Monthly Archives: May 2009

Nader Agha Breaks Promise To Give Up

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Just when you thought Nader Agha would take his phony antiques, coins and sell the Holman Building he comes back again with another hotel pitch.

Armed with architects’ drawings of concepts for the property, Agha said he has reconsidered his idea of abandoning the project in the face of overwhelming support expressed to him for the project.

In December, Agha listed the 84-year-old, 120,000-square-foot Holman Building and the 1.35-acre lot it sits on, as well as four other lots on Fountain Avenue being used for parking and a building across the street at 549 Lighthouse Ave., on the real estate market.

At the time he said he was fed up with nearly 14 years of delays in his attempt to build a luxury hotel on the site.

Holman Hotel

Hundreds more showerheads, flushing toilets, traffic and tourists.
How About No Bear

Nader Agha Breaks Promise To Give Up

Don’t Anger The Deer

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Mad Deer

“The deer are becoming move aggressive with people and dogs,” said Elizabeth Conti-Yeo, P.G. animal control officer.“Because it’s the fawning season, they perceive dogs as a threat or a predator.”

“We suggest people carry a walking stick to fan in front of them to keep the deer back, but not necessarily hit them,” she said.

I’d carry a 30.06, but that would get you tossed in jail.

Don’t Anger The Deer

Calling Anyone Crazy Enough To Be P.G. City Manager

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Hmm, they never did call me back…

Pacific Grove’s list of city manager prospects has been whittled down from an unwieldy pool of 112 to just a handful which may include a current city employee.

The new city manager will have to tackle the city’s dire financial problems, making Becklenberg or someone else with a financial background a good choice for the post.

Calling Anyone Crazy Enough To Be P.G. City Manager

Employees Must Wash Hands . .

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after taking out the trash. And touching bird poo. Ask, is the kitchen as clean and safe as the trash?

Is it Peppers Cafe? (taken May 22, 2009)

Is your wine cellar open to rats and full of germs like this garbage area, Fandango’s?(taken May 22, 2009)
Dumpster Fandango 09

Is that organic free range carrot juice safe after someone took out the boxes, P.G. Juice & Java? (taken May 22, 2009)
Dumpster Juice Java 052209

Employees Must Wash Hands . .

BK? Maybe If We Ignore It . .

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Let’s talk about out elite socialistic agenda disguised as sustainability instead, people will think it’s environmental and cute..

It’s the elephant in the room and a potential “hand grenade” that could blast apart Pacific Grove’s chances of recruiting employees, selling municipal bonds or closing contracts with vendors.

That was the message from Mayor Dan Cort about bankruptcy — otherwise known as “the B-word” — in Butterfly Town, U.S.A.

It has been lurking on the fiscal horizon as Pacific Grove struggles with falling revenues and increasing costs, exacerbated by the city’s liability under the California Public Employment Retirement System.

On Wednesday, the City Council agreed to take talk of bankruptcy off the table while discussing how to balance next year’s and future budgets.

Create a disaster, bail it out, take it over.
Sustainable Elelephant

BK? Maybe If We Ignore It . .

Moe Ammar In Deep Denial

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Baghdad Moe

Moe Ammar, President of the Pacific Grove Chamber of Commerce, says “We are doing everything we can think of to encourage people to bring their businesses to Pacific Grove.”

Ammar pointed out that all business properties on the main street of Forest Avenue are occupied.

Well . . another art gallery on Forest Avenue is out of business after 11 months, on the same day as the Chamber mouthpiece paper’s publish date. Not that art galleries add any real commerce – this one is closed for good is closed only 4 hours more per day than the rest.

Gallery Christine 2

Using the art gallery practice, Moe can put an empty folding chair in every empty store front and call them “occupied”.
Gone Too

Moe Ammar In Deep Denial

Dumpsters Of Commerce, 2009

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There’s lots of concern over carbon emissions and other mythical hazards, but still there every day, putting real health hazards at your feet (and hands, arms, head etc) is the healthy seagull population. The gulls are well fed by the downtown merchants (and even the city this year) that leave garbage uncovered.

We can always count on Fandangos on 17th Street to leave the finest garbage out in the open

Fandangos 5/17/09
Dumpster Fandango 090517

Fandangos 5/19/09
Dumpster Fandango 090522

and P.G. Juice & Java keeping the open garbage behind a wall but perfect for a birds’ eye view

P.G. Juice & Java 5/19/09

Juice Java 0519

P.G. Juice & Java 5/20/09

Juice n Java 0520Dumpster Juice Java 052209

Keep a watch on Zacolo, Lighthouse Cafe, Peppers, Grapes O Wrath, etc. New to the game this year is the City Of P.G. with their own sidewalk garbage. 3 cans in a row on Lighthouse with no covers. Way to go P.G.

Uncovereld Cans

Dumpsters Of Commerce, 2009

Going, Going, Gone – French Glass Building

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The new plan includes 14 luxury apartments, combined with 6,000 sq. ft. of retail space. But it could be a bold business endeavor considering the signs nearby. Closed windows on boarded up buildings and other properties still for lease.

At least when built, this building full of empty storefronts and ‘For Rent’ signs will be shiny and new.

Longtime anchor at the end of Lighthouse Ave has been empty over a year and finally changes. Changes from interesting 50s – 60s metal siding to piles of rubble. Interesting that it looks to be several buildings that were wrapped in siding to appear as one. Used to be my favorite store for window & screen repairs.

Over a year ago, empty.
French Glass

Demolition part one.
French Glass 2

Demolition part two.
French Glass 3

Demolition done.
French Glass 4

Teardown reveals old advertising on wall.
French Glass Old Sign

Going, Going, Gone – French Glass Building

Just When You Think . .

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. . that the Hear-Old can’t get enough Letters From The Editor making P.G. look like a majority of Sustainable Vegetarian Eco-freaks . . .

 

Vegetarians Eat Free

In his quest to clamp down on fossil fuel companies and the auto giants, Gore shamelessly avoids talking about something we all could and should do something about as individuals: Eat less or no meat.

Bob Lucius
Pacific Grove

A more sensible citizen replies with a letter

Hmmmm? Remaining unconvinced by this vast generalization I commenced to grilling up a second tasty burger, still quite guilt-free, and was amusingly reminded of a bumper sticker I’d recently seen in Taos, N.M. : “Eating red meat isn’t bad for you. Eating fuzzy, green meat is.”

How true! Bon appetit.

Robb Thomas Karman
Pacific Grove

Thanks, Robb!

Just When You Think . .