Project Censored


Speaking of censored stories, how about the non-coverage of the Wall Street protests organized by the group Occupy Wall Street (“Project Censored highlights the year’s most relevant ignored news,” Sept. 29-Oct. 5)? Twelve days and counting. What is celebrated abroad, people standing up against corruption and greed, is censored at home. Put it on the list for 2011. - Michael Baer | Monterey


The Great Uncrowding


The DA puts too many youthful first-time offenders in prison (“More than 30,000 state prisoners will shift from state to county control starting Oct. 1 – including 300-plus headed to Monterey County,” Sept. 22-28). It costs $48,000 dollars a year to put a criminal in prison. We are spending more on prisons than colleges. And the DA and sheriff complain because they will now have to live with their “lock ’em up and throw away the key” mentality. I would like to know why other populous states are closing prisons as crime rates decline? Why can’t California do the same? - acechapman | via Web


Help for Vets


Rebecca Robinson did a good job of portraying some of the difficulties faced by our returning veterans (“Monterey Peninsula College works with feds to help vets on the edge,” Sept. 22-28). Emphasis on the proposed new construction at Fort Ord might be interpreted that Palo Alto VA Hospital is the nearest VA for Monterey Peninsula College students when in fact, the current Monterey VA clinic, located at 3401 Engineer Lane, Seaside, CA 93955 offers both outpatient medical and mental health services. The clinic accepts walk-ins from 10am-12pm. Appointments can be made by calling 883-3800. VA encourages any veteran experiencing an emotional crisis of any kind to call the Veteran Crisis Line, 1-800-271-8255 and press 1 at the recorded greeting to be immediately transferred to a professional VA counselor 24/7. The counselor will help them through the crisis and link them to any needed VA services. Veterans can also communicate with a crisis counselor through anonymous online chat at www.veteranscrisisline.net. Monterey VA also offers a housing resources group for veterans at risk of homelessness and has a rapidly expanding HUD-VA Supportive Housing program, where homeless veterans are fast tracked for subsidized housing and supportive case management. - Fred MacRae | Palo Alto


(Note: Mr. MacRae is the suicide prevention coordinator for the VA Palo Alto Health Care System.)


Hateful – And Unoriginal, Too.


On Sept. 23, the Marina Post Office entrance was disrupted by three men hoisting a huge poster of President Obama disguised as Adolph Hitler. Most of us have seen this abhorrent, repulsive poster since we’ve had an African American President, but this is the first time I’m aware of that this malignant virus has infected the streets of Marina. Defense of this loathsome imagery was further spread by right-wing windbags like Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter and Glenn Beck. We all know the one thing right-wing extremists find most offensive is intelligent and fact-based dissent, so they always resort to the philosophical gutter to spread their indefensible, corrosive fantasies. This offensive imagery assigned to the President, no matter who he or she may be, must cease. The right-wing extremists of today share much with the 1930s’ advocates of German fascism – they also believed the most powerful vehicle to convey their depraved political philosophy was through media imagery. People too ignorant to disagree without resorting to Nazi imagery cannot be allowed to slither under the blanket of free speech. It’s the maximum of hatred for the minimum of reason, and we cannot tolerate it on the Monterey Peninsula. - Donna Ball | Marina


Raptor Rapture


We took this tour last year and met the falcon (“The Monterey Regional Waste Management District deserves a little respect,” Sept. 29-Oct. 5). One of the most interesting tours we’ve ever taken – seriously! Go, learn and be amazed. - Julie Cason | via Facebook


I heart the Last Chance Mercantile! And the extremely cheap dirt, compost and mulch they sell. - Katie Pofahl | via Facebook