Marin IJ Readers’ Forum for Aug. 18, 2025
Bridge’s free shuttle is unfair to toll-payer drivers
In the recently published article about an agreement to close the lane for cyclists and pedestrians on the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge between Mondays and Thursdays (“Richmond-San Rafael path change approved,” Aug. 7), it is mentioned that a free shuttle will operate “from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on days the path is closed to transport pedestrians and cyclists.”
I am appalled that the transportation bureaucrats think that bicyclists ought to have a free shuttle for their recreation while East Bay residents, whose hard work eases our lives in Marin, still have to pay a stiff toll to drive across the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge. And, on top of that, I expect that those from the East Bay who want to take advantage of Marin’s unparalleled weekend recreational opportunities will still be faced with possible traffic jams caused by the lack of a needed emergency lane on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Where is our sense of environmental justice?
— Michael Stryker, Kentfield
Novato needs to treat mobile community better
As chair of the Property Acquisition Corp. Communications Committee for Marin Valley Mobile Country Club in Novato, I would like to add further context to the article published Aug. 12 with the headline “Novato mobile home residents increase offer for property.”
Rents collected fund all expenses related to the park. That means that 100% of our rents cover all operating and capital expenses, the city’s administrative time related to park matters and repayment of the city’s 1997 loan taken to purchase the property in 1997. Back then, Novato officials took out a loan that our rents have paid since that time. Once paid off in 2027, our rents will have paid $24 million in principal and interest.
A portion of our rent is set aside for capital improvements — approximately $4.6 million is currently held in a city-managed account. Novato has not spent any money from its general fund on the park ever.
While funds for property improvements are available, it is clear to many that Novato officials have not demonstrated a commitment to timely or thorough maintenance, contrary to statements made by its spokesperson. Here are a few examples:
The clubhouse roof needs to be replaced. We requested this three years ago. It has not yet happened. Since then, the replacement cost has increased significantly to at least twice as much. The clubhouse heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system has not been operable for months, leaving our seniors in an unhealthy, sweltering environment and with no replacement in sight.
In 2023 and 2024, there was significant tree-trimming work that was required for fire safety. For the last two years, Novato would not release all of the funds needed. We spent months literally begging for these funds to be released, which they finally were on July 1.
— Mary Currie, Novato
National defense must be fueled by science
During World War II, Vannevar Bush headed the U.S. Office of Scientific Research and Development, which was responsible for much of the development of mobile radar, the proximity fuse and many other devices necessary for the war effort — as well as the original management of the Manhattan Project.
Bush concluded and convinced President Franklin Roosevelt that a coordinated national approach to basic and applied science and technology was essential for national defense in the post-war era. The result was the National Science Foundation, which exists to this day.
The most important principle Bush established was that world leadership in science was essential to the security of the United States. That fact should be vastly more evident today than it was in 1945. Very unfortunately, if we examine the record of the Trump administration regarding the support of basic and applied science, it is not.
I am concerned that world-leading scientists, who would otherwise come to U.S. universities to do their research, are going elsewhere. On top of that, promising young American scientists who can no longer get funds for their research at U.S. universities will be going to countries where they can.
At the same time, China is considerably increasing its support for indigenous science. This is showing up as cutting edge papers in the international scientific journals. Undoubtedly, it is also showing up in increasing Chinese dominance in scientific fields that used to be the exclusive province of the United States. Many of these directly affect military and economic power.
How can anyone imagine themselves to be a patriot while allowing this to happen?
— Chet Seligman, Point Reyes Station