Letters to the Editor 01.14.16

Mmmm, Diet Coke

I’ll take some diabetes with a side of heart disease, please (“New Salinas spot Original Stonie’s does deep-fried PB&J,” posted Jan. 11). And a Diet Coke. Casey Colleen Gilliam | via Facebook

Fatal Flaws

All is not well with these legal assisted suicide laws. In all of the Oregon model laws, they flaunt that the lethal dose must be “self administered,” yet the law itself does not provide a means to track or confirm that (“Assisted suicide law opponents fail to collect signatures,” posted Jan. 6). In addition, the law prohibits investigations after the death. By design or negligence, a predatory heir may steer the process and forcibly administer the lethal dose since no witness is required. In Oregon, Washington and California, a murder for money can go undetected. This is not good public policy and should be contested. Bradley Williams | via Web

The Children

This story is just outrageous and exposes many flaws in the way different protective agencies communicate (“Salinas couple accused in deadly child abuse appear in court,” posted Jan. 8). Did anyone else catch the huge age difference between the accused? What is the legal age of consent in California? How can a 39-year-old woman have a live-in “boyfriend” who is just 17? Should there be rape charges pending against her? Erin Lowry Ferguson | via Facebook

Free To Run

I looked forward to a new trail run mentioned (“Five routes to chase off rainy day funk,” Dec. 31-Jan. 6). I headed off to Laguna Seca. The author failed to mention the $8 fee and non-stop noise of cars driving around the track. For those who want to hike or run Ft. Ord, it makes more sense to go to the free and quiet Badger Hills trailhead off Highway 68. Kathleen Michael | via Web

Certified Awesome

Great. Now can they renovate the worst dog park in the world? (“Renovated Monterey skatepark to shed ‘Certified Piece of Suck” title,” posted Jan. 8). Shauna Davis Rowe | via Facebook

“We should build a skatepark because all modern communities have them.”

“Let’s find a skateboarder to advise us.”

“Are you crazy!?! They’re all punks!” Jasper Skydecker | via Facebook

It really did suck. Looks like it is gonna be awesome, my son is stoked. Santos Lincoln | via Facebook

$180K for a skate park but they won’t let motocrossers pay thousands of dollars to open a motocross track anywhere in Monterey County!? Or a clear piece of land for a jump park for bikers (who will bring shovels to build it themselves)? Happy for the skaters but that is fucking horseshit. Not everyone skateboards! Give the town more options of fun (staying off drugs and out of trouble). Scott Counsell | via Facebook

Up in Smoke

Great news, but this is too late (“Salinas planning commission OKs commercial pot businesses,” posted Jan. 7). Californians will likely re-legalize marijuana for all adults in November. Science, and widespread experience, have shown marijuana is not addictive and has no significant harms. With four states already ending the fraudulent, counter-productive prohibition, the country will soon stop playing this game of “medical excuse” marijuana. I hope those planning the businesses for Salinas will be ready to be “the marijuana store.” John Thomas | via Web

The Hunger

I wish Dungeness crab could be available locally but darn warm waters of El Niño messed that up! (“Red crabs invade Monterey Bay Aquarium tide pool,” posted Jan. 5.) Enjoy your red crabs!Robert Sean Donovan | via Facebook

Say No to HBO?

In-N-Out is paying better than HBO. (“New HBO series filming in Monterey at the end of January; extras wanted,” posted Jan. 5). Why is everyone so excited? These jobs should pay better than $9/hour. Hollywood pays below market for Monterey’s resources too often. Doug Mueller | via Facebook

Wonder if it will be like those KSBW ads where they only show the beautiful coastline and Big Sur. What a bunch of crap. Shandell Clark | via Facebook

Head Games

I think it looks pretty good as is. (“Monterey’s Junipero Serra statue may once again have a head,” posted Jan. 4). Alayana McLellan | via Facebook

And then some idiot will come along and decapitate it again for free. Any plans to move the statue inside the Presidio of Monterey gate to protect it? Jean Girard | via Facebook

A Death, Post Jail

Drug abuse is a medical condition that cannot be cured by arrest and jail time (Woman’s death after being jailed raises questions,” Dec. 31-Jan 6). Linda Griffin Henke | via Facebook

The jail guards mostly only care about gaming their pensions and knee replacement surgeries before they retire. Tom Tessier | via Facebook

Ethics Training

So Esalen Institute President Gordon Wheeler claims, “We take any kind of feedback about ethics very, very seriously” (“Abuse allegations catch up to former rabbi,” Jan. 7-13). Friends and neighbors of former longtime Esalen employee Jim Probst would say that the evidence suggests otherwise. Jim died of cancer in his early 40s because the administration at Esalen denied him health coverage. They forced him to keep separate time cards for different duties so he could never log enough hours to qualify for insurance. They advised him to hide his assets and apply for Medi-Cal after he discovered that he had cancer. Is this the best defense Mr. Wheeler can come up with? Marilyn Ross | via Web