The Buzz 09.14.17

WHO’S IN TOWN?

“We can rebuild him. We have the technology.” Those words famously opened the ’70s TV show The Six Million Dollar Man, chronicling the adventures of astronaut Steve Austin, rebuilt with bionic parts. While Austin could leap tall bounds (cue cheesy electronic sound effects), in the real world scientists are using the interface of biology and electronics to help everyday people live healthier, longer lives. Examples are pacemakers, defibrillators and prosthetics. Researchers gather this week for the Asilomar Bioelectronics Symposium to share the latest. Sponsors include the UC Santa Cruz Baskin School of Engineering, private companies and the U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research.

Sun-Wed, Sept. 16-20. Asilomar Conference Grounds, Pacific Grove. $990-$1,490. abs.soe.ucsc.edu.

FREE SPEECH

Even before President Donald Trump called the media “enemies of the people,” candidate Trump was whipping up animosity against the media among supporters at campaign rallies. A supporter at a rally was photographed wearing a T-shirt that read, “Rope. Tree. Journalist. Some Assembly Required.” Sensing a growing threat to journalists’ safety – as well as seeing an uptick in the number of instances of reporters being arrested or having equipment seized – two dozen press freedom nonprofits banded together this year to launch the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker (pressfreedomtracker.us), similar to systems that track abuses against journalists abroad. In 2017, they’ve documented 19 journalists who were physically attacked and 20 who were arrested while doing their jobs. Nine were arrested on Inauguration Day while covering protests. The Committee to Protect Journalists donated $50,000 it received from Montana Congressman Greg Gianforte, who was required to make a donation as part of a settlement agreement with Guardian reporter Ben Jacobs. Gianforte assaulted Jacobs the day before he was elected to Congress as Jacobs attempted to ask him questions.

GOOD WEEK / BAD WEEK

Good:

Many young immigrants are bracing for impact with President Donald Trump’s announcement he will repeal DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), which allows immigrants who arrived in the U.S. as children temporary protections from deporation. The good news is that a broad swath of the community is rising up to help. While no applications for DACA can be filed, renewal applications are still possible. Attorneys give free advice on renewal from 10am-2pm Sept. 15 and 17 at Hartnell College, and 1-5pm Sept. 16 at the Greenfield Civic Center. Officials are fighting back too, at least symbolically. The County Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 to approve a resolution supporting DACA, and California Attorney General Xavier Becerra is suing the federal government over the repeal.

Bad:

The Monterey County Board of Supervisors has been stepping up efforts to solve a homelessness crisis, and this week faced a major obstacle. Its would-be partner, thecity of Salinas, backed out of supporting a two-year shelter on North Main Street, meant to serve as a temporary fix while the county rehabs a building on Natividad Road as a long-term shelter. The supes were set to approve a lease on Sept. 12, but instead voted 5-0 to delay a decision until Sept. 19, after learning the city would not be a partner – and voiced concerns that city officials might even become an obstacle when it comes to getting necessary permits. “I think the city will continue to fight us every step of the way on this,” Supervisor John Phillips said. Supervisor Simon Salinas: “If you don’t like North Main, where do you want us?”