Dear Editor,
From: Linda Stedjee
Morro Bay
Before each November election, Morro Bay residents find in their mailboxes a publication that appears, at first glance, to be a community newspaper. Upon closer examination, it becomes clear that it is campaign literature for the candidates supported by the local real estate/developer special interest group.
Little effort is required to determine the identities of those behind the publication, which always contains a small amount of material regarding the importance of voting, but focuses primarily on glorifying the special interest group's favorite candidates and making thinly-veiled attacks on their opposition.
Whether or not one likes their politics, the special interest group's members clearly have the right to campaign for their preferred candidates – although many believe they should be more forthright about it. We all have the right to free speech.
However, recent outbursts by some special interest group members appear to indicate that they think that free speech is reserved only for those who can afford to spend lots of money publishing and distributing imitation community newspapers.
They appear outraged that community leader Betty Winholtz had the "audacity" to mail out a modest postcard espousing her views on the candidates in the Morro Bay primary election. In my opinion, some of their reactions, expressed both in print, and during public comment at a recent City Council meeting, look a lot like temper tantrums.
Their outrage does not stop with Winholtz' postcard. One speaker at the Council meeting attacked a particular paper for its editorials that enthusiastically endorsed Irons, Smukler, and Johnson. He never seemed to have a problem with that same paper when, in the past, it endorsed his favored candidates. Another speaker claimed that the local papers were not publishing what he referred to as "our letters," and were favoring letters supporting Irons, Smukler, and Johnson. Yet, a number of letters supporting that speaker's favored candidates can be found among recently-published letters to the editors of local papers.
It looks to some of us like the playing field has evened out, and that this special interest group no longer has as much power and control it as once did. I guess that's what they're so mad about.
Photo by Vince Cicero
Morro Rock Morning
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From: Jessica Sittig
Morro Bay
Tom Roff's arguments against the waters off Morro Bay becoming part of another marine sanctuary are fascinating and informative. "Marine sanctuary" sounds so warm and cozy and all about protecting the animals that live there, but the impacts are more complicated and not always protective. Thanks for showing me the other side of reality. Thank you, Mr. Roff. You have given people like me something to contemplate beyond the teddy-bear feel of "sanctuary."
From: Jerry Wright
The Sticks
The one wife, two kids, five dogs, two goats, thirteen chickens and I live a relatively happy, quixotic existence here on the Central Coast. We love the Journal, though the goats complain about the inability to eat it. ("More paper, please!")
Thanks so much to everyone who works for you. We feel part of the community through getting to know all of you.
From: Stephanie B.
Los Osos
Ronnie Goyette's photograph on the front page of last month's issue of the little boy in the hat gives me the biggest smile every time I look at it. Fabulous!! Thanks so much for sharing that, Ms. Goyette. It is on my computer desktop and will be there for a very long time. Beautiful, beautiful!
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