16 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY NOVEMBER 5-11, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com LETTERS The U.S. DOJ already lost numerous lawsuits against the states for not capitulating on this. The DOJ doesn’t have legal standing to demand this information. Leo Foster | Big Sur Elections are state province. Feds stay out. Our elections are secure. Steven T. Polkabla | Pacific Grove RATE HIKE Cal Am continues to argue its desal plant is needed due to water supply constraints plaguing the Monterey Peninsula (“In the midst of a legal battle, Cal Am seeks to raise desalination project cost cap by 3.5,” Oct. 29-Nov. 4). Water is no longer the constraint. There’s plenty of water now for decades of growth. What’s needed is for the State Water Board to modify the cease-and-desist order so we can use our new water supply from Pure Water Monterey. Never mentioned in your story was the fact that this would increase water bills by 88 percent. Peninsula water costs are already extreme. One year of water using 5,000 gallons a month costs $1,938. For context, the 2025 Food & Water Watch report on the 500 largest water providers in the country shows the most expensive water is $1,416 a year for 5,000 gallons a month. Since 2017, when Food & Water Watch rated the Peninsula’s water as the most expensive in the country, our cost has gone up 61.5 percent. Now Cal Am proposes to raise it another 88 percent to cover the cost of a desal plant we don’t need. Melodie Chrislock | Monterey BLAME GAME I have lived in Salinas District 5 since before the city started voting by districts. I am writing to support my Councilman Andrew Sandoval (“Salinas Councilmember Andrew Sandoval declared nearly $1.2 million in debt in bankruptcy,” posted Oct. 30). I have had good council members and some not so good. As a constituent, I can say Andrew Sandoval is one of the best no matter how others try to smear him. He answers calls, responds to texts and emails and shows up. He has the needs of his constituents front and center. Bonnie Hernandez | Salinas NAME TAG I appreciated the clear and levelheaded reporting in your article about the Cesar Chavez issue, and gosh, it is a big one (“What’s in a name? A lot, and it’s not always clear cut,” posted Oct. 24). Ever since the Me Too movement I’ve grappled with that philosophical problem. I’m afraid that sexual harassment is the proverbial “tale as old as time.” But we in the 21st century are putting a ding in it. Your writing helped me think about the issue. Nancy Larkin | Monterey CAFETERIA COUNTER Incredibly embarrassing for such a reputable school in the area with a lottery list (“Former employees accused of embezzling nearly $300,000 from International School of Monterey,” Oct. 29-Nov. 4). My twins attended K-8. Jocelyn Pfau-Kristy | Del Rey Oaks So so sad. Mr. Terry [Bumper] was so loved at the school. Mauree Rabin | via social media SHOP AROUND Jennifer Blevins opened up a bike store. She did not open a coffee shop. In fact, there are at least six other coffee shops within a short walking distance (“Mad Dogs & Englishmen battles the City of Carmel over building permits and fire sprinklers,” Oct. 22-28). She should sell bikes or coffee, but not both. I applaud Carmel [city staff] for not just caving into another coffee shop. Elaine Giampietro | Monterey GRAPE CRUSH Photo spotlights the best winery ever, Odonata (“Last winter’s heat wave brings an early wine harvest to Monterey County,” Oct. 22-28). Jessica McKillip | via social media OPINION LETTERS continued from pg. 14 101 WORD STORY CONTEST First Prize is $101 2nd and 3rd place winners receive gift certificates! We’ll publish the winners in our December 24, 2026 issue 1. All stories must contain the word “rain” or “reign” (or rained, reigning, etc.) 2. Stories may contain fewer than 101 words. 3. If a hyphenated word can be broken into two (or more) free-standing words it will be counted as two (or more) words. 4. Abbreviations are counted as one word. (“CA” or “California,” it’s still one word.) 5. Contractions are counted as one word. (“Isn’t” is one word; “is not” is two.) 6. Titles are not counted and are not necessary. 7. We reserve the right to re-title stories. 8. Poems are not acceptable. 9. Limit 3 entries per person. 10. If you mail in your entry, it must be submitted on 8.5 x 11 inch paper. Upload stories at: www.montereycountynow.com/101words or by mail: Monterey County Weekly 101-Word Short Story Contest 668 Williams Ave., Seaside CA 93955 WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2 Write your name, address and phone number on each page you submit. Monterey County Weekly assumes no responsibility for returning submissions. PRINT | WEB | MOBILE DECEMBER 25-31, 2025 MONTEREYCOUNTYNOW.COM LOCAL & INDEPENDENT TEEZER 00 | FIRST PLACE GENERAL EXCELLENCE • 2025 CA JOURNALISM AWARDS • The spotlight shines on the winners of the Weekly’s annual 101 word short story contest. p. xx LIT 101 www.montereycountynow.com DECEMBER 11-17, 2025 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 37 9 ® Carmel OFFICIAL FIRST NIGHT MONTEREY PROGRAM INSIDE Challenge Word for 2026: Rain or Reign. All stories must contain the word. (or rained, or reigning, etc.) Get Writing Deadline Dec. 2
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