Monterey County Weekly | Zachary Stahl

New Venture Capital Plan Aims to Grow Clean Tech Jobsnew

Silicon Valley venture capitalist Rock Clapper wants to turn green cards into green jobs in Marina. Clapper is applying to make the city a hub for a foreign national investment fund that could grow to $75 million and create 1,500 jobs.

Monterey County Weekly | Zachary Stahl | 12-17-2009 | Environment

Tags: clean technology, Rock Clapper, venture capitalists, green, Silicon Valley

Community Members, Police Struggle for Answers After 26th Homicide in Salinasnew

Jose Espinoza's neighbor recalls jumping out of bed when shots rang out at 5:30am on his north Salinas street. He heard the 25-year-old scream and was there alongside Espinoza's mother and sister feeling for a pulse.

Monterey County Weekly | Zachary Stahl | 12-10-2009 | Crime & Justice

Tags: Jose Espinoza, unsolved, homicide

Karl Rove Plays Hardball, Performs Standupnew

At a recent California State University event, Karl Rove played nice alongside Obama election wizard David Plouffe, shelling out rhetoric on building bipartisanship and painting Bush as a "uniter, not a divider."

Monterey County Weekly | Zachary Stahl | 05-07-2009 | Politics

Tags: Karl Rove, conservatism

Endangered Birds Versus Green Energy in the Salinas Valleynew

The owner of a Monterey County winery would have been required to hire an ornithologist for three years to monitor bird deaths from his proposed wind turbines.

Monterey County Weekly | Zachary Stahl | 02-19-2009 | Environment

Tags: condors, wind energy, Charlie Wagner, Conundrum Winery, Salinas Valley

Salinas Calls In the Big Guns to Quell Rash of Gang Violencenew

Reacting to a stark spike in shootings that has left six people dead in the past two weeks, Salinas leaders brought in the uniformed cavalry and elevated their peace-building rhetoric. But the beefed-up patrols will likely only quiet gunfire temporarily.

Monterey County Weekly | Zachary Stahl | 01-22-2009 | Crime & Justice

Tags: California, gangs, crime & justice

Edward James Olmos Schools Salinas on Reaching Gang Membersnew

Emmy-winning actor Edward James Olmos delivered a sweeping and powerful address in Salinas, from breaking down the allure and definition of gangs to offering practical solutions to the Monterey County’s number one crime problem.

Monterey County Weekly | Zachary Stahl | 01-22-2009 | Crime & Justice

Tags: California, gangs, crime & justice, Edward James Olmos

Monterey County Foreclosures on the Risenew

If the pace continues, the number of foreclosures in the county this year will hit close to 4,000; last year the total was 1,568. "This is unprecedented," says Lou Solton, county treasurer and tax collector for 23 years. "There have been other downturns in the real estate market but never this pronounced and not this lengthy."

Monterey County Weekly | Zachary Stahl | 04-17-2008 | Economy

Tags: California, foreclosures, housing boom, housing bust, Monterey County, mortgages, Economic Issues