12 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY OCTOBER 23-29, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com PROTEST POWER A terrific turnout of neighbors from all walks of life, passionately committed to protecting our democracy! (“Thousands rally in Salinas and Monterey for No Kings Day,” posted Oct. 19). Megan Whilden | Monterey He’s not going anywhere no matter how many hours you waste on the street with a sign. I preferred DeSantis 100 percent but I am not going to cry about it for four years. Annette Perez | via social media Monterey was an amazing success with 8,500-9,000 showing up and representing for the cause. Marilyn Lucas Parmley | via social media Worthless cause. Didn’t change anything. Al Macks | via social media Keep shouting it from the rooftops and the streets. Dump Trump!, the rapist, crook, oligarch. Yay Monterey! Be Astengo | via social media What a bunch of misguided people, including Jimmy Panetta. How quickly they forget all the things the do-nothing Biden administration did and/or didn’t do to keep our nation safe: a botched Afghanistan withdrawal that killed 13 of our soldiers; defund the police; open borders; downsize and liberalize requirements for the military, just to name a few. If you don’t like what is happening in this country you certainly have a right to voice your opinion and even protest; but don’t forget—with that right comes responsibility, and sadly that is what is lacking today amongst the liberal far left. We need both parties and there certainly are extremes on both sides and extremes are never good for anybody. Instead of wasting energy protesting, do something to make things better. Robert McGregor | Salinas So proud of our community and all the freedom-loving Americans across the country exercising their First Amendment rights. We far out number the MAGAs who stick with this demented president and are on the wrong side of history. Jan Hufnagl | via social media BAD FOR BUSINESS It’s devastating to hear that the Salinas United Business Association will be dissolving (“Salinas United Business Association to dissolve by the end of the year,” Oct. 9-15). This administration’s immigration policies are bad for small businesses, bad for our communities. Thank you for helping us face these realities. Joanna Gallagher | Monterey HEALTH PLAN This is wonderful timing (“A new HMO is launched, offering coordinated care for those on Medicare and Medi-Cal,” Oct. 16-22). I am being filled left and right by expensive providers because my Medicare benefits no longer cover healthcare here. I’m sure everyone else is going through this too. After paying my deductible, I am paying at least that much again and rethinking everything. Montage has a lock on this Peninsula and I simply can’t afford them anymore. Thanks so much for reporting on this. I have received nothing in the mail. I hope they will reach out to people soon so they can enroll. Leigh Fitz | Monterey Hospitals across California face serious financial pressures, but balancing budgets cannot come at the expense of patients (“The California Hospital Association sues the state over spending caps, including those impacting CHOMP and SVH,” posted Oct. 16). Monterey County already ranks among the highest-cost hospital regions in the state, and shifting more costs onto working families threatens the health of the entire community. Montage Health pledged to improve the health and lives of Monterey County residents. Honoring that mission requires leading with compassion and prioritizing affordability. Hospitals and policymakers must work together to ensure financial sustainability never outweighs patient well-being. Svetlana Tauzhnyanskaya | Berkeley FED UP A clear violation of the Hatch Act. They need to take that post down immediately (“Squid Fry: Working for Who?” Oct. 9-15). Phil Candreva | via social media WATER FIGHT John Tilley ignores the fact that with the Pure Water Monterey expansion, the Peninsula now has plenty of water for decades of growth, no desal needed (“Letters,” Oct. 9-15). Our water woes are history. We now have 11,204 acre-feet per year of supply for current demand and decades of future development. Our public agencies have solved our long-standing water shortage. That should be celebrated by everyone. Cal Am’s proposed desal provides no benefit, takes coastal recreation areas, inflicts severe environmental damage, and possibly damages Marina’s groundwater resources. It would more than double our water bills. Mr. Tilley is a dedicated Cal Am cheerleader who refuses to see that Cal Am is too late. The problem has been solved and for a fraction of the cost. Susan Schiavone | Seaside READ ON For Banned Books Week, my family went to the Steinbeck House gift shop in Salinas and bought several John Steinbeck books including Grapes of Wrath (“Read a banned book today and celebrate free speech,” posted Oct. 10). I actually think East of Eden is more controversial and love it that it was assigned reading in my AP English class in high school in Detroit. Ruth Paget | via email AS SEEN ONLINE He’s a great creator. I love learning about local food from him (“Jesus ‘Jebus’ Soto of Salinas goes all in on local content and finds success on TikTok,” Oct. 16-22). Gina Bianchi | via social media Oh wow, That’s my TikTok buddy, how awesome! Ranae McDougal | via social media He [does] great reviews! Victor Rey | Salinas 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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