The Buzz 11.16.23

FREE SPEECH

In its first action after selecting a new Speaker (Rep. Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana), the House of Representatives voted to pass a resolution, 412-10, expressing solidarity with Israel in the wake of the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas. On that, both of Monterey County’s representatives – Jimmy Panetta, D-Carmel Valley, and Zoe Lofgren, D-San Jose, voted yes. But when it came to a Nov. 7 vote to censure their colleague Rashida Tlaib, D-Michigan, both Lofgren and Panetta voted no. (Still, the censure – in essence, a public reprimand – passed by a vote of 234-188, with 22 Democrats voting yes.) Tlaib, the only Palestinian member of Congress, was condemned for her use of the phrase “from the river to the sea,” part of a Palestinian call for statehood that is also part of Hamas’ platform. (She called it “an aspirational call for freedom, human rights and peaceful coexistence.”) “Every American has the right to free speech, and Rep. Tlaib’s social media posts are protected by the First Amendment of the Constitution,” Lofgren says by email. “The Republican-led censure resolution was an attempt to score political points. I voted against it on constitutional grounds.”

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“This bar does not empty.” – Bar manager Viki Vickers at Monterey Peninsula American Legion Post 41 in Monterey, speaking about the perpetual camaraderie (see story, posted at mcweekly.com).

GOOD WEEK / GREAT WEEK

GOOD:

Art Abilities, a local nonprofit dedicated to transforming the lives of individuals with intellectual disabilities through personalized and adaptive arts programs, has a new, dedicated studio space in Pacific Grove. The organization, founded and led by Ritika Kumar, has received grants from the Arts Council for Monterey County and California Department of Developmental Services enabling the expansion of programs, and also won first prize in the Startup Challenge hosted by CSU Monterey Bay. To celebrate the grand opening of its brick-and-mortar home, Art Abilities hosts a ribbon-cutting at 4:30-6:30pm on Thursday, Nov 16 (220 Country Club Gate Center, Suite 10, Pacific Grove). The opening is free to attend, and programs are open to artists of all abilities – one of Kumar’s goals is to integrate people with and without intellectual disabilities to work creatively side-by-side.

GREAT:

For the first time in team history, the CSU Monterey Bay men’s soccer squad earned a spot in the NCAA Division II tournament. The announcement came on Monday evening, Nov. 13, following a season of records. With 12 wins, the Otters tied the team’s high mark for a season. They also scored more goals (42) than any previous men’s side, finished the schedule ranked 21 in the nation and advanced to the conference semifinals for the first time ever. On Saturday, Nov. 18 the Otters will face their season nemesis, Cal Poly Pomona in a second round match to open play. The Broncos knocked off the Otters 3-1 during the regular season then ended CSUMB’s conference run 2-1 on Nov. 10. “[We] know they are a good side, but we also know who we are,” said assistant coach Andrew Livingston in a statement. Kickoff is at 6pm at Kellogg Field in Pomona.