Letters to the Editor 02.01.18

Vest Investment

Sorry, waste of money folks! (“Salinas Police use a donation to fund safety vests for at-risk pedestrians and bicyclists,” Jan. 25-31.) Nona Devey | via Facebook

It won’t help. If anything, it will make it worse now they will walk right in front of your car because they have the right of way and you can see them. What they should do is have community service officers go by schools when they are getting out and educate [people] on traffic safety when they cross dangerously. Education is the only thing that will help. Jim Beck | via Facebook

How about some nice, shiny bracelets for people that run over people? Heavy penalties… it’s not because the drivers can’t see the pedestrians. If it was an accident, they’d stop and help and say, “Oh, hey, dude I ran over. I did not see you there. I am sorry.” Vests will only result in dudes run over who are wearing vests. Carlo Overhulser | via Facebook

Top of Mind

We visit Carmel a lot, never during the busy seasons (“Visit Carmel goes all in on mindfulness and fitness in the search for off-season tourists,” Jan. 25-31). We visited for three nights last weekend. We go for the art, architecture, food and ocean. Mindfulness? Not at all. Talk to real people, not consultants. And young people in a YouTube video? Young people don’t spend, they camp, or go to Santa Cruz. Nancy Ann Morgan | via Facebook

Yes, the whole idea is pretty silly. Carmel has always been an artists’ colony and always a creative retreat. The art. The air. The ocean. The food. The charm. The raw beauty. Carmel has always attracted people who are attracted to those things, no gimmicks needed. Tina Giuliani | via Facebook

Regarding the idea of promoting wellness through evening bonfires on Carmel Beach: Sure. More bonfires on Carmel Beach. Because nothing says wellness and meditation more than polluting your immediate environment with toxic fumes, especially the air that people who actually live here have to breathe. Holly Haynes | Monterey

Year of Many Women

Women do great jobs in the White House too (“Monterey Museum of Art is declaring 2018 for women,” Jan. 18-24). Kellyanne Conway is a senior adviser to the president. Sarah Sanders is the press secretary. Mercedes Schlapp is coming into the White House as a communications adviser. Hope Hicks is now in charge of the communications shop in the White House. Let’s not forget the fantastic U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley – I couldn’t be happier. Will you be giving these strong, successful women recognition too? Jacky Dick | via Facebook

Dance Off

We sold out last night and had overflow we couldn’t accommodate! (“Calendar, Erotic Eclectic Performance” Jan. 18-24.) I have been working so hard with no budget for the last couple of years creating these performance art events. Events similar to mine are common in San Francisco and other cities, but there was none like them happening around here. Instead of complaining, I decided to just make it happen.

I am a woman who grew up in an old-school patriarchal family. It took me a lifetime to get my bearings and to begin to make a dream I’d had since the 1980s come true. It means the world to me to get some support from the press. I thank you for your part in that – especially because you understand and appreciate that we are taking back our power as women in these shows, not being the object of men or working for men. Janice Blaze Rocke | Seaside

Chartering an Investigation

Honestly, I am not surprised (“Oasis Charter Public School faces increasing scrutiny with two ongoing investigations,” Jan. 25-31). I’m glad I left when I did. It’s a shame for the original founders of the school, who had a beautiful vision for Oasis. Lauren McPherson | via Facebook

Over the Hump

The reason this is even an issue is because of speeding on residential streets (“Del Rey Oaks is poised to close off one of the few ways to get into the city,” Jan. 18-24). Maybe if people followed the rules it wouldn’t be such an issue. Dani Carvalho | via Facebook

I’m interested in knowing how much say the citizens have. It seems like they run the show in DRO, which could be both good and bad. In Seaside we begged the city for bumps or strips on our street and they wouldn’t do it. Lisa Gonzalez Newton | via Facebook

The article stated “the change remained unpopular due to the loss of parking.” This is an oversimplification. Some residents don’t like the loss of parking, but some were fine with the changes. I want to also note that not only has this article spread misinformation, but this error was compounded by selecting only Facebook posts opposed to closure for inclusion in the Jan. 25 Letters to the Editor, despite the presence of several posts in favor of closure. Katie Kreeger | Del Rey Oaks

Harping on It

It is truly otherworldly (“At CHOMP, licensed musicians use an ancient instrument to help transport patients to a peaceful place,” Jan. 25-31). I had never been that close to a harp before and you can literally feel the vibrations travel over your body. I was asleep in a matter of minutes. I asked for them every day of my 11-day stay at CHOMP. Jude English | Marina

Listening to harp at CHOMP transported me to a peacefulness. It was the first time I really felt relaxed after my surgery. Sophia Brown | Seaside