14 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY MAY 21-27, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com READING GREEN I’m very happy you’re recognizing the need for local news (“Our new publication, Salinas Valley Now, is filling in a news desert,” May 14-20). The only reason I read the Californian is for the obituaries. I hope you’re successful in this endeavor. I look forward to reading your publication with my morning coffee. Brian Johnston | Salinas Best news I have heard about news in a long time. Bravo to you all for looking out for the whole county. Peter Hiller | Carmel Excellent news. Thank you, Weekly! John Tilley | Pacific Grove AGREE TO DISAGREE Dreadful, disappointing and deeply stupid endorsement of a billionaire who has never held any elected office, who has tried to buy the presidency and now the governorship (“Our endorsements for local, state and federal races in the June 2 primary election: Tom Steyer for governor,” May 7-13). This editorial board should hang its head in shame. Stick to reviewing local restaurants because you lack the political sophistication this kind of a decision requires. Mark Sarvas | via social media Who can’t be bought?! That is the candidate to support! Carole Rein | via social media Isn’t this year’s California gubernatorial primary the perfect example of why we need ranked-choice voting? If my favorite primary candidate fails to command a plurality, I still deserve a voice. A minority of voters should not control the selection of the final two candidates. Jean Rasch | Monterey MEASURE BY MEASURE Although I agree with the vast majority of your recommendations, in my humble opinion the City of Monterey has a spending problem and Measure D received a no from me (“Our endorsements for local, state and federal races in the June 2 primary election,” May 7-13). Perhaps it would be a good time to provide a full analysis of the city financials. The default of raising taxes just isn’t a long-term solution to a chronic problem. Lee Henderson | Monterey So glad to see the endorsement for Yes on Measure C in Pacific Grove. Our councilmembers come forward to do a job few of us would want. They invest energy and emotional courage to run a campaign, then serve diligently and with graceful patience in a contentious role. While all cities have perennial challenges, P.G. seems to be navigating them as well as any city in our area. It’s time to move beyond the disciples of obstruction and delay and adjust the salaries of our council to a fair level. So many cities have been able to do that without the local drama. Bill Kampe | Pacific Grove MIIS-ION POSSIBLE We hope (“Southern California-based Soka University is exploring acquisition of the Middlebury Institute in Monterey,” posted May 11). Their departure would be a great loss to our community. Thom Diggins | Monterey It would be devastating for the city of Monterey if the Institute were to close completely. The Institute has property from Alvarado Street all the way up to High Street. Mary Henness | via social media ON MESSAGE Bradley Zeve rightly condemns Don J. Grundmann’s overtly antisemitic statement in the California Voter Information Guide (“Ballots are out for the June 2 primary election, and it’s a lot to sift through,” posted May 10). Grundmann’s deplorable lies, conspiracy theories and hurtful vitriol have no place in an official state publication, least of all one funded by taxpayers and intended to inform voters. The presence of a disclaimer alongside his statement does not absolve Secretary of State Shirley Weber of her responsibilities. Oversight of the voter guide is her fundamental duty; allowing the content to be published under the banner of the State of California represents a serious failure of judgment and stewardship. This was not a matter of legitimate political discourse. The material in question bore no meaningful relevance to an election campaign and instead served as a vehicle for spreading hate. Invoking the First Amendment is not a sufficient defense—it is a hollow justification for a lack of appropriate review standards and accountability. At a minimum, Secretary Weber should apologize to voters, especially those in the Jewish community directly targeted by this rhetoric. It is a cowardly unwillingness of Zeve and the editorial board at Monterey County Weekly to give her cover for this inexcusable lack of judgment. Your publication should join me in demanding that Weber resign. Richard S. Gerber | Salinas WIDER REACH Awesome! (“Watsonville Law Center plans to expand its physical footprint into Salinas,” May 7-13.) Jeannette Albarran | via social media Wonderful group. JT Mason | via social media FIRE FIGHT This camp is incredible! (“A fourth annual camp is held for young women to experience what it takes to become firefighters,” May 7-13.) It empowers both the girls and all the instructors/ mentors who are leading them. So thankful to have been a part of this for the past four years. I have had girls that come out of this camp and take my EMT class. Aletha Parker | Carmel DINNER AND A MOVIE Happy to see Lalla expand to Marina, but I sure wish that the movie theater had better offerings (“Lalla Grill Promenade opens third location in Marina,” posted May 7). Kimberly Palmer Wright | via social media I was there yesterday. I really liked the experience and we will be regulars. Evelyn Martinez | 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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