Me and Mr. Jones


I am not the only one who thinks that Hell’s Kitchen was truly based on [Chef] Michael Jones and the way he treats his guests and staff (“The low-down on high times for the sweetest season,” June 30-July 6). Lucky for him, his psychotic m.o. is only matched by his genius in the kitchen. Disappointing that he has to lose patrons in the process. - anonymous | via Web


Cachagua Yelpers


Wow, after following you for years with your many fine recs, you finally blew it! (“The low-down on high times for the sweetest season,” June 30-July 6). Have you ever looked at the comments this dump [Cachagua General Store] gets on Yelp? Here’s a sample-Kent L “Huge disappointment”; Adam B-“Slow service, questionable billing, rude waiters, overrated food, long drive”; Aileen P-“Rude, hostile, rice overcooked, disagreeable experience”; Samantha P-“Gone down hill, rude, bill padding, save the gas.” Or the all time favorite where after Zabs’ group asks for separate checks, Jones pursues her to her Facebook account to write a filthy diatribe. Mark – please be more careful. Your readers shouldn’t be steered into a thoroughly disagreeable experience from a slick marketer. Your average restaurant patron may experience a very different experience than the restaurant critic. - jeanb | via Web


Cityviews


Please contact the Paso Robles city planning committee for the revamping of Monterey’s downtown (“Downtown Monterey: ripe for reinvention,” July 7-13). Those folks have done it all exactly right. - natjaye | via Web


Think Better


I have lived here with my wife, since 1992. I have worked at Fort Ord commissary and graduated from MPC with a certificate in accounting (“Downtown Monterey: ripe for reinvention,” July 7-13). I have worked on Cannery Row and in Pacific Grove. I like downtown Monterey (Rosines, Jamba Juice and Bagel Bakery). Downtown Monterey is not about Alvarado – it’s also the surrounding area, along the wharf, Monterey Bay Aquarium and Cannery Row. Competition from Sand City is really affecting the whole region. We need some out-of-the-box ideas from the City Council, Planning Commission, Monterey-Salinas Transit and the Board of Supervisors. The really innovative ideas come from small businesses, not the government. - phybil | via Web


The Good Fight


I moved from Santa Cruz to Fresno two years ago and have been involved in progressive activism in the San Joaquin Valley ever since (“As fumigant applications begin, new grassroots coalition forms in opposition,” July 7-13). This story is accurate. Thanks to the Monterey County Weekly for another fine investigative journalism piece. The powerful agribusiness farmers in the valley, with their chemical connections, run over common sense and democracy. Organic farmers here are scarce. We – the consumers and voters – must demand an end to the insane policy of “fumigant” soil sterilization, through the application of dangerous chemicals, especially methyl iodide, just to make our strawberries look pretty in the grocery store. Monterey Bay-area consumers have demonstrated that folks are willing to pay a premium for organic strawberries, and in my opinion this is a major threat to the chemical-dependent agricultural industry. - Gary Lasky | Fresno


Digging It


Thanks for mentioning Esalen and its role as a co-steward of Big Sur’s rich archeological heritage – and also for confirming that we’re not doing any “unauthorized digging!” (“Squid Fry,” July 7-13). We take our responsibilities in this area very seriously. We take care to partner with archaeological consultants on every new excavation on the campus. It’s true we didn’t look at new pavement on a required ADA parking space as an “excavation” in that sense, but we appreciate County Planner Liz Gonzalez’s role in checking that out, and archaeologist Gary Breschini’s quick confirmation that there was no potential disturbance of archaeological remains going on! - Gordon Wheeler | Big Sur


(Note: Mr. Wheeler is president of Esalen Institute.)