What I’m Hearing: Part 3

One of the best parts of this campaign has been the opportunity to connect with people across Pacific Grove.

Conversations have covered a range of topics, from opportunities for young people and veterans to our streets, housing, the waterfront, and the future of important properties in our community.

Here are a few things I’ve been hearing.

Paid Internships

Several students in our community are looking for paid internships, which can be an important bridge between education and a career.

Paid internships give students the chance to build skills, make professional connections, and gain experience.

Students would like to see even more opportunities to grow through internship programs.

More VA Work-Study Opportunities

Veterans attending CSUMB and other nearby educational institutions would like to see more work-study opportunities with the VA and veteran-serving organizations.

This would help student veterans earn income while completing their education, deepen their professional experience, and provide opportunities to continue serving the veteran community.

Protecting Monterey Bay

Protecting Monterey Bay continues to come up in conversations.

Pacific Grove’s relationship with the Bay and coastline is part of our history, our identity, and our future.

People care deeply about protecting the extraordinary natural environment that surrounds us and want ensure that our city continues to have a strong voice in the future of the Bay.

Streets and Sidewalks

The condition of streets and sidewalks throughout Pacific Grove is an ongoing concern.

As a resident, I’ve been bringing these concerns forward to the Traffic Safety Commission.

American Tin Cannery

The future of the American Tin Cannery is another subject that comes up frequently.

People recognize the importance of the property and the difficulty of bringing a major project to fruition in today’s financial and regulatory environment.

Higher interest rates and changing financing conditions have made development more difficult across the country.

At the same time, this is an important site for Pacific Grove. People want to see progress and are interested in receiving more regular updates.

Housing Affordability

Housing affordability remains one of the issues I hear about most often.

People worry about whether their children will be able to live here, whether people who work in Pacific Grove can afford to live nearby, and whether longtime residents will be able to remain in the community they love.

There are no simple answers, but the conversations reinforce how deeply housing affects the character and future of Pacific Grove.

I’m grateful to so many residents for sharing what they are experiencing. I look forward to working on these issues and more.