Marin IJ Readers’ Forum for Nov. 11, 2022

East Corte Madera students need a choice

East Corte Madera families should have a choice. Those in Reed Union School District could remain and those just entering school could choose the option of a shorter commute, with the ability to walk or bike before friendships and routines are established. Eventually, most (if not all) will be in the Larkspur-Corte Madera School District. After that, the district lines should be redrawn.

I disagree with the assertion in the recently published article (“Southern Marin parents file school district transfer petition,” Nov. 2) that, during a house purchase, families know which school district it is in. The norm is that children will attend the school nearest your house. Since Marin is well known for high performing schools, and the fact that both RUSD and LCMSD feed into Redwood High School, why would someone want to start commuting over the hill to Tiburon instead of a closer school?

I wondered, when my children attended RUSD, why we didn’t have a neighborhood school instead of being forced to bike, bus or drive up and down Tiburon Boulevard. Why stay with this model that increases traffic (which Tiburon residents complain about), not to mention the increased pollution? Wouldn’t it be healthier to be able to walk or bike without worrying about parents speeding at drop-off and pick-up times?

The elephant in the room is the fact that we are forcing children as young as kindergarten to start commuting. Not only do we do it for school, but also for playdates and sports, increasing our traffic and pollution problems.

— Carolyn Shadan, Tiburon

Housing authority decision will be judged by history

It’s down to the wire. On Tuesday, it’s up to the Marin Housing Authority commissioners to decide whether the 700-plus residents of Marin City’s Golden Gate Village public housing community will have more of the same decay (by delay and neglect) that they have lived with for decades. Or, will MHA instead offer hope and a path to ownership for this woefully underserved and perpetually mistreated population by approving the resident council’s plan for a Limited Equity Housing Cooperative?

We realize there are complex issues. However, thoroughly researched answers and assurances have been provided to justify rejecting the status quo in favor of the well-reasoned alternative residents’ plan.

Is there really a good reason for the commissioners not to vote yes? History will be the judge. We hope our elected officials who serve as MHA commissioners are on the right side of it.

— Laurel Spolter and Jerry Spolter, Sausalito

Redwood football team deserved a playoff berth

The Redwood High School football team should have been selected to the North Coast Section Division II playoffs instead of Granada High in Livermore.

After a dominating 41-14 performance over Tamalpais High (Redwood’s rival), which culminated a 6-4 season — combined with a decisive loss by Granada to drop its record to 4-6 — Redwood’s postgame celebration on the field was for the regular season end and the upcoming playoffs. Redwood, which had been ranked No. 7 in by multiple sources before the game, seemed destined to qualify for the eight-team bracket.

Sunday’s team viewing party turned into disappointment as, somehow, Redwood was snubbed a playoff berth for the second year in a row and Granada (who was ninth) somehow got the nod over Redwood. The same thing happened last season, as Redwood (again 6-4 and ranked eighth) lost out on a playoff berth.

This brings into question who is making the decisions here, which appears to be something that nobody knows other than the ones on the anonymous committee.

If the goal is to protect the integrity of the selection and seeding process, it should be transparent who is on the committee and certain that there are no conflicts of interest. This is not the case and it leaves Redwood wondering, for the second year in a row, what happened. Players play for a shot at the postseason which doesn’t seem to be an option or even a possibility for Redwood. The coaching staff and players of Redwoods football program deserve more support and a deeper explanation of what has now happened two years in a row.

Congratulations to the Redwood varsity football team. You deserve answers, support and transparency. Above all, you deserve the playoff berth you earned but were once again denied.

— Rich Weingart, Corte Madera