Marin IJ Readersa Forum for March 12

As a retired teacher, I disagree strenuously with Anna Mae Maly's assertion that “teachers are owned by the Democratic Party.” About 300,000 individuals teach in California, and their political affiliations reflect the same range as the state's population does. While teachers do not leave their constitutional rights at the classroom door, neither do they “use their classrooms for their personal propaganda and partisan activism garbage.” Teachers have a curriculum to follow and testing to prepare students for, which allows no classroom time for much else.

Editorial: Sorry report card on Marin City housing

This may not be the way the members of the Marin Board of Supervisors want to look at it, but in one of the wealthiest communities in the nation, the largest county-run, federally funded public housing complex has received miserable grades for maintenance and safety. The supervisors make up five of the seven members of the Marin Housing Authority board, and given that four of them have been in office for at least three years, they can't shrug off responsibility for that grade.

Editorial: President hears Call of Duty

President Trump used the shooting in Parkland, Fla., to convene a group at the White House last week to discuss the possible nexus between violent video games and actual violence, despite the lack of conclusive evidence that such a nexus exists. No less an authority than the U.S. Supreme Court said in 2011 there is no "compelling" link.

Steve Hilton: Hey Gov. Jerry Brown, why won’t you talk to me about illegal immigration?

California Governor Jerry Brown delivers his final state of the state address in Sacramento, California, U.S., January 25, 2018. Don't expect California Gov. Jerry Brown to roll out the red carpet for President Trump when the president is scheduled to visit the Golden State in the week ahead.

Opinion: How identity politics hurts Democrats’ national hopes

Despite the endless hysteria surrounding President Trump, Democrats may be no closer to understanding how to politically capitalize and do better than closely contesting national elections. Many feel the Democratic Party could re-assemble a broad, decisive majority coalition like those that powered the Great Society and New Deal behind alleviating poverty, environmental survival and generally enhancing life opportunities for the 99 percent.

Los Angeles Times: Dona t let Jeff Sessions strangle criminal-justice reform in its crib

Despite the partisanship that has paralyzed Washington on so many issues, some Democrats and Republicans in the U.S. Senate have come together around the proposition that America imprisons too many people for too long and that the burden of incarceration disproportionately falls on racial minorities. Ominously, however, the enlightened legislation they have produced is opposed by the Trump Justice Department.

Congressional district map awaits court ruling

Pennsylvania congressional district map awaits court ruling A three-judge federal panel will decide whether the state's newly drawn districts will remain. Check out this story on publicopiniononline.com: Eight Republican congressmen from Pennsylvania want a federal court to step in and prevent the use of a court-ordered district map in this year's elections.

Bangert: Rokita’s fear of the Mourdock moment

Todd Rokita says he'll stand up to the elite, so why is he afraid of debates he considers not conservative enough? 4th District has heard this before Bangert: Todd Rokita's fear of the Mourdock moment Todd Rokita says he'll stand up to the elite, so why is he afraid of debates he considers not conservative enough? 4th District has heard this before Check out this story on jconline.com: http://on.jconline.com/2Gc6B5h Todd Rokita says he'll stand up to the elite, so why is he afraid of debates he considers not conservative enough? The 4th District has heard this one before Senatorial candidate Todd Rokita responds to a question during the Indiana Republican Senate Primary Debate between Rokita and fellow Senate candidates Luke Messer and Mike Braun at Emmis Communications in Indianapolis on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018.

Kelly: It’s time for a new plan for the Hudson RR tunnels

Kelly: Can NJ and NY build a Hudson Rail Tunnel without Trump? With President Trump withdrawing support for the new rail tunnel, is there another way to do the project? Check out this story on northjersey.com: https://njersy.co/2If7w5B Tree service companies doing a brisk business, a robotics competition in Mount Olive and a "Sopranos" prequel - all in "7 things to know in New Jersey this weekend." A train enters the area known as "A interlocking," where tracks intersect under Penn Station.