Many ways to help kids through difficult spots
I am writing in regard to the editorial by the IJ article concerning the partnership between the Point Reyes Seashore Association and Camp Avary for children with incarcerated parents (“Camp’s Pt. Reyes partnership a winning connection for underserved group,” July 27).
Camp Avary, like the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America program, gives kids hope and a way to cope day to day, other than staring at the internet. As a 10-year “big brother” whose “little brother” was going through many of the same things I did growing up, I shared some of the healthy activities I used to cope with it all when I was growing up. Our Saturday get-togethers involved fishing the lakes (Bon Tempe or Laganitas) or taking in a ball game.
I entered the program as a person wondering whether I would have the stuff it takes to be a parent. After one year of our match, I knew that I could bring something to the parenting table. My “little brother” would later become godfather to my son.
Although he did not graduate college, my “little brother” did become a Renaissance man by learning the plumbing and butcher trades. Given his language skills, he also did well in his work on the suicide prevention hot line.
If you can spare the time to be a big brother or sister, it is well worth the effort.
— Rick Johnson, Novato
Don’t allow one person to impact traffic for all
I am writing to express my concern of the events of July 21 and 22, with respect to the closure of the eastbound lanes of Richmond-San Rafael Bridge during one person’s mental health crisis (“CHP: Safety concerns necessitated Richmond-San Rafael Bridge closure,” July 25).
I would implore our leaders to please review and come up with a more expedient plan for future incidents. I am very surprised that there has not been a greater uproar over this situation.
It is unacceptable that one individual could disrupt thousands of commuters throughout Marin, Sonoma, Contra Costa, Alameda and San Francisco counties. I would expect that all of you must share this concern and frustration.
I have been worried about dedicating the third lane on the westbound upper deck of the bridge to bikes and pedestrians. With only two lanes open to vehicles, any hiccup results in stopped traffic. Now it is a concern that one disturbed individual can access the bridge and completely block it for many hours. People were stuck for hours with no food, no water and no facilities — all on an afternoon with air quality so poor it was designated as a “Spare the Air” day. Cars were in danger of running out of gas or having their electric battery run out. People in poor health could have become ill.
This all happened because of one person. Certainly there had to be steps that could have been taken to remove this individual quicker. Accommodating these people is not in the interest of the greater good.
— Kim Sandholdt, San Rafael
Put focus back on using public transportation
Why am I reading reports that Bay Area transit agencies are running out of money, yet the traffic jams on Highway 101 are back to pre-pandemic levels? Nowadays, many people in our area are working at home either most or some of the time. When considering the cause of these related observations, I can only deduce that former transit riders must now be driving.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that 29% of greenhouse gas emissions are caused by transportation. To help address this locally, I think Marin County officials have done a wonderful job gathering information and providing rebates to encourage emissions reduction.
Let’s not forget about the opportunity public transit provides to shrink our carbon footprints.
— Karen Andresen, Novato
Too many off-leash dog parks across Marin
Judy Spelman’s recently published letter to the editor suggests that a beach in Tomales Bay State Park (Millerton Point) should be opened up to off-leash dog recreation, adding that she hopes to garner letters of support for her initiative.
In opposition, I write in support of the regulations that Spelman seeks to have removed. I don’t find her argument that “managing a leashed dog can lead to human falls (and) limits freedom to focus on nature” to be persuasive. People at risk of falls caused by walking with a leashed dog can avoid injury by recreating in a less challenging environment, or by recreating without their dog. Additionally, I would say that, because dogs are domesticated pets and are not part of nature, walking without a dog (leashed or unleashed) is the best way to “focus on nature.”
Aside from chasing, maiming or killing wildlife, dogs also generate waste that can spread diseases to wildlife (and people). The Environmental Protection Agency says dog waste contains hazardous pollutants. Given that dog waste can foul nearby water bodies with pathogens, it is sensible to conclude that dogs should not be allowed on any beaches, whether leashed or unleashed.
Spelman’s group seeks to remove leashing regulations at one beach, but she ends her letter with the hope that “other parks will follow our lead.” In opposition, I will end my letter with the hope that Spelman’s efforts fail, and that future attempts to rewrite sensible regulations pertaining to dogs in county, state and federal parks are ignored. Far too many public outdoor spaces in Marin have been converted into dog parks (aka “dog toilets”) to the detriment of wildlife, the environment and public safety.
— Byron Wilson, Kentfield
Supreme Court correct to flip affirmative action
Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court correctly ruled that race-based preferences (aka “affirmative action”) are illegal in direct contradiction of our Constitution and civil rights laws.
In her recently published Marin Voice commentary (“North Bay Leadership Council CEO responds to affirmative action ruling,” July 15), Cynthia Murray disagrees and is seeking a workaround under the banner of DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion). She lauds the virtues of a “diverse” workforce without citing specific examples.
Murray is far from alone. Despite scant evidence, it appears to me that nearly all politically liberal people agree that “diversity” is more important than a merit-based system.
Some, including President Joe Biden, appear to not only look to flout the Supreme Court’s ruling, they support packing the court with additional justices who are like-minded.
We should demand a higher burden of proof for a policy that I am convinced goes completely against the principles of equality under the law and a color-blind society.
— Michael Hartnett, Greenbrae
Understandable fear of police leads to injuries
My first time as a juror was in the 1980s in Honolulu. The defendant was a young man who led police on a high-speed chase. His defense was that he was afraid the police would beat him up if he stopped. When he did stop, it appeared to everyone that the police did just that. Our jury voted unanimously to acquit. I was reminded of this seeing the horrific traffic stop in Ohio (“Black man attacked by Ohio police dog during traffic stop,” June 23).
The 23-year-old man who was driving a semi-truck with a missing mud flap said he was afraid to pull over while being chased by the Ohio State Highway Patrol. When his truck was finally stopped with the help of tire-deflation devices, he exited the truck with his hands raised. On the video posted online, a member of OSHP can be heard telling a Circleville Police Department officer not to release a police dog on the suspect, yet the local officer did anyway.
The young man now faces charges of failure to comply, a fourth-degree felony. Where is the justice in this?
— Kay Noguchi, Terra Linda
