Letters to the Editor 09.01.16

Off Campus

Taking a heavy class-load is a choice (“Numerous CSUMB students battle homelessness,” Aug. 25-31). If you can’t afford it, you may have to take fewer classes so you can work more hours and pay rent. Many do it. It’s called reality and being an adult. Gretchen Dagmar | via Facebook

She works 10 hours a week with three jobs? Sounds like poor life planing to me. I worked 40 hours a week and went to school full-time. It’s called motivation. Paige Fulks | via Facebook

College is a privilege, a life choice someone makes based on their ability to pay for their education. This ability includes all costs related to attending the chosen college (housing, transportation, food, living expenses). The girl with the brand-new car, laptop and iPhone has chosen to use her money in other “important” areas of life and not in her housing choice or perhaps college choice. I’m so tired of hearing this next generation whine about what they don’t have then demand it should be given to them! My family would love to eat out at a five-star steakhouse every night, but our tight budget calls for cereal every night. We don’t whine, we work harder and find the joy in what we do have.Holly Andrus Harris | via Facebook

One-time expenses are not the same as recurring expenses. Working on a degree for four years is not the same as eating a nice meal. This is one of the main reasons CSUMB was founded in the first place. It’s still in the second sentence of their vision statement. CSUMB failing at its mission is what makes this so shocking, not that she has a car and an iPhone. Adric Arcop | via Facebook

For those tutting her focus on school, did you ever think it was because she is sacrificing now for hopefully a quicker transition into the workforce? Or consider the fact that generally taking anything less than a full load costs almost as much as taking a full load, so she is weighing her long-term options? Why are we giving someone a hard time for wanting to be a productive member of society? Why do we give people a hard time for doing what we want them to do? Christin Correz | via Facebook

We were flabbergasted at the number of students who were accepted at CSUMB without accompanying housing. It is like inviting people over for a sit-down dinner then telling some of them they have to stand outside to eat because there is not enough room at the table. Who would do that? The practice of enrolling beyond available housing is unconscionable, particularly on a campus flush enough to be buying buildings in the community (like the National Steinbeck Center).

Some suggestions:

1) Limit enrollment to the number of available beds. As housing increases, increase enrollment.

2) In the meantime, consider purchasing trailers and designating a park area for them. There certainly is enough acreage on campus.

3) Consider purchasing tiny houses.

4) Consider buying yurts for students. People pay over $250 per night to stay in a yurt at Treebones in Big Sur; they can’t be that uncomfortable.

5) Open up the question of the housing dilemma to the CSUMB art department. I have no doubt students could come up with creative solutions.

Becoming aware of this problem has changed my perception of having CSUMB as a neighbor. Attending events on campus won’t be the same until this problem is resolved. Peter Hiller and Celeste Williams | Carmel

If they want 70 percent of students on campus, they need to build family housing for graduate students (“With private partnerships, CSUMB plans to double in size by 2030,” Aug. 25-31). JoHanna Hill | via Facebook

Wharf Wars

They’re just going to make it a cheesy, tawdry (yet expensive) version of every other chain store attraction in the country (“Two Fisherman’s Wharf businesses would rather close than pay more rent,” Aug. 25-31). People go to areas for the unique character. You can get Starbucks on every corner. Monterey could have a mix of the old, beloved favorites and some new. We pay them plenty in property tax for some flexibility. Do the right thing, Monterey. Kathy Keeler-deHaaff | via Facebook

Here comes San Jose-by-the-Sea. Oh wait, it’s already here. Jason Anderson | via Facebook

Monterey-area landlords are starting an ugly game of greed which will come back and haunt them first and foremost. They keep pushing businesses to close down and it will be a lose-lose for all. They don’t understand that when local businesses lose they lose, and the whole city will lose revenue. Artemis Milani | via Facebook

Fog of Innovation

Thank you Dr. Fernandez! (“A CSUMB professor converts Marina fog into water source,” Aug. 25-31.) After watching about this in another country I had wondered when someone would finally see its use locally. Congratulations! Sheena Demayo | via Facebook

If we had these all over the coastline and found some way to divert the water into the main reserve, it would certainly help the problem. Joseph W. Borawski | via Facebook

Countdown to some radical fringe-environmental movement protesting this device on the basis that it depletes the natural coastal fog. Joe Perez | via Facebook

Laws of the Land

I wish the Sheriff’s Office would spend one year working in public schools to see the effects their decisions have on our kids and communities (“Hundreds of undocumented immigrants removed from county jail,” Aug. 25-31). Families torn apart over DUIs; they are clueless to the consequences of deporting a parent. Alexandra Bee | via Facebook