known to the State to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity.” This list is compiled in accordance with a procedure established by the Proposition, and can be obtained from the California Environmental Protection Agency. Proposition 65 requires that clear and reasonable warnings be given to persons exposed to the listed chemicals in certain situations. VALERO Refining and Marketing Company, Ultramar Inc., and their affiliates and subsidiaries AERA ENERGY LLC PBF Energy Western Region LLC its affiliates and subsidiaries EXXON MOBIL CORPORATION its affiliates and subsidiaries PHILLIPS 66, including its divisions and subsidiaries (and under the trademarks 76) SHELL OIL PRODUCTS US Tesoro Refining & Marketing Company LLC (a subsidiary of Marathon Petroleum Corporation) and its affiliates (and under the trademarks ARCO, Shell, Thrifty, Exxon, and Mobil) MONTEREY AREA BUYING EVENT Tuesday & Wednesday August 22 & 23 10am-5pm Hilton Garden Inn Monterey, 1000 Aguajito Rd. For directions to hotel, call 831-373-6141 MEET THE OWNER My name is Stan Walter and I’m from Wabash, Indiana. I founded Precious Gems & Metals in 1979 and we’ve been serving customers throughout the United States for over 40 years. We’re proud to have an A+ Rating with the Better Business Bureau. We buy individual pieces or entire collections. 5% SENIOR BONUS Earn a 5% premium on any sale made to PGM. Present this coupon at an event or when we visit you. Must be 55 or older. Limit 1 coupon per transaction. Excludes Bullion. Over 40 years in business and an A+ Rating with the Better Business Bureau. We encourage you to research our proud heritage! WE DO HOUSE CALLS! We offer an exclusive ‘House Call’ service for qualified customers. CALL NOW TO SCHEDULE YOUR PRIVATE HOME VISIT! 866-921-7826 CALL TODAY! 1-866-921-7826
14 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY August 17-23, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com What, exactly, is real? It’s a seemingly simple question, but philosophers have been thinking on it for millennia. That’s because there’s no right answer. So what, exactly, makes for a good “reality” TV show? That’s also unclear, but the market is a reliable test. And since 2021, the show Unexpected Business has been wildly popular in South Korea in its first two seasons, and for Season 3, producer Ryu Ho-jin decided to film the show in America. And he and his team chose to do that at the Asian Market on Del Monte Boulevard in Marina, where filming started on Aug. 9. The concept of the show is that two famous Korean actors—Cha Tae-hyun and Jo In-sung—take over running a rural market and restaurant for just over a week, and other Korean celebrities make cameos throughout that time to help them run the business and do a job that regular people—not celebrities—do everyday. The Asian Market, while popular, is not normally a busy place, but during filming, it is abuzz. For production, the wall separating the market from the adjacent El Salvadoreño Pupuseria was knocked down, and there is now a restaurant kitchen where celebs are preparing and serving Korean food. Cameras and microphones are everywhere in the store. Ho-jin and the show’s U.S.-based producer, Gil Lee, sat down for an interview on Aug. 13 in the back of the building, which is bustling with crew members—in a control room, they sit and watch more than two dozen screens that provide live feeds from the action in the store. Ho-jin, with Lee translating at times, explains the show and how, in its third season, they chose to film it in Marina. Ho-jin says after two seasons of filming in rural South Korea, it was time to mix it up, so he looked to the U.S. They considered various locations across the country—Ho-jin, Lee and others scouted them earlier this year— but what jumped out to them was the density of Asian markets in the area, and that they are privately owned. The presence of the former Fort Ord also played a role—the 7th Infantry Division of the Army trained at Fort Ord, and not only fought in the Korean War, but was stationed in South Korea for years after the war ended. There’s also a robust Korean American community in Marina, and Ho-jin says he wanted his cast members to feel a sense of what it’s like to be an immigrant. He hopes the third season will be released by the end of the year, but expects the editing process to take two to three times longer than usual, on account of having to translate the English spoken into the mics situated throughout the market. While eating dinner at the makeshift restaurant later that evening, In-sung and actress Kim Ah-joong are heading the operation. The spicy ramen with snow crab is delicious, and the cold soybean noodle soup (kongguksu) is… different, though fun to try. Apparently, it’s meant for hot, humid weather, the opposite of Marina’s climate. Reality Bites A hit Korean reality TV show takes over the Asian Market in Marina for nine days. By David Schmalz The set of Season 3 of the TV show Unexpected Business in what is normally the Asian Market and next-door El Salvadoreño Pupuseria in Marina during nine days of filming, from Aug. 9-17. NEWS Cameras and microphones are everywhere in the store. DANIEL DREIFUSS Join us in 2023-24! Meet some of your fellow CSUMB alumni at one of our networking mixers. We would love to see you! Aug. 26 | Alumni Athletics Tailgate – CSUMB Soccer Field Sept. 30 | Otters in the Park: Dodgers vs Giants – San Francisco Oct. 13 - 15 | RAFT Week Events: The Break Room (with food from American Burger*), Monte’s Carnival, and Wine Tasting at Odonata Nov. 9 | Paint and Small Bites – The Weston Collective*, Seaside Jan. 18 | CAHSS – Psychology Mixer at Other Brother Beer, Seaside Feb. 1 | Ag Industry Mixer – Heirloom Pizza*, Salinas Feb. 8 | CHSHS – Healthcare Mixer – Heirloom Pizza*, Salinas Feb. 22 | Kinesiology Mixer at Fuel Cycling*, Monterey Mar. 7 | COE / Credential Program Mixer – Heirloom Pizza*, Salinas Mar. 21 | CSUMB Alumni Employee Celebration Mar. 23 | Otters in the Tank – Sharks vs. Blackhawks June 7 | CAHSS – Cinematic Arts Mixer in Los Angeles *Alumni Owned businesses
www.montereycountyweekly.com August 17-23, 2023 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 15 Tens of thousands of students have returned to classes in Monterey County in the past week. Among them are about 100 little kids who are too young for kindergarten, but are walking up to their first-ever day of school at Oscar Loya Elementary in Salinas. Many are accompanied by their parents to the door. Before walking into their transitional kindergarten and kindergarten classrooms, the students are invited to smile and pose for a photo while holding a sign that reads “kinder.” Two years ago, the California Legislature passed Senate Bill 130, which added an extra grade: transitional kindergarten, known as TK. There is a five-year implementation plan to expand TK, at a cost of $2.7 billion per year. For the 2023-24 school year, kids who turn 5 between Sept. 1 and Feb. 2 are eligible for TK; by 2025, all kids who turn 4 by Sept. 1 will be able to enroll. Research shows kids who enroll in TK are better prepared for K-12. They learn pre-math, pre-literacy and social skills, with a more significant impact on low-income and English-learner students. “They get an extra year of school that many of them would not access otherwise,” says PK Diffenbaugh, superintendent of Monterey Peninsula Unified School District. Of course, getting new students into classrooms requires some logistics. School districts across the state have built new classrooms and upgraded existing ones to welcome the new group of younger students. Alisal Union School District opened a new kinder wing with three new classrooms at Loya Elementary on Aug. 1, and is working on doing the same at Chavez and Creekside elementaries. MPUSD, meanwhile, has applied for state grants, but did not get funding in the first round, which was exhausted after money was allocated based on students’ needs. (Schools with a higher student population that receives free meals, are English learners or live in foster care ranked higher on the list.) MPUSD and AUSD both have at least one TK classroom at each elementary campus. AUSD district saw a 64-percent increase in TK enrollment this year, with 284 students, up from 173 last year. The district is offering TK at all schools for the first time this year, and expanded hours. Instead of half-days, they will have full days like other elementary students. Rosa Mederos, a kindergarten teacher at Loya Elementary, says longer hours will help students adapt faster to a school setting. Last year, she had two kindergarten classes with 10 kids for three hours each. Now, she will teach over 20 students for an extended period of time. At MPUSD, there are 240 TK students this year. (The district didn’t experience an enrollment boost because they already offered TK at all campuses.) What will change is funding—until now, the district could only get state funds for students who are at least 5 years old. During the 202223 school year, MPUSD lost about $300,000 in state funds for early-enrolled TK students. That will change this year, thanks to the new state law. ABCs As the 2023-24 school year begins, more transitional kindergarten students are attending. By Celia Jimenez Kindergarten students in a new classroom at Oscar Loya Elementary School listen to teacher Rosa Mederos read them a book on the first day of school, Monday, Aug. 7. NEWS “They get an extra year of school.” DANIEL DREIFUSS WINE WALK Highway 1 at Munras Avenue, Monterey 831.373.2705 shopdelmonte.com wine sampling, complimentary hors d’oeuvres from Del Monte Center restaurants and shopping incentives Wednesday, August 30 5-7 p.m. Join us for FEATURED WINERIES & BREWERIES Alvarado Street Brewery Carmel Road Dawns Dream Winery Hidden Hills Brewing & Blending KORiWines Other Brother Beer Passagno Pierce Ranch Vineyards Puma Road Scheid Vineyards tickets $25 per person, benefiting to purchase tickets, visit winewalkmonterey.com Seneca, Central Coast
16 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY august 17-23, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com rev up Worst week of the year (“Car Week gets underway. Here’s a glance at 10 days full of events,” Aug. 10-16). Mike McDaniel | via social media The worst week for locals. Mike Gash | via social media Actually it’s one of the best weeks for many locals, especially those who work in hospitality or guest services. Many who work in low-wage jobs count on Car Week for huge tips. Many nonprofits and community organizations count on the dollars generated to fund their operations throughout the year. Bryan Flores | Salinas I appreciate your listing of benefits. I agree, it’s something many people enjoy and it’s an economic boon to some. However, it is also important to honestly acknowledge the very real costs Car Week levies. Traffic from these events can add hours to commute times for essential workers who cannot choose alternate routes or travel times. (The “plan your travel around the event” message feels pretty darn entitled, since many working people simply do not have these choices. It really means “give us your time for free.”) Yes, there are many economic benefits. I am however not convinced that the full costs are being acknowledged. Nor do I think those paying more than their share of the costs are necessarily those getting more than their share of the benefits. Martha Diehl | Big Sur Bully Pulpit It is very disappointing that Pacific Grove City Council did not honor the term contract that was signed with Ben Harvey (“The ouster of Pacific Grove’s city manager empowers the bullies,” Aug. 10-16). Not only did we have to pay for the bad behavior of Councilmember Luke Coletti, but his bad behavior was also rewarded by placing him on the subcommittee to find our next city manager. What message are we sending here? Give the reins to the bully? As a resident, I want to show gratitude to councilmembers Chaps Poduri and Joe Amelio for questioning this action. It is obvious that the problems plaguing our city government remain intact. Colleen Ingram | Pacific Grove Loved the “Local Spin” column, a voice of reason. We live in paradise, but some people have to nitpick everything to death—guess they are bored. Sharon Miller | Pacific Grove A City Story My wife and I have lived in Del Rey Oaks for eight years, and in Monterey County for 40 years. We have long enjoyed the Monterey County Weekly and the solid journalism. We want to commend you for the well researched and well written article on Del Rey Oaks and Sand City (“The story of how—and why—Del Rey Oaks and Sand City exist,” Aug. 9-16). We spend much time in both these wonderful communities, and now have been enlightened to the history behind them. Thanks for a job well done! Jim and Jeri Vanderzwaan | Del Rey Oaks And every few years, DRO will ask its voters to yet again extend the special parcel tax in order to keep the city going. Del Rey Oaks will likely never have a commercial sector and the city’s existence will always be a burden on its property owners. It should eventually be absorbed by either Monterey or Seaside. Mark Carbonaro | Monterey Build Up I’m glad the Weekly is following the housing issue and reporting on public meetings and events concerning it, but I was disappointed by the slant of the article reporting on Mary Adams’ meeting at Del Mesa Carmel (“Carmel Valley residents turned out in numbers for a town hall on the county’s housing plans,” Aug. 3-9). Unfortunately the reporter chose to highlight two negative comments by attendees rather than reporting more fully on what Adams had to say. It is true that Del Mesa is a “gated community,” but I’m sure there are many Del Mesa residents like me who recognize the importance of affordable housing. It saddens me to see further development in Carmel Valley, but it saddens me even more to know that so many people who work here cannot afford to live here. Healthy, vibrant communities are made up of residents who work and live in them, who live side-by-side with their employers, clients and patrons. We need to solve our critical housing shortage, and one way to do that is to make sure that we are all aware of the problem and what is being done to address it. We don’t need articles that put undue emphasis on the mean-spirited comments of those opposed to affordable housing. Deborah Sharp | Carmel Bombs Away It was gratifying to learn that high school students from here and around the world understand the urgency of eliminating nuclear weapons and are taking action (“High schoolers commit to tackling the existential threat of nuclear war,” Aug. 3-9). Thank you for shining some light on this critical issue and for drawing a thread from their advocacy to our 19th Hiroshima-Nagasaki Remembrance event. We had a strong turnout, despite the chilly weather. We so appreciate the Weekly’s coverage of our event. Catherine Crockett | Seaside Note: Crockett is president of the Monterey Peace and Justice Center. Game Time Having worked on both the Tron and Star Wars games, I’m thrilled that these are their favorites (“A couple dedicated to preserving favorite ’80s arcade games opens a space in Monterey,” Aug. 3-9). I side with Meg in preferring Star Wars. I look forward to seeing the new arcade! Earl Vickers | Seaside Curtain Call I just listened to Agata Popeda’s interview with Tom, and both did so well (“Podcast, Mic’d Up at the Press Club—Playwright and producer Tom Parks talks about his most recent play,” posted Aug. 3). You had to spend time doing research for it, which shows in the interview itself. Phyllis Theroux | Ashland, Virginia Letters • CommentsOPINION Submit letters to the editor to letters@mcweekly.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.
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