Marin IJ Readers’ Forum for Nov. 30, 2023

Supervisors are on right track with golf course land

I totally disagree with Mike McLennan’s assessment in his recently published letter to the editor. He says the former San Geronimo Golf Course is “a blight on the property … (and) an eyesore to everyone driving by.” The truth is that it is finally looking like a field with some trees and grasses. In the spring, it will be blooming with wildflowers. Nature will restore it. Both wildlife and humans will enjoy it.

Before, only golfers who paid a fee could use the land. Now I see walkers — often with dogs — and horseback riders.

I am concerned about horrific wildfires in the beloved open space of West Marin. If the county fire department needs the clubhouse and adjacent 21.83 acres of land, I’m all for it. I would like to thank firefighters for dedicating their life to our safety.

I hope the Marin County supervisors keep up the good work on this topic. We all live in Marin because of the beauty, open space and outdoor recreation.

— Mary Kyle, San Rafael

Branching traffic near Richmond Bridge will help

There is considerable debate over whether removing the westbound bike lane from the Richmond Bridge will improve traffic flow (“Richmond-San Rafael Bridge gridlock frustration stokes bike path debate,” Nov. 12).

Some say there is no reason to remove the bike lane, since all it will do is move the congestion from the bridge to the two-lane connector on the Marin County side.

Yes, traffic will be heavier there during commute times. But the way I see it, drivers exiting the bridge have two choices: They can either take the Sir Francis Drake Boulevard exit to Highway 101 or continue on Interstate 580 through San Rafael. Allowing traffic to branch at that point may be enough to keep traffic moving most of the time

Let’s give it a try.

— Richard Pedemonte, Fairfax

Remembering Kennedy 60 years after his death

Nov. 22 marked the 60th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. For many of a certain age, the memory of hearing that news is etched into our brains like grooves in a record.

I was in the third grade and living in Southern California. We had been sent home not long after arriving at school that morning. The television was on and I will never forget the words of news anchor Walter Cronkite — putting on and then removing his glasses — doing his best to hold back surging grief as he said, “Dallas, Texas: the flash, apparently official. President Kennedy died at 1 p.m. Central Standard Time.” He said it in a reportorial tone, deep and solemn.

My family was in shock. I adored JFK. I was taken by his charm, charisma and humor, even at 8 years old.

The events unfolding were bewildering: the sound of horses’ hoofs upon the pavement as the carriage carried the coffin still echo through my mind. I remember “John John,” the president’s son, saluting his fallen father as the procession passed. I can’t forget the assassination of the accused assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald, by Jack Ruby happening live on television, as Oswald was being moved from one jail to another.

In later years I came to realize that part of America died on Nov. 22, 1963. JFK was wise, prescient and profound. Words from his inaugural speak to the bitter enmity bordering on the hatred in today’s American politics: “So let us begin anew, remembering on both sides that civility is not a sign of weakness, and sincerity is always subject to proof. Let us never negotiate out of fear, but let us never fear to negotiate.”

Yes, we had “Camelot” for one brief, shining moment.

— Bruce Farrell Rosen, San Francisco

Going fully wireless for phones won’t work yet

In his recently published Bay Area Voice commentary (“Embrace wireless and ditch outdated rules for phone companies,” Nov. 26), David Witkowski seems to propose that a wired phone network is simply not needed and should be scrapped. However, in my neighborhood we have no cellular coverage, except via WiFi connected to the world by phone wires. It is called a digital subscriber link (aka DSL) and many people use it.

For a significant number of folks, “old fashion” wiring and landlines are the only option due to how radio waves propagate. In addition, a major portion of the last-mile connections for Internet access are wires, because they are more cost effective, are reliable and work.

Having over 40 years experience in data communications systems design, I can attest to the limitations of “wireless only” networks. In the meantime, we need to keep the wires.

— Paul Moore, Novato