DO THE RIGHT THING

I was outraged to learn that the city of Carmel was refusing to provide requested documents in the sexual harassment and discrimination lawsuit filed against the city administrator, Rich Guillen. The scolding by Judge Larry Hayes illustrates that this administration is doing nothing to eliminate the climate of sexual harassment, age discrimination and favoritism that pervades City Hall.

Instead of “rounding up the wagons” to protect one of its own, the Carmel mayor and City Council should be taking the moral high ground – a position of zero tolerance for this type of behavior in the workplace.

Carmel city employees and residents need to be reassured that this administration is not a defender of sexual harassment and discrimination but rather a champion of a workplace free of this type of behavior.

The fact that two previous employees have received settlements for claims of favoritism and sexual discrimination during Guillen’s tenure only reinforces the need for his removal from his current position.

Until this matter is fully explored in the courts the Carmel mayor and City Council should immediately put Rich Guillen on administrative leave.

When will this mayor and this City Council do the right thing? --Michael Le Page | Carmel

FARM AID

Good on the Weekly for printing “Cesar’s Ghosts,” the interview with Miriam Pawel, former Los Angeles Times reporter and author of the recent book about the origins of Cesar Chavez’ United Farmworkers, The Union of Their Dreams… ”

But for a different take on this book, I’d suggest Weekly readers go to LeRoy Chatfield’s critique at: www.farmworkermovement.org.

Chatfield, who is Director of the Farmworker Movement Documentation Project, goes waaaaay back to the origins the farmworker struggle and has organized an astonishing collection of printed documents, photographs and art from its beginning to the present time.

It is an indispensable resource for understanding Cesar Chavez, his supporters and their achievements. --Dennis Renault | Monterey

SINGLE FILE

Single issue politics lead to bad governance. In the debate concerning Measure G, the incorporation of Carmel Valley, both sides seem to raise the issue that with or without incorporation, development will make Carmel Valley unsustainable. However, the politics appear to be about a single issue.

We have seen in the past that single issue politics, e.g. stance on abortion as a litmus test, leads to rancor and ill thought out consequences. Philosophically and logically, is there any difference between secession from the county since we don’t like the supervisors’ stance on development and secession from the Union because we don’t like the Congress’ stance concerning slavery?

Governance is more than a single issue. Let’s get away from single issues defining how we are governed. Let’s make a conscious decision on all the ramifications. -- Edith McDonald | Carmel