MYSTERIOUS STRANGER

Sometimes it feels like I’m keeping better track of what local writers say than they are themselves.

Leading up to the last mayoral election in Carmel, Squid slammed a mystery candidate. Now (“Squid Fry,” Dec. 23-29), Squid wonders why Carmel “can’t rustle up more candidates.” Besides sounding disingenuous, Squid may have contributed to the lack of choices for mayor.

In 2004, I supported Sue McCloud for mayor because I was concerned about the possibility of a male mayor using his position to chase women. Instead, we have a CIA-trained mayor who let the city manager’s shenanigans go on for years.

Carmel’s leadership is hopelessly self-protective at the expense of its constituents. It is not safe to cross the street in downtown Carmel, and many of the storefront plants are dying from neglect. Mystery candidate, please come back!

CURIOUS CRITIC

Why would anyone be miffed that a Big Sur artist was not commissioned to design the Bixby Bridge stamp? There are some fine artists in Big Sur but none I know of who do the kind of representational illustration that is used on postage stamps. Who are the “Surrians”? (Besides Toby Roland Jones & Michael Minasian.) Why are they miffed?

MR… OR MS.?

Who are you, Squid? To whom should I write and complain about your quoting Paul Cheruibini (“Squid Fry,” Jan. 7-13)? He is a rep for chemical and pesticide corporation and has been “disinvited” by independent, credible enviro organizations. And you quote him as an entomologist explaining the lack of monarch butterflies? Really suspicious. I hope he stays far away from the good people [of] Monarch Butterfly Watch.

He is a proponent for spraying people, [using] all kinds of pesticides, and quotes very ably industry propaganda as to their benign effects.