12 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY MARCH 27-APRIL 2, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com BUSINESS PLAN I favor applying sound business principles to government—not Muskian actions (“Government is not a business—and should not be run like it is,” March 20-26). Strong businesses engage in sustainability planning. While cutting USDA grants saves $10 million in the short term, it eliminates the proven $20 economic gain from every dollar invested. A smart businessperson would make that strategic investment over immediate savings every time. The inability to weigh the relative value of various programs, treating each cut as though the long-term benefit is equal, is bad business. Susie Brusa | Salinas MAKE SOME NOISE That new lil brewery and pizza spot [Hops and Fog Brewing Co.] has been jumping—I hadn’t seen people outside at night time in Pacific Grove in a long time (“A P.G. Council majority signals it’s ready to raise decibel limits for music downtown,” posted March 21). James Ryan | Monterey I don’t know, people who live around there might want it quiet. Scotty Swoleson | via social media Pacific Grove is known as “America’s Last Hometown” for a reason—it is a peaceful, family-friendly community, not “America’s Party Town.” The town’s charm lies in its quiet, smalltown atmosphere, which residents and visitors alike appreciate. If people want to experience live music, there are plenty of nearby options just minutes away. They can visit Sly’s on Cannery Row, Pearl Hour on Lighthouse, or Deja Blue in Seaside. Residents willingly pay a premium in rent and mortgages to live in a quiet, relaxed setting, free from excessive noise and disruptions. Thomas M. Chavarria | via social media I work, live, own and pay a mortgage and taxes in Pacific Grove. You’d be surprised how many people enjoy the vibrancy of P.G. these days. It really is a good thing for the community. Molly Nance | Pacific Grove SNAIL MAIL Bring it (“Local mail carriers plan a rally with the message: Don’t privatize the post office,” posted March 21). I’m a 40-year postal veteran here. This happened twice in my career… failed miserably each time and it will again. This is the second-strongest Union behind the Teamsters. Bob Graves | Salinas The USPS had opportunities to become as efficient as UPS or Federal Express but missed the bus by their leaders. They failed us and private companies took up the slack! Cheri Gray Lyons | Fresno They are actually more efficient for much lower costs to consumers. Stop listening to the liars and grifters who want to privatize every government service so the oligarchs can charge us twice or more for less than half the service. Joe Wassmann | Monterey With email, FedEx, UPS, DHL and Amazon, the era of the USPS has run its course. Time to move on into the 21st century. All I get via USPS now is junk mail. Constantino L. Lozano | via social media COUNT THE CHANGE I am so impressed by the federal funding story (“As leaders in Washington take a sledgehammer to federal funding, here’s a look at local expenditures,” March 20-26). I understand what an “all-hands-on-deck” effort it must have been. What a great way to let readers know how the national government they are constantly told is so awful benefits their lives! This sort of work reminds readers why local journalism is so important. Keep up the good work! Rick Moore | via email Your article is an excellent example of research journalism at its best. Thanks to the many contributors for their detailed examination of a vital subject. Once again, Monterey County Weekly scores. Carl Alasko | via email CASE CLOSED When I graduated in 1972 with a degree in biology, this DNA technique was not yet available, but we were all optimistic we’d be able to use such in the future. That future has arrived, and it is wonderful to see it applied nowadays in so many cases, not just this one (“Nevada man sentenced to life for the 1982 murder of Seaside girl,” posted March 21). May her spirit rest in peace. Walter Wagner | Salinas DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES As the daughter of a World War II vet, I’ve lived through many political crises in this country—but I have never seen our democracy so endangered. Congress is broken, and the guardrails are being dismantled before our eyes. We must sound the alarm (“It’s Sunshine Week, at a time when sunlight is needed more than ever,” posted March 16). Mary Jane Perna | Monterey “The government you elect is the government you deserve” is so telling of the Democratic Party’s attitude (“Constituents press U.S. Rep. Jimmy Panetta to be bolder,” March 13-19). They have failed to run inspiring campaigns the last few elections and they keep trying to appeal to conservatives. In the last campaign they paraded around Liz Cheney as if that was going to change undecided or conservative voters’ minds. Republicans energize their base and feed into their most dedicated voters, meanwhile the most dedicated Democratic voters get told to compromise their values and reach across the aisle and that we deserve this government for not voting hard enough. I don’t see why Monterey County needs Panetta, this is not a time for passivity. Julian Torres | Marina OUT FOXED It gives off a modern art nouveau vibe, absolutely on fire (“A giant fox mural now graces the Fox Theater, part of a Salinas City Center Improvement Association initiative,” posted March 20). Sam Al-Maqtari | via social media Wow, that is so freakin’ cool. Congrats! Julia Townsend | via social media 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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