The List of Things We Don’t Talk About The last two weeks, I’ve put the “rhinoceros skin” you grow in public office to good use while seeing many examples of what we’ve quietly decided is “impossible.” We have a long list. Parking structures are “not allowed.” Undergrounding utilities is “too hard.” We can’t build new hotels without ruining the town. Housing can’t exist without destroying our character. We can’t have an honest talk about our untenable parking situation. And i

Loving Carmel — and Owning the Responsibility That Comes With It Good morning to my colleagues, City leadership and staff, and to those here today to help us with our important work. I’ll begin simply. I love this village. I know everyone in this room does too. That love is why Carmel has remained passionate, beautiful, and special for generations. But love also carries responsibility. And sometimes responsibility asks us to talk about things we would rather avoid. The Conver

In my last column, we talked about the village choosing its future. That conversation reminded me of 1991, when a group of residents gathered to imagine Carmel in the year 2016. Sunset Center hadn’t been upgraded, Ocean Avenue was quieter, and the internet hadn’t yet arrived. Like many previous times over the previous 100 years, residents sensed a crossroads. So, they formed the Carmel 2016 Committee. Their assignment was simple: dream about the qualities so distinctive to Ca