Squid knows the water at Fort Ord is a foul-tasting brew, but has it also been spiked with a powerful hallucinogen?

That is the only explanation Squid can come up with for Friday''s decision by Fort Ord Reuse Authority (FORA) officials to "loan" water from its reserves to Del Rey Oaks, Marina, Seaside and the county for new development projects.

With only 6,600 acre-feet of water available for all Fort Ord users--a theoretical amount which may not even be available given the potential for seawater intrusion--FORA officials are counting on recycled wastewater from the Monterey Regional Water Pollution Control Agency facility in Marina to make up for any water loans, shortfalls, or additional users. And that water may be held up by ongoing litigation by Salinas Valley ag interests.

Ever Sausage a Mess?

Joseph Bianco, the sausage seller barred from the Old Monterey Business Association''s Farmers Market, last week brought his case to the Monterey City Council and was told the council wouldn''t interfere with OMBA business. But as the council''s representative on the OMBA board, Ruth Vreeland said she would ask OMBA to take up Bianco''s case at an upcoming meeting.

Bianco has tried to sell sausages first on his own, then from an OMBA member''s market booth, only to be shut down. Meanwhile OMBA Vice President Mike Marotta is being downright nasty about sausage inquiries, saying he "can''t believe Ruth doesn''t have better things to do" than write to the board about Bianco.

"I can''t believe you people are still writing about him," Marotta told a CW scribe. "It''s totally uninteresting. But if you think it helps you sell papers..."

And for the Record...

Now we take you to Salinas where five speakers this week used the Salinas City Council''s public comment period to lambaste outgoing Mayor/Assembly contender Alan Styles for his campaign ads criticizing Assemblymember Peter Frusetta for his alleged comments in praise of Hitler''s leadership abilities. One guy--obviously held in thrall by D.C. politics--even held an "Impeach Styles" sign. Another speaker told councilmembers that to meet Frusetta is "to instantly love him" and that the rancher from Tres Pinos is--"a combination of Jesus Christ and Lincoln." (Lincoln we know was a Republican, word has it that J.C. may have been a member of the Green Party.)

--Squid

Bait squid...squid@coastweekly.com

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