“We’re combining some sections and dropping others as we move into 2008. Our goal is to maintain the high level of quality you’ve come to expect from us and to meet our fiscal responsibilities.”
More of the same irrelevant to Monterey wire stories, for more money. The newspaper is withering away in a change of information delivery.
And who better to complain than our own David Dilworth.
The report’s authors acknowledge that an unknown number of the complaints may be duplicates because several agencies collected the information. But the report also suggests that many residents with symptoms have not reported them.
David Dilworth, executive director of HOPE, said the groups plan to present the nearly 200-page report to legislators Tuesday.
Will they include all the reports that were called in by fakers the day after the scheduled spraying was called off?
Pacific Grove police have arrested a Pacific Grove man for attempted murder after he allegedly assaulted his former girlfriend Wednesday night.
Todd Elliot Stanton, 23, was arrested at his home this morning after police found him hiding in the living room of his house, according to Pacific Grove police Commander John Nyunt.
The battle is brewing between the come-heres and the been-heres. Do we sell out to tourist machines or hang on to the shreds of small town livability?
P.G. should not be L.A., Michael Zambory
in desperation an attempt is made to sell the city to an entrepreneur in exchange for the use of the golf course and various city facilities on a seasonal basis over an extended period of time. Never mind the effect on the city and its residents, just think of all that money. . . What price should we place on the peace of mind of the residents affected by visitors filling our neighborhoods?
Don’t trash our course, Roger Pasquier
The reason the Concorso Italiano didn’t make it in Pacific Grove had nothing to do with local residents. It was the Coastal Commission.
The chamber (of Commerce) seems to think the only way to get people into P.G. is to hold big events. Downtown business has been eviscerated by this mentality.
Toy Soldier? Always thought he was the Nutcracker. His jaw opens and closes when his arms move
“The whole idea is to do it for the kids,” Jones said, “and see their faces light up.
“There’s nowhere else in the city to go and see something like this.”
A fixture in the neighborhood has been a giant robot constructed by retired Pacific Grove Fire Capt. Howard Cowen that used to grace the city fire station’s front lawn. The robot wore a firefighter’s hat and turnout gear when it was displayed at the fire station. Now it greets visitors on Cowen’s front lawn at Beaumont and McFarland avenues, reincarnated as a giant toy soldier.
Op Ed article by David R. Henderson.
Do you really think that P.G.’s library, street repair, tree trimming, and landscaping are run as efficiently as they could be? What are the odds of that given that they have not had to face competition for decades? According to the Reason Foundation, a libertarian think tank in southern California, contracting tree trimming and landscaping creates savings of 16 to 35 percent. So, let’s put it to a test, a market test, in Pacific Grove and see what kind of savings the city government can reap. And if it works for those services, let’s extend it to other government services.
“not had to face competition” is right – but also have not had to face discipline for poor work habits.
There’s another option to consider: expand the tax base. I’m not advocating a tax increase. Rather, the city government should liberalize its rules to allow peaceful activities that are not now allowed. The city does not allow bars, even though bars generate substantial tax revenues. How about allowing one or two and see what happens?
And how about allowing fast-food restaurants so we don’t have to go elsewhere? The only fast-food restaurants the city government has allowed in Pacific Grove are McDonald’s and Subway. Those who don’t like such food don’t have to buy it.
Now that’s what I’ve been waiting for. Common sense hospitality that can bring back the families that don’t have the need for snooty bistros or $30 bottles of wine.
The city’s Beautification and Natural Resources Committee submitted a report to the Pacific Grove City Council on Wednesday noting that Pacific harbor seals are crowding the west beach of Hopkins Marine Station and, in 2006, some mother seals used the beach west of Fifth Street to bear pups.
All recommended that the city establish a plan to keep the seals off the beach. Once ashore and pupping, the experts said, the seals own it.
The policy, they said, should discourage “haul-outs” by seals by chasing them back to sea if they come out of the water, by banging on pots and pans, using other noisemakers, scarecrows and human presence.
Be careful when you ask for radical conservation and nature preservation, you just might find yourself banned from your own public beaches.
Here’s a suggestion:
No matter what the tidepool nazis say..
12/19
http://www.montereyherald.com/ci_7760224
City Attorney David Laredo said the aquarium contends that the city’s ability to set rental rates for the property it occupies is restricted and that it will contest any rental fee increase. The aquarium has proposed an extension of the lease for another 25 years, until Dec. 2, 2030.
All of the property is submerged land to which the city holds title, Laredo said.
12/20
http://www.montereyherald.com/ci_7769449
The tidelands were deeded to the city by the state in the public trust, said Councilman Daniel Davis, not to be used for commercial purposes, and any revenues from piers, docks or similar leases would have to go to trust purposes and possibly to the state, not into the city general fund.
“The city,” said resident Lee Willoughby, “has some responsibility to charge a reasonable and equitable rent.” He said the aquarium “has also used our tidelands for collecting specimens.”
Some events are mostly for-profit operations, like the Good Old Days on Lighthouse Avenue. Charge them but anything involving kids and family should be exempt.
The council is expected to review the 24 special events proposed for the period March 2008 through February 2009 with an eye to seeking reimbursement for city costs from some of them.
Traditional events that have been exempt from paying city service fees have included Good Old Days, the Fourth of July Celebration, Feast of Lanterns, the Concours Auto Rally, the Butterfly Parade, Pacific Grove High School Homecoming Parade, the Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony, Downtown Holiday Parade of Lights, and Stilwell’s Snow in the Park. The council could consider seeking reimbursement during the coming year from some or all of these events.
The Pacific Grove Chamber of Commerce has announced the formation of the Pacific Grove Hospitality Improvement District which was authorized by the City Council at its Dec. 5 meeting.
The district funds promotions, marketing activities and physical improvements related to the city’s hospitality industry, and is funded by the assessment of $1.50 per occupied room night for full-service accommodation establishments and $1 for limited service establishments. Funds will be governed by a five-member advisory board.
Maybe get them some bigger trash cans in the quest to beautify.