18 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY november 28-december 4, 2024 www.montereycountynow.com Catching The Surf The excellent investigative story by David Schmalz hit the main points of how expensive this project is costing and the few people it will serve (“Monterey-Salinas Transit’s SURF! project is hurtling ahead at great expense. Is it worth it?” Nov. 21-27). MST and TAMC continue to promote so-called increases in ridership to justify the $90-plus million for six miles of roadway through a designated recreational and sensitive habitat. David’s ride on Line 20 revealed how a 40-seat bus carried only 10-13 passengers during a high-commute time. A third of the costs are local taxpayers dollars from Measure X. Such use will certainly jeopardize the future of this sales tax, because of very expensive projects that serve the few. Next time you see any bus, count the numbers on board and just realize your taxpaying dollars are being swallowed up by a very wasteful MST. Tell board members of both MST and TAMC your concerns. Steve Kennedy | Salinas The SURF! project serves too little for too large a price and is not a good example of responsible government spending. Tina Walsh | Marina I don’t believe the proposed SURF! busway will function as intended. My background as a transportation engineer for Caltrans tells me that the projected ridership is optimistic at best. The only way to meet those projections and get motorists out of their cars is to provide free ridership. There is also an alternative to use Gen. Jim Moore Boulevard by installing a bus-only lane on it. Robert Masuda | Marina You completely glossed over the testimony of east county workers as far away as Soledad who spoke before the Coastal Commission supporting the busway as a real benefit for their already lengthy public transit commutes to their jobs on the Monterey Peninsula. There’s a real equity issue at stake here that makes a much stronger case than hashed-over arguments about luring a few motorists out of their cars. I suggest you rewatch that Coastal Commission testimony and retell the other side of the story. Scott Mace | Carmel We should be talking about how to bring rail to the Monterey Peninsula! Light rail is a big success in San Jose and Palo Alto. They are planning a new addition to BART. We, unfortunately, seem to be stuck in the past and our conversation is about adding buses. Lynda Sayre | Carmel In a Jam There may have been an increase in traffic cutting through the residential area at Toro Park when the Imjin Parkway project started, but commuters on Highway 68 have been cutting through that area for at least the 12 years that I have lived off River Road (“TAMC is adapting to expedite the commute to the Monterey Peninsula,” Nov. 14-20). Keeping the through-traffic on the highway has had a minor effect on the commute (much appreciated by the residents of Toro Park), but 68 remains a commuter’s nightmare. We volunteer at the Aquarium on Tuesdays and commute during rush hour because we have to. Yesterday morning, the 19-mile trip on 68 took 57 minutes. The return trip at 12:30pm was 33 minutes. These are average times. As retirees, we try to avoid traveling to the Monterey Peninsula during rush hour as much as possible because every route there—Highway 68, Reservation Road to Highway 1, Imjin Parkway or through Fort Ord— is jammed with commuters on roads not designed to handle the current levels of traffic. Jim Tarhalla | Las Palmas Cabinet Curiosity When your President is a sexual predator, the nominated Attorney General is a sexual predator, then why not the Defense Secretary? (“Police report details allegations that Secretary of Defense nominee Pete Hegseth raped a woman in Monterey in 2017,” posted Nov. 20.) Shawn Adams | Monterey Say his name louder!! Keep showing the receipts. And be mindful that women are opening up about their sexual assault experiences, which takes guts and courage. Ashlee Espinoza | via social media Democrats, y’all have become the street preacher with the megaphone yelling at people that the end is near and they must repent or burn in hell. Nobody likes that guy. Jane Ramirez | via social media Nobody ever found the allegations to be erroneous. It’s like many rape cases, [few] get prosecuted. It’s his own version of paying off a porn star and lying about it. Seems like he’s definitely in a group of his own peers. Otilia Covarrubias | via social media Please—trashy news and biased much? Stooping to petty BS for readership. Lisa Deas | via social media Jane Doe went in and had a sexual assault examination. These typically take three to four hours, are incredibly invasive and uncomfortable. The report was filed by the nurse, a professional who is highly trained. And some of you still do not believe women? Lisa Yates | via social media Non Partisan There is absolutely no need for a bill like this (“A bill that claims to be about stopping terrorism threatens free speech,” Nov. 21-27). Its sole purpose is to facilitate the abuse of power. Arvia Glass | via social media Jimmy Panetta supports HR 9495 because of its stated intent to combat terrorist financing (“Controversial bill passes in the House with Panetta’s support, empowering Treasury Department to crack down on nonprofits,” posted Nov. 21). How ironic, then, that his largest financial supporter should turn out to be AIPAC, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. By lobbying Congress for continued arms support to Israel amid its crimes against humanity in Gaza, AIPAC should properly be grouped with the terrorist organizations HR 9495 is targeting. Mads Bjerre | Carmel Letters • CommentsOPINION Submit letters to the editor to letters@montereycountynow.com. 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