Letters
Thursday, January 19, 2006
Butterfly Flap in (Where Else?) PG
Yee gads! Cancel the Butterfly Parade or the Feast of Lanterns? Yes indeedy, there was a mild hysteria in Pacific Grove over Ryan Masters’ article “Pinching Pennies” [Jan. 12-18]. This even surpassed the hysteria reflected by PG Chamber of Commerce President Moe Ammar’s comments in the article describing these beloved events as “doomed.” Hmm…ya think this whipping up of hysteria might have been the goal?
So everybody can unbunch their boxers here in town, let me make this perfectly clear: the PG City Council has never even mentioned charging for city services for events such as the Butterfly Parade. I know of no councilmember of that mind. The Council was in full agreement that these are much-beloved events that define our town.
Nobody even suggested we cancel any parade or Good Old Days. We are simply considering making the Chamber, a private entity, pay for City services for its fund-raising events and for use of city property for its offices, as Chamber organizations do in other communities.
The Chamber does a lot of good things for the city. I have been a long- time member and volunteer and I know this. Chamber funding is on the table along with the funding related to other equally worthy stakeholders. There will be some tough choices to be made.
The letter-writer is a member of the Pacific Grove City Council.
PG Council is Trying
“Pinching Pennies in Pacific Grove” was timely, since the City Council is meeting to set budget priorities on Jan. 18. It is clear to most residents the city is in deep financial trouble. It makes sense that Councilwoman Susan Goldbeck, and her colleagues Susan Nilmeier and Lisa Bennett, who serve on the Budget Subcommittee, would look carefully at where to cut.
In light of the current financial crisis, some of us question whether the City will be able to continue to underwrite with taxpayer’s money all of the chamber festivities using police, fire, public works and recreation services to primarily support the business community.
Rather than faulting the Council before it has made any budget decisions, perhaps these three good businessmen, Don Martine, Steve Gorman and Moe Ammar, could present a proposal on what budget items could be eliminated without affecting basic services.
I believe this City Council needs more support and less criticism as they are faced with new challenges, and have to fix problems inherited from past administrations. Citizens can look forward with confidence to better management with a more democratic and transparent form of city government.
Lee Willoughby | Pacific Grove
A Blow for International Harmony
Regarding the letters “Norwegians Deserve More Lefsa,” and “How To Spell Like a North Dakotan” [Jan. 5-11], my response is: Lefse is good stuff whether you are Mexican or Norwegian! Good lefse is tricky to make unless you happen to have a lefse griddle, a lefse turning stick and a lefse cooling rack (and can roll the dough very very thin). Uffda.
I order my lefse from: www.norslandlefse.com in Minnesota, and it tastes just like my Norwegian grandma used to make in Wisconsin. We grew up on it, too!
Good luck.
Sonja (Revling) Jeter | Carmel
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