Monterey County – Monterey Bay Matters

– Monterey County postpones Flock ALPR camera decision until September 22, but hears two hours of public testimony against ALPR

August 25
Today, the Monterey County Board of Supervisors heard public comment on a proposed 10-year contract with Flock for ALPR cameras — over 2 hours of testimony, all opposed except for one law enforcement employee.

Originally, the 10-year, 2.781 million dollar contract was to be considered today:

#9 Authorize the County Purchasing Agent or designee to negotiate and to execute a non-standard agreement with Flock Group Inc., dba Flock Safety, for the subscription service of 103 Flock cameras (License Plate Readers) in an amount of $2,781,000 for the period of September 1, 2026 to August 31, 2036.
– REVISED Board Report (REVISED VIA SUPPLEMENTAL)
– Board Report
– Flock Group Inc., dba Flock Safety Non-Standard Agreement

However, at the beginning of the meeting, Board Chair Askew announced that the Sheriff had postponed this item until September, tentatively September 22. The Board decided to take public comment today anyway, since people had already made plans to attend the meeting. Comments on ALPR were heard in the morning and from approximately 1:30 – 3:30 pm in the afternoon session. The video will be available at https://monterey.legistar.com/Page.aspx?M=W

– Salinas schools, children, and homes getting high, repeated exposure to methomyl, banned in over 50 countries for toxicity

Comments by Karen Cameron, concerned Salinas citizen, on August 11 to the Monterey County Board of Supervisors.

Salad bowl of the world, yet we’ve had no air monitor from CDPR [California Department of Pesticide Regulation] since 2017, so we don’t know what we’re breathing in terms of pesticides. It was interesting to read through the environmental justice element of the Monterey County General Plan, where CalEnviroScreen data was shared from Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment on pesticides accumulation in some of the disadvantaged areas. 99% accumulation in Boronda, Las Lomas, Moss Landing, Castroville. The list goes on. In Pajaro, where we have our closest air monitoring, it’s listed at 79 to 100% accumulation. That’s very concerning to me. We seem to live in a time when we’ve normalized this behavior. I flash back to 1962 where Rachel Carson published Silent Spring with many of these same concerns. My colleagues from Safe Ag Safe Schools and Future Leaders of Change are right now in Sacramento marking 30 years for California for pesticide reform. Just wanted to share with you that on a local level, I have a big concern I shared with the city council this week in Salinas. I met with the Monterey County Ag Commissioner by phone for over 20 minutes, displaying a concern that I have from spray days notification data that I have collected for two schools in Salinas that are near fields. University Park Elementary, I’ve noted 57 methomyl applications since May 10th. McKinnon Elementary, over 50. And to tell you the truth, I think I’ve missed a couple because it’s so hard to keep up with this. That is a minimal number I could document. Now the Ag Commissioner in our conversation not only confirmed that methomyl, these applications are all methomyl, is banned in over 50 countries for its toxicity, yet he is signing off on every application. And he admitted to me that this trend is going on for the next month at least. We share concerns that school is in session. I share concerns that I’ve had seasonal health concerns that seem to calendar in concern with this. So I’m asking all of you to speak out to the Ag Commissioner and please research methomyl. Thank you.

Video

Ms. Cameron advocates for transitioning to organics and a one mile buffer zone around schools. She is a member of Safe Ag Safe Schools and Californians for Pesticide Reform.

Additional comments to Salinas City Council, August 18, 2026
https://fb.watch/J7iXsqNRr_/?mibextid=wwXIfr
(In her remarks, Ms. Cameron meant to say a one mile buffer zone is necessary)

– Sexual harassment lawsuit against Monterey County, its Sheriff’s office, and the husband of the chief executive officer of the County

The Carmel Pine Cone recently reported on a very disturbing situation in the Monterey County Sheriff’s office:

A former supervisor in the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office alleges that the husband of the county’s top administrator subjected her to months of severe sexual harassment and intimidation, and that county officials failed to stop the behavior and retaliated against her when she complained.

https://carmelpinecone.com/260807PC.pdf p. 14, 25

That man is Rodrigo De La Rosa, the husband of the Monterey County Chief Administrative Officer Sonia De La Rosa, and the details provided in the Pine Cone article are chilling.

This is just the latest incident. A series of lawsuits have been filed in the last few years that point to a dangerous culture of sexual harassment and protection of perpetrators by the County of Monterey and its Sheriff’s Office. They include:

September 2025

A lawsuit filed by Rosy Silva detailing the sexual harassment and retribution she experienced when she began working for the county sheriff’s office in 2010, spanning three sheriff administrations to the present Sheriff Nieto.
https://kioncentralcoast.com/news/monterey-county/2025/09/08/1218404/

The full court document:
https://kion546.b-cdn.net/2025/09/MCSO-LAWSUIT.pdf

January 2024

Whistleblower lawsuit by Bryan Hoskins against current Sheriff Nieto for wrongful termination due in part to his complaints about sexual harassment of multiple staff members by former undersheriff John Mineau.
https://www.sfgate.com/news/bayarea/article/whistleblower-lawsuit-accuses-current-sheriff-18631999.php

October 2022

Lawsuit against Monterey County by a victim of former undersheriff Mineau
https://www.ksbw.com/article/monterey-county-undersheriff-mineau-victim-sues-county-over-misconduct/41547228

November, 2020

Christian Schneider complaint to the Fair Political Practices Commission against Sheriff Steve Bernal, including for affairs he had with subordinates
https://voicesofmontereybay.org/2020/11/13/monterey-county-sheriff-accused-of-serial-affairs-with-subordinates/

These were situations where the victim was willing to come forward. How many others have been harassed, pressured into sex for job advancement, or outright assaulted and remained silent for fear of retribution and their personal safety? How many had champions like Christian Schneider and Bryan Hoskins, versus how many were alone?

And if this is how female employees are treated who have freedom, how does the Sheriff’s office treat female suspects and inmates? How do they treat women drivers they pull over on county roads, especially women of color? How do they treat juvenile girls in their custody or they encounter in their work day? Is sexual harassment and assault taking place? Is it the norm? And are boys and men also experiencing sexual harassment or even assault in the criminal justice system? Is juvenile hall safe?

This is in addition to other problems reported in the sheriff’s office, including the deaths of inmates in the county jail, and this taxpayer-funded attack https://voicesofmontereybay.org/2020/06/14/why-are-taxpayers-paying-for-political-slime/

An unhealthy and lawless culture exists at the County of Monterey, and it is costing residents and businesses security, peace of mind, money, safety, and physical and mental well-being, while elected county supervisors and the district attorney do nothing. This must change. Monterey County’s CAO must be placed on leave, this situation investigated, and independent oversight brought into the Sheriff’s office to make needed changes. County supervisors satisfied with the dangerous status quo must be replaced.

– Candidate filing period for the November election is open

The candidate filing period for elective offices in the November 3, 2026, General Election opened Monday, July 13, 2026.

Candidate forms will be available only during the official filing period and must be completed and submitted by the deadline of 5 p.m. on Friday, August 7, 2026.

Santa Cruz County Elections:

Candidate filing services will be available at two locations:

— Walk in: 701 Ocean St, Room 310, Santa Cruz
— By appointment only (Tuesdays and Thursdays) until August 6: 500 Westridge Dr, Watsonville. To book an appointment at our Watsonville location please call 454-2423 or 454-3528 or book your appointment online using this booking calendar.

Please call our office prior to arriving at our Santa Cruz office or to your Watsonville appointment to ensure you have all the necessary documents.

Candidate Resources and Forms

None of the offices on the November 3, 2026 Statewide General Election ballot have a nomination requirement, so all you need to do is come to our office where you will bring in (or complete in our office), the below documents. Our office will review them and then we will prepare your Declaration of Candidacy. On it you will confirm your name is spelled correctly, we have all the correct information, you will state your qualifications to run for office, and you will take an oath to officially become a candidate.

Below is the list of important resources as well as the documents you may need to complete when you file to be a candidate. Each form is named and has a brief description of what it is used for and why you may need to complete it as part of your candidate journey.

Candidate Checklist – This is a list for you to use to ensure you keep track of the documents that need to be filed in order to become a candidate.
Candidate Manual – This manual has a ton of information on becoming a candidate. It describes what you need to file, what is a candidate statement, campaign finance, and so much more!
Candidate Information Forums – This flyer lists the dates, times and locations for the candidate information forums being held this month. The local city clerk is co-hosting the city council forums. Attend one or all of them!

FPPC forms for candidates: [These forms may be required in every county]

Form 410 – This form organizes a campaign committee. It is filed with the California Secretary of State.
Form 460 – This form is what campaign committees file according to the campaign finance filing schedule.
Form 470 – This form must be filled out by candidates that are not creating a campaign committee.
Form 501 – All candidates need to fill out this form – it is your intention to run for office. It needs to be filled out each election.
Form 700 – All candidates need to fill out this form – it lists your economic interests. If you are a current Form 700 filer with the County of Santa Cruz, please let us know and we can allow you to file online through your existing login.

Ballot Designation Worksheet – Your ballot designation is the up to three words that list your principal profession, occupation or vocation. It appears on the ballot under your name. This worksheet is where you list your preferred designation and two alternates. You need to justify why you can use that designation. For example: Teacher/Parent is the ballot designation.The justification would be – I have taught third grade at Boardwalk School since 2010. Call Paula Principal at 831-555-5555 for verification. I became a parent in 2004 when my daughter was born. Call Other Parent at 831-444-4444. There are questions to answer and a place for you to sign on page 2 of the worksheet.

Candidate Statement Agreements:

Local – This agreement needs to be signed and filed with your 200 (or less) word candidate statement of qualifications. This is for local candidates running for supervisor, school or special district offices.
State – This agreement needs to be signed and filed with your 250 (or less) word candidate statement of qualifications. This is for candidates running for Congressional or Assembly offices.

*** Please note, if you are planning on submitting a Candidate Statement you must file it at the same time you sign your Declaration of Candidacy. The statement cannot be filed after. ***

Internet Waiver – We will automatically post on our website your name and the office you are running for. If you would like us to list contact information such as website, email, phone number, or address, you will grant us permission to post that information.

Code of Fair Campaign Practices – This optional form pledges that you will run a decent, fair and honest campaign.

Political Signs – If you are planning on having campaign signs, you must register with the CA Department of Transportation. The County does not set the regulations for political signs. Click here for information and the required forms.

Other Forms – Statement of qualifications (some offices), voter registration confidentiality and next steps. Each of these forms will be prepared by our office at the time of filing.

https://votescount.santacruzcountyca.gov/Default.aspx?TabID=12099

County of Monterey Elections:

Monterey County Elections Department, 1441 Schilling Place – North Building, Salinas, CA.
Official nomination documents will be available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., during the filing period

Candidates seeking a city office must file their nomination documents with the
appropriate City Clerk.

In addition to candidate filing services at the Monterey County Elections Office throughout the filing period:
Candidate Filing appointments will be available at the following locations during the specified dates between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.

— Wednesday, July 29, 2026, at Castroville Library, 11160 Speegle St., Castroville
— Thursday, July 30, 2026, at Carmel Valley Library, 65 W. Carmel Valley Rd, Carmel Valley
— Friday, July 31, 2026, at King City Library, 402 Broadway St., King City

Interested candidates should schedule an appointment via email at
CandidateServices@countyofmonterey.gov or by phone (831) 796-1499.
Monterey County Candidate Guidelines, with information on which offices are up for election and requirements, are available at www.CountyofMonterey.gov/Elections.
https://www.countyofmonterey.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/147061/639192691019570000

San Benito County Elections:

Interested in Running for Office?

In general, all candidates for elected office must meet the following requirement:

Registered to vote at an address within the jurisdiction of the office. For example County Supervisors must reside within the boundaries of the district for which they are running; the Mayor of Hollister must reside within the city limits.

Some elected offices have specific qualifications for candidates. If an office has specific qualifications, click the link next to the office titled “Qualifications” to learn more. If there are no specific qualifications, the link will not be displayed.

You may view our complete Candidate Handbook here.

You can pre-register for your candidate filing paperwork here.

You may see upcoming candidate filing events (deadlines) below, or you may download a PDF version of the Candidate nomination summary calendar of events.

https://www.sanbenitocounty-ca-cre.gov/elections/candidates-campaigns/november-3-2026-statewide-general-election

– Monterey County fails to protect the public from cancer-causing pesticides and banned fumigants – recent expert comments

More than a fifth of organophosphate use by pounds in California is concentrated in Monterey County

On May 12, 2026, members of the public and the coalition Safe Ag Safe Schools provided detailed information to the Monterey County Board of Supervisors about very high toxic pesticide use by the ag industry in Monterey County, school and neighborhood exposures, contamination of farmworkers, children, and the communities including Salinas, the cancer risk, and inaction by county Agriculture Commissioner Juan Hidalgo. This follows Safe Ag Safe Schools’s April 30 letter to Hidalgo about the organophosphate and fumigant threats (excerpts below).

Video of the hearing:
https://monterey.granicus.com/player/clip/6128?view_id=21&redirect=true
Public comments begin at 1:00:35, comments on pesticides begin at 1:07:22 (transcript of comments by Beverly Bean is below)

– April 24: Update on Moss Landing Vistra fire and Santa Cruz battery storage, 2 PM PDT — KSCO Radio

Today’s “Community Matters” on KSCO Radio (AM 1080) is at 2pm-3pm and will feature continued discussion of the Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) issues of the Moss Landing Vistra Fire site and also the impending new rules to allow grid-scale BESS facilities in Santa Cruz County.

Michael Polkabla, the Senior Certified Industrial Hygienist with BioMax Environmental Labs in Pacific Grove, will be calling in as a Guest for interview.

What was included in last Tuesday’s Monterey County Board of Supervisor staff update on the Moss Landing Vistra BESS fire remediation? What was NOT included?

What is happening in Santa Cruz County regarding the large BESS project in permit process for 90 Minto Road in Watsonville?

Stop Lithium BESS in Santa Cruz County has a public meeting this Sunday, April 26, at 2:20pm at Pinto Lake City Park, ‘Watsonville to provide information and ways to take action. Why haven’t any of the Santa Cruz County Supervisors held a town hall meeting about the critical BESS issue??

Listen in today on KSCO AM 1080 and JOIN THE CONVERSATION by calling 831-479-1080Listen in on your AM radio at 1080 or via the live stream app: https://ksco.com/listen/

Take care,

Becky Steinbruner
Program Host