Squida Culpa


With regards to the ticketed Elkhorn Slough fisherman, I was surprised that you wrote tiger shark rather than leopard shark (“Squid Fry,” Oct. 13-19). Leopard sharks are very abundant in the slough. Obviously tiger sharks do not live here, they are found in the tropics. If there are tiger sharks in the slough then I am going to stop surfing the river mouth! – calsurf13 | via Web


View from the Knoll


If you think the delay in construction of the Cypress Knolls project is just costing the city of Marina millions of dollars, please think again (“Marina starts from scratch on long-delayed senior community,” Oct. 13-19). Although Marina stands to lose hundreds of thousands of dollars in immediate cost and reimbursements and millions in long-term revenues, so does the rest of the region. First, we lose hundreds of prevailing wage construction jobs and millions in wages. Then we lose millions of dollars in property taxes and fees which are passed through to the county, other agencies, FORA, MPUSD and MPC. Half a project, assuming it is even economically viable, will produce only half the potential. That makes no sense or cents. That is why it is perplexing labor spokesmen would supported a speculative half project.


It denies to our seniors a secure community designed for them to include recreation and continuum of care facilities. It denies bringing new faces and their pocketbooks to our area. For over two years we have asked our elected officials in Marina to focus on revenue generation. It is time they got to it. Small thinking and indecision will generate nothing and cost us all. – Dan Amadeo | Marina


(Note: Mr. Amadeo is the husband of Marina Councilwoman Nancy Amadeo, who voted for the project.)


Field Days


Nice coverage of the questionable approval by DPR of methyl iodide as well as the details of ethically challenged investments in Permira/Arysta by CalPERS/CalSTRS (“Current lobbying dollars behind the fumigant methyl iodide might be small, but they go deep enough to shift grassroots allegiances,” Oct. 6-12). As an organic grower who started his farming career with organic strawberries 30 years ago, I was disappointed with the above mentioned article for missing the point. Yes, farming is unpredictable and certain growers may feel caught in the middle between anti-pesticide activists and regulators, but that’s the row they chose to hoe.


The prevailing mindset of the strawberry industry seems to be “methyl bromide or another fumigant just like it” is the only way to grow strawberries. Years of methyl bromide use are to blame for this mindset. Sterilizing farmland for strawberry planting has been the standard practice. Any alternative that might reduce yields is a problem for the major strawberry marketing companies comprising the California Strawberry Commission because they make their money from selling and cooling strawberries. Their motivation is the volume of strawberries shipped. We can’t look to these folks for alternatives or expect them to change the current practices willingly. Growers are afraid of taking any chances that might reduce yields. They get whatever is left after packaging, cooling and sales fee expenses.


Another problem changing the mindset is that neither the people that own these strawberry marketing companies nor the majority of strawberry growers in California own or live on or near the strawberry fields that are being fumigated and farmed. This more distant relationship with fumigation makes it easier to appreciate as a tool for production rather than the toxic environmental pollutant it is. – Dale Coke | North County


Otherwise Occupied


Long over-waited movement! (“Occupy Monterey is happening now. What are your thoughts on local Occupy movements?” posted Oct. 15). I am proud of this American movement! Greed has got to end! – Sam Martinez | via Facebook


GET a LIFE! – Jessica Stewart | via Facebook


This is what life is about! Standing up for our beliefs and fighting for what is right. Telling people “Get a life” seems like a lack of life on your end. Join us! – Malinda DeRouen | via Facebook