City of Monterey Overview

Increasingly, the housing crisis has become a major political issue in California, and nowhere is that more true than the city of Monterey, where about two-thirds of the residents are renters and where the economy is driven by the hospitality industry, which is staffed by employees that often travel from afar to get to work.

David Schmalz here. Just over three years ago in this newsletter, I offered a defense for the much-maligned bike path running down the center of North Fremont Street in Monterey, aka the Bike Lane to Nowhere.

David Schmalz here. Short-term rentals have long been a sticky subject locally, as opponents argue they hurt the fabric of the community and take vital housing units off the market, while its proponents broadly argue that a property owner should be able to use their property as they see fit, and besides, they create tax revenue for local jurisdictions.