Hear-Old Says Yes On “U”

Herald Hear-old

Public safety salaries and pensions have lost touch with private sector wages and benefits partly because city councils and boards of supervisors were not as frugal as they should have been, but even more so because cities and counties are competing from a shrinking pool of candidates. Fixing the too-costly pension system in California will require a systematic, statewide approach, not anything city by city.

Measure U on the June 3 ballot would raise sales tax from 7.25 percent to 8.25 percent. It doesn’t apply to groceries or other major expenses such as rent. It would provide the city about $1.3 million each year, much of it paid by tourists and visitors. On average, the additional tax is expected to cost each resident less than $5 per month.

It would provide the city about $1.3 million each year, much of it paid by tourists and visitors.

Tax the Tourists!!

Hear-Old Says Yes On “U”

That Take-Out Will Get You A Ticket In P.G.

Styrofoam & plastic ware is banned from restaurants.

Any way you spin it, whatever take-out is packaged in will still be overflowing from hotel dumpsters.
Sea-Breeze Motel:
Dumpster Sea Breeze Motel 071216a

..or spilling out of restaurant’s trash cans
Holly’s Lighthouse Cafe

Dumpster Hollys Cafe 080622

The ban applies to city contractors and special-event promoters using disposable food-service ware. Foods prepared or packaged outside Pacific Grove are exempt, as are ice chests, coolers, other containers meant to be reused, and shipping containers.

Ryan Kenny of the American Chemistry Council told the council that supporters of the ban did not provide scientific evidence that it does more harm to the environment than other packaging or food service containers, and that switching to alternatives “will replace one type of litter with another.” Organic containers buried in landfills, he said, produce methane gas that can harm the environment.

That Take-Out Will Get You A Ticket In P.G.

Lighthouse Cinema Open For Business

Glad to have a movie house back in town. Now let’s see some creative movie marketing – not just the same Hollywood dreck.

the new theater owner of Lighthouse Cinema has negotiated running new Hollywood blockbusters, and has spent roughly half a million dollars on renovations to draw more people, including new seats, tiling, and digital sound system.

Maybe better sanitation, too.

Dumpster Lh Cinema 080720b

Lighthouse Cinema Open For Business

City Attorney Warns Council About Illegal Rentals

Rooms For Rent

The city cites water, parking & building permits as reasons why some of the landlords were refused to go legit. No one needs a permit to rent a room of a house, wouldn’t that situation would add the same real burdens as a rental unit? Yesterday’s “basement apartment” becomes today’s “room for rent”, life goes on.

If Pacific Grove moves to crack down on illegal residential rentals, it had better move carefully, City Attorney David Laredo warned the City Council on Wednesday.

Laredo said state and federal housing laws could require the city to pay for finding a new home for evictees if it initiates shutting down the illegal rentals.

“Relocation is a complex process,” he said. “A public agency may be liable if it undertakes a project or program that requires relocations.”

Laredo said the city needs to have a written relocation policy and should hire an enforcement officer. The council unanimously instructed him to draw up the policy.

 

City Attorney Warns Council About Illegal Rentals

P.G. Police Raises Matter In Budget

The police pay increase — amounting to 24 percent over three years — drew criticism from council members Dan Davis and Susan Nilmeier, who voted against final passage of the pay raise late Wednesday.

Nilmeier said predictions of a “modest” recession and the low level of city cash reserves — about $800,000 — made her hesitant to approve a pay raise that was contained in an agreement made last year, before the economic downturn and when the city was banking on the passage of tax measures to increase revenues. The tax increases were rejected by voters in November.

“I don’t know how we can honor these commitments. I can’t vote yes on multi-year increases in a recession,” she said.

Davis, who argued against the raises at the April 16 meeting, said he was dissatisfied with the methodology arrived at by Colangelo and Becklenberg for computing pay raises to make police salaries competitive with surrounding cities, particularly trading health benefits for salary increases that boosted police retirement pay.

I agree with Davis. If the cops want to make more money – go to work in Monterey, Salinas or Oakland where you have to get out of the cruiser and chase a rapist or gang member with a gun. The work is not real tough in P.G.
PG Cops On Break
(picture from morriefisher.com)

P.G. Police Raises Matter In Budget

Real Science vs. The Poser

Dilworth’s feelings proven to be not of sound mind.

Dapper Dilworth

Task force members found several points of debate in Dilworth’s presentation.

Steve Shimek, executive director of the Otter Project, said that data show the density of traps required would “make trapping impractical.”

David Headrick, a pest management expert and professor at Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo, questioned Dilworth’s determination of what makes a successful eradication effort.

During his presentation, Dilworth said state efforts have fallen short in eradicating seven of nine targeted species since 1982. Headrick said that a species can be eradicated and reintroduced at a later date.

Sheri Lee Smith of Forest Health Protection disputed Dilworth’s contention that Hawaii is not concerned about the moth’s presence on the islands.

“To say Hawaii is not concerned about the moth,” Smith said, “would be a mistake.”

Dilworth said he does not know what percentage of a regional population is captured by traps, and so he does not know how many traps would be needed to control the population.

“The only way we’re going to have an idea if it works is if we use traps for a long period of time and don’t catch any moths,” Dilworth said after his presentation.

For instance, the HOPE’s proposal indicates that apple moths fly no more than 30 yards from where they are born.

“We’re not sure where the (20- to 30-yard) figure came from, but suspect it may have come from a (New Zealand) study,” the response said.

In that study, moths were caught at a median distance of 30 meters to 35 meters after being released, the response said.

“As these were median distances, half of the moths flew further, and males were caught up to 600 meters from the release site.”

HOPE also said the moths “do not fly higher than 10 feet above the ground.”

The working group response said “this is simply not true,” saying that apple moths have been trapped about 50 feet high in a New Zealand pine forest.

Dilworth said he acquired this information from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The response also shot down a HOPE claim that the sprayings “may have affected monarch butterflies or Smith’s blue butterflies, but not likely target moths.”

The working group response: “We don’t know why this statement is in the document or where it came from. The (Technical Working Group) is not aware of any information on either of these species relative to the LBAM treatments, nor is there anything in the formulations that we would expect to have any effect on these species one way or the other.”

Real Science vs. The Poser

Joy Colangelo – Darwin Theory In Practice

I’ve been carless for three months after my car caught fire while being repaired at the dealer. I ride my bike daily and have lost 10 pounds, which I really didn’t need to lose. I eat more than my teenage children, who are junior Olympians.

I canceled my auto insurance. I fly by gas pumps and have a cholesterol ratio that defies science. But I don’t wear a helmet. And I don’t use bike lanes.

Okaaaaaay. In today’s Letters From The Editor, Greg Lindsey writes:

As a former traffic cop, I could only shake my head after reading Joy Colangelo’s column Sunday.

Apparently, she doesn’t understand the traffic laws applicable to bicycles. Riders are required to ride as far right on the roadway as possible. The only two general circumstances where a bicyclist can be out in traffic is when they’re making a left turn or are riding as fast as the traffic is moving.

Cycle Against Oil

Another New Ghetto News Rack

The flock of rusty or warped plastic pulp dispensers in front of the post office was replaced back on the 24th of April.

Check out that wrong color post. Accepting such errors is the first step to the ghetto look.
News Rack Post Office wrong Post

And it didn’t take but a few days before Coast Weakly defaced the side with a big red advertising sticker. Ghetto transformation well advanced . .
News Rack Post Office Weakly

Another New Ghetto Newsrack

New Monterey Police Blotter – April 2008

Warm weather brings the tourists – and the crime. Return of regular robberies on the rec trail. Very notable is a felony arrest for graffiti. Use a sharpie irresponsibly, lose your rights.

4/1/08 Citizen was robbed on the rec-trail behind the Roto-Rooter building while riding his bicycle towards Seaside.

4/2/08 Monterey Plaza Hotel, 400 Cannery Row, reports unknown to have stolen two bathrobes and miscellaneous toiletries.

4/2/08 Citizen 500 block David reports the burglary of his 97 Honda Civic while parked in the covered carport.

4/2/08 Monterey Senior Center 200 block Dickman reports graffiti.

4/5/08 Monterey Plaza Hotel, 400 Cannery Row, reports finding property in a room at the above.

4/8/08 Report of a Hispanic female adult to have stolen $500.00 in cash, $100.00 in travelers checks, and $205.00 in five dollar bills from underneath the cash register area of the business located in the 700 block of Cannery Row.

4/9/08 MPD is investigating graffiti at the parking lot on the corner of the Coast Guard Pier and Foam.

4/9/08 City of Monterey reports graffiti at the top floor of the parking garage at 601 Wave.

4/9/08 Citizen reports falling at the intersection of Hoffman and Foam.

4/9/08 Citizen was assaulted and robbed on the recreation trail at Cannery Row and Foam by two unknown white male adults and one white female adult. All suspects appeared to be in their early 20’s. Both males were approximately 6’0″ tall with slim builds and blond hair. The female had dark blond hair. Suspects fled on foot northbound on the recreation trail toward Hoffman. Taken was $2.00 in cash from victim’s wallet.

4/10/08 Book buyer Store, located at 600 Lighthouse, reports an unknown to have placed graffiti on the exterior wall, adjacent Hoffman, sometime between 4/8/08 at approximately 1700 hours and 4/10/08 at approximately at 1000 hours. Graffiti was in the form of the word “OATH” and done in a black spray paint. Approximate cost of damage: less than $400.

4/10/08 City of Monterey Building Maintenance employee, reports an unknown to have placed graffiti on the public restroom located at San Carlos Beach sometime between 4/4/08 at approximately 1500 hours and 4/10/08 at approximately 0930 hours. Graffiti was in the form of letters/slogans and done in a black and white permanent marker.

4/10/08 MPD aided Monterey Fire Department in the 600 block of Grace St for a fire in the garage area of the residence.

4/10/08 Citizen was assaulted and robbed in the 600 block of Del Monte on the Recreation Trail by three Black male adults and two white male adults. Suspects fled southbound on Del Monte toward the skate park. Stolen: backpack/wallet $20.

4/12/08 HUBBARD, CODY was arrested for felony vandalism after he vandalized MPD patrol vehicles 42 and 44. The vandalism consisted of permanent orange paint marker with a word similar to “OATH” written on both vehicles.

4/13/08 THE CANDY FACTORY, 685 Cannery Row, placed TASCHIAN, ALBERT under citizen’s arrest for theft of a cardboard Superman cutout, valued at $34.99. TASCHIAN additionally charged with obstructing/delaying a peace officer.

4/14/08 Citizen reported her wallet stolen while at 900 Lighthouse (Nob Hill Foods).

4/16/08 Spray painted graffiti under the Chart House.

4/16/08 Citizen 500 block of Hawthorne reports the theft of her Honda Accord.

4/17/08 RILEY, REGINALD was arrested at Foam and Cannery for driving on a suspended license.

4/17/08 Citizen reports unknown to have stolen a T-shirt and sandals from 693 Lighthouse, On The Beach Surf Shop.

4/18/08 Threats reported threats 800 block of Wave St.

4/18/08 MPD assisted Carmel PD in the arrest of HILL, TIMOTHY for possession of a stolen vehicle (2006 Lexus 5NQE737) and extortion at Noche Buena and Playa, Seaside. Carmel took custody of Hill and transported him to PGPD. Vehicle towed to Carmel PD.

4/18/08 Citizen versus a silver mini-van driven by an East Indian male in his 50’s in the Cannery Row garage between level 3C and 3D.

4/19/08 White male adult and white female adult walked out of the Sardine Factory restaurant without paying the bill which totaled $240.02 and removed a crystal wine decanter.

4/19/08 Citizen reports a male to have stolen $100 dollars from the front counter of the Bay View Delicatessen, 32 Cannery Row.

4/19/08 Citizen reports an unknown person removed $60 from her purse which was in her hotel room at 400 Cannery Row.

4/21/08 Citizen reported theft from her vehicle at 590 Cannery Row.

4/21/08 Graffiti in the 1000 block of McClellan.

4/21/08 Citizen reports a grey vehicle, possibly a Mitsubishi Eclipse unknown plate, to have struck his 1989 Chevrolet while parked on the east curb in the 200 block of Hawthorne.

4/22/08 An unknown vehicle collided with the signal light pole at Lighthouse and Prescott at an unknown date and time.

4/22/08 Citizen reports being verbally threatened at 600 block Lighthouse.

4/23/08 Citizen reports an unknown suspect to have stolen his laptop from his unlocked car while parked at the coast guard pier.

4/24/08 Citizen reports offensive language towards a customer in front of 867 Wave St.

4/24/08 City Hall, Monterey, reports the theft of recyclables from the bin in the 700 block of Lighthouse by a black male with dreadlocks driving a white Ford SUV

4/25/08 Citizen 200 block Hawthorne reports unknown to have broken the right rear camper shell window to his Grey 2007 Dodge Ram Pick up truck.

4/25/08 City of Monterey Maintenance reports graffiti to the men’s bathroom stall, Reeside and Cannery Row.

4/25/08 Gianni’s, reports Kenny SHAFFER to have trespassed and interfered with customers at Gianni’s at 725 Lighthouse.

4/26/08 Poppleton’s located at 299 Lighthouse, reports an unknown to have forced entry into the business.

4/26/08 Citizen 800 block Alice reports an unknown suspect to have left a threatening drawing nailed to a cabinet in his garage.

4/28/08 Citizen reports his vehicle “keyed” the length of the passenger side while parked in the 400 block of Reeside.

4/29/08 MPD towed a white 95 Dodge pickup from 700 block of Spencer for being abandoned.

4/30/08 Citizen reports his vehicle to have been struck and damaged while parked on David Ave

4/30/08 City of Monterey reports graffiti on a PG & E utility box, located on the West side of 585 Cannery Row.

New Monterey Police Blotter – April 2008

Who’s Watching The Grandparents?

(KPIX CBS)

Do your own background checks on anyone you hire.

Monterey County District Attorney Dean Flippo today announced that Central Coast Senior Services of Pacific Grove has agreed to pay $175,000 to settle a false advertising complaint.

Flippo’s office began their investigation in April 2006 after two criminal prosecutions involving Central Coast Senior Services employees stealing from elderly clients.

Who’s Watching The Grandparents?