Jeremy T. Ringfield's Blog, page 259

What to know about the debt ceiling debate as a government shutdown looms in Washington

By MEG KINNARD, Associated Press

A debate over the debt ceiling is at the center of a dispute over funding that is pushing Washington to the brink of a federal government shutdown.

President-elect Donald Trump has demanded that a provision raising or suspending the nation’s debt limit — something that his own party routinely resists — be included in legislation to avert a government shutdown. “Anything else is a betrayal of our country,” Trump said in a statement Wednesday.

Republicans quickly complied, including a provision in a revamped government funding proposal that would suspend the debt ceiling for two years, until Jan. 30, 2027. But the bill failed overwhelmingly in a House vote Thursday evening, leaving next steps uncertain.

Here’s what to know about the debate over the debt ceiling and the role it’s playing in the shutdown saga:

What is the debt ceiling?

The debt ceiling, or debt limit, is the total amount of money that the United States government can borrow to meet its existing legal obligations. For the Treasury Department to borrow above that amount, the limit must be raised by Congress.

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The federal debt stands at roughly $36 trillion, and the spike in inflation after the coronavirus pandemic has pushed up the government’s borrowing costs such that debt service next year will exceed spending on national security.

The last time lawmakers raised the debt limit was June 2023. Rather than raise the limit by a dollar amount, lawmakers suspended the debt limit through Jan. 1, 2025. At that point, the limit will be automatically raised to match the amount of debt that has been issued by the Treasury Department.

The debt limit vote in recent times has been used as a political leverage point, a must-pass bill that can be loaded up with other priorities.

What is the debt ceiling fight all about?

Trump has tied a demand for dealing with the debt ceiling to the dispute over government funding, saying one should not be addressed without the other.

When he rejected the spending proposal on Wednesday, Trump said that he wanted the debt ceiling debate settled before he takes office next month.

Warning of trouble ahead for Johnson and Republicans in Congress, Trump told Fox News Digital, “Anybody that supports a bill that doesn’t take care of the Democrat quicksand known as the debt ceiling should be primaried and disposed of as quickly as possible.”

What happens if the debt ceiling isn’t raised?

There’s actually no need to raise the debt limit right now. On Jan. 1, when the debt limit is triggered, the Treasury Department can begin using what it calls “extraordinary measures” to ensure that America doesn’t default on its debts.

Some estimate these accounting maneuvers could push the default deadline to the summer of 2025 — but that’s exactly what Trump wants to avoid, since an increase would then be needed while he is president.

Lawmakers have always raised the debt ceiling in time because the consequences of failure are stark. Without action, the government would go into default on its debts, a first-ever situation that Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and economic experts have said could be “catastrophic” for the economy and global markets.

Raising or suspending the debt limit does not authorize new spending or tax cuts; it merely acknowledges past budgetary decisions — that is, current budget law — and so allows the federal government to meet its existing legal obligations. For that reason and others, some have advocated doing away with the limit altogether.

What could the debt ceiling fight mean for Speaker Mike Johnson?

Dealing with the debt ceiling could have ramifications for Johnson, as he angles to keep his job in the new Congress that begins on Jan. 3.

Trump said early Thursday that Johnson will “easily remain speaker” for the next Congress if he “acts decisively and tough” in coming up with a new plan to also increase the debt limit, a stunning request just before the Christmas holidays that has put the beleaguered speaker in a bind.

The last House speaker, Kevin McCarthy, worked for months with President Joe Biden to raise the debt limit. Even though they struck a bipartisan deal that cut spending in exchange for additional borrowing capacity, House Republicans said it didn’t go far enough, and it ended up costing McCarthy his job.

Now, Trump is looking for Johnson to pass a debt ceiling extension just hours before a partial government shutdown.

What are Democrats saying about the debt ceiling debate?

After meeting with his caucus, Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries rejected any possibility that his members would bail out Republicans as the shutdown threat looms.

“GOP extremists want House Democrats to raise the debt ceiling so that House Republicans can lower the amount of your Social Security check,” Jeffries posted Thursday on social media. “Hard pass.”

Jeffries and other Democrats say Republicans should honor the spending agreement that was negotiated before Trump got involved. He called the new GOP plan “laughable.”

Kinnard reported from Charleston, South Carolina, and can be reached at http://x.com/MegKinnardAP

Warriors shake up starters once again for Dennis Schroder’s debut

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Warriors got an early Christmas present and aren’t waiting to unwrap it.

The Warriors inserted Dennis Schroder into their starting lineup days after acquiring him from the Brooklyn Nets. They could have brought the lead guard off the bench and gradually introduced him to lineup configurations, but are rather committing to him right away.

“We’re all in,” Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said. “We believe in Dennis, he’s happy to be here, and we’re excited about the partnership. Now it’s time to get to work.”

Schroder started Thursday night’s game alongside Steph Curry, Andrew Wiggins, Draymond Green and Kevon Looney. It’s the 15th different starting lineup the Warriors have used this season.

Kerr has been constantly searching for the right lineup combinations since De’Anthony Melton — packaged in the deal for Schroder — went down with a season-ending knee injury. When the trade went down, Kerr called Schroder to joke that he’s kicked his ass on three separate continents and told him he’d start with Curry.

The Warriors expect Schroder to play both with Curry and as the lead guard on bench units. A pick-and-roll playmaker, Schroder brings a different offensive dynamic and represents an openness to evolving the Warriors’ philosophy.

Thursday is Schroder’s second straight game against the Grizzlies, with his last game as a Net being a matchup with Memphis. At the end of that game, he, Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins and Ja Morant got into a verbal altercation in front of the scorer’s table. Jenkins said pregame that he hadn’t connected with Schroder while dodging the question.

“I’m ready to compete tonight,” said Jenkins, who coached Schroder for five in Atlanta.

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In addition to Schroder, the wrinkle in Thursday’s starting-five is Green returning. He’d come off the bench in two of the last four games after a very public — both from him and Kerr — move to a reserve role. The idea was that by bringing Green off the bench, the team could better maximize Jonathan Kuminga.

While it’s true that Kuminga is averaging 21.2 points per game in his last five contests, the biggest effect of the coaching decision was an inability to set the tone defensively. Dallas gashed the Warriors for 46 first-quarter points earlier this week as Green sat for the first few minutes.

“Our identity is we’re a defensive team,” Kerr said. “We’ve been one of the best defensive teams all year. I wanted to see what it would look like starting JK at the four next to Loon, bringing Draymond off the bench. We’ve been experimenting, trying to find combinations so we can play the full 48 with combinations we feel confident in. Ultimately, if we’re going to set a tone defensively, we probably need to have the best defender in the league right away.”

Pacific Grove council votes unanimously for economic development liaison

The Pacific Grove City Council voted unanimously to start the process of hiring an economic development liaison and to explore the option of ending the Economic Development Committee.

Councilman Chaps Poduri championed the agenda item Wednesday, recommending that the city sunset the Economic Development Committee and move the funding for the committee back to the Economic Development Division budget. Poduri also recommended the city hire a full-time liaison to streamline projects and new business proposals in Pacific Grove.

“We’re not effectively serving the business needs of the community,” Poduri said. “Some EDC members have resigned because things are not moving along.”

Poduri listed several issues he saw as the current EDC liaison including a lack of assistance for business owners, a complicated business licensing process, no dedicated time for partnership building, minimal program management, stalled EDC recommendations and an inequitable usage of funds.

The recommendation was met with positive reactions from the council, where multiple members said they would like to see a full-time position dedicated towards city businesses.

“I am very excited to see a liaison be picked,” Councilman Paul Walkingstick said. “They’ll be providing the business community with a point of contact, and I think it’s key that this position makes Pacific Grove more business friendly.”

Mayor Pro Tempore Joe Amelio agreed, adding that several business projects have been stalled because there are not enough resources from the city.

“I think we do need a liaison full-time,” Amelio said. “Councilman Poduri talked about sunsetting, and I think it (EDC commission) needs to be sunset, we need to do what’s best for Pacific Grove and hire this liaison to deal with all the businesses, not only downtown.”

Public comment was not as supportive of the proposal. Several members and former members of the Economic Development Committee spoke during public comment, saying they felt there was not enough notification to the committee prior to the council meeting.

Former councilwoman Debby Beck also spoke, calling for more support from the Chamber of Commerce and city staff.

“As a former EDC chairperson I am very disappointed to see this as an agenda item,” Beck said. “Everyone that sits on EDC as a volunteer is either a business owner or connected to the city in some way and they have vital information that they can provide to city staff.”

City attorney Brian Pierik noted that the EDC Committee is enshrined in the city code, and would have to be formally removed as an ordinance in order to move forward.

The council voted to move forward with the Committee for now, with Mayor Nick Smith appointing seats in January, but he will notify them that their appointment could be shorter than two-years as the council discusses ordinance options.

In the meantime, the city staff will draft a salary schedule and job description for the economic development position, and the city attorney will draft a first reading of the city’s intent to remove the committee ordinance.

The council is slated to continue the discussion during their first meeting next year on Jan. 15.

State and local education agencies pledge support for immigrants

The Monterey County Office of Education is gearing up to support immigrant families amidst threats of mass deportation by President-elect Donald Trump. State Superintendent Tony Thurmond also announced Tuesday he will sponsor a bill to keep Immigration Enforcement Officers out of schools.

Senate Bill 48, introduced Monday by Senate Majority Leader Lena Gonzalez of Long Beach, would establish a one-mile radius safe zone around schools and protect against the use of school data for deportation efforts. The bill would curb Trump’s plan to identify and deport over 10 million undocumented immigrants in the country.

“SB 48 seeks to push back against threats of deportation that create fear in immigrant families. These practices suppress school attendance and rob schools of needed revenue,” said Thurmond in a statement. “I am honored to partner with (Gonzalez), other legislators and immigrant rights groups to support our families and keep ICE off our school campuses – period.”

Monterey County has long had some of the highest rates of undocumented immigrants. Currently, about 67,000, or 1 in 20, undocumented immigrants reside in the county. The majority of children (93%) in the state who have one or more undocumented parents are themselves U.S. citizens.

“Together, we will ensure that our schools and community remain places where all individuals are valued for their unique contributions and can thrive without fear or discrimination,” said a letter of solidarity signed by Superintendent of Schools Deneen Guss and 11 district superintendents last month.

Schools in the state already don’t collect data about students’ citizenship status, so if and when ICE does come to schools, officials are not at liberty to provide any documents, said Guss.

If passed, the bill would prohibit districts, county offices of education, charter schools and all education personnel from allowing ICE and federal immigration officers to enter campuses without a judicial warrant. It would also prohibit police officers from cooperating with immigration officials within a one-mile radius of schools, ensuring safe drop-offs and pick-ups.

“That one-mile radius means that school officials will not even have to take time out of supporting schools and making sure our kids are educated to have to deal with ICE coming onto their campuses and … disrupting the normal flow of schools,” said Guss.

While Guss said the county doesn’t want parents to panic, there are still precautions that can be taken to prepare for possible interactions with ICE. The county has been doing community outreach and reminding immigrant families of existing legislation that protects them as well as advising them to update emergency cards and have childcare safety plans in place. MCOE is also in the process of distributing “know your rights” cards to parents.

“Parents and families need to know that schools are safe places and that we need their children to come to school every day so that they can learn and thrive,” said Guss. “That’s why having all the protections in place … is extremely important.”

“All California children deserve safe school environments that prioritize student learning, regardless of immigration status,” said Gonzalez in a statement. “As Chair of the California Latino Legislative Caucus, I’m proud to be partnering with (Thurmond) to author this important legislation, which will prevent disruptions to student learning, keep children in school and prevent families from being torn apart.”

The bill will “prevent schools from experiencing a drop-off in student attendance due to immigration concerns, which would directly and negatively impact critical funding,” according to a statement by the California Department of Education.

The bill cites a January 2021 report by the California Advisory Committee to the United States Commission on Civil Rights found that fear of deportation has a “chilling effect on education for undocumented children and children of undocumented parents.” The report also found this fear keeps students home from school at higher rates, affecting the amount of funding districts receive based on attendance and student achievement.

“There’s a lot of unknowns right now,” said Guss. “We know that there have been a lot of comments made by the new administration, but we really don’t know yet what will come to pass so it’s really just about being prepared for whatever could come to pass in the near future.”

Guss warns of the potential long-term effects of anxiety around deportations, including chronic absenteeism and students falling behind academically.

“If our kids don’t learn and they can’t advance their educational goals for college or career, then they’re not gonna be able to have that quality of life that every one of our students deserves.”

Monterey County reports on first year of Pajaro Recovery Fund Program

SALINAS – The County of Monterey and its community partners provided a first year report on the accomplishments of the Pajaro Recovery Fund Program on Wednesday with an eye to the program’s coming second year.

“The $20 million allocated to the Pajaro River Revitalization Program is on track … to all be spent,” said Monterey County Supervisor District 2 and Board Chair Glenn Church. “It’s going to be spread out equally among helping residents as well as the rebuilding of the community.”

Assembly Bill 102 provided $20 million from the state in disaster relief for the community of Pajaro in response to the breach of the Pajaro River levee in March 2023. By December of last year, the Monterey County Board of Supervisors approved a list of “community-vetted” recovery and resilience projects to be funded by the AB102 money.

“Considering the fact there has been very minimal precedence set for establishing a post-disaster economic assistance program for individuals at the county level, (Department of Emergency Management) staff leveraged local expertise to create a new direct service program and expedite payment to disaster victims,” said Monterey County Department of Emergency Management Director Kelsey Scanlon. “Prior to the dissemination of AB102 funds, approximately $14 million in relief funds had been distributed to Pajaro residents through local state and federal assistance programs.”

Scanlon added that upon completion of the Pajaro Unmet Needs Disaster Assistance Program, it is anticipated that a total of $24 million in direct assistance will have been infused into the community to support flood recovery.

“The intention of the program is to build upon existing federal disaster relief programs and serves to meet the remaining disaster recovery costs that are burdensome to survivors,” said Scanlon.

Case managers have been working directly with individuals to address not just immediate economic assistance, which includes personalized recovery plans, help in navigating the Pajaro Unmet Needs Disaster Assistance Program, in addition to Federal Emergency Management Agency programs, insurance companies, advocating for additional resources and assessing remaining recovery needs, to leverage all available programs.

Catholic Charities Diocese of Monterey and Community Bridges are partnering to administer the program.

Community Bridges CEO Ray Cancino said that in phase one, more than $464,600 was distributed to 688 households to address immediate needs impacting more than 2,470 household members.

“In phase two, which began earlier this year, the focus has shifted to long-term recovery, including home repairs, vehicle replacements and personal property,” said Cancino. “To date more than $633,975 have been allocated for this purpose bringing the total program support at the end of November to $1,098,575.”

Moving forward, the program is expanding with a second round of phase one, Cancino added, meaning that households that previously received assistance will automatically get additional funds ranging from $200 to $1,000 depending on household size.

“Community Bridges is committed to getting this second round of funding to the families within the next 60 days,” said Cancino. “For those who may feel that they are eligible and missed the first round of funding there is still an opportunity to apply. Please contact La Manzana at 831-724-2997 for assistance and review of the county website for eligibility requirements.”

Dan Baldwin, president and CEO of Community Foundation for Monterey County, said his organization was proud to have been able to partner with the County of Monterey in developing a grant program that would issue nearly $1.9 million to local organizations to deal with the resiliency of the Pajaro community.

Grants were awarded to nonprofit organizations working in areas including community health and dental care, business resiliency, digital equity, arts, farmworker advocacy, tenants’ rights, legal services, financial workshops, food insecurity and disaster preparedness. A volunteer grants committee comprised of a small business owner, a youth representative, two local government officials and two Pajaro residents worked with CFMC grantmaking staff to develop recommendations, which were finalized by the County of Monterey. The Foundation received 39 applications for the program.

Grants were awarded based on the impact the grant would make for area residents, according to Baldwin.

“I applaud the county for being very diligent and taking the long view of how to really bring a substantive recovery to the community after the flood,” said Baldwin.

Workforce Development Board Executive Director Chris Donnelly said Monterey County allocated nearly $4 million for small businesses. The grants will come in two phases, the first for businesses to apply for about $85,000 to assist with loss of inventory, equipment, revenue and building damages. For in-home businesses, up to $5,000 for inventory, computer laptops, tablets and so forth.

Phase two, for beautification, where up to $15,000 for which a business could apply to be used for interior and exterior painting, landscaping, signage, lighting, a number of things that businesses will need to able to bring back their businesses, said Donnelly.

“We’ve approved up to $1.258 million in funding for the businesses in phase one,” he said.

The County of Monterey is developing infrastructure improvements for the Pajaro community focusing on pedestrian enhancements such as sidewalk repairs, street crossing upgrades, accessible curb ramps, and street safety lighting, among other improvements, said Monterey County Public Works, Facilities and Parks Director Randy Ishii, who added construction is expected in mid-2025.

The Department of Emergency Management is acquiring a high-water rescue vehicle that can navigate through up to 50 inches of water, seats up to 16 passengers, is equipped with emergency lighting and a public address system, and a rear cargo ramp for the mobility challenged, “allowing us to reach residents who are trapped in flooded areas,” said North Monterey County Fire District Chief Joel Mendoza.

A New Holland tractor and trailer has been acquired to help clear debris, support sandbagging operations among other critical tasks, Mendoza added, as well as a flood rescue boat for rapid response providing a self-powered or pull along vessel for quick access and deployment, and a 7,000 kW generator, a reliable power source for the mobile command unit, that will ensure reliable power during field deployment or power outages.

Scanlon said the county recognizes that progress in the recovery sphere must be persistent, ongoing, consistent, and it must be transparent.

“We’re very much excited and honored to continue to work in the community of Pajaro for the next several years,” she said.

Warriors are more valuable than Lakers, Dodgers or Yankees, per new assessment

At $9.1 billion, the Warriors are the most valuable NBA franchise and the second-highest valued organization in all of U.S. professional sports, according to an annual valuation from Sportico.

Only the Dallas Cowboys are worth more than Golden State, according to both Sportico and Forbes, which valued the Warriors at $8.8 billion in October. The Warriors have been considered the most valuable franchise in the NBA since 2022.

The Warriors’ value increased by 10% year over year, per Sportico. One contributing factor is their ownership of the Golden State Valkyries, the WNBA expansion team set for its inaugural season in 2025.

Warriors owner Joe Lacob, who also owns the Valkyries, bought the franchise in 2010 in a group with Peter Guber for $450 million. That means the franchise has increased roughly 1,900% in the 15 years since Lacob purchased the team.

The Warriors moved from Oracle Arena in Oakland to the Chase Center — the team’s massive, privately financed project — in 2019. Among the top 10 NBA franchises, only the Celtics and Lakers don’t own the arenas they play in.

A recent economic impact report estimated that the Chase Center generated $4.2 billion for the San Francisco economy since it opened through NBA games, concerts, live events and Thrive City activations.

Second on Sportico’s NBA franchise valuation list is the New York Knicks ($8.3 billion). The Lakers ($8.07 billion) rank third, and no other franchise is valued over $6 billion. The Boston Celtics, which are for sale, are valued at $5.66 billion.

The average NBA team is worth $4.6 billion, per Sportico, representing a 15% increase over last year. Despite recent concerns over television ratings, the league is buoyed by an 11-year media rights deal worth roughly $76 billion.

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— The Warriors enjoyed almost an entire week off because of scheduling quirks from the NBA Cup. They got in four practices between games, including two after acquiring point guard Dennis Schroder. They focused much of their attention on late-game execution offensively, which has hamstrung them in several recent losses.

— Moses Moody (left knee) is out for Thursday night’s game at the FedEx Forum. Coach Steve Kerr said that he didn’t scrimmage during the week and will miss his third straight game.

— Memphis is without GG Jackson, Vince Williams Jr., backup center Jay Huff and likely Marcus Smart, who’s listed as questionable. The second-place Grizzlies have won 10 of their past 12 games.

— Kyle Anderson, a former Grizzly, called Memphis his favorite city he has represented in the NBA.

“The love here is unmatched,” Anderson said at Thursday morning shootaround.

Brandin Podziemski, Buddy Hield, Gary Payton II and Gui Santos, along with Anderson, participated in the Warriors’ optional morning shootaround in Memphis.

Musk ascends as a political force beyond his wealth by tanking budget deal

By THOMAS BEAUMONT, Associated Press

In the first major flex of his influence since Donald Trump was elected, Elon Musk brought to a sudden halt a bipartisan budget proposal by posting constantly on his X megaphone and threatening Republicans with primary challenges.

The social media warnings from the world’s wealthiest man preceded Trump’s condemnation of a measure negotiated by GOP House Speaker Mike Johnson, which effectively killed the stopgap measure that was designed to prevent a partial shutdown of the federal government.

Washington was scrambled a day after Musk’s public pressure campaign. Trump on Thursday declined to say if he had confidence in Johnson, telling NBC News, “We’ll see.” And there was no clear path to keeping the government open beyond Friday, raising the specter of a government shutdown heading into the holidays. Congressional Democrats mocked their GOP counterparts, with several suggesting Trump had been relegated to vice president.

“Welcome to the Elon Musk presidency,” Democratic Rep. Robert Garcia of California wrote on X.

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What was clear, though, is Musk’s ascendance as a political force, a level of influence enabled by his great wealth. In addition to owning X, Musk is the CEO of Tesla and Space X.

“There is no doubt he does wield a lot of influence over Republicans right now due to his proximity to Trump,” said Chris Pack, former communications director for the National Republican Congressional Committee and the Senate Leadership Fund.

But Pack also said that Musk’s threats pose potential risks for House Republicans, who begin next year with a five-seat majority that will shrink temporarily because of Trump’s nomination of some GOP lawmakers to administration posts.

“This isn’t going to help pass the agenda if you are going to cost a bunch of Republicans in very razor-thin moderate seats if you’re going to make them lose in primaries,” Pack said. “All that does is give the keys to these districts over to the Democrats.”

Musk spent an estimated $250 million during the presidential campaign to support Trump, contributing heavily to America PAC, a super political action committee that deployed canvassers, aired TV ads and reached voters digitally in battleground states. He had signaled after the election he was willing to back GOP primary challenges to Republican members of Congress seeking re-election in 2026 who waver on Trump’s appointments and agenda.

He renewed the threat pointedly Wednesday.

“Any member of the House or Senate who votes for this outrageous spending bill deserves to be voted out in 2 years!” he wrote on X. He also called it “one of the worst bills ever written.”

Musk wasn’t alone in fanning GOP anger against the bill, which included several compromise measures to get Democratic support in the Senate in the final weeks before Republicans take control of that chamber. Biotech entrepreneur and former GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, who is Musk’s partner leading the new Department of Government Efficiency, also posted against the bill, as did Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr.

Musk played down his role at times, suggesting after some praise online, “All I can do is bring things to the attention of the people, so they may voice their support if they so choose.” And the president-elect told NBC News that he had spoken to Musk prior to the Tesla CEO’s first posts.

“I told him that if he agrees with me, that he could put out a statement,” Trump said.

Karoline Leavitt, the incoming White House press secretary, pushed back against Democratic critics who suggested Musk was calling the shots.

“As soon as President Trump released his official stance on the CR, Republicans on Capitol Hill echoed his point of view,” Leavitt said in a statement, referring to the continuing resolution. “President Trump is the leader of the Republican Party. Full stop.”

Throughout the day Wednesday, Musk replied to posts on X from Republican House members announcing opposition to the bill with words of thanks, and punctuating their public commitments.

And he took a victory lap after Trump came out against the bill: “The voice of the people was heard. This was a good day for America.”

He was responding to Kentucky Rep. Andy Barr’s post: “The phone was ringing off the hook today. And you know why? Because they were reading tweets…from Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy.”

Conservative activists at the annual AmericaFest gathering in Phoenix cheered Musk Thursday and hailed the suggestion he could replace Johnson as speaker. There’s no requirement that the speaker be an elected member of the House of Representatives.

“Should Mike Johnson remain speaker of the House?” conservative media host Jack Posobiec asked his audience during a live taping of his talk show, prompting a chorus of “Noooooo!!!” from his audience.

Johnson had been scheduled to attend AmericaFest, but canceled after the budget deal fell apart.

“Should Elon Musk be speaker of the House?” Posobiec asked his audience, prompting cheers.

Beaumont reported from Des Moines, Iowa. Associated Press Bill Barrow contributed to this report from Phoenix.

Horoscopes Dec. 19, 2024: Jake Gyllenhaal, put your energy where it brings the highest return

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Marla Sokoloff, 44; Jake Gyllenhaal, 44; Alyssa Milano, 52; Tyson Beckford, 54.

Happy Birthday: Put your energy where it brings the highest return or is needed most this year, and you’ll find your happy place in the universe. Opportunity is within reach if you don’t give in to indecisiveness or procrastination. Refuse to let anyone talk you into the impossible when using common sense and putting a budget in place that you can live with will position you for success. Your numbers are 7, 13, 23, 28, 35, 41, 47.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Refuse to let anyone take advantage of you or limit what you can achieve. Put on your runners, and don’t stop until you reach your mark. You have what it takes to forge ahead, using your intelligence, insight and innovation to outshine any competition. Romance is on the rise. 5 stars

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Take a close look around you, and you’ll gain insight into the possibilities and pitfalls surrounding you. Take precautions around aggressive individuals or those who appear to be coming down with something contagious. A change of scenery will give you a different perspective regarding lifestyles and what’s trending. 2 stars

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): A pick-me-up will brighten your day and lead to unexpected compliments. Take advantage of an opportunity to show off your talents and skills; someone with clout will take note and make an interesting suggestion or offer. Love is in the stars, and personal growth and gain are apparent. 4 stars

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Talk to an expert. The input you receive will shed some light on the possibilities and how to take advantage of them. A chance to partner with someone may be short-sighted. Question the cost of sharing or moving forward alone. The point is to have a positive impact. 3 stars

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): There is power in being aggressive and following through with your plans. Take charge, and you’ll make a lasting impression on someone who counts. A partnership or meaningful relationship looks promising. Make a move toward a commitment. Love and romance are on the rise. 3 stars

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Keep life simple, your thoughts to yourself and your plans doable. How you present yourself to associates will determine how you are treated and if you’ll excel. Getting others to trust and confide in you will pay off. Avoid letting someone you love take advantage of you. 3 stars

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Show an interest in what others do, and you’ll gain allies. An open dialogue will help you determine how best to designate your time and effort to have the most significant impact. An opportunity to travel or get together with someone who inspires you to improve will be valuable. 4 stars

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Take a moment before you respond. Someone will torment you if you let them. Concentrate on something you enjoy doing or helping someone you love. An emotional situation will develop if you put yourself in harm’s way. Avoid situations that can lead to injury or illness. 2 stars

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Think big, but don’t exhaust your funds or energy trying to do the impossible. A reasonable approach to getting what you want will put your mind at ease and encourage you to build a solid base. Spending time with someone you love will be worth more than an expensive gift. 5 stars

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Put more time into home improvements and preparation for upcoming events. You can surpass your expectations without going over budget if you pay attention to detail and maintain a positive attitude. Social and networking events will lead to unexpected benefits. Romance is in the stars. 3 stars

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): High energy and a positive attitude will position you for success. Discussing your plans with a superior will help you gain insight and establish what you want to pursue next. A fresh new look will give you the confidence you need to follow your heart and your dreams. 3 stars

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Expressing yourself will leave you open to criticism. It is best to keep your thoughts to yourself and go about your business. Pay attention to the details, emphasize your skills and make positive changes regarding how you live, handle money and earn your living. Take control and have no regrets. 3 stars

Birthday Baby: You are resourceful, outgoing and diverse. You are amicable and engaging.

1 star: Avoid conflicts; work behind the scenes. 2 stars: You can accomplish, but don’t rely on others. 3 stars: Focus and you’ll reach your goals. 4 stars: Aim high; start new projects. 5 stars: Nothing can stop you; go for gold.

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Pro Soccer: Monterey Bay F.C. resigns Gutierrez

SEASIDE — The retooling of the roster continues for Monterey Bay F.C., who has re-signed forward Diego Gutierrez for the 2025 season, bringing the total to 11 players inked for this coming year.

Gutierrez was acquired back in August from the Charleston Battery, where the 25-year-old produced a goal in the team’s regular season finale.

Gutierrez appeared in eight matches, starting five on the pitch for the Union, logging 481 minutes, while creating six chances in the attack.

“We saw in the last two games what he is capable of,” Monterey Bay F.C. technical director Simon Dawkins said. “I have seen the ability he has on a daily basis. Diego is a player who needs to get into a rhythm, needs to string a run of games together.”

Gutierrez is the fourth forward the Union have signed for their attack, joining the teams all-time leader in goals in Alex Dixon, along with Luther Archimede and Mayele Malango.

“I believe in the process and this culture change that the coaching staff is applying,” Gutierrez said. “I think it’s going to be a great turnaround and a new chapter for both the team and community. We’re going to take a big step forward.”

The Union have never made the postseason in three seasons in the United Soccer League Championship.

Other signings for the Union include defenders Carlos Guzman, Alex Lara and Grant Robinson, and midfielders Mobi Fehr, Carmel High graduate Pierce Gallaway, Xavi Gnaulati and Watsonville native Adrian Rebollar.

Monterey Council sworn in, Alan Haffa honored for 12 years on council

The Monterey City Council announced the results of the 2024 election, swore in the new council and honored Councilman Alan Haffa in his final council meeting.

Tuesday’s meeting started with each council member taking time to speak on Haffa and his years of work on the council.

“I don’t think that I would have stepped forward in the first place if it wasn’t for your leadership and our friendship,” Mayor Tyller Williamson said. “Watching you perform on the council, I think my biggest takeaway is your emphasis on compromise and trying to bring all sides together. I’m so grateful and thankful for your dedication to our community, I know we aren’t done seeing you and you’ll still be involved.

Council member Ed Smith spoke to Haffa’s leadership and personality, speaking to his love for Monterey and community-building.

“It’s been a pleasure and honor serving with you for 10 years on the council,” Smith said. “I know you have a love of service and a love of community. All things are good with you and I am really able to learn from you. It’s complicated running municipal government, but it is certainly more joyful with people like you.”

Haffa thanked his family and friends in an emotional speech and shouted out the residents of Monterey for participating in city government.

“I’d like to start by thanking my wife Arlene, you can’t do this work without the support of your family and she’s always been there,” Haffa said. “I want to thank all my friends, supporters and all of our residents for giving us advice and for letting us know when we were straying off the path, you make the difference. Mayor and council, it’s been an honor to work with all of you. We all have different perspectives and different backgrounds and we can argue our points heatedly, but in the end we always respect each other and after the vote is taken we move forward. The Monterey Way, I’m proud to have been part of it.”

City staff presented Haffa with a commemorative sign decorated to look like a street sign with his years of service on the council and the words ‘Alan Haffa’s Way’ on it.

Next, the winners of the election were sworn into office.

Williamson was rwas sworn in by Former U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta. Panetta said it was an honor as a Monterey native to be able to swear Williamson in.

“Secretary thank you so much, your service to our community, our region, our country means the world to not just me, but all of us here today,” Williamson said.

District 3 winner Jean Racsh asked Haffa to swear her in.

“I know you’re going to do a great job to represent Distrct 3, and this means a lot,” Haffa said.

Racsh listed all of her friends, family and campaign staff for working with her to knock on more than 3,000 doors during her campaign. She complimented Eric Palmer for running a strong race and said together they spoke about how proud they were of District 3 for over 86% voter turnout.

“I have immense gratitude and thank you to the voters of District 3 and to my family,” Racsh said. “I promise my availability, I promise you the best of my intellect and the most of my energy and I promise and commit to you to listen to all sides.”

Gene “Gino” Garcia, who was originally appointed to the council and is now taking the District 4 seat, asked his wife to swear him in.

“I’m very honored to share this special moment with you,” Emily Garcia said. “You inspire me everyday, I’m proud of you, and I love you.”

Garcia said while he feels like the first two years went by quickly, he has a list of community objectives he wants to continue starting with keeping to his values and promises to the community.

“It’ll be about two years since I first got appointed,” Garcia said. “It’s been a very humbling experience. I want to keep that open door policy, listen to our community’s needs and wants, and uplift voices for not only District 4 but the entire city.”