Kerfuffle in Pacific Grove over political signs

UPDATE 4/8/2016 9:15 PM: A campaign sign conundrum is happening in Pacific Grove. Someone has been taking down signs in support of a controversial proposition. Over the past few weeks, more than 100 “Yes on X” campaign signs have gone missing in Pacific Grove, including the ones posted in front of the Chamber of Commerce.

The chamber president installed several surveillance cameras. One camera caught one man removing a sign. He was later identified and has since apologized for the incident. Another man was captured replacing a “Yes on X” campaign sign with a “No on X.” Authorities are investigating a possible link between the men seen in both videos. There’s a $500 reward to capture the man seen in the second video.

A local political scientist calls these tactics “guerrilla warfare politics.”

“It’s somebody who wants to have an impact in a simple inexpensive way, where they think they’re fighting the big boys,” political scientist David Anderson said. “They think they’re fighting the establishment, the politicians, businesses, whatever.”

Both incidents revolve around Measure X. It’s a proposition asking voters to approve changing the zoning for a particular area, the American Tin Cannery on Oceanview Boulevard. It’s currently home to an outlet shopping mall but it is also the proposed site for a luxury hotel called Project Bella.

“Project Bella is a LEED Platinum, 225 room hotel with a couple of restaurants, a museum, a visitor’s center and a small conference room,” said Moe Ammar, president of the Pacific Grove Chamber of Commerce.

Ammar says Project Bella is expected to bring in $4 million in tax revenue. However some feel the development would be taxing on the area.

“I voted no on Measure X because I think it would be a complete disaster, considering all the traffic we already have in the area,” one woman said. “And it would change the whole atmosphere over what is now a very wonderful place to be.”

“People are going to come to this area based on the fact that it’s so beautiful,” said Robert Boerner of Pacific Grove. “Whether they spend the night or not, that remains another subject. Still in all, they’re going to come no matter what. And it’s important for us to capture some of the revenue when they are here in the city.”

An independent fiscal analysis report by Applied Development Economics was commissioned by the city of Pacific Grove and presented on April 6. The report concluded Project Bella would generate $2.5 to $3.6 million in annual Transient Occupancy Taxes for the city. The report also concluded the hotel would generate $443,100 in annual property taxes and between $209,400 and $294,000 in annual sales tax, depending on how much shopping hotel guests would do in the city.

For the full report, click here.

ORIGINAL POST:

As the debate over Measure X heats up, Pacific Grove Chamber of Commerce officials said they have video of two people removing “Measure X” signs from their office.

Officials said cameras caught two different people on two different occasions pulling the signs from the Central Avenue office. The Chamber is offering a $500 reward for information leading to the remaining suspect as one of the suspects has already come forward. Luke Colletti told KION over the phone he took some signs down on one of the occasions.

In total, officials said 100 to 124 “Yes on Measure X” signs have been removed across the city.

Measure X involves the rezoning of the American Tin Cannery to allow for the construction of a botique luxury hotel. A ‘yes’ vote would approve rezoning.

As police continue to investigate the stolen signs, KION’s Mariana Hicks will have more details Friday night.