Letters to the Editor 11.06.25

Road Way

Maybe it’s time to reconsider keeping the crumbling highway open and move it inland (“More lane closures are coming to Big Sur in January(ish), Caltrans announces,” posted Oct. 28). Millions of dollars are being spent to keep this section of highway open while the rest of Monterey County’s roads are crumbling. Not to mention the “Blood Alley” section of Highway 1 from Salinas Road to the Castroville exit, there are 15 memorial sites along this stretch of highway that are the results of head-on collisions – why doesn’t anyone report on this. Every day thousands of us drive this section of highway, our lives at risk just to get to work.

I hope the Weekly will someday pay attention to North County like they do to Big Sur, there sure is a lot more people living in the area. — Mary Larkin | Moss Landing

Power Play

I completely disagree with Supervisor Glenn Church, Moss Landing should not have battery storage plants (“County Supervisors are set to consider a moratorium on battery storage facilities,” posted Oct. 27). I’m not saying that they should remove the Tesla battery plant, but Vistra should not be allowed to rebuild. Nor should any new plants be built in Moss Landing. This was a total oversight by the powers at be to make sure there was the ability to handle any problems that could and would happen. Is this our East Palestine, where the residents are left holding the bag with no transparency?

There has already been another fire in Parkfield (“Monitoring continues at Parkfield battery storage facility after fire is extinguished,” posted Sept. 2). I don’t know, maybe not a good idea to put it on the biggest earthquake fault in California. — Gregory Vincent | Monterey

Political Plays

I appreciate Bradley Zeve’s tough questions for Congressman Panetta (“U.S. Rep. Jimmy Panetta on what keeps him up at night and how to fight for democracy in uncertain times,” Oct. 23-29). More importantly, I was impressed with Jimmy’s answers and am so proud that he continues his fight for us against Trump. At a recent town hall he held, Jimmy talked about his work to not just support Proposition 50, but what he does to support other Democrats in tough districts all across our country.

We need to stick together in our fight against feckless Republicans in Congress and Donald Trump in the White House, and I’m proud that Jimmy is part of our team focused on winning. — Bobby Richards | Carmel

~ ~ ~

Jimmy can’t give a meaningful answer to “Why do you think voters should have faith in the party?” (nor can he seem to give a straight answer to the majority of the other questions), but he unintentionally shows exactly how the Dems ended up with a voter base without any faith – he only responds in empty platitudes. He gives us nothing of substance beyond saying that he’s fighting back, and saying that Dems are going to retake the house. He doesn’t offer up any plans, then falls back on Prop. 50 again and again as if it’s anything but reactionary.

While it’s a meaningful proposition that I wholeheartedly support, Prop. 50 is only a defensive maneuver against Texas’ redistricting. Jimmy (and the party at large) can’t do much beyond respond to the crisis of the day and can’t (or won’t) go on the offensive.

If the Dems want the public to have faith again, they need to give us something real to believe in. — Monica Helmick | Seaside

~ ~ ~

I’m proud that Congressman Panetta has been fighting in California and in D.C. to counter Trump’s corruption and power grabs. I appreciate how forceful Jimmy has been in supporting Prop. 50 and holding the line to fight for healthcare and working families, especially in his fiery speech at the last No Kings Day protest in Monterey (“Thousands rally in Salinas and Monterey for No Kings Day,” posted Oct. 19).

Thanks to Bradley Zeve for highlighting how committed Jimmy is to not just fighting for us, but also for representing what we stand for on the Central Coast. — Joe Macaluso | Carmel Valley

As one who has been a member of AIPAC, I am proud to be a supporter of Jimmy Panetta (“Letters, Oct. 30-Nov. 5). You are either on the side of Islamic terrorism represented by Hamas or the democratic nation of Israel which has been fighting such terrorism on multiple fronts.

Keeping Israel strong is support for keeping America strong. Much of our military technology is tested first in Israel, including battle-field medical technology which has saved the lives of American soldiers. Keeping Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons is in the world’s interest, as is defeating the Houthis to insure freedom of navigation.

Panetta is not fooled by Hamas propaganda. He knows what the facts are and why support for Israel is in America’s interest. — Gil Stein | Aptos

Off The Table

Thank you for reporting on the heartbreaking reality of people in our community facing hunger due to the government shutdown (“Lingering government shutdown imperils access to food for an estimated 30,000 local families, Oct. 30-Nov. 5).

Republicans have the power to put this cruelty to an end. There’s plenty of food; there’s plenty of funding. Republicans have to strike a bipartisan deal that protects healthcare and revokes the blank check they’ve given Trump to carry out his authoritarian vision. — Joanna Gallagher | Monterey

Picture Show

I am so sick of “This Modern World” comic you print every issue. I am no Trump fan, but this constant anti-Trump thing is getting old. You are making some unoriginal guy money to be a biased hack. The comic is so incredibly stupid I can’t believe it’s still in every issue. Go back to “Peanuts” or “Garfield,” at least they are a little bit funny. — John Besseling | via email