Letters to the Editor 10.08.26

Words Matter

Part of [the work] is knowing the culture (“Defense Language Institute moves to remove perceived DEI language from classrooms,” Sept. 24-30). If you’re assigned as a [Foreign Area Officer] your understanding of culture and relaying that information to the command is critical. Shawn Poulin | via social media

The DLI mission, and translators as a whole, are becoming completely irrelevant anyway. Super Intelligence (SI) can nearly perfectly translate and extract intel from transmissions and script faster than humans nowadays. And SI does not care about DEI, but is rooted in facts. Jason Harms | via social media

I’m a graduate of DLI and learning the target language included becoming steeped in the culture where that language is spoken. DEI-type innuendo is a uniquely Western/American phenomenon and teaching such concepts to Americans being trained to interpret or even integrate into another culture is at best rather pointless and at worst a complete waste of time and resources. David Nicholson | via social media

If you think other countries do not discuss diversity, equity, inclusion, LGBTQ+ issues or race, then you are about as ridiculous as the notion that we should make our linguists less educated in their target language. The languages taught at DLI are not just for SIGINT [Signals Intelligence], HUMINT [Human Intelligence], for FAO, even for the State Department. There is no valid rationale for diminishing education or resources, it’s purely based on the ideology of this administration. Adrian Stone | via social media

[This is] how dictatorships work. Roger Kern | via social media

Words matter. That’s why DEI advocates introduced these terms over time. Time to remove them and talk like we are intelligent adults again. Larry Lycett | Santa Cruz

Mayoral Mayhem

Witch hunt, check your closets for past skeletons (“Monterey mayoral candidate takes on the local press and suspected sources,” Oct. 1-7). Carolyn DiMaggio | Gardnerville, Nevada

It’s called disclosure of facts, verified by public records. Truth is an absolute defense to a claim for defamation. The only one who is on a “witch hunt,” to use your misplaced phrase, is Mr. Malfitano who is fishing for production of personal records of unrelated parties to the current restraining order application filed against him.

His mobster style campaign tactics of harassment, bullying and intimidation only confirm his questionable character, as does his past record. He chose to put both his character and record at issue when he decided to run for public office. Many national candidates have quit their races when similar records were discovered. Time for him to withdraw from the mayoral race. Kala Fossum | Monterey

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When someone runs for public office they open themselves and their past for public scrutiny, especially if it involves matters of public concern. This criticism is generally covered by the First Amendment. If a candidate doesn’t want their past history to be discussed and examined, they probably shouldn’t run for a public office asking for the trust of the community. Own up to the past and explain, or don’t run. Many voters do their due diligence and research a candidate before voting. Shelly Schmidt | Monterey

Measure Up

I appreciate that the Weekly editorial board introduced this article by suggesting that our local governmental system needs major reform, whether or not any particular ballot measure is a good idea (“Our endorsements on local ballot measures and state propositions on the Nov. 3 ballot,” Oct. 1-7). I’ve long felt we need a regional approach to problem solving, and the Weekly has gone one step further by suggesting a consolidation of our individual bureaucracies.

We certainly do need to do something before the standard of living here is destroyed by poorly placed hotels, never-ending gridlock and underfunded public services. Corey Thornburg Brunson | Monterey

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I see you are very hard pressed to find any tax that you do not approve of. Two things you might consider: First, every time a tax is implemented, another hard-working person falls below the poverty line – every time.

Second, the national debt is $40 trillion. In fact, I doubt you can find a single government entity in this country that is not deeply in arrears. We are broke. Richard Hellam | Seaside

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Your numerous endorsements for the tax measures that will be on the November ballot has again influenced my decision to do the opposite and vote NO! Vince Tuminello | Pacific Grove

Monterey County Weekly editors’ logic: Let’s just support raising taxes across the board rather than holding elected officials, city planners and city managers accountable for their mismanaging of funds. Let the taxpayers eat cake. Jeff Perrine | Marina

I can’t believe your logic for endorsing Proposition 40, the billionaire tax (“Our endorsements: Yes on Prop. 40”). It’s flawed and “the clear winners will be the lawyers.” Please don’t ask me to cheer for the dog running in a circle trying to catch its tail.

The result of a California tax on billionaires will result in them hopping in their private jets and flying away. We need a national billionaire’s tax. When you have had good fortune in your life and you choose to build fences instead of making your table longer, you give off an odor. Say no to half-measures. Tony Amarante | Seaside

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Innkeepers helped establish the Hospitality Improvement District to attract overnight guests whose spending supports shops, restaurants and city services. The city has shared tremendously in that success (“Our endorsements: Yes on M and N”).

Now the council says Carmel’s 10-percent hotel tax is below neighboring cities’ 12 percent. It leaves out the 2-percent district assessment Carmel guests already pay. Their total is 12 percent; Measure M would make it 14.

The council projects just 2.1-percent annual hotel tax growth, though revenue has averaged 6.6-percent growth since 2013. That forecast makes a permanent tax look necessary while discounting what our partnership already delivers. Despite talk of repairs, Measure M’s proceeds are not earmarked for maintenance.

After decades of working together, Carmel deserves the whole truth. Vote no on Measure M. Thomas Reiser | Palm Springs

Note: Reiser owns Inns-by-the-Sea in Carmel.

I am very disappointed by the editorial board’s decision on Measure H (“Our endorsements: Yes on H). After highlighting the lack of progress Salinas city councils have made on [Regional Housing Needs Allocation], and after documenting the 544 permits for moderate-income housing (mostly ADUs), you then feign sympathy for the crowded, unmaintained conditions that many of our working-class neighbors endure, and blame the slow pace of gentrification on the 20 percent of them, benefiting from the tenant-protecting ordinances that No on H preserves.

Why are you so antagonistic about “the impassioned pleas of renters,” because it’s easy? Privilege still runs deep in Salinas’ institutions. John Silva | Salinas

By the Numbers

According to the Community Foundation for Monterey County’s 2024 tax filing, it managed $109 million in donor-advised funds (“The Community Foundation for Monterey County announces its new president/CEO, Gina Dalma,” posted Sept. 23). At some point, the individual instructs the CFMC to give that money to a working nonprofit focused on food security, homelessness, cancer support, etc.

However, under current law, that money can sit in those accounts forever without reaching nonprofits. Again, in CFMC’s case, the total was $109 million as of 2024. (Last year, Monterey County Gives! raised only $17.1 million.)

This is a perfectly legal practice among community foundations, and the onus is on the account holder to direct the CFMC to give that money to nonprofits.

However, I hope Ms. Dalma makes it a priority to encourage CFMC’s donors to quickly move as much of that $109 million as possible into the hands of our county’s working charities.

Mike Scutari | Carmel

Film Score

This is great, love that you’re featuring film composers (“The revived Carmel International Film Festival brings big players to local enthusiasts,” Oct. 1-7).

Suzanne Mudge | Carmel

Sound Track

Beautiful piece! (“Culturally and musically this weekend, Monterey County celebrated American diversity,” posted Sept. 28.) There was another stellar local event on Sunday [Sept. 27], an extraordinary gospel music concert featuring the Monterey Peninsula Community Gospel Choir accompanied by a string quartet, a band and amazing soloists. Kudos to the choir director John Nash, Jr.

September is National Gospel Heritage Month and like jazz – and Oaxacan music and dance – it’s a true North American artform. What a weekend!

Megan Whilden | Monterey

Correction

A writeup about Measures M and N inaccurately reported a 4-1 vote by Carmel City Council (“Our endorsements on local ballot measures and state propositions on the Nov. 3 ballot,” Oct. 1-7). Mayor Dale Byrne joined in a 5-0 vote to place Measure M, the hotel tax, on the ballot.