Marin IJ Readers’ Forum for July 10, 2024

Reflect on meaning of holiday, then plan to vote

Independence Day is over — the marching bands and floats are gone. People of all ages watched the best of their city march by. On July 4, the streets felt like the essence of America. The people stood on concrete and asphalt as the first color guard passed by. Then they ogled the procession of celebration as the diversity and freedom of their community and country moved along in a kaleidoscope of color and variety.

The community and its streets have seen many parades. Multitudes of soldiers and veterans have marched on the street. They are living reminders of the cost of freedom. Their ranks have been replenished through the years by the many wars that have been fought. They are honored and respected. The streets understand their hard-earned wisdom. They always have. The people have not always understood.

The parade has ended. The streets are calm and reflective. Now, we can all be calm (like the streets) and reflect on our freedom. We must consider our responsibility to democracy. We should participate in our community, serve our fellow citizens and vote. If we do, the streets will smile in our honor, for we will have contributed greatly to the reasons they celebrate parades.

— Harry Thomas, Novato

Novato parade chair thanks the community

For 31 years, the Novato July Fourth Parade Committee has produced a July 4 parade for North Bay residents. Once again this year, we had a great — although a bit warm — parade. As the parade chair, I want to thank everyone who participated, including the more than 80 teams of entries, the spectators, the sponsors and the volunteers.

Last week’s parade was lovingly brought to the community by an all-volunteer independent nonprofit organization. It would not have happened without the volunteers and sponsors. The 15-member committee started work in January. Our 50 “event day” volunteers assisted us to ensure that the parade appeared seamless to the crowd.

In particular, I would like to thank the city’s police and public works departments for their continued, invaluable support.

For the first time, this year we had a grand sponsor, Pini Ace Hardware. It supported the parade financially and provided many supplies. We also instituted a stage sponsor program. Thanks to Finnegan’s Marin, Trailhead Cafe, Creekside Bakery, Love 2 Dance and Valley Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery for their partnership. Citizen of the Year Paul Price donated his award to us. The committee thanks him for this contribution and for his continued work on the parade.

Additionally, the following donated services, time and/or funds: County of Marin, Northgate Insurance, Recology Sonoma Marin, Wycliffe Creative, Dr. Insomniacs, Trader Joe’s of Novato, H&J Tire Automotive Service, Don Johnson Pool and Spa, Grodhaus Sherman Development, Marin Landscape Materials, Leonardi Auto and Electric, Augusto Plumbing, Petty Masonry, Price Brothers Construction, Napa Auto Parts of Novato, Novato Kitchen and Baths, Marin RotoRooter and Neptune Society of Northern California.

I would like to share enormous thanks to the parade committee whose dedication to organizing this parade is overwhelming. You are the hardest working group of people I know.

Next year, we hope to do it all over again, so join us on July 4, 2025, to celebrate America’s 249th birthday.

— Jennifer Goldfinger, Novato

Keep bikes, dogs, horses out of some open spaces

I found the recent article about discussion of potential new bike paths on the Marin Municipal Water District watershed to be interesting (“MMWD details preparations for expanded bike access,” June 26).

When I lived in Fairfax, I hiked there — until the bikes came in. The same happened on trails near Novato when I lived there. I’ve driven all over the county looking for some place where I won’t feel like I am being assaulted by bikes, dogs or horses.

I watched what happened to the wildlife and vegetation when the bikes and off-leash dogs started using the trails. In all cases, both really suffer. Dogs are supposed to be able to obey by voice command, but no one assesses them. The number of injured or killed wildlife by dogs is incredible. I’ve seen it more than I care to remember.

Many of the riders are very kind and respectful people, but it’s not true for all of them. Considering the environment, it’s no surprise when hikers get startled by one. And, heaven forbid, if you tell them they did so, they just might attack you for letting them know.

There used to be horse and trail monitors. Now, I think we could use hiking monitors. We just don’t have enough county and state personnel to monitor all our wonderful open space. I’ve picked up all the maps at the Civic Center to see where those of us can hike who are older, overcoming an injury or just want a quiet place. There are no paths devoted to the group of us who fit that description.

I suggest MMWD devote some time to that group. They are definitely easier to keep in line if they don’t obey the rules.

— Marie Salerno, Greenbrae

If camps are swept, where will homeless go?

Here we go again (“Marin officials gauge effect of major homelessness ruling,” June 29). California has approximately 181,000 homeless people, with the Bay Area’s share at 37,000 and Marin’s estimate at 1,090 (including families, seniors and working poor). If courts rule that municipalities can move the homeless out of their camps, where exactly are they going to move them?

— Sandra Macleod White, San Rafael

Democrats should nominate someone else

President Joe Biden has done some extremely admirable things during his first term and over several decades before. However, it gets tiresome pressing people to look at what’s right before their eyes. There is no doubt that Biden often appears unalterably slow and frail.

People mistakenly invoke former President Barack Obama’s faltering in his first debate when he ran for reelection. Obama sprung back in a way that Biden simply cannot. People vary as to when Father Time begins to really win the battle. Officials in important positions are routinely afflicted with a touch of grandiosity. That’s OK — it’s even a necessity as long as it doesn’t get out of hand.

Hopefully Biden will come to see that stopping former President Donald Trump requires that he steps down.

An open convention for the Democratic Party is strategically necessary. Someone with some charisma (including smarts and vitality) would appeal to a large swath of the electorate who values an inclusive, humanitarian and democratic system, while being most occupied with making ends meet economically.

There is ample time, given modern communication technology, for the public to see what they are getting in a person of choice by the approximately 4,000 convention delegates. Out of the seeming chaos of horse trading and meetings under the guidance of the party, a winning choice can be made that helps the United States and the world to start moving in a positive direction.

— Art Reiss, Greenbrae

Trump should step out of the race, not Biden

Regarding the immediate aftermath of last month’s presidential debate, I understand there is no doubt President Joe Biden had a lousy debate performance. Now some Democrats are calling for him to step aside. Why?

Does one bad night define his entire record? I think a presidential candidate (like his opponent, former President Donald Trump) should drop out if he was a convicted felon who seems comfortable repeating false statements; someone who was indicted for trying to overturn an election lost; someone who was fined over a half-billion dollars on a variety of charges; or someone who is a ripe target for right-wing billionaires, Russian oligarchs and Saudi princes.

Biden is none of those.

— John Brooks, Fairfax