Much Ado

MUCH ADO… Squid believes in turning the other cheek, but in the case of the Diocese of Monterey Parish and Schools Operating Corporation, leaders chose in 2023 to sue the Carmel Mission Foundation, an independent secular nonprofit, over a pile of money.

The lawsuit accused foundation leaders of misusing and mismanaging around $6.3 million in funds earmarked for renovation of the 254-year-old mission. The leaders denied the accusations in court documents, firing back with an allegation that the diocese was looking to shut down the foundation and use donor money for its own purposes. A plan to transfer the foundation’s money into a fund at the Community Foundation for Monterey County was put on hold by an injunction.

Two years later, everyone seems to have made nice. In a joint statement issued Nov. 17, the diocese said that after further investigation and receiving detailed financial information, it is now satisfied the foundation was always intending to use the money for restoration as promised and there is no evidence of wrongdoing. The diocese promised to be a fundraising partner with the foundation moving forward.

What was diverted from restoration was thousands in legal fees – the foundation’s IRS forms show $42,000 in legal expenses over the past two years. All that to end up with, nothing to see here.

BOHO CHIC… Part of what’s great about life as a translucent cephalopod is that Squid can blend into any scene. Whether it’s an artsy bohemian vibe or a destination for high-end shopping and dining like Carmel-by-the-Sea, Squid can make Squidself feel at home.

Yes, Squid sees those as opposite ends of a spectrum – you can buy a lot of plein air artwork in Carmel, order from the Michelin-starred restaurant Chez Noir, partake in “regenerative tourism” with a reiki session at Lighthouse Wellness Studio or shop for fine (and pricy) headgear at Hamilton Hat Lounge, but then you would need a full costume change before blending in with bohemians. So Squid was confused to receive a press pitch promising these businesses, among others, are part of the scene of “New Bohemians.” The old bohemians referenced include Jack London and Sinclair Lewis, and Squid can imagine neither of them tolerating anything (prices included) of today’s Carmel.

In their day – when developer and aspiring writer George Sterling recruited big-name creatives like London to come to town, something like influencers in their era – lodging was canvas tents in the forest (rather than La Playa Hotel or Stilwell Hotel, part of the marketing pitch) and food was often literally foraged seafood from the ocean (not brunch at Stationæry).

Squid’s all for a nice night out in Carmel, but suggests they call it like it is: anything but bohemian.