Marin IJ Readers’ Forum for Jan. 22, 2023

All rent control plans need means-testing formula

After reading the Jan. 15 article with the headline “Larkspur, officials still studying rent relief options,” as well as all the coverage of Fairfax’s recently approved plan for rent control, I would like to share my comments.

The problem with rent control is that not every renter is poor and not every landlord is wealthy. The broad brush of the standard rent control ordinance helps many tenants who really don’t need the help and hurts many landlords who must maintain the rental properties.

An unintended consequence is that landlords must increase the maximum allowed under the ordinance each year or that increase is lost forever. By not taking the allowed increase, the value of the landlord’s property is forever decreased and funds for maintaining the property in top condition are significantly reduced.

According to the article, Larkspur is studying a means-testing formula for the tenants needing help with their rent. This is heading in the right direction and should be implemented in every ordinance. Whether the burden of providing the controlled rent is placed on the landlord or the government is another issue.

Something that is not mentioned in the article about Larkspur is the possibility of banking some of the increase allowed under the ordinance that the landlord chooses not to take. Where banking is allowed, a portion of the banked rent may be used when either the existing tenant moves or the consumer price index is extraordinarily low.

— Dean J. Moser, Novato

Marin Transit needs better financial management

The recent IJ article regarding transit funding cutbacks (“Marin transit officials concerned about state budget cuts,” Jan. 13) once again reminded me of all the buses I see on a daily basis with a handful of riders, if any.

I looked at the Marin County Transit District annual report. In 2019 (pre-pandemic), Marin Transit posted an operating revenue of $5.6 million and operating expense of $34.4 million. This included salaries and benefits of nearly $2.1 million. In 2022, it posted revenue at $4.4 million and expenses at $37.9 million. Revenues are down and expenses are up, including salaries and benefits, which are up 20%.

In the real world of commerce, Marin Transit would not survive. More tax dollars won’t save this operation from its mismanagement.

— M.S. Popovich, Larkspur

Rain should inspire MMWD board to action

In 2017, Marin County logged more rain than it had in decades. Do you remember?

Unfortunately, after that, all I ever seemed to hear from the Marin Municipal Water District Board of Directors was to continue to conserve. Hopefully the board members who left last year will stay retired.

I hope the freshmen board members prove that they really are “new and improved.” They have an incredible opportunity to put their noodles together to figure it out.

Even if it takes a significant increase in rates, we owe it to future generations to improve our system for capturing more rainfall. For one of the wealthiest counties in California, getting this done should not be “rocket science.” It is time for MMWD to take action.

— Bob Bowen, Tam Valley

Propaganda of ‘Big Steal’ set stage for Capitol siege

Over the past two years, I have heard commentators on many news networks state that the U.S. Capitol was attacked on Jan. 6, 2021 by those who were anti-democratic and didn’t believe in the U.S. Constitution. This seems unlikely, considering that most of those who participated were likely just misled, ignorant and gullible.

For those people, it appears that their only trust in the federal government was that it didn’t have their best interests in mind. Not trusting the government made former President Donald Trump’s false propaganda of the 2020 election’s “Big Steal” believable.

Like some in 2020, I was angry and distrustful after the presidential election in 2000. The difference is that the facts of the 2000 election were well documented. Leading up to the 2021 attack, there was a general disregard for finding real evidence of a “rigged election” by those who participated.

The others who backed or participated in the Capitol riot actually knew the truth of the election and were promoting an autocracy that supported their personal interests above any regard or respect for the foundation of our system of government. It is clear that some who supported the siege live in other countries and others are well-known participants now in Congress. That is worrisome.

— Duane Van Dieman, Mill Valley