Marin IJ Readers’ Forum for Dec. 1, 2022

Women are capable of handling own affairs

In his recently published letter to editor, Jack Wilkinson wrote “Republicans adhere to the belief that we are individuals capable of handling our own affairs.” If this were true, those who oppose a woman’s right to chose an abortion wouldn’t be Republicans. If Wilkinson was right, women across the country would be allowed to handle their own bodies’ medical needs capably, without government interference.

— Diane Cokely, San Anselmo

Local officials must have control of new housing

I am writing about the recent Bay Area News Group article published in the Marin IJ (“‘Builder’s remedy’ looms as housing lags,” Nov. 28).

The first sentence claims, “It’s a NIMBY’s worst nightmare: high-rise apartment buildings going up in suburban neighborhoods — and local officials helpless to halt construction.” Actually, the accelerated use of the builder’s remedy should send shock waves through any sentient being. It’s a nightmare of environmentalists, water conservationists, traffic and evacuation experts, and families who value safe streets for children.

Labeling people as “NIMBYs” (aka “not in my back yard”) discredits, dismisses and devalues. NIMBYs are the ones forced to live with the awareness and consequences of the state’s relentless, misguided housing policy that never meets the need for housing that is affordable.

First, state officials seemed to overstate a supposed 3.5 million housing-unit shortage. Then, a state audit found the methodology flawed around the Regional Housing Need Assessment numbers dictating production quotas that are two or three times higher than ever before.

Fans of democracy will take a stand for local control. It appears to me that “Up for Growth,” a network in support of new housing, is really a national political action committee that promotes the interests of real estate developers, real estate owners, construction companies, real estate investors and property management companies in the field of housing policy legislation.

So much for constituents and representative democracy.

If you’re alarmed that local officials are increasingly helpless to halt construction on objectionable projects, join the campaign known as “save your city, sue the state.” Any city or county can join as a co-plaintiff in a suit against the Housing and Community Development agency with a goal to restore realistic, collaborative planning. Go to CatalystsCA.org to learn more.

— Susan Kirsch, Mill Valley

Driver gets away with dangerous maneuvers

Recently, I was driving near downtown San Rafael when a car sped past me, crossing the double yellow line. It then ran the red light at Third Street. I made a note of the color of the car, the make, the model and the license-plate number.

I went to the San Rafael Police Station to report the crime. I was disappointed to learn that the driver can only be cited if seen by a police officer. I worry that others will now believe that, if they are in a hurry, you can drive recklessly and disobey traffic laws — just don’t do it in front of a police officer.

— Karla Kvam, Terra Linda

Assassinations of 1960s ended American idealism

The proliferation of gun violence is ripping apart the soul of America.

In the 1960s, against a backdrop of a horrific war in Vietnam that caused us to question who we were as a nation, our idealism was further shattered before our eyes in the assassinations of former President John F. Kennedy, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and Sen. Robert F. Kennedy. Our nation was torn apart.

Today, against the daily insanity of indiscriminate mass shootings through the use of assault weapons, we cannot look ourselves in the mirror as a nation and like what we see. We lost our idealism in the ’60s and the American psyche has never really recovered. Now, that psyche seems helpless to come to terms and do something about the very real assault on this nation’s founding principle, written by Thomas Jefferson, the right to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

The United States’ right to bear arms should come with constitutional restrictions. President Joe Biden continues to state that something must be done legally to control this spread of assault weaponry, yet the nation does not have the will to get this done. It is not about repudiating the right to bear arms, it is about doing something to stop these deadly attacks.

This violence is aided and abetted by hate speech and the incitement to violence through social media. This speech is not protected by the First Amendment and these violations must be enforced. My plea this holiday season is that America wake up and look at itself in the mirror.

— Bruce Farrell Rosen, San Francisco