Monterey's PBID: a Longtime Sleeping Giant

I visited Monterey, CA, recently.  As I do in all my visits to not-so-far-away places, I shop the little shops.  My heart (and livelihood) runs deep in supporting these folks.  Each time I get to the register I ask owners about their  versions of PBIDs.  I have not found one that says, "Oh yeah, we love it!" 

Monterey's version, for instance, costs about 1/3 of their rent.  It's been around for over 30 years — and the cost keeps going up, I was told.  The gift shop told me they recently reduced their space because of the poor economy. 

What's sad is that most of the folks could tell me how much it cost them, but none could tell me how they were represented — can you believe that?  "Oh, the hotel tells us how much to pay" is what an eatery told me. 

Are you being represented?  Are there meetings you can attend?  "Um, I'm not sure."

Theirs is a sleeping giant.  It seems no one questions the process.  I wonder.