Marin IJ Readers’ Forum for Nov. 22, 2023

All should be able to reach ‘ecoconsciousness’

The recently published Another View commentary by Charles Murray (“The middle class is not buying electric vehicles as expected,” Nov. 13) was a thought-provoking piece identifying the realities of “green virtue.” The commentary addressed several issues, but one of the underlying premises appears to be that affluent people can afford a traditional gas-powered car and an electronic vehicle.

For most people making less than $100,000 per year, I think prioritizing the purchase of an EV is just not realistic. It should be noted that many people see holding onto cars that still work well (and still pass emissions tests) as being a good way to cut down on adding “garbage” to the world.

I think, for some, the gesture of driving an EV is a nice way to feel better about the contradictory behaviors of a jet-setting lifestyle. Murray’s commentary serves as a catalyst for introspection and action, urging us to reevaluate our societal structures and actively strive for a future where “ecoconsciousness” is an attainable reality for everyone, regardless of their socioeconomic status.

— Virginia Erwin, Sausalito

EV sales continue to grow in California

I am writing in response to the recently published Another View commentary by Charles Murray (“The middle class is not buying electric vehicles as expected,” Nov. 13). Murray should have pointed out that EV sales are rising in California. They are not just for “wealthy environmentalists” anymore, as Murray seems to believe.

Many models are extremely affordable and even higher-end models have had prices slashed. Additionally, Ride and Drive Clean, an EV advocacy nonprofit organization, has a discount campaign until Nov. 30 offering thousands off the price of popular models. State, federal and utility incentives, as well as tax credits, help achieve cost parity with gasoline vehicles.

Those who want to lease an EV can get great deals because the dealer passes the federal tax credit onto the lessee. Some dealers are even giving away a home charger with the car. Used EVs offer another affordable option and gives the buyer a $4,000 tax credit.

According to the California Energy Commission website titled “Zero Emission Vehicle and Infrastructure Statistics,” in 2022, EV and plug-in hybrid sales grew 18% while gasoline-vehicle purchases shrank. In the first quarter of 2023, EV and plug-in hybrids make up an even greater percentage of the market.

Electric vehicles are affordable, safer, cheaper to fuel (as well as maintain) and outperform gasoline vehicles in every way. Last year brought record sales and 2023 is looking even better.

The exhaust from gasoline vehicles is a major contributor to our changing climate. Climate change is a major factor in recent extreme weather events and catastrophic wildfires. Considering all that, I think you can expect the transition to zero emission vehicles to keep growing.

— Susannah Saunders, San Anselmo

Wrong approach to blame border issues for fentanyl

I am writing in response to Renton Ralph’s recently published letter to the editor. Clearly, I would never minimize the pain he felt at the loss of his brother to a drug overdose. However, I think context was missing from his argument that a “river” of illegally produced fentanyl is coming across the border.

The Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank, used government data to provide many facts about fentanyl and our southern border. Some stood out. According to the research, fentanyl is overwhelmingly being brought into the country by U.S. citizens. In 2022, 89% of convicted traffickers were U.S. citizens. In 2023, 93% of fentanyl seizures were at legal entry points, not on illegal migration routes. Only about 0.0009% of the people arrested by the Border Patrol for crossing illegally possessed any fentanyl at all.

We have a catastrophic problem with fentanyl abuse in our country, but we cannot make a dent in it by blaming the wrong people. We should not blame people who have desperately walked thousands of miles to reach our southern border to escape terrible conditions in their home countries.

In my view, we must attack the suppliers of fentanyl while also providing appropriate care to our fellow citizens addicted to fentanyl. We need to do all we can to improve the life situations of the people living south of us. Simple solutions like border walls will leave us disappointed.

— Michael Sillman, Larkspur

District should work with kids’ center group

I would like to add my voice to those calling for the Ross Valley School District Board of Trustees to come to a reasonable agreement with the Fairfax-San Anselmo Children’s Center (“Children’s center, Ross Valley schools at impasse over Fairfax property,” Nov. 2).

The center provides essential services to our entire Marin County community. It deserves support. The benefit to the families and children of Marin cannot be overstated.

The school board’s mission is to educate Ross Valley children. Surely establishing a good foundation for that education comes under that umbrella. If RVSD is concerned about liability and would like to shed that responsibility, then it should sell the property to the leadership group at the children’s center.

I find RVSD’s response to the FSACC officials’ initial shock at the Marin County Office of Education’s estimate of needed repairs under Field Act requirements of public schools to be bitter and unreasonable. Once leaders at the center understood that those standards wouldn’t apply to them (and that they could make repairs under county health and safety standards at a lower cost), it is my understanding that they were prepared to move forward.

RVSD should return to good-faith negotiations with the Fairfax-San Anselmo Children’s Center. The center’s work deserves our support and respect. It should be nurtured, treasured and allowed to carry on.

— Anne McClain, Forest Knolls

Health benefits of cycling to work should be noted

I am writing in regard to the recent IJ news article about the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge bike lane (“Richmond-San Rafael Bridge gridlock frustration stokes bike path debate,” Nov. 12), as well as the staff editorial (“All must accept that few cyclists want to ride Richmond Bridge,” Nov. 12).

I wish at least one of the pieces would have mentioned that some people use bicycles to their benefit while commuting to work. Yes, this might be news in a country where it seems like every third commercial on television is trying to convince us to drive. And it is true, some do need to drive to work, for various reasons. However, others can save money (and time) commuting by bike across the bridge. Those people do themselves (and others) a world of good. There is no sense in dragging a two-ton car to work when just 50 pounds of bicycle will do the job nicely.

With the advent of electric-assist bikes, more people can ride and enjoy the benefits of healthy exercise. The alternative seems to be to squander our tax dollars solely to sit in motor vehicle traffic.

— Joe Breeze, Fairfax

Huffman needs to be certain about convictions

Based on the recent article about Rep. Jared Huffman’s apology (“Huffman disavows vote on campus Israel critics after uproar,” Nov. 7), I think our representative in Congress since 2013 seems to be somewhat undecided with the moral issues surrounding the Israeli-Palestine conflict.

He recently flip-flopped after voting against condemning the support of Hamas and Hezbollah on university campuses. Considering the violent history between the groups, I can understand his dilemma.

However, I think all Huffman’s apology does is show that he is having a hard time keeping his convictions. I wonder what they truly are. He has been our representative for over a decade. Now he has me wondering how he decided other important matters before voting.

Huffman is up for reelection in 2024 and I’m not sure I really know where he stands. Until I do, I’m not sure whether to vote for him or not.

— Roland Underhill, Novato