Elkhorn Slough, Photo Credit: Kathy McKenzie Dear Friends & Neighbors, Looking back on 2025 and ahead to 2026, some key issues have been resolved, but many significant challenges remain. It is impossible to reflect on 2025 without addressing the Moss Landing Battery fire. Cleanup efforts continue and will do so for some time, while both Vistra and PG&E remain shut down by their own choice. Last summer, Monterey County began developing an ordinance to address battery energy st

Dear Friends & Neighbors, A year ago, voters in unincorporated Monterey County approved Measure AA. Measure AA increased the unincorporated sales tax from 7.75% to 8.75%. This one percent increase will generate approximately $25 million annually, which will only be spent for services and infrastructure in unincorporated Monterey County.  Since it has been a year since its passage, I want to provide an update on its status. A Board of Supervisors committee has been formed to m

Pictured above is the aftermath of the lithium-ion battery fire in January of 2025. Photo Credit: Carmel Pine Cone Dear Friends & Neighbors, Last month, I proposed a moratorium for Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) while the county develops a comprehensive ordinance for all future battery projects. The County of Monterey currently lacks ordinances suited for BESS facilities. Moratoriums are temporary suspensions to granting of permits. The maximum time for a moratorium is

Dear Friends & Neighbors, Pajaro is finishing something rare — a $20 million recovery effort designed and decided by its own residents....

Dear Friends & Neighbors, Improvements to Highway 156 between Prunedale and Castroville have been discussed since the 1960s. These...

Dear Friends & Neighbors, Measure AA, last year’s ballot measure that raised the sales tax in unincorporated Monterey County by 1%,...

Dear Friends & Neighbors, In April, I mentioned that a new fee is coming to well owners. This is to fund a program on groundwater...

Dear Friends & Neighbors, The County of Monterey’s budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year is $2.3 billion. With that amount, it would seem...

Photo Credit: Carmel Pine Cone Dear Friends & Neighbors, It has been over three months since the Vistra fire at the Battery Energy...

Dear Friends & Neighbors, A new fee is being proposed for most well owners and water systems in North Monterey County. This fee is the...

Photo Credit: Carmel Pine Cone Dear Friends & Neighbors, The Vistra Battery facility fire in Moss Landing remains a pressing concern. The...

Dear Friends & Neighbors, There is considerable uncertainty and misinformation regarding the recent fire at Vistra’s Moss Landing Battery...

Dear Friends & Neighbors, One of the more common complaints that my office receives is traffic speed. It is a concern everywhere. As our...

Dear Friends & Neighbors, The Eucalyptus Removal Pilot Program that Monterey County developed with State Senator John Laird is winding...

Dear Friends & Neighbors, For those of us who have lived in northern Monterey County for many years, we can recall when San Miguel...

Dear Friends & Neighbors, Short-term rentals (STRs) have become increasingly popular, but they are also causing growing concerns in many...

Dear Friends & Neighbors, Years of neglect have left Monterey County roads in poor condition. There are 1,257 miles of county roads, and...

Dear Friends & Neighbors, Plans are moving forward for the creation of the Crazy Horse Transfer Station at the former Crazy Horse...

Dear Friends & Neighbors, Last year, I worked with State Senator John Laird for Monterey County to receive $1 million from the California...

Dear Friends & Neighbors, Last month, the Board of Supervisors discussed the placing of cannabis lounges in the unincorporated areas of...