Category: kion-local-news

Victor Guzman

SALINAS, Calif. (KION-TV) — Salinas Police confirm a prowling suspect is in custody after a search along a portion of Chaparral Street early Monday morning.

They said that at approximately 5:30 a.m., police received multiple calls reporting a male in the backyards of several homes, and as officers arrived in the area to investigate, they heard two gunshots coming from one of the yards.

“The resident who fired the shots told officers the rounds were discharged into the air as a warning, which caused the prowler to flee and continue jumping fences through nearby properties,” police took to Facebook Monday morning.

After an area search, officers found the suspect, 37-year-old Cesar Rios, and booked him into the Monterey County Jail on several charges.

They said the charges include prowling, vandalism, and a PRCS hold. The case will be handed over to the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office.

“While no one was injured in this case, SPD would like to remind the community that firing ‘warning shots’ is both dangerous and unlawful, as stray rounds can cause unintended injuries or damage,” police wrote.

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Victor Guzman

BERKELEY, Calif. (KION-TV) — Berkeley and parts of the Bay Area were rattled overnight by a 4.3 magnitude earthquake.

The quake was felt across the immediate area of its origin, but also as far south as Santa Cruz, Boulder Creek and Felton according to reports to the USGS.

So far there’s no reports of any damage from the earthquake.

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Sergio Berrueta

SALINAS, Calif. (KION-TV) – Salinas will hold a public hearing during this week’s council meeting on the city’s first sewer rate increases in over a decade. 

The increase was approved by council back in April, essentially tripling the residential rates from nearly $6 to over $16.

In addition to this, a 2% annual increase would also be applied until 2035.

The rate hike is meant to cover funding gaps needed for sewer system repairs, upgrades and future needs.

A study estimates it will cost nearly $115 million to make the necessary improvements over the next ten years.

A city report says more than 34,000 public hearing notices have been sent out to customers who would be impacted.

If a majority of rate payers — or close to 16,000 — provide written protests to the city clerk by the end of the public hearing, then the city cannot move forward with the rate increase.

Otherwise, the new rates will take effect October 1.

Salinas moves forward with sewer service payment assistance program

SALINAS, Calif. (KION-TV) – The city of Salinas is moving forward with establishing a sewer service payment assistance program.

This is after the council approved tripling the rates for most residential customers this year. 

Salinas has already set aside $150,000 for the program, which now goes to council for final approval.

Qualifying applicants would be provided with a one-time, annual payment totaling 15 percent of their cumulative charges for the fiscal year.

That is, regardless of whether they own or rent.

Income eligibility will be based on enrollment in PG&E’s California Alternate Rates for Energy program.

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Madison Wilber

SAN BENITO COUNTY, Calif. (KION-TV) County supervisors are discussing a potential tax rebate program. The Transient Occupancy Tax on hotels in the area is expected to incentivize the development of new infrastructure and promote renovations on existing hotels. 

“There are more hotels on this side. I think that they should add hotels to the other side of town. I mean, I know Ridgemark has a few places where you could stay, but most hotels are on this side of the town.” Jennifer McBain, a bartender at downtown’s Johnny’s Bar and Grill, says a boost in tourism would mean positive things for local businesses.

“I mean, more hotels and more people, more traffic, congestion, but definitely more people. We like tourism,” she adds.

County reports say they currently lack the necessary infrastructure to welcome the nearly 7 million potential visitors who live an hour’s drive away. The program would generate $475 thousand annually in tax revenue. 

“There are a lot fewer tourists coming through,” says Danny DeLuna, chef at Danny’s Smoke and Grill. “There are obviously the locals that come through; it’s primarily the locals. When we get people from out of town, it is because we have big events like the 4th of July, which really is a benefit to downtown businesses, whether it’s here or any other business,” he adds. “It’s a great weekend to make a lot of money.” 

Danny says he has seen fewer tourists since the pandemic, yet recent festivals and events have brought people back to Hollister. “As of right now, we don’t have too many things that are inviting people back and giving them a really good reason to come and hang out here.” 

DeLuna knows that with further investment in the hotel industry, businesses along the downtown area will also see an economic boost, yet he remains skeptical, saying more should be done to help local restaurants along the downtown corridor.

“We’re doing good things here, and we definitely invite people to come down here to try this stuff because there are new places popping up every little while,” he adds. “There are new places everywhere. Come spend your money at them because this is how we survive.

The San Benito County Board of Supervisors is set to discuss the recommendations from the Tourism Advisory Committee at Tuesday’s meeting.

San Benito County committee updates incentive program proposal for hospitality development

HOLLISTER, Calif. (KION) — San Benito County’s Tourism Advisory Committee has new additions in their discussion surrounding their proposed hotel incentive program.

The latest version of the proposal acknowledged smaller hotels that might come this way and hotels that already exist in the area — giving those existing developers a better chance to compete with incoming businesses.

“As we’re trying to drive interest in new development, we don’t want to accidentally disadvantage any constituencies that already live and operate here in San Benito County.” Christian Pillsbury, a Tourism Advisory Committee member, said.

The proposal from the start has been all about increasing tourism in San Benito County as much as possible and getting people not just to come to the national park around the corner but to stay overnight and support local businesses. 

The proposed program would incentivize hotel developers to come build in the area by giving a portion of their transient occupancy tax, a common hotel tax, back. 

Today was about existing developments taking advantage of their some of their own TOT money to make upgrades, to be able to viably compete with incoming developments. 

“We wanted to make sure that we didn’t accidentally carve those folks out,” Pillsbury said.

The funding for this program comes from within itself. The county would only be giving back portions of the money that the hotels generate from their tax pool; meaning ideally zero county funds would be used to sponsor this program. 

The committee approved this proposal to move forward and be seen by the San Benito County of Supervisors. 

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Sergio Berrueta

SAN BENITO COUNTY, Calif. (KION-TV) — San Benito County supervisors will hear plans for a new program that would prioritize locals when it comes to affordable housing units.

The Local Tenant Preference Ordinance would apply to certain individuals and families during the application process.

This includes people who live or work locally, school district and agriculture workers, seniors, people with disabilities, and more.

Supervisor Kosmicki says this part of the board’s efforts to focus more on affordable housing instead of the single-family developments built in recent decades.

San Benito County to approve Local Tenant Preference ordinance

SAN BENITO COUNTY, Calif. (KION-TV) – San Benito County is moving forward with a new program that will prioritize locals when it comes to affordable housing units.

The Local Tenant Preference ordinance means existing residents will be given preference on applications for affordable housing units.

This includes current and displaced residents, local county and school district workers, and those facing high rent or household costs. Other preferred applicants include public safety workers, first responders, and healthcare workers.

Supervisor Kosmicki says this is part of the board’s efforts to focus more on affordable housing instead of the single-family developments built in recent decades.

Other policies, along with the ordinance, include requiring more affordable housing projects to meet housing market standards, creating mixed-use developments, and preventing housing development projects in areas prone to fires or flooding.

The Board of Supervisors will return for a formal approval at the meeting on Sept. 23.

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Ata Shaheen

SALINAS, Calif. (KION-TV) — The back-and-forth over a referendum concerning renter protection ordinances in the city of Salinas continues this week.

Council members picking talks back up on Tuesday.

They must decide whether to bring the ordinances back while also modifying them, or leave it up to voters.

During the last meeting, at least one council member who previously voted to repeal the ordinances looked to switch sides, filing a motion to “repeal the repeal.”

The move was made by council member Jose Luis Barajas, however, was not seconded, which delayed the final decision.

Salinas City Council accepts referendum saving tenant-protection ordinances; ultimate fate still TBD

SALINAS, Calif. (KION-TV) – The Salinas City Council accepted the results of a grassroots referendum blocking their vote to strip four renter-protection ordinances

It’s the latest stage in an ongoing saga between the council and tenants’ activists.

The group Protect Salinas Renters has been fighting for almost three months now to “repeal the repeal”.

Activists had worked with the previous city council last year to secure a rental registry, tenant-anti-harassment ordinance, regulations on evictions, and a cap on annual rent hikes.

This past June, all five new council members voted to roll those protections back.

“People are working two, 3 to 4 jobs to keep a roof over their head. And it’s wrong. It’s wrong. It’s like in this country, you should be able to afford to live,” said Bill Freeman of Salinas.

Protect Salinas Renters launched a signature-gathering campaign to block the city council, and after the elections office verified at least 7,000 signatures – one in ten Salinas voters – the council had no choice but accept that referendum tTuesday night.

“I respect what you have done. You’re to be congratulated for the work and effort you’ve put in to express your point of view, and, and, and it’s hard also not to be impressed by that and commitment to democracy and the people,” said Mayor Dennis Donohue.

Next up, the city council will decide to either let the ordinances stay, or allow voters to decide their fate.That would either be a ballot measure in next year’s election or a standalone choice in a special election much sooner.

Many of the activists hoped their petition would end the debate, but they don’t have much faith that the battle is over.

“It’s a lot more challenging with this city council than it was with the previous city council. But we have some more time to go, you know, and we’re looking forward we’re looking forward to to this. This will ultimately make us stronger,” said Luis ‘xago’ Juarez.

A special election for the issue would cost Salinas between $1 million and $1.7 million, while adding it to the ballot next November would cost between $500,000 and $700,000.

Councilmember Andrew Sandoval – one of two seats held over from the previous council, and one of two council members who opposed the protections repeal in June – made sure his colleagues acknowledged that cost as well.

“The next item up for discussion is funding homeless. If my colleagues decide that there’s no money for homeless but decide that they want to spend $1.5 million on a special election, we should question that a little bit,” he said.

Mayor Donohue has in the past suggested that the ordinances would exacerbate the housing crisis and it would be better to instead support more housing construction.

“People of goodwill, different points of view, so now let’s see what the next couple weeks bring us and let’s just hope that’s a good solution for this entire community because there’s real work to be done,” he said.

Councilmember Sandoval suggested holding educational workshops for both tenants and landlords to explain the details of the ordinances.

Other council members said they wanted to hear from the community on both sides before the next meeting on September 9.

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Katie Nicora

BIG SUR, Calif. (KION-TV) — A traffic alert tonight for anyone driving on the Big Sur coast overnight Sunday until Monday.

Cal Trans is implementing another full overnight closure of Highway 1 near the Rocky Creek Bridge.

It will last from 10 p.m. until 6 a.m. Monday.

Cal Trans says this is part of an ongoing emergency project aimed at reinforcing the seawall that protects the south end of the bridge and slope beneath it from further erosion.

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Ata Shaheen

SALINAS, Calif. (KION-TV) — Salinas Police said they found three people with gun shot wounds on Cross Avenue near Bardin Road Friday night after 11 pm.

A 20-year-old and 17-year-old were already dead when they got there and another 17-year-old is in stable condition at the hospital.

Police shared the name of one of the victims, 20-year-old Jesus Guido, but nothing about the circumstances of the shooting.

“You’re going to look at the headline and you’re going to think it’s gang violence just because of all the stories, all of our family, all of our, all of our friends that have gone down that route,” said Angelo Raya Medrano of Salinas.

He said, sadly he’s not surprised to hear this happened, especially in the Alisal neighborhood.

“It’s a story we’ve all heard, and growing up, you know, you can’t wear red shoes, blue shoes,” he said.

Earlier this month, a bakery on the same block was robbed at gunpoint, and neighbors say that’s still not the full picture of their worries.

“Some people drive really fast right there. They not respect the lives of people, crossing the street. They not, its not safe,” said neighbor Carlos Cortes.

Violence in Alisal goes back decades.

“This part of Salinas, you know, was notorious for gang violence back in the 90s. I mean, Bill Clinton came and gave a speech, in downtown in 1994, and he was talking about how we need to clean up,” said Raya Medrano.

A lot of people agree, however, that it’s not as bad as it was.

“We’ve definitely gotten better, the new developments, the rising housing costs, definitely push down on a lot of gang related activity… you see so many more people walking around different areas that some people wouldn’t,” said Angelo’s brother Diego.

Salinas Police reported just 6 murders last year. Ten years ago they reported 40.

Angelo said until there’s more investment in Alisal, with safety nets for the youth, gang violence won’t just go away.

“You can fill these streets with police and try and get that lockdown unless the issue of class inequality, of housing, of food inequalities, also of job inequalities… you have more stress, more pressure, you don’t care… and then you take up arms, you have that issue with each other, and you just, you just die.”

Investigators are still trying to pin down a potential suspect and figure out what led up to the shooting. Police are expected to share an update next week.

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Sergio Berrueta

PACIFIC GROVE, Calif. (KION-TV) – A popular spot in Pacific Grove is temporarily closed after an early morning fire on Friday.

According to the Monterey Fire Department, the fire happened at 2:20 a.m. at Hops and Fog Brewing Company on Lighthouse Avenue.

Crews worked to contain the fire while one worker and a resident above the brewery evacuated.

Hops and Fog Brewing Company suffered minor damage after an early morning fire. Courtesy: Hops and Fog Brewing Company

The fire was contained within 20 minutes of arriving at the scene, with no one hurt.

The brewing company posted on their social pages that the damage is minimal and that they will be closed for a bit as they work on the damage.

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Victor Guzman

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, Calif. (KION-TV) — CHP Santa Cruz confirms at least one person is dead after a crash along Highway 9 near Brackney Road north of Felton.

The CHP says the two-car, head-on collision happened around 8:20 a.m., leaving the road closed for hours after the crash.

The victim being identified as 80-year-old Joyce Patricia Elmore from Felton.

Officers say the other driver, a 24-year-old woman from Santa Cruz, was not hurt in the crash.

The cause is currently under investigation and it’s unknown whether drugs or alcohol played a part. 

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