The Buzz

The best of our web exclusives.

Staff

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Strawberry Jam…The state’s giving the public an extra month to comment on the state Department of Pesticide Regulation’s proposal to register methyl iodide, a highly controversial, carcinogenic fumigant for conventional strawberries such as those grown in Moss Landing. E-mail comments through June 29 to mei_comments@cdpr.ca.gov. [KA]

Big Paychecks…State-appointed school district trustees Carmella Franco and Norma Martinez, who hold the cards in Alisal and Greenfield, respectively, earn far more on average than superintendents of similarly-sized districts. Local taxpayers foot the bill. [RU]

Switching Teams…The tides are shifting on the Regional Water Project, as watchdog group Citizens for Public Water considers signing onto the desalination agreements—and joining its historic adversary, California American Water. But CPW co-founder George Riley says, whether his group endorses the agreements or not, he’ll still push for changes to some of the details. Meanwhile, the mayors of five Peninsula cities have asked to be party to the RWP hearings before the state Public Utilities Commission this week. [KA]

Arresting Arizona...United Farm Workers union Vice-President Efren Barajas says he’s among those planning to challenge Arizona’s tough new immigration law by traveling to the state with no ID on July 29, the day the law takes effect. [RU]

Ripe for Healing…Everyone's Harvest held its first farmers market at Salinas’ Natividad Medical Center June 2, bringing fresh fruit and vegetables to right outside the hospital doors. The market’s open Wednesdays, 11am-4pm, through the end of October. [KA]

$5million.com…The city of Monterey is among several around the country that say online travel sites like Expedia and Travelocity owe them big bucks because the sites pay hotel taxes only on wholesale room rates, not on the prices they charge customers. [RU]

Political Tide Against Plastic…Plastic bags may soon become old-school. On June 2, the state Assembly passed AB 1998, which would ban plastic single-use bags at supermarkets, drugstores and convenience shops and require stores to sell reusable bags. Now the bill heads to the state Senate. [KA]

Election eve…Lt. Gov. Abel Maldonado made a campaign swing through Monterey on June 7, stumping to keep his job and pushing for Prop 14, the open primary initiative. [RU]