Letters to the Editor 03.09.17

Politics as Usual

Progressives lost the presidential election – and more than 1,000 federal and state legislative or executive positions in the last eight years, but have gained no wisdom in the losing (“Making a Movement,” March 2-8). They lost because the country was flat-lining, average GDP under 2 percent. In 15 percent of the real estate, the two coasts, the rich got richer. The 85 percent, represented by the in-betweens, finally made their voices heard. When the progressives are successful in reuniting California with Mexico, California’s sore losers can make their voices heard… in Mexico City. Roland Martin | Carmel Valley

Your cover today claims 74 percent of county “residents” didn’t vote for Trump, but that’s wrong, because most residents aren’t even voters. While 74 percent of the residents who voted did not vote for Trump, 21 percent of residents could have registered and voted, but did not.

Using the latest Census Bureau 2015 estimate of 428,441 county residents, the real breakdown, with some rounding, is:

• 26 percent of residents are too young to vote

• 20 percent of residents are old enough but otherwise not eligible to register

• 10 percent of residents are eligible to register, but don’t

• 11 percent of residents are registered, but didn’t vote

• 21 percent of residents voted for Clinton

• 8 percent of residents voted for Trump

• 2 percent of residents voted for another candidate

• 1 percent of residents voted, but not for any candidate

What’s sobering is that every county in the nation has those ridiculously high percentages of eligible-but-not-voting residents. That’s the real problem activists need to target if they expect to sway elections. Joe Snyder | Monterey

The last real paper that I have enjoyed for years for interesting, uplifting and humorous entertainment, as well as a great calendar for movies and other local events, has now become just another bunch of self important “journalists” that feel the need to bombard the readers with their own political views and opinions every week. There are plenty of other media outlets that exist for this purpose. Any chance of the Weekly getting back into the entertainment business or are we stuck with Mary’s rants for the next four years and beyond? (“Local Spin: Salinas’ sanctuary vote may live again, and Seaside considers its own vote,” March 2-8.) Until then, there is always Fandango and Rotten Tomatoes! Kevin Klein | Carmel Valley

I am floored by David Ligare’s comments (“Makers of music, theater, dance and poetry respond to the administration through their art,” March 2-8). He blames the Dada movement for Trump being elected? A comment like that from one of the most notable artists of Monterey County is disturbing. These were the views held by the Third Reich! He states the celebration of irrationality vis a vis Dada has caused a lack of focus on the part of society which resulted in the election of Trump. He is completely ignorant of art history in which Dada was the resistance, confronting the rigidity of the Nazi movement as well as the art market. Jane Flury | Pacific Grove

Bait and Switch

It is unfortunate Harvey Dadwal is having difficulty completing his Marriott Dunes hotel project in the agreed time frame imposed by Marina City Council (“As PG&E crews work overtime in the wake of recent storms, a Marina hotel is left in the lurch,” March 2-8). Given that he has already received a generous extension to the completion date, I can only assume there has been some miscalculation on his part as the developer.

This project has dragged for on for months, at times looking like there was but a skeleton crew on site. It is disingenuous for Mr. Dadwal to now place the blame on PG&E for his inability to meet the city’s imposed completion date. I urge my City Council to resist Dadwal’s request and stand by the March 31 deadline.

I look forward to the revenue and employment opportunities this hotel will bring to Marina, but enough is enough. Look around 2nd Avenue; every other developer is proceeding with their projects in a timely, expeditious manner. Grace Silva-Santella | Marina

Raise a Glass

Post No Bills is a great place (“Post No Bills Craft Beer House in Sand City has sold,” updated March 1). I love the quality, rotating craft beers, the local atmosphere and that you can bring in food. Best of luck to the new ownership. Eric Palmer | via Facebook

Hopefully the new owners will bring in better and more local beer at an actual legitimate price. Jeff Siefman | via Facebook

Great place to hang out with friends!! Pati Ouellette | via Facebook

Making a Case

A reader challenged my statement that “all residents of the U.S., regardless of immigration status, are entitled to the protections afforded by the Constitution” (“Letters,” March 2-8). She is factually inaccurate. While she may believe constitutional protections should not be afforded to non-citizens, she should first read U.S. Supreme Court decisions that uphold the rights of all people in the U.S. For example: Zadvydas v. Davis states, “Once an alien enters the country, the legal circumstance changes, for the Due Process Clause applies to all ‘persons’ within the U.S., including aliens, whether their presence here is lawful, unlawful, temporary, or permanent.”

Assuming the writer believes in the rule of law, she will have to accept that all people in the United States enjoy constitutional protections Bill Monning | Carmel

Editor’s note: Monning is a state senator representing District 17.