Like his reviews, Scott MacClelland''s take on the Herald''s decision to exclude classical music reviews was right on target: relevant, substantial and perceptive ("Critical Shortfall," 11/22-29). The decision was unfortunate for a number of reasons.

First, the elimination of these reviews removes one of the few elements of distinction the Herald can boast. Relatively few newspapers the size of the Herald include staffers who can even distinguish between Mozart and Prokofiev, much less write about them professionally. In Natalie Plotkin and Barbara Rose Shuler, the newspaper has two such writers.

Moreover, it further weakens an already unimpressive features section. Now headed by a former sports writer, it offers us primarily cooking tips and columns about topics on the level of "cute things our kids say." Thoughtful and more substantial columns by [writers] such as Joe Livernois or Andy Rose are placed elsewhere.

Finally, and most important by far, the decision seriously undermines the worthy efforts by such splendid local groups as the Carmel Music Society and Chamber Music Monterey Bay to encourage the growth of interest in classical music on the part of young people in the area. By such means as discounted rates, occasional appearances by artists in local classrooms and the fine annual competitions for young musicians, these groups do the community a real service. The Herald should not only recognize but also encourage such service by publicizing through regular reviews these events.

The Herald''s sister newspaper in San Jose could well serve as a model for the Monterey County paper to emulate, at least in its coverage of local arts. Instead, it is choosing to display its best efforts in reporting local golf tournaments.

Robert Wilson,
Pacific Grove

A Different Dream

Some weeks ago, you printed a letter from a local resident saddened by the closing of the Dream Theater (Letters, 10/19-25). The writer wondered where she could now see foreign and independent films, rather than the more commercially successful films churned out by Hollywood. I highly recommend the Osio Cinema in downtown Monterey. The Osio''s manager is firmly committed to presenting foreign-language and independent films. Most recently, I have seen Girl on the Bridge and Butterfly. No other local cinema would show such superbly crafted and moving foreign films.

Janine Marie Tabor,
Salinas

Bashing Bush''s Bashers

Violent intimidation works.

I am, of course, referring to the Bush Family tactic of using goons to violently disrupt the Dade County manual vote count. I was shocked by the CNN footage of these Republican goons screaming as they chased people down the hall outside the room in which votes were being counted.

I quote from the Nov. 24 New York Times, "The protest turned violent when the board decided to close the process to the public. Several people were trampled, punched or kicked when a crowd tried to rush the doors outside the office of the Miami-Dade Supervisors of Elections." It should be noted that a Democratic and Republican observer reviewed each voting card as they were processed. The Republican Party has admitted that they organized these goons. The press reported that some of these people were seen demonstrating outside the Broward County canvassing building on Nov. 24.

Shades of Nazi Party election violence in the 1920s, and the auto industry goons clubbing striking auto workers in the 1930s in Detroit.

Violence worked for the Bush Family. One of the Dade County canvassing board members said the violent disruptions were a factor in stopping the recount. In my opinion, this will cause Gore to lose Florida and the election.

Old Wall Street money+Andover+ Skull and Bones+oil+the CIA experience+organized political violence will probably propel the Bush family yet again into the White House. This would mean oil rigs along our coast.

ED LEEPER,
MONTEREY

Correction

The Weekly stumbled twice last week in "Building Bonds" when we wrote that a report revealing MPUSD''s deficit spending came out in Oct. 1998 (it was actually Oct. 1999) and that a ceiling caved in at Monterey High School in March 1999 (it was March 2000). We regret the errors.