The intersection of Former Asm. Adam Gray’s (D–Merced) government advocacy for and business ties to the Castle Commerce Center, the development built in the wake of the closure of the Atwater-based Castle Air Force Base, is growing larger.
Along with recent revelations of the former lawmaker’s apartment investments at the former Air Force base, the Congressional candidate has earned income from a taproom located within the complex, leading Republicans to criticize Gray for steering tax dollars toward areas he would ultimately make investments.
The backstory: Gray, who served in the Assembly from 2012-2022, was a proponent of the state giving $6.5 million to Merced County to expand Google’s self-driving testing program at Castle Air Force Base in 2018.
- Three years later, Merced County declared three parcels of land at the former air base surplus. Gemenii LLC purchased four apartment buildings for $600,000 in 2022. Gray is a minority owner of Gemenii LLC.
- In July 2023, seven months after Gray left office, California awarded Merced County nearly $50 million to develop 70 acres at the air base for a new inland port. The area is now called Castle Commerce Center.
- According to a report from the Los Angeles Times, Gemenii LLC spent millions of dollars renovating former barracks on site for affordable housing units, with Gray not making any money yet off of the investment.
The big picture: On Aug. 13, Gray reported in his financial disclosure report that he earned income from Blaker Brewing, which has a taproom just down the street from the apartment project at Castle Commerce.
- Gray reported $2,403.71 in income from Blaker Brewing for consulting work.
Go deeper: Gray’s ties to Blaker Brewing run deep. While he was in the Assembly, his office named Blaker Brewing the District 21 Small Business of the Year.
- He also held his 2022 election night watch party at the taproom, where his campaign spent over $800 on food and drinks, per campaign filings.
- Further, the property that the taproom sits on is owned by Shane and Kim Parson. Federal Election Commission filings show that Shane Parson donated $1,150 to Gray’s Congressional campaign in 2022.
What they’re saying: Republicans are hitting Gray over his connections to Blaker Brewing, arguing he has mixed his government duties with personal business.
- “Self-serving Sacramento politician Adam Gray treats Valley taxpayers like his personal ATM,” said National Republican Congressional Committee Spokesperson Ben Petersen. “Gray funnels taxpayer money to his own interests, profits off insider real estate deals and cashes in on his government office.”
- Gray’s office did not return a request for comment by publication.
