The Weekly Buzz 08.23.18

WHO’S IN TOWN?

In recent years, Brian Boitano has become known as a chef, as portrayed on the Food Network. But his celebrity dates back further: In 1999, a song on South Park titled “What Would Brian Boitano Do?” depicted him as the superhero he was to a generation. He won the gold medal for figure skating at the 1988 Olympics, celebrated for his signature ’Tano Triple, a jump he invented. He’s now an inspirational speaker, specializing in topics like how to “silence the negative/judgmental inner voice in order to focus on your ultimate goal.” He’s in town this week speaking at an annual benefit for nonprofit AIM for Mental Health, which supports clinical research around mental health for youth. Also performing is Franc D’Ambrosio, best known as the longest-running Phantom in Phantom of the Opera.

5pm Thursday, Aug. 23. Parc du Concours tent, Portola and Stevenson roads, Pebble Beach. $500. 372-1600, aimformentalhealth.org.

FREE SPEECH

Television giant Sinclair Broadcasting was poised to get even bigger, with a proposed $3.9 billion deal to acquire 193 stations in 89 markets that would’ve had the right-leaning media company reaching about 70 percent of U.S. households. The deal to acquire Tribune Media Co. came crashing down on Aug. 9 when Tribune withdrew and sued Sinclair, alleging Sinclair is in breach of contract for failing to divest from stations – an anti-compete requirement. In a statement, Sinclair President and CEO Chris Ripley said, “We unequivocally stand by our position that we did not mislead the FCC with respect to the transaction or act in any way other than with complete candor and transparency.” President Donald Trump chimed in, tweeting: “So sad and unfair that the FCC wouldn’t approve the Sinclair Broadcast merger with Tribune. This would have been a great and much needed Conservative voice for and of the People. Liberal Fake News NBC and Comcast gets approved, much bigger, but not Sinclair. Disgraceful!”

GOOD WEEK / BAD WEEK

GOOD:

It’s been a good year for open space in Salinas, and Aug. 15 marked the beginning of a new stage for Carr Lake. That’s when Big Sur Land Trust – which last year acquired 73 acres of the 480-acre lake bed – invited about 50 people to an open house to see a native plant garden, the result of about a year’s worth of work by members of Return of the Natives and Center for Community Advocacy. It’s the beginning of a months-long community engagement process, with four meetings set between Aug. 22 and November to solicit residents’ ideas for what a future park here should look like. The details remain to be determined, but the simple addition of parkland to the middle of Salinas is good news: On average, there are 1.7 acres of parkland per resident, as compared to 10 acres per resident nationally.

BAD:

Salinas-based nonprofit MILPA, whose financial backers include The California Endowment and the Monterey County Department of Social Services, says in its mission statement, “MILPA uses (a) healing-informed, relationship-centered approach to incubate next generation leadership and infrastructure while striving for social justice.” That mission statement was not in evidence, though, in a cell phone video that appears to capture MILPA community liaison and program assistant Louie Gutierrez physically intimidate and threaten to hit a child, then stand by as another boy knocks the kid down and beat him. The events happened Aug. 7 at Natividad Creek Skate Park at MILPA’s alternative to the law-enforcement-centric National Night Out. The Salinas Californian broke the story, but has been unable to post the video due to copyright issues. Police are investigating the attack, and it’s unclear if Gutierrez will face charges for possibly inciting the violence.