november 30-december 6, 2023 montereycountyweekly.com LOCAL & INDEPENDENT a brief history of medicine 8 | good grapes 14 | Fix-It Man 42 | fizz, sparkle, pop 45 A Place To Heal ♥ Shop LOCAL this holiday ♥ season ♥ p. 30 The new Montage Health Ohana building promises to fill an urgent need, partly through architectural design: mental health wellness for youth. p. 22 By Pam Marino and Daniel Dreifuss
2 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY NOVEMBER 30-DECEMBER 6, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com THE PROBLEM THE SOLUTION
www.montereycountyweekly.com november 30-december 6, 2023 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 3
4 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY november 30-december 6, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com november 30-december 6, 2023 • ISSUE #1843 • Established in 1988 Carly Leininger A storm over the northwest Pacific Ocean brought big waves to Monterey County through the weekend of Nov. 25-26, as seen at sunset from Asilomar State Beach in Pacific Grove. Monterey County photo of the week Send Etc. submissions to etcphoto@mcweekly.com; please include caption and camera info. On the cover: Montage Health’s Ohana Center for Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health opened on Wednesday, Nov. 29. It will provide the first residential psychiatric beds for youth in Monterey County, and was designed with features that are meant to encourage healing, including views of the natural surroundings. 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 Agata Pope¸da (x138) aga@mcweekly.com Staff Writer David Schmalz david@mcweekly.com (x104) Staff photographer Daniel Dreifuss daniel@mcweekly.com (x140) MONTEREY COUNTY NOW PRODUCER Sloan Campi sloan@mcweekly.com (x105) contributors Nik Blaskovich, Rob Brezsny, Nic Coury, Tonia Eaton, Jeff Mendelsohn, Jacqueline Weixel, Paul Wilner 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. The fuTure is up To you To donate: mcgives.com/journalism Democracy depends on independent journalism. Producing that journalism requires new resources. Reader revenue and philanthropy are current models to assist news organizations. Your support is vital.
www.montereycountyweekly.com NOVEMBER 30-DECEMBER 6, 2023 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 5 Scan the QR Code to learn more Salinas Valley Health and Anthem Blue Cross Reach Agreement on Contract All commercial Anthem Blue Cross plans are now in-network at Salinas Valley Health Medical Center, Clinics, Doctors on Duty and Taylor Farms Family Health & Wellness Center. Continuing to care for the health and well-being of our community. SalinasValleyHealth.com
6 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY NOVEMBER 30-DECEMBER 6, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com THE BUZZ FREE SPEECH Mental health challenges for journalists have been well documented in recent years, but the International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors and the Huck Boyd National Center for Community Media at Kansas State University set out to look at a particular subset: “community journalists, specifically small-town rural U.S. news workers” who live and work in “oft-forgotten communities.” A 2023 research paper analyzes the impacts of the Covid19 pandemic on this group of journalists, with a focus on 155 small newspapers, with a circulation of 3,000 or less, in Georgia and South Dakota. Responding publishers gave a range of answers, some reporting that the pandemic—and its accompanying financial insecurity—impacted their and their staff’s mental health greatly. Others said it did not, with some dismissing Covid as a hoax, with one respondent writing that they put their “trust in God and do not let outside influences affect me.” The study findings also note that “seeking professional help in a small town can be a challenge because of a lack of resources and potential stigmas.” Good: The City of Greenfield will hopefully become a more walkable and bikeable place with the help of a $250,262 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety. OTS provided the grant to the County Health Department, which is directing it to Greenfield via the county’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety program. The grant will promote safe practices for walkers and bikers in Greenfield, which has seen an increase in automobile accidents involving pedestrians and bicyclists in recent years. There will be an emphasis on promoting walking and biking to and from school by distributing helmets and providing helmet-fitting inspections; conducting presentations at schools and in the community on best biking and walking habits; and promoting the importance of road visibility via reflective armbands/legbands and bicycle headlights/taillights. The grant program will run through September 2024. GREAT: As the State of California seeks ways to dig out of a housing crisis, it’s created both a carrot and a stick for cities and counties to add more housing. The stick includes stiff penalties for failing to do so, but there is a carrot known as the Prohousing Designation Program, launched by the Department of Housing and Community Development in 2021. Cities and counties that commit to enacting policies that will make building affordable housing easier will receive big-money grants to further those efforts. Salinas was the first city in Monterey County to earn the designation in June, and received $1.65 million. Sand City is now poised to join the same ranks after the Sand City Council voted 5-0 on Nov. 7 to approve the city’s application. Staff expect the city to earn the designation once its latest housing element is certified by HCD in 2024. GOOD WEEK / GREAT WEEK THE WEEKLY TALLY Stolen merchandise items recovered by the California Organized Retail Crime Task Force since it was established in 2019. The value of these goods exceeds $33 million. The task force is ramping up efforts again for the holiday shopping season. Source: Office of the Governor and California Highway Patrol 420,000 QUOTE OF THE WEEK “We are in the process of safely dismantling the superstructure.” -Vistra spokesperson Jenny Lyon, on the ongoing deconstruction of the Moss Landing power plant. Vistra now operates a lithium-ion battery storage plant on the site; the defunct smoke stacks will remain (see story, mcweekly.com). MONTEREY PENINSULA MANAGEMENT DISTRICT Take control of Smart flow meters can monitor both indoor and outdoor water use. They measure water down to a fraction of a gallon and can send usage data to a cell phone app. Some can also alert you through text or a web portal to leaks or plumbing malfunctions. Most smart flow meters can be installed with no modification to existing plumbing. Some models can be easily clamped to your home’s incoming water pipe next to the shut off valve. Smart flow meters can be purchased online or from your local hardware store. To receive a Smart Flow Meter Rebate, purchase a qualifying device and submit the receipt and rebate application to MPWMD, P.O. Box 85, Monterey CA, 93940 or email the documents to conserve@mpwmd.net. See montereywaterinfo.org for details and application form. Learn more about the following brands: Bluebot: bluebot.com Flume: flumewater.com Phyn: phyn.com Flo by Moen: moen.com/flo Alert Labs: alertlabs.com Get a $200 Rebate* your water use. *Rebate up to $200 or actual cost if less. Available only to customers of the Cal-Am Monterey District and MPWMD.
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8 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY NOVEMBER 30-DECEMBER 6, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com 831 When it was time to upgrade equipment at Salinas Valley Health in the 1980s, Dr. June Dunbar, chief of staff at the time, saw old, obsolete stuff going in the trash to make room for the new. “So she swiped it, and started sticking it in her garage,” says Shannon Graham, director of volunteer and health career services at SVH. That formed the original set of artifacts, but the extensive collection displayed in the basement level of the Sam Downing Building (under the parking garage) goes back much further than the ’80s. It includes an 18th- and 19th-century display, acquired for $50,000 and donated by the medical staff, then authenticated by a Carmel Valley antiques dealer. There’s a U-shaped amputation knife, and what looks like a bread knife—the “all-inone” Civil War amputation blade, with one side meant to cut flesh, the other to cut bone. Next to a steel saw, circa 1860-70, a placard reads, “This type of saw was used on skull, pelvis, shoulder blade, or, as with everything else in that era—wherever it worked.” There’s also more modern weird stuff. In the 1940s, Salinas Dr. Walter Farr removed an unknown number of appendices, roughly the size of your thumb—and several were sliced up into discs, preserved in paraffin wax, and the appendix slices are now on display. “Could one of these be yours?” the exhibit sign asks. Displays are grouped by specialty—an eyes/ears case, a surgery display, OB-GYN and so on—and one wall features five bedpans in different colors. A shelf is stacked with old pharmaceuticals, some glass vials still full. There’s Pesandrine Syrup with morphine, codeine and euphorbia; there are poison antidotes; and a product called Viriligen, promising on the label that it’s “a true physiological restorative in lowered virility of functional origin.” A giant urn is marked clearly as a relic of “quack” medicine. The Revigator, from around 1920, was a popular, radium-lined water crock. Can visitors get irradiated while observing? “Just a wee bit,” Walter Wagner says. Then he pulls out a geiger counter, moves it up to the plastic case, and it starts beeping. “It’s a miniscule amount of activity,” he says. (He carries the geiger counter most everywhere, so to him this frantic beeping—miniscule, he assures—is nothing to worry about.) Wagner, formerly a medical physicist, donated this Revigator to the SVH collection. “It was a huge component of quackery back in the day,” he says. Next to it is a mockup of an oldtimey doctor’s office—basically a residential living room—with the names Dr. Henry Murphy and Dr. Rollin Reeves across the glass. They are Wagner’s great-uncle and a cousin of his great-uncle, a family business. Reeves built the 32-bed Salinas Valley Hospital in 1926 and charged patients $8 per day per room. The medical evolution from then until SVH was built in 1953 was fast—and so is the evolution both before and after that. The arc of some of that progress is obvious here. Horsehair, used for stitches instead of cotton or silk thread in some Civil War-era surgeries, was for a time viewed to have superior healing properties—until providers realized it was not the material but the fact that it was boiled to soften it, therefore also sterilizing it, that improved outcomes. Graham works with volunteer docents who lead tours, primarily for elementary school students, who she says find themselves intrigued even if they don’t think they care about medicine. “That’s really the point of this place, to instill curiosity,” she says. (As for those students who say they are interested in health care and ask for advice, Graham recommends simply: “Pay attention in math and science.”) “Dr. Dunbar saw that this stuff has historic value,” Wagner says. “It’s education—it shows changes and improvements, and that there is still room for improvement.” The Medical History Museum is open 9am-5pm Monday-Friday, and by appointment. Salinas Valley Health, 450 E. Romie Lane, Salinas. Free. 755-0772, salinasvalleyhealth.com. Doctor’s Orders A medical history museum at Salinas Valley Health documents the old, the weird and the discredited. By Sara Rubin One interactive exhibit is an old-school docotor’s bag that invites visitors to pull out stethoscopes and other tools. “It looks just like my dad’s old bag,” says Walter Wagner, who donated an item to the museum’s collection. “It was a huge component of quackery.” TALES FROM THE AREA CODE DANIEL DREIFUSS
www.montereycountyweekly.com November 30-december 6, 2023 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 9 831.375.9712 | cfmco.org/GiveBack Leverage Your Year-End Gift by December 31, 2023 Each donation to your choice of 206 participating nonprofits receives a partial match. Gifts of stock or IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions are welcome to benefit multiple nonprofits with one gift. montereycountygives.com MCGives! is a project of the CFMC, the Monterey County Weekly and the Monterey Peninsula Foundation. Community Foundation for Monterey County inspiring philanthropy strengthening communities We are grateful to our donors and nonprofit partners for helping create healthy, safe, vibrant communities. Your Partner in Philanthropy Donor Advised Funds, Charitable Estate Planning (e.g. CGAs, CRTs), IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions, Scholarships & More Cultivating Community Monterey County Gives! is a special project of Monterey County Weekly in partnership with the Community Foundation for Monterey County and Monterey Peninsula Foundation 32 days 206 nonprofits Goals for 2023 8,500 donors $10,000,000 in donations Monterey County Gives! Overall Match Partners PRINT | WEB | MOBILE HOw tO dOnate 1. Visit www.mcgives.com 2. Choose your favorites 3. Click on dOnate button Totals as of 11/28/23 2,794 donors $5,219,322 in donations * Cannot combine with any other offer. Must present coupon at time of service. Limited time only. 831-233-3263 1730 The Mall | Seaside sullivansautoservice.com Winter is Coming $25 Off Winter mAintenAnCe PACKAge full synthetic oil change, air filter, cabin filter service, wiper blades, & tire rotation.* LoAner vehiCLes noW AvAiLAbLe With quALified rePAirs!
10 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY november 30-december 6, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com news Holding signs with messages like “I can’t have a family and be an MPUSD teacher” and “I love my job but I can’t afford my rent,” teachers in Monterey Peninsula Unified School District showed up to an Oct. 24 board meeting. They shared stories of personal struggles to make ends meet, and professional struggles to cover classes they haven’t been trained to teach. During the meeting, teachers cited a recent story from the San Francisco Chronicle comparing compensation in school districts across the state, showing MPUSD’s mid-career teachers earn an average salary of $74,000, and the district places 258th despite a 44-percent salary increase over the past 10 years. Superintendent PK Diffenbaugh says a district like MPUSD, with declining enrollment, has to be strategic: “[The district is] getting less and less money every year.” The MBTA and MPUSD have been in contract negotiations since February, with talks set to continue Nov. 30. In early negotiations, the union was seeking a 15-percent salary increase; MPUSD counter-offered with 5 percent. During a second round of negotiations, MPUSD offered a higher increase and larger class sizes by a couple of students. Increasing class sizes is non-negotiable for MBTA. A recent union survey showed most teachers find current elementary class sizes unmanageable; current ratios are 25:1 for first through third grade and 28:1 for fourth and fifth. MPUSD and MBTA have agreed on an 8.22-percent cost of living adjustment and maintaining class sizes. Future negotiation topics include reducing class periods in high school from eight to seven. Math Class Class sizes and compensation are on the table in negotiations for MPUSD and teachers union. By Celia Jiménez By day, the derelict San Xavier Fish Reduction plant at 484 Cannery Row looks exactly like what it is: ruins of a bygone era when sardine fishing was king on the Monterey Peninsula. But at night, with Christmas a month away, it is bejeweled with lights like many other properties on Cannery Row, and it seems like maybe—just maybe—the property has come back to life. If only it were so simple. The property has sat vacant for decades, a tantalizing slice of prime coastal real estate where it seems like something—anything—should have cropped up there by now. But alas, the ruins remain. Behind the scenes, however, there have been some developments: For years, there’s been litigation over who actually owns the property. That’s now settled, per a decision by the state Court of Appeal in May, which granted ownership to Ruby Falls, LLC, and remanded the issue back to Monterey County Superior Court for the ministerial step of cleaning up a clerical error in the property’s deed. Aqualegacy Development, LLC, which was in litigation with Ruby Falls over who owned the property, petitioned the state Supreme Court to overturn the lower court’s ruling, but on July 13, the Supreme Court denied that request. On Aug. 8, Monterey County Superior Court Judge Thomas Wills signed an order that fixed the error in the property’s deed, and Ruby Falls now owns the property free and clear. But there remains one major problem, and it contains multiple smaller problems: The proposed development on the site, which the Coastal Commission approved in 2008, no longer has a coastal development permit. Ruby Falls (and Aqualegacy) asked for an extension of the permit, but in 2019 the commission denied the request. The proposed project— which includes 87,000 square feet of retail and restaurants, 38 market-rate condos, 13 workforce housing units, 377 parking spaces and an onsite desalination plant—still has an active permit with the City of Monterey, but without a permit from the Coastal Commission, it’s meaningless. Ruby Falls is in litigation with the Coastal Commission over denying the extension, and a trial is set for April. Bob Faulis, principal of Ruby Falls, believes the extension wasn’t granted because there was a cloud over ownership, and thus he believes Ruby Falls will prevail in the case. But that’s not what Coastal Commission’s documents say in a report from 2019. The reasons to deny the extension, the report says, are that circumstances have changed. One is that the state’s policy regarding desalination projects, adopted in 2015, requires that all desal facilities in a marine sanctuary create no harm to marine life—something only achievable, theoretically, with a slant well, which would be impossible at the Cannery Row site. Another reason was a change in understanding of climate change-induced sea level rise. Yet instead of trying to come up with a new project—perhaps one that could be served by a different water source, such as Pure Water Monterey—Faulis is forging ahead, and is starting a letter-writing campaign to the Coastal Commission. “Maybe I’ve got a pipe dream, who knows,” Faulis says. “Letters do work, and speaking does work. Hopefully our public officials will listen to us.” Developer Bob Faulis says there is no Plan B if he loses at trial next April. “It’s a total loss,” he says. “You either get it developed or it stays a big gaping hole.” In a Row Against the odds, a developer is pushing a Cannery Row project that no longer has a permit. By David Schmalz Members of the Monterey Bay Teachers Association. “We have been losing educators for a while,” President Nicky Williams says. “We know from surveys this is because of compensation.” “Maybe I’ve got a pipe dream, who knows.” Daniel Dreifuss Daniel Dreifuss
www.montereycountyweekly.com NOVEMBER 30-DECEMBER 6, 2023 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 11 831.479.6000 or toll-free at 888.4BAYFED, ext. 304 www.bayfed.com/HomeLoans 1524 N. Main Street | Salinas Don’t wait for the Rate! Bay Federal Credit Union offers flexible solutions to get you into the home of your dreams now. Call or visit a branch today to learn about your options. Federally Insured by NCUA | Equal Housing Lender The ultimate home field advantage. Virtual visits or in-person visits at Pediatrics – Monterey genpeds.stanfordchildrens.org JOB FAIR Thursday, December 7, 2023 3p.m. – 6p.m. Fairway One Complex 3304 17 Mile Drive, Pebble Beach (Across from The Hay Golf Course) Interviews on the spot These opportunities are for the period of January 29 – February 4, with most shifts February 1 - February 4. Hiring for all areas Bartenders, bussers, cashiers, cooks, housekeepers, servers, shuttle drivers, stewards, retail sales, valets, and many more! Please come prepared to provide proof of employment eligibility. Questions: (831) 649-7657 AT&T Pebble Beach PRO-AM Temporary Special Event
12 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY november 30-december 6, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com On Nov. 7, 87 percent of the 71 members of the Monterey Firefighters Association Local 3707 took a vote of “no confidence” in Monterey Fire Chief Gaudenz Panholzer, the union announced on Tuesday, Nov. 28. The public announcement was sudden but the discontent has been simmering for years, says MFA President Ross Pounds. After two significant injuries earlier this year and the departure of an experienced and respected firefighter to another agency, the situation came to boil. “As opposed to moving in a more positive direction, it seems that things continue to deteriorate,” Pounds says. “Our morale is at an all-time low. We have people who have left the department and people who are looking to leave.” The resolution—passed following guidelines outlined in state law and after months of discussion— lists numerous complaints against Panholzer’s leadership, including a failure to communicate the needs for new vehicles, equipment and station maintenance to the City of Monterey and contract agencies Pacific Grove, Carmel, Sand City and Monterey Regional Airport. The result, the union contends, is an aging fleet with substandard equipment that shuts down or malfunctions while fighting structure fires, as well as stations with mold, sewage leaks and leaking roofs. Monterey City Manager Hans Uslar issued a written statement pointing out that the city has purchased two new fire engines and other vehicles at a cost of $4 million. While stating that he and the Monterey City Council take the vote of no confidence and firefighters’ concerns seriously, he also noted the timing of the vote coincides with a “contentious” binding arbitration process between the city and the union over a contract that expired in June 2022. Arbitrators are set to meet in December. Pounds says the vote on Panholzer’s leadership is a separate issue from the union’s disagreements with city management over wages and benefits. Both Pounds and Uslar emphasize that the no confidence vote will not affect service to the community. Union representatives have met numerous times with Uslar and members of the City Council about their concerns, Pounds says. They decided to go public with the vote after seeing little response from city officials. Panholzer did not respond to a request for comment. Panholzer was hired as chief in 2013. Four years later, he was fired by then-city manager Mike McCarthy in November 2017. A few weeks later, McCarthy was fired by the city council. Uslar, acting as interim city manager at the time, reversed the decision. Over recent months, Soledad residents have lost confidence in their City Council during the transition from at-large to district elections. On Oct. 4, council voted 3-2 to approve a five-district map and a rotating mayor, despite community outcry. This triggered the formation of Soledad Committee for Voting Rights, a group that pushed for a referendum. They collected 1,405 signatures by Oct. 30, well over the required threshold to get a referendum on the ballot—841, or 10 percent of the number of registered voters in Soledad. Monterey County Elections Department officials verified 862 as valid signatures of registered voters, meaning the referendum on district lines will be on the ballot in Soledad in the March 5, 2024 primary election. During this political upheaval, Soledad City Councilmember Alejandro Chavez and his wife, Erica Padilla-Chavez, a Hartnell College trustee, resigned from public office due to a move out of their districts. Chavez’s resignation took effect Oct. 31, and PadillaChavez’s on Nov. 2. During a special meeting on Nov. 13, Soledad City Council voted to fill Chavez’s vacancy by election, rather than making an appointment. “We’ve seen in the past that the appointment process has not been fair and impartial,” said Monica Andrade, a spokesperson for Soledad Committee for Voting Rights (also also the wife of City Councilmember Fernando Cabrera). The councilmember election will also take place on March 5, and will be an at-large position to fill the remainder of Chavez’s term, through 2026. As of Nov. 27, no one has filed documents to run for the vacant council seat. The last day to file is Dec. 8. At Hartnell, the board of trustees opted to appoint a new member. Three people applied and on Nov. 21, the board selected Sonia Jaramillo to represent District 6 until the next election, in November of 2024. Chief Beef A firefighters union takes a vote of no confidence against the Monterey fire chief. By Pam Marino news Ready for Winter It’s always emergency preparedness season in Monterey County. Learn from county, state and local officials steps you can take to be ready for flooding and other natural disasters at this information fair. 10am-1:30pm Saturday, Dec. 2. Ramsay Family Center, 1301 Main St., Watsonville. Free. 768-3010, tinyurl. com/tv2tszh6 Stronger bond Salinas Union High School District is hosting its 13th annual parent conference “Strengthening the Family.” Students and parents or guardians will learn about a range of topics such as human trafficking, health, career technical education, parenting skills and more. 8am-3pm Saturday, Dec. 2. Harden Middle School, 1561 McKinnon St., Salinas. Free; open to parents/guardians and students; breakfast, lunch and childcare provided. To register, visit bit. ly/3R9CvWe. For more information, call 796-7060 ext. 8161 or email annette. arandaaguayo@salinasuhsd.org. city process Monterey City Council meets and, as always, accepts public comment. Offer up your ideas for a better city. 4pm and 7pm Tuesday, Dec. 5. Colton Hall, 580 Pacific St., Monterey. Free. 646-3799, monterey.org. Church and State A new state law streamlines the conversion of property owned by churches or other faith communities into housing. Learn more about financing, legal requirements and permitting in a webinar with Rev. Dr. G. Penny Nixon, Rev. Jake Medcalf, LandWatch Executive Director Michael DeLapa and LandWatch legal counsel John Farrow. Noon Wednesday, Dec. 6. Virtual event via Zoom; register online. Free. 7592824, bit.ly/ChurchHousing. Flight Time The City of Salinas is updating its airport master plan and officials are seeking community input on the municipal airport. Attendees will learn more and have an opportunity to provide ideas for the airport they want in the city. 1pm Wednesday, Dec. 6. Airport administration building, 342 Airport Blvd., Salinas. Free. 758-7214, cityofsalinas. org. Winter Melody Youth Orchestra Salinas performs its winter concert. Expect seasonal favorites including “A Latin Christmas” and “Como la Flor” by Selena. 7pm (doors open at 6:30pm) Wednesday, Dec. 6. Sherwood Hall, 940 N. Main St., Salinas. Free; donations accepted; RSVP required. yosal.org. Ballot Box Soledad voters will decide on the future of district elections, and elect a new council member. By Celia Jiménez Monterey Fire Chief Gaudenz Panholzer was the subject of a vote of no confidence by rank-and-file firefighters on Nov. 7. e-mail: publiccitizen@mcweekly.com TOOLBOX “Our morale is at an all-time low.” Daniel Dreifuss
www.montereycountyweekly.com November 30-december 6, 2023 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 13 7:30am Registration Bib Pick-up Santa Claus Photos 8:30am 1k Elf Run 9:00am 5k Run/Walk (Chip timing optional) 10:30am Awards, Contest and Raffle Opportunities to run, donate, or sponsor available! For inquiries, please reach out to us at ssorensen@ArthritisResearchCoalition.org and visit our website at ArthritisResearchCoalition.org icantori.org Carmel mission basilica dec 2 & 3 8PM Santa Cruz holy cross church 8PM DEC 10 mendelssohn i Cantori Di Carmel BruCh rheinberger humperdinck Daniel henriks, music director a romantic christmas San Jose Five Wounds church dec 9 8PM JEFFREY C. COBURN, CFA THE CARMEL FOUNDATIONJoy 2023 FUNDRAISER • VIRTUAL AUCTION of Giving ONLINE AUCTION STARTS TODAY, DECEMBER 1st at 9am AND ENDS SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3rd at 9pm BID NOW ON ITEMS HERE: https://carmeljoy.ggo.bid Enriching the lives of seniors since 1950 Private Lunch with Secretary Leon Panetta Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa Deluxe Suite experiences An array of unique Carmel group dining Golf for four at Tehama Golf Club Collection Board Choice Wine We are grateful to our generous sponsors for their support. SCAN THIS TO START BIDDING
14 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY NOVEMBER 30-DECEMBER 6, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com Parsonage Winery had a good year in 2019. Owner Bill Parsons says the 2023 vintage will be even better. The team at J.Lohr draws parallels to the stellar 1989 vintage. Meanwhile Russell Joyce, who planted a vineyard for what would become his Joyce label in 1986, cannot find a point of comparison. “I haven’t been alive long enough to see a vintage this good,” he says. The 2023 winegrape growing season was frustrating. With heavy winter rains and a generally cool summer, some vines were subject to mildew. Denis Hoey at Odonata fought a losing battle to mildew in one plot and consigned his Viognier to sparkling wine. Rustique’s vineyards were swarmed by yellowjackets, forcing Chad Silacci to toss 20 percent of his fruit. Because of moderate weather, grapes ripened slowly, pushing the start of harvest back several weeks. “In September we were all kicking rocks,” Hoey says. And then suddenly temperatures climbed and grapes responded, causing a manic harvest in which many growers scrambled to bring in almost their entire crop in a two week span. Some picked Pinot Noir—usually an early-ripening grape—at the same time as the notorious laggard, Cabernet Sauvignon. “It was a challenging year—most challenging on the farming side,” Silacci observes. “I just wanted the grapes to come off the vineyard.” Yet after all the patience and frustration, there is consensus that Monterey County’s 2023 vintage will likely rank as one of the finest. “It’s the vintage of my career,” says Steve Peck, vice president of winemaking for J.Lohr, citing red grapes showing rich pigmentation and whites normally destined for the brand’s inexpensive labels now matching the quality of their higher-end line. Despite the extended growing season and late harvest—Peck jokes that he considered renaming a grape clone they call October Night, as November seemed more appropriate this year— the J.Lohr winemaker points to positives: “No fires, no rain too early, no cold days, no frost.” Conditions allowed for a longer hang time on the vines, so grapes mature more slowly and develop greater character. There were no untimely heat spikes or rains to cause sudden ripening turns. So harvest became a waiting game. “Acidity wasn’t changing, sugars weren’t changing, but the quality was,” Silacci notes. Even the juice Hoey culled from his “mildew haven” vineyard is promising. “It’s tasting really good,” he says. “I’m really excited about it.” In addition to high quality, many vineyards report yield levels at or above normal season—welcome results after a drought-stricken year. The 2022 harvest was valued at $174 million, a drop of 20 percent from the previous year. And recent harvests have been a bit of a roller coaster for growers. Parsons lost almost all of his fruit to the parched summer of 2022. Smoke taint had damaged his crop in 2020. “Maybe there is a god and maybe he likes me,” he says with a laugh. “This is our comeback year.” Finishing Strong After a long, often frustrating growing season, winegrape harvest delivers a very promising vintage. By Dave Faries Grapes go quickly from the fields to the crush pad at Odonata in Salinas. This year, the Salinas winery took in 102 tons, “the most that’s ever gone across the scales at this facility,” says owner Denis Hoey. NEWS “No fires, no rain too early, no cold days, no frost.” DANIEL DREIFUSS ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES Stop By To Shop And Find Your Vintage Treasure OVER 100 DEALERS 21,000 SQUARE FEET The Largest Antiques and Collectibles Mall on the Central Coast 471 WAVE STREET MONTEREY (831) 655-0264 P M canneryrowantiquemall.com Open Daily 11am-6pm ’23 Voted Monterey County's Best Antique Shop ♦ 3 Card Poker ♠ Century 21st No Bust Black Jack ♣ Texas Hold’em ♥ Baccarat FULL BAR! BLACKJACK BONUS POINTS PAYS UP TO $20,000 SMALL TOWN BIG PAYOUTS! 1-800-Gambler • Gega-003846, Gega-Gega-003703, Gega-000889 Gega-000891 Gega-002838 The Marina Club Casino ensures the safety and security of all guests and team members at all times, while providing exceptional service. 204 Carmel Ave. Marina 831-384-0925 casinomonterey.com ♠ ♣ ♥ ♦ Just minutes from Downtown Monterey Where Monterey Comes To Play
www.montereycountyweekly.com NOVEMBER 30-DECEMBER 6, 2023 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 15 Four months ago, thousands of Salinas Valley Health patients with Anthem Blue Cross insurance suddenly found themselves out-of-network and in a quandary about the future of their health care coverage, after SVH and Anthem negotiators failed to come to an agreement on a reimbursement contract. Those patients can perhaps breathe a little easier after the two sides penned a new four-year contract retroactive to Aug. 1, officials from both SVH and Anthem announced on Monday, Nov. 27. The announcement—made just 10 days before Anthem’s open enrollment period ends on Dec. 7 for customers choosing health insurance for 2024—was short on details. The new contract “focuses on new care delivery models designed to lower costs and increase value for Anthem members in Monterey County,” according to the joint press release. What those models are and how they will lower costs was not outlined, although a statement by Beth Anderson, president of Anthem, provides clues. Anderson mentioned “aligning payment” to SVH on health outcomes, including readmission rates, patient safety and patient satisfaction. Exactly how SVH will be reimbursed for its services by Anthem— which was at the center of why negotiations failed in July after five months of talks—was not specified in the announcement. An SVH spokesperson referred questions to Anthem. Requests to Anthem went unanswered. On July 27, SVH President and CEO Pete Delgado took a strident tone when he told patients in a letter that “Anthem, which is among the largest and most profitable insurance companies in the country, has refused to pay us fairly for the services we provide, using its size and power to insist that we accept an unfair contract.” An Anthem spokesperson countered that SVH’s requests for reimbursement were unsustainable and would lead to significant cost increases, higher premiums, deductibles and copays for consumers. Covered California, the state’s health insurance exchange established by the Affordable Care Act, announced at that time that Anthem’s premiums were rising by 11 percent on average. In a letter to Anthem, Monterey County Supervisor Luis Alejo, writing on behalf of the board, asked: “Where are the increased premium dollars going if not to the health systems providing care to those paying the premiums?” Whatever SVH and Anthem finally agreed to, Delgado sounded more conciliatory on Nov. 27. “We believe we have negotiated a contract that allows us to continue to deliver quality health care for the residents of Monterey County, while also improving reimbursements for that care,” he said. While SVH patients went out-ofnetwork, SVH officials committed to cover the gap between what patients paid and were reimbursed by Anthem, at least temporarily. It’s unclear whether SVH will be reimbursed for those out-of-pocket costs since the agreement is retroactive to Aug 1. Back in Service Salinas Valley Health and Anthem Blue Cross reach agreement on a new contract. By Pam Marino About 11,000 Anthem-insured patients visited Salinas Valley Health’s hospital (shown above) and clinics last year. NEWS “Anthem has refused to pay us fairly.” DANIEL DREIFUSS FEAT URING Golf & Social Memberships Exclusive Member Benefits 18 Holes of Renowned Golf Member Golf & Social Events Member Pool & Wellness Acclaimed Golf Academy Tennis & Pickleball Courts GOLF COURSE Quail Lodge Golf Course was designed by Robert Muir Graves in 1964 & refined in 2015 by Principle Designer Todd Eckenrode of Origins Golf Design. 6,464 Yards, Par 71 Quail features unique white sand bunker designs trimmed with fescue lips, short grass areas that surround the greens to provide more shot options, & challenging grass swales that come into play on seven holes. A set of stout par 3s & an array of slender doglegs require placement & patience more than sheer power. LEARN MORE AT QUAILLODGE.COM/GOLF 8000 Valley Greens Drive, Carmel | 831.620.8836 /qlgolfclub @quaillodgeca
16 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY NOVEMBER 30-DECEMBER 6, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com MC GIVES In 55 years of helping people struggling with addiction, Sun Street Centers has perhaps not faced a greater challenge than the fentanyl crisis that has impacted so many people in Monterey County, most of them teens and young adults. That’s part of the reason why the nonprofit’s Big Idea for MCGives! is construction of a new facility that gives them the space to focus on helping youth struggling with addiction to fentanyl, other street drugs and alcohol. The youth program will include an intensive outreach program, as well as empowering entire families of youth in early recovery “to help them be part of the solution,” Executive Director Anna Foglia says. The idea doesn’t stop with youth outreach, which will be located on the first floor of the planned building in Salinas. It also includes sober living on the second floor for men and women in recovery who would otherwise be homeless, Foglia says. The goal is to serve an additional 300 clients a year downstairs while providing transitional housing for up to 40 people annually upstairs. “Our founders Martin and Nancy Dodd would be over the moon,” Foglia says. Martin Dodd helped men in recovery and Nancy Dodd brought the first Al-Anon meetings to Salinas. Sun Street Centers opened in 1968 on the current site. Foglia refers to it as “hallowed ground…The people who have come and gone, we can feel their presence, so to be able to expand is thrilling.” The mission of Sun Street Centers has remained constant in its 55 years: to prevent alcohol and drug addiction through education, treatment and recovery, regardless of one’s income level. They currently have residential treatment programs in Salinas and King City, and outpatient programs in Salinas, Marina, Seaside and King City. They also operate several outreach programs aimed at preventing youth from using drugs and alcohol. The land for the new building was purchased three years ago and Foglia says they’re now in the homestretch to make the new facility a reality. They’ve raised 80 percent of the $4.4 million needed for construction, including $1 million from the Monterey County Health Department. Just $500,000 away from their goal, they’re working to raise what they need by Dec. 31, so they can break ground in January. COURTESY OF SUYN STREET CENTERS Big Reach Sun Street Centers plans a home for sober living and intensive youth outreach. By Pam Marino A rendering of Sun Street’s planned addiction recovery facility—including transitional housing—to be built on Calle Cebu in Salinas, adjacent to its existing headquarters. How to Donate Go to www.mcgives.com and click the Donate button. The Heartwarming Impact of Read to Me Project The magic of the Read to Me Project is illuminated by what participating 4th, 5th, and 6th graders say about their experiences while reading to the pre-schoolers at home. They are shining a light into their homes for us to see how Read to Me Project is setting young lives on course for a lifetime of equitable opportunities. Aldo was always watching TV. When I started reading to him, he started identifying animals and tries to say the scientific names. He loves animals and books and singing with me. Aldo is more adventurous now and is learning more. He’s thinking about new things he’s learned and wants to do them. If we read a book with a firefighter, he wants to be a firefighter. - 4th grader reads to her 4-year-old brother My little sister wants me to read the book a lot of times and then when I say I don’t want to anymore, she gives the book to my mom for her to read it. My mom is learning to read new words just like my sister. - 4th grader reads to her 2-year-old sister Please support early literacy. Your generosity will be percentage matched by donating through Montereycountygives.coM/read Readtomeproject.org
www.montereycountyweekly.com NOVEMBER 30-DECEMBER 6, 2023 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 17 Join Us in Helping 11,734 Unhoused Students in Monterey County Public Schools Your gift before 12/31/23 will be partially matched! Housing for Kids is a fund of the Community Foundation for Monterey County housingkids.com Donate Today! Your donations support: Pay upfront rental costs for unsheltered families with students Raise public awareness Work to create affordable housing Meals on Wheels of the Salinas Valley, Inc. We provide more than just a meal… Nourishing & Nurturing Seniors Since 1972 Donate: montereycountygives.com/mows
18 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY november 30-december 6, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com Fee For All Thanks for sending a reporter to the East Garrison Community Services District meeting where county staff said “oops, my bad” for overcharging on our Mello-Roos taxes (“Residents of East Garrison are coming to grips with taxes and fees that weren’t part of the sales pitch,” Nov. 16-22). You seemed surprised that we were so well behaved—maybe you were expecting people with pitchforks out for blood. Nope; for one thing our lots aren’t big enough to need garden equipment. And we’ve been here before. East Garrison is “revenue neutral,” which means we get charged for things (like park maintenance and sewers) that everyone else pays for out of the general fund. That meeting was the fourth time residents have pointed out mistakes in the County’s math. At the same time, the County has obligations to fulfill before East Garrison is complete. Residents ask how it’s going, the reply is to trust the process. We’ll politely keep at it, with our calculators and our requests to be included in decision-making. No pitchforks, yet. Helen Shamble | East Garrison Water and Housing I appreciate Agata Popeda’s coverage of this deeply troubling topic (“A solution for MPUSD students living in their vehicles illuminates the scale of the problem,” posted Nov. 18) and the informative story by David Schmalz (“MPUSD is set to open a safe parking facility for students facing housing challenges,” Nov. 16-22). The housing crisis on the Monterey Peninsula is closely linked to the ongoing challenge of establishing a sustainable water supply. Your article could have been more impactful by highlighting the persistent failures of local government officials and the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District in executing the Monterey Peninsula Water Supply Project since restrictions were imposed on the Carmel River in 1995—nearly three decades ago. In recent years, instead of addressing this issue, officials have redirected public attention with the controversial pursuit by Public Water Now to acquire Cal Am and impede desalination approval. Unfortunately, as officials engage in these distractions, ratepayers are left to shoulder substantial legal bills, all while the water and housing crises persist without resolution. I encourage you to delve deeper into the root causes of this “embarrassment to humanity.” Exploring the underlying reasons for the existence of such a crisis will contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the challenges at hand. Mark T. Watson | Carmel Young Voices I enjoyed reading the article on the Gonzales Youth Council (“An effort to increase teen engagement in Gonzales is succeeding, and spreading to neighboring cities,” Nov. 16-22). Great work by all of those students. Si se puede! Ed Ramirez | via email Remembering History I vividly recall that day 60 years ago, the assassination of President John F. Kennedy (“Remembering a terrible moment in time, 60 years ago today,” posted Nov. 22). I was a 20-year-old advanced Army ROTC college student at Santa Clara University, soon to be commissioned the following year. We were called together by the senior Army officer at SCU and told that we could be “activated” early should war break out. It was a terrible day for our country. Gary Weitz | via email On the Bus The SNIP Bus is a brilliant concept (“SNIP Bus applies a practical solution—a mobile spay-and-neuter clinic—to solve pet overpopulation,” Nov. 23-29). Melanie Scherer is doing very valuable work, in spite of “spay and neuter makes you cuter”—gag me! I do love and respect what she is doing. She deserves great credit as a humanitarian. I’d love to see her work extended to Big Sur. Marilyn Ross | Carmel Giving Thanks The Carmel Valley Angel Project so appreciates your highlight of our Thanksgiving community dinner, in collaboration with the Carmel Valley Kiwanis Club who are doing the major part of the day with us (“Volunteers strive to make holiday feasts accessible to all,” Nov. 16-22). In addition, the Angel Project, a 501(c)(3), also provides a holiday “store” for Carmel Valley residents with kids who are having a tougher time in this economy. Reservations are required before Dec. 5 to participate; info at cvangelproject.org. We are grateful for the generosity of the community and grant-giving organizations who make this possible, and the many volunteers who make it happen. Christine Williams | Carmel Valley Note: Williams is president of CVAP. Healthy Plates Great article! The collaboration of agencies is inspiring (“State officials put their money where their mouth is with incentives for cheaper fruits and vegetables,” posted Nov. 27). Thanks for reporting on this. Mary Conway | Monterey Walk the Talk Such a nice walk to get the holiday started (“A chance to burn calories in advance and help others as the Turkey Trot returns to Laguna Seca,” posted Nov. 20). Cindy Burnham | via social media Bloom and Grow Philodendrons are my favorite for indoors (“When choosing a house plant as a gift, stick to the easy-togrow varieties to play it safe,” Nov. 16-22). They climb trees in the wild (Philo = Love, Dendron = Tree, in Greek), so you should have a good pole for them to climb. Like tropical orchids, they have roots that get their moisture from the air, so need higher humidity for best results to keep the roots healthy. Walter Wagner | Salinas Something Fresh This place is really the best (“Aki Fresh is a hidden Mexican treasure in the city of Marina,” Nov. 16-22). I will drive all the way from Big Sur for it! Hannah Marshall-Moon | Big Sur Best place ever! Priscilla Tran | via social media 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.
www.montereycountyweekly.com november 30-december 6, 2023 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 19 Somewhere between the shape of Monterey County today—a series of small cities that stand apart—and the shape of notorious suburban sprawl without space between, is a 365-page report by the staff of the Local Agency Formation Commission of Monterey County (LAFCO). Because the cities of the Salinas Valley are like islands, surrounded on all sides by agricultural lands that define this place as the Salad Bowl of the World, there is a limitation on growth. If a city envisions expanding its footprint—for new housing, commercial districts or industrial development—it often means creeping outward into farmland. The expansion of cities is subject to approval from LAFCO. And for the better part of a year, LAFCO commissioners have been dusting off the agency’s ag mitigation policy. The policy ultimately guides conditions of approval attached to developments. When the 252acre Uni-Kool site in Salinas was annexed in 2010, including 240 acres of farmland, 197 acres of farmland were transferred to a land trust. When 216 acres of the Meyers-Mills Ranches, including 189 acres of farmland, was annexed in 2002 by King City, 361 acres were set aside in a conservation easement. The premise, ultimately, is to strike a balance between enabling badly needed development of housing without killing the golden goose. Agriculture powers the region’s economy and provides the jobs that draw people to live here—but there aren’t enough places to live. As the sense of urgency increases when it comes to the housing crisis, city leaders and developers are asking LAFCO for more flexibility. “These policies have the potential to curtail our jurisdictions’ healthy growth at a time when the need for economic development and housing production has never been greater,” the city managers of Salinas, Gonzales, Soledad and Greenfield wrote in a Nov. 17 letter to LAFCO. Those city leaders want, among other things, the option to pay an “in-lieu” fee instead of setting aside land; a 1:1 ratio of annexed land to conserved farmland; compliance monitoring when a permit is issued, rather than at the time of project approval; and exemptions for housing development that enables a jurisdiction to meet its state-mandated Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) numbers. When LAFCO convened on Monday, Nov. 27 for a workshop on updating its ag mitigation policy, everyone seemed to agree that some kind of policy is needed—but that’s where agreement stops. “The [current] policy is not working,” said County Supervisor Chris Lopez, who represents South County and until last year was a LAFCO commissioner. He called housing “the biggest problem of our generation,” and offered up anecdotes that are all too common. He described one constituent, Lidia, who lives in Chualar with her two professional adult sons—one works as a CPA and one runs a tax service. “They love Chualar; they want housing in Chualar,” Lopez said. “Lidia repeats to me, ‘Where’s the housing? Let’s get it done.’” Glenn Pace is the manager of Pembrook Development, which envisions building 3,498 residential units in Gonzales. The Vista Lucia project has been in the making for 22 years, and is expected to seek LAFCO’s blessing for annexation in the near future. “The policy seems to be working for land preservation, and that’s a positive,” Pace said, “but it clearly is not working for RHNA mandates.” Housing is needed, everyone seems to agree on that. But the devil is in the details. And the details include the fact that, since 2000, according to LAFCO staff’s analysis, a total of 5,078 acres have been annexed into Salinas Valley cities, and 80 percent of those lands remain undeveloped. Mike Novo, a former Monterey County planner, spoke on behalf of the Ag Land Trust. “Some comments imply that this policy has kept housing from being constructed,” he said. “I just don’t see any evidence of that. There is plenty of land available.” If the policy is out of balance in favor of land conservation over housing, LAFCO needs to change that—but not at the expense of farmland conservation, because we need that too. LAFCO commissioners will again pick up the topic from 4-9pm on Monday, Dec. 4, at 168 W. Alisal St. in Salinas. Sara Rubin is the Weekly’s editor. Reach her at sara@mcweekly.com. Ready for Landing Housing and agricultural needs clash in a major land use policy decision. By Sara Rubin Top Cops…In Squid’s undersea lair, sound moves faster than it does on land. Maybe that’s why Squid has been hearing for months about the impending departure of now-former Chief Deputy Jeff Hoyne from the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office, who has been out of the office since at least Aug. 26, when Squid first started asking. Since then, Jason Smith was filling in as acting chief deputy. Official reality finally caught up with on-theground reality Nov. 18, with a notification that Hoyne was no longer with the office and Smith was the new chief deputy (plus another promotion for Veronica Olguin, a former sergeant turned commander). “I spoke with both about the expectation of leadership roles,” Sheriff Tina Nieto said in a statement. “Both understood the responsibility that comes with their new positions, and their steadfast commitment to the personnel that make up this fine organization… We are all in this together.” Nieto, who beat Hoyne in the 2022 election then appointed him, declines to confirm whether Hoyne skipped out on his expectations lecture. Squid has heard from multiple sources that Hoyne repeatedly used a racial slur; Hoyne did not respond to a call for comment. “I have always pledged that my executive management team will always share my values,” Nieto says. Squid hopes the second time’s a charm. Thanks for Leaving…Not long ago, a Del Rey Oaks resident sat down with one of Squid’s colleagues to make the case that the Weekly’s coverage of the city is unduly harsh— Del Rey Oaks is a welcoming community, they insisted. So Squid set out to see just how welcoming the city is, and entered from Seaside on Highland Street, which quickly becomes Carlton Drive—the two streets did not always connect. Then Squid hung a right and oozed down Quendale Avenue, which soon turns into Portola Drive. Both run along the city’s border with Seaside, but there is only one other street that connects the cities—Tweed Street. However, it’s blocked off with barriers on the Del Rey Oaks side. The homes are quite nice—more than an inkstained cephalopod can afford—and as that fact set in, Squid made Squid’s way into Del Rey Farms, a cannabis dispensary on Portola Drive at its intersection with Fremont Boulevard in Seaside. As Squid was oozing out of the dispensary, Squid noticed a “no right turn” sign for those exiting the parking lot, so that they must instead turn left, toward Seaside. Wait, what? Is it a one-way street? No. Is it more dangerous to turn left? Yes. Squid’s colleague asked City Manager John Guertin about the sign’s provenance, but he didn’t know, adding that it’s likely not enforceable. Squid hopes it remains—at this point, it’s art. the local spin SQUID FRY THE MISSION OF MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY IS TO INSPIRE INDEPENDENT THINKING AND CONSCIOUS ACTION, ETC. “Where’s the housing? Let’s get it done.” Send Squid a tip: squid@mcweekly.com
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