Thank you to the 25 former elected officials, civic and business leaders that spoke in favor of the American Tin Cannery hotel project at the last Planning Commission meeting. Former Mayor Bill Kampe, Vice Mayor Robert Huitt and several former city council members supported the project. Huitt is the longest living elected official having served for 18 years on the council. Trade and business associations spoke in favor, as well as representatives of school groups.
Only 16 people spoke in opposition to the project, most oppose any change in general. They contacted the State Water Resource Board and California Coastal Commission as a last resort to stop progress. My biggest takeaway at the meeting was that the Monterey Bay Aquarium and Hopkins Marine Station that is operated by Standford University are not opposed to the hotel project as designed. If the project harmed the seals, as the opposition claims, the Aquarium and Hopkins would oppose it.
Finally, almost 60 % of the voters approved Measure X that allows a hotel at the site. Democracy will prevail.
— Moe Ammar, president of Pacific Grove Chamber of Commerce