Monterey County Protect Farmworkers from Wildfire Smoke

SALINAS – The Monterey County Board of Supervisors, Chairman Christopher Lopez,

Supervisor Luis Alejo, Monterey County Agricultural Commissioner Henry Gonzales, and

agricultural industry leaders came together to request N95 respirators for the essential

agricultural workforce. “This is the same group that created the Advisory for Agricultural

Worker Protection During COVID-19 Crisis on the Central Coast of California”, said Gonzales.

As a result of this request, the County secured 100,000 N95 respirators to protect this critical part

of our local workforce. This essential workforce feeds the state, the nation, and the world.

The partnership, including the Coastal Growers Association, Grower-Shipper Association of

Central California, Monterey County Farm Bureau, and the Monterey County Vintners &

Growers Association with County leaders, secured the N95 respirators through a request placed

with California's Office of Emergency Services. This week, the Monterey County Agricultural

Commissioner's Office distributed an existing stock of 10,000 N95 respirators to the agricultural

industry to help protect agricultural workers from wildfire smoke. Before this, the Agricultural

Commissioner's Office, in partnership with Supervisors and agricultural industry leaders,

distributed 2.4 million free surgical masks to protect the essential agricultural workforce from

COVID-19.

The additional, limited supply of respirators will be made available to agricultural businesses

through the Monterey County Agricultural Commissioner's Office to support the industry's

measures to protect agricultural workers from wildfire smoke. Moreover, due to the wide-scale

shortage of N95 respirators, it is important to be mindful of best practices and practical

applications respecting the use and/or reuse of N95 respirators per Centers for Disease Control

guidance where supply chain shortages are resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.

These respirators are being made free of costs to growers and farm labor contractors for their

essential agricultural workers.

Agricultural businesses can reach out to the Agricultural Commissioner's Office at 831-759-

7340 or at 281-PUE-Workstation@co.monterey.ca.us to request masks. Masks will be

apportioned based on need.

Comments

Fatal 3 Vehicle Accident Involving Wrong Way Driver on Highway 101 Outside of King City on January 10

A fatal multi-vehicle collision happened on Saturday night, January 10 at 9:51 p.m. on northbound Highway 101 outside of King City. According to the King City CHP a 2016 Toyota Tacoma driven by 65-year-old Paul Lee Cooper of Otis, Oregon was heading the wrong way going southbound in the northbound lanes south of Jolon Road, while a 2006 Toyota Corolla driven by 33-year-old Dinora Maribel Gomez of Salinas was heading northbound on Highway 101 south of Jolon Road in the #1 lane and a Honda Accord driven by 36-year-old Ignacio Sangerman of King City was also traveling northbound on Highway 101 south of Jolon Road but was in the #2 lane. Due to Cooper's level of impairment his vehicle went the wrong way on Highway 101 going directly into the path of Gomez' vehicle causing the rear of her car to crash with the front of the vehicle driven by Sangerman. Cooper was arrested, sustaining major injuries and was transported to Natividad Medical Center in Salinas where as of January 12 is...

King City City Council Announces Selection of José Arreola as New City Manager

January 7, 2025-Following an extensive recruitment process, José Arreola has been selected by the King City City Council to be its next City Manager. Arreola will replace Steve Adams, who is retiring after serving in the position for the past 10 years. Arreola was selected from 31 applicants and 8 finalists for the position. The King City City Council will formally consider the proposed city manager contract at its meeting on Tuesday night, January 13. Arreola's first day on the job is scheduled to be February 23. José Arreola has a distinguished career of serving the community with a particular commitment to youth. He has worked for the City of Salinas for 12 years as their Community Safety Program Manager, Community Safety Administrator and Assistant to the City Manager. Among other responsibilities, Arreola has led several programs to eliminate gang violence which aligns well with the City of King’s efforts and priorities. Prior to that, Arreola worked as an Educa...

King City CHP is searching for person of interest who fled the scene of a fatal crash in Greenfield

On Monday, September 16 at approximately 3:50 pm, a fatal traffic collision occurred on Metz Road south of Elm Avenue in Greenfield. The driver who caused the collision fled on foot and is currently outstanding. The California Highway Patrol King City Area is currently seeking the whereabouts of 31-year-old Agustin Santana-Moncada of King City who has been identified as a person of interest in the case. The King City Area is requesting assistance from the public in locating Santana-Moncada. Anyone with information is asked to contact the King City Area office at (831) 385-3216.

KRKC COUNTRY

Search This Blog