Antler Outrage
Photoshopped deer antlers—how childish and rude (“Horns of Plenty,” Oct. 3). Sort of a Brett Kavanaugh college prank. And calling the legislation an “elk bill” suggests that you didn’t read the bill. As Congressman Huffman says, the bill “reaffirms Congressional intent to continue authorizing working dairies and ranches on agricultural property within a portion of the Point Reyes National Seashore, consistent with the seashore’s historic, cultural, scenic and natural values.” That Congressional clarification has been long overdue.
—Burr Heneman, via Pacificsun.com
Huffman = Hypocrite?
Your article on the Point Reyes controversy was one-sided in favor of Rep. Huffman (“Riding Herd,” Sept. 12).
I’m sure he counts himself an “environmentalist”, but he’s no different from conservative Republican members of Congress in Utah, Wyoming, Montana, or Idaho who look out for their mining, ranching and hunting interests near national parks.
Point Reyes is one of the most beautiful seaside landscapes in the world and could be a large preserve for bear, elk, coyote, bobcat, mountain lion and other large mammals. Instead, we have industrial sized dairy operations in a county with thousands of acres outside Point Reyes already dedicated to dairy farming.
I visit Point Reyes more than 20 times per year, and often you can easily see barren muddy fields denuded by overgrazing, and very limited ground cover for wild animals and birds. Just like the Congressman in Idaho who supports hunting wolves and grizzlies, or the Congressman in Montana who supports coal mining and oil drilling near National Parks, Rep. Huffman can represent his constituents in West Marin by supporting the dairy farms on priceless outdoor real estate, but he can’t claim to be an “environmentalist” at the same time, or he’s being a hypocrite.
Environmental protection involves sacrifice and economic pain, and Rep. Huffman has decided that shouldn’t happen in Point Reyes. And I’m sure there are lots of “environmental” groups who will go along with it, while gladly inflicting economic pain on farmers and ranchers who want the same preferential treatment in other parts of the West.
—Murray Kenny, via PacificSun.com
Remembering Balin
Thanks for the reminder, Tom (“Count on Me,” Oct. 3). I too have loved that song “Coming Back to Me” and I’m looking at the album cover from “Surrealistic Pillow” now. That song was like a painting set to music and words. “Through an open window where no curtain hung . . . I saw you coming back to me.”
—Elizabeth Ray, via PacificSun.com
Oldest Bar in the County?
Doesn’t Smileys have the claim to fame? Established 1851—26 years before William Tell? (“Ted & Will,” Sept. 12)
—Chuck Sea, via PacificSun.com
