Won't Limit My Freedom

Squid's column ("Victory.com," 6/14) summed up the essence of the city of Salinas' position. Who in their right mind would confuse my site, cityofsalinas.com, with the city's official site, ci.Salinas.ca.us? Contrary to Ms. Caballero's assertion, you don't have to be an "expert" Internet user to locate easy-to-find information. A simple search of Google.com locates the "City of Salinas-official site" on page one of a search result. Not that anyone is reading the city's official site. To be true, not many people read my site, at least prior to the city whining about the site. I mean really, until the city attorney began threatening me, no one much cared about the mismanagement at Salinas City Hall. Let's face it: we are all too busy working in an effort to afford the high housing prices on the Central Coast. With a job, soccer practice, rolling blackouts, and running to Starbucks every four hours for fuel, or whatever else is keeping us busy, does anyone really have time for this nonsense?

Apparently the government workers and politicians at City Hall have time. It's comforting to know the city manager so willingly spends taxpayer dollars on harassing a one-page Web site. I believe the city spent over $7,000 on this dispute, but we are waiting for the official tally. That money went to non-binding arbitration.

George W. Bush went after the owner of gwbush.com last spring. The then-candidate Bush was quoted as saying, "There ought to be limits to freedom." Apparently Mayor Anna Caballero and George W. Bush are on the same page when it comes to Web pages. God forbid the simpletons of the world be confused.

--Brian Baughn,
Cityofsalinas.com

From A Reader of Taste and Refinement

I have to compliment you on your online articles. I'm an editor at a regional magazine in southern California and have worked in newspapers for many years. Your writing is excellent, the stories are relevant and entertaining. What's your secret? Where'd you find your writers? Keep up the great work!

--Tammy Minn,
Riverside

Imagine My Surprise

Upon return from my travels, I was amazed to learn that the Monterey Peninsula has been declared a "dance wasteland" ("Performing Pilgrimage," May 17). Perhaps Ms. Chiapella and Ms. Atkins should have taken the time to seek out the history of dance in this area. There is not the population to support dance on the scale of New York, Los Angeles or San Francisco. Nor is there a theater large enough to mount a major production. But in spite of this, many dedicated dance professionals have provided dance with all its magic in private studios, public and private schools.

Over the years, Sunset Theater has brought many fine companies here. In the early l970's Frank Riley initiated The Festival of Dance. Four or five companies a year graced the stage: Alvin Ailey Repertory Ensemble, The Oakland Ballet, Eiko and Koma. Richard Tyler continued presenting fine companies: Lar Lubovitch Dance Co., Jazz Montreal, The Joeffry II Dancers. Brian Donohue continues the offerings in Performance Carmel: Pilobolus, The Ted Shawn Legacy, Lewitsky Dance Co. This is but a sample of the performances over the years.

Frank Riley was the first to invite Seaside High School Dance Company to perform on the Sunset stage. The next year Carmel High joined them, and happily The Dance Connection is still a part of young dancers' lives.

Many talented dance professionals have given to the young dancers of the Peninsula. Lilli Selvig, Kira Ivanovsky, Patsy Wester, Janet Butler, Gloria Elber, Diane Chatwin, Mary Kay Bridges, Laurie Groves, Jennifer Benitez, Dale Lefler and so many more. Dance in all its forms has enriched our Peninsula.

When the time is right, hopefully CSUMB will seek out the very best dance director the dance world has to offer. There are many qualified dedicated dancers who would love to establish a state of the art program at the university. Dedication to dance as an art form as well as an outreach program to share this lively art with the community should be prerequisite.

--Carol Surman,
Monterey

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