September 21 - 27, 2012
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Dear Readers, After more than 30 years of controversy and at least ten years after the ultimate decision became inevitable, Carmel's taxpayers still haven't been able to sell Flanders Mansion. The latest delay? The third EIR on the sale isn't finished yet. Mayor Jason Burnett made some outspoken comments about the situation, and Mary Schley has them.Despite more than 4,000 signatures on a petition seeking a public vote on the water board's user fee, the board voted this week to disregard them. Kelly Nix has that one. Another thing that makes Carmel different: It seems that every civic and community group in town is enthusiastically backing the plan to increase the sales tax this fall. Mary Schley reports that one, too. County officials are proposing to reduce the height of an emergency communications tower proposed for Del Monte Forest. But (guess what?) some neighbors still aren't happy. Kelly Nix has the details. A woman is suing the Embassy Suites in Seaside because she says an elevator she was in fell almost seven stories, causing her to hit her head and panic. The next state park in California will be across Highway 1 from Point Lobos, and officials are proposing a name for it that would honor a Monterey County preservationist. This year's Authors & Ideas festival gets underway Thursday, and we have a preview. My editorial explains why things are looking hopeless when it comes to the water board and our water crisis. And don't forget that this week voting begins for the 2012 Golden Pine Cones, which is your opportunity to support your favorite Monterey Peninsula retail store, restaurant, and a host of other categories. Ballots go out Friday to our email edition subscribers, and we hope you'll participate. Please feel free to email me with your questions, comments or concerns about our newspaper, or about how best to read it on your computer, smartphone or iPad. To get this week's complete Pine Cone, please click here. If you have an informed opinion about one of our stories and would like to submit a letter to the editor, please click here. To comment on our Facebook page, click here. And, as always, you should not hesitate to contact me if you have questions, comments or concerns. Paul Miller, Publisher |