Marin IJ Readers’ Forum for March 4, 2023

Remembering a beloved Marin public servant

I am writing to honor the life of my good friend, Thomas Anthony “Ace” Odetto Sr. — a true public servant.

Ace, who died last month, was a man who unswervingly devoted his life to the citizens of Marin for approximately 25 years as law enforcement for the Marin Sheriff’s Office and the Fairfax Police Department. The manner in which he practiced his profession would serve as a great model for any officer in training. Indeed, this profession needs more people like him. Public service is part of the family tradition. His younger brother, Matt Odetto, was a highly esteemed police chief in both San Rafael and Tiburon.

On Feb. 23, on what would have been his 70th birthday, several hundred honored Tom Odetto in a memorial service at St. Rita’s Church in Fairfax. All came with full hearts to honor an individual devoted to others. The many stories that were told were full of love and gratitude. He served Marin with care, compassion and dedication.

He was a public servant, father of four, coach, mentor and true friend to all. He gave his whole being to many, saving what little was leftover for himself. He was also the most big-hearted father I have met. He would do anything for his children at the drop of a hat.

In our world today, there are few who are so devoted to serving fellow mankind. He was a rare breed among men. He was my true friend who always knew how to give much better than he received. Countless stories reflect his true public service. I wish the world had more people like Tom “Ace” Odetto. We would be all better off.

If I could talk to him now, I would say, “Rest in peace with the legacy you left. You will never be forgotten. I love you, my brother.”

— Steve Bendinelli, Tiburon

Sharing appreciation for IJ election coverage

Well another busy election cycle has come and gone. In that vein, I would like to share my appreciation for the terrific job by the Marin IJ newsroom and editorial board in covering local issues and candidates whenever those crazy times of year roll around.

As a voter, I have absolutely no idea where else I’d find the information I need to make my ballot choices for Marin’s myriad boards, councils and issues. It takes a lot of time for reporters and photographers to connect with all the candidates, then write about them with extensive background information and their thoughts on relevant concerns. I know it also takes many hours scheduling and completing endorsement meetings, plus many more hours writing the endorsement editorials.

IJ election coverage is a true public service, one that I’ve been taking for granted. I would like to say thank you.

— Marilyn Nemzer, Tiburon

SMART should extend tracks to ferry terminal

If officials at the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District are truly interested in building for the future and increasing its current ridership, they should continue the tracks in Larkspur Landing all the way to the ferry terminal property. Having the train terminate where it does now, with a long walk to the boat, is too much to ask.

The current SMART line should come down the Cal Park Hill pathway and extend across East Sir Francis Drake Boulevard. It should then turn left at the bay (along the back of Wood Island), before following the east edge of the parking lot around to the terminal.

This would provide protection from the elements and easy access for senior citizens, as well as those with physical limitations. It would make any commute a desirable one. Ease of access would bring many more riders.

— Douglas Slye, Greenbrae

Continuing support for Biden seems strange

A recently published article in the Marin IJ mentioned a poll indicating 57% of Californians approve of President Biden’s job performance (“Poll: California voters like President Biden, but don’t want him to seek reelection,” Feb. 25). I found this absolutely shocking, in light of his major actions which have been destructive to businesses, personal finances, Americans’ physical and emotional health, as well as our image in the eyes of the world.

He prolonged an unnecessary COVID-19 lockdown, which significantly shrunk businesses, cost numerous jobs, resulted in measurable mental health damage and kept students out of school with resulting declines in test scores. Additionally, immigrants still continue to come to this country illegally and some are allowed to stay. I wonder how many millions of dollars Biden’s lax immigration policy is costing the taxpayers.

Biden orchestrated the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan. Some innocent lives were sacrificed and some weapons, as well as ammunition, fell into the hands of enemy forces because of it. The failure to act promptly and effectively following the train derailment in Ohio, which caused an environmental crisis, has resulted in a health and economic malaise.

Without even debating the rationale behind these decisions, it is clear to me that they have all had a debilitating effect on our country. That alone should make it blatantly obvious that Biden and his administration have compiled a horrendous track record. To some readers, hearing about those poll results seems like a bad joke.

— Richard Peterson, San Rafael

Critique of AIPAC was overly aggressive

In her recently published letter, Jan Bauman wrote about the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.

She calls the organization the most powerful lobby in Washington, DC. However, AIPAC does not even rank among the top ten in spending by lobbying groups. According to statista.com, the top spenders are the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Realtors.

She accuses it of shutting down any criticism of Israel. I would like to point out that, in 2022, AIPAC did not recommend funding against Rep. Ilhan Omar or Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, two critics of Israel, since they were incumbents.

As stated by successive past Democratic and Republican secretaries of defense, the U.S. has no more reliable ally in the Middle East than Israel. People who are knowledgeable about security and defending the global order respect the Israeli alliance with the U.S. against global terror and rogue states.

— Jeff Saperstein, Mill Valley

Republican Party has become unacceptable

In his recently published letter, Richard Cairns appeared to vaguely lambast anyone who wasn’t a neoconservative Republican. However, Cairns didn’t offer any suggestions for anything better.

I had been a registered Republican since 1965. I finally changed my registration this year because of the do-nothing (“Tea Party” and neocon) attitudes toward the government. I don’t think there is a true conservative in the bunch. They seem to be pushing for a revolution started by others (so they are only slightly soiled).

For a few years I was proud to be a “Republican in name only,” but it certainly took me too long to realize I’d been conned.

— Philip Hicks, San Anselmo

Don’t use short-term data for climate conclusions

I think some disastrous climate-change predictions are made by fear-mongers based on short-term trends.

If you take several drought years in a row and make future predictions from those years, the outlook looks bleak. However, in the past 35 years, we have had drought periods followed by significantly above-average rainfall.

The same is true in regard to temperatures. Producing data based on numbers from several warm years in a row in order to extrapolate a “doomsday scenario” for the future feels like pure poppycock.

To raise alarms about global warming while reading about the enormous snowpack around the Sierra, as well below-average temperatures in the Bay Area (and snow on some peaks), seems off.

Predictions about something as variable as the weather should use long-term averages, not short-term trends. I, for one, plan to ignore the hype.

— Robert Stupack, Novato