Haferman’s the Man

I was saddened to hear about the recent untimely death of popular Monterey City Councilmember Ruth Vreeland [“Vreeland Leaves Hopeful Legacy,” Jan. 29-Feb. 4]. During her tenure on the Council, she was upbeat, fair and always tried to do the right thing.

Now, the Council must grapple with the difficult task of selecting a replacement for the remainder of her term. Jeff Haferman is the logical choice. In the last election, out of seven candidates, he came in a close third behind Chuck Della Sala and Ruth Vreeland. I urge the Council to appoint Jeff Haferman as interim City Councilmember at their meeting next Tuesday.

Carole J. S. Dawson | Monterey

Save the Critters

The County Board of Supervisors will be finalizing budget cuts very soon. The animal-loving citizens of this county need to know that the Animal Services department is slated for such drastic cuts that the new county shelter, just opened in early 2003, will be cut to the bare bones. It’s proposed that animals coming into the shelter (5,500 last year alone) will be held for the mandated few days for owner reclamation and then killed. The shelter will not have funding or staff to run an adoption program.

I work with AFRP, a rescue group that saves as many animals as possible from the local shelters. My husband and I personally have fostered several precious dogs from the Monterey County Shelter until they were adopted.

These little ones are worth saving! Contact your Supervisor and tell them the cuts are just too severe.

Gina Wolf | Salinas

Add It Up

Here are some examples of how the White House used its intelligence about Iraq: Clue #1: Iraq turned out to be a surprisingly ineffective fighting force in the first Gulf War. Clue #2: Iraq’s military was left weaker in the years after the first Gulf War. Clue #3: Iraq’s WMDs were questionable. President Bush’s Conclusion: Iraq was an imminent danger to the United States.

Clue #4: The United States, a western Christian superpower, invaded Iraq without provocation. Clue #5: This same foreign invader continues to occupy and control Iraq. President Bush’s Conclusion: The Iraqi people should be cheering and welcoming us with open arms.

The Bottom Line: The White House is clearly lacking intelligence.

Arlen Grossman | Del Rey Oaks

Food, Drugs and Pot

The Bush Administration is quite correct in its opposition to the World Health Organization (WHO), which is trying to get governments to control the food industry. The WHO wants governments to dictate the content of food, specifically limiting fat and sugar, and curtail advertising of unhealthy foods.

The Bush people rightly point out that decisions around food should be our own. Unfortunately, when it comes to drugs, the Bush Administration doesn’t think we have similar rights. Take marijuana. It kills no one. It does not saddle us with huge medical costs. California voters approved Prop. 215 to give sick Californians the right to use medical marijuana, but the Bush Administration continues to arrest the providers of it. Let’s be consistent for a change.

Tom Lee | Seaside

Correction

Will Shephard (“The Wolfman Cometh,” Feb. 5-11) is the former head of the Teledramatic Arts and Technology department at CSUMB; he currently teaches in the department.