Unified Front


The support and sponsorship of our local union, the Pajaro Valley Federation of Teachers, was crucial in the sponsorship and adoption of this resolution at the CFT convention last March (“Current lobbying dollars behind the fumigant methyl iodide might be small, but they go deep enough to shift grassroots allegiances,” Oct. 6-12). If it weren’t for the wisdom and experience of our veteran teachers and organizers in this struggle, we would not be nearly as cohesive and as successful as we have been in this current struggle. We are unified and we work in coalition with each other and others. I feel lucky to have such strong mentors and allies. - Jenn Laskin | via Web


The Homeless Question 


I am one of the businesses near East Village Cafe. The article unfortunately did not characterize the problems we have had over the past three months (“City, police try to banish Monterey’s ‘dirty folks,’” Oct. 6-12). Drugs deals, drug use, public urination, two bank robberies, public intoxication, two assaults, and numerous disturbances. We had to do something. The smoking ban was a way to avoid people hanging out all day and night. I truly wish I could be a part of a greater societal solution, but this was the best site-specific idea we could come up with. My staff literally felt threatened by what was going on. I have to compliment the city manager and the police for a creative solution that has largely solved the problem on our corner. And, I need to apologize to the decent folks who just wanted to have a smoke outdoors where it wasn’t bothering anyone. But the outcome is that Griffin Plaza is a more pleasant place today than it was two weeks ago. - OtterGuy | via Web


I see our homeless every single day and think about them almost as much. I have conversations with my daughters about them; teaching compassion and tolerance is what feels right for me as their mother. Resources should be put into social services rather than sending police out to ticket people. - Nicole Edmonds Lyles | via Facebook


Seems like a good place for Occupy Wall Street protests… bring on the protesters camping out to make the dirty business owners grow a heart, employ people and walk a mile in other people’s shoes! Outlawing poverty does not solve the problem. - CeliaSue Hecht | via Facebook


Monopoly Money


It’s a step in the right direction, but it’s going to take a lot more than SB 469 to protect small businesses against the power grab of big-box stores (“What jobs are SB 469 opponents trying to save?” Oct. 6-12). Federal anti-monopoly laws need to be enforced as they were prior to the Reagan Administration. Barry C. Lynn of the New America Foundation says that a generation’s worth of Reaganomics has resulted in “the seemingly endless variety of products in our stores controlled by an ever smaller number of immense trading companies.” 


Most economists and business scholars agree that small businesses generate most of the net job creation in America. Yet, since before the Great Recession, job creation by small businesses has been in steady decline because of consolidation made possible by a pro-corporate approach toward anti-monopoly laws. Local business and political leaders would be wise to agree with Lynn that “entrepreneurs will be able to [create new jobs] only after we use our anti-monopoly laws to clear away the great private powers that now stand in their way.” They should also be mindful of the fact that about two-thirds of every dollar spent at local businesses is reinvested in the local economy, as opposed to only about one-third spent at big box stores. - Sean Gallagher | Salinas


Deep Inhale 


It’s all about power and control! (“Feds to California pot dispensaries: Shut down or else,” posted online Oct. 7). And money. I suppose the feds make way more money busting people for buying illegal pot than just leaving people alone!!! - Cathy Anaya | via Facebook 


Absolute steaming pile of bullshit. - Todd Subterfuge | via Facebook


Legalize marijuana now! Decriminalize all drugs and the prisons would be almost empty! - Sherry Lessen | via Facebook