Monday, May 16, 2022

Have we turned our back on Racism in Marinwood?

 


Photo of BLM protest May 2020. The chalk reads, "No lives matter till Black Lives Matter."  Seen in the photo is Bruce Anderson, former Marinwood CSD Director and moderator for Lucas Valley/Marinwood NextDoor. Photo courtesy MarinIJ.com



I was cancelled from Lucas Valley/Marinwood NextDoor  today for the following post:


Some people think that racism is widespread in our community. From BLM protest that made national news; https://www.marinij.com/2020/06/03/marinwood-rant-against-black-lives-matter-message-caught-on-video/

"For Bruce Anderson, who said he knew the man in the videos but declined to identify him, it wasn’t a surprise to see footage of what he called bigotry and anger in Marinwood.

Anderson, who is African American and a former board member for the Marinwood Community Services District, was among the supporters of a years-long initiative to change the local Dixie School District’s name, which, activists said, is linked to slavery and the Confederacy. The school board voted last year to change the name to the Miller Creek School District, but Anderson said the months of bitter debate leading up to that decision highlighted, for him, “the underlying sentiments out here that tended to lean toward racism.”

“There was a lot of anger from people who were able to kind of disguise their racism as protecting the Dixie name,” Anderson said."


      I agreed with the Dixie name change. It was named "Dixie"  during the bloodiest year of the Civil War. It was completely appropriate to change the name that reflects our common values.                                                                  

                                                                                               

   I disagree that there is a lot of overt racism in our community.  I feel the racism exists in cultural insensitivity and laws meant to favor some over others.  It is important to identify and discuss it as a community.  So many have a good heart in this community and want fairness for all people. Let's make positive change.

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The original post was about the policy to ban renting Marinwood Community Center community rooms to "outsiders" after several board members complained about "loud Mexican Music" and public safety incidents.  Most of our rentals were to the Latino community for birthdays, weddings and quinceaneras.  Similar celebrations like the "Art and Wine Festival" were left untouched.  This is clearly a racist policy since it affects only one community.  Many agree. Some people want to turn their back on institutional racism and censor those who dare speak about it.

write support@nextdoor.com to reinstate fair and respectful discussions WITHOUT CENSORSHIP.





Bruce Anderson Speaks to change the "Racist" Dixie School District name


 

 Bruce Anderson, former Marinwood CSD politician speaks out to change the name of the "Racist" Dixie School District in 2018, 2019. He currently is the lead moderator on Lucas Valley/ Marinwood Nextdoor and removed this discussion below for "Misinformation and Dangerous Activity". 

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Is
Marinwood CSD practicing racist policies behind closed doors?
It seems incredible but the Marinwood CSD stopped rentals to "outside groups" quietly in 2019 after an armed sex crime at a birthday celebration. http://www.savemarinwood.org/2019/08/arrest-information-for-marinwood-sex.html . Fortunately, no one was hurt but the CSD covered up the incident until the Marin IJ reported the story of the trial sentencing on August 25, 2019. https://www.marinij.com/2019/08/25/marinwood-sex-crime-suspect-sentenced-for-gun-charge/ The board quietly stopped renting our meeting hall for a "safety evaluation". Marinwood Community Center had been a popular rental location for weddings, birthday celebration and quinceaneras for the Hispanic community. Coincidentally, I attended a meeting of the Parks and Recreation commission where several members spoke openly to prevent rentals because of the "loud Mexican music and drinking" . I was shocked that only ONE community was being singled out for "bad behavior" in our park. The crime provided the excuse for stopping rentals to "outsiders". Covid lockdown happened a few months later but there is no word if the CSD plans to continue to ban now that things are returning to normal. Marinwood CSD is not a private club. It is a public agency with a duty to serve the public without prejudice. While the term "racism" gets used too much these days, there is undeniable racism when identical activities are treated differently in our rental policy. Few people complain about the "Art and Wine festival". Why should other celebrations be treated differently? This is why we need OPEN MEETINGS of Marinwood CSD AND COMMISSION MEETINGS. Directors need to be available to the public. All public meetings should be announced on a large sign board and must be accessible in person and on line and recorded. An "Annual Business Meeting" should be held every March to update the people. No secrecy. It is wrong to discriminate and hide behind closed doors. We have a new CSD Board that is more open and has new ideas. While a few people promoting the ban are still with us, I am confident that the new majority will DO THE RIGHT thing if they hear from you. PLEASE EMAIL to urge support Fair Access to Marinwood CSD park rentals. Marinwood CSD Board Members care of edreikosen@marinwood.org lfretwell@marinwood.org