12 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY september 5-11, 2024 www.montereycountynow.com Keeping the Key It should be illegal for these nonprofit senior life care providers to convert to for-profit operations and evict residents (“P.G. Senior Living seeks to evict a 96-year-old tenant, despite her lifetime contract,” Aug. 22-28). Michelle McGurk | via social media So now she’s able to stay, as per the terms of her original contract (“Pacifica Senior Living reverses eviction of 96-year-old woman from its Pacific Grove facility,” posted Aug. 30). If this hadn’t created such a public stink the facility would have gotten away with it. Which tells me that in the past, they’ve pushed people out mercilessly. It’s truly criminal. Sandy O’Keefe Lalino | via social media The power of the press! Good job! Walter Wagner | Salinas Thank you, Monterey County Weekly, for publishing this. It’s about time this nation starts taking care of its elderly. Lina Vital | via social media Cost of Care I attended the [Office of Health Care Affordability] board meeting and can attest that Pam Marino’s article accurately describes what went down (“A state hearing about health care prices puts local hospitals under the microscope,” posted Aug. 30). The torrent of data and related commentary depicted, as reported, “market failure” in this region, resulting in the highest hospital charges in the state. The question is whether and how soon the board will act on this information. James Rice | Carmel Home Team I cannot speak as to whether the Weekly is biased regarding the housing plight in Monterey County (“Letters,” Aug. 29-Sept. 4). I can say that affordable housing is crystallizing now as the major issue facing Monterey County and much of California, as evidenced by a proposition on the November ballot trying to improve affordability by stabilizing rents statewide. In terms of your perception of the coverage, it’s certain that the most rent-burdened groups in Monterey County are the agricultural and hospitality labor populations. From my observation, these populations are receiving the lion’s share of the coverage. Rightfully so; their affordability plight is the most inequitable and abused, and as a result they have organized and are speaking up! The population of non-ag renters does not seem to be so organized. In terms of bringing more voices into the discussion, I have heard several local property managers and developers and Salinas Chamber of Commerce. They mention supply-and-demand imbalance, as well as the unintended consequences of rental caps, yet for some reason they are not convincing. As a result they do not seem to have a public following. Perhaps more tenant support, outreach and education is needed from outfits like the Monterey County Association of Realtors. Roy Campy | via web Tomorrow and Today I was surprised and a bit worried when I read the letter asking you to remove the cartoon “This Modern World” from your pages (“Letters,” Aug. 29-Sept. 4). Cartoonist Tom Tomorrow, like all good jesters, tackles issues and opinions that can upset some people, but are vital contributions to the discussion about America’s future. Your position in the public forum should include such offerings, which, like strong coffee, can agitate, but also impel to action. I hope you continue to find room for “This Modern World” and the controversies that are so vital to the future of our society. Bruce Merchant | Carmel Hanging History Thank you for letting us know about the opening of this wonderful exhibit at Colton Hall, which seems to me to be the perfect place for Pat Hathaway’s collection to be displayed (“A unique exhibit featuring historical photos of Monterey debuts at Colton Hall,” Aug. 29-Sept. 4). And a big thank you to all those involved in helping to preserve and share this long hidden gem of Monterey’s history. Derek Dean | Monterey Speed Limit You said out loud what many of us have been thinking (“The many variables make Car Week’s carbon footprint difficult to map,” posted Aug. 23). Why do the citizens of Monterey County spend a week either gridlocked in smoggy traffic or fleeing to escape just so people can descend upon us to worship automobiles? Why is it about automobiles? Why must it be here? Why don’t they have it in the middle of the desert somewhere? From what sources do these car people think the climate crisis emanates? Do they not know that the internal combustion engine makes pollution? We could do a lot better finding a worthwhile reason to celebrate and raise money for charitable causes. Margaret Lilley | Carmel You raise good questions that many locals ask themselves out loud to no one in particular—since it probably would make little difference even if we could calculate the environmental cost of the month-long events that now make up “Car Week.” Too much money is at stake. Too many special interests. There are other costs too, like the fact that vintage cars are exempted from EPA rules on unleaded gas. Or the possibility of fire. Overtime costs go up too for local law enforcement and fire department officials, subsidized by taxpayers, just like the tax breaks the event organizers get when they make “charitable” donations. I’ve lived here since the ’60s, and remember the excitement of the races at Laguna Seca, as well as the threeday Concours auction. I understand we’re dependent on tourism. But Car Week seems to become more intrusive every year, just as community concerns become less important. Christina Lund | Pacific Grove Swim Team What a lovely and inspiring article (“Samuel Anaya-Álvarez recently taught himself how to swim. Now, he’s training for the English Channel,” Aug. 29-Sept. 4). It brought a big smile to my face. Brita Bruemmer | Monterey Letters • CommentsOPINION Submit letters to the editor to letters@montereycountynow.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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