Category Archives: New Monterey

Bamboo Reef Closes

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Seal Posse contributes to the fall of a business that’s been here since 1961.

Bamboo Reef

According to the company’s website, both the Monterey and San Francisco locations closed after 64 years in operation

“There’s a lot happening in the scuba world right now on the California coast,” says John Richardson, owner of Monterey Bay Scuba Diving, LLC, the parent company of Monterey Bay Scuba. Richardson observes a similar trend of shrinking in neighboring Santa Cruz County: “They went from four shops down to one-and-a-half in just the last five years.” Richardson says he is not sure why so many dive shops have recently gone out of business, but he thinks it may be due to oversaturation for low-populated beach communities. He adds that repeated beach closures due to thousands of sea lions congregating at San Carlos Beach in Monterey, a popular scuba spot, might have contributed to a local industry slowdown.

Bamboo Reef Closes

Hit And Run, Vehicle Vs. Pedestrian

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Caught. Another Flock camera credit.

On November 13, 2025, at approximately 10:10 a.m., Monterey Police Officers responded to a reported hit-and-run collision near the intersection of Pacific Street and Scott Street. Witnesses described the involved vehicle as a white, four-door sedan.

Monterey detectives and officers continued searching for the driver. At approximately 2:40 p.m., they located the suspect at a business in the 300 block of Alvarado Street. He was identified as Jaishi Govinda, 24, of Salinas, California.

The investigation determined that Govinda had been driving west on Scott Street and turned south onto Pacific Street when he struck a pedestrian who was walking within the crosswalk on Pacific Street. After striking the victim, Govinda immediately fled the area. The victim sustained serious non-life threatening injuries and was transported to a local hospital.

Govinda was taken into custody without incident and booked into the Monterey County Jail on a violation of California Vehicle Code §20001 – Hit and Run Causing Injury. His bail was set at $10,000.

Hit And Run, Vehicle Vs. Pedestrian

Trashy Boats Lead To Insurance Required For All

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There’s been some nasty boats parked there for years.

Break Water Cove

last week, a damaged vessel sank near the dock, requiring a multi-agency effort to clean up the mess and get the wreckage to shore. To protect itself and other owners from damage and liability, the City of Monterey is requiring proof of insurance for all boats in slips or attached to mooring balls to be provided to the harbormaster by September 1.

Trashy Boats Lead To Insurance Required For All

Newbie Come-Here Didn’t Think Much Of Plane Traffic

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Until now and wants to sue. She should move to P.G. where wind chimes can get you a $435 fine.

When Nancy Runyon bought her house in New Monterey in 1998

1998? Newbie.

She realized her house was now in the “instrument flight path,” where planes have to rely entirely on their instruments as they approach the runway when it’s socked in by clouds, which is often. She says planes “fill the sky” above her house on a regular basis as they’re coming out of the fog bank.

“I’ve lost a lot of sleep over this, because of plane noise, but also because of worry,” Runyon says. “I usually don’t go to bed until the last plane has landed.”

Over the past couple of years, Runyon and a group of New Monterey residents formed the Monterey Fly Safe Coalition to organize and exert pressure on the Monterey Peninsula Airport District board to mitigate the problem.

Newbie Come-Here Didn’t Think Much Of Plane Traffic

 

New Monterey Man Threatens Victim, Police And Himself

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Paul Opsahl

On Thursday, August 7, 2025, at approximately 5:10 p.m., Monterey Police Officers were dispatched to a domestic disturbance in the 500 block of Belden Street.
Monterey County Communications provided constant updates to the officers as they arrived. The suspect, Paul Opsahl, 54, of Monterey threatened to kill the victim, shoot officers as they arrived on scene, and then kill himself.
The victim was able to flee the residence as officers arrived. Opsahl followed the victim out of the house and was  arrested by officers on scene.

New Monterey Man Threatens Victim, Police And Himself

Jordan Pollacci Arrested AGAIN for Taking Lewd Photos, Gave False Name

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Third time. Jordan needs more jail time – like his dad did.

Jordan Thomas Pollacci 2

Jordan pollacci 2025 08

On July 22, 2025, Monterey Police Officers were dispatched to the 800 block of Cannery Row regarding a report of a male who had engaged in suspicious behavior but was no longer in the area. The male was reported to have followed
a young adult female inside of a business and pressed up against her. In two other separate incidents the male was reported holding a cell phone with his hands lowered while standing close to females wearing skirts. It appeared the male was pressing up close to the females in an effort to photograph up their skirts.

One of the victims reported the incident to a security guard who attempted to detain the male. Initially the male  stopped and provided a name, but the male then fled the area on foot and was not located. The name provided by the male was determined to be a false name.

MPD Officers identified Jordan Pollacci, 35 years old of Monterey, as a suspect in this case. Officers noted Pollacci matched the description of the suspect in the surveillance camera videos. Pollacci’s vehicle was also captured on Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) cameras both arriving and leaving around the same time as the suspect

Pollacci has prior convictions for 647(j)(2) PC — invasion of privacy, and 311.11 (a) PC — possession of obscene material after he was arrested in Monterey County for taking photos up a woman’s dress in 2014. In 2022, Pollacci was arrested by Newport Beach police for taking photos of a female inside a store changing room

Pollacci is required to register as a sex offender as a result of his convictions- MPD  Officers attempted to contact Pollacci at his registered address, but he was not located.
On August 5, 2025, MPD Officers served a search warrant and arrest warrant at a residence on El Caminito Del Norte, Monterey, and placed Pollacci under arrest.

Pollacci was booked into Monterey County Jail on charges of 647(j)(2) PC invasion of privacy and — sexual battery. His bail was set at $500,000.
This case remains under active investigation- Members of the public with any relevant information are urged to contact Sergeant Greg Galin at (831) 646-3872.
Anonymous tips may be submitted via (831) 646-3840.

Jordan Pollacci Arrested AGAIN for Taking Lewd Photos, Gave False Name

Most Popular New Attraction: A Flame Broiled Burger Joint

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Whatever brings ’em in. Too bad the last fast-food place this side of the tunnel is gone.Carl's Jr flames

The burned-out husk of the Carl’s Jr. building on the corner of Lighthouse and David avenues draws passersby with their phones out, snapping photos of the pile of rubble that neighbors the Pacific Grove Tourist Information Center and is a stone’s throw from the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

Monterey Fire Division Chief Justin Cooper says insurance investigators are still combing the property to try to determine the cause of the fire, which remains unknown. Due to the severity of the damage, the cause may never be discovered, but Cooper says it doesn’t appear the fire was set intentionally.

Most Popular New Attraction: A Flame Broiled Burger Joint

Failed IMAX Theater’s Next Venture, A Fly & Dive

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Like that’s going to be a real Monterey Experience. More than black light mini golf, more than a diving bell, it’s a Fly & Dive. Check back in a few, see if it’s still a thing. Hint: Bring back the Edgewater Packing Company.

Edgewater Packing

Work has resumed on a new attraction inside the long-shuttered movie theater on Cannery Row, nearly three years after its permits were approved by the Monterey Planning Commission.

A sign posted on the door of the building at 640 Wave St. notifies passersby that work has commenced at the property, which is owned by the Cannery Row Company. The lessee is listed as Fly Dive, LLC, doing business as Monterey Fly & Dive.

Failed IMAX Theater’s Next Venture, A Fly & Dive

Fish Prison Workers Unionize

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Aquarium Kalisas

Vote was 183 yes and 138 no. Well, what did they get? Besides pizza.

“Monterey Bay Aquarium looks forward to negotiating in good faith with MBAWU on behalf of its members. At this time, the Aquarium cannot speculate on what may or may not be included in the union contract. The Aquarium has always prioritized-and will continue to prioritize-the well-being of our staff, who play a central role in maintaining our position as a global leader in marine conservation and education.”

Fish Prison Workers Unionize