Double Take

DOUBLE TAKE… Election season 2026 is in full swing, but that doesn’t mean it’s too soon to start gearing up for 2028. Squid came across a shiny new website for Bryan Hoskins, who has spent more than 25 years working in the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office.

(After an extensive career in investigations, he got fired in a bit of an overtime scandal, then sued the County of Monterey – and got his job back, offering some vindication – but he’s clearly not done waging battle with the powers that be, declaring his candidacy against his boss, Sheriff Tina Nieto, two years before her six-year term ends.)

Squid is always ready to settle in to watch a long campaign, but as Squid started looking at bryanforsheriff2028.com, Squid thought something looked eerily familiar. Had Squid seen that photo somewhere before? A quick search took Squid back to a Monterey County Weekly story about Nieto with a photo that, to Squid’s eyes, appears almost identical – the lean on the desk, the hat and jacket hanging on the coat rack behind the left shoulder, the light shining through the blinds in the background. It is a remarkable likeness.

One thing that’s a little bit different from the Nieto original is the gold stars on Hoskins’ collar appear slightly blurry. But still, Squid counted four – interesting, because the four-star insignia is for the sheriff only. Perhaps Hoskins wore Nieto’s uniform for a photo shoot in her office, but as they say in criminal investigations, the simplest answer is usually the best answer. In this case, Squid best guess is AI.

SHALLOW DIVE… Squid would like to say that Squid remembers oozing around Lake El Estero in Monterey and enjoying the local flora and fauna and the sun shimmering off its surface, but it’s been a while since there was enough water for that. Weeds have been growing en masse. The last time Squid oozed by to go out for a paddleboat ride, not only was the lake an eyesore (and stinky), Squid saw that lakefront business El Estero Boating had temporarily shuttered due to the underwater overgrowth.

A sign posted out front read, “It’s Monterey’s job to maintain Lake El Estero and it has not for two years… This forced our business to close, a loss of revenue for our business and also the City who we rent from.” It added that the business owners had to lay off their four employees.

The sign noted they may possibly be able to reopen after winter rainfall. According to the sign, the City of Monterey is seeking permits to clear the weeds, but that could take awhile. In the meantime, Squid may just hop into what little water there is and put Squid’s tentacles to good use, but the waterfowl guano and smell may be just a bit too much even for Squid.