›› LETTERS Calling us on the carpetbagger It would be nice if you did a little research on the Assembly race, and not just take the chiropractor [H. Christian Gunderson] and the unemployed councilman [Marc Levine] at their word. Michael Allen did not just move here to be the incumbent. It’s true redistricting put his home and Wes Chesbros’ in the same district, but 20 percent of his current district is in our new one. So he is an actual incumbent, not a carpetbagger. By contrast, Levine represents San Rafael (with four others) as a councilperson. The number of registered voters in the district from San Rafael is 18 percent. So Allen currently represents more members of the district than Levine and the others represent no one but themselves. It’s good you point out the district is not just Marin but also a Sonoma district, but Allen did not land here as an “alien from outer space” as he puts it, he truly represents a significant segment of the district already. Greg Knell, San Rafael
Editor’s note: Thanks for writing, Greg! We’ll make you a deal: We’ll start doing a “little” research on the Assembly race, if you promise to read our endorsements a “little” more carefully. We never said Mr. Allen moved to Marin to be the incumbent (his incumbency was granted by the state elections overlords months after he set up shop in the 415 area code). Yet, he did not move here because suddenly at age 64 he decided to fulfill his lifelong dream of living in downtown San Rafael. He did, however, move to Marin because he sees it as an easier district to win re-election to the state Assembly. You’re right; he has represented a portion of Sonoma County that was formerly in his Assembly district—he could have moved
there and avoided his opponents’ accusations of “carpetbagging” (a term we’ve never used, by the way). But he moved to Marin, presumably, because he thinks the Marin vote is key to winning the seat. We’d also like to point out that, though Allen’s newness to the county should be something Marinites consider, our endorsements coverage hardly made big a deal of it.
Endorsement retracted; Pac Sun now declares selves: ‘Caffrey’s kids’...
The Pacific Sun receives a ringing endorsement from the candidate from Garberville.
Even though you guys weren’t wise enough to endorse me [“For Those About to Vote, We Salute You!” May 11], I still like your journalism. Here’s a photo I pass out at campaign events. Andy Caffrey, candidate for Congress, Garberville
We’re more interested in the ones from lunatics you DO agree with... I read the Sun today [May 11]. No letters section. This really annoys me. As with all newspapers I read, the Pacific Sun letters section is my favorite. At least there I feel like I am getting an honest expression from another person, not watered down with editorial bias. I always enjoy all the letters, especially the ones from lunatics (you know who they are) I disagree with. Joe Tate, Novato
How can I write letters to editor without a case of Stolichnaya?! Supervisor Judy Arnold doesn’t have George Lucas to “toy” with anymore; so she’s
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Your soapbox is waiting at ›› pacificsun.com changed her focus to intimidating liquor store owners into removing alcopops from their shelves. It seems a few teens like drinking it; so Judy thinks she’ll be a hero by removing the temptation. Never mind that she’s trampling on MY RIGHTS to buy the drinks; and everyone else who is of drinking age; and never mind that there’s already laws on the books prohibiting the sale of alcohol to minors. Judy is full steam ahead...which means she doesn’t have enough “real work” to do to earn her keep. I’d suggest she come over to my house and help me do some spring cleaning...it will be appreciated and her bloated paycheck might actually be earned. Marcia Blackman, San Rafael
In my day, we rode our velocipedes safely to the side of the Chisholm Trail! I cop to being an old fogy but, as I recall, bicycles are meant to ride in the street, near the curb, and with the flow of traffic. As a kid down in Pasadena, we had to pass a test to get a license on our bikes—I haven’t ridden one for years, but I am constantly assaulted by them on the sidewalks of San Rafael...zooming down Fourth Street, buds in their ears...I’d be interested in how many collisions oc-
cur. I used a cane for six years; during that time I felt terrorized by the riders because I couldn’t get out of their way. Now that I can walk freely again, I want to smack them in the chops! What’s the legal status? Burt Lampert, San Rafael
Editor’s note: Last we checked, Burt, it is still illegal to “smack [kids] in the chops” with your cane. As for cycling on sidewalks, we asked the “spokes” people from the Marin County Bicycle Coalition about it. First and foremost, they suggested county residents call their town’s police and public works departments to get area-specific information. MCBC director Kim Baenisch says, “Per the law, if there is an ordinance, it must be clearly signed for users to read and understand. I don’t recall seeing such signs in San Rafael, so they might have no legal way to prohibit it right now. But busy Fourth Street is a typical location for just this kind of prohibition to keep all sidewalk users safe.” And MCBC advocacy coordinator Andy Peri adds: “Laws are specific to each town...there is no overriding state law...For me, depending on circumstances (speed of cars, space on road, perceived safety, etc.), I will jump onto a sidewalk at times or if I’m in town and going from one business to another on the same block, I’ll stay on the sidewalk (at low speed and cautious, but of course).”
Endorsements Cheat Sheet Now in new ‘wallet-size’— perfect for taking to the polls!
OTE
Congress, 2nd District: Norman Solomon State Assembly, 10th District: Alex Easton-Brown SUN ENDORSEMENTS + + + + + + + + + + County Supervisor, District 2: David Weinsoff County Supervisor, District 4: Steve Kinsey Belvedere City Council: Sandra Donnell, Bob McCaskill and Claire McAuliffe Ross Town Council: Write-in candidates only Marin Superior Court: James Chou Ross Valley Sanitary District: Frank Egger and Mary Sylla Proposition 28: YES Proposition 29: YES Measure A (Renewal of Ross Valley School District parcel tax): YES Measure B (Belvedere continue adjusting appropriation for emergency services) YES Measure C (Ross’s four-year tax for public safety services) YES Measure D (Sausalito annexed to Southern Marin Fire Protection District) YES Measure E (Muir Beach emergency services tax be increased by $200) YES MAY 18 - MAY 24, 2012 PACIFIC SUN 7