Letters to the Editor 10.02.25

News Desert

It’s a shame KION will no longer be a true local broadcast station (“The entire newsroom at Salinas TV station KION is dissolved as San Francisco-based KPIX takes over,” posted Sept. 23). Salinas, Monterey and Santa Cruz are not aligned with the San Francisco Bay Area. Robert McGregor | Salinas

Thank you for what you have written regarding the end of KION. I, too, feel for the KION employees who are now without jobs. I do not see how KPIX could fill the void left by the dissolution of KION.

Thank you for being a voice of reason for our community in these trying times in which we are living today. I faithfully read Monterey County Now. Lou DeFonzo | East Garrison

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This is not a good way for KPIX to start off here in Monterey County. It would seem they would want to transition into the community with our trusted newscasters that we so much grown to trust and love; hopefully they will rethink and retain our local news personalities, otherwise maybe tough times ahead. I usually tune into both local stations, but will most likely be watching [KSBW] Channel 8. Mary Ann Carbone | Sand City

Sad day. As a resident of Santa Cruz, I felt that neither Channel 8 or [KION] Channel 46 covered us very well and I don’t expect a San Francisco station to even know we exist. This is happening all over the nation as the large conglomerates are wanting more profits.

I read about stations in the Carolinas being shut down and getting news feeds from large metro stations 400 or more miles away. As Alan Jackson said in his song, “little man getting gobbled up by big corporations who don’t care.” Ronald Salwasser | Santa Cruz

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I hope KPIX hires back the local folks as a Monterey bureau. We are not San Francisco, as much as I love the city. Peri Basseri | Monterey

I maintain [former KION news director] Scott Rates is the best TV journalist in the area. So much deeper than any other local anchor. Paul J. Ingram | Carmel

Bridge to Nowhere

Classic waste of money by the city (“The future of Seaside’s San Pablo pedestrian bridge is clouded by climbing costs,” Sept. 18-24). Darion Dirk Bonnet | via social media

Dreaming Big

Thank you, Celia, for sharing the story of Maria Elena Manzo with us (“After years of working in the fields, Maria Elena Manzo began a career changing lives,” Sept. 18-24). Stories like hers demonstrate how much richer and better off communities are when immigrants are welcomed and supported. I agree with what the Pope told Ms. Manzo: “The world needs to let mujeres guide. When mujeres guide, things happen.” Joanna Gallagher | Monterey

To the Movies

I am very excited to learn about the forming of Osio Arts Foundation (“A nascent nonprofit is angling for another revival of downtown Monterey’s Osio Theater,” Sept. 25-Oct. 1). I will do what I can to encourage our friends and neighbors to support this effort.

It’s been five long years that the Osio has been closed. I hope there will be a lot of interest in reviving the arts and culture in the downtown area of Monterey. Diane Rowe | Seaside

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I REALLY hope to see it reopen! Malcolm John Dryden | Aptos

The community wants this. Let us know what we can do. Karen Kostner-Stults | via social media

The news that a group has formed to fund the opening of the Osio was music to these ears. Its closing was a serious blow to the art film lover, a sad end to a heroic effort to keep quality entertainment here, so absent in other communities.

It would support a contingent of filmmakers who regularly win artistic awards but lack the funding of the big budget, alien-heavy projects whose soundtracks cause temporary deafness.

I hope the Osio restoration campaign will be successful, and bring us all back to why we love films in the first place. Monterey is in so many ways a center of culture: Let’s add back art films into our unique mix. Susan Meister | Pebble Beach

Music First

Guitars Not Guns continues to serve youth by providing them the gift of music with guitars and free lessons through chapters located throughout the country. GNG is dedicated to reestablishing chapters that serve Monterey County (“Nonprofit Guitars Not Guns disbands four regional chapters, including Monterey County’s,” Sept 4-10).

I was disheartened to read the article based on an interview of Mr. Vagnini, a former volunteer, chapter director and national board member. The article appeared to reflect a single point of view and did not present the full story. The facts can be found on our website. Current President Donna Hammond is highly qualified for the position and her leadership continues years of volunteer support, including heading up her own chapter, Allen’s Gift, dedicated to the memory of her son cut down by gun violence.

The national board adopted a new policy to protect the mission of the organization’s past, present and future and unfortunately the leadership of the Monterey chapter chose not to comply. GNG remains steadfast in our mission and must ensure all chapter leadership operates under the same policies and guidelines. Richard Salazar | via email

Note: Salazar serves on the national Guitars Not Guns board of directors.

Correction

In the article “The upcoming screening of a prison documentary can change the way you think about life on the inside” (Sept. 25-Oct. 1), the name of the film was incorrectly identified. The eight-part YouTube mini doc series is called Time Together, while the documentary that was screened on Sept. 27 is titled Going Inside: Empathy in Action.