The best of our web exclusives.

Staff

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Water Which Way?… The California Public Utilities Commission is one step closer to approving a desalination project for the Monterey Peninsula. On Oct. 21, Administrative Law Judge Angela Minkin issued a proposed decision on the controversial project. PUC Commissioner John Bohn disagreed with some of the finer points and offered his own alternative. [KA]

Follow the Money…The Salinas Valley Leadership Group, headed by Salinas contractor Don Chapin, is the big dog in local politics, reporting nearly $100,000 raised this year. The group has sunk almost $35,000 into the Salinas City Council and mayoral races, with $14,500 and $10,000 donated to council hopefuls Kimbley Craig and Steve McShane, respectively, and $5,000 to incumbent Mayor Dennis Donohue. [RU]

Monarch Miff…Pacific Grove City Manager Tom Frutchey set off a flurry when he authorized the cutting of a boxed eucalyptus tree Oct. 20. The tree was one of dozens brought to P.G.'s Monarch Grove Sanctuary to mitigate overzealous pruning last year. Frutchey explained that the tree was infested, but some activists alleged he violated a city code requiring the council’s OK. [KA]

Gang Fighters…The Boys and Girls Club of Monterey County is one of 10 organizations nationwide selected to receive $325,000 to design a community-wide anti-gang strategy. [RU]

Decade-Delayed Plan Passes: You can’t accuse the county of being hasty with its rural development blueprint. On Oct. 26, the Board of Supes finally OK’d a general plan update that has been through five haggled-over drafts over the course of more than a decade. [KA]

Monterey Wants You…Twelve city commission slots are open: The Parks and Rec Commission needs five volunteers, the Colton Hall Museum Cultural Arts Commission needs four new members and the Historic Preservation Commission seeks three. Commissioners act as advisers to the City Council. [RU]

Global Tuner Replay…Cloudy skies and rain didn't stop a weekend of racing on Mazda Raceway Oct. 23-24. A small but energetic crowd got a close-up of the cars and drivers in pit lane on at the Global Tuner Grand Prix. The action blurs at www.mcweekly.com/photoblog. [NC]

Ballots Made Easy… Not sure how to vote Nov. 2? The Weekly’s done your ballot homework for you. Endorsements (including a handy print-and-vote guide) and related news coverage are compiled at www.mcweekly.com/election2010. [Staff]