BETTER THINGS TO RUN

Shame to the Monterey County Weekly to allow this racist and bigot to be in the paper [Gustavo Arellano’s column, “Ask a Mexican”]. This guy reinforces the stereotype of a Mexican. Unfortunately, this reflects every Hispanic (American citizen) person in the United States. The slang terms used in his column might as well have been written by a gangbanger. Has Weekly stooped so low to bring this L.A. mentality to the Monterey County? His 1950s Speedy Gonzales cartoon (of himself, I presume) also stereotypes that every Hispanic person is a lazy, gold-tooth, drunk. With all the trash media out there about our greedy, business-run politicians, home foreclosures, illegal immigration and our recession, you instead allow this bigot to write trash. I am American with a Hispanic background and I will let others know your agenda. I along with others in my community will be contacting many of the reputable advertisers, many of which I personally know to demand you remove this racist from your paper or lose advertising revenue. You have opened up a can of worms and the only effective means of stopping this is to hit your paper’s pocketbook.

OAKLAND ISN’T LOCAL

Each Monday I go to the Wild Goose Cafe to pick up my Community Supported Agriculture box from Serendipity Farms. I also enjoy reading farmer Jamie Collins’ weekly newsletter that updates CSA members on the crops and local organic products.

Today I was shocked to read that she has been on the waitlist for the Barnyard and MPC Farmer’s Markets since 2001! I’m sure many residents on the Peninsula, like me, assumed that any local organic farmer who would like to be included ina market is welcome. Can you believe thatwith today’s focus on buying local, she is forced to drive to Oakland to sell her produce? The rules governing our markets must be changed.

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

Thanks Zachary Stahl for writing this article [“Elkington By Any Other Name”] in the July 24-30 Monterey County Weekly. Changing this street name or any other street name in Salinas is not going to deter the “gangs” or clean up the neighborhood. It will be too expensive. That money could be used to help educate the children and parents in some other method. Use that money in a more useful way. If you change that street name, then why not change the dozens of other streets that are gang-related.