18 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY december 5-11, 2024 www.montereycountynow.com Check your Status We’re all undocumented (“County Board of Supervisors will consider creating a committee to focus on immigrants’ rights,” Nov. 28-Dec. 4). What’s in your wallet? Nothing that shows you’re an American citizen. Unless you walk around with your passport (that most people don’t have) or your birth certificate (that most people can’t find) you have no ID proving you’re a citizen. In this country, we have no national ID card that everyone carries showing we are citizens. Under Trump, will we now need one? I would like to watch the congressional debate on that proposal. Before you get excited about deporting all the undocumented be careful, it might include you. Check your ID. Sam Farr | Carmel I would like to suggest coverage of how local people can support their at-risk neighbors as Trump’s deportation nightmare approaches. I am a landlord with tenants who are vulnerable, and I’m trying to find out if I have any power to protect them. Susan Raycraft | Lockwood Open Road Sure is easy to close these roads and trails but it seems to take forever to reopen them (“For the first time in almost four years, Nacimiento-Fergusson Road is open to through-traffic,” Nov. 21-27). Take a look at the Garrapata Creek Redwood Canyon upper trail. Will it ever really reopen? Perhaps more funding is needed for the State Parks and National Forest systems, and maybe a youth service program could move trail closure openings ahead in the Ventana and elsewhere. John Heyl | Seaside Voting Plan Thank you for highlighting the important issue of districting in Seaside (“Redistricting can improve the diversity of local government, but not always,” Nov. 28-Dec. 4). This process offers an opportunity to address the city’s diverse needs by ensuring equitable representation across neighborhoods. Seaside’s communities face distinct challenges, from affordable housing shortages in some areas to infrastructure needs and youth engagement in others. A district-based approach allows for a focus on specific neighborhoods, addressing their unique priorities more effectively. For example, neighborhoods with aging infrastructure could benefit from targeted investment, while others may require improved public safety initiatives or expanded access to green spaces. Thank you for your thoughtful coverage of a topic that impacts every family in Seaside. Karla Lobo | Seaside Art for All Thank you for this article on how vital the arts are for our community, providing outlets for creativity and stress relief (“Nonprofits fill a gap for offering arts and culture in local schools and beyond. They rely on philanthropic support,” Nov. 14-20). I want to clarify one quote by Jeff Hinderscheid, executive director of Sol Treasures: “The Arts Council is in bad shape now.” He was referring to the California Arts Council, not the Arts Council for Monterey County, due to the reduction of $5 million in state funding for two years. The Arts Council for Monterey County (Arts4MC) is financially stable but we have seen a large reduction in funding due to some school districts not utilizing their Prop. 28 funds at this time. As we did during the pandemic, we will continue to adapt and create new sustainable programs for our community. Jacquie Atchison | via email Note: Atchison is executive director of Arts4MC. Dining Out(Side) We specifically eat at places with outdoor dining since our pup is often with us. I love that they’re not going away (“Pacific Grove moves quickly to replace three parklets with sidewalk dining,” Nov. 21-27). And sincerely wish we had more outdoor dining options in our county. Adriana Jimenez | Salinas Outdoor dining sounds great. Just don’t forget the outdoor heaters. Deborah Gonçalves | via social media Off the Rails I appreciate the effort that went into this article (“Monterey-Salinas Transit’s SURF! project is hurtling ahead at great expense. Is it worth it?” Nov. 21-27). David Schmalz caught part of the picture by riding the bus. Why is this road being built through sensitive habitat when only 13 people are on the bus during rush hour and at best traffic delays the bus by 10 minutes? The real story here is real estate development. Within a half-mile of each of the three bus stops developers will enjoy unlimited housing density, parking requirements eliminated and building height restrictions are extinguished. I received an email on Nov. 15 from the Federal Transit Administration letting me know the project has not met the requirements for funding. The agency does not know if the project will be recommended for funding next year. Our opposition at the Museum of Handcar Technology has led to the ouster of our handcar tour business in Marina (“Handcar tours in Marina will end, unless the city inks a new lease for train tracks,” Oct. 24-30). The political system of Monterey County is too powerful for a small family business such as ours to overcome. Todd Clark | Santa Clarita Note: Clark is proprietor of the Museum of Handcar Technology, which was evicted from the tracks in Marina and packed up to close over Thanksgiving weekend. Worth 1,000 Words Absolutely HATE your “cartoons” which are ALWAYS incendiary and printed to show your utter contempt for the more than 50 percent who voted in a way you didn’t like. Sara Rubin’s comments rank second in that same class. No neutral zone for Monterey County Weekly. No giving the news without adding a lot of contempt for anyone/everyone whose vote doesn’t agree with your opinion of what is right. Could you at least try and tone it down? Most of the rest of your news is of interest. Your biased opinions are not. Cherie Colon | Marina 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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