On Dec. 19 Editor Raheem Hosseini wrote an editorial regarding the problems within the Plymouth City Council. I have no objections to you relating its problems (and there are many) with those of other cities, but, since I was born and raised in Martinez, I took offense to the description of a town that has much wonderful history and is loved and thought highly of by its citizens and former citizens. Every city has its problems with city government, but to be singled out as a dysfunctional, abandoned and crumbling city does disservice to a town which is the county seat-filled with county offices - and one that has a rich history including the home of John Muir. It has done wonders with its waterfront - parks, baseball diamonds, bocce ball courts and walking trails. Redevelopment is still a problem, but the downtown area has become quite a tourist attraction with antique stores and restaurants that attract many visitors.
My point to you is that to name a town and one of its concerned citizens with your descriptive phrases that degrade all of its citizens was not fair and, in my opinion, should not have been singled out as an example. You could probably look to any town in California and find similar problems. You could have made your point without naming names. I've lived in this area for 20 years and love it very much. I would feel as bad if someone named our community as a dysfunctional rundown area.