GANGING UP… Salinas Police Chief Louis Fetherolf credited assistance by various state and local law enforcement agencies for saturating the city with cops and dampening a streak of gang-related homicides. Monterey County Sheriff deputies, California Highway Patrol officers, probation officers and parole agents came to Salinas’ aid after a gruesome stretch of seven homicides in 11 days. Over the weekend of Aug. 8, Fetherolf said, officers took four weapons off the street and arrested four suspects in connection with the city’s 21st homicide: José Manuel Perez, 15, who was shot and killed Aug. 6. In response to the surge in violence, Salinas churches are hosting a week-long, 24-hour prayer for peace. [ZS]

P.G. COPS CUT BACK… The Pacific Grove City Council approved a contract amendment for P.G. police Aug. 5, stretching unionized officers’ incremental 20 percent raise from two years to four. The move will save the city an estimated $1-2 million, according to Finance Director Jim Becklenberg. “Nay” votes were cast by Councilwomen Carmelita Garcia and Lisa Bennett, who worries the contract extension will delay the city’s ability to get out of CalPERS for an additional two years. The Council also approved a new contract with general employees that will cut pay by 5 percent and close City Hall one day per month. Bennett and Garcia have made a joint request to schedule a public hearing on whether the “3@50” CalPERS perks for public safety staff approved in 2002 were legal; the council continued the item to its Aug. 19 meeting. [KA]

NO quail lodge MARCH… Hotel workers called off a planned Aug. 12 protest at Quail Lodge after “significant company movement on major bargaining items,” according to a union bulletin. “We still have a ways to go, but the committee judged that a large rally/march would have a better effect at a later date.” UNITE HERE Local 483 was prepared to protest after the resort wouldn’t back down on demanding wage and health benefit freezes for three years, eliminating the paid meal break and other cutbacks. [ZS]

Steinberg V. Schwarzenegger… Senate President Darrell Steinberg has filed a lawsuit against Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger over the $500 million in line-item veto cuts to the Legislature’s budget revision. Read the lawsuit on Steinberg’s website, dist06.casen.govoffice.com/ [JL]