HEARTLESS RIVER


I had to laugh after reading your article on the Carmel River a couple of weeks ago (“The Carmel River is a wisp of its former self, but hope is around the bend,” May 31-June 6).


The author [of River in Ruin, Ray March] started out claiming he was not an environmentalist, yet throughout the article made claims that only the environmentalists use. He talked about the “heart” of the river and the “soul” of the river over and over. I have news for him. A river does not have a heart or a soul; it is just a ditch that drains rainwater to the ocean. When the left continue to put the needs of a drainage ditch above the needs of mankind and then can’t figure out why most people don’t support them, I am amazed. 


No one wants dirty water for our children like the left loves to claim; what we want is to use the water that nature gives us for the best use, and the best use is that which benefits mankind the most. What are we saving everything for?


The Sierra Clubbers seem to think that they own nature, and it’s there for their private use. The heck with the elderly and disabled who want to drive into the forest; they don’t deserve it. Liberals constantly claim to show compassion, but what I see is a bunch of selfish children who want their way, or they will take their ball and go home. Nature belongs to all of us and should be used to our benefit, not as their personal playgrounds. - Bob Albertson | Pebble Beach


(Editor’s Note: March never claims not to be an environmentalist. The story makes no mention of the river’s “soul.”)


LAPDOGS AND LACKEYS


Here’s the riddle: “When does a free marketeer simply love government participation?” 


Here are the clues: While mis-informed, pliable Monterey Peninsulans were being manipulated by the Realtors Association (MCAR) and the Tax-Haters Association (MPTA) over a reinstated and minimal Water Management District user fee, Cal Am Water was busy slithering about the grassy, backroom parlors of the Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and convincing abiding commissioners to stick Peninsula ratepayers with an additional $75 million bill for the dam removal project (“San Clemente Dam removal cost inflames local water wars,” June 21-27). This on top of a prior-agreed-to $49 million charge for actual project costs.


The main difference between the two charges is that, unlike the user fee, this $75 million goes directly into the pockets of corporate executives and shareholders, with the public getting absolutely nothing in return. 


Now, bear in mind that public utilities don’t ascribe to the regular rules of supply and demand. They only “demand,” and a lapdog CPUC inevitably always “supplies” them – with ratepayer cash. Also remember the Cal Am business model that inefficiency + incompetence + negligence + wastefulness = PROFITS. And no matter how inefficient, incompetent, negligent or wasteful, they are always compensated by submissive ratepayers and with an additional 10 percent or so in pure profit for their supreme efforts. Also note that while the CPUC is consistently bending over backward to accommodate Cal Am requests, the ratepayer must always bend over forward.


The final clue: This latest screwing of Peninsula ratepayers should make Brian LeNeve [of the Carmel River Steelhead Association] and all the other Cal Am corporate lackeys, apologists and co-opteds hysterically proud.


So, did you get the answer yet? Please send your selections to the CPUC, MCAR, MPTA and CRSA. And don’t blame me – I’m just a messenger. - Larry Parrish | Carmel Valley


MUCK SLINGING


I went to many of the Regional Water Quality Control Board meetings on this subject (“After three years of indecision, a new ag runoff rule takes effect,” June 21-27) and kept hearing people talk about “blue babies,” but I have never seen a story on any of these babies. 


Is this a real problem or just a way for one side in this debate to try to frame it? How many cases of nitrogen poisoning in babies have there been here on the Central Coast? I am always wary when someone tells me that they are doing something to “save the children,” because most of the time it is nothing more than an attempt to appeal to people’s emotions and not the facts.


A very real problem is all the beach alerts we keep having for high bacteria. Every morning I check NOAA for the weather, and lately it seems like our beaches have been under constant alert. What is the source of the problem? What is being done to fix it? - SurfingMossLanding | via web


At some point, regulators need to consider the political and economic costs of public policy. At what point do the costs outweigh the benefits? Ag drives the economy in Monterey County – undisputed. Ag also helps drive the California economy, and the new regulation pertaining to nitrates is a drastic and immediate attempt to remedy decades and decades of groundwater contamination. These policy changes will not just sting in the short term – rather this will have long-lasting effects. 


Perhaps regulators need to consider a carrot as well as the stick. Bringing ag on board with policy design will help improve buy-in – too late. Now, it’s the otter versus the head lettuce. Congrats to the Central Coast water board and Steve Shimek for creating a zero-sum game – and we’re all going to likely lose as a result. - MontereyCyclist | via web


The article was great. Thanks for highlighting this important issue. Your coverage is the most thorough and fair representation that I have seen. - Ross Clark | Santa Cruz


Editor’s Note: Clark is the director of the Central Coast Wetlands Group at Moss Landing Marine Laboratories.


GONZO LOVE


Um, I know their mailing address says “Salinas,” but let’s give Gonzales a little love here (“The Weekly’s inBox Lunch Wine Find comes from Manzoni Wines in Salinas,” posted June 19). 


Manzoni, Talbott and Pessagno are really in Gonzales. 


Just sayin’. - Maury Treleven | via Facebook


BLUES FOOD


When I sing the blues,/ all I need is food (“A bluesy food poem could mean free tickets to the Monterey Bay Blues Festival,” posted June 21). Mussels, clams, makin’ me jam/ Jelly, rolls, sourdough, flimflam man/ tryin’ to sell me the can/ gimme raw sushi or crabs from the wharf/ make me dine with the sharks/ while the chefs dole it out! - Sue B Honey | via Facebook


Correction


In the Best of Monterey Bay Senior Resource Guide, the web address for the nonprofit Hands to Help Seniors, www.h2hs.org, was misprinted.