The Buzz 04.25.24

FREE SPEECH

It’s no secret that local newsrooms are shuttering across the state and country at an alarming rate, causing misinformation to run rampant, especially in an election year. Lawmakers have been drafting legislation to help save local news, including Sen. Steven Glazer, D-Orinda, who is expected to soon introduce a bill that would tax tech giants who barter with users’ data for free access to their services. The funds from the fee would then go to newsrooms on a sliding scale, weighted in favor of smaller organizations. “It’s a smart and exciting approach, and similar concepts have been used around the world to fund important public services like schools and infrastructure,” said Brandi Rivera, vice president of Association of Alternative Newsmedia. The fee is expected to only be assessed against tech behemoths such as Meta and Google, which have been working to silence local news organizations as legislation such as the California Journalism Preservation Act—a bill that would require them to share profits with media outlets—works its way through the process.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“The vibe this year is upbeat and positive despite the economy.” - D.L. Byron of Bike Hugger, speaking about the thousands of people who descended upon Laguna Seca Recreation Area for the Life Time Sea Otter Classic from April 18-21 (see story, mcweekly.com).

GOOD WEEK / GREAT WEEK

GOOD:

Making sure every child in Monterey County succeeds in school and beyond is the noble goal of Bright Futures Education Partnership, an initiative founded in 2015 by CSU Monterey Bay. On April 10, Hartnell College announced it will be the new home for the program, organized around the goals of preparing children for school, early reading, critical thinking, youth development, college and career readiness and career pathways. CSUMB, which served as the anchor organization until July 2023, will continue as a partner, along with Monterey Peninsula College, Bright Beginnings, First 5 Monterey County, Monterey County Office of Education, Salinas Union High School District, United Way Monterey County and Monterey Bay Economic Partnership. “Taking on Bright Futures aligns with our commitment to ensuring that every student in our region can achieve their potential,” said Michael Gutierrez, Hartnell’s superintendent/president.

GREAT:

Low-income residents can now get a free box of fruit and vegetables at the Seaside Certified Farmers Market every Thursday. An initiative of Everyone’s Harvest and Farms Together, the boxes of produce, which are estimated to be a $27.50 value, will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis from 3-7pm at Laguna Grande Park in Seaside. Those eligible must show proof of income, such as a CalFresh EBT card or Medi-Cal card, to receive the produce. Boxes will be distributed at Everyone’s Harvest’s information table through October; participants are encouraged to add their names to a list for quicker pickup. Farms Together works with small – to mid-scale family farmers throughout California and coordinates with organizations such as Everyone’s Harvest to bring farm boxes to distribution sites. The program is funded by the USDA Local Food Purchasing Assistance Program, helping get fresh, local produce to more local people.