16 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY AUGUST 21-27, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com CAR TALK Thank you for this article! The whole Car Week experience seems completely out of control, and you helped clarify how it got that way (“It’s time to rethink the ever-growing series of Car Week events,” Aug. 14-20). I’m to the point of wanting the whole thing eliminated, but I recognize that my frustration is a result of our apparent inability to set any reasonable boundaries. It would be possible to have a Car Week without the gridlock, chaos, noise and general obnoxiousness that we see now, but it would require our community leaders to have the gumption to work together to develop (and enforce) a plan. Even people who love old cars should be able to see that the current havoc is unacceptable. Corey Brunson | Monterey I despise Car Week. It’s a slap in the face to planet Earth, increasing climate change with all the gas burning and jet fuel burned in bringing cars in from all over the world. Materialism, ostentatious displays of wealth, rich old guys gunning their engines. Yes, cars can be beautiful works of art. Put them in museums, offer video shows for people to see them all. Bob Gotch | Carmel Thank you for your piece. How do we balance good business with negative consequences? Today, needing to access our post office box, we were turned away and told access was closed. That is a bit much, if we cannot even get to our mail. Gina Gianfala | Pebble Beach The community has managed to figure out how to manage other large events that have grown in scope over time. Pebble Beach Co. long ago booked off-site parking for its staff, volunteers and attendees to the Pro-Am and U.S. Open. It’s clear that organizers of Car Week events have to take responsibility for managing the crowds they attract so they don’t get to enjoy all the economic benefits while leaving the community at larger to shoulder the costs. Ken Peterson | Monterey MELTING POT Thank you for the excellent article about the danger to our county’s immigrant community (“Immigration raids have not yet come to Monterey County, but the fear that they could is changing people’s lives,” Aug. 7-13). Their fear of being arrested, imprisoned and deported is legitimate. Every day, all over the country, President Trump is authorizing more sweeps, even threatening the citizenship of children who were born to immigrants. Our Latino friends, relatives, coworkers, and employees are in danger. That means our community is in danger, also. Peggy Michael |Monterey I worked for the UFW from 1972-77 and have tried to help farmworkers in Salinas through ESL Spanish GED and citizenship classes for 30 years. The Dreamers had a chance when moderate Republicans still existed like Jeff Flake and John McCain in Arizona. The situation with ICE now is outrageous. Thank goodness for the Solidarity Network and the Watsonville Law Center! An McDowell | Monterey Thank you, thank you, thank you. What a wonderful and hugely important story, filled with heart and soul as well as straight out facts. Nothing nearly so good in the New York Times. Steve Henrikson | Carmel Thank you for your fabulous reporting (“Immigrants are living in fear. But this is nothing new in this country’s history,” posted Aug. 10). This is a succinct, fact-based and really helpful timeline on immigration. Joanna Gallagher | Monterey CHURCH AND STATE You nailed it. Nice read on an ongoing problem in our country (“Salinas City Council considers a sponsorship that violates the church/state separation,” posted Aug. 11). Keep up your fine work. Jim Vanderzwaan | Del Rey Oaks The church did a huge service to this community. This is a shame (“Salinas City Council delays a decision on Compass Church Fourth of July event sponsorship,” posted Aug. 13). No one else is stepping up to do this! So what, a sermon was given, what did you think was gonna happen when a church is the host. Common sense, people. Rosemary Maldonado-Barron | Salinas Bless you for an awesome, warm inclusive shout-out for separation of church and state. Clear, fair, holding the City Council’s feet to the fire— good journalism. Hats off, keep up the excellent work! Elaine Lalancette | Monterey Supreme Court precedent shows cities like Salinas can—and should—financially back such community-focused events, provided they serve secular purposes and benefit all residents. Church-hosted events like this deliver clear public benefits. The Fireworks Extravaganza was free, inclusive and boosted local businesses. Supporting such events isn’t just goodwill—it’s an economic investment. Compass Church pledged that city funds would cover only secular costs—fireworks, safety, security— with transparent accounting. Other cities, like Colorado Springs, fund similar events without issue, proving boundaries can be maintained. Excluding churches from funding risks alienating community partners. Brian Higgins | Salinas RIGHT OF WAY So a child was hit by a driver and we are blaming the child? I am so tired of this narrative (“There’s no law barring kids from riding e-scooters and e-bikes. But there should be,” posted Aug. 13). What about the terrible cycling and walking infrastructure in Pacific Grove? What about the people who drive oversized SUVs at high speeds through residential neighborhoods and school zones? Kids zooming around the neighborhood are behaving poorly, yes. But they are children, and unlikely to hurt anyone but themselves. What excuse do the adult drivers have? Samuel Winter | Monterey I’m so glad someone is paying attention to this. I see accidents waiting to happen every day! Susan Clark | Carmel 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.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjAzNjQ1NQ==