"It’s hard to even imagine," said Anthony Carnazzo, Co-owner of Stationaery. "Carmel is tourism."

Despite projected multi-year budget deficits, city leadership remains divided between managing resident frustrations and preserving the local economy built around hospitality.

"I hear from folks who want to eliminate visitors, but they’re forgetting that tourism built this town," said Dale Byrne, Mayor of Carmel-by-the-Sea.

"Without it, well, I don’t even want to think about where we’d end up."

Carmel council members eventually agreed to restore funding only after See Monterey committed to conducting a comprehensive visitor management study set for release in November 2026.

"From time to time, I think about that cartoon because it still feels so relevant," said Karyl Hall, local resident.

"Only now, it’s even worse."

Local residents attribute much of the recent traffic spike to social media visibility promoting coastal natural landmarks.

"With Instagram and Facebook," said Karen Ferlito, longtime Carmel resident, "it feels like these places kind of advertise themselves."

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In response to similar concerns, neighboring Monterey County recently established a one-year parking prohibition near Big Sur's Bixby Bridge to curb roadside overcrowding.