Letters to the Editor 02.02.17

Safety First

So proud of our Monterey County districts that are protecting our students (“Local school districts declare themselves ‘safe havens,’” posted Jan. 26). Gail Mathews | via Facebook

So glad my school district is part of this. Sandra Vaughn | via Facebook

Such bullshit. Fake news much? Cathy Suzanne | via Facebook

What about the harassment and fear of the students who support Trump? This of course isn’t covered in this article. Nicole Nancy Amaral | via Facebook

There’s a big different between being harassed for being Muslim or Mexican and being given a hard time for supporting an administration that is taking away people’s rights. One thing can be helped, the other cannot. Brittney Vaughn | via Facebook

Landing a Deal

Congratulations to Salinas (“Big Sur Land Trust announces landmark acquisition in Salinas,” posted Jan. 25). This will be a beautiful and beneficial project. Maury Treleven | via Facebook

We may get our lakefront view from the Health Department after all! Amanda Mihalko | via Facebook

Cheffing It Up

Whoa, exciting news! (“Todd Fisher to take over Folktale food, with an eye toward Seventh and Dolores in Carmel,” posted Jan. 27.) Congrats, Todd Fisher. Rooting for you and can’t wait to see and taste what you create! Katie Blandin Shea | via Facebook

I’ve been meaning to start visiting Folktale; add another reason to my list! Jay Donato | via Facebook

I’ve been following Todd since Hullaballo. Happy he’s moving onward and upward. One of a kind, great creative chef, always big and bold. Steven Weippert | Lake Havasu

It’s a Hoot

Cultural tidbit: My family is from Guatemala, so the word tecolote is the only word I knew for owl for the longest time (“Barn owls make Haute Enchilada home in Moss Landing,” posted Jan. 25). I guess it’s regional. I’ve met lots of Mexican Spanish speakers who aren’t familiar with the word tecolote and use the word buho instead. I was unreasonably giddy at seeing that these owls are named Teco and Lotte! Debbie Ramos | via Facebook

Insurance Pays

I live in this county and I’m supposed to pay $1,680 per month just for me and my husband, not including my kids! (“Potential Obamacare repeal could jeopardize insurance for 44,000 in Monterey County,” Jan. 26-Feb. 1.) That’s because working people have to pay for the low-income people. This is based off of $5,000 per month. Do the math! I’m not here to fight with anybody, I’m just telling you the facts! I do not want to be responsible for anyone except my family!! It’s a great system if you’re not working or make nothing; otherwise it sucks! Becky Ellis | via Facebook

The only reason millions have received low-cost or free medical insurance is because others had to start paying ridiculous premiums. Obamacare and Cover California programs are just a socialist program that liberal politicians came up with to transfer wealth. Talina Roberts Parker | via Facebook

Trumped Up

The U.S. deserves to have a president who tells the truth. Donald Trump and his spokespeople fabricate conspiracy theories and spout “alternative facts.” Without any evidence, Trump says millions of illegals and dead folks voted. Perhaps we should have another election to put this to rest. Or is he using this as an excuse to further suppress Democratic voters? The media should be investigating and calling his lies what they are, falsehoods.

Trump refuses to accept the fact that his inauguration wasn’t that big, in terms of participation and viewership. Instead of dealing with the 50 tornadoes that have devastated Georgia and Mississippi, he has ignored the red states’ pleas for FEMA assistance so he can obsess. This does not bode well. As president, he must put aside these petty and divisive myths. CeliaSue Hecht | Seaside

Mind Your Manners

The other day while driving north on Highway 1 in Big Sur, I came around a corner just south of Bixby Bridge to find a car stopped in the center of the road. The driver was off to the side taking pictures. With tires squealing, I came to a halt. “Hell of a place to stop your car!” I said. The driver exploded with a string of expletives. The highway has become a metaphor for our greater intolerance of one another. My father and his fellow drivers back then would signal each other to go first at four-way stops. What has become of our polite society?

A new tough regime is coming into our country empowering a raw fringe subculture that may be moving to center stage. We must never let the civil part of our civilization disappear. Christopher Williams | Big Sur

Wine Down

Thanks for the interesting wine article (“A vino lover riffs on her favorite Monterey County wines,” Jan. 19-25). But as a fellow wine enthusiast I’d like to offer a few comments. First, there are at least two other prominent wine bars on the Peninsula you failed to mention, jeninni in Pacific Grove, and The Wine Experience on Cannery Row. I am the owner/operator of The Wine Experience, and we offer local wines on tap. In fact, we have the 2014 Puma Road Cabernet Sauvignon, and previously carried the Marin’s Vineyard Viognier. We also allow customers to blend any of our wines to create their own blend of wine that pleases their palate. Brent Virgin | Seaside