The Buzz 05.29.25

FREE SPEECH

Google, which for years has profited off the backs of journalists free of charge, is scaling back on its promise to help fund newsrooms. After lobbying heavily against a bill that would have required Alphabet, the multibillion conglomerate that owns Google, to pay newsrooms for using their content, Google and the State of California came to an agreement in August to form a fund for journalists and artificial intelligence research over the next five years. But on May 14, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that the state was cutting back on its first-year contribution from $30 million to $10 million, citing California’s $12 billion budget deficit. Google followed suit a week later, cutting back on its initial contribution from $15 million to $10 million. The California Civic Media fund will be overseen by the California State Library, and an advisory board will make recommendations on how the money should be spent. Google will provide matching dollars if more donations are raised in the future, according to the office of Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, D-Oakland, who spearheaded the original effort to get Big Tech to pay its fair share.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“They were specific and selective about how they went about it.” - Greenfield Police Chief Guillermo Mixer, speaking about the May 22 arrest of a man by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (see story, montereycountynow.com)

GOOD WEEK / GREAT WEEK

GOOD:

The Salinas Public Library now has 40 laptops for loan to members of the public, who can take them home for 30 days. “We’ve been loaning internet hot spots to people,” says deputy librarian Tim Kuelker. “Now they can take the internet home with them.” This experiment comes with some risk since it’s easy to damage a computer, but the Windows laptops are of a sturdy kind and not the most expensive. A laptop can be loaned with the understanding that the person will not do anything nefarious, for example, using it for criminal activity. Anybody with a full access library card can try this new offer. Borrowed laptops also include a case and a charging cable. What’s even more impressive is that in times when libraries are losing funds and cutting services across the nation, the Salinas library is expanding its services.

GREAT:

After six years in the works, the King City Downtown Plaza and Visitor and History Center are finally here. The city is organizing a celebration of these two linked projects located on Broadway Street and Vanderhurst Avenue. “We’re very excited about it,” says City Manager Steve Adams. “We’re just trying to create ways to bring people together and to help people be proud of their community.” Adams adds these projects are part of the city’s efforts to revitalize the downtown area. The visitor center will house the Chamber of Commerce and provide information for tourists. It will have historical archives and exhibits curated by local historians John and Karen Jernigan. The celebration is on Saturday, May 31 from 11am to 1pm. Attendees can expect live music, a historical tour and free food.