Measured Words

Measure K is the most misleading farce ever imposed on Monterey County voters (“Measure by Measure,” Oct 3-9). It won’t get you a veterans cemetery. That’s already happening and it’s been decided before the election. Launched by Monterey Downs developers in reaction to Measure M, Measure K “promises” a veterans cemetery on Fort Ord. What K proponents (and its campaign signs) don’t mention is the cemetery was always a separate effort and its fate was never up to voters. That fact has now caught up with K. The K campaign also claims M would prevent the cemetery from being funded. Nope. As widely reported by the Weekly and other media outlets, the veterans cemetery has now met all its funding goals, state and federal. These goals were met in advance of the election thanks to the hard work of certain local leaders, not because of Measure K.

At 119 mind-numbing pages, K doesn’t contain any provision ensuring a cemetery. On the other hand, page 51 of K authorizes a horseracing track in the Fort Ord backcountry while the rest of the measure customizes the Base Reuse Plan to fit Monterey Downs.

So Monterey County voters, if you’d like to maintain your quality of life and prevent your county from becoming a laughing stock, go get the absentee ballot sitting in your pile of mail and vote Yes on M and No on K. Now drop it in a mailbox. See how easy that was? Michael Salerno | via Web

The Weekly’s analysis of Measures K and M pointed out that “one parcel Measure M does not mention is the Monterey Horse Park, a 110-acre piece of Parker Flats where equestrian enthusiasts hope to build horse training and competition facilities.” Indeed the public discourse on Measures K and M rarely mentions the Monterey Horse Park (MHP). I have been a director of MHP since its incorporation in 2001 as a nonprofit, public benefit corporation (www.montereyhorsepark.org). It was formed to bring to fruition the dream of local equestrians to build a horse park at the former Fort Ord and to provide the “high-quality equestrian center” designated by the 1997 Base Reuse Plan as one of its desired public recreation facilities. It is not a racetrack, not merely a boarding stable, not simply a competition venue. It will be a center for all recreational and competitive equestrians, a venue for equine-assisted therapy for veterans, children and adults and equine-related training and education. Kids will be able to learn how to ride and then compete up to the highest levels, in all Western and English disciplines. It will provide trailhead facilities, including restrooms and horse camps, for easy access to the Fort Ord National Monument and the Habitat Recreation Area. According to the study prepared for the county in 2005 by Economic & Planning Systems, Inc., its visitors and competitors will generate positive economic impact for the county of $65 million, each year. It is difficult to see how the parking provided by Measure M for equestrian trailers, limited to 3 acres, will be paid for let alone generate $65 million for the county every year. Jim Hendrick | via Web

It is very sad to see the restricted focus of the Pacific Grove Unified School District’s Measure G. Measure G (along with previous measures) ignores helping children with severe disabilities in the Pacific Grove School District. Currently, the previous measures bring in $24 million annually to PGUSD (much more than many other districts).

PGUSD has a very small number of these children and states it doesn’t have sufficient funds to address the needs of these children. These children are typically referred to either the Monterey County Office of Education or the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District. Both of these do an excellent job supporting these children. Also, both of these institutions have very small budgets (MPUSD’s is approximately $16.4 million). Other school districts – Salinas Unified, Carmel Unified and Seaside Unified – work with MCOE to provide classrooms and resources.

The focus of other school districts is on all the students. Perhaps P.G. Unified, with its Measure G, should focus more on all of its students. The district makes it a point to send students with severe disabilities to other districts, while it continues its focus for more Robert Cabral | Pacific Grove