18 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY OCTOBER 8-14, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com LETTERS endorsements: Yes on M and N”). Now the council says Carmel’s 10-percent hotel tax is below neighboring cities’ 12 percent. It leaves out the 2-percent district assessment Carmel guests already pay. Their total is 12 percent; Measure M would make it 14. The council projects just 2.1-percent annual hotel tax growth, though revenue has averaged 6.6-percent growth since 2013. That forecast makes a permanent tax look necessary while discounting what our partnership already delivers. Despite talk of repairs, Measure M’s proceeds are not earmarked for maintenance. After decades of working together, Carmel deserves the whole truth. Vote no on Measure M. Thomas Reiser | Palm Springs Note: Reiser owns Inns-by-the-Sea in Carmel. I am very disappointed by the editorial board’s decision on Measure H (“Our endorsements: Yes on H). After highlighting the lack of progress Salinas city councils have made on [Regional Housing Needs Allocation], and after documenting the 544 permits for moderate-income housing (mostly ADUs), you then feign sympathy for the crowded, unmaintained conditions that many of our working-class neighbors endure, and blame the slow pace of gentrification on the 20 percent of them, benefiting from the tenant-protecting ordinances that No on H preserves. Why are you so antagonistic about “the impassioned pleas of renters,” because it’s easy? Privilege still runs deep in Salinas’ institutions. John Silva | Salinas BY THE NUMBERS According to the Community Foundation for Monterey County’s 2024 tax filing, it managed $109 million in donor-advised funds (“The Community Foundation for Monterey County announces its new president/CEO, Gina Dalma,” posted Sept. 23). At some point, the individual instructs the CFMC to give that money to a working nonprofit focused on food security, homelessness, cancer support, etc. However, under current law, that money can sit in those accounts forever without reaching nonprofits. Again, in CFMC’s case, the total was $109 million as of 2024. (Last year, Monterey County Gives! raised only $17.1 million.) This is a perfectly legal practice among community foundations, and the onus is on the account holder to direct the CFMC to give that money to nonprofits. However, I hope Ms. Dalma makes it a priority to encourage CFMC’s donors to quickly move as much of that $109 million as possible into the hands of our county’s working charities. Mike Scutari | Carmel FILM SCORE This is great, love that you’re featuring film composers (“The revived Carmel International Film Festival brings big players to local enthusiasts,” Oct. 1-7). Suzanne Mudge | Carmel SOUND TRACK Beautiful piece! (“Culturally and musically this weekend, Monterey County celebrated American diversity,” posted Sept. 28.) There was another stellar local event on Sunday [Sept. 27], an extraordinary gospel music concert featuring the Monterey Peninsula Community Gospel Choir accompanied by a string quartet, a band and amazing soloists. Kudos to the choir director John Nash, Jr. September is National Gospel Heritage Month and like jazz—and Oaxacan music and dance—it’s a true North American artform. What a weekend! Megan Whilden | Monterey CORRECTION A writeup about Measures M and N inaccurately reported a 4-1 vote by Carmel City Council (“Our endorsements on local ballot measures and state propositions on the Nov. 3 ballot,” Oct. 1-7). Mayor Dale Byrne joined in a 5-0 vote to place Measure M, the hotel tax, on the ballot. OPINION LETTERS continued from pg. 16 50LB BAG Quality feed & pet supplies • DIY dog & cat vaccines • Premium hay at great prices Low cost vaccination clinic for dogs & cats. 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