Monterey merchants and business group urge council to keep downtown security ambassador

Small business owners and the city’s downtown business association urged Monterey council members to keep a downtown security ambassador program that staff has flagged for potential budget cuts.

Abdala Manisir, who identified himself as the owner of Maniseri Crepe and a newly acquired downtown business, told the council he and other merchants rely on the ambassadors and would be harmed if the city drops the program: "we require the city to at least keep the community safe, keep downtown safe," he said, describing transient behavior and drug‑related activity that drives away family customers.

Sabrina Hilton, executive director of the Monterey Business Association and manager of the downtown Monterey Business District, emphasized the ambassadors’ daily presence on Alvarado Street and during the farmers market. She described the ambassadors as a lower‑cost buffer that prevents many incidents from escalating to police responses and said eliminating the program would increase demand on the Monterey Police Department and harm downtown economic vitality.

Separately, plumber and contractor Tom Barrera spoke during general public comment about a planned July 1 set of permit‑fee increases that would, he said, raise two commonly used permits from roughly $680 total to about $2,600 — a jump he described as "price gouging" that will raise costs for homeowners and small contractors.

Council response: council members did not take immediate action during the meeting but heard the concerns. Staff and business leaders signaled the budget process will continue and that advocacy may influence final decisions.

What happens next: the council’s budget process will determine whether the downtown security ambassador line item remains; business groups urged continued engagement with council and staff.