12 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY january 9-15, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com Barn Raising Yay! As a long-time fan of the Big Red Barn, this is good news (“The Big Red Barn received long-awaited approval for a permit to host larger events,” Dec. 26-Jan. 1). Walter Wagner | Salinas Traffic problems on Highway 101 will get worse. Laura Conte | via social media We need a venue, but not the accidents—it’s going to be a problem when alcohol is served. There’s only one way to exit. Olga Montenegro | via social media We need more events in our area or things to do! Gia M. Santos | via social media Access For All This is a great story about a young man who is truly making improvements all over our area. More power to him! (“A young man in a wheelchair is seeking to improve accessibility for others through the courts,” Dec. 26-Jan. 1.) While he’s at it, there are some really worthwhile improvements to target in Seaside. I’m thinking about a missing sidewalk in front of Seaside High, at a very busy intersection on Fremont Boulevard, which forces students with disabilities and people with baby carriages into oncoming traffic on Monterey Road. Allan Groves | Seaside Mushroom Cloud I’ve discovered a failsafe method for making sure my mushrooms are safe to eat: I identify the safe ones by their cardboard containers and plastic wrap (“Officials warn of toxic mushrooms being sold by mobile vendor in Salinas,” posted Jan. 3). Jay Donato | Salinas The Health Department and Code Enforcement have been neglecting complaints of illegal vendors. This is exactly why there needs to be enforcement. In addition to a health hazard, it’s unfair to legitimate, permitted vendors. Adam Wachtel | via social media Lasting Legacy Though I’ve been involved with the Cherry for years, working as their poet in schools for the last several, until your story, I knew embarrassingly little about Mrs. Cherry (“One woman in particular embodied Carmel’s bohemian spirit—and left a nonprofit arts institute as her legacy,” Jan. 2-8). Thank you for illuminating me and all the Weekly’s readers. Patrice Vecchione | Del Rey Oaks Important and enlightening piece on Jeanne D’Orge and the Carl Cherry Center for the Arts by Agata Popeda. A complete list of the exhibits and productions in that little Carmel building over the decades would be staggering. I covered many play productions and poetry readings and other experimental work there as a writer for the Monterey Herald. My own play Fortune’s Way, or Notes on Art for Catholics (and Others) was done there under the direction of Conrad Selvig, who was—like D’Orge—known for daring and inspired work. Steve Hauk | Pacific Grove Resistance 2.0 Wow, thanks for printing a bold, no holds barred, telling it like it is piece! (“It’s time for the Democratic Party to abandon staid resistance to Trumpism and get ready to fight,” Jan. 2-8.) Bob Gotch | Carmel Monterey County Now should stick to state and local news. Bob Roach | Salinas An outrageous, aggressive and angry piece against President Donald Trump. Especially since he was fairly elected in our democracy! The same democracy that you claim to love and defend so much. Vince Tuminello | Pacific Grove The crucial thing is to understand the true nature of the current Democratic Party. Ever since the horrific Citizens United Supreme Court decision, most Democratic politicians became corporate Democrats, serving their corporate, super-rich donors, the same way traditional Republicans have. Almost the only politicians who are honest and actually represent the working class, i.e. the majority, are the true progressives, like Bernie Sanders, AOC, Ilhan Omar, Ro Khanna, etc. We know by the way that Bernie Sanders and the people were cheated out of the 2016 Democratic Primary, and thus, the presidency. The corporate Democrats would rather lose to Trump than let a progressive, like Bernie in the White House. The only way the working class can take back the Democratic Party, and save the country and planet, is by putting progressives in the highest positions of power. Let’s hope enough Americans wake up before it’s too late. John Thomas | Salinas Power Struggle The gentleman doth protest too much (“PG&E fails this community yet again, and nobody seems willing or able to change it,” Dec. 26-Jan. 1). I’ve found that when there is a power outage, I can use my mobile phone to go to the PG&E website and check the estimated resolution time. In my experience, problems have been resolved before the estimated time. The story is bombastic and exaggerates what happens when we lose power due to natural forces beyond our control. It also does not credit the PG&E workers who brave terrible weather conditions to fix issues caused by the weather. Anita Goyhenetche | Seaside Faces of Monterey County Great shots! (“The top portraits of 2024,” posted Dec. 28.) Audrey Pierson | via social media Excellent portraits. Eric Palmer | Monterey Correction The photo credit for the image of Jeanne D’Orge that appeared on the Jan. 2 cover omitted the photographer’s name (“One woman in particular embodied Carmel’s bohemian spirit—and left a nonprofit arts institute as her legacy,” Jan. 2-8). The photograph, titled “Portrait of Jeanne Cherry, 1962,” should have been credited to Wynn Bullock ©1962/2025 Bullock Family Photography LLC. 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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