FEATURES

By George Sánchez-Tello

This Tuesday, Jan. 6, the Monterey County Board of Supervisors will decide how to proceed with a proposed mental health facility for Salinas’ Creekbridge neighborhood. Dubbed the Mental Health rehabilitation Center, the campus would create housing and programming for people with mental health needs so severe they need homes with certified staff.

County supervisors have publicly stated they recognize their responsibility to assist local patients with severe mental health needs, but are concerned with rising construction costs for the campus and how much financial support they can realistically expect from state and federal government agencies. The proposal has faced pushback from local residents with questions about safety and development of open space within the county’s largest city.

The proposed rehabilitation center would create a home for adults placed under conservatorship – people considered “gravely disabled” by the state of California and unable to provide for their own food, shelter, clothing, safety and medical care.

In Monterey County, ther is a lack of available space for patients under conservatorship and in need of 24-hour care, according to the county’s Department of Behavioral Health. nearly 100 patients are housed out of the county – in state hospitals, locked intensive treatment programs and board and care facilities, according to public presentations prepared by the county Health Department. Local patients are placed as far north as Santa Rosa and as far south as Long beach; one intensive treatment program is 187 miles away,according to the presentation.

Monterey County Behavioral Health Facility Faces Scrutiny Over Rising Costs

Monterey County’s proposed mental Health Resource Center (MHRC) is facing increasing scrutiny from county supervisors concerned about its escalating price tag and uncertain financial future. The project, initially envisioned as a renovation of an existing county building, has ballooned to over $172 million for new construction.

Supervisors voiced their concerns during the Oct. 28 Board of Supervisors meeting, questioning the financial viability of the project amidst potential cuts to state and federal healthcare funding like Medi-Cal and Medicaid. they also expressed worry about the potential burden on Monterey County taxpayers should state grants fall short of covering the growing costs.

“I don’t question the need for it; I know we need it. California is at a crossroads where our behavioral health laws and programs have, just recently, been reformed dramatically,” said Supervisor Luis Alejo, representing District 1, where the facility is planned. “The concerns I have are the politics and fiscal climate we are living in.”

The discussion also touched on the potential consequences of abandoning the project. Vice Chair Supervisor Wendy Root Askew questioned the cost to the county and its residents if the facility isn’t built, asking, “What does that cost scenario look like for the county? What does that look like for the families? What does that look like for the mental health unit?” She further expressed her anxieties, stating, “I’m nervous about the finances, being what they are, given the state that we’re in.”

Supervisors also acknowledged concerns raised by residents in Districts 1 and 2 regarding the project’s impact on their communities. Alejo indicated a desire to address these community concerns further.

The MHRC is intended to provide a range of services provided by the Sheriff’s Department,including laundry for inmates and vocational training.

Monterey Bay Aquarium Expands Sea Otter Program to Boost Population

Monterey, CA – 2026/01/05 03:10:12 – The Monterey Bay Aquarium announced a meaningful expansion of its sea otter program today, aiming to bolster the struggling wild population along the central California coast.The program will increase rescue and rehabilitation efforts, enhance research into otter health and behavior, and expand public education initiatives.