Marin IJ Readers’ Forum for March 30, 2024

Tam District missteps led to Measure A failure

I believe the recent failed Measure A bond measure effort is due to multiple missteps from the Tamalpais Union High School District leadership and not an opposition campaign that emphasized a “gold-plated cafeteria.”

First, the polling used by the district (“Tam Union school district pollster: Voter’s favor $517M bond,” Oct. 31) relied on too small a sample size (397 voters out of more than 61,000 households) and too small a margin between yes-and-no responses (59.3% yes, with a 4.9% margin of error).

Second, district leadership seems to disregard the impact of those already paying three school taxes (like in the Ross Valley, where I live). They amount to thousands of dollars per year. Adding a fourth tax, averaging $400 to $500 yearly per household, was a big ask.

Finally, and the main reason I voted no, was the fact that, since 2002, voters approved two previous bonds worth over $200 million, yet proponents consistently claimed facilities were in disrepair with leaky roofs. Combined with recent poor testing results and a school name-change process that divided a community, THUSD leadership should take the blame on this one.

— Mike Blakeley, San Anselmo

FireWise member shows support for the MWPA

I am writing in response to a recent letter to the editor expressing opposition to the upcoming San Rafael-San Anselmo Fuel Reduction Zone Project by Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority.

This project is one of the agency’s measures to reduce wildfire risk in Marin. MWPA was created by taxpayers to finance projects that diminish wildfire threats by creating fire breaks and decreasing fuel. This project along the San Rafael-San Anselmo border was an outgrowth of input by local residents who expressed concern about high-risk conditions in our area. Input came from my local FireWise group, part of a national fire prevention organization designed to educate communities. It is supported by the MWPA.

MWPA responded to our concerns by developing a tailored plan to reduce the identified risks through direct action funded by the agency. To us, this is a textbook example of responsive government.

The author of the letter expressed a legitimate concern about the project’s use of certain herbicides. To address that issue, MWPA will utilize a nonaerosol chemical applied directly to eliminated tree stumps to prevent regrowth; surrounding areas will be unaffected. Absent such treatment, targeted vegetation would survive and regenerate.

The author also criticizes MWPA for not spending enough on “home hardening” efforts. This critique seems misguided. MWPA has a robust home inspection program and also engages in significant public education efforts. Both help homeowners understand improvements needed to harden their homes and reduce wildfire risk.

Importantly, these improvements are not the responsibility of MWPA; the onus is on homeowners for implementation. And MWPA even offers grants to help with such improvements. MWPA’s role regarding home hardening is to help homeowners understand what projects are needed; homeowners themselves must actually accomplish these tasks.

MWPA is carrying out the tasks the voters intended.

— Scott Pinsky, San Anselmo

Northgate actions show need for CEQA reform

I am writing in response to the article published March 24 with the headline “Expanded plan for Northgate mall redevelopment.”

It noted that the owners of the 45-acre mall site have submitted a pre-application under the provisions of Senate Bill 330, the state’s Housing Crises Act of 2019. Presumably, the owners are understandably “hedging their bet” on securing city approval of their current plan, for which the city has prepared an environmental impact report.

Project opponents have, during the comment period on the draft EIR process, cited numerous deficiencies with that document. Citing deficiencies is too often a mere prelude to a legal challenge to the city’s ultimate certification of the final EIR. That action must be taken prior to considering any approval of the project.

While California Environmental Quality Act lawsuits can be quite expensive, it’s their ability to delay projects for lengthy periods of time that make them attractive to project opponents. For developers, project delays equal major project financial costs that can kill off a project.

Unfortunately, while California has passed legislation intended to address the state’s affordable housing crises, it has not yet done anything to address the use (or abuse) of CEQA and the associated lawsuits to kill projects. Unless and until that is done, the state’s housing goals will likely, unfortunately, remain largely hamstrung.

The state is long overdue to meaningfully reform CEQA.

— Bill Ramsey, San Rafael

Free rides won’t fix the many problems of SMART

Directors of the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District are planning to give free ridership to seniors and kids starting Monday (“SMART approves free fares for a year for youths, seniors,” Dec. 23). I suspect this is nothing more than an attempt to inflate usage numbers.

The next time the tax is up for a vote, I urge Sonoma and Marin taxpayers to not bail out the failed SMART commuter train by pouring in millions more.

— Paula Neese, Novato

Biden’s accomplishments make him best candidate

I found the political cartoon published in the IJ on March 20 by Clay Bennett to be infuriating. It showed President Joe Biden and the tag “Not Trump 2024.” This kind of message does voters a disservice. Anyone who watched the State of the Union speech now knows all that the Biden administration has been doing for America — especially the middle and lower classes — since it hit the ground running in 2021.

I think many in the mainstream media have diminished Biden’s significant accomplishments in lieu of magnifying every inane word and gambit of Donald Trump. In Biden’s few years in office, with near total Republican obstructionism, he has rebuilt the agencies gutted by the former administration.

With humility, Biden has put us back on track after the global catastrophe of the COVID-19 pandemic, which Trump’s administration mishandled with deadly consequences. Biden is laying the foundations for a future of sustainability and economic growth.

Biden has such faith in the American people, certainly much more than I have. I pray we can earn his faith in us in November.

— Monica Norcia, San Rafael

Irresponsible Trump should not be elected

Last month, I reached my 85th birthday. I served in the U.S. Army 3rd Armored Division in Germany (with Elvis Presley, no less) and practiced medicine as an OB-GYN in Marin for 35 years. After retirement, I ventured into local politics. I was elected to the Marin Healthcare District Board of Directors in 2008. I served 12 years in that position.

Those are some of my credentials; here is my opinion: Donald J. Trump is a narcissistic, irresponsible demagogue who is ruining the Republican Party.

Having liberal and conservative parties in our political system is healthy for our democracy. Trump is not only audacious and quixotic, as a role model, I believe he is also ruining examples for our kids and grandchildren.

I grew up as a champion of the radio program, “Jack Armstrong, all-American boy.” He was honest, trustworthy and heroic. Trump is none of these. He scares me. Frankly, it is depressing that a person like that, in a society like ours, can wield so much power.

Let us hope that sanity will prevail in November. We do not need a spoiled brat who acts like a 9-year-old in the White House.

— Dr. Hank Simmonds, Kentfield