LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 07.04.13

Wedded Bliss

I’ll get to tell my son about a disturbing time in history when people didn’t believe everyone was equal rather than him having to experience it. (“Marriage Equality Wins: Supreme Court ruling strikes down DOMA and California ban on gay marriage,” and “How does today’s Supreme Court ruling on Prop. 8 and DOMA affect you?” posted June 26 online and to Facebook.) - Bryan Flores | via Facebook

What a great day for equality! Those that love their partner can now marry who they wish. Happiness should not be regulated. - Johnny Larra | via Facebook

The economy has potential to boom! Many opportunities for everyone from the hospitality/tourism industry to small businesses and creative freelancers. It is a win-win all around!! - Molly Nance | via Facebook

This is the lawyer in me speaking. The validation of today’s rulings affords the legal protections to all, and the spectrum of love won. - Marie-Claire L. Facio | via Facebook

Gardens of Stone

Bravo (“State budget cements $1.5 million for Veterans Cemetery at Fort Ord,” posted June 27).

By de-linking the Monterey Downs project from the Veterans Cemetery we can now move forward with supporting our vets and getting down to the real issues: Whether we should develop on 540 acres of pristine forest while we have over 4,000 acres of blighted land that should be developed first; and whether we want to introduce horse racing into the Monterey area, which is a dying industry and has been linked to the cartels in money laundering.

We have institutions like CSU Monterey Bay, The Panetta Institute, the Monterey Institute for Research in Astronomy (MIRA) and the Department of Defense center that have built on blighted land or rehabilitated existing structures for use. This is the preferable and more forward thinking way to develop. - Lovely_Toes | via Web

So it took the great state of California two decades to finally step up for a measly $1.5 million and then hand it off to the Feds. I guess we should now factor another 40 years in the timeline to complete the cemetery? What an absolute joke!

This does nothing to cement the final completion of the cemetery; it is now in the hands of the federal government. ’Nuff said! What will we say to vets 20 years from now when they’re still waiting for a cemetery?

Secure the Promise will absolutely guarantee the cemetery gets built and in a timely manner, for those lovely men and women that served us bravely.

In addition to the promise, more open space will be preserved and available for access, along with an economic tsunami for Seaside that hasn’t had it easy since it’s main economic driver (Fort Ord and the Feds!!!) chose to close up shop and leave. - BillyBoy601 | via Web

I am grateful for the work of U.S. Rep. Sam Farr and State Sen. Bill Monning in moving the Veteran’s Cemetery closer to fruition. However, we still have a long way to go.

Still needed is the money from the sale of the endowment parcel for the maintenance of the cemetery. Also needed is the funding for the CEQA documents. Currently, those funds come through the development of neighboring parcels now known as Monterey Downs. Under the current base reuse plan, Seaside would determine the approval of the Monterey Downs development or look for another project for those parcels. The Access Alliance petition would take those parcels permanently out of development, reducing the value of the endowment parcel to any developer and ending the possibility of the Veterans Cemetery. Let Seaside determine its future. - Dawn Poston | via Web

With only 40 days or less of racing at Monterey Downs, what will you do for the other 325 days of the year? Possibly, Monterey Bay Race Place at the Fairgrounds where satellite horse racing is year-round? Better yet, enjoy the Olympic size swimming pool or a heated game of tennis. Possibly catch a dog show, a concert, or how about your child’s graduation? Maybe a Veterans event, or a beautiful car show. What about shopping? Or maybe just enjoy the amenities of the hotel you are staying at? How about this, put on your walking shoes or get on a bike and visit the nonprofit Horse Park or the National Monument or pay our respects at the Veterans Cemetery?

With this much commerce and activity going on, who knows, someone close to you may even get one of the thousands of jobs at Monterey Downs, The Horse Park, or the Central Coast Veterans Cemetery. - Steve Bloomer | via Web

Adobe Systems

As I understand it, Frances Molera deeded the property to the National Trust when she died in 1968 with the stipulation that it not be used as a restaurant (“Plans to develop Cooper Molera Adobe take shape, Monterey preservationists push back,” June 20-26). What about their blatant disregard for her wishes in considering this developer’s proposal? - Sam | via Web

LOTS OF ACTION

I know… how about something really different: How about the city of Monterey buying it and using it for the public good, instead of going to another rich corporate developer to make money for another restaurant or store selling crap we don’t need. (“Cannery Row Marketplace developers default on prime property, headed to foreclosure,” June 27-July 3.) - Sherry Lessen | via Facebook

Monterey is a tourist destination. The hotels and shops help give the city money that fund all kinds of other services for the locals, not to mention employment opportunities. Be careful what you wish for. - Colleen Dunham | via Facebook

Hairy Bear, Scary Bear

Many, many thanks to young Josh Marcus for his journalism (“A surprising class on resourcefulness – led by a former homesteader – surfaces in Del Rey Oaks,” June 27-July 3). There was a good turnout of smart and creative people at the survival class, and already calls for class #2. Fun stuff! I am compelled to make a small correction: The bears encountered by our family were black bears. To my knowledge there are no grizzlies in California. And for the record, I’d have been highly respectful, if not truly afraid, of a grizzly. - Ellen Townsend | via Web