12 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY APRIL 23-29, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com The developers behind a Pacific Grove luxury hotel project won a request for a one-year extension of a demolition permit at the California Coastal Commission on Thursday, April 16. While that sounds like another delay, it’s also a signal that the project may be preparing to come to life, years after it was approved by both the P.G. City Council and the Coastal Commission. The 206-room hotel was initially approved by the Council in January 2022 then was appealed within weeks by a citizens group and by two members of the Coastal Commission. It took two years until the appeal was heard by the Commission, which approved the project with changes in April 2024. Several months later the city and developers, Comstock Homes, came to an agreement on vacating a portion of Sloat Avenue, situated in the middle of what would become the luxury resort. The project seemed to come to a standstill, with no word of it moving forward until recently when Foursome Development, which owns the land, requested the demolition permit extension to April 2027. The developer Comstock has also put in an extension request to the City of Pacific Grove for the project approvals, according to City Manager Matt Mogensen. Comstock Homes Vice President Debra Geiler says that although it looks as if no work is being done, behind the scenes they’ve been busy. “We certainly have been working. We’ve been working on the marine mammal plan which has taken about a year to produce,” she says, referring to one of the conditions set by the Coastal Commission to protect harbor seals at the nearby pupping beach at Hopkins Marine Station. It’s one of several required conditions “before putting a shovel in the ground,” she says. The goal is to be ready to begin demolition work this fall, during a narrow window, August to November, required to protect the seals, Geiler says. The company missed the window last year. Thom and Kim Akeman, Pacific Grove residents and volunteer harbor seal monitors for the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, protested the Coastal Commission extension, arguing that any demolition or excavation will harm the seals and pointing out that the seals have become a tourist attraction. Coastal Commission Regional Director Carl Holm said the staff believes that the issues raised by the Akemans and others have been “appropriately addressed by the plan.” out sacrificing reliability.” Santa Cruz-based software engineer and Democrat Sean Dougherty pledges to only take “clean money” for his campaign. “Beyond the clean money pledge, I think my years of experience as a software engineer, including several years of both industrial and academic work on AI, uniquely qualify me to navigate the emerging dominance of AI in our economy and personal lives,” Dougherty says. “I will not be easily bamboozled by the AI lobbyists, and I will apply my populist ideology to protect the interests of the people of this district over those of the AI industry.” Thomas Coxe is a landscape architect based in Santa Cruz County with no party affiliation, whose goals, if elected, would be “to support the schools, fund our infrastructure improvement projects and help reduce or at least stabilize the cost of living on the Central Coast. “In this era of extreme partisan division and narrow majorities in both chambers of Congress, a true Independent could have unprecedented sway in passing legislation and electing the speaker of the house,” he says. Panetta says that reducing the cost of living and supporting communities in the district will be his priorities, among others. “I will continue my work to pass legislation to increase affordable housing and accessible health care, bolster immigration reform, repeal harmful tariffs, protect our coastline, combat fentanyl trafficking, help our servicemembers and veterans, and more,” Panetta says, noting he has had 24 bills signed into law, including four during the current term. “This past year, I secured over $15 million for local infrastructure projects and community services needed in our communities. This is in addition to the total of $16 billion in federal investment that I have brought into our district.” Republican Tuka Gafari of Scotts Valley says his experience working in high tech, as a real estate agent and locomotive engineer qualify him to serve as a U.S. representative. “I’m a people person who has always helped people when I volunteered in search and rescue,” Gafari says. “So, wanting to help people, having solutions to resolve issues in our community put together is what drives me. Most importantly, I too have a family and protecting our children is key.” Ana Luz AcevedoCabrera, a professor at Hartnell College who lives in Marina, did not respond by press time. Wait List The American Tin Cannery luxury hotel project takes a step back to move forward. By Pam Marino NEWS BE PREPARED Learn how to prepare for wildfire and receive guidance from Monterey Fire on how to harden your home. Three Altadena residents impacted by the 2025 Eaton Fire will share their experience. 10-11:30am Saturday, April 25. Sunset Cultural Center, Carpenter Hall, San Carlos and 9th, Carmel. Free. (831) 624-6403. FACE THE FACTS Journalist Janine Zacharia, a lecturer at Stanford University, will discuss AI-generated propaganda in wartime and how to sort fact from fiction in a social media-driven world. The talk is presented by the California Media Literacy Coalition. 1-2:30pm Saturday, April 25. Universalist Unitarian Church, 490 Aguajito Road, Carmel. Free. medialiteracycoalition.org. MEASURED APPROACH City of Monterey voters will decide on a 0.375-percent sales tax measure on the June ballot, and property owners will vote on a proposed stormwater fee in May. City officials host a town hall meeting to discuss the measures. 6-7pm Monday, April 27. Casanova Oak Knoll Park Center, 735 Ramona Ave., Monterey. Free. (831) 646-3799, monterey.gov/elections. AGING GRACEFULLY Alliance on Aging hosts a presentation on how to understand the needs of Monterey County’s aging population. Executive Director MJ Donohue provides insights into trends and service gaps for seniors. Noon-1pm Tuesday, April 28. Salinas Valley Chamber of Commerce, 119 E. Alisal St., Salinas. Free. Register at (831) 655-1334, allianceonaging.org. MEET AND GREET Meet new Monterey City Manager Dante Hall in an open house-style gathering. Share your thoughts and hear his vision for the future. 6-7:30pm Tuesday, April 28. Monterey Conference Center, 1 Portola Plaza, Upper Level, Monterey. Free. (831) 6463760, monterey.gov/cmo. TALK OF THE TOWN Supervisor Glenn Church hosts a town hall for Oak Hills residents. 5:30-7pm Wednesday, April 29. Castroville Library Community Room, 11160 Speegle St., Castroville. (831) 755-5022, glennchurch.com. SCHOOL WALK North Monterey County Unified School District hosts school tours as the board weighs a potential bond. 9-10:30am Thursday, April 30. North Monterey County High School, 13990 Castroville Blvd., Castroville. Free. RSVP at bit.ly/NMCUSDTours. (831) 633-3343, nmcusd.org. The American Tin Cannery building in P.G. could see partial demolition this fall during a narrow window of time due to a Coastal Commission condition to protect harbor seals. E-MAIL: publiccitizen@montereycountynow.com PUBLIC CITIZEN The goal is to begin demolition this fall. DANIEL DREIFUSS RACE continued from pg. 10
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