Real Answers from Mayor Dan Cort

By Dan Cort

Questions and Answers from Mayor Dan Cort

Q. Those items alone amount to tens of millions of dollars. How can a small community like ours afford to deal with such challenges? A.  These problems are significant but not insurmountable. This Council has made a number of tough budgeting decisions and the next Council will face many more. We have no choice but to allocate sufficient funds to the above mentioned budgetary items, knowing that what remains becomes the operating budget for our City.

A combination of careful budgeting, department efficiency, and new revenue sources will ensure we have funds to maintain and enhance Pacific Grove. In the end, it's about choices.

Q. What role does business play in the future of Pacific Grove? A.  Pacific Grove businesses are a vital part of our community and their continued vitality is crucial to the prosperity of our City. Their contributions are not only known through sales and transient occupancy taxes, but through their generous support of area non-profits and the community at-large. As Mayor, I will continue to work with the business community to ensure a bright economic future for our City.

Q. As an historic redeveloper, you've been involved in preserving aging architecture. Why do you feel that's important? A.  Historic restoration results in both economic and social community revitalization. Studies show that communities with historic neighborhoods fair better with tourism in good economies and bad, and have higher property values as well as lower crime rates. Pacific Grove's historic homes and businesses are assets worthy of preservation and enhancement. We must work to provide the owners of these properties with the resources and incentives needed to preserve these valuable treasures.

Q. Why are you running for Mayor? A.  In the simplest of terms...because I think I can make a difference. As a council person, Mayor Pro-tem and now as your appointed Mayor, I feel I have listened to all sides and made balanced decisions that have been good for our entire community. My goal is to put our City back on solid financial footing, institute checks and balances, implement a prudent infrastructure repair program, and institute fiscally and environmentally sound policies for our City while preserving and protecting our quality of life. We have already begun to make progress and, together, we can accomplish all of these goals and more.

Dan Cort