Marin IJ Readers’ Forum for Feb. 14, 2024 – Marin Independent Journal

More people should have the benefits of exercise

I write this with great appreciation for the work the Marin Municipal Water District does for our community. My wife and I have recently followed the community debate about allowing class 1 electric-assist bikes on MMWD watershed land. We find there is an important topic missing from the discussion.

Much of the debate seems to be centered on the safety, and perception of safety, of e-bikes on these trails. Recent surveys have shown roughly 1% of riders have any concern on the trails, and most of those concerns have nothing to do with e-bikes.

What is missing from the discussion is the overwhelming health issue that is at stake.

I teach at the University of California, Berkeley in the School of Public Health. My wife is a psychotherapist. We know Americans are in the midst of two national crises: mental health is at a near all-time low, while metabolic syndrome and chronic conditions are on the rise. Exercise is one of the most important factors to combat both. The literature is packed with evidence to support that exercise lowers the symptoms of depression, anxiety and many other mental conditions, and is essential to better physical health.

Allowing people that may have some physical mobility limitations to use a class 1 e-bike to titrate the amount of exercise they can handle, and allow them to enjoy access to the beautiful trails that will improve their health and for which they help pay to maintain, is a no-brainier. Further, Marin has a disproportionate demographic of an aging population that will increasingly benefit from this safe form of exercise.

When you weigh the tremendous benefits of allowing everyone access to these trails, including those with mobility limitations, we see absolutely no compelling reasons to withhold the access.

— Deryk Van Brunt, Kentfield

Flood control project has been mismanaged

I am writing in response to the story on the race for the District 2 seat on the Marin County Board of Supervisors in the March 5 election (“Ross Valley supervisorial candidates outline top goals,” Jan. 28).

According to the article, “a multimillion-dollar Ross Valley flood control project championed by (retiring Supervisor Katie Rice and backed by (candidate Brian) Colbert has attracted criticism for mismanagement and a lack of transparency.”

The criticism is deserved. Local officials made mistakes when they failed to follow the Federal Emergency Management Agency guidelines while spending over $52.1 million on a flood control project that cannot be implemented without adherence to those very guidelines. This abuse of process was totally preventable.

Throwing millions down the drain was a reckless expenditure. That taxpayer money could have been used to address pressing issues such as fire safety, housing, traffic, homelessness or any number of problems.

Noncompliance with federal regulations can have severe consequences that impact the entire community via national flood insurance probation, suspension and sanctions. The community rating system discounts rely on credit points earned to discount flood insurance for the entire community.

Both FEMA officials and citizens have repeatedly expressed concern over the county’s disregard for the clear and long-standing FEMA “no-rise” guidelines. Choosing to ignore the warnings amounts to a wanton and deliberate act that is driving the cost up beyond reason.

— John Crane, Ross

McPhail Sridharan is best for District 2 supervisor

We live in a very special community with four qualified candidates running for District 2 supervisor to replace Katie Rice in the March 5 election. My full support goes to Heather McPhail Sridharan. I feel she best represents what Marin needs to maintain its unique qualities while adapting to the needs of the future.

I have worked closely with her for the last decade as co-president of the Kentfield Greenbrae Historical Society. She is a listener who relates well with the community and understands their issues.

She is a doer who takes action and gets things done in a timely manner. She is a leader who looks ahead and has visions of ways to improve the community. Her priority of housing for those who make Marin special — teachers, public service employees and the service providers — is so important. As a retired teacher, I know that I would not be able to live in this community under today’s prices.

With McPhail Sridharan’s leadership as a supervisor, I know that we will be represented by a Marin native dedicated to balancing the uniqueness of the county with a sustainable future.

— Marilee Rogers, San Anselmo

Vote no on Measure A for Tam District high schools

I served on the Ross Valley School District Board of Trustees for two terms and worked to pass numerous tax measures to support our public schools. I’ve never voted against a school tax. Sadly, the streak will end on March 5 when I vote no on the Measure A proposal to fund construction for Tamalpais Union High School District campuses.

It’s too expensive. We can’t afford to spend what could grow to more than $1 billion in taxpayer contributions on buildings — including a cafeteria costing more than $100 million — particularly when enrollment is dropping.

We need to focus on academics. The Tam District’s math and English results are rated “low” on California state standardized tests because of a poor participation rate. Too small a portion of our students are graduating without having completed the curriculum required for admission to our state universities.

The Archie Williams High School students and community are being shortchanged, receiving only 13% of the bond money. The big projects at Tamalpais and Redwood would be funded at the expense of taxpayers in San Anselmo, Fairfax, Sleepy Hollow and San Geronimo Valley. This measure is divisive.

The district’s ballot measure and proponents’ arguments fail to state the true cost of the measure. The district’s campaign is funded largely by builders, consultants and pollsters who will profit from tax dollars which might otherwise be spent on raises for teachers so they can afford to live here.

We need to prioritize the growing number of demands on our tax dollars. Schools need support, but so do projects to address aging infrastructure, climate change, water supply, affordable housing and more.

Measure A is unacceptable. Our community needs a more affordable, academically focused, equitable and financially transparent proposal from the district board.

— Spencer Sias, San Anselmo

Economic recovery talk hollow as debt climbs

Many have been declaring a renewed strength in the U.S. economy. However, if you dig a little deeper than the headlines and empty words from our politicians, the picture is rather bleak.

I keep an eye on our national debt clock, which is easily searchable online. No one seems to mention that our federal tax revenue is $4.6 trillion, yet we spend $6.4 trillion. That’s a deficit of $1.8 trillion — not good.

As a result of continually borrowing over time, our national debt is $34.2 trillion. As of last October, we crossed $1 trillion in interest to service this debt.

The cost of debt has doubled in the past 19 months as federal deficits ballooned. As interest rates increase, that $1 trillion will increase to $2 trillion over the next three years. In 2000, our national debt as a percent of gross domestic product was 59.3%. Today, it’s a whopping 122.7%. All of this is very bad.

This is a fiscal crisis that is eventually coming due. Government spending is up 12%. These numbers are staggering and unsustainable. The U.S. will go over the cliff if spending is not brought under control. The numbers don’t portray strength in our economy.

— M.S. Popovich, Larkspur