VIVA ISSA!… Squid’s putting on a sombrero and heading down to Ol’ Mexico, because apparently, those people really know how to party. That’s according to Tom Nassif, head of the powerful ag lobby Western Grower’s Association. During a hearing last week of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform – convened in Monterey County so ag leadership could bitch about the Environmental Protection Agency – Republican Rep. Darrell Issa also got an earful about immigration – and those pesky Mexicans.


Nassif (or as Issa calls him, “Mr. Ambassador” – Nassif was Ronald Reagan’s man in Morocco) said it’s true some growers are moving more of their operations to Mexico, but not everything is sunny down south. They have unions there too, Nassif said. And fiestas! As Nassif told Issa, entire U.S. operations in Mexico can be forced to shut down if families who work there have a wedding to attend. Issa quipped, that’s family values run amok right there! Oh, the hilarity that ensues when a group of rich Republican men get together and complain about the help. Bring back the short hoes!


CHARTER COURSE… Squid’s social and political life are full, and yet Squid finds there’s a regular opening on the calendar the first and third Tuesday of every month. So Squid has decided to join the Marina City Council – because it seems that anyone can.


According to the Marina City Charter, Article 6, Section 1.02: “The term of office for any Council member who filed as a candidate for the office of Mayor shall automatically expire on the date the next municipal election is held after that filing.” Now-former Councilman Dave McCall filed as a candidate for mayor in August 2010, meaning his council term legally expired on Nov. 2 when he failed to unseat Bruce Delgado. 


But there McCall was on the council dais, Nov. 3, 16 and 23, and then for the first half of the Dec. 7 meeting, playing the role of city councilman. A Marina rabble-rouser has asked City Attorney Rob Wellington to look into the matter, but really, what’s he going to do – tell McCall he can’t be a councilman anymore? His real term ended; so did his pretend one.


USUAL SUSPECTS… Speaking of the disenfranchised, word around the Old Town Salinas Association is that homeless men receiving services from Rev. Jim Luther at the First United Methodist Church are a key reason Old Town businesses are dropping like flies. Squid hears one association board member suggested that issuing the homeless uniforms might be a good way to let business owners know they’re around. Squid thinks, why not tattoo their forearms? Maybe put big red H’s on their shirts? Any Measure V money left to pay for these initiatives?