14 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY october 12-18, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com Home Count The draft of Pacific Grove’s housing element provides a stark reminder that one of the most historically significant areas in the city remains under threat by those ignorant of its history (“P.G.’s housing plan suggests up to 84 units on a contested strip of sensitive coastal land,” Oct. 5-11). The city’s Planning Department recommended rezoning Site 49, but fails to mention that such a zoning change in the Coastal Zone would require a referendum vote and that a majority of P.G. residents are opposed to converting any open space zoning to residential. The draft further ignores P.G.’s Local Coastal Plan, which specifies that any building on this parcel can be used only for marine scientific purposes. It is time for P.G. to do everything it can to protect the integrity of the Point Pinos Lighthouse Reservation, the city’s oldest, largest, and most prominent historic landscape. Chuck Greene | Pacific Grove Development of the former National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration property at 1352 Lighthouse Ave. would be a tragedy for the city and the region. The culture of Indigenous people dates back thousands of years on the land. In the 1970s, archeologists discovered a site that runs under the NOAA building; tribal leaders have made it clear they do not want this site of their ancestors desecrated yet again by the building being torn down and something else built on the land. The allBlack 54th Coast Artillery Regiment may have camped on the property while defending Pacific Grove and California in 1943. The building’s marine murals by acclaimed artist Ray Troll are scientifically important as well as beautiful. These are a few of many reasons this property is of cultural and historic importance. Its loss would be tragic. Steve Hauk | Pacific Grove Note: Hauk is on the steering committee of the Center for Ocean Art, Science and Technology (COAST) that envisioned taking over the NOAA building. Park Police This is something that those with the slightest bit of intelligence have thought about since about 2020, with calls for defunding the police (“After a pilot program, Salinas agrees to a one-year private security contract at Closter Park,” Oct. 5-11). As police are defunded, there will be a continuous rise in private policing, a body with less government oversight. Jack Gillott | Seaside Seeking Justice Thank you for a moving piece about the trial, for looking at the instinctual heroism in ordinary folk (“A murder trial for the killing of a Salinas police officer reveals unexpected, everyday heroism,” posted Oct. 9). Just beautifully written. Elliot Ruchowitz-Roberts | Carmel Power Shift Lesson to be learned: If you’re looking for a job somewhere else, don’t let your boss know (“Salinas City Council votes unanimously to fire city manager Steve Carrigan,” posted Oct. 4). Walter Wagner | Salinas Well, it sounds like Mr. City Manager is in love, and not with the City of Salinas. The job is not easy, but deserves a leader who can take the city to another level. Jose Belman | Salinas Sound Off One: How is it [that people] on the Monterey Peninsula get so worked up about fireworks displays on the Fourth of July but are so tolerant of the California International Airshow in Salinas? (“Hot Picks,” Oct. 5-11.) Two: And what about the pets? We worry so much about pets on the Fourth, but my cats have not come out from under the bed since this insanity started on Thursday. The noise is horrific for man and beasts! Three: And the veterans? I served on an aircraft carrier in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War. I lived right under the flight deck with aircraft landing on my rooftop 24/7. I have experienced crashes on the flight deck. I may have PTSD from that experience, but I cannot begin to fathom the horror of a veteran who does suffer from PTSD who has to relive having Agent Orange sprayed on him from a jet blasting no more than 100 feet over his house. It is high time that we came to our senses and stopped this insanity! OK, you want an airshow? Fine! Have it in the Mojave Desert. Then, if there is an accident, there is only a few acres of sagebrush that is destroyed, not an entire Salinas neighborhood. Patrick Zimmerman | Salinas Bloom and Grow The article about volunteers in King City dedicated to beautification and preservation was very inspiring (“A local volunteer organization in King City is working to make the community bloom,” Oct 5-11). Their community pride and the practice of showing up and making a big difference can be a model for other cities. I encourage citizens to form similar American In Bloom chapters. The support from City Manager Steve Adams shows how city staff partnering alongside people with a purpose can get things done. Congratulations to King City. Let’s start a similar effort in Pacific Grove. Mike Gibbs | Pacific Grove OUTLAW COUNTRY Charley Crockett is the best! (“The 2023 Rebels and Renegades Festival brought a twangy mix of musical styles to the Fairgrounds,” posted Oct. 9.) Mike Stephens | via social media [Old Crow Medicine Show] was so much fun! Tina Repetti-Renzullo | via social media Great cover photo! (“The Rebels and Renegades Music Festival returns for its second year, featuring diverse sounds of Americana and further solidifying the Good Vibez Presents empire,” Oct. 5-11.) Eric Palmer Sr. | Monterey Correction An explanation of rainfall during the 2022-23 water year (“The Weekly Tally,” Oct. 5-11) incorrectly stated how 14.01 inches compares to the historical average of 12.58 inches. It was 11-percent higher than the average, not 111-percent higher. 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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