PAVING PARADISE

San Benito County officials are considering “paving over” prime agricultural land in the Panoche Valley? (“Solar Frays,” Feb. 25-March 3.) Let’s see now: the “country road to the potholed boondocks” will obviously need to be upgraded; and a transmission line constructed to transport the electricity to where it’s needed, primarily Silicon Valley. Meanwhile there are how many acres of flat roofed-buildings, the air-conditioning needs of which would be reduced by protecting them from the sun with solar panels, in the South Bay??? Not to mention the reduction in transmission losses. GMAFB! --Andrew Allison | Carmel

FIRST PERSON

It is absolutely wrong for you to have a policy of permitting writers to write anonymously during a political campaign. It should be very clear to you that opponents will take the opportunity to write often, twist the truth and even lie in their efforts to slander an opponent. If a person wants to criticize the opposite side, let them do so, but for God’s sake require them to be honest about it and not hide behind a pseudonym. Anonymity is the earmark of graffiti, and graffiti is a cowardly way to express an opinion. You should change your policy and you should tell your readers why you are doing so.

Don’t be just another rag; be a part of honest journalism. Sign me, --Tom O’Day | Carmel

CARMEL CHANGES

The Carmel City Council election this April (“Carmel Sea-Change?” Feb. 4-10) offers stimulating options for our citizens not seen in many years. The challenge to the incumbents posed by Adam Moniz, running for the two-year term of mayor, and Jason Burnett, running for one of the two four-year council seats, is a refreshing breeze in what threatened to be just another “more of the same” campaign.

Both are young, bright, well-educated and eager to be public servants (in the truest sense of the word). They each have an impressive background in government experience and have shown that they understand Carmel, its history, its traditions and its character. Both pledge a more open, participatory government in our city. For much too long, matters of serious community concern have been handled behind the scenes without adequate citizen discussion and input.

Lack of open government has been a point of criticism not only by the community but the Monterey County Civil Grand Jury. These two candidates pledge to make every effort to correct this situation.

The present City Council has been mostly reactive to events and situations, seemingly incapable of supplying new ideas and thinking.

These two young men have shown the potential to inject much needed inventive, incisive ideas into what lurks as a mess in City Hall and what looms in our future as a series of serious challenges to the well-being of our community. Most importantly, they present an opportunity to restore dialogue between our citizens and the council – open government.

This is our chance, voters. Do your duty! --Olof Dahlstrand | Carmel