16 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY APRIL 9-15, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com FLOCK OF CAMERAS They don’t help us (“Is the monitoring of license plates in Monterey County and beyond a boon for policing or another step closer to a mass surveillance state?” April 2-8). I asked one time for footage of a road incident and they told me I would have to go to court and get a subpoena for it. I don’t want to pay for toys I don’t get to play with and might be used to harm me. Denica De Foy | Pacific Grove I think these things are unconstitutional, and it will take lawsuits to phase them out, which has already happened in other states. I give props to the City of Monterey for being transparent about them and their locations. Joey Espinoza | Monterey Flock might be useful for spotting and tracking stolen vehicles. James L. Baker | via social media SB34 and SB54 should be repealed. Both were designed to protect illegal immigrants and other lawbreakers like people with over-stayed visas. If you are a law-abiding citizen or documented resident, what do you have to hide? Both bills are purely politically driven. Robert McGregor | Salinas FINAL TOAST I am so sad. He was truly a kind person who looked for the good in all of us (“Carmel restaurateur Ken Spilfogel dies at 75,” posted April 3). I hope his beautiful spirit will continue to help shine light and love that we can continue his legacy. Annee Hayden Martin | via social media Shocked by this news. He’ll be missed tremendously. Jason Hackforth | via social media The best of the best. Rest in peace, my friend. Jon Karlo | Carmel TRIP ADVISERS Salinas is also, without question, the friendliest town in Monterey County, with the best weather (“Tourists often overlook Salinas. Local leaders want to fix that,” April 2-8). Years ago, a friend and I met a couple on a trail in Monterey. He was a new chef at a large hotel, she a scientist. After a lovely conversation, we said goodbye—they said, “Wait. Just so you know, we have lived here for three months and you are the first people to say hello to us.” That incident reflects a certain uptightness Salinas does not have. Denise Kay | Seaside With CalTrain expected to arrive in 2028, progress is being made on the remaining footprint of the Heritage Center in the historic Southern Pacific freight building. Discussions are also in progress with the City of Salinas on two critical issues: formalizing a site name for what is now commonly referred to as Salinas City Heritage Park (“Salinas inches toward heritage designation of its transit center, hoping to increase tourism,” March 5-11), and developing signage to guide visitors to the site. Located on this historic national trail, this new destination is poised to build momentum and advance our plans for economic development initiatives in our region through heritage tourism. Craig Kaufman | Carmel Valley Note: Kaufman is executive director of the Salinas Valley Tourism & Visitors Bureau. A cannabis lounge in Salinas wouldn’t just be a novelty—it’s a strategic tourism play (“Monterey County planning commissioners discuss next steps to allow on-site cannabis consumption,” March 5-11). Under AB 1775, lounges can now function as full “Amsterdamstyle” social venues serving food, hosting live music, and creating a curated cultural experience. That matters because tourism today is driven by experiences, and Salinas currently lacks a signature draw compared to Monterey or Carmel. A well-designed lounge—especially one tied to the region’s agricultural identity (think “Salinas Valley terroir” for cannabis, much like wine country)—could position the city as a distinct destination rather than a passthrough, capturing visitors who are already coming to the Central Coast but looking for something unique and social to do in the evening. Just as important, cannabis lounges are often less problematic than traditional nightlife. They are strictly 21-plus, prohibit alcohol and operate under tight regulation, which tends to reduce the kinds of disturbances commonly associated with bars and clubs. Salinas could expand its hospitality footprint without importing the typical downsides of nightlife. John Thomas | Salinas LIGHT IT UP They should consider using overhead power lines before expanding the solar pilot program (“Struggling with copper wire theft, Salinas explores a solar streetlight pilot program,” March 26-April 1). Overhead might be a low-cost way to deter theft instead of putting heavy batteries and a solar panel sail up top that each require a stronger and more expensive pole. Also remember that current state law restricts private property lights from shining into the public right of way, even though extra light would also be helpful here. Ryan Zimbauer | Seaside STITCH TOGETHER The article’s subject is too modest (“Artist J. Kai Maeda discovers a love of working with fiber and a particular type of power in making things,” March 26-April 1). To turn a photograph into the crocheted image of a bufflehead shows incredible talent. Bravo on taking crochet into new realms! Paul Fleischman | Monterey SPOT LIGHT Thank you for the shout-out and working with local artists to highlight what we’re organizing in the community (“A new performance series invites the audience into the minds of local songwriters,” March 26-April 1). Peter Barnes Martin | Monterey Note: Martin is the creator of ‘Portraits in Song.’ POWER STEERING I want to do this! (“New to Laguna Seca, a program from Porsche gives people a chance to drive the track,” April 2-8.) Rory Montenegro | 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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