The Enforcer


The city needs to start enforcing its building codes (“Shootings, gang violence on the rise in Seaside; what do you think should be done?” posted Oct. 18 to Facebook). 


The apartment building next to where the murder happened has been a problem spot for years. It has triple its intended occupancy rate and is a hangout for gang members. But it’s not just this building; it’s all over the city. Code enforcement and the city inspectors have been looking the other way on housing violations for way too long and this invites trouble. 


Allowing streets to fill over capacity with cars, allowing homes and apartment buildings to overflow with people, turns what was meant and designed to be a low-density area into ultra-high-density area, which only fosters a criminal element. And where are the city inspectors? Nowhere. 


Silence is acceptance, and when you’re silent in the face of known violations, it emboldens the violators. The city needs to do a thorough inspection of every apartment building/multi-family dwelling and cite violators and slumlords. Second, Seaside needs to make neighborhood parking permits in troubled neighborhoods as defined by the police! Everyone should pay to park. - Sandy Guillen | via Facebook


For the Love of Bacon


(“Give us your best bacon-based haiku for chance to win tickets to the Monterey Bay Bacon, Blues and Brews Fest,” posted to Facebook Oct. 18.)


Sizzle crisp and wafting smells / Spatters of grease burning hands and arms / Doesn’t matter. Bacon is love. - David Markowitz | via Facebook


Was it an apple? / Or bacon that tempted Eve? / I am a bad Jew. - Gloria Brokaw | via Facebook


Hot crispy goodness / Sizzling in the pan / Warm joy on my plate - Jay DeVine | via Facebook


Thank You Lil Piggies! / I love Thee Salted & Cured / Fried to Perfection! - Sheena Demayo | via Facebook


Ralph Speaks


I was honored to serve as mayor of Seaside for six years, and I could not be more proud of what we accomplished together (“Weekly endorses Felix Bachofner for Seaside mayor,” Oct. 11-17).


The mayor and council worked very well together back then – we were a team, and I look forward to being a part of that team again. Together, we successfully brought economic opportunity to Seaside with a City Center, a renovated Auto Mall, restaurants, hotels, grocery stores and shopping centers – critical projects that provided much-needed jobs. 


But we did much more than that. We were able to bring affordable housing to Seaside, so the residents of this area could afford to live and work in our city. We were also committed to practicing good fiscal policies. We balanced budgets in tough economic times, implemented fiscal health and wellness policies, and moved to a two-year budgeting cycle that, with careful management, will bear fruit.


These policies have eroded under the current leadership! The budget does not address a $1.2 million shortfall that places the burden on employee concessions. Critical city services such as public safety have been left unaddressed. And city policy has not been carried out as directed by the council – both at the water JPA and at FORA. This damages the credibility of our city.


When elected, I will provide the effective leadership to help get our city back on track. I will always listen, and I will keep Seaside First! I would be honored to receive your vote. - Ralph Rubio | Seaside


Movin’ on McCrone


One of the most important issues in the Monterey City Council election is the future of the waterfront (Weekly endorses Bill McCrone, Ed Smith for Monterey City Council,” Oct. 11-17). This should be a matter of great concern for voters, as the character of downtown and waterfront directly impacts home values and the quality of life.


The Planning Commission has developed a new waterfront plan that calls for conversion of approximately one-fourth of excess parking spaces into a multi-purpose green space available for public use, for the first time in 50 years. Better use of this irreplaceable public space is supported by authoritative studies commissioned by the City.


There will be strong opposition from special wharf interests unwilling to give control of even one parking space back to the public. But the lot is less than half full most of the time, and green space will not adversely impact the subsidized economic benefit to Monterey.


Planning Commissioner Bill McCrone has fought for the waterfront park. Candidate Ed Smith is opposed to any parking loss, reflecting his support from wharf merchants.


The choice is clear. Vote McCrone if you value a strong independent voice on the City Council. - William Scannell | Monterey


(Editor’s note: Mr. Scannell is the treasurer of Mr. McCrone’s campaign.)


Props to 37


It appears that one of your readers is confused regarding foods produced through selective breeding versus genetic engineering (GE). Many people think they are the same – they are not.


For centuries, farmers have used selective breeding (plants and animals) to develop desirable traits such as drought tolerance, increased yields, disease resistance or improved taste. This is done through cross pollination, grafting and/or selective breeding within closely related species (e.g. two varieties of corn or between a plum and an apricot) with a shared evolutionary origin.


In genetic engineering, genetic material from one or more species (including viruses, bacteria, plant, animal and human) is artificially inserted (in a laboratory) into a completely different species (e.g. fish genes into strawberries). The process is unpredictable and dangerous, and can lead to unexpected allergies, toxins, new viruses and bacteria, and new diseases.


Fifty countries in the world require labeling of genetically engineered foods. Californians have the right also to know if their food has been genetically engineered. Prop. 37 will require this labeling so that we can make our own informed choices. Vote YES on Prop 37. - Cynthia Ainsworth | via Web


Correction


A story (“Compassionate Friends provides a healing space for the grieving parents,” Oct. 11-17) stated that Brandon W.L. Johnson died during flight training in Illinois. He was a licensed pilot on a cross-country flight to accrue hours for a pilot’s job when his plane was struck over Corona Airport in Riverside County, California.