Divide and Conquer… Like many creatures who move with ocean currents, Squid is a go-along, get-along sort of cephalopod, and mostly wants everyone else to get along too. But alas, some humans just aren’t wired that way, and are always trying to gin up controversy.
Last week Squid wrote about how the Monterey County Republican Party has been sending out emails lately attacking Gavin Newsom, seemingly an attempt to distract people from the most lawless, brazenly corrupt president in American history.
Just after that column went to print, Squid got another GOP press release, this one attacking Monterey Mayor Tyller Williamson for his “manipulative move” to call a special meeting on a Friday to allegedly fast-track a proposed rainbow crosswalk in downtown Monterey, bashing the use of public funds for his “divisive crosswalk agenda.” Now, Squid’s always liked rainbows. People love to take pictures of rainbows. Who doesn’t love rainbows? Sure, they’re a symbol of the gay community, and June is Pride month, but so what?
A good number of folks showed up to the meeting, with many questioning the process and using public money to show solidarity with a specific group, and others spoke in support, highlighting its welcoming nature – the opposite of divisive. Staff clarified it could be done in-house for $2,000, and Williamson moved that it be paid for with private funds. But still, the vote deadlocked 2-2. Council will consider it again on June 3.
For those who might be offended by a rainbow crosswalk, Squid would just like to point out that, if approved, it will be straight.
Moral Code… Squid recently heard an ad on the radio from Land Rover Monterey, announcing the new Range Rover Carmel Edition, inspired by “Carmel’s natural beauty.” Only 17 were made, and for nearly $400,000 customers can get a massive SUV with 24-carat gold accents.
Apparently, not everything with the Carmel name is associated with beauty, even among some Carmelites. In February, Philip and Banu Searle received approval from the Monterey County Zoning Administrator to rebuild their home in unincorporated Carmel on Bay View Avenue. Almost immediately, neighbor Jeanie Sears appealed the decision.
In the appeal, Sears outlines her issues with the project, contending that the two-story residence would hurt the “morals” of those who live in the neighborhood.
Seemingly the biggest issue is the “proposed massive wall” to be built around the property with Carmel stone, which, as the appeal notes, will block the “pubic [sic] view shed, thereby destroying the harmony of the nature [sic] scenic character of the area.”
Sears dropped her appeal before it went to the Board of Supervisors on May 20. Maybe she realized that nothing fits the Carmel “character” better than the cream-colored “Carmel” stone.
(2) comments
Rosemarie Barnard said it better than I did, so there is no point in writing my own comment to address that point. Rather, I would like to point out that there are certain consitutionally given rights granted to the president. We live in a democratic republic. We elected the president to fulfill his granted duties, without having to share power with ~300 unelected judges. What he is doing is not illegal. Make journalism great again.
Dear Squid,
How clever of you to reassure us that the rainbow crosswalk will be “straight.” Puns are fun, but they don’t change the fact that Monterey’s proposed rainbow crosswalk is a public endorsement of one specific group’s social and political identity—under the guise of inclusivity—while others are left standing at the curb.
Squid might be a “go-along, get-along” kind of cephalopod but that’s no excuse for swimming past the obvious double standard. If rainbow crosswalks are allowed as official city speech, then what about Thin Blue Line crosswalks in honor of law enforcement? Or red, white, and blue crosswalks for Independence Day? Or even a gold and white one for local veterans? The answer, of course, is they would be denied—as they already have been. Which means this isn’t about inclusivity; it’s about exclusivity disguised as virtue.
The rainbow crosswalk isn’t neutral or whimsical. It’s a political message, and when government chooses to promote one identity group over others, it’s not “welcoming”—it’s discriminatory. Equality under the law means treating all groups equally, not giving special privileges to a select few because it’s fashionable this month.
So, while Squid floats through the warm waters of progressive approval, some of us land-dwellers prefer to keep our crosswalks clear of ideological favoritism—especially when it’s painted at taxpayer expense.
Yours in equality (the real kind),
Rosemarie Barnard
A citizen who believes crosswalks should get us across the street, not across the line.
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