Marin IJ Readers’ Forum for Jan. 12, 2023

Power outages show rooftop solar’s importance

So here we go: We have tens of thousands of power outages due to winter storms in Marin and rolling blackouts in the summer due to high winds, fire danger or big demand (I suspect this is because people are running air conditioners at the height of the day).

Yet the California Public Utilities Commission, with the support of Gov. Gavin Newsom and the leadership at the Pacific Gas and Electric Co., wants to discourage rooftop solar and power walls on residential or commercial properties because the utilities are “losing” money in the current arrangement.

Why does it appear that the CPUC is against the decentralization of electricity production? Rooftop solar power is for the public good. It increases reliability. It seems that the CPUC would rather ensure the dividends of PG&E shareholders This is hardly the policy of a “progressive” governor.

Light your candles, turn on your gas stoves and stay in the dark.

— John Carapiet, Belvedere

Proud to boycott brands for political reasons

I am writing in support of Karen Stabiner’s recently published commentary (“Lonely boycott of In-N-Out one small decision that will add up.” Jan. 5).

Stabiner stated that she knew that not giving her business to the In-N-Out restaurant chain has no appreciable impact on the chain’s bottom line. She wrote, “The company did just fine without me, as it still does, as it has for decades.”

Personally, I try to avoid buying any Nabisco products (they make Oreo cookies and crackers, among other items). In 1985, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company and Nabisco merged. I do not support Big Tobacco. The Nabisco Group Holdings Corp. was spun off in 1999 and has since been sold. Obviously, my not buying Oreos did not make a big difference in the corporation’s bottom lines, but I still try to find other brands to use or a generic of an item.

I also have issues with the conservative viewpoints of the Chick-fil-A corporation’s founder. I have not purchased anything from its Novato location.

— Heidi Mayer, Novato

Right-wing extremists have history of violence

The recently published letter by Thomas A. Tucker in response to my letter about the Republican Party did not appear to seriously address the danger of the party’s current radical leadership.

Jan. 6 marked the second anniversary of the attempted overthrow of the U.S. government by violent “right-wing” extremists. In his letter, Tucker claims that, under the leadership of the Democratic Party, “crime became legitimate business.” He asserts this while ignoring the violence of siege. Tucker appears to accuse me of not offering proof, but he refuses such proof himself.

There are instances of right-wing extremists attacking people who are LGBTQ+. That needs to be addressed. Additionally, our children are subjected to active shooter drills at an early age because of the failure of Republicans to be willing to pass basic, common sense gun control law. To me, that is proof that the right-wing extremists are violent.

It was former Republican President Donald Trump who called on his supporters to march on the U.S. Capitol and “fight like hell.” Law enforcement officers were injured in that attack. Tucker chooses to ignore that fact.

— Eric W. Overholt, Marin City

Newsom appears to be ready for presidential run

I found Gov. Gavin Newsom’s inauguration spectacle earlier this month to be disingenuous. Between his speech and his walk through Sacramento, it basically appeared as if he was practicing for his run for president in 2024.

If Newsom had given that speech in Scotland during 1297, people would be in the street screaming for freedom. We should scream for freedom from a governor who closed our schools, restaurants, churches and stores in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Newsom also continues to attack our right to bear arms. I am still upset that Newsom purchased medical masks from a Chinese company.

It seems that crime, homelessness and hunger are rising. Despite this, the governor’s actions appear to encourage all people to come to California —even those who are undocumented immigrants.

I worry that, as Californians, we work and live under a tyrant who has only one goal in life: to be president of the United States. God help us all if he succeeds.

— Richard Cairns, San Rafael