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GRASS-FED MEAT IS MURDER

I read with sadness the article about grass-fed beef. I can’t imagine picking out my own future dinners. Having been raised on a farm, I too looked the animals in the eye and became a vegetarian. It was the best thing I ever did and that was more than 25 years ago. —Deborah Ellsworth | Carmel

DON’T ACCEPT CHECKS FROM CHICKEN-TORTURERS

I found the article “What’s Wrong With Feedlots” on your website interesting and informative. My only complaint is that while scrolling down, I had to stare at an ad for KFC smack dab in the center.

It’s ironic and sad that an article promoting grass-fed beef should be soiled with an ad from one of the most infamously animal-cruel companies. It is well known that KFC’s chickens are put through inhumane treatment, having their beaks seared off while still alive, amongst other things. I applaud the Weekly for enlightening its readers on different food options but perhaps you should use a little better judgment on web ads. —Joseph Maru | Salinas

TREES OF HISTORY

Every decade or so Monterey County Public Works decides it’s time to take out or reduce a number of our historic eucalyptus trees located along Boronda Road, across Carmel Valley Road from historic Los Laureles Lodge.

The trees, as far as can be determined, were planted between 1878-1881 by Kinzea Klinkenbeard, who was manager of Nathan Spaulding’s Rancho Los Laureles. Spaulding had purchased the property a decade after the original pioneer Boronda family descendants sold it. It was at this old 1839 adobe that Mrs. Juana Cota de Boronda introduced Monterey Jack Cheese to the area.

Klinkenbeard, who lived for a time at the Boronda adobe, oversaw construction of the earliest buildings comprising nearby Los Laureles Lodge, at the time planned as an outpost resort for hunting and fishing guests of Monterey’s Del Monte Hotel.

Despite numerous public uproars over their potential removal over the years, Public Works seems determined to tear out 12 of these massive trees plus four mature oaks to widen Carmel Valley Road, Boronda Road and Rancho Roads due to perceived traffic safety issues. No mention seems to have been made of putting in a stop light and letting these beautiful trees just be where they have stood for the past 130 years.

It would be a tragedy in Monterey County history for these trees to be removed. More information is available at: http://savetheborondatrees.blogspot.com. —Elizabeth Barratt | Carmel Valley

BOOKS NOT BARS

It was frightening to read that spending on California prisons is so high that in five years we will be spending more on prisons than for universities.

Imprisonment is such a regressive policy for dealing with those who have committed non-violent crimes when community service, supervised regular school attendance, or rehabilitation would be so much more productive.

It is so much more desirable to have healthy young people contributing rather than being a drain on the economy in prison. Prison records make employment difficult after release, and the economic drain continues.

Prisoners are people who have overwhelmingly received poor educations and suffered childhood abuse. We need to invest in our scandalously under-funded California schools, and provide more protective services. Prevention costs less, and is far more effective than punishment in eradicating crime. —Marjorie Atkinson | Salinas

WHERE’S THE MONEY?

Taxpayers in Monterey County must be able to view the after-action reports of our Board of Supervisor meetings in a more timely manner.

It is unacceptable that the “Action Minutes from Past Board of Supervisors Meetings” are not being posted on the Internet within a few days after each meeting adjourns.

The last posting of a past Board of Supervisors meeting on the Internet was dated Jan. 3.

In reading the board’s agenda for June 5, the supervisors are proposing to spend a lot of taxpayer money. As one example, Interim Inc. is scheduled to receive a three-year contract in the amount of $18,931,617.

As taxpayers we need to know, in written form, what actions our elected representatives have taken. This is a matter that needs to be addressed immediately. —Robert Oen | Soledad