Jeremy T. Ringfield's Blog, page 391

Kalia Davis’ strong opener for 49ers leads to surprising knee surgery

SANTA CLARA — Cornerback Ambry Thomas isn’t the 49ers’ only defensive reserve headed for surgery.

Defensive tackle Kalia Davis discretely sustained a knee injury Saturday that, like Thomas, will require a procedure Thursday with the intention of a midseason return, coach Kyle Shanahan said.

Davis could benefit from the NFL’s new roster rules, in which two players are allowed to go on Injured Reserve before the 53-man roster cut and still return during the season.

Davis injured an area near his patellar tendon in the preseason-opening road loss to Tennessee, where he flashed with a sack and two tackles for loss Saturday.

“He played awesome through the whole game, and that is why we were surprised he had an unfortunate injury,” Shanahan said.

Davis, who missed his 2022 rookie season because of a knee injury in college, was competing for a backup role with Kevin Givens, Evan Anderson, T.Y. McGill and others.

Shanahan said there have been more injuries than in past camps but he’ll take the quantity over the severity aspect. Thomas and Davis have been the most seriously injured veterans. Linebacker Fred Warner returned to practice Monday after missing time last week with a foot issue.

Thomas, a fourth-year veteran, fractured his right forearm in the second quarter of Saturday’s 17-13 defeat.

That cornerback corps is also without Isaac Yiadom, who could miss another week because of an ankle injury last week. He’s emerged as the No. 3 option behind Charvarius Ward and Deommodore Lenoir.

Among those also out of practice: running backs Christian McCaffrey (calf), Elijah Mitchell (hamstring), Isaac Guerendo (hamstring) and Patrick Taylor Jr.; wide receivers Brandon Aiyuk (hold-in) and Ricky Pearsall (hamstring); tight end Brayden Willis (soreness); guards Jon Feliciano (knee), Spencer Burford (finger)and Ben Bartch; and, safety George Odum (attended baby’s birth).

AIYUK, WILLIAMS STILL OUT

Brandon Aiyuk has taken part in meetings during camp but hasn’t worked out on the field with teammates, either in practice or on the side, Shanahan said.

“I trust Brandon knows what he has to do for this year to get ready to play,” Shanahan said. “I’m feeling he’s finding a way to stay in shape, but there’s a football-shape element to get back to. Hopefully he’ll get to that soon.”

Aiyuk was not seen at practice; he’s previously watched from afar in an equipment staff’s cart.

Left tackle Trent Williams has yet to report to camp and has accrued $1.8 million in fines.

NO JOINT PRACTICES

As much as Shanahan enjoys joint practices, the 49ers’ rash of injuries prompted them to scrub their planned sessions Thursday and Friday against the New Orleans Saints at UC Irvine.

“It was not the best thing for our team where we are injury-wise,” Shanahan said. “I love doing (joint practices) but the risk was too much without the reward.”

Lenoir was disappointed, but not because he is a Southern California native.

“We’ve been competing with each other for so long,” Lenoir said. “Being able to unleash that on another team would have been great for two days and to get scrappy out there.”

CHOSEN OFFICIALLY ADDED

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Robbie Chosen officially signed, suited up, and participated in warmups. The ninth-year veteran tried out last week and agreed to a deal Thursday, with Shanahan still impressed by his speed and 6-foot-3 frame. In a corresponding roster move, Frank Darby was waived injured.

PLAY OF THE DAY

Lenoir made a practice-ending, acrobatic interception at the goal line of a Purdy long-ball throw to Jacob Cowing. Said Lenoir: “They had got me earlier in camp where (the receiver) crossed my face. This time I held my leverage and I mimicked Jacob’s release, quick hands and ran with him and heard Fred yell ‘Ball’ from far, then I went up and made the play.”

LATEST ON HUFANGA 

Safety Talanoa Hufanga will have his surgically repaired knee examined by a doctor on Thursday. “It’s going very well. Hopefully we get good news and get him back sooner than later,” Shanahan said.

PRACTICE NOTES

A one-hour, no-pads practice pitted only first-string units in full-team drills. … Linebacker Fred Warner returned in top form after missing practices last week because of a foot issue. … Brock Purdy completed all seven of his targets to George Kittle. … Cowing had a drop and Danny Gray had a 20-yard pass go through his hands. … Undrafted rookie Jaylen Mahoney and recent acquisition Tracy Walker III saw time at safety next to Ji’Ayir Brown. … Jaylon Moore, the 49ers’ left tackle in place of Trent Williams, returned to action Monday; he did not play Saturday after becoming ill.

Judge rules against RFK Jr. in fight to be on New York’s ballot, says he is not a state resident

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — A judge ruled Monday that independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s name should not appear on New York’s ballot, ruling that he falsely claimed a New York residence on nominating petitions despite living in California.

Kennedy’s lawyers on Monday vowed to appeal ahead of the Aug. 15 deadline. If the judge’s ruling is upheld, it would not only keep Kennedy off the ballot in New York but could also lead to challenges in other states where he used an address in New York City’s suburbs to gather signatures.

Judge Christina Ryba, in her 34-page decision, said the bedroom Kennedy claimed as his home in the state wasn’t a “bona fide and legitimate residence, but merely a ‘sham’ address that he assumed for the purpose of maintaining his voter registration” and furthering his political candidacy.

“Given the size and appearance of the spare bedroom as shown in the photographs admitted into evidence, the Court finds Kennedy’s testimony that he may return to that bedroom to reside with his wife, family members, multiple pets, and all of his personal belongings to be highly improbable, if not preposterous,” the judge wrote.

Ryba said evidence submitted in trial showed Kennedy had a “long-standing pattern” of borrowing addresses from friends and relatives so he could maintain his voter registration in New York State while actually residing in California.

“Using a friend’s address for political and voting purposes, while barely stepping foot on the premises, does not equate to residency under the Election Law,” the judge wrote. “To hold otherwise would establish a dangerous precedent and open the door to the fraud and political mischief that the Election Law residency rules were designed to prevent.”

Clear Choice Action, which supported the legal challenge, said the Monday ruling makes it clear that Kennedy “lied about his residency and provided a false address on his filing papers and candidate petitions in New York, intentionally misleading election officials and betraying voters’ trust.”

The lawsuit backed by the Democrat-aligned political action committee claims Kennedy’s state nominating petition falsely listed a residence in well-to-do Katonah while actually living in the Los Angeles area since 2014, when he married “Curb Your Enthusiasm” actor Cheryl Hines.

Kennedy argued during the trial that he has lifelong ties to New York and intends to move back.

During the trial, which ran for less than four days, Kennedy maintained that he began living in New York when he was 10 and that he currently rents a room in a friend’s home in Katonah, about 40 miles (65 kilometers) north of midtown Manhattan. However, Kennedy testified that he has only slept in that room once due to his constant campaign travel.

The 70-year-old candidate testified that his move to California a decade ago was so he could be with his wife, and that he always planned to return to New York, where he is registered to vote.

Barbara Moss, who rents the room to Kennedy, testified that he pays her $500 a month. But she acknowledged there is no written lease and that Kennedy’s first payment wasn’t made until after the New York Post published a story casting doubt on Kennedy’s claim that he lived at that address.

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The judge also heard from a longtime friend of Kennedy’s who said the candidate had regularly been an overnight guest at his own Westchester home from 2014 through 2017, but was not a tenant there as Kennedy had claimed.

Attorneys representing several New York voters grilled Kennedy in often heated exchanges as they sought to make their case, pointing to government documents including a federal statement of candidacy with a California address, and even a social media video in which Kennedy talks about training ravens at his Los Angeles home.

Kennedy has the potential to do better than any independent presidential candidate in decades thanks to his famous name and a loyal base. Both Democrat and Republican strategists have expressed concerns that he could affect their candidate’s chances.

Kennedy’s campaign has said he has enough signatures to qualify in a majority of states, but his ballot drive has faced challenges and lawsuits in several, including North Carolina and New Jersey.

Clear Choice filed the New York suit on behalf of several voters in the state.

Kennedy told reporters last week that getting knocked off the ballot in New York could lead to lawsuits in other states where his campaign listed the same address.

After the trial ended Thursday, Kennedy argued that people who signed his petitions deserve a chance to vote for him.

“Those Americans want to see me on the ballot. They want to have a choice,” he said.

___

Marcelo reported from East Meadow, N.Y. Associated Press writer Michael Sisak contributed to this report.

Trump falsely claims a crowd photo from Harris’ campaign rally in Detroit was created using AI

By DARLENE SUPERVILLE, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has been spreading false claims that an image of thousands of people waiting at Detroit’s airport as Democrat Kamala Harris arrived for a campaign rally was fabricated with the help of artificial intelligence.

Reporters, photographers and video journalists representing The Associated Press and other news organizations who either traveled with Vice President Harris or were on the airport tarmac documented the crowd size last Wednesday as she arrived on Air Force Two. Harris’ campaign also denied the photo in question was manipulated and posted about it on social media.

Fifteen thousand people attended the Detroit airport rally, Harris’ campaign said. Harris and Walz spoke from inside a hangar where people were packed in. The crowd also spilled out onto the tarmac. The Wayne County Airport Authority, which oversees the airport, referred questions about the size of the crowd to Harris’ campaign.

Thousands of people have been showing up at her campaign rallies.

By the Harris campaign’s count, 12,000 people turned out for rallies in Philadelphia and Eau Claire, Wisconsin, last week, followed by 15,000 in Glendale, Arizona. In Las Vegas on Saturday, more than 12,000 people were inside a university arena when law enforcement halted admission because people were getting ill waiting outside in the extreme 109-degree heat. About 4,000 people were waiting in line when the doors were closed.

An Associated Press reporter who covered the Harris events in Wisconsin, Michigan, Arizona and Nevada, witnessed the throngs of people in attendance.

Trump pushed his false claims in back-to-back posts on his social media site on Sunday.

“Has anyone noticed that Kamala CHEATED at the airport? There was nobody at the plane, and she ‘A.I.’d’ it, and showed a massive ‘crowd’ of so-called followers, BUT THEY DIDN’T EXIST!.” he wrote. He included a post from another individual who made similar allegations about photo manipulation.

A minute later Trump posted, “Look, we caught her with a fake ‘crowd.’ There was nobody there!” He included a photo of the crowd that was partly shaded and partly exposed to the sun.

Harris’ campaign confirmed on Monday that the photo being questioned was taken by a staff member and was not in any way modified using AI.

Hany Farid, a University of California, Berkeley, professor who focuses on digital forensics and misinformation, analyzed the photo using two models trained to detect patterns of generative AI and found no evidence of manipulation. The models were developed by GetReal Labs, a company Farid co-founded.

Farid, responding Monday in an email, said he compared several versions of the photo and the only alteration he detected was some simple change to brightness or contrast, and perhaps sharpening. He said many other images and videos from the event last Wednesday show the same basic scene.

Trump started pushing false theories about the Harris campaign photo a few days after he held a news conference at his Florida estate on Thursday and was asked about the crowds at his Democratic rival’s rallies. Trump said no one draws crowds as big as he does.

“I’ve spoken to the biggest crowds. Nobody’s spoken to crowds bigger than me,” Trump claimed at the news conference, his first since Harris became the Democratic presidential nominee.

He went on to falsely compare the crowd at his speech in front of the White House on Jan. 6, 2021, to the crowd at Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech on Aug. 28, 1963, at the Lincoln Memorial.

But King drew far more people. Approximately 250,000 people attended the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, at which King gave his speech, according to the National Park Service. The Associated Press reported in 2021 that there were at least 10,000 people at Trump’s address.

Some of Trump’s top advisers and supporters have been urging the former president to focus his criticisms on Harris’ policies and talk more about the border and the economy.

“Stop questioning the size of her crowds,” was the advice former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., offered during a Fox News appearance on Monday.

The Harris campaign needled Trump on a variety of issues in an email Monday titled “9 Days Since Trump’s Last Swing State Event.” The note included a bullet point that said, “he’s very mad about crowd sizes, claiming it’s all fake and AI-generated. (Maybe if he campaigned he’d get crowds too?)”

Rep. Panetta, bi-partisan delegation, meet with Zelenskyy

MONTEREY – A bipartisan delegation that included U.S. Rep. Jimmy Panetta, D-Carmel Valley, recently traveled to Ukraine to meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, reaffirm U.S. support, survey the damages of war and provide oversight of assistance.

“Ukraine continues to inspire democracies throughout the world as it continues to fight for its own democracy, autonomy, and humanity,” said Panetta in a press release. “It was very impactful to spend time not only in the country, but also with the people of Ukraine, including its leadership, its soldiers, sailors, and veterans, and its citizens, all of whom are determined to not just survive, but also to succeed.”

The delegation met with the Ukrainian president and key leaders at the forefront of the unprovoked Russian aggression.

“As disheartening as it was to see and hear about the many tragedies of this war, it was heartening to see and hear firsthand how American support, especially our work in Congress to pass legislation for supplemental funding, is properly being used on the battlefield and affecting not just the Ukrainian military efforts, but also the morale of the Ukrainian people,” said Panetta. “As this war of attrition continues, support from democracies around the world, combined with Ukrainian innovation, resilience and determination, is necessary to stop Putin, promote a peaceful outcome and protect the international world order.”

The members of the bipartisan Congressional delegation included Panetta, Rep. Celesta Maloy, Utah-02, and Rep. Donald Norcross, New Jersey-01. They met with Zelenskyy, First Lady Olena Zelenska, Ukrainian Parliament Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk, as well as military, energy, anti-corruption, and humanitarian leaders. The members of the delegation also held meetings with American embassy officials.

The diplomatic trip occurred Aug. 3–9. The members visited U.S. democratic allies as Ukraine prepares for operations headed into the fall and winter, to discuss the challenges ahead and how U.S. military, energy, humanitarian assistance will be utilized, according to Panetta’s office.

Congressional delegations normally are allowed to only spend less than a day in Ukraine and are confined to the capitol of Kyiv, but Panetta and his colleagues spent five days in Ukraine, according to the release, traveling to the southern seaport city of Odesa and into Bucha, where Russia staged one of its most brutal attacks against Ukrainian citizens who fought and ultimately defeated Russian forces. While in Kyiv, Russia fired Iskander-M ballistic missiles and other air assaults into the capital. The rockets were intercepted by U.S. Patriot missile defense systems that are deployed throughout the city.

The bipartisan delegation also met with Ukrainian veterans, internally displaced citizens and orphans. They also visited Okhmatdyt Children’s Hospital which was struck by a Russian missile last month, Saint Andrew’s church in Bucha to pay respects to those murdered by Russian troops at the onset of the invasion, Hansen Ukrainian Mission supporting internally displaced Ukrainians and orphans, and thermal power plants that provide needed energy to Ukraine and other European allies that were destroyed by Russian missile strikes.

Rep. Jimmy Panetta speaks with displaced Ukrainian children and orphans. Panetta continues to fight for a bipartisan, bicameral resolution that strongly condemns the forced adoption of Ukrainian children by the Russian Federation and calls for the return of Ukrainian children to their home country and their families. (Photo courtesy Rep. Panetta’s Office)

Earlier this year, Panetta and a bipartisan majority passed a broad national security package that included $61 billion in security aid for Ukraine and support for the sale of seized Russian assets. This package follows previous appropriations that provided more than $65 billion in humanitarian, military, and economic assistance to U.S. democratic allies.

Panetta’s office says he continues to lead legislation to support Ukrainians in their fight for democracy. Panetta authored and introduced the bipartisan, bicameral Ukraine Human Rights Policy Act that would put in place a mechanism to hold the Russian Federation accountable for its human rights abuses. Panetta also co-leads the bipartisan NO LIMITS Act which would hold Chinese Communist Party military firms assisting Russia in this war accountable. Additionally, Panetta continues to fight for a bipartisan, bicameral resolution that strongly condemns the forced adoption of Ukrainian children by the Russian Federation and calls for the return of Ukrainian children to their home country and their families.

Astons on the Avenue returns to Carmel for a second year

CARMEL >> For the second straight year, Monterey Peninsula locals and visitors can expect Astons on the Avenue to help fill the Concours-on-the-Avenue-shaped hole in Classic Car Week.

Building on last year’s Aston Martin pop-up, this year will see a bigger spectacle of the famous British brand. Hosted by Simon Bull, owner of Meuse Gallery, the show will take place Wednesday on Ocean Avenue between the blocks of Dolores and Monte Verde. From 11 a.m.-4 p.m., spectators can admire the free show and vote for their favorite car.

“I always used to love Concours on the Avenue. That was a very special event to me, not just as a car owner, but as a resident in Carmel because it was so open and free,” said Bull. “You could just wander around and there it was … It’s been my absolute pleasure to be able to bring some of that spirit back to Carmel and once again thrill the public with a great car show right there on the avenue.”

Artist Simon Bull’s Aston Martin named “Cupcake” parked outside of Meuse Gallery during Car Week 2023. The vehicle will be on display again this year. (Courtesy of Meuse Gallery)

Ever since Concours on the Avenue founder Doug Freedman’s sudden death in 2021, Carmel has missed out on its large shows during Classic Car Week. Freedman and his wife Genie founded the event in 2007, five years after he came up with the idea. The official event has been canceled since Freedman’s death, but local business owners like Bull are stepping up to bring classic cars back to Carmel.

Meuse Gallery has hosted private Aston Martin events in the past, but Bull said last year they decided “it would be good to take it out of the gallery and onto the streets.”

Located in the heart of downtown Carmel, the gallery features art by Bull, Bekah Bull, Kurz and Banksy. Visitors can stop by the gallery to check out some art and vote for their favorite car to win the People’s Choice Award. The show will also feature live painting by Bull.

In addition to the live painting, Bull’s latest exhibition, “British Racing Green,” featuring various automotive works, will be unveiled. As with many of Car Week’s events, Astons on the Avenue has dedicated a portion of its proceeds to charity.

Simon Bull’s painting “Furka Pass” is on display at Meuse Gallery. A portion of the proceeds from Bull’s paintings will be donated to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation. (Courtesy of Meuse Gallery)

This year, proceeds from the show and the sale of Bull’s paintings will go toward the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated toward research and treatment advancements for the disease. The choice is personal for Bull, as his wife Joanna battles the disease.

“It’s something that’s very important to us to try and find a permanent cure so sufferers from a disease like Multiple Myeloma can have a treatment and then say that they’re cured and move on,” said Bull.

Last year, Bull organized a lower-stakes version of the event by reserving some parking spaces and having local Aston Martin owners join and show off their vehicles. This year, he said “we’ve upgraded to what you might call a proper car show.”

Guests can expect over 30 featured Aston Martin’s ranging from 1950s classics to 2025 new releases. The winner of the People’s Choice Award will be announced at a private VIP awards ceremony and reception at the gallery.

 

Trump and his allies once cheered hacked materials. No longer, now that they say he’s a target

By NICHOLAS RICCARDI, Associated Press

Donald Trump was once a cheerleader of publicizing hacked materials. “Russia, if you’re listening,” Trump said during a press conference in his 2016 presidential run, when Hillary Clinton’s deleted personal emails were a hot topic, “I hope you are able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing.”

“I think you will probably be rewarded mightily by our press,” he said back then.

That changed when Trump’s latest presidential campaign declared this weekend it had been hacked by Iran. “Any media or news outlet reprinting documents or internal communications are doing the bidding of America’s enemies and doing exactly what they want,” Steven Cheung, the campaign’s communications director, said in a statement on Saturday announcing that the campaign had been hacked.

The campaign has not responded to questions about why its view on hacking changed, including a query on Monday from The Associated Press. But its new position is a striking change from 2016, when Trump heartily embraced the Russian hacking of his opponent Clinton’s aides and the Democratic National Committee.

The current hack, so far, is murky.

On Friday, Microsoft issued a report stating that Iranian hackers tried to penetrate the account of an official with one of the presidential campaigns, but did not disclose additional details. On Saturday, the Trump campaign announced it had been hacked, though it also did not identify the individual whose account was breached. It did so after Politico said it had been contacted by an unknown source peddling what was represented to be internal documents from the campaign.

Iran has denied being involved in any hack. The U.S. government has not confirmed that any breach has occurred. On Monday, the FBI said in a statement it was investigating the matter.

In 2016, intelligence officials said Russian hackers obtained thousands of emails from the Democratic National Committee, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, and the personal account of Clinton’s campaign chairman, John Podesta. The initial batches came out in the summer, as Clinton clinched the Democratic nomination.

That was when Trump encouraged Russia to find his rival’s personal emails. He later argued he was joking.

The hacked material was released through third parties, including the online site Wikileaks, which began to publish daily tranches of Democratic documents in October, just after a videotape of Trump bragging about how he’d sexually assaulted women was disclosed.

Trump routinely touted the Democratic leaks at his campaign rallies, including declaring at one: “I love Wikileaks.”

The leaked documents received ample news coverage, and Kathleen Hall Jamieson, a communications professor at the University of Pennsylvania who wrote the book “Cyberwar” on the 2016 hacking, said she found that coverage was what won the election for Trump.

“2016 was not an instance of which journalists should be proud,” Jamieson said in an interview Monday, adding that the greatest question is how news organizations apply their standards to whatever material finds itself in the public domain.

“That Trump is saying what is electorally convenient is not a surprise,” Jamieson said. “This is not a person for whom inconsistency is a concern.”

Nick Merrill was a spokesman for Clinton’s 2016 campaign and pushed back against publication of the hacked documents at the time. On Monday, he noted the Trump campaign was in a similar role this time.

“In addition to the characteristic hypocrisy, they just spent three weeks trying to explain they’re not weird,” Merrill said via text. “And I’d imagine that sharing their internal correspondence is going to help dispel that notion.”

Asked if that meant he now thought hacked materials should be published, Merrill replied: “A precedent has been set here. I’m not passing judgment on it.”

Summer tourists flock to boardwalks and piers while sticking to their budgets

By MAE ANDERSON, AP Business Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — Small businesses along popular vacation destinations like boardwalks and piers in the U.S. say the number of tourists flocking to the waterfront is back to normal, meaning pre-2020 levels. But while the affluent are spending freely, lower-income vacationers are sticking to carefully planned-out budgets.

Sean Bailey, marketing manager of the SkyWheel observation wheel by the Myrtle Beach, S.C., Boardwalk and Promenade, said ticket sales for the 13-year-old attraction have exceeded 2019 levels since 2021, and so far this year are tracking slightly above 2023 levels.

Bailey has noticed that tourists buying the cheaper tickets – which increased from $18 to $21 this year — are planning ahead and buying online instead of walking up to the 200-foot attraction. A regular ride, or “flight,” on the SkyWheel, which has glass enclosed gondolas that seat up to six, takes 10 to 15 minutes.

On the other end of the spectrum, the costlier tickets have become more popular. There are $35 sunrise tickets and $109 VIP tickets which include up to four people and get the buyer a flight that lasts 30 minutes. SkyWheel also offers a $250 gender reveal package which includes a light show and a ride for up to six.

“People are looking for more enhanced experiences beyond just the regular flight,” Bailey said.

According to the U.S. Travel Association’s forecast, 2024 tourism volume is expected to top 2019’s numbers for the first time since the pandemic began, with 2.45 billion trips taken, up from 2.38 billion in 2023 and 2.40 billion in 2019.

Domestic tourism is rebounding faster than international tourism. U.S. domestic travel spending, which includes general travel spending and passenger fares, is expected to be $975.6 billion in 2024, 98% of 2019 levels. International travel spending of $153.9 billion is about 83% of 2019 levels. Both are adjusted for inflation, per the USTA.

Similar to the CEOs of large, consumer-focused companies, owners of small businesses say they see a divide in spending between affluent Americans, who have maintained their spending levels, and those in lower income brackets who are being more careful. Wall Street racked up double-digit gains last year and so far this year — even with some recent volatility — while wage increases have slowed and inflation remains a burden even though price pressures on consumers have eased.

At Navy Pier, which juts out into Lake Michigan in Chicago, Robin Harris, owner of Confidence Apparel, which sells clothing with affirmations on it, says foot traffic and sales are up this year compared with last year. She says customers are being more conscious about their spending, picking things they can wear more than once and choosing quality over quantity. Her top sellers are a $30 T-shirt in a variety of colors that says “Inhale confidence, exhale doubt,” and a $75 jacket with a recipe-like list of ingredients including “Love, kindness, courage and resilience.”

“(Customers) are starting to be a little bit more intentional about what they purchase instead of just purchasing anything and everything,” she said.

Elsewhere on Navy Pier, Robert Gomez owns Beat Kitchen Cantina, a Mexican concession stand, and Bar Sol, a full restaurant with a patio. He says sales at the concession stand are up 30% compared with last year, with customers content to spend $8 on a taco, up $1 from last year. Gomez expanded his more upscale restaurant Bar Sol and made other improvements so sales aren’t comparable.

Gomez also owns two live music venues that serve food, located away from the touristy areas. He said that while tourists on the Pier seem more than happy to pay $40 for an entrée at Bar Sol, those neighborhood restaurants, which mainly attract local Chicagoans, aren’t seeing the same level of spending.

“Tourists come in (to Bar Sol), expecting to spend too big, whereas a local patron is looking for better deals,” he said. “It’s much more price sensitive, it’s almost the other extreme. And so, it’s been a struggle for me with the neighborhood businesses in comparison.”

At Laura’s Fudge in Wildwood, N.J., which has been around since the 1920s, owner Dave Roach said sales of fudge, saltwater taffy and chocolate-covered turtles have risen each year since 2020. He said many customers, often families that have been going to the boardwalk for generations, save up all year to have money to spend at Wildwood.

“They know what it’s going to cost them, and they don’t mind spending the money,” he said.

Michelle Rutkowski, who owns Boardwalk Best and Five Mile Marketplace on the Wildwood, N.J., boardwalk, which sell beach goods and souvenirs, has seen business ebb and flow for decades since her family has had businesses there since the 1980s.

Rainy weekends slowed business in April and May. But things have picked up since, particularly once school ended in mid-June.

Rutkowski said she feels positive about sales momentum this year, with shoppers spending on souvenirs like keychains and magnets and T-shirts with the unofficial Wildwood, N.J., mascot, a seagull with a French fry in its mouth.

“People have allotted a reasonable budget for vacation, and they’re spending it,” she said. “Maybe this won’t be the year for back to 100% of that where it was, but definitely we are on that trajectory.”

Horoscopes Aug. 12, 2024: Cara Delevingne, choose your battles wisely

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Imani Hakim, 31; Cara Delevingne, 32; Pete Sampras, 53; Peter Krause, 59.

Happy Birthday: Take charge, do your best to rectify pending problems and turn any negatives you encounter into positives. Change begins with how you use your skills, offer help and participate in everyday life. Smart details entail observation, planning and calling on your integrity and experience to do what’s right. Choose your battles wisely and offer your support with caution. Your numbers are 8, 15, 19, 27, 31, 38, 43.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Control legalities, investments and health issues. What you discover will point you in a positive direction and encourage you to do what’s best for you. Don’t hesitate to proceed once you have backed your feelings with facts and figures. A change will be enlightening and prosperous. 3 stars

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): It’s up to you to choose what’s next. Size up your situation, relationships and what matters most, then initiate change. Don’t ponder over things you can’t change; take flight and make your intentions count and your dreams come true. Love and romance are favored. 3 stars

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Mark your territory and gauge what’s possible. Don’t take anything or anyone for granted. Put your energy into getting ahead, expanding your knowledge, fact-checking and ensuring you take care of every detail before proceeding. Let your intuition guide you; caution and accuracy will lead to success. 3 stars

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Dedicate more time to self-improvement, health and well-being. Consider your options and financial position, and invest more time and money in how you live. Strive to ease stress and to live a healthy lifestyle. Children, family and socializing will require a disciplined attitude and patience. 5 stars

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Keep tabs on what others do and how much you spend. Generosity will lead to trouble if you insist on giving more than you’ve got emotionally, physically or financially. Protect against those trying to take advantage of your kindness. Learn to say no. 2 stars

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Research is your best friend. Take the time to investigate your options and to implement what’s practical, safe and within your means. Feel free to make last-minute alterations or head in a different direction if it suits your needs. Do what feels right, regardless of peer pressure. 4 stars

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Examine what others do, and make changes accordingly. Staying on top of situations will lead to opportunities. Timing is essential, and letting your intuition guide you will pay off. A domestic change looks promising. 3 stars

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Stay active, social and in touch with the latest lifestyle and technological advancements. A well-informed mind will help you make better decisions and direct you to use your skills accordingly. Forward-thinking will put you in a leadership position. 3 stars

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Taking on too much too fast will lead to confusion and mistakes. Align yourself with experts and make decisions that encompass opportunities, not struggles. Maintain control and work secretively to deter others from stealing your ideas or talking you into unnecessary additions. 3 stars

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You’ll get the boost you need from the people you align yourself with today. Discuss your options, costs and prospects with someone who has experience and expertise in areas that perplex you. Refuse to let your ego be your downfall. 4 stars

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Put your energy into something that matters to you. Whether it’s making your surroundings more functional or resolving domestic issues that can lead to trouble, take the initiative, be willing to compromise and build an environment that encourages equality, interaction, peace and love. 2 stars

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Adjust your day to suit your needs. Refuse to let outside interference ruin your plans or threaten your mental, physical or emotional well-being. Be resourceful, put a plan in place and refuse to overspend to buy someone’s attention or favor. Follow your gut and walk away from adversity. 5 stars

Birthday Baby: You are resourceful, impatient and perplexing. You are sensitive and caring.

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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Letters to the Editor: Aug. 13, 2024

Monterey airport

I am writing to address the recent expansion of the Monterey Peninsula Regional Airport and the addition of flights during night and early morning hours. As a candidate for the Monterey Peninsula Airport District Board, I believe it is crucial to consider both the benefits and the challenges that come with these changes. The expansion of our airport and the increase in flight frequency, including new routes to Dallas-Fort Worth, Denver and San Diego undoubtedly bring significant economic benefits. The additions enhance connectivity, support local business, and attract more visitors to our beautiful region. However, it is essential to balance these advantages with the well-being of our community.

One of my primary concerns is the impact of increased air traffic on noise levels. Noise pollution can significantly affect the quality of life for our residents living on the Peninsula. Implementing robust noise abatement policies in collaboration with the FAA is essential to mitigate these effects and ensure that our community remains a peaceful and enjoyable place to live.

Our airport lacks transparency and I believe that by developing a Citizen Committee, as was recommended by the 2023/2024 Monterey civil grand jury, we can provide better transparency to the general public, still enhance the airport’s operations while protecting our beautiful Monterey Peninsula.

— Uwe Grobecker, Monterey

Affordable housing

The housing crisis is real. A community that cannot house its workers, its police, firefighters and schoolteachers can hardly be called a community. The lack of affordable shelter is a problem that extends far beyond our region and local solutions can only go so far in adequately addressing this serious barrier to the recruitment and retention of employees our local businesses and institutions require. Our schools are charged with the sacred tasks of educating our children and helping us to raise the next generation. School districts are also by necessity involved in the transportation business, the facilities maintenance business, and the sports business. Adding the business of rental property development and management to their required duties will only divert attention from their core mission of education. Our public schools should not be tasked with solving the housing crisis. I have never before voted against any ballot proposition to fund public schools but for this reason I cannot support devoting taxpayer dollars toward sponsoring MPUSD’s entry into the real estate market.

– Arthur Simons, Monterey

 TEAM acronym

TEAM  USA on top of the Paris Olympics scoreboard fills hearts with joy and pride. Their team spirit on a high scale is motivating and inspiring one another for achieving more. Team USA is proving true to the acronym of TEAM, which is Together, Everyone, Achieves More.

The phrase reminds that in a different context also, specifically during COVID-19 times, Teams and Zoom were widely and purposefully used as powerful communication tools. In spite of interruptions in the face-to-face work environment, such applications helped isolated workers stay motivated to accomplish more while working remotely but unitedly. Today the technology research teams are proudly talking of the remarkable success with joint efforts in heading toward the Quantum Computer. Significantly, the concept and effect of teamwork is not of modern times, rather as old and constant as is the existence of this universe. The sun, the earth, water and air all play their pivotal roles in the perfect system of collaboration. Nevertheless, the contribution of individual excellence in collective endeavors, fairly doesn’t go unnoticed and unrewarded in the success story of the teams. The proverbial use of the “right hand”  is an example of the importance of personal proficiency of a player in any kind of a team.

— Brij Mansi, Monterey  

Harris and the media

Why should Kamala Harris answer any questions?  Who cares what her policy is? Her followers are going to vote for her because she’s a woman or because she’s black or because she’s running against Donald Trump and Republicans. Who cares about policy?  What could go wrong?

— Alice Bowhay, Pacific Grove

PHOTOS: Coffee and cars at Captain + Stoker

In celebration of Classic Car Week, Captain + Stoker hosted their own car show in collaboration with Sabor Kustoms on Sunday, called Captain + Classics. The event took place at their Monterey location, with Adams Street filled with custom cars. (Arianna Nalbach - Monterey Herald)

In celebration of Classic Car Week, Captain + Stoker hosted their own car show in collaboration with Sabor Kustoms on Sunday, called Captain + Classics. The event took place at their Monterey location, with Adams Street filled with custom cars. (Arianna Nalbach - Monterey Herald)

In celebration of Classic Car Week, Captain + Stoker hosted their own car show in collaboration with Sabor Kustoms on Sunday, called Captain + Classics. The event took place at their Monterey location, with Adams Street filled with custom cars. (Arianna Nalbach - Monterey Herald)

In celebration of Classic Car Week, Captain + Stoker hosted their own car show in collaboration with Sabor Kustoms on Sunday, called Captain + Classics. The event took place at their Monterey location, with Adams Street filled with custom cars. (Arianna Nalbach - Monterey Herald)

In celebration of Classic Car Week, Captain + Stoker hosted their own car show in collaboration with Sabor Kustoms on Sunday, called Captain + Classics. The event took place at their Monterey location, with Adams Street filled with custom cars. (Arianna Nalbach - Monterey Herald)

In celebration of Classic Car Week, Captain + Stoker hosted their own car show in collaboration with Sabor Kustoms on Sunday, called Captain + Classics. The event took place at their Monterey location, with Adams Street filled with custom cars. (Arianna Nalbach - Monterey Herald)

In celebration of Classic Car Week, Captain + Stoker hosted their own car show in collaboration with Sabor Kustoms on Sunday, called Captain + Classics. The event took place at their Monterey location, with Adams Street filled with custom cars. (Arianna Nalbach - Monterey Herald)

In celebration of Classic Car Week, Captain + Stoker hosted their own car show in collaboration with Sabor Kustoms on Sunday, called Captain + Classics. The event took place at their Monterey location, with Adams Street filled with custom cars. (Arianna Nalbach - Monterey Herald)

In celebration of Classic Car Week, Captain + Stoker hosted their own car show in collaboration with Sabor Kustoms on Sunday, called Captain + Classics. The event took place at their Monterey location, with Adams Street filled with custom cars. (Arianna Nalbach - Monterey Herald)

In celebration of Classic Car Week, Captain + Stoker hosted their own car show in collaboration with Sabor Kustoms on Sunday, called Captain + Classics. The event took place at their Monterey location, with Adams Street filled with custom cars. (Arianna Nalbach - Monterey Herald)

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In celebration of Classic Car Week, Captain + Stoker hosted their own car show in collaboration with Sabor Kustoms on Sunday, called Captain + Classics. The event took place at their Monterey location, with Adams Street filled with custom cars. (Arianna Nalbach - Monterey Herald)

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