PG divided

I attended the Pacific Grove City Council meeting on June 5. The last item on the agenda was the proposed removal of Mike Gibbs from the Economic Development Committee. Even though this was the last item on the agenda, I was impressed both with the sincerity and dedication of the City Council, including our mayor, and I must also mention, the tenacity of members of the public who stuck it out until about 10:30 p.m. All voices were heard and considered. This was not a kangaroo court, although it felt like one for a while. This was a civilized and democratic process at work.

At one point in the evening, one counsel department proclaimed, “but city council is a nonpartisan body.” Yes, but the tone in the P.G. Council chamber merely reflects the national reality. Have you ever watched C-SPAN, the House committees at work; Stacy Placket, Marjorie Greene, Jim Jordan, Hakeem Jeffries? The hearings on censorship, antisemitism, The House Judiciary, The House Oversight. We are but a microcosm of the macro. The conduct in these committees often easily becomes derailed by politics.

Is the answer more civility? Probably not until we recognize that identity politics have taken the place of public unity and trust. DEI means Diversity Equity and Inclusion. In my opinion, it creates division, exclusion and a sense of tribal entitlement. The issue involving Mike Gibbs was not about an errant email. it was about politics. The vote NOT to remove Mike Gibbs was 4 to 3. It could have been 3 to 4. That’s how divided we are.

— Carol Marquart, Pacific Grove

RIP Willie Mays

In 1958 and 1959, I was fortunate to attend several Giants games in Seals Stadium before Candlestick Park was built. My greatest thrill was seeing Willie Mays throw out a runner at home plate from center field.

— Darold Skerritt, Pacific Grove

God bless Willie Mays. He was a man of high morality, decency and kindness, and possibly the best all-around baseball player ever. He played in every professional baseball game I ever saw, from Seals Stadium to Candlestick. When an opposing pitcher struck him once with a questionable pitch, our dad turned to me and said, “Now watch, boys. He’s going to get a home run next.” And then, “Bye bye, baby!” as the saying went.

Thanks for the best, Willie, you made Home now.

— Richard Hellam, Seaside

Media literacy

“Many Voters Get Info From Social Media” (The Herald, June 23) underscores the danger that misinformation spread by popular internet sites (Tik Tok, Facebook, X) represents especially in this election year. The article points out that if we care about people being able to access information that they need by sources they can trust, we have to inoculate people against disinformation campaigns. Monterey County is leading the effort to do this very thing, starting with training high school students in media literacy, or the application of critical thinking to all forms of media so they can distinguish between facts and propaganda. An event held for 100 students and their teachers on May 7 featured noted experts who taught such topics as algorithmic bias, identifying fake content and combating scientific disinformation. A media literacy coalition featuring educators, public officials, journalists, and librarians has been established to carry on this effort among all age groups. More such events will be scheduled in October. We invite those who are similarly concerned to join in the fight to help those who care about democracy to overcome a significant challenge to it. Thanks to the Herald for publishing an article that calls attention to this important issue.

— Susan Meister, Organizer, Media Literacy Coalition

Open primary

I can usually predict the results of an election for office at the end of the candidate filing period. In the primary for U.S. Senator to replace Dianne Feinstein, Rep. Katie Porter and L.A. Mayor Karen Bass split the vote needed to go head to head with Rep. Adam Schiff. Schiff wisely campaigned against the next celebrity Republican, Steve Garvey, elevating him to the runoff in November, which Garvey will lose.

California’s open primary system was supposed to moderate our politics. If a moderate Democrat, say a Jimmy Panetta, were to run a bipartisan campaign for statewide office, they stand a good chance of winning the general election against the Democrat presuming to be next in line. In November, Schiff will be elected as the junior senator from California.

— Paul J. Ingram, Carmel Valley