Marin IJ Readers’ Forum for Nov. 17, 2025

Don’t replace McInnis Park tennis courts with pickleball

As a parent and supporter of youth tennis in Marin, I strongly oppose the plan to convert two of the four McInnis Park tennis courts into pickleball courts, even if it is only a temporary solution until funding can be approved for more courts.

These courts are a vital resource for young players and families right now. They depend on affordable, accessible spaces to learn and play.

Tennis and pickleball can coexist — but only with dedicated facilities. It appears to me that McInnis Park has room to build new pickleball courts without taking away existing tennis courts. Removing them would limit opportunities for kids, coaches and the broader community.

Please preserve all four tennis courts and invest in creating new, separate pickleball courts. Marin’s youth and community deserve continued access to the sport.

— Morrakot King, San Rafael

San Rafael plan for homeless people puts focus on pathway

As a parent in the Merrydale neighborhood, I want the community to understand the reality of how children here get to Venetia Valley School — and why I think the proposed homeless shelter at 350 Merrydale Road could make an already fragile situation worse.

Through its Safe Routes to School program, the Transportation Authority of Marin works with schools to map safe, walkable routes for students. For Venetia Valley, TAM officials have indicated to me that the only possible walking route for families who live on the Merrydale side of the freeway is a long, narrow dirt path running along the train tracks.

Because this path has poor lighting, limited visibility and no supervision, many families drive children across the freeway and drop them at the parking lot on Armory Drive to avoid the hazardous portion of the walk.

TAM has planned improvements to the path, but I am concerned that placing a large shelter directly at its entrance would make the route even more unpredictable and unsafe. In my opinion, no safety plan currently being discussed can overcome the basic reality that this is already an isolated corridor.

This project would not just strain an already inadequate route — it would eliminate the only safe and viable path children have to get to school. Officials from San Rafael and Marin County must address these impacts before moving forward.

— Mary Skramstad, San Rafael

Marin ‘traffic plague’ has been caused by lack of housing

I am writing in response to the IJ editorial published Oct. 31 with the headline “Movable bike barrier a good step for Richmond Bridge.” I believe our Marin County society suffers from a “traffic plague” and I think I know what caused it.

From my perspective as an architect, Marin’s policies are what led to traffic backed up and sitting on that bridge, polluting the air. It seems to me that the working class was priced out of Marin County decades ago, forcing them to commute here from elsewhere to do their jobs.

Over the years, I witnessed several instances when rich residents made sure that architects’ plans for affordable communities did not happen. I saw architects try anyway. Some of them were persecuted. Careers were ruined and investments were lost. I was personally involved in several projects that did not get off the ground.

— Dart Cherk, Mill Valley

Congress should have stepped in to stop attack on boats

I am so upset with President Donald Trump on so many issues. For now, however, I am focused on his actions in sending approximately 6,000 members of the U.S. Navy, an aircraft carrier and all the carrier’s supporting ships to waters near South America.

This appears to be an attempt to threaten Venezuelans after attacking alleged “drug boats” and killing the people on those boats without offering any proof that they were conducting illegal activity. That’s disturbing.

All elected officials in Congress, including Republicans, should have said or done something to stop this. The cost of this unauthorized venture appears to be enormous. The plans for these attacks should have been rejected by Congress.

From my perspective, those representatives and senators willingly gave up their power under Article 1 of the Constitution. I think they failed to represent their constituents. This is not the America that I have always believed is the greatest country in the world.

I am so ashamed to have to witness this despicable conduct. I wish we didn’t have to wait until next year to elect members of Congress who care about this topic.

— Jim Libien, San Rafael