American Express Stock – Marin IJ Readers’ Forum for Feb. 9, 2021 – Marin Independent Journal

Officials ironing out vaccination problems

As a Marin senior citizen who is qualified for a COVID-19 vaccination, I found it very difficult to figure out how to make an appointment. So I wanted to let others, who also might find the process confusing, know that they do not have to wait in those long lines of cars at the Civic Center trying to snag one of the few non-appointment shots that are available, only to be turned away, as I was.

I had been reading the Marin County Health and Human Services Department newsletter updates every day, I attended webinars, I contacted doctors and I signed up at several private health portals like MarinHealth and Sutter. Still, I could not find a way to get an appointment.

The good news is that the public health appointment system now seems to be working. I got an appointment using the CalVax.org site. First, I registered via the county’s online vaccine interest form and then I got an email from CalVax to sign up for an appointment. Go to coronavirus.marinhhs.org/vaccine to get started.

I was able to get an appointment for the next day after I got the email. So here’s to supporting our public health departments and thanks to all the volunteers at Civic Center who are making it possible to be vaccinated.

— Claire Cummings, San Rafael

Prison built on beautiful Bay Area spot should close

I hope California officials close San Quentin State Prison. Why should taxpayers continue to fund the existence of a facility full of inhabitants who don’t care about location?

Marin residents care about that site and some of us are fed up with being denied access to this most prized Bay Area location.

It’s time to free up this real estate to citizens for positive uses such as housing, a developed public park or open space.

— Janet Willis, Novato

Roads, schools should just be identified by numbers

I am writing in regard to the controversy over deciding who can have a landmark named in their honor. Apparently, it depends on what part of our community considers the life work to be unsoiled or not.

Considering that, we might follow New York City’s lead and just name our schools Public School 1, PS 4 and so on. As for roads, they could just be Route 1 or Road 19.

— Niccolo Caldararo, Fairfax

Since nobody is perfect, leave Drake landmarks

I do not want Marin County to spend money on renaming Sir Francis Drake Boulevard or on changing the names of its schools or public buildings. We have more urgent needs to fund.

Naming a roadway or structure after someone honors their significant positive contributions, not their shortcomings. Any substitute made could easily be put under the same microscope. Nobody is perfect and no one’s past history is without fault.

That applies to Drake almost five centuries ago and to the rest of us today.

— Sheryl Longman, Greenbrae

Fireman’s Fund was a great West Coast original

I just read the news that the Fireman’s Fund buildings and property have been sold.

After my graduation from University of California, Berkeley I got my first job at the Fireman’s Fund Insurance Co. headquarters in San Francisco. I was very impressed with the company’s history that started in 1863 in San Francisco — particularly the management and the people I met.

At the time, I believe it was the only major company in America that started on the West Coast before spreading to the East Coast, Canada and internationally.

What impressed me most were stories of the company’s reaction immediately after the earthquake in 1906, as well as the great fire that burned out its main office and destroyed all documents. Officials set up tables on Market Street and started paying anyone who claimed to have had insurance — even if fire destroyed the house and insurance documentation.

No one could dare imagine a process like that working today. It demanded real integrity from all parties involved. This unique integrity and caring for customers and employees existed during all my career with the company.

It once insured a portion of the Golden Gate Bridge. While I was its member, I recall that it provided insurance for those building the Bay Area Rapid Transit system. It was also one of the major insurers for Hollywood.

It was a great company which lost its independence when it was acquired by American Express in 1968.

— Michael Djordjevich, San Rafael