SQUIDFRY 05.09.19: Role Reversal

ROLE REVERSAL… Squid does not partake in Throwback Thursdays on social media, being a creature who cares little for following trends. (Except maybe Taco Tuesdays, then Squid is all in on shrimp tacos.) Squid was taking an ooze down memory lane, however, after it came to Squid’s attention that former Carmel City Councilmember Carolyn Hardy has taken up the sport of fishing in her free time since losing her seat in the November 2018 election.

You won’t find Hardy down on Carmel Beach with a fishing rod, however. Hardy’s fishing through records she’s requested through the California Public Records Act. She’s made at least three separate requests since March concerning emails and phone records of Councilmember Bobby Richards. All appear to be focused on Richards and his communications with others regarding former city attorney Glen Mozingo.

In one instance, Hardy requested communications between Richards and news site Voices of Monterey Bay, including columnist Royal Calkins. Calkins took the city to court last summer when Hardy and the rest of the council majority refused to hand over Mozingo’s resume records, arguing they were private, not public records. The city lost, to the tune of about $50,000.

Apparently the tide has turned for Hardy, from protector of city secrets to champion of PRA requests. One thing remains constant: Hardy’s penchant for letting Carmel tax dollars get spent on fishing expeditions.

PICKING SIDES… Squid has never been good at math, generally counting no higher than the number of arms Squid has. That should be plenty high enough to jump into the fight over the future of the Fort Ord Reuse Authority, which is set to sunset in 2020, but pending legislation by State Sen. Bill Monning, D-Carmel, would extend it for an additional two years.

With SB 189 working its way through the Legislature, locals are lining up to support or oppose the bill. The County Board of Supervisors voted on May 7 to take a position, and Squid’s eyes glazed over as a small army of attorneys opined on property tax collection issues. (They ultimately voted 4-1 to write a letter of support, after debating whether to request more or less than a two-year extension – that’s where their math skills come in.) The fringiest county supe candidate, Alex Miller of Seaside, was the lone speaker during public comment, and he used a sensible metaphor: “This is a giant waste of money. It’s similar to the train – we should just call it the FORA Train.”

Squid proposes a metaphor: FORA is like a vampire that sucks up resources and can’t be killed. Squid doesn’t entirely trust Squid’s vampire squid brethren, who live longer than local cephalopods, with a life expectancy of eight years or longer. With or without SB 189, FORA wins this vamp battle.