Hey Squid

I take exception to your “Pants Off Dance Off” column calling Republicans “dumbasses” (“Squid Fry,” Aug. 23-29). You should be corrected: Anyone with intelligence would recognize “dumb elephants”; dumbasses are Democrats!! Thank you (from) a dumb independent. - Stephen Donohue | via Web

Luxe Life

Very well said (“Planning Commission further cuts Luxe Lounge hours, landlord moves to evict them,” posted Aug. 29.) After reading the article and discussing it, I have come to the same conclusion. Gang members causing trouble definitely is not part of my nightlife excursion requirement. - Caria Martins | via Facebook

I really miss that bastion of class that was otherwise known as The Hippodrome. - Tom DiBiase | via Facebook

Big surprise. Monterey’s nightlife scene needs to be refined. - Brian Conway | via Facebook

They need to have a similar place in Salinas so they stay over there instead of invade Monterey. This renter/promoter should just find a location there which should be easy and cheaper. - Esther Malkin | via Facebook

Plasco Pushed Out

I’m very disappointed by this news (“Plasco puts trash gasification plant on hold after state declines to redefine renewables,” Aug. 30-Sept. 5). This gasification/plasma tech has sounded great to me ever since I saw a TV program on it several years back. Imagine the garbage dump becoming a source of energy and over time the dump getting smaller and smaller instead of larger each day. I’d like to see this story expanded upon to explain more about just what forces were opposed to this and why.

Certainly it all comes down to someone protecting their personal wealth – but who exactly that is would be interesting to know. I think the whole issue of the environmental impact is really just a smokescreen to hide the true motives. Can this be any worse than the pollution caused by the mere existence of any landfill? Isn’t it cleaner than coal-powered energy plants? Does it have worse environmental impact than fracking? I don’t think so… I can’t believe we are driving this energy plant out of the country! - Scrow9 | via Web

Alejo Fails on Styro Bill

In the last hours of the last day of the 2012 legislative session, the environment lost. Our tiny blue planet was betrayed by the very humans whose life it sustains. A moment of promise and hope was denied as 45 members of the California Assembly championed the virtues of styrofoam over people, defeating Senate Bill 568, a bill that would have enacted a statewide ban on expanded polystyrene foam to-go containers beginning in 2016.

Sixteen members of the Assembly were counted as absent, abstaining or not voting when the call for a vote came after an hour-long debate. Seven of those legislators later changed their vote of record, long after the bill’s fate had been decided.

How an elected representative of the people votes and then how he or she defends, explains and justifies his or her decision to vote a certain way, whether we agree with the yay or nay, is important to a free society and a vital part of the democratic process, for it allows us, the voters, to make informed decisions and to determine how we vote and whom we vote for in the next election.

The selling of votes in the California Legislature is blatant and egregious and it needs to stop. On March 30, 2012, Assemblymember Luis Alejo, D-Salinas, accepted a $1,500 campaign contribution from DART Container Corp. DART is a Michigan corporation with no presence in Mr. Alejo’s district. The sole purpose of that campaign contribution was to stop Mr. Alejo from voting yes on the bill, and it worked.

In the critical last few hours of the legislative session, Mr. Alejo abandoned the environment, betrayed the people of the 28th District and silenced our voice by intentionally not voting on SB 568 in order to appease this particular out-of-state corporate campaign contributor.

If Mr. Alejo can’t embrace the environmental ideals that the majority of his constituents hold, then how can we entrust him with protecting the Big Sur Coastline in the new 30th Assembly District?

Without Mr. Alejo’s vote, the environment lost, and so did we. - Matthew Spiegl | Salinas

In Jerry’s Hands

It would be a good thing for the Monterey County taxpayer if the Fort Ord Reuse Authority would sunset (“Legislature Passes Bill Extending Fort Ord Reuse Authority Sunset to 2020,” posted Aug. 23). FORA has not been straightforward about how taxpayer money is spent and has made several bad decisions causing conflicts. If FORA would spend more time listening to the local residents, instead of special interest developers, surrounding cities could be gateways to the National Monument. - Batcave | via Web

We Did Too Ask

In response to Esalen President Gordon Wheeler’s statement that our group did not “pick up the phone or email and ask” (“Lawyer letter deepens the tension at Big Sur sanctuary.” Aug. 23-29), we would like to outline the following communications and correspondence sent prior to Aug. 9, 2012.

On April 28, May 16 and May 20, Joanna Carolan, one of the members of our group, sent letters via email to the Esalen Board of Trustees, expressing her concerns about the current Esalen administration’s actions that did not appear to be in alignment with Esalen’s vision, mission and values.

Ms. Carolan did receive an email from Mr. Wheeler on May 18, in which he thanked her for “being a part of the worldwide Esalen extended family of supporters.” However, Mr. Wheeler’s email did not effectively address the concerns raised in Ms. Carolan’s letters.

Other members of our group sent emails. Many of those emails either did not receive a reply, or Mr. Wheeler’s reply did not effectively address the issues raised.

A group letter from Esalen community members was sent to Esalen’s trustees, asking for effective, corrective action be taken to address the terminations of April 18.

Our group has also documented prior verbal communications with Esalen’s administration regarding these issues. We have documentation of the issues outlined in the Aug. 9 letter being raised in verbal communications and at community meetings. Many of these issues have been raised repeatedly.

In light of the above, we believe Mr. Wheeler’s statement to be inaccurate. - Concerned Esalen Community Group Members | via Web