The Monterey Sports Center is reopening, and hiring! See the news release for details, and visit montereysportscenter.org for a link to the application and job descriptions.

The Engineering Office is busy with Franklin Street storm drain upgrades that will reduce pollutants flowing into the bay from stormwater. A filtration device removes trash and debris down to 5mm in size - smaller than a cigarette butt. This project includes a phase 2 to start this summer to upgrade Franklin St intersections and ADA compliance at Tyler, Washington, Adams, Figueroa, and Cortes streets. Postcards will be delivered to neighbors near the project. See the postcard for more details, https://monterey.org/Portals/0/News/Franklin-St-Storm-Drain-Project-Outreach-Mar2021web.pdf

The U.S. death toll from the coronavirus topped 500,000 on Sunday. This number of deaths represents the population of Atlanta or Sacramento. President Biden ordered the flag of the United States to half-staff from February 22-26, 2021 in honor of the 500,000 Americans lost to COVID-19. He is also encouraging Americans to join in a moment of silence at sunset. The Presidential proclamation reads, in part: 

As of this week during the dark winter of the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 500,000 Americans have now died from the virus. That is more Americans who have died in a single year of this pandemic than in World War I, World War II, and the Vietnam War combined. On this solemn occasion, we reflect on their loss and on their loved ones left behind. We, as a Nation, must remember them so we can begin to heal, to unite, and find purpose as one Nation to defeat this pandemic. Read the full proclamation - https://flagsexpress.com/flags-half-staff/february-2226-2021-halfstaff-alert-entire-united-states/

Photo: Thank you to the City of Pacific Grove and their community partners for this lovely memorial at Lover's Point Park.

Interested in purchasing Monterey's 250th anniversary keepsake merchandise? Each item is $20 including tax. We have posters, baseball caps, and t-shirts in sizes Med/Lrg/XL. Email webmaster@monterey.org to place your order and schedule pickup and payment in front of the Monterey Public Library.

The City of Monterey is in the process of collecting community feedback about whether to allow commercial cannabis businesses. We held two virtual town halls this week, opened an online survey (with over 160 responses so far), and a mail-in survey will be delivered soon. Have your say on this important topic by visiting haveyoursaymonterey.org, where you can take the survey and rewatch this week's meetings. Thank you!

UPDATE 7/11: This notice has been lifted - http://www.onsolve360.com/alert?id=9-36356

A water main break occured on Aquajito Road near Monterey on the evening of July 7, 2020. The State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Drinking Water, the Monterey County Health Department, and Cal Am are advising residents in the affected area to only use boiled tap water or bottled water for drinking and cooking purposes as a safety precaution to avoid stomach or intestinal illness; anticipated restoration by the end of July 10, 2020. Affected areas include the Aguajito Oaks, Aguajito Rd, Del Monte, Deer Flats, Fisherman's Flatts, Naval Post Graduate, Monterey Peninsula College, La Mesa, Fairgrounds, Oak Grove, Sylvan-Castro areas. The water is safe for bathing and hand washing. If you have questions about other uses of tap water, please call your water system or read this guidance: https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/emergency/. Boiling Water Notice and Instructions Flyer PDF

The senseless death of George Floyd at the hands of the Minneapolis police officers has been a global wake-up call on the institutional and systemic racism that continues to exist in our nation. We are saddened and outraged by the killing of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and many other Black lives. The Monterey community firmly stands against racism, bigotry, violence, and discrimination. Black Lives Matter.

READ THE FULL MESSAGE

The 2020 Census is now open online and invitations to participate are being mailed out starting on March 12! This marks the official beginning of the historic, once-in-a-decade count that will determine the distribution of billions of dollars in federal funding and state and political representation in the next decade. The Census form is nine easy questions and your responses are protected by law.