14 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY OCTOBER 1-7, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com LETTERS OPINION PARK N RIDE They should run a free shuttle from the Barnyard or Crossroads Shopping Centers to Point Lobos to free up parking and congestion along the highway (“Monterey County Supervisors move to pursue no-parking restrictions near Point Lobos,” posted Sept. 22). Shawn Adams | Monterey MONEY MATTERS A key duty of local leadership is working effectively with state and federal agencies to secure funding and execute public projects (“HUD audit found money problems with Monterey mayoral candidate’s assisted living facility,” Sept. 24-30). An active federal exclusion status or recurring state tax disputes raises practical questions about a candidate’s ability to seamlessly navigate intergovernmental relationships on day one. Barrie Riddoch | Monterey Licensed facilities care for elderly and infirm folks, who count on owners to follow the law. When you do things that impact a community that cares for dependent adults, I question your ability to run a city ethically. Kymm Navarette | Salinas WATER WAY Christopher Bunn [of the Salinas River Management Unit Association] rightly observes that the Pajaro River is an encouraging example of a public flood project (“Letters,” Sept. 10-16). The Salinas River is not the Pajaro. On the Pajaro, land is managed by a public agency for a single purpose. On the Salinas, most of the floodplain is privately owned. Here, flood-reducing work is done through the Salinas River Stream Maintenance Program, a partnership of the Resource Conservation District, Water Resources Agency, Farm Bureau, and landowner-led River Management Unit Association. Participation is voluntary. That is a property choice and it leaves a risk where owners do not enroll, but it is not the absence of a program. Flood preparedness extends beyond the Salinas River. The Water Resources Agency monitors storm activity and coordinates with the County Department of Emergency Management when flooding is predicted. Nacimiento and San Antonio dams provide the greatest flood reduction. Until there is landowner agreement on an alternative, the voluntary program remains the charted course. Ara Azhderian | Carmel Note: Azhderian is general manager of the Monterey County Water Resources Agency. ON TRAIL So awesome to see this result (“Ensen Community Park in Salinas expands with a 67-acre restoration area,” Sept. 17-23). Congratulations to everyone who worked so hard on this project. Barbara Bastian | via social media JUST JAZZ Just a wonderful event. Thank you, Monterey Jazz Festival (“The Monterey Jazz Festival’s theme, ‘Only in Monterey,’ rings true in its 69th outing,” posted Sept. 28). James R. Goulart | Moss Landing FILM ROLLING Kudos on your pledge to go back to the movie theaters (“Saving Maya Cinemas is good for the movies— and more broadly, for downtown,” posted Sept. 15). Unfortunately, especially in the summer, there isn’t much for an adult to see. On the other hand, those action movies do bring in families and teens which appears to have bumped up theater profits. I make it a point to check out the Cinemark online once a week to see if there’s anything interesting. See you at the movies. Ruthie Carter | via email FAMILY RESTAURANT Great food and great people! (“After closing a longtime barbecue location, Johnny Carmona reinvented himself at Pajaro golf course,” Sept. 24-30.) Debbie Lerma | Watsonville They are the best! Maggie Alba | Watsonville LETTERS continued from pg. 12 C XC U V 25% off x - 99 99 * ® ® ** ® ® ® C $ $ x $ 999 99 * Q ® ™ ** $ $ 999 Y D s r bu ed 9/1/26 2:49 PM 1130 Fremont Blvd (831) • 215 • 6242 Located in Laguna Plaza The Peninsula’s Downtown Shops, restaurants, hotels and businesses Spend some time with us Downtown… oldmonterey.org 11:30am-close, 10am Sat & Sun 484 Washington Street Downtown Monterey 831.643.9525 www.melvilletav.com WOOD FIRED PIZZAS, BURGERS, PASTA, SALADS & SANDWICHES INDOOR, PATIO DINING & TAKEOUT HAPPY HOUR FOOD & DRINK SPECIALS DAILY 4-6PM WEEKEND BRUNCH Family-Owned. Locally Loved. Since 1980. Open Daily from 8am 1992– 2025 VOTED BEST Comfort Food Family Restaurant Desserts Now Open in Sand City! 434 Alvarado St. Monterey 831.375.1400 rosinesmonterey.com 2160 California Ave., Sand City 831.291.5182 caffebyrosines.com ’25 Celebrating 12 years in Downtown! Sunday–Thursday 11:30am-10pm Friday–Saturday 11:30am-11pm 426 Alvarado St. Monterery 831-655-BEER asb.beer Monterey County’s Best Local Beer/Brewery Best Bar for Gen X Best Server-Chelsea Dalhamer Best Place to Eavesdrop Best Podcast - KRML’s ‘Pub Talk”
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