The Buzz 09.04.25

FREE SPEECH

Atlanta is now the largest metro area in the United States without a printed daily newspaper. Atlanta Journal-Constitution Publisher Andrew Morse announced Aug. 28 that the newspaper, which was founded in 1868, will go fully digital at the end of the year. “The fact is, many more people engage with our digital platforms and products today than with our print edition, and that shift is only accelerating,” Morse wrote in a letter. Of the paper’s 115,000 subscribers, 75,000 are online-only. In 2021, company executives said the print edition remained profitable, according to the Associated Press, while Morse paused a plan to stop printing when he joined the company in 2023. But a little more than two years later, he reversed course. At its last count, the Medill Local News Initiative at Northwestern University found 1,033 daily newspapers in the U.S. in 2024, a decrease by 439 since 2005. Smaller newspapers still cover the Atlanta area.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“Everywhere she went, I went.” - Bea Kun, co-owner of Conga Go! in Seaside with her sister Thea, on how she and her sibling have worked together over the years (see story, Eat+Drink section).

GOOD WEEK / GREAT WEEK

GOOD:

Drug treatment for teens is not readily available locally, so nonprofit Community Human Services is filling the gap by offering a new outpatient program for people ages 13-17. The program offers a comprehensive approach to recovery, including group and individual counseling, recreational therapy and family education and support. The goal is to foster healthier communication and to help teens receive long-term recovery for themselves and their families, according to a press release. “Substance use deeply affects young people, and families struggle to find them appropriate resources. This program will give them a safe place to heal, build resilience and create a brighter future for themselves,” said Marta Sullivan, senior program officer for CHS’ Substance Abuse Services. The program is accepting Medi-Cal and is sliding scale for private pay clients. A grand opening takes place from 4:30-6pm Tuesday, Sept. 9, at 2511 Garden Road, Suite A165, Monterey.

GREAT:

There was much to celebrate at the 55-unit Hope Housing open house celebration on Aug. 28 in Marina. Since launching a year ago, the transitional housing community has served more than 140 formerly unhoused people, some with children, being treated for serious mental illness or substance use disorder. Seven households are now in permanent housing. The former Pueblo Del Mar sober living community was transformed through a $11.3 million state grant awarded to Monterey County Behavioral Health in 2023. The money was used to rehabilitate the townhomes and a community center, which serves as a place for treatment, case management, group meetings and activities. The center operates in collaboration between Behavioral Health, Housing Authority of the County of Monterey, Sun Street Centers and others. “It’s like having a family for anything we need,” said Brad, a resident who gave his testimony, joined by his partner Andrea and their 7-week-old son.