LETTERS to the EDITOR 01.11.18

Power Players

Is there such thing as a “private” life anymore? (“Monterey investigating Mike McCarthy for alleged sexual “improprieties,” posted Jan. 5.) As long as the city was not paying for it, why should anyone care? Were they doing their job? That is what matters. Niels Andrews | via Facebook

No, not if you are a public official having an affair with someone who works under you. Melissa Felkins | via Facebook

It’s unfortunate that it has to play out in the public view. I understand he was a public employee, but his wife and kids aren’t. CJ Howard | via Facebook

This makes me angry! There is no excuse for this piss-poor behavior of anyone, nonetheless a very well (overpaid) government official. It is very obvious that Monterey has its “me too” problems. To those of you that say, “This is consensual, what’s the problem?” the problem is that yet another person in a position of power is having an inappropriate relationship with an employee, one they can fire. Never mind the fact that they both were married. Have we lost all class and decorum? Robyn Wright | via Facebook

Anyone in that position should avoid any appearance of impropriety. That said, it sounds like sour grapes to me. Julie Davis-Bryan | via Facebook

Speeding It Up

Bravo, Gonzales! (“Gonzales fought a telecom giant on behalf of small rural cities – and triumphed,” Jan. 4-10.) Stephanie Johnstone | via Facebook

Can we get this service in Georgia, like Putnam and Greene counties? Barbara J. Smith | via Facebook

Get your community together and organize for it. Jaimeson Webster | via Facebook

Kid Court

That baby deserves anonymity and both parents deserve the death penalty (“What happens when an inmate in Monterey County Jail gives birth? In this case, a long and complicated legal battle,” Jan. 4-10). I understand the process the law must follow but it is a complete shame any of this is tied up in the courts. Obviously Tammy Huntsman has some issues with sound decision-making, but this one decision, to allow the baby to grow up in a healthy loving home without fighting it, should be the last and best decision she makes. Carrie M. Kuhl | via Facebook

This story sickens me. I understand the law but Huntsman should not have parental rights. Do what is in the child’s best interest; reunification is a joke. Daylene Jane Alliman | via Facebook

Beautifully written, Mary Duan. I suppose Ms. Huntsman has oodles of time in her isolation cell to imagine all the wrongs done to her. If there is a time and place for parental rights to be terminated, this is the flagship. I especially hate that [attorney] Paddy Grinstein’s name is being dragged through the mud by a person who tortured and murdered children. If she really loves the child, then she will let the only family the girl knows raise her in a healthy environment. When the girl is 18, she can make the choice to see her or not. Marjorie Lowry | via Facebook

Don’t even try to elicit one iota of sympathy for those two, Weekly. Heidi Linkenbach Short | via Facebook

I don’t care what the law says, I’m proud of the cops and Social Services for protecting this baby from these monsters and their families. Kathy Stoudt | via Facebook

My Lord, we have over-lawed ourselves. Who on God’s green Earth would let those two or anyone they know near infants and children? Just put your foot down on this one. Baby gets freed from a life of certain misery. Susan Glick | via Facebook

The justice system doesn’t always provide justice. This is a tough case. Lucia Rose | via Facebook

Me Three

That shows you EXACTLY who we have voted into the mayor’s offices in Monterey County (“Squid shocked that mayors elect embattled Steve Dallas to lead them,” posted Jan. 8). Is anyone going to send up a war cry? How is this OK? Here is a respected, professional woman of authority coming forward and saying, “This is not OK,” and nobody is willing to get rid of this guy. I am disgusted. Anyone who voted for him to be the chair should be voted out of office. Frank Savino | Salinas

Shoring Up

What an awful awful environmental mess that would be! Our aquatic wonderland would be ruined (“Public comment period opens for Trump’s offshore drilling proposal,” posted Jan. 8).Lorraine Popovic | via Facebook

Hey, let’s let BP sink a well half a mile off of Fisherman’s Wharf. That ought to be interesting. Lou Richards | via Facebook

Here’s my comment: No damn way. Ed Mee | via Facebook

Sick Day

I’d be curious to know what the demographic is (“Federal health officials head Monterey County, collecting local data to gauge the nation’s health,” Jan. 4-10). Are we taking a snapshot of people who are able to afford proper health care in order to avoid an accurate depiction of what’s happening in the rest of the state? Or does this study include people being paid minimum wage without much coverage? Ann Carin Noll | via Facebook