14 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY NOVEMBER 5-11, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com ICED OUT We admire Monterey County Supervisor Wendy Root Askew’s courage and moral leadership in standing up to ICE’s actions at the Monterey County Jail (“This is what standing up to tyranny looks like,” posted Oct. 28). As a family physician and elementary school teacher, we work closely with immigrant families and witness their dignity and contributions, but also their vulnerability to discrimination and fear. ICE’s practices have raised grave human rights concerns, including racial profiling, inhumane detention conditions and denial of essential medical care. Being a true neighbor means recognizing our shared humanity and standing up for one another, especially when it takes courage. At a time when silence is easier and safer, Askew reminds us that public service—or simply having the privilege of a voice—comes with a responsibility to defend human dignity. Her example should inspire us all. Sundeep Gupta and Fatima Lemus-Gupta | Monterey Thank you to the Monterey County Board of Supervisors for their decision to maintain local control of facilities property, to the brave community observers for ensuring that ICE conduct did not get out of control, to the Sheriff’s Department for its oversight actions and communications to the community, and to the Monterey County Weekly for your timely and detailed reporting. Bless you during difficult times. Susan Perrin | via email Good. No illegals belong here without proper documentation/clearance (“Monterey County Jail goes into lockdown as protesters challenge ICE officers outside,” posted Oct. 27). Round ’em up. Get them out of here! Bob Walker | Marina I’d rather have ICE at jails than at job sites or schools. Alex Bassi | Templeton ICE, take the protesters too! They obviously don’t support the U.S I support ICE getting criminals as soon as they come out of jail. Making our community safer. Cheryl Rae Clark Frazure | Prunedale Finally, law and order (“Reported ICE activity in Salinas and Seaside raises concerns across Monterey County,” posted Oct. 27). Allen Lorscheider | Castroville SHUT DOWN What I learned from working at a county agency is that you should provide the residents/ customers that need your services an easy and inexpensive path to get there (“Residents are feeling the impending loss of Monterey County’s social services building in Seaside,” Oct. 29-Nov. 4). I hope the County of Monterey will ensure that wherever they choose, it is convenient to get to. I took my first HIV test there when it was available for the first time in 1985. I am one of the lucky ones to be here 41 years later to tell about it. Thank you for providing your residents much needed county services regardless of their ability to pay and their status. Michael Acosta | Seaside It really makes life harder for those of us who sometimes went there. Joseph Lucido | Seaside This is such a dilapidated eyesore. Social Services deserves something better. Great opportunity for improvement. Erin Morse | via social media LIFE SUPPORT This is my hospital because I am a Kaiser patient living in Salinas. Pass the billionaire tax to keep it open (“Funding cuts to medical care signal a tenuous future for local patients and hospitals; Watsonville Community Hospital is in danger of closing,” Oct. 29-Nov. 4). Mike Foster | Salinas It’s 100-percent the “One Big, Beautiful bill.” Cuts to Medicare and Medicaid cut down Watsonville’s primary source of income. Stephen Black | Capitola That hospital had been on the brink of closing for many years. They always say “We need funding, the hospital is losing money blah blah blah.” I wonder where did all the funding goes after all those years? Francisco Villar | via social media BURNED BRIDGES To be clear, the fire started in the building behind the workspaces on Center Street (“Carmel Valley Village fire devastates local businesses,” posted Oct. 28). To begin an article about a tragedy and claiming it was a “recipe for disaster” is incredibly insensitive to every business in that community. It did not start due to the artists, shop owners and countless businesses in that building. The shift in the wind blowing from the west caused the fire to jump the alley and burn the backside of part of the building. The first section of this article is incredibly misleading and implying fault on victims of the partially burned building. Prayers to all of our friends and neighbors deeply impacted by this tragedy. Lauren Proulx | Carmel Valley Agree that the opening stings. It leads with an early tone of blame that lacks compassion as we feel the loss of a community hub. Jules Z. Cramer | via social media We lost our two offices and everything in them and it’s devastating. It was an older building and, yes, it wasn’t in the best shape but it was a godsend to many of us. In this day and age it’s hard to financially make it in business and the offices there were inexpensive and so convenient for those of us who run our businesses out of them. I’m sad for everyone! Stacie Crane | via social media ELECTION DAZE Serious question: Who really trusts the California elections? (“U.S. Department of Justice demands personal data of hundreds of Monterey County voters,” posted Oct. 27.) Heidi Blasius | Carmel 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. 16
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