Marin IJ Readers’ Forum for March 6, 2023

Marin needs another lawyer like Robert Praetzel

Last week, the Marin IJ published an article on the passing of Robert Praetzel, a Marin County lawyer who was instrumental in putting a stop to the infamous Marincello proposed real estate project (“Robert Praetzel, lawyer who fought Marin Headlands development, dies at 97,” Feb. 27).

The residential and commercial development proposal in the Marin Headlands would have housed more than 25,000 people on 2,160 acres with detrimental effects on the environment.

We desperately need someone like him today to fight the totally insane Sacramento’s mandate to build in Marin County alone more than 14,000 new residences.

— Arnaldo Dallera, Tiburon

Conservation triggers show nothing has changed

When I read the recently published article about water district plans (“New water savings triggers OK’d,” Feb. 23), I was outraged.

The first paragraph tells the tale: “Marin Municipal Water District adopted a new plan this week that will trigger water conservation measures and usage restrictions sooner and more frequently.” Is that why we voted in the new directors? It appears that they want us to conserve our way out of the inadequate water supply situation while it raises our rates. Based on all the articles and letters published in the months before the election, I had assumed the answer could not be yes.

From what I read, the plan is to ask for (and later, require) conservation levels that increase based on declining reservoir storage levels. Much of this is quite punitive — 30%, then 40% and even 50% cutbacks will be required. I don’t see any details about which year would be the baseline for those calculations. If it was 2022, when we conserved 20%, I can only imagine what those new levels will mean to our lawns, golf courses and even our gardens.

Also, MMWD plans to enact surcharges when the reservoirs dip below 65,000 acre-feet, which is 82% full. The district’s seven reservoirs hold 79,600 acre-feet. It seems to me that there will be surcharges every summer and fall. Obviously, when we buy less water, then MMWD gets less money. But this can’t be the solution.

If MMWD will not increase our water supply so we can survive a long drought, this plan makes painful sense. I am concerned about impacts on our standard of living and property values. Our county truly will start looking like Arizona neighborhoods — without lawns.

The solution, as was talked about prior to the election, is to increase supply. That is what the people want.

— John Neuenburg, San Rafael

Marin Theater’s ‘Justice’ proves to be excellent tale

I am a huge fan of Marin Theater’s current performance of “Justice.” I highly recommend attending this remarkable show. It’s a brief, fast-paced and engrossing 90-minute show that left me exhilarated and renewed.

I was disappointed to read the cynical and contradictory review in the IJ (“Marin Theatre Company musical ‘Justice’ celebrates Supreme Court women in song,” Feb. 23) Critic Sam Hurwitt ends piece noting that “it’s a show designed …to inspire a new generation to continue the fight, especially when the odds seem stacked against them. That message is hammered home…. and right now it’s one that a lot of people sorely need to hear.” However, I think the rest of Hurwitt’s review makes the show sound like dark drudgery.

I found “Justice” as inspirational as Hurwitt said it was designed to be. Hurwitt wrote that the time frame of the piece was not clear, yet I was gobsmacked to realize I had lived through all this and now it is history. I was grateful to be reminded of what I had forgotten, not known or had not understood at the time.

Hurwitt acknowledges the powerful singing by the three actresses, Stephanie Prentice, Lynda DiVito and Karen Murphy, and I found their acting superb, as well. They nailed their distinct characters, conveying their personalities and individual stories in a way I had not previously appreciated. At times, I was moved to tears.

I would like to laud the dynamic stage setting by Carlos Aceves and how Director Ashley Rodbro communicates so many important messages through every move, scene, prop and costume. Everything was well done, so much so that I wondered what it would be like to watch this play on the Kennedy Center stage in Washington, DC. It was that big.

Go see “Justice,” make up your own mind and support our local theater.

— Mia McCall, Mill Valley