The Buzz 09.10.26

FREE SPEECH

After Pacific Grove native Ben Jealous served as president and CEO of the NAACP and ran unsuccessfully as the Democratic candidate for governor of Maryland, he became the first Black executive director of the Sierra Club in 2022. It was a rocky tenure, ending in 2025 when the board of directors fired him. Jealous in turn sued the organization, alleging racial discrimination, retaliation and breach of contract. The Sierra Club made a counterclaim accusing him of encouraging other Black leaders to defame the organization. In August, a private arbitrator in the case dismissed the club’s allegations, saying they were akin to a “strategic lawsuit against public participation,” also known as SLAPP. Under California’s anti-SLAPP law, the arbitrator’s ruling sets aside the organization’s countersuit and allows Jealous’ suit to continue. “This ruling makes clear that the Sierra Club cannot bully Black leaders into silence for calling out racism and retaliation,” Jealous’ attorney David Clay Washington said in a statement reported by The Sacramento Observer on Aug. 20.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“This exhibit has placed Salinas on the map.”- Salinas Valley Chamber of Commerce CEO Colleen Bailey, on the Alebrijes & Nahuales Fantastic: Animals from Mexico exhibit that concluded Sept. 4 (see story, salinasvalleynow.com)

GOOD WEEK / GREAT WEEK

GOOD:

With two military installations in Monterey, it’s fair to ask: How ready is the community’s infrastructure to handle a disaster? What impact does it have on military readiness? That’s the focus of an 18-month military installation readiness review, made possible by a $635,900 federal grant announced on Sept. 1 by Rep. Jimmy Panetta, D-Carmel Valley. Panetta pushed for a provision in the National Defense Authorization Act of 2026 to secure the funding. “When the City of Monterey and our military installations prepare together, they make our entire region safer and our national defense stronger,” Panetta said. The review will examine possible vulnerabilities in energy, water, wastewater, transportation and communications infrastructure supporting the U.S. Army Garrison Presidio of Monterey and the Naval Support Activity Monterey.

GREAT:

The Salinas City Council unanimously approved the launch of a new Financial Empowerment Center on Tuesday, Sept. 1. The program will be operated in partnership with United Way of Monterey County, providing free financial counseling services aimed at helping community members tackle debt, build credit and increase savings. “Over the years, we have seen a huge and sustained demand for people wanting more information about how to manage their money and how to better navigate their financial future, and since moving to the city of Salinas and acquiring our community impact center, we have seen more and more synergy with local organizations and partnership opportunities with the City of Salinas,” United Way President and CEO Katy Castagna said during the council meeting. Funding for the center’s first year comes through grants and the City’s general fund.