Wave Hello to new energy


The ocean will be a key part of a “green” energy revolution, and we don’t have to drill underneath it! (“Feds look to the ocean for clean energy as scientists debate wave power potential,” Feb. 9-Feb. 15). Wave power and ocean thermal energy conversion are proven ways to extract clean energy from our vast waters. OTEC creates emission free power, 24/7/365, from the temperature difference in shallow and deep water… An OTEC system was proven successful off the coast of the Big Island in Hawaii back in 1980, and the plant was run for the next 20 years or so. So OTEC is a proven clean energy source. That’s why multiple Caribbean nations are working on plans to build commercial OTEC plants, and the Bahamas is already committed to building two. Plus, the byproduct of an OTEC plant is millions of gallons of clean drinking water. - Mike Straub | via Web


Savoring the Economy


Well said! (“How to save money to spend it in restaurants and help save the economy,” posted Feb. 8.) Let’s start a new movement “Unoccupy our homes – stimulate the local economy!” - Deamer Dunn | via Web


Dim the Lights


Such a beautiful, bright light (“Local theater pillar Marcia Hovick dies,” posted Feb. 2). We were all so lucky to have her living, working and creating in Monterey County for so long. Our deepest condolences to her family. - Paulette Lynch | via Web


Our Jersey Boy


Mark C. Anderson’s article (“Rich Pepe for mayor, or at least my favorite restaurateur for mayor,” posted Feb. 9) reveals to Carmel voters a disturbing side of mayoral candidate Richard Pepe. Anderson states, “Pepe’s approach and his past might be a better fit for reality TV than politics-as-usual-by-the-Sea.” Pepe, a self-proclaimed Jersey boy, came to California “to get laid” – his opening remark in his pilot reality show video on YouTube called “Peace of Cake.”


Pepe proceeds to categorize women into two stereotypes: first, “Da’ Boss,” referring to his wife, said with a derogatory jaw-boning gesture; the second, as sex objects. This category includes his PR person Katana Godden-Alexander, who he refers to as a “gumar,” Italian for “mistress,” and a waitress he interviews to hire. After salacious shots of the waitress’ cleavage, she unconvincingly delivers a line to get the job, and Pepe turns to the camera with, “Piece of cake.”


By the production of this video for reality TV, Pepe implicitly sanctioned its sexism and objectification of women. I just hope Pepe’s reality TV doesn’t become Carmel’s nightmare because Carmel deserves a mayor who respects and represents 100 percent of the population, not just the 50 percent who don’t wear skirts. - Kristy Downing | Carmel


I was pleased to read in Squid this week that Carmel mayoral candidate Rich Pepe is in favor of the city keeping Flander’s Mansion. His opponent, Jason Burnett, on the other hand, recently wrote a strongly worded letter to the editor of The Carmel Pine Cone stating Burnett wanted this piece of our city’s history sold, sold, sold. Unlike Burnett, I agree with Pepe that Carmel’s parkland should not be sold. Burnett should stop taking such extreme viewpoints on issues he does not understand, since he only moved to town in 2008. - Beth Reimers | Carmel


It Takes a Village


I was hoping Chatterbox could reopen under new management, but it looks like one more item for Carmel Valley History Society’s new museum (“Brendan Jones recruits a partner from Prague to give the area an infusion of foodie energy,” Feb. 2-8). Mark C. Anderson correctly pointed out that there is a sizable blue collar population in the Village and Cachagua who have always tended to gravitate to Chatterbox. Since its closure, witness the success of Kathy’s Little Kitchen, with it’s affordable pricing and low-key presentation. It’s good food but a tiny dining room.


I wish Jones success and look forward to giving Lokal a try. But will there be a place where I see Valley boys drinking coffee and rolling dice at 6am? Will Dad be able to bring the kids up in their pajamas for inexpensive pancakes on Saturday morning while Mom sleeps in? That’s what we had for decades with Chatterbox, and creative restaurateurs would do well to try and fill that void. - Paul Ingram | Carmel Valley Village


Targeting a Liquor License


My name is Andrea Lopez and I’m a sophomore at Everett Alvarez High School. I work with The Sunrise House Prevention Youth Counsel; we are a program that works to prevent the problem of initial drug and alcohol consumption and abuse by teenagers. It has come to our attention that Target, located at The Harden Ranch Shopping Center, wishes to obtain a liquor license.


When Walmart, located at the same shopping center, applied for a liquor license it was no surprise that the Walgreens nearby also applied for a liquor license, because all these stores care about is being the best and selling the most. Now Target wants a liquor license. This was what we feared. What we have here is called a “snowball effect.” Once a store obtains a liquor license, others will want one in order to compete. This is a never-ending cycle to try to be the best. The snowball just keeps getting bigger, not caring about who it goes over. Nowadays, these liquor licenses are more of a commodity instead of a necessity. We strongly believe a liquor license is unnecessary. It is a known fact that more alcohol in a community brings more violence to that community. Do we really want to bring more violence to that residential area?


Target is a strong enough business without a liquor license. It is obvious to all that Target is still enduring through all the economic troubles our country is facing. Hopefully our City Council will agree with us. - Andrea Lopez | Salinas


The ultimate penalty


Wow, lawyers themselves want to strike down the very law that generates their livelihood (“Capital defenders seek to replace the death penalty,” Feb. 2-8). Defense attorneys themselves are convinced that the death penalty does nothing to make us safer and that it’s just much more expensive than life imprisonment. That’s on top of my hunch that judicial murder is an odd way of showing that murder is wrong, not to mention the risk of convicting the wrong person. Or that people of color get the death penalty more than others convicted of similar offenses. What a mess! 


This ballot initiative is going to be a great way to cut costs and deliver better justice. Maybe some of the money saved could go to rehabilitating offenders, or creating jobs, so that we don’t have such a shamefully high rate of re-offending in California. - Linda Agerbak | Carmel Valley