GOING POSTAL… Squid hasn’t yet figured out how to bribe the postman to dump campaign mailers into the recycling bin instead of Squid’s mailbox. Committees working outside of Assembly candidate Janet Barnes and opponent Luis Alejo’s personal campaigns have turned the 28th District race into a nasty game of distortion. Shameless fear tactic Exhibit A: In a glossy foldout targeting Barnes, a white woman in a lineup holds a giant number 29, representing the city’s homicide count last year. The ad blames Barnes for the murders and accuses her of cutting cops. Opportunity PAC, an independent committee, spent $44,834 on mailers opposing Barnes, according campaign finance records through May 21. Exhibit B: A TV ad funded by the Safe Neighborhoods and Better Schools Coalition shows a caricature of Watsonville mayor Alejo behind the wheel of swerving car, saying he racked up nine traffic violations, including reckless driving. The hit piece fails to mention that some were fix-it tickets and the reckless driving dates back to when Alejo was 18. The coalition, which is backed by EdVoice and California Farm Bureau, has spent a whopping $269,460 on Barnes’ campaign as of May 20. Squid expects a bundle of anti-Alejo propaganda any day now.

GAMING THE SYSTEM… Squid’s no Phil Jackson, but Squid can spot a donkey-dumb playcall when Squid’s beady eyes see one. Salinas High leadership posting an opening for varsity basketball coach qualifies. Coach Joe Chappell’s teams perform as well in classrooms as they do on the court, where they’ve scored 643 wins, second most in Central Coast Section history. On-campus teaching presence, the reason cited by administration for the posting, is nice. But so is loyalty (Chappell would be entering year 40) and class (find Squid a more distinguished and respected leader in the county). So is school pride, especially in today’s fractured social atmosphere. Let’s hope the Cowboys are learning from their coach, and not their principal.

TRANNY SHACK… Squid loves seeing the Golden State take the lead on progressive issues. So Squid was triply smitten by a recent press release from the TRANNY Awards jury. Squid daydreamed: Best New Look. Most Improved Player. But then Squid read further: TRANNY is shorthand for the California Transportation Foundation’s awards for Project of the Year (Bay Bridge West Approach) and Rail Project of the Year (Donner Pass Railroad Tunnel). Still pretty cool. Squid will slap a plaque on anyone who can get local light rail on track – or, better yet, launch a Santa Cruz-Monterey ferry – no matter how his or her gender transits.