Marin IJ Readers’ Forum for Nov. 14, 2022

Owner’s attempt to invest in Canal impressive

I am writing in response to the Nov. 5 article with the headline “Marin nonprofits call for rent control in San Rafael.” Since the story describes a property owner intending to invest an additional $8.2 million in a Canal neighborhood apartment complex and working within the law and according to city guidelines, I think the headline should have read, “Canal property owner attempts to invest millions in deteriorating apartment building.”

Instead of drawing battle lines, the news media has the opportunity to support cities and property owners working together. I think headlines like this lead to communities turning against each other and trying to villainize housing providers amid a flood of urgent warnings about the tidal wave of tenant evictions that would follow the expiration of the state and local tenant eviction moratorium during the COVID-19 pandemic. From all accounts, that never happened. The number of evictions in Marin saw no major increase at all.

Communities and the media should be working together.

— Scott Gerber, San Rafael

It’s clear that first two amendments need an edit

There simply have to be restrictions to the First Amendment and the Second Amendment. These unfettered freedoms are bringing about anarchy in the United States.

I do not believe that it was the intent of the founding political philosophers of our nation that the right to bear arms should not be adjusted to fit the objective realities of our nation. And the objective reality is that this right is going unchecked and resulting in the slaughter of so many innocent people, including children that should be safe to learn and play.

Common sense dictates that the right to bear arms should not exist in a laboratory, outside of the fact that assault weapons of all kinds are being used to destroy America.

The right to free speech also needs an edit. Should First Amendment protection allow for the spreading of misinformation in the name of free speech? Shouldn’t Americans be protected from the kind of free speech that is leading to rampant conspiracy thinking on social media, which is leading to violent attacks on our society? We are putting our elected officials and their families in harm’s way. This kind of speech not only undermines truth, but supplants it with dark fantasies and hallucinations that are the province of angry vigilantes.

Yes, there has to be a check on the First Amendment, but how can this be done in the age of social media? It is unconscionable that Elon Musk, the new owner of Twitter, reposted a sickening conspiracy theory following the attack on Paul Pelosi, the husband of Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi. This should be a violation of the First Amendment.

These freedoms are bringing about anarchy. The only way to curb them is to put restrictions on the spreading of disinformation and salacious conspiracies.

— Bruce Farrell Rosen, San Francisco

Prioritize moral, ethical ideals for public housing

The Golden Gate Village Resident Council and Marin Housing Authority have come a long way toward solving their differences and reaching an equitable resolution to repair and renovate the 60-year-old Marin City public housing complex. Several issues remain, but the one looming large above the rest involves money and morality: How will the financing of this revitalization be accomplished? Housing authority commissioners will make their choice at Tuesday’s meeting.

The housing authority’s plan is to partner with a private development company to acquire low-income tax credits to fund the renovation. The MHA would run this new entity and residents would continue to be under that group’s total control. I am concerned that this will result in the same negligence that has led to problems with heating, rodents and more for the last decade. As renters, Golden Gate Village residents will be subject to the same lack of autonomy they have experienced throughout their tenancy.

The residents’ plan is based on a Limited Equity Housing Cooperative. Residents would have the opportunity to buy into the collaborative by purchasing their unit at a very affordable cost. A governing board of residents would hire a management company. The board would make decisions based on their collective needs. Contractual agreements would keep the units affordable for generations.

It is time to put moral and ethical convictions first. It is time to begin to right the wrongs of our county, state and nation to our Black residents. It is time to step up and open opportunities for Golden Gate Village residents. It is time to be an example of how to do the right thing.

If you agree, please contact your supervisor and tell them it is time.

— Suzan Berns, Mill Valley