Marin IJ Readers’ Forum for June 15, 2024

MMWD’s cautious plan deserves our support

In recently published letters to the editor, I have seen authors criticizing the Marin Municipal Water District Board of Directors for “wasting” money on further studies. One author expected “an immediate increase in our water supply.” If only increasing the water supply were that easy.

The water board is responsible for addressing exceptionally complex generational infrastructure issues in partnership with Sonoma Water. These decisions will impact Marin and Sonoma for decades to come.

Water resiliency planning began in earnest during the 2020-21 drought, well before several new board members were elected. Throughout the process, the current board has been making key incremental decisions aimed at improving our long-term water resiliency.

Infrastructure planning at this scale requires a carefully organized, step-by-step approach. Several critical studies have already been completed. They are now in the later stages of the decision-making process. By necessity, final decisions are still months away as staff and the consultants gather all the necessary facts.

The board is also focusing on accelerating wildfire risk reduction efforts on the watershed. Working to mitigate fire-related risks, this is part of the district’s goal to improve watershed health, protect infrastructure and our surrounding communities.

It is in the community’s best interest to continue supporting the board as they navigate this thoughtful, deliberative process. We are getting closer every day to identifying options that make sense from financial, environmental and physical standpoints. Real progress is being made toward these goals. This process is well worth the investment in time and expense.

— Larry Minikes, San Rafael

Middle East proclamation in Fairfax was a mistake

I attended the Fairfax Town Council meeting on June 5, at which it adopted what the council referred to as a “peace proclamation” on the Israel-Hamas war (“Fairfax peace proclamation prompts public debate,” June 7).

Despite the fact that Councilmembers Chase Cutrano and Stephanie Hellman stated they did this to bring the community together, I found no evidence of that at all during the meeting.

I was disturbed by some speakers who appeared to oppose any peace at all between Palestine and the Jewish state. When speakers from the Jewish community spoke about Hamas’ atrocities, I heard some disparaging remarks and jeering from some in the audience.

Ironically, earlier that same meeting, the result of a poll of local residents was presented. The poll asked what the top priorities for the Town Council should be. Making statements on foreign policy did not even appear at the 1% level. Yet the council has now devoted hours to this issue. In the process, it divided the town and made some Jewish residents feel unsafe. Do the residents of Fairfax feel that this has served their interests?

— Michael Harris, Bodega Bay

Owning, operating an EV is getting much easier

Two recent Associated Press articles published by the Marin Independent Journal on consecutive days illustrated the stark contrast in how some view our ongoing transition to electric vehicles.

On June 4, the article headlined “Electric vehicles suddenly get more affordable” was based on facts. It illustrated how EV prices are dropping, how the technology is quickly improving, how the number of public “fast chargers” is rapidly increasing, how charging times are dramatically dropping and how the transition to EVs is essential to combating climate change.

Unfortunately, the article published June 5 with the headline “Many shy away from EVs despite push from Biden” reported on people’s opinions. The article focused on results from a poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research and the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago.

Those skeptical of EVs were sharing what I consider to be big myths. The most off-base assertions discussed were that charging is difficult (in fact, most EV owners charge very conveniently at home or at work; charging on the road only during long trips); that materials used in EV batteries have downsides (I consider them minimal compared to the wars, environmental disasters and human misery caused by oil production); and that EVs are more expensive than fossil-fueled vehicles (not when you include the many available credits and rebates, as well as lower fuel and maintenance costs).

I encourage all to learn more at rideanddriveclean.org. It is an informational website run by a nonprofit that helps folks make the EV transition. If you want to find out more about the myths big oil is spinning about EVs, check out The Guardian newspaper’s “EV Mythbusters” series online. And, if you want to check out the superior performance of EVs, go test drive one — you’ll be impressed.

— David Moller, Larkspur

More affordable housing may not help homeless

I’m writing in response to Haley Hammack’s letter to the editor published June 8. Like many others, Hammack seeks to create a direct linkage between the cost of housing and the homeless crisis. Of course this linkage has superficial appeal, but I don’t think it survives much reflection or even a quick trip to see the San Rafael encampment down Andersen Drive.

Like many others, I’ve been “priced out” of housing markets in my time. In each case, I did what functional people do: I moved to a cheaper place and commuted to my job. What I didn’t do was pitch a tent on the side of the road, nor did I assume that “somebody needs to do something” to enable me to live in my first-choice market without regard to my earning power.

I think a misunderstanding about the concept of earning power is where the linkage between homelessness and housing cost is flimsiest. The attempt to blame homelessness on a shortage of affordable housing presumes that there is some rent that homeless people can afford. That, in turn, presumes that they are capable of holding a job.

That last assumption seems flawed when applied to the highly visible mentally ill and addicted segment of the homeless population. I think our society’s production of economically nonfunctioning citizens is not going to be rectified by its production of more affordable housing.

— Stewart Johnson, San Anselmo

Trump has ‘weaponized’ judicial system for years

I am writing in response to the recent letter to the editor published in the IJ expressing concerns that the judicial system was “weaponized” in connection with former President Donald Trump’s recent felony conviction.

In response, I think everyone should be focusing on the 4,095 lawsuits Trump has filed during the last 50 years. Many of them appear to have been filed as a way of litigating bills he owed.

Trump never complained about a rigged and corrupt legal system when he abused it for his own gain. I think that qualifies as weaponizing the judicial system.

— Jan Gross, San Rafael

Trump appears to have a problem admitting truth

I am a former Republican who has voted for Donald Trump, but was disappointed that he doesn’t tell the truth. I will never vote for him again.

I’ve heard it said that there are two kinds of people in the world — those that pay their bills and those that don’t. I think the modern version is that there are those who think Trump is lying and those that don’t.

I’m amazed how many bright people (including Speaker of the House Mike Johnson) continue to support him. There must be some honor left before our country goes back to a president who appears to have forgotten the difference between right and wrong.

— Richard R. Steussy, Novato