A year after closing, the story poles are up.
We Will Vote Again To Raise Taxes
Jeanne, if an extra penny on the dollar will drive your customers to Monterey, your fabrics are way to expensive already.
The Pacific Grove City Council voted unanimously to put a measure on the June 3 ballot that, if approved, would raise the sales tax from 7.25 percent to 8.25 percent, with the additional cent on the dollar going to the city general fund.
That 13.8 percent increase in the sales tax rate is expected to raise an additional $1.3 million annually in revenues, said city Director of Management and Budget Jim Becklenberg.
But Jeanne Graham, owner of the Handmaden craft and fabric store, argued that raising the sales tax will drive residents to shop in neighboring Monterey.
Sam The Sham Calls Police Officers Nazis And Harbors Illegal Immigrants
Farr made the remark Tuesday when Immigration and Customs Enforcement Chief Julie Meyers was addressing concerns about federal raids of illegal immigrants before the House Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, which Farr sits on.
“What happens is the public image of you becomes one of not this compassionate law enforcement agency but essentially a Gestapo-type agency that is knocking down doors,” Farr said, according to preliminary transcripts of the hearing.
Meyers interrupted Farr and said: “We are not the Gestapo.”
Replied Farr: “I appreciate that, and I know that. I’m just telling you that there is a very ill will public opinion in the counties I represent about ICE.”
Farr has not withdrawn the remark. He said it came from the impression many of his constituents have of ICE, which periodically rounds up people without proper documents and deports them.
Over in Sam’s represented county, crime is out of control, there are Mexican gang members shooting each other all over town at and hard working businesses getting robbed every week. Even the Mayor of Salinas had his home burglarized. It’s certainly not the ICE agents causing the crime wave, Sam the Sham shows his support for the criminals and not the protectors.
Sam The Sham Calls Police Officers Nazis And Harbors Illegal Immigrants
Good New Monterey Business Idea
Typical P.G. Boutique?
Ned’s just in the wrong town. Wooden fish with little hats would sell at places like Tessuti Zoo or Morita’s.
Spelling Enforcement – Apostrophe’s Not Needed
Sometimes there may be a boo-boo on the website, but all it takes is a backspace and correction. Too bad that banners on buildings in Salinas can’t be backspaced.
P.G. Workers’ Union Wants It’s Dues Back
Pacific Grove employee union representatives want City Manager Jim Colangelo to cancel the reorganization of city staff that was approved in October and reinstate all employees who were laid off.
The union has filed an unfair labor complaint with the Public Employment Relations Board against the city, contending Colangelo’s reorganization plan, adopted by the City Council on Oct. 3, deleted 21 full-time and two part-time employee positions while adding 23 lower-paying full-time and two half-time positions.
Closed – P.G. Business Center
Notice that Moammar’s Chamber Of Commerce had the address wrong in the website. Should get a refund on the dues for that mistake.
It’s really at 612 Lighthouse. If your business is silly enough to bend over for Moammar, check what you are getting . .
New Monterey Police Blotter – February 2008
Still a high number of car burglaries. Word must be out that we all leave our cars unlocked and full of easy to fence valuables.
2/3/08 CITY OF MONTEREY had unknown vandalize the men’s restroom at Cannery Row and Reeside.
2/4/08 CANNERY ROW PIZZERIA reports theft of a check which was later cashed at the Washington Mutual in Pacific Grove.
2/5/08 Citizen reports unknown to have damaged his vehicle while parked in the WHALING STATION.
2/5/08 Citizen 800 block of Alice reports theft of his Mountain Bike.
2/6/08 WARREN, SPENCER was arrested for DUI at Spencer and David.
2/7/08 NIC’S MINI MART, 701 Lighthouse, reports an unknown suspect to have thrown a bottle of hot sauce threw their front window. The window was shattered causing $200.00 in damage.
2/9/08 Cox, Rick was cited for allowing his dog to run loose in the 200 block of Laine.
2/10/08 Citizen reports that her silver two door VW might have been vandalized at the 500 block of Lighthouse.
2/10/08 Citizen 500 block of Pine reports the theft of her mother’s vehicle.
2/11/08 Citizen 300 block of Dickman reports an unknown suspect wearing a black hooded sweatshirt to have entered his apartment using the 2nd story balcony and steal property.
2/11/08 Battery report at 600 block of Cannery Row.
2/11/08 HUDSON, GLEN was arrested for possession of more than 1oz. of marijuana at Wave and McClellan.
2/12/08 WILLIAMS, SHERRY was arrested for driving under the influence of drugs, under the influence of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia at Prescott and Lottie. Vehicle was parked at scene.
2/13/08 Citizen reports burglary to her vehicle while parked at 590 Cannery Row.
2/13/08 Citizen reports the auto theft of her 2006, black Dodge Dakota stolen from the corner of Hoffman / Lighthouse. Occ: 02/13/08 2130 hrs-2341hrs. Value: $25,000.00. POE: broken passenger window/keys with vehicle.
2/14/08 FORSHT, JOHN was cited for driving with a suspended license and unsafe speed at Prescott and Pine.
2/14/08 DICKEY, LAURA and EDWARDS, CHARLES were arrested for DUI at Lighthouse/Washington after being involved in a collision.
2/15/08 RENONI, NICHOLAS was arrested for resisting an officer at the Custom House Plaza.
2/16/08 DIETEZ, SETH was arrested for driving while under the influence following a traffic collision located at Prescott / Laine.
2/16/08 Citizen reports theft of his backpack containing clothing and $200 cash from an employee area of the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
2/17/08 Citizen reported his car was keyed at Wave and David.
2/18/08 Citizen reports his vehicle to have been burglarized in the 2000 block of David.
2/20/08 Citizen reports the theft of her neon green tote bag and passport from 700 block of Lighthouse.
2/22/08 Citizen reports a male to have been causing a disturbance and exposing himself to citizens in the 600 block of Lighthouse.
2/23/08 THOMAS, BRYAN was arrested for public intoxication near the fountain at Heritage Harbor.
2/23/08 Citizen reports residential burglary in the 700 block of Belden. A white female mid 20’s and white male mid 20’s were seen leaving on foot.
2/23/08 Citizen 500 block of Wave Street reported a theft from her unlocked vehicle.
2/23/08 Citizen 600 block of Irving reports his vehicle struck and damaged while parked.
2/23/08 MILLER, MARC was found to be in possession of less than an ounce of marijuana while driving at David and Hawthorne. Miller was released at the scene on citation.
2/24/08 Citizen reports his peace being disturbed in the 600 block of Lighthouse.
2/25/08 POPE, WILLIAM was cited for driving on a suspended license at Terry and Hoffman.
2/25/08 San Luis Obispo Co. was aided in the arrest of POPE, WILLIAM on an outstanding NO OR warrant.
2/27/08 MPD assisted PGPD in a theft that occurred at the Wells Fargo Bank in PG.
Read My Lips, No T.O.T.
But hotel and motel owners, who feel the city is reneging on promises made when they agreed to form a Pacific Grove Hospitality Improvement District and fund it with $1 and $1.50-per-night room assessments, said they would support a sales tax increase and pay an increased business license tax as well.
Adding another 2 cents on the dollar to the room tax — raising it from 10 percent to 12 percent — was expected to raise an additional $600,000 for the city, but approximately $230,000 of that is committed in a contract with the Monterey County Convention and Visitors Bureau, said City Manager Jim Colangelo.
But the masters of hidden fees have a few tried and true schemes to generate revenue.
14 Hidden Hotel Fees to Avoid
In recent years, hotels have become increasingly adept at finding ways to nickel and dime their customers. According to a study published last year by PriceWaterHouseCooper’s Hospitality Division, hotels are gorging themselves on surcharges and hidden fees. Hotels worldwide were on track to rake in nearly $2 billion in surcharges and hidden fees in 2007, more than tripling the $550 million they took in just four years ago. That’s a lot of minibar charges and towel replacement fees.
Groundskeeping
Make sure to take time to smell the roses in that lushly landscaped garden because you are likely to billed $3 or more a night for the effort involved in keeping the greenery perky.
Towels
Need a towel at the pool? Expect to pay a buck or two. Don’t scamper off to your room with it either, as you may be billed five dollars or more if you forget to return it to the attendant after your swim.
Business center, fitness room
If there’s a room with special equipment in it you’ll probably get charged for simply staying in the same hotel with said equipment, even if you never venture into the business center or gym. Fees typically run $5 – $10 a day. At resorts, this is typically called the “resort fee.”
Safe
Hotels are tacking $1-$3 dollar a night “Safe Warranty” fees onto bills to cover the cost of providing the safe and the insurance policy that covers the things stored in it. (Good luck collecting anything if that in-room safe is burgled though, as most hotels post signs disclaiming responsibility for valuables.)
Housekeeping, bellman gratuity fees
These folks certainly deserve to be paid well for their hard work, and most travelers show their appreciation with tips. But before you dig out the dollars, be aware that fees of $10-$30 a stay are being added to some hotel bills to cover housekeeping and bellman gratuities.
Water and newspapers
How nice that a bottle of pure spring water was thoughtfully left in your room. Don’t drink it. Chances are it’s not a gift and you will be billed anywhere from $4-$6 a bottle. The newspaper that shows up at your door in the morning? Expect to be billed for the “convenience.”
Energy surcharge
Intended to recover the rising costs of providing electrical power, this charge can add $3-$6 dollars a day to your bill.Early check in or out/extended cancellation
Checked in earlier than the hotel’s stated check-in time? You may be billed up to $50 for that early access. Had to leave sooner than planned? Expect to be charged anywhere from $50 to the cost of one night’s stay. And make sure to check the cancellation policy: Hotels that used to allow you to cancel the same day before 6 p.m.are now billing customers for one night’s stay if they don’t cancel 48 hours ahead of time.
Shuttle service
Taking the hotel shuttle from the airport used to be free, but it’s likely to cost you now, and almost as much as taking a cab to your lodgings.
Baggage-holding
Travelers with late-day flights often ask hotels to store their bags so they can enjoy another vacation day before heading to the airport. Some hotels are now charging up to $3 for each bag they babysit for the day.
Bartenders
Check the bill before you tell the bartender to keep the change. Posters on several travel boards have reported seeing charges for 20% of each drink added to their tabs for the bartender gratuity.
Room block fees
You’d like to reserve a bunch of rooms, all on one floor, for a family reunion or other event? No problem, because some hotels will be happy to bill you $10-$20 for that service.
Mini-Bar
No, it’s not the insane prices charged for those goodies, it’s the charges that are now added to your bill if you move something in the bar to make room for your own bottle of water, or even pick something up to look at it for a few seconds (sensors in the bar record your action and add the product’s fee to your room bill.) Some travelers who’ve routinely asked for the mini-bar to be cleared out before their arrival have been surprised by $50 “unstocking” fees.
Random incorrect charges:
Numerous posters on travel forums have reported getting charged for smoking in non-smoking rooms when the evil weed had never touched their lips. Ding: cleaning fee of $100 to $250, and sometimes more. Other random fees include being charged for unordered movies, unmade phone calls, etc.