DON’T ASK THE MEXICAN

I’ll cut to the chase: There simply isn’t anything funny or entertaining about “Ask a Mexican.” My mother – a self-respectingMexican who used to pick the crops in Morgan Hill as a child and retired as a judge of this state about 10 years ago – won’t even pick up the Weekly anymore over it.I’m a longtime fan of this newspaper, but even the titles makes my blood boil. [Editor’s note: the letter’s author was also a contributor.]

Last week’s column was full ofderogatory terms to describe other races that would incite riots in other communities. Are we to accept it as humor becausewe’re told it’s in jest and satirical? Does that make it funny?It’s patently offensive, feeds into hate of a class, andis nauseating at best.

I believe in the Weekly and its mission. Only reinforcing mass stereotypes doesn’t feel like “independent thinking.” Somewhere along the way, we stopped being true to ourselves about speaking for those who don’t speak for themselves.We’ve forgotten all the work we’ve done – andcontinue to do – to strip stereotypes bare and to expose them for the ugliness they represent.That’s what makes people read this paper. And I’ll always support that. --Michelle Caldwell | Salinas

CRASH COURSE

AB 909 [which reduces fines for right-turn-on-red violations] is the most ill-advised, callous, deadly piece of legislation passed in recent memory by the legislature. Assemblyman Monning ought to do everything in his power to persuade the governor to veto the bill.

If he voted yes, he should walk down to the corner of Pacific and Del Monte and see the memorial to Sam Cobley, an 87-year-old man who was run down and killed by a “California turn” one block from the assemblyman’s Monterey office. If the assemblyman voted “yes,” his indifference toward the safety of his constituents is appalling and is reason enough to question his judgment and not vote for him again. [Editor’s note: Monning voted “aye.”]

I live at Portola Vista, a senior citizens’ residence less than a block Sam’s accident. A woman who resides here was struck in a similar fashion a few weeks ago but, fortunately, was not killed. I, myself, am nearly run down at least once a week. Many of our residents have had similar experiences.

The city of Monterey has repeatedly ignored this dangerous intersection for years, even though it has been brought to their attention time and time again. The woman I spoke with in the city manager’s office acknowledged the problem, telling me that the city had been trying for more than two years to get a government grant to do something to alleviate the situation. She said, “It’s too bad it will be too late for the gentleman who was killed, but it will be many months before we will be able to do anything.”

A young girl on her way to school was killed in Salinas just a few weeks ago by a similar accident. The fines should not be lowered; they should be raised to the point where this moving violation can be curtailed. Right and left turn signals can be installed. Traffic control officers can be posted. How many more of us have to be struck before the situation is taken seriously enough for the city to act? --John R. McConnell | Monterey

T.O.T. ROCKS

It is fitting that the Herald published the June transient occupancy tax (TOT) for the Monterey Peninsula. I say this because the city of Marina had the highest percentage (72) of revenue from hotels for any city by a large margin.

This high hotel business success rate was also accompanied by a similar surge in restaurant attendance. The city of Marina restaurants were so full, people were lining up outside facilities such as Dishes Bistro and Kula Ranch Steak House.

All this flurry of business activity was in part the result of the vision of Mayor Bruce Delgado, who worked to create a colorful and exciting atmosphere in Marina that would magnetize U.S. Open golf fans to the city’s hotels and restaurants. Thirty businesses said yes to the mayor’s request and participated in the extensive banner and signage program across the city. A large well-lit message marquee provided by Monterey Peninsula Engineering described directions from Imjin Parkway to downtown Marina, while banners announced the goodies to be found at various restaurants and shops.--Margaret-Anne Coppernoll | Marina