News Updates: The not so public East Salinas police substation; Rubio's unfettered ambitions; Mehia's resignation.

MEET THE NEW NEIGHBORS… Last May, we reported how the Salinas Police Department was lagging on opening an East Salinas substation– even though the department was renting the 31 S. Sanborn Road office for $1 a year. On July 12 the police finally had their grand opening– more than two years after signing the lease. But don’t bother stopping by with cookies or casserole or some other housewarming (office warming?) gift. The downside of the key East side location: The office is for cops only. Residents will still have to go downtown to file police reports. [ZS]

RUBIO ON A ROLL… Seaside Mayor Ralph Rubio has announced his plan to run for a third mayoral term July 11. He and the four other sitting City Councilmen have been voting in virtual lockstep to usher development projects through the pipeline in an effort to from Monterey’s ugly stepsister into an upscale tourist destination in its own right. But the push has not been without controversy: A coalition of citizen groups now threatens to recall or replace all five councilmen for reinstating the city’s power of eminent domain in redevelopment areas. Ringleader Lawrence Samuels hopes to make the issue a wedge in the November election, when Don Jordan and Steve Bloomer’s council seats, along with the mayorship, are up for grabs. Seaside Planning Commissioner Ian Oglesby has announced his intention to run, but don’t expect his to be the rebel ticket: His campaign is headed by former Seaside Mayor Jerry Smith’s widow Byrl Anderson-Smith, with endorsement by four current councilmen. [KA]

VISIONARY V. CITY POLITICS… Starting in November 2006 we reported on the Salinas United Business Association’s new course under executive director Victor Mehia. SUBA planned to lead a 10-year redevelopment initiative for the East Salinas business district dubbed Vision 2017. But now, SUBA will have to continue this course without Mehia at the helm– Mehia resigned last month. Dave Brown, SUBA’s president, says Mehia got tired of dealing with city politics. “You come up with an idea to do something and politics with the city gets in the way,” Brown says. “It takes time to get anything done.” While SUBA searches for a new director, Mehia plans to do consulting for Salinas nonprofit Business and Community Partnership. [ZS]