Strings Attached


I am again saddened by the folks who are seemingly puppeteering Byrl Smith (“Bad advice drives Byrl Smith’s campaign to cynical places,” May 24-30). There were two separate opinion pieces today: a letter in the Monterey County Weekly signed Byrl Smith, and an editorial that says it was co-authored by Byrl Smith and Marina Councilwoman Nancy Amadeo. Read both, and you decide. Either Byrl Smith has suddenly gone from vague and uneducated to astute and well-versed about the important issues facing District 4 and Monterey County, or, in my opinion, she has again consented to allowing her campaign to grind out words that are not hers. This will only continue if she is elected. Do you want to elect a person who will be commandeered by those who have participated in a disgraceful political campaign? I am so saddened by this situation. - Candy Owen | via Web


Surprise, surprise, Dave Potter and Byrl Smith linked by their rich buddy Brian Boudreau, Mr. Monterey Downs (“Squid Fry,” May 24-30). District 5 voters, please PLEASE don’t give us Potter again. - Mema | via Web


I support Marc Del Piero for one essential reason: He has committed to finding the third vote for issues important to the Fifth District. 


I have seen too many times recently when Mr. Potter willingly votes what he feels is “right” for his district, but he has failed to find the “third” vote that seals the decision “he favors.” He has failed to get the third vote. 


Mr. Del Piero also has committed to transparency, and to emphasizing the long view in his decision making on the Board of Supervisors. All three of these practical positions – get the third vote, transparency, and long range thinking – are needed. 


Mr. Potter has fallen down on the job. Sixteen years is long enough. - George Riley | Monterey


Bureaucrat Bucks


I wanted to say thank you for having the courage to try and bring this to peoples attention (“Updated list of public employee salaries reveal some fat local paychecks,” May 17-23). I don’t live in Marina but from other articles I’ve seen it sure seems like the people in charge are taking lessons from the people from the city of Bell. How is it these people are able to set their own pay and then say they are worth it? A previous article about the water guy in Marina stated he has a three year contract with a three-year option and LIFETIME health benefits for him and his family; who wouldn’t take a deal like that and do you think there is any political nepotism going on? This stuff is everywhere and there seem to be no surprises anymore. Oh, the Monterey Regional Park District GM – if I remember they did the same thing the MPWMD is trying to do. They send out something that looks like junk mail and if the people don’t send it back it is considered a yes vote and they add a fee to your property tax, and guess who is counting the returned mail.


I’m sorry to ramble on and want to say thanks again and please keep looking into this stuff because these people are not going to do the right thing. How about more articles about the city of Marina and the $100 million that went to FORA? - Tom Beisker | Prunedale


Character Study


Steve’s innocent (“Steve Collins sues the county for $25 million,” posted May 25). He needs his day in court, if the DA and County will ever let him get there. - greatgranny | via Web


Street Scene


You can’t have your cake and eat it too (“Monterey nightlife may be safer, but bar owners struggle with early closing times,” May 24-30). Putting early hours on downtown clubs just pushes the problem somewhere else. Your fear-based leadership is costing the city in revenue and talent. You have so many students, military and tourists who need a safe getaway and they will take their money elsewhere unless you figure out a way to make yourself more welcoming. Look at the independent market action over in Sand City. You could capture some of that spirit (and revenue) if you just made a few adjustments that wouldn’t cost the city a thing.


Start an art evening on the grass in front of city hall once a week. Give some of the local bands a place to showcase their talent before it gets dark. Let the movie buffs show a movie on the lawn once it gets dark. Notice I didn’t say anything about alcohol. Drinks are not needed to have fun. If anybody does need one they can easily walk over to one of the bars.


Crying about how the night life in Monterey can’t be trusted after midnight is silly. You know that is red herring, Monterey. You can do better than that and it won’t cost a dime if you do it with volunteers. I think you will find all that you have to provide is a place for it to happen. I just hope you are not too scared to try anymore. - MontereyMan | via Web


Sniff Sniff


I once read that every few years or so a ton of sardines swim in and actually use up much of the oxygen in the water essentially suffocating themselves and they die in large groups (“Can anyone tell us what the horrendous smell wafting through south Seaside is?” posted to Facebook, May 22). So if it’s coming from the water it may be just that. - Preston Carmichael | via Facebook


I have noticed this too in lots of areas of Monterey County, it’s methane! Maybe from a sewer processing plant or old pipes. I smell it on Lighthouse Avenue, in Old Monterey, in P.G. and even Carmel and something’s wrong. - Nicole Ocean | via Facebook


Could be the upcoming election. - Brian Rozema | via Facebook


Sometimes the frog pond on Canyon Del Rey gets really stinky. - Jenny Mac | via Facebook


That’s the smell of desire m’lady. - Germaine Caldwell | via Facebook


Clarification


A quote from Monterey County Assistant District Attorney Stephanie Hulsey incorrectly implied all sex crimes against minors require physical contact (“Gilbert’s Kids,” May 24-30). It is also a crime to engage or communicate with minors for a sexual purpose. The charges against Gilbert Olivares include exhibiting sexual material to minors, exploitation of minors through videotaping them engaged in sexual acts and possession of child pornography.