16 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY OCTOBER 29-NOVEMBER 4, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com LINES DRAWN Daniel Muñoz shouldn’t have called the Weekly “fake news” (“It’s a nasty political season in Salinas with insults and media boycotts,” Oct. 22-28). That label is lazy and it’s been abused nationally. But this column misses the bigger point. Distrust of a local paper isn’t just a Trump-era reflex trickling down from D.C. It also comes from how the paper uses its influence close to home. When the editorial board endorses Yes on H and the incumbent that champions it, many working families in Salinas see the Weekly taking a side against them on an issue that hits their wallets, neighborhoods and ability to remain housed. The column treats Peter Szalai the same way. He raised a real question: Why was the camera turned to hide speakers’ faces and campaign shirts, and was the city enforcing a political-clothing rule on the public? Opening the control room door wasn’t the right move, but the column makes that moment the story. The possible censorship at a public meeting gets buried. Trust isn’t owed to a newspaper. It’s earned by showing readers that the newsroom and the editorial board are separate, that every side gets the same scrutiny, and that criticism from the community is heard, not mocked. Colleen Ingram | Pacific Grove Is candidate Muñoz wealthy like Musk, Bezos, Ellison to purchase his own newspaper, radio station, television channel, Twitter or Facebook to have dialog “on his terms” with the public? This combative attitude towards the media has no place in civil society. Peter Stanger | Watsonville Regarding the piece’s emotional response to being called fake news, let’s consider a few things. Fake news itself is ill-defined, unfortunately leaving it open for interpretation. One interpretation might be reporting favoring financial supporters. Yes on H had a full-page paid ad in this edition, not to mention the online banners they purchased. No on H has purchased nothing from the Weekly. Could this be why citizens/ readers think the editorial board leaned their thumb on the scale too heavily? Bias for any reason can be perceived as fake. What are we left with? We can’t boycott a free paper. John Silva | Salinas When did journalists become such snowflakes? Yes, in a perfect world, people would be civil and act with decorum, but when you take sides, especially unpopular ones that affect the lives of others, you should expect pushback. For example, Salinas has the highest number of unhoused students in Monterey County, yet you are supporting increasing rents on the same families that are struggling. I think there should be pushback. I don’t agree with the behavior of Mr. Muñoz or Mr. Malfitano, but geez. Christiane Amanpour is dodging bullets in the middle of war zones. You should be able to ignore mean words from two angry old men. Gaye Freedman | Salinas It’s neither nasty nor immature to challenge power. The question which completely bypassed the Weekly in its article on the Salinas mayor’s race is whether a governing body can censor campaign political messaging attire or signs by shutting off a camera—especially when that camera is never shut off and has broadcast many, many other political messaging conveyed via attire and signs in the past. And, shh! Don’t tell anyone! But Mayor Dennis Donohue is the issue and his handling of free expression. Peter Szalai | Salinas Note: Szalai is a candidate for mayor of Salinas. CARMEL CHARACTER Thank you for your thoughtful and kind article about Richard Kreitman (“Longtime Carmel gallery owner and community activist Richard Kreitman dies at 77,” posted Oct. 15). I worked with Richard on the Scout House, a project that remained his enduring passion. I had assembled a development team and personally committed significant funding. Despite that support, we could not get past the City’s liability requirements. I shared my research and plans with Richard and helped him work with the Boy Scouts, but those efforts encountered further roadblocks. Richard also spent time with me discussing another subject of his passion projects: paid parking. He was a true Carmel character who devoted considerable time and energy to the village. A couple of months ago, Richard spoke about the Scout House and his hope that someone would finally get forward momentum. I regret not having another chance to tell him personally that I shared his hopes. Dale Byrne | Carmel SIGN OF THE TIMES This whole situation reeks of petty politics (“Campaign sign violations by Seaside mayoral candidate not enforced following legal concerns,” posted Oct. 19). The city initially hit Alex Miller with $7,000 in fines over campaign signs posted just hours before the arbitrary 60-day window opened, only to back down after legitimate constitutional concerns were raised. Even the city attorney acknowledges those concerns. Rather than addressing an ordinance that may violate First Amendment protections, the city apparently thought issuing thousands of dollars in fines was a better use of taxpayer resources. Seaside has far bigger problems than campaign signs going up a few hours early. Our streets need attention, our downtown needs revitalization, and residents deserve leadership focused on meaningful improvements rather than petty enforcement battles. If anything, this episode demonstrates exactly why City Hall needs someone willing to challenge the status quo. Miller didn’t just roll over when faced with a questionable ordinance and thousands of dollars in fines. He stood his ground, challenged City Hall, and forced officials to reconsider their actions. That’s the kind of backbone, accountability and willingness to question the establishment that Seaside needs in its next mayor. Marty Harrison | Seaside 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. LETTERS continues on pg. 18
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