Marin IJ Readers’ Forum for Jan. 8, 2024

Native Americans deserve reparations from California

In 2020, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s legislation created a task force to pay reparations to African Americans. However, I have not read about Newsom proposing the same for Native Americans. Of course, we are all very aware of the horrendous genocide that natives were exposed to, most definitely including areas now called California.

Regarding the Civil War that helped end the enslavement of Black people in the U.S., California not only supplied thousands of soldiers for the Union war effort, California troops were responsible for pushing the Confederates out of Arizona and New Mexico. In addition, it has been estimated that California’s gold paid for nearly 25% of the Union’s war expenses.

Most likely, the victory by the anti-slavery Union side would have been impossible without California’s contribution in the form of gold and troops. Considering that, I don’t think California should be first to line up to provide reparations for African Americans. All those racist ex-Confederate states should be higher on the list.

Let’s not forget the Native Americans. We should all be their lobbyists. I think Newsom knows it is the moral thing to do.

— Ivonne van Buuren, San Anselmo

Marin supervisor District 2 candidate shares his vision

Today, Marin County faces numerous challenges including disaster preparedness (local threats include wildfires, earthquakes and flooding), affordable housing, homelessness, mental health and problems facing our youths.

We can’t leave it up to the cities and towns and unincorporated areas to solve these problems on their own. The county needs to lead a coordinated effort from the town to the state and even the federal level.

Consider affordable housing. Marin residents recognize that this is a unique challenge here because it affects both high and low income citizens. We can’t have a thriving and vibrant community if only the very wealthy can afford to live here or if longtime residents are forced to move elsewhere because of the high cost of living.

But that’s exactly what’s happening. Displacement among Marin County’s senior citizens and working families are a real concern. Local businesses and public agencies have to look outside the county for employees because our police, firemen and teachers can’t afford to live here.

At the same time, some citizens who may have grown up in the county struggle to afford living in the home they’ve owned for decades. Children who grew up and went to school here aren’t moving back to raise families. Marin can’t become an enclave for the super affluent and hope to remain a thriving community.

We need to be creative in how we solve these problems and leadership is required from the county government in coordination with our cities and towns.

People want to see the county take a stronger leadership role with coordinated planning that takes quality and variety into account. Affordable housing options have to be available to all members of the community at every income level, including newcomers.

— Brian Colbert, San Anselmo

Some residents would appreciate a resolution

As someone of Middle Eastern descent who joined student protestors for public comment at one of the last Marin Board of Supervisors meetings of 2023, I have noticed a lot of patronization toward student voices who have come together to call for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza.

Further studies are required to determine if the phrase displayed by student protestors, “From the river to the sea,” is truly a threat to Jewish people. Unfortunately, Islam is staunchly viewed through the lens of terrorism, and rather than solely targeting terrorist activity, Israel has instead settled on the killing of innocent civilians.

Marin County’s Board of Supervisors has remained silent on calling for a cease-fire. I believe that doing so would reassure those who identify as Muslim, Middle Eastern and/or Arab in our community that they have a safe place to articulate their views without risking their lives or livelihoods.

— Maxine Flasher-Düzgüneş, Mill Valley