Not A Lunatic

You left out a very essential statement from my e-mail in your article about possible privatization of the Pacific Grove Public Library (“Packard Grove Library,” March 11-17). “This is ominous if we want the library to remain a P.G. department and not be privatized. If this is being offered to the FRIENDS of the Library, fine – they are a nonprofit group that supports the PGPL. But the attendance of two staff librarians and the head of the City Library advisory board leads me to believe this is aimed at the PGPL itself.” Perhaps including that wouldn’t help make your thesis that I am some anti-Packard lunatic?

Umbrage Taken

I take umbrage with Paul Wilner’s article (“Not So Fresh Thinking,” March 11-17) in which I was characterized as a gadfly who pushed Mayor Cort “out of office after a concerted harassment campaign.” Many would say I was responsible for Cort originally getting into office. During his tenure, we disagreed on a number of things but remained cordial. I never “harassed” former Mayor Cort. We differed on where the farmers market should be and it appears that my proposed placing of it in the parking lot has turned out to be correct.As to the overused “gadfly” label… As the definition of a gadfly is “someone who annoys or provokes others” I would say that Wilner now joins thegadfly ranks, a crown that the Weekly has held for years. Being agadflyis not necessarily a bad thing.

McCloudy Logic

In last week’s Weekly (“Political Dogfight”), Carmel Mayor Sue McCloud says that “she has embarked on settlement talks with the opposing attorney.” This is rather misleading. I represent the Flanders Foundation. I have presented a number of offers to lease the mansion and pay for the maintenance, which the city has rejected. Mayor McCloud and I also had a few very cordial telephone conversations regarding Flanders last summer and earlier this year. I suggested ways to lease Flanders to minimize traffic on Hatton Road, such as for artists-in-residence. But as there has been no variance from our two bottom-line positions – the City Council wants to sell and Flanders Foundation wants the mansion to be leased and remain in city ownership – there are no ongoing discussions.