Vision Zero for safer roads makes sense in Marin
My wife and I organized and participated in a coronavirus-safe in-person “Ride of Silence” on May 22 to remember those killed or severely injured while cycling. Our daughter Sylvia Bingham, a Terra Linda High School graduate in 2005, was killed biking to work in Cleveland in 2009.
Our small group of five cyclists rode from Piper Park in Larkspur to downtown San Anselmo where we held a brief ceremony of remembrance, reading out the names of those known to have been killed or injured on Marin roads.
We handed out flyers, which emphasized that the streets belong to all of us, including vulnerable non-motorized road users. The recent killing of a pedestrian in downtown San Rafael, as well as the killing and serious injury of cyclists in Sebastopol, are stark reminders that our streets need to be designed for safety, not speed. Motorists need to look out for the non-motoring users of our roads.
Our flyer calls on Marin County and its towns to adopt Vision Zero, a plan to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries while increasing safe, healthy, equitable mobility for all. Sonoma County has adopted Vision Zero. Why not Marin?
— Stephen Bingham, San Rafael
How will we shorten new name of high school?
As I typed the new name of Sir Francis Drake High School (“Drake panel taps Archie Williams for new high school name, May 8), I was struck by the fact that it is a bit long and a bit awkward to say quickly. Usually when place names are long, the human tendency is to shorten them.
For as long as I can remember, and that goes back to 1959, everyone knew what we were talking about when we referred to Drake High. The same is true when we referred to Tam (Tamalpais High School), SI (St. Ignatius High School) or Cal (University of California, Berkeley).
I’m pretty sure that, in a few years, when the controversy has cooled, the school where I taught for nearly 30 years will be referred to as AW High School.
Cal, Tam, SI and AW: It has a certain ironic ring to it.
— Robert Johnson, Greenbrae
College of Marin holiday flag display heartwarming
Many thanks to the folks at College of Marin who decided to fly many American flags on this Memorial Day holiday, as they did for Election Day last fall.
The fluttering display on the corner of Sir Francis Drake Boulevard and College Avenue reminds us of the beauty of our freedoms. And of how much we have to be thankful for.
— Elaine C. Johnson, Greenbrae
Too much new housing planned for Terra Linda
In regard to the Association of Bay Area Government’s Regional Housing Needs Allocation requirements for each Marin County community, I might be with the state.
But from my perspective, I think San Rafael is taking the wrong approach to reaching its number of 3,220. City officials entertain the idea of more than 1,360 homes at Northgate mall and 800 downtown. That still leaves more than 1,200 homes needed for the city. Will planners push them all on Terra Linda? I hope not.
I feel this issue shows how out of touch our government is in San Rafael. Imagine how 1,360 homes at Northgate will change Terra Linda. If families move in to the new units, it could be more 4,000 new residents in the community. What about schools? There could be more than 1,000 more children. An entire new school would be needed. With all this growth, county commuters will be left with thousands more cars on the freeway.
Our so-called allocation of 3,220 should be spread out over the city. Politicians shouldn’t allow them all to be dumped in Terra Linda. Don’t let our home values plummet. Tell our elected officials that they will be voted out if they support the full scope of the Northgate housing project.
— Robert A. Casper Sr., San Rafael
Pandemic has threatened global education initiative
At one point during the pandemic, almost every child on the planet was out of school and every parent was left to figure out a new daily reality. For many, this marked a transition to online or hybrid learning. But for many other children facing poverty, isolation or being pushed to the margins, it has meant no school at all.
The education crisis brought on by COVID-19 threatens the historic progress made by communities globally to get millions more children in school. Urgent action is needed so the COVID-19 education crisis does not become a catastrophe for an entire generation.
As the only international fund of its kind, the Global Partnership for Education marshals global resources for national education plans. Now, GPE and its partners have a five-year plan to support learning for 175 million more children in lower-income countries, helping recovery from the pandemic.
The Biden Administration must do its part with a $1 billion five-year commitment to GPE. At this critical moment in global history, a bold pledge will show that the U.S. is committed to working hand-in-hand with the global community to ensure every child can achieve their dreams and reach their potential.
— Warren M. Gold, Mill Valley
Absence raises suspicions about cloture motion
To override a filibuster in the Senate, the threshold traditionally has been 60 votes required. Yet that number is determined by 60% of the whole Senate. Logically, it would seem the vote ought to be 60% of the senators present for a vote.
Recently, only 89 Senators were present to vote. Therefore the 60% threshold would thus be 54. That was precisely the number of votes cast to override the filibuster of the cloture motion.
I find this very interesting. Perhaps this should be brought to the attention of Elizabeth MacDonough, the parliamentarian of the Senate, for clarification: 60% of what?
— Hobart Bartshire, Fairfax
Recall would send message to political elite
I am responding to a recently published letter dismissing the push to recall Gov. Gavin Newsom as a ploy by Republican candidates who support former President Donald Trump. That argument is Newsom’s mantra.
I am an independent registered voter who dislikes Trump and thinks the sooner he sinks into obscurity the world will be better for it. I am voting to recall Newsom because he is part of our arrogant political elite. He serves party and career over citizens.
I began to distrust him when he was lieutenant governor. Rather than replace University of California President Janet Napolitano for operating an illegal slush fund, he gave her a pass. He treats taxpayer money as monopoly money. With a surplus in tax receipts, he is irresponsibly borrowing money. CalMatters columnist Dan Walters recently wrote that Newsom’s treatment of the Unemployment Insurance Fund is “akin to consumers taking out credit card loans to make their credit card payments.”
Some of his actions during the pandemic demonstrated poor judgment and political favoritism. His refusal to follow the science and allow outside dining caused financial hardship. The unemployment payments to desperate citizens turned into a colossal mess needing urgent corrective action. Yet, rather than put his desk in the department and fix the problems, he traveled the state popping up at clinics for photo opportunities.
Rather than forcefully pushing public school teachers to return to their classrooms, he bowed to his union supporters and provided taxpayer money as incentives. He denied citizens their democratic right to vote on key vacancies by his political trickery.
He is a tiny tyrant pop-up governor. I hope voters will send a message of accountability to the political elite.
— Mark Hall, Novato
