Duck Tales


This is the goofiest town (“Monterey debates future of Alvarado, starting with Mucky Duck,” Dec. 8-14). Does Monterey get that people who choose to live downtown are usually trying to get closer to things to do? I have the hardest time trying to find things for visitors to do after 9pm because we live in what has to be the most beautiful but boring place around. You don’t have to have a disco on every corner, but emulating Pacific Grove isn’t your best bet – this hasn’t worked well for them either. – Holly Davis | via Web


First of all, moving into downtown you should already know what you’re getting yourself into, that’s why its called DOWNTOWN, and people move there to be close to everything. Plus Monterey is made for tourists. They come for the wharf, Cannery Row and the Aquarium during the day, and at night, people want to be able to get entertainment and dinner. If Monterey starts losing its tourists the whole town will die! – born_and_raised_monterey | via Web


This town is so dead… matter of fact, the whole county is pretty lame these days. I sum it up thusly:


Carmel: zzzzzzz, Prune Danish is the high point of my day!


PG: zzzzzzz, with cherries on top (after 9pm).


Monterey: wheeeezing, in its death throes.


Salinas: dead-ly. – Citizen223 | via Web


Here we go again – police state in good ole’ Monterey County. – Julie Law | Facebook


Such crap! These guys are trying hard to turn the formerly-trashy nightlife of that bar into something beneficial to the community and to local music, and the city is going to stop them, which will probably mean yet another local business will go under and yet another building on Alvarado will be vacant. Way to revitalize downtown, guys. – Sarah Beacham | via Facebook


Monterey is already very limited in its capacity as a nightlife venue, viewed as a second choice to Santa Cruz, San Jose or San Francisco. Widely perceived as a boring place that you only go to when you don’t feel like driving to the Bay Area. If the city manager and mayor have their way, the place is going to be a big, boring retirement home that people might visit once every few years, like P.G. – Miguel Banda | via Facebook


This was ridiculously difficult to read without wanting to go right down to the city and ask them why they keep going with the theme of “Let’s tell people it’s something it’s not… and let’s also tell them it’s not something it is.” It’s DOWNTOWN… night life is exactly the POINT. This is the reason why I tell my visiting friends to go to Santa Cruz or San Francisco or even Carmel. If the city is holding back the revenue from locals and tourists that want to spend it downtown at night because of one or two seniors that might want to buy a condo and live downtown, they’re missing the point. The whole point of downtown is to be CLOSE to what’s going on. It’s a choice people actually make ON PURPOSE.


The city has the hands of the local business owners tied to do anything to save the nightlife at the desire to provide an environment for EVERYONE… at the cost of everyone. It would be wonderful to see the city leadership actually support a thriving downtown by providing them with the opportunities to do that rather than limitations to work by. It’s not serving anyone… literally. – jjinpg | via Web 


Good riddance to the trouble spot of downtown. – Matt Wall | via Facebook


(Editor’s note: That’s Mucky Duck 7, Matt Wall, 1.)


For a Few Dollars More


I’m sure they are lovely people. Why would they do this? (“Clint Eastwood and family sign reality TV deal,” posted Dec. 14). Their ships have already come in. Eager to join the ranks of reality TV stars? Selling something? Hard times? I just can’t see how this would add anything positive to their lives. Have fun… I won’t be watching. – Maury Treleven | via Facebook


I don’t really see why they would get involved either, they have fame and fortune already. – Corrina Close | via Facebook


Oy vey. – Ronnell Mello | via Facebook


If this was in April, I’d be sure it was a joke of yours. – Esther Malkin | via Facebook


There doesn’t seem to actually be any information about the show in this “article.” All I see is negative commentary about the reality TV genre. – Rosemary Reeve | via Facebook


(Editor’s note: Joke’s on all of us, Esther! Oy vey indeed, Ronnell. And as for you, Rosemary, the show is being driven by Dina Eastwood and will feature her boy band, Overtone. Hanging with Clint and Dina – or whatever the hell they’re going to call it – will air next year on the E! network.)


Frackin’ A


NO, since fracking isn’t yet very well researched and the negatives are just too hurtful to use it (“Enviros sue BLM over South County Lease Sale,” posted Dec. 13). And “analysis” by the company wanting to use it is too often self-serving and not well done! – Liz Clark | via Web


Legislative Losers


I think the only way politicians and lawmakers can truly understand the impact of the projected cuts to the state In Home Supportive Services program would be for them to lose all their money, become disabled and unable to care for themselves, and then try to get by on a monthly social security or disability check. (“Lawsuit aims to prevent looming cuts for in-home disability care,” posted Dec. 1). These are basically the requirements to qualify for the IHSS program that provides payment for caregivers (family members or others) to assist the disabled in their homes.


Cutting the IHSS program is a sad commentary on how we, as a nation, fail to respect and honor citizens who, through no fault of their own, find themselves in great need of assistance. 


I hope all of us will try and imagine how it feels to be in their shoes and those of their caregivers and then take some action to protest the cutting of these funds, not because the alternatives (nursing homes, etc.) are more expensive but because part of our moral and spiritual obligations as enlightened human beings is to help others in need. – Gloria Bell | Carmel Valley