12 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY JUNE 19-25, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com JACKS OUT OF A BOX So much history here! Thanks for the article. I’ve long been interested in David Jacks (“For decades, David Jacks ruled the Monterey Peninsula like a monarch. His legacy can be seen all around us,” June 5-11). Stacy Steele | Carmel Thank you for your article. You buried the lead though. “The Rape of Monterey”—that’s what the theft of the entire Monterey Peninsula from the City of Monterey and eviction of the Mexican people from those lands by David Jacks and Delos Ashley used to be known as locally. Wonder why no one talks about this anymore? The reason we don’t know our history around here is it benefits powerful people who want us to forget. Don’t forget the Monterey Pueblo, the people who lived there and what might have been. Jason Johnston | Prunedale Great story! I learned so much. Just to think that John C. Frémont boarded the same ship, as Jacks was leaving! A must-read. Thank you. Hans Uslar | Monterey My grandfather (times four) William Jack was the father of David Jack [changed to Jacks in the U.S.] of Monterey fame/notoriety. I have researched and written about Jack for many years, my specialty being his formative years in Crieff, Scotland. John Walton is clearly a distinguished educator, and on the whole his treatment of Jack is fair although betrays a left-wing liberal bias, which I understand is not uncommon in the halls of Californian academia. I do also understand that it could be said that my family connection to Jack could introduce bias but I do try to be balanced, and I have duly reported on the issues which are believed to have given Jack his historical “black eye.” There is no doubt in my mind that views of Jack are often colored by political perspective. A number of myths have taken hold, which took root once the Jack family (the Californian branch) died out in 1962. One is the suggestion of notices for the 1859 auction sale being posted in English in Spanish-speaking areas, and vice-versa. There is absolutely no evidence of this, or survival of any such notices. Indeed, your own piece confirms that proper notice was given in the press. Very easy to besmirch a man when neither he or his family are there to provide their own alternative account. No, Jack wasn’t perfect—none of us are. However, when I look at some of the antics of certain persons in the USA and elsewhere since his time, he was a heavenly angel by comparison. Congratulations on your excellent article and thanks for keeping the Jack name in the public eye. Kenneth Jack | Parthshire, Scotland PAST AND PRESENT Thank you to Karen Brown, Philip Laverty, Rudy Rosales and others for your enduring efforts to secure this and other recognitions (“Monterey City Council to consider a formal apology to Indigenous communities,” June 5-11). Our families were born, lived and died on Dutra Street and in surrounding areas. We are the survivors and descendants of survivors. Our resilience will continue to carry us through the challenges of time and circumstance. Hope Casareno | San Francisco While we were not the ones who physically participated in the removal and abuse of indigenous peoples, we reap the benefits. I believe that until this country recognizes its injustices done to many groups of people, we will never heal and will be bound to repeat them. Sadly, we are there again now. Thank you, Monterey, for your part in healing us. Elizabeth Marisol | Salinas FIRE SIDE It’s encouraging to see Cal Fire dedicating resources to educating homeowners about wildfire risk and preparation (“Inspectors are going door to door to educate property owners on wildfire risk,” June 5-11). A 2023 study estimates climate change has increased the risk of extreme daily wildfires in the state by 25 percent. The time to act is now. Beyond defensible space, home hardening is the most reliable means to protect our homes when wildfires hit. We can reduce the flammability of homes and structures through fire-resistant roofing, siding and covering vents with mesh that prevents embers from entering. Defensible space is an important part of the solution, but home hardening is the only way we can stop risks like flying embers in a firestorm that can fly three miles. Home hardening must be a part of the education Cal Fire is providing to homeowners in the field. Education is the first step toward change! Jamie Yale | Los Angeles JAIL HOUSE The exit of Wellpath from Monterey County Jail isn’t a solution—it’s the long-delayed admission of failure (“As Sheriff’s Office negotiates a new health care contract in the jail, current provider Wellpath says they’re out of the running,” June 12-18). For years, the public has watched as incarcerated people have died under suspect conditions, while a private contractor collected millions under court oversight and still failed to meet basic standards of care. Now, we are told a new provider is being selected—quietly, behind closed doors. Health care inside our jail is not just a line item in a budget—it’s a moral obligation under the law. The current approach—waiting until contracts expire, cycling through vendors with troubling records and reacting to lawsuits—is reactive governance at its worst. We cannot keep swapping one troubled vendor for another and calling it progress. What’s required now is independent, structural accountability. A civilian oversight committee with subpoena power. An Inspector General who reports to the public. Bill Lipe | Salinas OUT AND PROUD Sam Gomez is amazing! You’ve got so much of my respect, Sam (“As an activist, Sam Gomez is dedicated to helping others feel welcome and accepted, whoever they are,” June 5-11). Rachael Holder | via social media Go Sam! Such a wonderful person. Jessie Bucci-Carter | 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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