LETTERS to the EDITOR 10.19.17

Up in Flames

Those poor California firefighters sure have their work cut out for them (“Crews battle and contain York Fire wildfire near Laguna Seca,” posted Oct. 15). May God send favorable weather to aid in their fight. Joanna Konczal | via Facebook

Thank you firefighters for an awesome job, we are very thankful for you. Emma Paoletti | via Facebook

Fire: This is why I had to call the police to come to my street last night. My neighbor was shooting off fireworks!! We don’t need more fires right now and I certainly don’t want my home to burn down. It only takes a few sparks. Rachel Krost | via Facebook

Be prepared for future emergency: Sign up with alertmontereycounty.org. This system provides critical information quickly in a variety of situations such as severe weather, road closures, missing persons and evacuations of buildings or neighborhoods. Time-sensitive messages will be sent to your home, mobile or business phones, email address, text messages and more. You pick where, you pick how. Register today! Wendy Root Askew | Marina

California can’t catch a break! Marilyn Bransford | via Facebook

Bridge to Somewhere

Yay! Something to celebrate in these times of such awful news (“Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge reopens in Big Sur,” posted Oct. 13). Danielle DeeAnn Carlson | via Facebook

Happy days are here again! Chris Sierra | via Facebook

Immigration Nation

I support legal immigration (“California is now a sanctuary state, even if county jail officials wish it wasn’t,” Oct. 12-18). I have seen the process work for family members, all who came to the U.S. legally and ended up being naturalized. If you have never been to a naturalization ceremony, I recommend doing so. They are very moving and make you feel good about our country, that so many willingly give up their former citizenship to become a true part of America.

However, I do not support illegal immigration. I want all the illegal aliens, NOT “undocumented immigrants,” out of the USA. The illegal aliens simply don’t have the right to be here. I find the concept of “sanctuary cities” or “sanctuary states” not just laughable, but illegal. States cannot supersede federal law. As stated in the story, when SB 54 becomes law I believe ICE will start carrying out large-scale raids, and there won’t be a single thing California state or local law enforcement will be able to do about it. Otis R. Needleman | Monterey

Take a Number

This administration has been in office 10 months. Will Rep. Panetta and Rep. Schiff please list exactly how it “has tried to erase LGBTQ people”? (“The next Census should collect data on LGBTQ Americans so the government can serve them,” Oct. 12-18.) Don’t they know the Obama administration had SIX YEARS to make changes to the Census form and failed to respond to requests from the DOJ, HUD, EPA and others to add sexual orientation and gender identity questions?

The Census Bureau director appointed by President Obama abruptly resigned Aug. 1, 2017, rather than complete his five-year term. This administration must now appoint a new director. Gretchen Glick | Salinas

Hotel California

Thank you Monterey County Weekly for posting this. I have serious concerns about this proposal (“P.G. seeks more public input on proposed downtown hotel,” posted Oct. 13). Annie Nielsen | via Facebook

If this hotel goes in, I think I shall rename our town “Pathetic Grove.”

The residents don’t want it, the Peninsula doesn’t need it, and it lends no credence to the phrase “Last Hometown.” Bring some shops and restaurants in where us locals can frequent. That is where your money will be all year round. Victoria Addington Scaccia | via Facebook

There goes Mayberry. Mike Holland | via Facebook

Reviving Pacific Grove sounds good. Johanna Harmony | via Facebook

Waving the Flag

I appreciate the artistry of Raul Magallanes’ photo (“Etc. Photo,” Oct 12-18), but some mention might be made that a flag in that condition is shameful. The respectful standards of our nation demand that any flag not in the midst of battle which has become torn or damaged should be honorably disposed of.

Local veterans’ groups often provide such services. We live in a time when our flag and our anthem are not held in the esteem due to them. I don’t want to address that can of worms, but I feel strongly that many of our citizens don’t understand this is a sacred symbol. Jean Eliceche | via email

Changing Climate Change

The quality of my brother’s life in Puerto Rico right now has me very worried about the welfare of future generations. He is one of the more fortunate. His concrete storm-shuttered house is undamaged. He can flush a toilet with a bucket of water from the pool.

At the same time, he will live without electricity for months. He and his wife were rinsing clothes in their pool until it became too fouled. Some days they have low-pressure water, but not always. They have access to none of the amenities that ease everyday life.

How much more likely are our grandchildren to face a similar situation as a result of the fossil fuels we burn? We must think of the children as we insist our elected officials address climate change.

We must demand actions, such as a price on carbon, which only they can take. Tama Olver | Pacific Grove