P.G. Looking (finally) Into Laws Regarding Electric Bicycles

Posted on by

I remember getting hollered at by the tam o’shanter wearing cyclist when my children and I were an inch from the pavement as he sped by.

Easiest way to enforce safety would be to ticket any bike rider riding on the sidewalk. And as long as we are at it, make helmets mandatory for all riders regardless of age, on any two wheeled vehicle motorized or not.

Bike path speed

During the council meeting Wednesday, the council discussed existing city code and how it applies to e-bikes, bicycles and other devices on the coastal recreational trail, in parks and in other public spaces. The discussion focused on enforcement challenges, safety concerns and whether current regulations reflect current usage.

Currently, e-bikes are now allowed in Perkins’ Park, Lovers Point Park, Pacific Grove Golf Links, El Carmelo Cemetery, and the property ocean-side of Ocean View Boulevard to 17th Street. The exception is on the paved portion of the recreational trail.

P.G. Looking (finally) Into Laws Regarding Electric Bicycles

Drones Banned In P.G.

Posted on by

Councilman Poduri wanted the long awaited ATC Hotel property exempt. Maybe this disguise can skirt the law:

The vote did not come without some bargaining after Councilmember Chaps Poduri demanded the future American Tin Cannery luxury hotel project be specifically excluded from the ordinance.

Poduri told the council that he did not want any more potential conditions placed on the project, located on the Pacific Grove/Monterey border, just around the corner from the Monterey Bay Aquarium, and not far from the harbor seal pupping beach near Hopkins Marine Station.

He held his ground, refusing to vote for the ordinance as is, and although the other councilmembers argued that it concerned recreational drones only, not commercial, Poduri refused to budge.

Drones Banned In P.G.

P.G. Bike Safety To Be Enforced

Posted on by

First, we need some cops to fill the vacancies.

PG911 Bike Patrol

“E-bike concerns and safety have been a priority of our Police Department for some time now, especially concerning our youth,” said Mogensen in a separate email.

A Public Records Act request with the city found that in the three-year span from Jan. 1, 2023, to Dec. 31, 2025, police issued zero citations for the municipal codes related to e-bike regulations. KSBW reached out to the police department for comment, but a representative from the department said they would not comment ahead of the city council meeting.

A review of the 2024 Annual Report produced by the police department, the most recent one available at the time of publication, showed that the police department had four vacancies, or 17%, for sworn staff. The report said one goal for the following years was to increase bicycle patrols.

P.G. Bike Safety To Be Enforced

Another P.G. School Worker Arrested For Sexual Assault On Student

Posted on by

Has there been some kind of trend with perverted P.G. teachers and non teacher workers? Whoever is doing the hiring at P.G.U.S.D. aint doing a very good job.

Marquis Pickrom

Marquis Pickrom

Marquis Pickrom, a former girls’ basketball coach at Pacific Grove High School and campus supervisor, was arrested by Pacific Grove police over the weekend and booked into the Monterey County Jail on Sunday for sexual assault of a minor under 18 and annoying or molesting a child.

The victim is a student at Pacific Grove High School.

Between August 2023 and October 2025, the victim, who was 16 to 18 years old at the time, reported being groomed by Pickrom, saying he “gave her special attention” and “made personal and romantic comments.”

In July 2025, the police say he kissed the victim and sexually touched her.

Another P.G. School Worker Arrested For Sexual Assault On Student

CSUMB Prof Assaults Student At P.G. Middle School

Posted on by

Social Sciences, eh?

PGMS J Woods Flowers

A man was arrested on suspicion of battery after witnesses saw him knock a hat off a student’s head in front of Pacific Grove Middle School as children were being let out for the day.

On Jan. 15 at about 2:05 p.m., Frederik Vermote, 44, of Marina, confronted a P.G. Middle School student “for throwing books on the ground that came from a free library
box located in the front lawn of the school,” police Cmdr Brian Anderson told The Pine Cone last week. “During the confrontation, Vermote struck the child,” who was not injured

Vermote is listed as an associate professor of social sciences and global studies at Cal State Monterey Bay. Police did not specify Vermote’s relationship to the student. On Jan. 23, the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office charged Vermote with  misdemeanor battery, claiming he used “force and violence upon John Doe while on school property.’

CSUMB Prof Assaults Student At P.G. Middle School

Tina Rau Gets Fines For Not Filing

Posted on by

The Pacific Grove myth of a good ol’ boys council is alive and well.

Tina Big Jacket

City Councilwoman Tina Rau — who is under investigation by a state agency for an alleged conflict of interest — was fined last year by the same regulator for failing to disclose her financial investments, as elected officials are required to do, according to documents obtained by The Pine Cone.
The Fair Political Practices Commission concluded in May 2025 that Rau failed to report her ownership of a commercial building on Forest Avenue that houses music venue Pop & Hiss and more than $ 100,000 in annual rental income from the business, her $1 million-plus home on 19th Street, a $100,000 loan, and other financial interests.

Tina Rau Gets Fines For Not Filing

Correction
Last week’s story, “P.G. official fined for late filing,”
mischaracterized a March 19, 2025, Pacific Grove City
Council vote. On that day councilwoman Tina Rau and
three of her council colleagues — who were in favor of
increasing the entertainment noise threshold downtown —
directed the city attorney to return to the council with an
ordinance to modify the Pacific Grove Municipal Code as
it pertains to sound amplification.

More Parks Go To The Dogs

Posted on by

Kind of goes with the change of come-heres that have dogs instead of children. Arnett Park is the baseball field behind Arkwright Court.

No Barking

On Jan. 22, four members of the city’s recreation board voted to endorse the concept of a dog park. The panel listened to numerous proponents who envision Arnett Park, just off David near the Lucky supermarket, as its location. “I think all of us agree a dog park would be wonderful, and we would all benefit from it,” P.G. recreation board chair Jay Tulley said before the vote.

More Parks Go To The Dogs

Public Pooper Pinched In P.G.

Posted on by

Country Club Gate, keeping it trashy.

no public poop

Police said they were dispatched to the Rite Aid at Country Club Gate Center to conduct a welfare check on a man in the area. When they arrived, they found the man defecating in the street. He was identified as Jodie W. Moore, 64, a transient. Police conducted a records check and said he had an active felony warrant for failure to appear out of Monterey County, as well as six misdemeanor warrants for other alleged offenses throughout the county.

Public Pooper Pinched In P.G.

Stakes Are High For P.G. Pot Permits

Posted on by

So much that one company files eight applications for a chance at a license.

it was revealed that eight of those applications were submitted by one company — Off The Charts, which  operates a cannabis shop just over the hill on Lighthouse Avenue.

The Southern California-based company filed eight nearly identical applications under different owners, according to public records, including Norman Yousif—Off The Charts’ founder and CEO — Yousif’s wife and sons, three of their  employees, and their legal representative, Sean Maddocks of Green Consulting Partners. Yousif applied under the  name OTC Pacific Grove, and the others under various limited liability corporations: OTC, ADM Biz Dev, Marogy RE, MRJE, PG Retail, Ravvy Rogers, and Robbinhood

Stakes Are High For P.G. Pot Permits

Anonymous Complaint Over Tina Rau Conflict Of Interest

Posted on by

City Attorney Brian Pierik announced he was quitting in August 2025

Tinas big jacket II

(City Attorney Brian)Pierik’s office sent at least two letters to the FPPC defending Rau’s ability to vote, calling her a “disinterested landlord,” and saying she has no financial interest in Pop & Hiss – Lovers Point Properties LLC is paid a flat rent, not a percentage of revenue. One letter also argued that the vote – to pursue an ordinance – had no impact on any business in the city.

“The action taken by the City Council… did not commit the City to approving an increase in the noise level from 70dB to 80dB or to take any other action regarding noise levels,” an April 25 letter states.

One anonymous complaint was amended by the complainant on Nov. 5 with new information, pointing out that contrary to the City Attorney’s statements, Pop & Hiss owner Michaela Kuenster once sat on the LLC’s board as a “manager/member.” (She has transitioned to being a tenant only.)

“Any policy decision that benefits Pop & Hiss – such as increasing the allowable sound level in commercial districts – could therefore financially benefit the LLC, and by extension, Councilmember Rau,” the complaint stated.

Anonymous Complaint Over Tina Rau Conflict Of Interest