FREE SPEECH
It’s journalism 101: Journalists should never accept payments from sources in order to avoid conflicts of interests, or the appearance of such a conflict. But journalists are humans, and sometimes have a lapse in judgment – with consequences. Forbes’ top editor Randall Lane was fired in July for reportedly accepting $6 million from Shook Research, which publishes wealth adviser rankings in Forbes, according to the New York Times. “I made a mistake, and I take responsibility for it,” Lane, who had worked for Forbes for nearly 16 years, told the Times. “I should have disclosed the gift and failing to was a serious error in judgment. I deeply regret that, and I lost the job and team I love because of it.” It is unknown why RJ Shook, the owner of the firm, paid Lane. “When this undisclosed conflict of interest was brought to our attention, we examined the situation closely and took the appropriate action immediately,” a Forbes spokesperson wrote in an email to the Associated Press. “Forbes remains focused on delivering trusted journalism.”
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“I’ve had to run the business with one arm tied behind my back.” - Pop & Hiss owner Michaela Kuenster, who was cited for noise on Aug. 7, noting her permits with the City of Pacific Grove and ABC allow different things (see story, montereycountynow.com/news)
GOOD WEEK / GREAT WEEK
GOOD:
Salinas-born musician Alejandro Gomez – who goes by the stage name Flaco El Jandro – is making moves, literally. Gomez will be back to perform at the West End Celebration in Sand City on Aug. 22 (see p. 22) after a short tour through California. Some of the places he’s been include the Starlet Room at Harlow’s in Sacramento, Kilowatt in San Francisco and Mason Ale Works Tasting Room in San Diego. Thanks to a music partner of his, Chuck Prophet, Gomez has been able to book more shows in places outside Monterey County and he says he wants to tour more. Gomez isn’t stopping there, because after his Sand City performance, he’ll head back up to San Francisco to perform at the Levant Street Block Party on Aug. 23. Later this year he plans to release a new bluegrass and Americana EP titled Are We Still Friends? paying homage to his father’s roots in Texas.
GREAT:
Housing for CSU Monterey Bay students has been tough to come by, which is why it’s a great week for the campus community with the opening of a brand-new dormitory, Gavilan Hall, the first addition since 2015. The three-story, 47,000-square-foot building was converted from offices into living units in nine months at a cost of $20 million using a California State University revenue bond, to be repaid eventually by University Corporation, which manages CSUMB housing. The new hall can house over 200 students who will share suites with three or four bedrooms and a shared living room. Each bedroom has its own bathroom. A 2,600-square-foot annex houses a study room, TV room, lounge and kitchen. Students were slated to move into the hall beginning Wednesday, Aug. 19, joining more than 4,100 new and returning students who will be moving onto campus by Aug. 20.