Counseling for the Council

Kudos to the enlightened Carmel City Council which voted to spend $22,000 to create harmony under the guidance of psychologist Bill Mathis. But Squid suggests a cheaper alternative: why not field a council team for this weekend's 24-hour relay run at Carmel H.S. (to raise money for drug education). Now that would be a good team-building exercise. Particularly when Mayor Ken White has to slip the baton to Councilmember Barbara Livingston at 4am. Run, Barb, run! Nevertheless, Squid hopes this quest for harmony is a trend. For instance, the Seaside City Council could stand a session on the good doctor's couch to work out its stubbornness. The cost of the upcoming special election to replace former Councilmember Helen Rucker-a result of the council's failure to compromise--adds up to more than Carmel's head-shrinking bill. How about Squid's favorite Monterey Planning Commission? Poor Chair Bill McCrone appears just as agitated as ever when suffering through soliloquies by detail-oriented commissioners, even with Molly and Wally gone. C'mon, Bill. Share with the group.

Well, Gee, If You're Gonna Get Tentacle About It...

OK, OK. So last week's paper reported that Monterey city staff kept the community in the dark about the Marines "urban warfare experiment." However, City Manager Fred Meurer did in fact enter the matter into the public record at the July 21 City Council meeting, a point apparently lost not only on us, but on well-adjusted Assistant City Manager Fred Cohn. Meurer's July report didn't make much of an impression on the council, either. Mayor Dan Albert and Councilmember Ruth Vreeland told the Weekly they first heard of the Marines' plan on Jan. 5. And Councilmember Don Edgren said he couldn't remember where or when he learned of it. Squid recommends an immediate $22,000 allocation for espresso service at all city meetings. (For that price, surely Morgan would deliver.)

Oops, Your Pasties Are Slipping

Must have been some red faces on the Salinas City Council last week when Club Metropolis had its liquor license pulled for promoting "lewd" entertainment--like, half-naked girls writhing in customers' laps. You see, it was the council that suggested Club Metropolis as a potential tenant for the historic Fox Theater on Main Street. "Salinas needs more family and adult entertainment," Salinas Mayor Anna Caballero told a Weekly reporter. Is that what they mean by "revitalizing" downtown?

--Squid loves to be baited: squid@coastweekly.com