Feast Of Lanterns 2010 DOA

Dixie Layne began gutting the Feast Of Lanterns of it’s camp charm in 2009, declaring it was some sort of “multicultural celebration” and now has pretty much canceled the event for 2010. No week long summer celebration, no fireworks, no fun.

Like any number of Pacific Grove’s beautiful landmarks, the Feast of Lanterns needs renovating from to time. Its foundation is strong, but this beautiful old lady needs a new dress and accessories to sing a new song on a new stage to perform in her most awe inspiring tradition.
— Dixie Layne

That sounds a lot like a P.G. Remodel, where a 100 year old comfortable, small house is 99% torn down and a replica mini mansion is built in it’s place. Attracts the wine & cheese crowds ok, but offers nothing to the locals.

Dixie Layne

To Dixie Layne, our Feast Of Lanterns is just another “gig”. Got any tar & feathers?

Feast Of Lanterns 2010 DOA

Solar Electricity Makes For Sustainable Burglars

Any savings gained by using solar electricity is offset by paying for security patrols & surveillance cameras.

“The cost of metal has declined significantly,” said Brandy Swain, a San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Department Crime Prevention Specialist. “It looks like solar panels are becoming the new hot item to steal.”

More than $400,000 worth of solar panels have been stolen from vineyards in Napa County, alone.

Solar Electricity Makes For Sustainable Burglars

P.G. Will Get More Money From Developers

About time the users of the high paid city workers pay the price. Of course, developers like Nadir Agha are against anything that deprives them of an extra nickel.

On Wednesday, the City Council adopted recommendations made by city planning staff to require that the city recover 50 percent of costs for all architectural review permits, design changes and administrative approvals effective March 1, rising to 75 percent on Jan. 1, 2011.

The city currently recovers about 35 percent of the cost of processing the applications, said chief city planner Lynn Burgess.

P.G. Will Get More Money From Developers

Bayview School In Danger Of Closing

That’s the last school in New Monterey. They should be able to enroll children from P.G.

Bay View School

But there is another reason why administrators seem to prefer the closure of Bay View: With a capacity of 350 students, the school is not receiving enough income from the state — which allots a certain amount of money for each student — to pay for itself. With an estimated $21billion deficit on the horizon for California, administrators are almost certain more budget cuts are on the way.

Last year, administrators at MPUSD determined that, for an elementary school to break even financially, it had to house 360 students — it would spend $1.6million and receive $1.6million from the state. Schools whose enrollment falls below that number — like Bay View — are practically “deficit spending.”

Bayview School In Danger Of Closing

Deborah King Declared Fit For Trial

In prison or a mental facility, King will never be free to operate a car again. That’s good.

Deborah King In Court

KSBW Photo

Prosecutor Steve Somers confirmed Tuesday that Deborah King is being returned to Monterey County to face prosecution for allegedly running down 35-year-old Joel Woods as he was picking up his son outside Pacific Grove Middle School on Sept. 2, 2008.

King, who has five drunken-driving convictions in Kern County, is charged with murder and vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated. Somers alleges that she was under the influence of prescription drugs when the accident occurred.

Deborah King Declared Fit For Trial

Wasted $$: Crazy Plan To Refill Reservoir

This was one of the “Runaway Mayor” Dan Cort’s sustainable schemes. Bad idea – especially for the residents that live north of the thing in case of an earthquake.

One reason I do not trust the city with more of my tax money.

A $45,000 study on the feasibility of reactivating California American Water’s empty reservoir in Pacific Grove as a catch basin for storm water runoff and a source of irrigation water for the city’s golf course and parks will be presented Wednesday to the Pacific Grove City Council.

Wasted $$: Crazy Plan To Refill Reservoir

Wave Street Studio Trying To Remix Parking Offset Cost

Man builds a TV studio in the middle of a tourist destination then has issues with parking requirements. Huh?

Looks like all that greenwashing didn’t amount to much. Was it worth it?
Wave Studio

The city, he said, led him to believe he would receive parking variances and water allocations in return for his restoration of the historic property and his “green” building practices with the new additions.

The minutes of the meeting show Mayor Chuck Della Sala adjourned it to allow Rerig to call Smith and see if he wished to attend. Rerig said Smith told him he considered the matter “a done deal,” didn’t plan to attend and didn’t care if the council took action or continued the matter.

He said the council cut Smith’s monthly parking fee payment in half, from $948 to $474 a month. He said Smith owes the city $12,326 in parking fees and has not been paying the monthly amount. No payments have been received in a year, Rerig said, and no penalties or interest charges are being levied by the city.

Wave Street Studio Trying To Remix Parking Offset Cost

Read Someone Else’s Books, No New Taxes

Measure J was close, but not close enough.

With all the votes counted, including the late ones and the questionable and damaged ballots, Monterey county Elections reports that Measure J, which would have funded our library with a $96 parcel tax, missed passage by a very scant margin.

Hear-Old reports it at 3 votes. Well, here was 2 of them:

Vote 2009
Two No On J Votes

I cannot support this or any other begging from the city until they show that they can manage what they have already.

Need a start?
– End all city supported funding of the ineffective Chamber Of Commerce.
– Cut all ties with “ICLEI”, the Local Governments for Sustainability.

Read Someone Else’s Books, No New Taxes