18 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY october 5-11, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com Beyond Bars The continuing failure to meet conditions and provide adequate care is abhorrent (“Judge finds Monterey County Jail’s health care contractor in violation of inmate conditions settlement,” posted Sept. 27). I recognize that county funds are finite and Wellpath has consistently been the lowest bidder, so finding alternative providers should the contract be terminated is likely to incur additional costs. Overall, however, I am concerned with the fines tactic. For fines to be an effective deterrent, they need to be comparable with the costs of coming into compliance. The sheer magnitude (and pervasive nature) of the known deficiencies suggests to me that an organization which has historically been unwilling to pay the much more substantial costs of providing adequate care is going to treat these fines as a slap on the wrist, rather than pay those costs to correct deficiencies, particularly on an expedited schedule of six months which would increase costs. How much would it cost to come into compliance (and stay there)? Nona Childress |Salinas The contract must be terminated in my opinion. I want to know which Monterey County supervisors’ re-election campaigns have benefited financially from this healthcare provider over the last decade. Why has the jail not been improved? Joe Cubbage | via social media Best Wishes Well deserved! Congrats to Kona Steak and Seafood (Best of Monterey County Readers’ Poll, “Best New Restaurant,” Sept. 28-Oct. 4). Michael Kohler | Seaside E-Farming This is the future of agriculture (“An ag tech conference sets the stage for Salinas as a hub for farming’s tech-enabled future,” Sept. 28-Oct. 4). It creates great jobs in the industry, and relieves much of the pain/suffering from extensive physical labor. The system for robots picking strawberries is impressive to watch, with lots of room for innovation still. Walter Wagner | Salinas House and Home I lived at the Country Inn for almost a year, where I was a client of Project Roomkey (“City of Marina blames everyone else for homelessness,” Sept. 21-27). I waited almost nine years to get into my own place. Project Roomkey worked for me because I did what I was supposed to do weekly with my case manager. I do have some concerns about how they didn’t do welfare checks on clients no one had spoken to or seen for a day or so—if they did their jobs better, maybe some of the clients that overdosed would still be alive today. It’s plain and simple: Follow the rules and you will be rewarded in time with a place you can call home. Remember it doesn’t happen overnight, it takes time and a lot of effort to get a place of your own. Bella Maddox | Seaside Overall there has been significant regional cooperation evidenced through years of work with the Continuum Of Care Leadership Council. A few non-cooperative examples should not detract from that regional experience. Joe Vasquez | via email Agree to Disagree Every political candidate has a right to come and speak, whether you like them or not (“As Ron DeSantis leaves fundraising brunch in Corral de Tierra, protesters cheer his departure,” posted Sept. 28). If you wish to donate, that is your choice. The [Salinas City Council] voted their dislike. Only Steve McShane abstained— he was the wise one not to make a political statement. The City Council was not elected for this. They chose to interfere with free speech and stir up unneeded controversy; the media does enough of that, they don’t need help. I’m very disappointed in [council’s] actions. Maybe I’ll remember when I vote. Jim Souza | Salinas Past and Present Thanks for the William Brewer series (“The contemporaneous letters of scientist William H. Brewer illuminate the rugged and relatively unpopulated Salinas Valley of the 19th century,” Sept. 28-Oct. 4). Brewer paints a canvas with words. Love it. Gerry Orton | via email Thank you for your article and for Brewer’s letters. They are so interesting and informative. Gail Lack | via email Off Track Sounds like more mismanagement of Laguna Seca (“IndyCar moves 2024 season finale to Nashville; Laguna Seca race moved to June,” posted Sept. 25). Stop losing title races and big events. The impact MotoGP had on the economy was massive, yet the County/Laguna Seca fail to do the necessary improvements to keep these races and attract more people. The county is losing out on hundreds of millions in income. Imagine if they got off their butt in the ’90s and attracted F1. Justin Martin | via social media Volume Up “Thundercat’s electric, frenetic and at times dizzying music was not for everyone.” No it wasn’t (“This weekend’s Monterey Jazz Festival showed how the genre stays vital, as one generation passes the baton to the next,” posted Sept. 25). I was one of the “older crowd” who left. Most of the longtime attendees I spoke with as we were leaving expressed disappointment (and a little sadness) that this was [retiring artistic director] Tim Jackson’s choice to close his excellent stint at the Monterey Jazz Festival (“Tim Jackson led the Monterey Jazz Festival’s vision and modernization for 33 years,” Sept. 21-27). The music does evolve, but it is a jazz festival. During my 45-plus years of attending, Saturday afternoon would have been the appropriate time for a Thundercat. It would be expected, along with the great blues and R&B performers. Not closing Sunday night. And it seems to me that passing the baton may be a little premature. There’s still a significant number of the “older crowd” attending and supporting MJF. See ya next year. Terry Fuqua | Stockbridge, Georgia Letters • CommentsOPINION Submit letters to the editor to letters@mcweekly.com. Please keep your letter to 150 words or less; subject to editing for space. Please include your full name, contact information and city you live in.
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