Giddyup!


I was disappointed to see the Civil Grand Jury conclude that the Marina Equestrian Park does not provide public recreation (“Extra Helping of Squid,” Oct 25). This conclusion makes no sense. 


Squid, your squidlets would have loved the open house recently held, except that so many came, there were lines waiting for the pony rides. This park in Marina is one of a handful of National Park Service parks that has overnight accommodations for tourists traveling with horses. This park maintains public trailhead access to the BLM lands for people from any community who ride horses. It provides the location for hundreds of children to learn about horses in multiple programs every year. This park provides an integrated recreational opportunity that includes horses to a modest urban community. This park is within bicycling and walking distance of the public. No expensive home or club membership required. 


This park provides people of all ages a unique opportunity to enjoy both working with animals and healthful recreation for modest fees. Why is it seemingly only OK for Marina to host the landfill and a disproportionate amount of Peninsula low-income housing and have its new park use attacked as not public enough? Is the site wanted by someone for more housing or industrial uses that no other community wants? 


The current mayor, Bruce Delgado, and the City Council are bringing the ignored park into the light, and hopefully we can complete the requirements to preserve this unprecedented addition to the amazing park system in Monterey County. - Seabreeze | via Web


Unoccupied


I must disagree vehemently with Sara Rubin’s assessment (“Occupy Pacific St.,” Nov. 1-7) that there are serious divisions within Occupy Monterey Peninsula regarding the Alan Haffa for City Council campaign. In fact, no such divisions exist. As for her article, it smacks more like tabloid journalism than a professional attempt to cover the local Occupy movement.


In short, OMP does not endorse candidates – it is nonpartisan – exactly like the League of Women Voters. This does not preclude individuals from OMP (or the LWV) to run for elected office, work at the library or shine shoes. Personal life choices are irrelevant to participation in OMP. 


To be clear, OMP is NOT a political party, cult, religion or philosophy and does not rule over the personal lives of participants. This fact seems lost on Rubin, and even some of those interviewed for her article. In brief, Occupy’s only spokesperson is the General Assembly, which determines all policies, statements and actions through the process of consensus. Are there disagreements? Always. But in the end, through open discussion and evaluation, consensus agreement is almost always reached. We call that democracy. 


And just for the record, when/if OMP does endorse a political candidate, or a candidate runs as an OMP candidate, that will effectively be the end of this movement as it now exists. – Larry Parrish | Carmel Valley 


(Editor’s note: Until the second Sara Rubin announced she was writing a story about Alan Haffa’s campaign through the lens of Occupy, multiple sources both previously and currently involved with Occupy Monterey Peninsula told her the campaign had divided the organization. The Weekly stands by this story.)


Conspiracy Theories


Just confirms, nothing but a good ‘ol fashioned witch-hunt all along! (“DA closes Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital investigation, no charges filed,” posted Oct. 25.) It’s interesting how quickly this community forgot about all the good things Sam Downing and his associates did to put a community hospital on the map – teaming with the likes of Stanford University, NASA and so many others. Oh, not to mention all the jobs that were created during his tenure. Those involved should be ashamed! 


Oh, and how’s that witch-hunt working out for you now with all the lost jobs and underhanded dealings going on, er, should I say “partnerships” with “nonprofit” organizations that are bank rolling in the $$ thanks to that loosely-used term and keeping out the competition due to special privileges afforded them at all three hospitals! Maybe the media should focus on those dealings. - Keledwards | via Web


Frankenfood


This article doesn’t do justice to the reasons many want GMOs labeled, but represents scientists as overwhelmingly in support of genetic engineering (“Citizen campaign to label GMO foods puts industry on defense, decades after historic local battle,” Nov. 1-7). 


I have been campaigning for labeling GMOs for a year, along with many scientists including agroecology biologists. The widescale, unlabeled introduction of genetically engineered ingredients into our food supply is unprecedented and unacceptable. There are labels on nearly everything in America, including your mattress, and the FDA currently requires labeling of 3,000 ingredients. Why wouldn’t we want to label genetically modified ingredients in our food, especially considering Monsanto has been able to patent these genes? 


Those patents are used to suppress independent scientific studies, and to this day no human health studies have been done on genetically modified ingredients. If consumers don’t want to eat these ingredients, with their proven environmental damages and unclear human health effects, we shouldn’t be kept in the dark by Big Ag. - Jessy | via Web


It continues to baffle me why people consider the right of a consumer to take a corporation to court in order for them to comply with the law as an invitation to frivolous lawsuits. If they make a correction, there is no case. The outcome of this campaign will be apparent soon enough – which is more than we can say for the effects of eating untested “food.” - Labelgmomonterey | via Web


Private Sector


Another nail in the water coffin for the Peninsula (“State PUC Declares County’s Law on Public Ownership of Desal Plants Dead,” posted Oct. 30). Did anyone pay attention when the news came out that the county, Cal Am, or whomever needs to start over on an EIR? How long is that going to take? Average is two years, and now the Board of Supervisors who tubed the last project, are scratching their heads because the PUC declared themselves superior to the county. Instead of handing the keys to the county to Cal Am, here is an idea: Tell the PUC to go to he**!! - oldguy49 | via Web


Correction: Credit for a photographic illustration (“Art Openings & Happenings,” Nov. 1-7) currently showing at the Carmel Art Institute goes to Susan Hyde Green.