VolumeThe 101 No. 47 Carmel On the Internet: www.carmelpinecone.com Pine Cone November 20-26, 2015 TRUSTED BY LOCALS AND LOVED BY VISITORS SINCE 1915 Panetta announces congressional bid Sheriff defends decision By KELLY NIX for grabs when Congressman Sam Farr retires at the end of to cut overnight patrols his term in January 2017. ‘MY NAME is Jimmy Panetta, and I am here to tell you With his mom Sylvia and father Leon — former CIA n Bernal says running jail that I would like to represent all of you in our United States director, secretary of defense, and congressman who served Congress.” from 1977 to 1993 — wife Carrie, and parents-in-law by his is his most important job In a self-assured speech before 125 supporters outside the side, Panetta told supporters that, if elected, he would “fight” Custom House in Monterey Tuesday, that’s how Panetta, 46, for the interests of the Central Coast. By MARY SCHLEY announced his bid for the congressional seat that will be up “If I’m given the chance to serve you as your congress- man, I will provide the leadership to fulfill the MONTEREY COUNTY Sheriff Steve Bernal and his dream of my grandparents and my parents; the top brass called a town hall meeting at Carmel Middle dream of giving back to our community and School Tuesday night to explain why they cut patrols on the our country so that we can give our children a Monterey Peninsula during the early morning hours — and brighter future,” said Panetta, a Democrat and what he plans to do next. Monterey County Deputy District Attorney. “If it was my choice, we would have at least one ‘We darn well better give back’ deputy in every beat 24 During the 10-minute speech, Panetta hours a day,” he said, refer- talked about his close-knit family, which ring to the 16 different areas includes daughters Siri and Gia, and pointed to in the county where his offi- the values his parents and Italian immigrant cers patrol. But to get to the grandparents instilled him and his two broth- “ideal” level of staffing ers, Chris and Carmelo. needed would cost $13.5 “Because we were allowed to live the reality million, he said. of my grandparents’ dream, we darn well better Bernal called the meeting give back to this country and community that in response to the outcry that gave us so much,” Panetta said they told him. followed his decision to cut “They made it clear that the torch of responsi- coastal patrols during a time bility to our country must pass on to future of day when few major generations.” crimes occur on the Steve Bernal PHOTO/KERRY BELSER Though he’s never held an elected Peninsula so he could assign With his wife Carrie and parents Leon and Sylvia seated nearby, deputy district attor- more people to work in the ney Jimmy Panetta announced his candidacy for Congress Tuesday in Monterey. See PANETTA page 27A jail. “I’ve gotten lots of emails,” he said. “I’ve read the papers, and I know how important this is.” Bernal brought his top managers, including undersheriff Mehdipour and county Laub countersues over Galen Bohner, chief deputies Tracy Brown and Mike Moore, who are in charge of enforcement operations and the jail, agree on mothball plan ownership of Dametra respectively, and Cmdr. Keith Wingo, who heads the depart- ment’s coastal station in Monterey. By KELLY NIX By KELLY NIX Jail problems PEBBLE BEACH homeowner Massy Mehdipour and DAMETRA CAFÉ’S landlord, Connie Laub, has filed a He explained that his most important job as sheriff is to Monterey County officials have come to an agreement over a $3.1 million countersuit against the restaurant’s operators staff and run the jail, which is overcrowded with about 1,000 mothballing plan intended to protect her dilapidated ocean- claiming they breached the contract they had to run the inmates, compared with its capacity of 825. Further compli- front house from further damage, but the settlement is little restaurant and failed to pay her share of its profits, commit- cating matters, the ACLU sued the county over conditions comfort to the Silicon Valley entrepreneur, according to her ting financial elder abuse in the process. there. The overcrowding is in part due to a state law requiring son. The complaint, filed Nov. 17 in Monterey County local jails to house convicts that would have served their time Under the agreement with the county, Mehdipour must Superior Court, is the latest in the court battle over the own- in state prisons, according to Moore. withdraw her appeal of the county historical resources ership of Dametra that began earlier this year when Bashar al “The county jail was built to hold people convicted of board’s Sept. 3 decision compelling her to perform a litany of Sneeh and Faisal Nimri filed suit against Laub over control misdemeanors and felonies of less than a year,” Moore said. measures to seal up the vacant house so it’s not further dam- of the popular Carmel restaurant. They contend they own the “We’ve got people right now who are going to do 14 years in aged by weather. In turn, the county will relax the scope of restaurant, while Laub says she’s the true owner our jail.” See MEHDIPOUR page 18A See DAMETRA page 16A See BERNAL page 30A Forest Theater completion delayed until early next year Lanterns for sale By MARY SCHLEY orders are in process, which I anticipate may extend the completion date into January.” CONSTRUCTION WORK necessary to The theater was suddenly shut down in reopen the Forest Theater could extend into April 2014 due to health and safety hazards, early next year, project manager Andy causing havoc with the production schedules Vanderford said this week. of local theater companies. Renovation plans While contractor Otto Construction has approved by the city council earlier this year been “diligent with their work,” and the include handicap access via a ramp on the “quality of workmanship and collaboration east side of the seating area, a resurfaced seat- have been excellent,” Vanderford said, unfore- ing area, hand rails, handicap parking, and seen circumstances, as well as the age and other structural, electrical and plumbing condition of the theater, have pushed the com- improvements to put the theater in compli- pletion date past the original early-November ance with the law. target. But several subsequent changes added Those factors, as well as changes made to more work hours, including the terraced steps the plans after they were approved, resulted in in the seating area that Pacific Repertory a new estimated completion date of Dec. 3, he Theatre executive director Stephen Moorer said. But “additional forthcoming change wanted so cast members could continue their tradition of moving through the audience dur- Construction crews installing conduits for cur- ing performances, the placement of conduits rent and future water and electrical lines at under paths and driveways to accommodate Chamber officials hope dozens of down- the historic Forest Theater, which is undergo- future water and electrical lines, and the town businesses will ‘Light the Way’ with ing an extensive renovation. removal of “alcoves and niches” at the foot of lanterns they’re selling to honor the city’s centennial. See the story on page 10A. PHOTO/KERRY BELSER See THEATER page 16A Have the complete Carmel Pine Cone delivered every Thursday evening to your iPad, laptop, PC or phone. Free subscriptions available at www.carmelpinecone.com 2A The Carmel Pine Cone November 20, 2015 Sandy Claws By Lisa Crawford Watson Getting Frank JAMES E. RHEIM, M.D. • JOSEPH R. 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