CRA Hosts - Congressman Jimmy Panetta for a Town Hall
October 22, 2026  5-6pm in Carpenter Hall (with write-up below)

Jimmy Panetta at the Carmel Residents Association Town Hall - Oct 22 2026 Highlights

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After a warm welcome and introduction by Graeme Roberston CRA President of our 19^th District House of Representative , our Congressman Panetta and Graeme began their interactive Q&A session.

Jimmy is specially honored and pleased to serve in the community where “he calls home,” especially having been raised and attending our local schools through Carmel High. He and his team now serves our district with:

• Case Work: Citizen needs tied to Social Security, Medicare, VA Benefits, Immigration, Visa, and Passports and more. (e.g., 18 million $’s back to citizens from the IRS just this term)

• Federal Funding for local Infrastructure etc.: including Grants for various local needs, some including post disaster assistance and others for “shovel ready” projects (recently including $’s for Monterey Airport expansion)

• Legislation: he is proud to have authored and moved  31 Bills into Law over his five terms (10 years) as our representative. These bills required bipartisan support addressing the needs locally as well as the Nation.

Jimmy shows up and is accessible in our community and is committed to it. Jimmy encourages us not to “turn it off.”  We all have a responsibility to vote, to be informed and to be engaged.

This particular time and term in Washington DC is “very difficult” and today’s “political BS” makes it rough. Jimmy originally came into office in 2016. But this 2024 term has become reactive unfortunately, versus proactive with legislation that serves our area and beyond. This current mode has diminished the law-making know-how (skills) and path to solving problems for constituents.

Jimmy stands on the shoulders of those before him who did the arduous work that delivered our Central Coast’s “Marine Sanctuary” designation, from those including Sam Farr, Leon Panetta, and John Laird. This was done through legislation and not through Executive Order – that to change our current status would require legislation. Trump administration has reopened the Santa Barbara existing offshore oil drilling (rig) platforms and wanted to open up our local Coastline to oil drilling – via a back door path (of collecting the oil via ships, v. pipelines). Graeme asked what we could do to help. Jimmy mentions that there has been a prior open comment period and there will be a second round coming up shortly. His office will reach out to us requesting we chime in on the value of preservation of this significant natural resource.

There is also critical work underway on protecting our National Forests. Jimmy has already passed into law  the “Replant Act”  especially critical to address in follow-up to the fires here in our area and beyond. This is critical to help protect against slides, through this preventative tree planting.

Jimmy is also perusing having  Monterey Presidio “Commodore Sloat” Monument designated as a National Monument and Heritage Area. This will take multiple steps via prepared reports and then legislation to follow…targeting to be complete  2-4 years from now.

Car Week and Overtourism – Jimmy mentions that this does bring significant $’s into our area – but it felt really different, more than any prior year. “It was a little bit much.”  What he doesn’t want is that “element” to turn people away from Car Week. We appreciate our hospitality industry. And in parallel we value our area and don’t want to see it ruined. Jimmy noted the recent Travel article highlighting all of the great restaurants in town here. “It’s a lucky balance that we have to do and must do, ….to protect what we want here.”  “Car Week is ever changing.” Graeme mentions “we are loving this place to death.”

Carmel Police Station Project – Jimmy likes to show the power of the purse here in town. As this project gets to be shovel ready – this ask should come his way. Grants from $250,000 to $2,500,000 are possible.

Housing – Jimmy acknowledges that we live in a beautiful, desirable, and expensive area with regard to Housing, but with the lack affordable housing. “There is no silver bullet.”  Local, State & Federal all have a role. Jimmy mentions that he has a significant and bipartisan role on the Ways and Means Committee (all big bills comes before them). He has 3 Bills in the works:

   A) Increase Capital Gains Tax benefit from the 1997 level of 250k as individual and 500k as a couple to twice that level, with an annual inflation adjustment. This could be passed in the “lame duck” Congress in Nov/Dec, but if it doesn’t then, it can pass as an add on to a larger bill. Even the President has mentioned support of such a bill.
   B) First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit of $15k.
   C) Low Income Tax Credit – Incentive for developers of 4% and 9% with more submissions to be funded, plus a Middle-Income Tax Credits as well.

Other Legislation – A Continuing Resolution is expected soon on the Budget front. And a Farm Bill and a FISA renewal.

Audience Questions

With our thanks and appreciation.

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