Marin IJ Readers’ Forum for Nov. 10, 2024

Gallinas Little League thanks school district

As president of the Gallinas Valley Little League, I want to thank the San Rafael City Schools Board of Trustees and Deputy Superintendent Bob Marcucci for their support in securing our lease for Gallinas Field in the Santa Venetia Community (“San Rafael school district approves WildCare, Little League leases,” Nov. 1). Since the announcement in March, when the district classified the Old Gallinas School property as surplus, it has been a wonderful partner in this effort.

Gallinas Valley Little League has been playing at Gallinas Field since 1959. With support from the school district, we can continue offering all kids in the community the chance to play baseball, regardless of their economics, experience or background.

— John Baker, Marinwood

Marin can do more to fight housing mandates

As founder and president of the Catalysts for Local Control group, I am taking the opportunity to respond to the IJ’s editorial published Nov. 4 and sharing information about an upcoming event.

The headline of the editorial read, “Novato is stuck with bad rules from the state.” Some will nod in sympathy. They think about being “stuck” as burdened, baffled or in a fixed position and unable to move.

Others don’t feel sympathy, but anger. Rightly so. Elected officials have pandered to Sacramento lawmakers and succumbed to threats from legislators and staff. In many cases, they’ve abandoned the well-being of constituents.

Hardworking Novato Councilmember Pat Eklund is quoted in the IJ saying, “If we vote no, we put the city in jeopardy.” But where does the city stand now, if not in jeopardy? Neighborhoods and taxpayers everywhere are burdened with high-density housing based on unproven claims about the housing crisis.

And at what cost? Across the state, housing costs go up. Residents endure reduced parking, increased congestion, destroyed vistas, financial burdens for infrastructure and increased risk of fire and flooding. And still the state promise of “affordable housing” goes unmet.

Eklund fears the city can’t afford a legal fight with the state. But state housing policy is out of control. It benefits out-of-town, for-profit developers, not residents.

Residents in five Southern California charter cities banded together to reduce legal fees and fight against Senate Bill 9. They worked with attorney Pam Lee, Aleshire and Wynder and won.

Stuck means not progressing or changing. But, of course, we must find the courage to challenge and the means to change. We must stand up to state encroachment.

Catalysts for Local Control is hosting a meeting with the victorious law firm on Nov. 21 at 5 p.m. Hear the latest options for using legal means to protect local control. Register at the CatalystsCA.org website to get the Zoom link.

— Susan Kirsch, Mill Valley

Columnist Kurtenbach has depth of sports knowledge

We read the San Francisco Chronicle and the Marin Independent Journal every morning. We want to give our appreciation to Bay Area News Group sports columnist Dieter Kurtenbach, whose work appears in the IJ.

We consider Kurtenbach to absolutely be one of the best sportswriters. His depth of knowledge and way of presenting his column is superb.

— Robert Schiff and Sally Lind, San Rafael

Water district should focus on supply, not trails

As a longtime resident and Marin Municipal Water District ratepayer, I am concerned that far too much money will be spent to expand the number of single-track trails to bicycles and electric-assist bikes (“Marin judge blocks expanded bike access on Mount Tamalpais,” Oct. 5).

What’s the point and why is it so important for the MMWD Board of Directors to achieve this? I consider their job to be ensuring a clean and plentiful supply of water to Marin County. How is spending what I worry will end up being a fortune (funded by ratepayer dollars) to cover Mount Tamalpais with cyclists who have historically ridden on non-approved trails anyway.

From my perspective, they scream down trails too fast, tear up the mountain and terrorize hikers seeking nothing more than a quiet hike. We should not be surprised that enabling this behavior is leading to expensive lawsuits. There are plenty of trails open to bikers — let’s stop this now.

— Nancy Klasky Gribler, Mill Valley