Coast Weekly is Promoting Red-Baiting
In response to Brian Burleson's invective denouncing presidential candidate Rep. Dennis Kucinich and me ["Letters," June 5-11], I am compelled to offer some clarifications and some cautions.

The clear thrust of Mr. Burleson's attack was couched in red-baiting terminology that was amplified by Coast Weekly's headline, "Commie Defender Is a Commie."

While the intent of the Weekly may indeed have been to capture Burleson's slant, I was distressed to see the paper giving legitimacy to the tagging that characterized the McCarthy-era witch hunts. To revive such labeling in the current Patriot Act environment sets a dangerous precedent as it serves to marginalize those individuals who take liberal and progressive stands on critical social issues including universal health care, US foreign policy, and women's rights, among others.

It appears that Mr. Burleson must contend with his own demons and prejudices. The Weekly holds a position of power and influence in Monterey County. With this power and influence comes the responsibility to offer rigorous investigative reporting and the exercise of journalistic integrity.

While I welcome the forum that Coast Weekly offers for all points of view, I urge the editors to refrain from promotion of labeling that may give rise and credibility to a new wave of reactionary red-baiting designed to diminish the legitimacy of principled political discourse.

Bill Monning | Carmel

Coast Weekly is Spreading Lies for Money
The same old lies about the benefits of having a public park for private auto racing ["Fast Money," June 12-18]. As long as local papers get their 30 pieces of silver, they will spread it.

Ten million for charity in 44 years comes out to roughly $230K a year, the price of a very modest home. One hundred twenty-five million annually to the local economy comes out to $300 to $400 per local. All are expected to tolerate the noise, pollution and crowds, but only a few get any money.

Let us not forget the hypocrisy. The racers drive very fast in circles. Youths driving slow in circles are harassed by police. Racers are encouraged to go 230 mph and faster. Motorists are cited for speeds far less and often in far safer conditions while police and government officials break the laws frequently.

I am not an advocate of banning auto racing, it is just one of many of man's stupid endeavors. What I resent is being forced to subsidize it to make a few people rich. Let each man pay for his own stupidity.

W.L. McAtee | Salinas

Fort Ord is Your Land, My Land, etc.
A dangerous avalanche of events is rushing upon us. Like Squid said in last week's Fry, State Sen. Bruce McPherson has introduced legislation favoring his cronies in development and their mayor and council buddies.

The dissolution of the Water Board is an invitation to the corruption of bribery, cronyism, nepotism and the profiteering. It is unnecessary; it is wrong.

At the moment the Board is untying a three-decades-old knot; the councils, mayors and McPherson want to take the rope away. Why?

Because they have an agenda: Growth. Desalination plants would provide more water. For more growth. Extremely expensive growth.

W. Mark Poehner / Monterey