Marin IJ Readers’ Forum for Jan. 4, 2026

Thanks to Caltrans for revisiting new carpool hours

I am writing in regard to the article published Dec. 19 with the headline “North Bay to see reduced carpool lane hours.” I hope that Caltrans officials will see this. I want them to know I am thrilled to read that they are going to rethink the recently expanded high-occupancy vehicle lane hours on Highway 101 in Marin and Sonoma counties.

I’ve been driving, usually solo, from Marin to Sebastopol once a week for many years. No, I cannot take the train where I am going. On a recent commute at 9:30 a.m., I saw five cars in the carpool lane — three were solo drivers breaking the law. Everyone else, including big trucks, were forced into the remaining two lanes.

Thanks to Caltrans for listening.

— Marie Salerno, Greenbrae

Location of San Rafael shelter makes accountability key

As a longtime San Rafael resident, I’ve read the recent letters urging neighbors to support the Merrydale temporary homeless shelter plan and dismissing concerns as simple “not in my backyard” behavior. I share the urgency and compassion expressed in those letters. Homelessness is a humanitarian crisis and our city must respond.

But compassion does not require silence, nor does it excuse the need for careful planning.

Based on statistics related to the homeless population, I think we can expect that a significant number of people at the shelter will be dealing with substance-use disorders and mental-health challenges. These are not moral judgments — they are numerical realities that require strong management, clear communication and ongoing accountability. The Merrydale site sits in an area with families, children, day-care centers and senior centers nearby.

Supporters have cited Corte Madera’s Casa Buena shelter as proof that such projects can succeed. They are right and they should also acknowledge why. As Cheryl Longinotti wrote in her recently published letter, Casa Buena worked because town officials created a structured, ongoing way for neighbors to be involved. A resident task force evolved into an advisory and welcoming group that helped address issues early, built trust and integrated residents into the community. That structure strengthened the project rather than delaying it.

For months now, Merrydale neighbors have repeatedly asked for a similar neighborhood advisory committee. It is not being suggested to block housing, but to provide a durable forum focused on operations, safety and communication once the site opens. That request has been raised publicly and respectfully. As of this writing, it appears to be falling on deaf ears.

If San Rafael is serious about compassion, trust and long-term success, then an advisory committee is a practical, proven step and the continued reluctance to engage with that request is what truly undermines trust.

— Janet Shirley, San Rafael Meadows

Murals should not be placed on important levee

I am writing in regard to the proposed “Peoples of the Canal” art project planned for installation along the Starkweather Path in San Rafael. I want to be clear: Many community members, myself included, support public art and interpretive projects that celebrate history and culture. My concern is not the art itself, but the chosen location.

The Starkweather Path sits atop a levee that serves a critical flood-protection function. Any structures placed on a levee must not compromise its structural integrity, erosion resistance, maintenance access or ability to be raised or reinforced in the future.

I worry that the cumulative impact of installing 22 signs — including foundations, wind loading, soil disturbance and long-term maintenance — raises legitimate concerns regarding levee performance and safety.

As sea-level rise accelerates, levees must remain adaptable and unobstructed to protect nearby neighborhoods. I am concerned that permanent or semi-permanent installations on levees can complicate inspections, emergency response and future upgrades, even when individual elements appear small.

I believe this art project deserves a location where it can be enjoyed without introducing avoidable public safety and infrastructure risks. San Rafael has many appropriate public spaces where the project could thrive without compromising flood protection or resilience planning.

Supporting art and protecting critical infrastructure should not be mutually exclusive. With thoughtful siting, we can do both.

— Susan Levine, San Rafael