Letters to the Editor 02.21.19

Whose Head Where?

Give the Carmel public works director a raise. I think he responded perfectly (“Carmel public works director placed on administrative leave after epic fail at working with a member of the public,” posted Feb. 11). Whoever this Carmel Highlands resident is should move. We don’t need that here. Being storm-prepared or not, sometimes Mother Nature is gonna do her thing. He also states that other cities don’t have this problem – true, they also don’t have the natural beauty Carmel has due to the amount of trees in the area; can’t have your cake and eat it too.Aaron McGilloway | via Facebook

Guess he never visited Salinas two years ago. Trees and power lines down everywhere. Many homes were without power for a week! Poor little tender-hearted baby. It’s weather. Trees fall. Must be a big brave guy to send an anonymous letter whining and crying because of conditions in a town he doesn’t even live in, only to cry about the reply he got and run to the news. Big freaking baby! You don’t get to be an ass and expect everyone to wipe it for you. Kelli Gordon | via Facebook

Unfortunately, those of us in the business of responding to grievances from our clients and the public really have to strongly edit our responses, regardless of how much we want to strike back at whiners with meritless complaints! I know in the course of my job, if I responded to one of our clients like this, not only would I lose my job but the company could be financially penalized. Stef Helbock Pummell | via Facebook

Cops and Kids

Good for them (“Salinas City Elementary School District joins others in rejecting cops on campus,” Feb. 14-20). As a retired teacher and parent of two kids that went to Hispanic schools, I wouldn’t want their elementary school militarized in this way. Let them come for career day or increase their presence when the kids are walking to and from school (they’re in a lot more danger then) if they want to improve rapport. Lynne Siqueiros | via Facebook

You’d think they’d want their kids protected. Frances Morrow | via Facebook

They do, they want their kids protected from the cops. Frederick Jack Nelson | via Facebook

Some cops (not all) usually end up harassing the kids and get them an early start into the criminal justice system in Hispanic communities. Some people will not understand this and that is fine, parents for the most part know what is best for their kids. They are not opposing this just because. Piercy Gramz | via Facebook

The presence of police officers on school campuses in communities of color pose as a threat because of the image they uphold outside the school. When people of color are scared of the police because of what they have seen and experienced, they don’t trust that they will treat their children differently.

Until the police have better relationships with communities of color, they will always be referred to as an additional burden, rather than help. Germaine Esquivel | via Facebook

For the Stage

“To hold, as ’twere, the mirror up to nature.” -Hamlet: Act III, Scene II (“Life imitates art for Seaside High School drama students facing the real threat of a shooter,” Feb. 14-20.) Yes, even when that nature is frightening and hits a little too close to home. Thank goodness we have drama in the schools to try to make some kind of sense out of such senseless acts. I hate having to do shelter in place drills with my first – and second-grade drama students, but that is sadly the reality we find ourselves in. Todd Strauss | via Facebook

Editor’s note: Strauss teaches elementary school drama in the Pajaro Valley Unified School District.

Lighting Up

For all the legitimate gripes so many have voiced about Cal Am, Comcast, AT&T and PG&E, the important truth is that their people in the field deserve only accolades (“As PG&E begins bankruptcy proceedings, Monterey Bay Community Power gauges uncertainty,” Feb. 14-20). I’ve made it a point to talk to the linemen and the ditch-diggers when they’ve been in my neighborhood, working in the worst kinds of weather, all hours of the day and night. So when we complain about the over-sized companies that seem mostly about excuses for their mistakes and price hikes for their shareholders, it is good to remember that the people in the field are doing the real work and they deserve our patience, respect and appreciation. Tony Seton | Carmel

Every Drop

In contrast to the opinions raised by Squid, Marina Coast Water District is focused on the water supply challenges of the Ord and Marina communities and is also actively involved in regional water supply efforts (“Squid puzzles over petition with global signatures for local water gripes,” posted Feb. 4). For instance, we cooperated with Monterey One Water and more than 20 other government agencies on the Pure Water Monterey project.

A number of alternative solutions have been proposed that would allow Cal Am to move forward on its effort to expand its supply that are compatible with groundwater sustainability efforts, such as expanding Pure Water Monterey or modifying the intake types and location. Unfortunately, it appears the approach preferred by powerful moneyed interests continues to be to bulldoze Marina into submission, instead of actually pursuing cooperative regional water solutions. Marina Coast Water District President Tom Moore, Vice President Jan Shriner and General Manager Keith Van Der Maaten | Marina