Occupy Provocation


That joker who refers to himself online as Klatsch is no joke (“Occupy protesters, and their nemeses, could use a chill pill,” Dec. 8-14).


He has been disclosing personal and private identity of persons in our encampment, and has not simply been observing, but has been stalking people. Additionally, in videos which you have neither reviewed nor described, it has been made evident that this Klatsch individual has made a point of rushing up upon our campers, and bumping into them with his person or his equipment. 


He is not simply observing, but is in fact harassing and it has been a matter of much discussion among Occupy Monterey. Continued behavior on his part to do so will result in appropriate legal action. – pvcolin | via Web


And So It Goes


Joe Livernois was the last good part of the Herald (“Squid Fry,” Dec. 8-14). I have never been as hooked on a running story as I was on the one he ran a few years ago. I’ve stopped home delivery, and I have read the paper since I was a child. Never in my life have I gone without reading the paper every day and I would save it and catch up after being on vacation. And not just one paper – I was getting the Mercury too. I was out of the country for a month and when I returned, I just could not get my habit back, even though I stayed in touch by getting the online version, and I miss wanting to read the paper. I knew it was a matter of time when I noticed that instead of the Sunday paper being the best issue of the week, it was the worst, and this started probably five to 10 years ago. Now the only thing I want out of the Sunday paper is the ads, as the content is fluff. The Herald is censored so the tourists are given a clean, fluffy, crime-less picture of the area. In order to get the “rest of the story” we have to log on to the Internet. The reason that newspapers are failing is their own fault – the have prettified themselves into triviality. – MLocke | via Web


Wheels of Change


Thank you to the Monterey County Board of Supervisors for reaffirming (in a 4-1 vote) our county’s commitment to improving local bicycling infrastructure, benefiting both residents and visitors (“Bikes on Blanco a Go,” posted Dec. 6). 


Thanks also to local bike advocates for sharing info about the Blanco Road bike lanes project with other cyclists, the Supervisors and the general public. Please stay engaged; visit the BicyclingMonterey.com’s “Bicycle Shops, Services, Clubs, and Resources” page (under Resources tab) and the “Local Bike News” section for suggestions on how to stay plugged in. – Mary Lynch | via Web


Debris on the roadway is a public safety hazard, for both motorists and cyclists alike. However the dumping of debris (mud and dirt) along Blanco Road is not enforced, to the extent that it oftentimes goes all the way to the center line. Bicyclists have the right to use all public roadways.


A Class II bike lane gives cyclists a definitive lane, which by law would be free of debris, and the motorized equipment which sheds all that mud. 


Bicyclists have a lawful right to the roadway, and bicyclists are the up-close-and-personal indicator species of our transit lifestyle, championing our legal rights as citizens. – Devian Gilbert | via Web


Profession of Death


I am respectful of the published work you have done on the death investigation situation in your area (“How the coroner’s office investigates death – and why it’s more difficult than it should be,” Dec. 8-14). Lots of good information without a heavy editorial hand. True “journalism” in my opinion. 


Retired now, I was lucky enough to share the forensic pathology chores at the Salinas office with Dr. Hain, off and on, during the period 1995-2000. It is true that the work he has done and is doing and the breadth of his vision are extraordinary, especially when one considers the limitations of resources provided through the Sheriff-Coroner organizational model, in particular. As you know, most counties in California have similar resource limitations for death investigation. The perfect organizational model has not been developed anywhere in the nation. Monterey County is so fortunate to have John Hain. – Fred B. Walker, M.D. | Nipomo, Calif.


The Mucky Economy


Live music should not be taken out of downtown (“Monterey City Council Restricts Live Music at Mucky Duck,” posted Dec. 7). Much of the culture of Monterey is based in music; you cannot take that away from the people. I live very close to the Mucky Duck and the music does not bother me. What bothers me is that in an economy where many people can barely get by, they are taking money out of the hands of musicians, servers, bartenders, bar owners, etc. Downtown needs a revitalization; it needs more entertainment. 


Giving back to the community and creating more wealth will create opportunities for improvement. If people do not like music or the night life of downtown Monterey (which is basically nonexistent) then they shouldn’t live in downtown. – Casson Kauffman | via Facebook 


If you want to keep Monterey a retirement community, don’t be surprised when all the old people die off and you’re left with nothing to revitalize. Live music is a staple of any downtown area. 


I play live music at the Duck and can say without a doubt that if you think the jazz I play is bringing in the wrong crowd, then wake up. The crowd there has turned from wannabe gangbangers to middle-aged folks who want to have a couple after working long hours at crappy jobs [in] this economic hell hole we live in. These folks want entertainment. Taking away live entertainment from a community that is world famous for the Monterey Jazz Festival, Pop Festival, Blues Festival etc. leaves me wondering why I even live here in the first place. To place a curfew of 9pm for entertainment is nuts. It might be one of the very few things bringing people to downtown. 


The Mucky Duck is just the start. If this persists, you’ll find that not only the musicians but the bar owners, bartenders, servers, kitchen staffers and club goers will have to go somewhere else. Monterey is a hospitality-driven city. If you can’t make a living or have a good time on Alvarado Street, then what’s the point of ever going down there? – Dave Bullers | via Facebook


The Monterey City Council has their heads up their asses. – Stevea51 | via Web


They should watch Footloose. – Ethan Austin Reavis | via Facebook