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Salinas School Naming Controversy Making Headlines, Again

Submitted by Jacqueline Tualla on Wednesday, June 19th, 5:40 pm

SALINAS, Calif. -- The decision to name a brand new Salinas elementary school after a convicted murderer is making headlines once again.

The subheadline for the article in Tuesday's issue of the Los Angeles Times reads: "Generations worth of racial and class tensions have come to the forefront as a defiant young Latino politician takes on the city's power brokers. His hero? A 19th century outlaw."

The article compares and contrasts Salinas Councilman Jose Castaneda and historical figure Tiburcio Vasquez. It says: "Like Vasquez, Castaneda is complicated and divisive. The 36-year-old landscaper is seen in the Alisal as a fierce advocate on issues as varied as bilingual education and allegations of police harassment."

It's a controversial decision Central Coast News has been following since the Alisal Union School District named the elementary school after Vasquez, one of California's first bandits. Some view him as a bandit, convicted and hanged for murder.

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Body Found in Park Could Be Missing Salinas Woman

Submitted by Jacqueline Tualla on Wednesday, June 19th, 5:38 pm

SALINAS, Calif- Saturday morning a badly decompised body was found in the creek bed at Natividad Creek Park. Salinas Police say that it could be the body of a Salinas woman who went missing in 2012. 

At this point the body had not been identidied. In a news release, police said that due to the "circumstances of this incident and those of the on going homicide investigation of Leticia Morales Soto" they have reached out to Soto's family about the body.

A DNA sample has been submitted to the Department of Justice Laboratory for further analysis.

Soto was last seen on Thanksgiving of 2012.

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Gas Storage Tank Set to be Installed Next to Elementary School Moving Forward

Submitted by Central Coast News on Wednesday, June 19th, 1:40 pm

By Chaas Toborg - email

SALINAS, Calif. - It appears the 12,000 gallon above ground gas storage facility, set to be built next to Boronda Meadows Elementary School, will move forward.

The Air Pollution Control District is still waiting for a list of air pollution control devices that will be used on the gas tank to be submitted by the tank's owner and operator.

Air Pollution Control Officer Richard Stedman says once that list is submitted, it must be approved. After that, the operator will be given permission to begin construction.

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Salinas Councilman Jose Castaneda Says He Will Not Run For School Board Re-Election

Submitted by Central Coast News on Wednesday, June 19th, 1:38 pm
Salinas Councilman Jose Castaneda Says He Will Not Run For School Board Re-Election

SALINAS, Calif.-  "There are tensions.  And I'm ready and I have been ready to set all those things aside.  It happens to be having the right people at the table," said Salinas council member and Alisal Union School Board member Jose Castaneda.

Castaneda the focus of a controversy plaguing the city of Salinas and the Alisal Union School Board, as he continues to hold two elected seats within the same part of town.  But could all this drama be coming to an end very soon? 

We spoke with Castaneda on Tuesday in an exclusive interview to find out.  We discovered Castaneda has decided not to run for re-election to the school board this November.    

"I do not plan to re-file for re-election.  My focus is at the city council and my focus is on the greater broad perspective of what the issues are in my district area," said Castaneda.  

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Local Pet Adoption Charity Under Investigation After Animal Seized for Neglect

Submitted by Central Coast News on Wednesday, June 19th, 1:37 pm

By Jake Reiner - email

SALINAS, Calif.- The non-profit pet adoption organization whose animals were seized by The SPCA for Monterey County has had a history of animal neglect.

St. Francis All Creature Sanctuary was busted at the PetSmart in Sand City before it could adopt any more pets. The head of PetSmart charities, the non-profit wing of the company, told Central Coast News that St. Francis had been denied two years ago by a local manager at the Sand City PetSmart for the  same reasons 17 of its animals are now being treated at the SPCA

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Police: Suspected Gang Members Steal Car and Fire Shots into Salinas Home

Submitted by Central Coast News on Tuesday, June 18th, 3:25 pm

SALINAS, Calif- Monday night, two suspected gang members stole a car in Salinas, drove it to a home on Eagle Dr. and then fired multiple shots into the home, says Salinas Police.

According to police, the two victims, both 22, had been playing ball in the driveway when the suspects in a green honda circled the area several times. When the Honda made a turn towards the home, the victims ran inside as the suspects fired three to five rounds towards them, police say. The victim were not hurt, say police.

Police say the officers who came to the scene conducted a search of the area, finding the suspects and the stolen vehicle at an apartment complex on Buckhorn Dr.

Police say the suspects are known gang members.

 

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Retrial For Man Accused of Trying to Sell Baby at Salinas Wal-Mart

Submitted by Jacqueline Tualla on Monday, June 17th, 6:18 pm

SALINAS, Calif. -- Central Coast News learned more on Monday about the court process that could let a man convicted of trying to sell his 8-month-old daughter at a Walmart off the hook.

The decision came down by an appeals court a year and a half after Patrick Fousek was found guilty.

Prosecutors with the Monterey County District Attorney's Office said it wasn't because there was insufficient evidence. They said it was because the jury wasn't properly instructed.

"The fact that there was a reversal of the conviction does not mean that the Department of Corrections opens the doors and has him walk out," said Stephanie Hulsey, assistant district attorney for the Monterey County District Attorney's Office.

Hulsey said what that does mean is Fousek gets another shot at a trial.

In 2010, he can can be seen in Walmart surveillance video talking to two people in the parking lot.

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