Letters to the Editor 05.26.16

Guess She Told Us

So Squid is “adamantly opposed to Monterey Downs” and doesn’t like the procedures used by the FORA board in ignoring its citizen advisory panel and choosing Denise Duffy Associates over a non-local firm to provide an oak woodland management plan (“Squid indulges in all things Fort Ord, including a bizarro contract process with the Reuse Authority board,” posted May 16).

Activists have been trying for years to deal with these issues: Ballot Measure M would have saved the largest remaining oak forest on Fort Ord from the Monterey Downs developers and their elected cronies. Those cronies include [mayors] Ralph Rubio and Jerry Edelen, and of course County Supervisor Dave Potter, who brought us developer Brian Boudreau in the first place. But the Weekly did not see the forest for the trees when it failed to provide its endorsement for Keep Fort Ord Wild’s Measure M a few years ago.

Continuing the pattern, the Weekly just endorsed Potter for his fourth term as supervisor instead of Mary Adams who opposes Monstrosity Downs and promises a crony-free approach to land use issues in the county, as well as supporting issues that matter to citizens, not just the desires of the powerful and monied special interests. We do not need a male-only Board of Supervisors dedicated to the welfare of their rich campaign contributors.

In November, your editorial board will have a chance to endorse Protect Monterey County’s citizen initiative to ban new wells for enhanced oil extraction methods, including fracking, in Monterey County. This is another issue the current Board of Supervisors refused to act on, resulting in the recent successful petition drive. The lack of local oversight on big oil is another example of business as usual. Here’s hoping your editorial board has the smarts to say no to fracking in Monterey County. Beverly Bean | via Web

I will vote against any person wanting to develop Fort Ord with big business and ugly overpriced houses slammed together like dominos in a box. Already there are several ugly housing developments with homes half a million dollars or more being built here, and we still have no water and the average local income makes those cracker boxes unaffordable. Horse tracks are ugly for humans and animals and would bring more crime, traffic and low-wage jobs. We need to focus on jobs outside of the hospitality and ag industries and on jobs that pay a living wage for this area, and not overcrowd our beautiful Fort Ord and wilderness with cheap homes costing more than anyone can afford. Wyn Nichols | via Web

Speaking of Big Oil

Paying off the “right” people, it sounds (“Phillips 66 oil train inches closer to approval,” posted May 17). How could such a environmentally protected area even contemplate allowing this? We already started allowing cruise ships regularly, had two (I believe) recent raw sewage spills into our Bay, along with leaking oil barrels that should have been extracted years ago. What’s the deal!? Handle your business in a health-conscious way, Monterey County! Dave Sinor | via Facebook

No one mentions the train cars that carry liquid ammonia they use to clean up emissions from the power plant at Moss Landing that have been running for years. Jon D. Bui | via Facebook

The section of track that becomes submerged at high tide is up Elkhorn Slough near Kirby Park. If they want to use those tracks to haul anything, they should raise the tracks in that section. Deny this proposal. Mike Novo knows what he is talking about since he is the recently retired Monterey County planning director. Jennifer Stone | via Facebook

Anyone who cares about a clean environment has to be just a little overwhelmed at this point. If over 400 citizens showing up at the Planning Commission meeting in San Luis Obispo did not sway them, do we have a chance in Monterey? Patricia Domingo | via Facebook

T-rrrific

We went a couple weekends ago (“Photos: Water + Leaves gets stylish on Fisherman’s Wharf,” posted May 17). Great food, great tea, nice relaxed atmosphere! We will be back! Sally Brewer Kidalov | via Facebook

Definitely a hidden gem in Monterey. Love this place. Cristina Piosa | via Facebook

Striking Out

Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital CEO Pete Delgado should make the workers wait and show that he doesn’t care, just like the workers do when the community tries to go to the hospital for help (“Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital workers to strike,” posted May 16). This hospital is the worst in the county. They are getting a taste of their own medicine. No Pun intended. #punintended David Hernandez | via Facebook

In Transit

This strikes me as a bad idea (“Monterey-Salinas Transit board approves land deal in King City,” posted May 11). The majority of passenger miles seem to be in the Salinas area and Monterey Peninsula – and now the buses will be driven to King City every night? This is going to reduce potential revenue production capability by about two hours per bus per day. Meanwhile, drivers will need to be paid for those hours (while not generating revenue) and approximately 100 additional miles of wear and tear will be added to each bus on a daily basis, adding significant additional cost. Fares will soon go up and ridership will erode further… and the public will be told “it is difficult to operate bus service in a rural county.” Just wait for it. I find it very difficult to believe a workable deal could not have been made somewhere in or close to Salinas. Felix Bachofner | Seaside