Letters to the Editor: Aug. 13, 2024

Monterey airport

I am writing to address the recent expansion of the Monterey Peninsula Regional Airport and the addition of flights during night and early morning hours. As a candidate for the Monterey Peninsula Airport District Board, I believe it is crucial to consider both the benefits and the challenges that come with these changes. The expansion of our airport and the increase in flight frequency, including new routes to Dallas-Fort Worth, Denver and San Diego undoubtedly bring significant economic benefits. The additions enhance connectivity, support local business, and attract more visitors to our beautiful region. However, it is essential to balance these advantages with the well-being of our community.

One of my primary concerns is the impact of increased air traffic on noise levels. Noise pollution can significantly affect the quality of life for our residents living on the Peninsula. Implementing robust noise abatement policies in collaboration with the FAA is essential to mitigate these effects and ensure that our community remains a peaceful and enjoyable place to live.

Our airport lacks transparency and I believe that by developing a Citizen Committee, as was recommended by the 2023/2024 Monterey civil grand jury, we can provide better transparency to the general public, still enhance the airport’s operations while protecting our beautiful Monterey Peninsula.

— Uwe Grobecker, Monterey

Affordable housing

The housing crisis is real. A community that cannot house its workers, its police, firefighters and schoolteachers can hardly be called a community. The lack of affordable shelter is a problem that extends far beyond our region and local solutions can only go so far in adequately addressing this serious barrier to the recruitment and retention of employees our local businesses and institutions require. Our schools are charged with the sacred tasks of educating our children and helping us to raise the next generation. School districts are also by necessity involved in the transportation business, the facilities maintenance business, and the sports business. Adding the business of rental property development and management to their required duties will only divert attention from their core mission of education. Our public schools should not be tasked with solving the housing crisis. I have never before voted against any ballot proposition to fund public schools but for this reason I cannot support devoting taxpayer dollars toward sponsoring MPUSD’s entry into the real estate market.

– Arthur Simons, Monterey

 TEAM acronym

TEAM  USA on top of the Paris Olympics scoreboard fills hearts with joy and pride. Their team spirit on a high scale is motivating and inspiring one another for achieving more. Team USA is proving true to the acronym of TEAM, which is Together, Everyone, Achieves More.

The phrase reminds that in a different context also, specifically during COVID-19 times, Teams and Zoom were widely and purposefully used as powerful communication tools. In spite of interruptions in the face-to-face work environment, such applications helped isolated workers stay motivated to accomplish more while working remotely but unitedly. Today the technology research teams are proudly talking of the remarkable success with joint efforts in heading toward the Quantum Computer. Significantly, the concept and effect of teamwork is not of modern times, rather as old and constant as is the existence of this universe. The sun, the earth, water and air all play their pivotal roles in the perfect system of collaboration. Nevertheless, the contribution of individual excellence in collective endeavors, fairly doesn’t go unnoticed and unrewarded in the success story of the teams. The proverbial use of the “right hand”  is an example of the importance of personal proficiency of a player in any kind of a team.

— Brij Mansi, Monterey  

Harris and the media

Why should Kamala Harris answer any questions?  Who cares what her policy is? Her followers are going to vote for her because she’s a woman or because she’s black or because she’s running against Donald Trump and Republicans. Who cares about policy?  What could go wrong?

— Alice Bowhay, Pacific Grove