Marin IJ Readers’ Forum for June 10, 2025
Investing in Marin youth shouldn’t be this difficult
As a member of the Tamalpais Union High School District Board of Trustees, I have no affiliation with Marin Catholic High School. I submit this as someone who has demonstrated a commitment to supporting young people and helping them thrive in our community.
I consider the lawsuit filed against Marin Catholic and Marin County over field lights to be a misuse of the legal system. Take a look at the lighting systems at high schools like San Rafael and Novato’s San Marin — these fields are closer to homes than MC’s, and the light doesn’t spill beyond the field. It’s a nonissue.
I don’t think this is about the California Environmental Quality Act. It’s about a small group exploiting a well-intentioned environmental law to block a straightforward, student-centered enhancement. We’re talking about adding lights to an existing playing field along one of Marin’s busiest corridors. It is next to schools, an outdoor health club and the county’s largest hospital (which is open 24/7). This should be a no-brainer.
Schools need the flexibility to evolve and serve their students. Delaying a basic upgrade like field lights for years — and draining resources to fight lawsuits — hurts kids. It limits access to sports, community events and safe spaces to connect.
It’s time to stop the obstruction and take advantage of this opportunity to invest in Marin’s youth.
— Kevin Saavedra, San Anselmo
Transgender athletes issue needs care, respect
I am writing to address the discrimination that transgender individuals face when participating in sports. This is an important topic that raises questions about fairness, inclusion and equal opportunities in athletic environments. Sports play a crucial role in our society. That makes it essential to examine how policies and attitudes can impact transgender athletes and to work toward creating a more inclusive and respective athletic community.
Lately there has been talk about trans athletes participating in sports in California. Trans people are being discriminated against in the athletic community. On May 28, the U.S. Department of Justice announced an investigation. This investigation will see if it goes against Title IX, a federal rule that has the power to ban sex discrimination in schools or educational programs that gets funding from the government.
Just in the last few weeks, the California Interscholastic Federation was forced to flip flop on its positions regarding biological girls and transgender athletics competing in the state championship track meet. Some of the discussions were confusing and hurtful.
This is a dominant situation that is happening in our community. It highlights the equality and fairness that needs to be addressed. It is important to approach this issue with careful consideration and respect. Inclusion is critical to ensure that all athletes, regardless of gender identity have the same opportunities and can participate in whatever sport or sports that they choose.
— Layla Goldstein, Mill Valley
No matter what, Milk will always be revered here
To evoke William Shakespeare’s saying from “Romeo and Juliet,” a rose by any other name is still a rose.
President Donald Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth can try to order the removal of Harvey Milk’s name from a U.S. warship to something more of their own liking. But they can’t erase the memory of Milk, a gay activist and former officer in the Navy, from the hearts of countless people who remember all that he did for gay rights in San Francisco.
He seemingly paid for that activism with his life in a senseless murder by a disgruntled former supervisor in City Hall.
— Stewart Lindh, Sausalito
Executive expansion plan is real cause for concern
I am writing in response to Marin County officials’ plans to expand staff to enhance services (“Marin supervisors approve major expansion of executive’s staff,” May 30). I think this only makes sense if the county has a guaranteed surplus. It may be true that the county has a balanced budget, but I think it will be facing a structural deficit soon enough. This expansion is buying trouble for the future.
Like it or not, budgeting is a zero-sum game. If you expand the expenditures in one place you have to cut it in others or expand the revenue.
— Howard Hertz, Novato