Properly Subversive Commentary: All is sunny with Marin County District 5 supervisor candidates?

Sherman R. Frederick/Properly Subversive

I’ve written hundreds of newspaper endorsement editorials over the years. Here’s how it usually goes: You write something sunny about all the candidates and then heap a pile of even sunnier praise on the candidate of your choice, which you probably knew who that would be before the process began. 

Recently, Eric Lucan got the nod from the daily newspaper’s editorial board to fill Judy Arnold’s place on the Marin County Board of Supervisors, District 5. The likable Novato Mayor is a decent guy and I suspect he’ll win handily. He’s also malleable enough to go on to bigger political things in California, should he so desire.

But, here’s what I really wanted to point out: The editorial says that also running is “Jason Sarris, a homeless man who … is well spoken.” 

WELL SPOKEN?

Mr. Sarris is the guy who made his bones on social media by dropping an ugly string of f-bombs on Novato cops who were only doing their jobs at Lee Gerner Park during the COVID-19 mess. Other than the sad fact that he is homeless, he’s also not a particularly deep breather on homeless issues.

The last time I ran into him he advocated the idea that homeless people should be able to camp anywhere they damn well please. Anywhere.

So, if shallow and generally pissed-off means “well spoken”, then, absolutely, Jason Sarris is your man. 

That’s the straight scoop.

ALSO ON MY MIND

– This should surprise no one: The Taliban issued a new dress code for women in Afghanistan appearing in public. Only a woman’s eyes may be visible. Women also should not leave their homes unless necessary and violations will bring punishment to her male relatives. This is on Joe Biden’s weak leadership and clumsy withdrawal from Afghanistan, which, BTW, lest we forget, we still have Americans abandoned behind enemy lines.

–  Inclusive Language: The ever-so-sensitive Marin County issued a press release recently seeking people to sit on the Commission on Aging. You gotta love the eligibility qualifications sought: “Eligibility is open to adults 18 years and over. Persons of color and/or persons with fluency in Spanish, Vietnamese, or Farsi are highly encouraged to apply.” English speakers not of color are – what? – less encouraged? Sometimes inclusive language sounds so patronizing and exclusive to my ear.

– High Voltage: Will the recently leaked SCOTUS draft opinion that would overturn Roe v Wade electrify Democrats in the mid-term? It’s high-voltage enough, that’s for sure. But more interestingly from a Marin perspective, with California favorite daughter Kamala Harris sinking in public opinion polls, this could propel former county resident Gov. Gavin Newsom into the No. 1 position for president in 2024. That’s how I’m seeing it anyway.

– What I’m Watching: I’ve just now finished the L.A.-centric cop show Bosch on Amazon Prime. I know I’m late to that party, but I recommend it. It’s a good yarn about police work in the City of Angels. Also, I recently caught the documentary The Alpinist. It follows solo climber Marc-André Leclerc. You can’t watch this without mumbling under your breath:  “crazy,” “stupid” and “not in a million years.” 

– Food Shortage: There’s a lot to worry about these days. Here’s one more: A global food shortage due to the war in Ukraine. No less than 25% of wheat exports come from Ukraine and Russia, 20% of all the corn exports and 90% “of the sunflower cooking oil. Marin has always boasted that if the county were cut off from the rest of the world, we could be self-sufficient in food and water. May we never have to prove it. 

ONE MORE THING

– If it’s not one thing it’s your mother. (H/T Robin Williams.)

 – I have strong opinions about leather shoes, and I will not be suede. 

– When you’re dead, you don’t know you’re dead. The pain is felt by others. The same thing happens when you’re stupid.

– Descartes subsequently realized that people who don’t think also are.

– Do you ever go out and while you’re out you think: This is exactly why I don’t go out.

See you next week. In the meantime, avoid soreheads, laugh a little and always question authority.

(“Properly Subversive” is commentary written by Sherman R. Frederick for the Novato Advance, San Rafael News-Pointer, Mill Valley Herald, Ross Valley Reporter, Twin City Times and the Sausalito Marin Scope. Frederick  is a long-time journalist and co-founder of Battle Born Media, a news organization dedicated to the preservation of community newspapers. You can reach him by email at shermfrederick@gmail.com.)