Vote yes on Measure A for Tam District high schools
Public schools are community endeavors. Schools depend on the community to successfully educate our students and raise civic-minded community members.
The Measure A bond proposal on the March 5 ballot is necessary for our students in the Tamalpais Union High School District. It will enable teachers (like me) to provide students with a quality education, preparing them for life beyond high school.
The group opposed to Measure A would like people to believe that the projects are unnecessary and extravagant. It has mischaracterized the plans for the future. It is important to clarify some of the arguments made by the opponents of Measure A.
The project at Redwood being called a “gold-plated cafeteria” by the opposition would actually include not only an updated cafeteria, but also two new academic buildings to replace dilapidated portables, allowing students to learn in modern, safe classrooms. The cost to build the up-to-date kitchen and dining space only accounts for a tiny percentage of the funding.
Second, by law, revenue from bonds can only be spent on facilities. The opposition claims that doing so means funding won’t go to students or teachers. It’s outrageous to assert that safe, modern facilities aren’t necessary qualities for teaching and learning.
Third, this bond will cost homeowners the same amount as bonds in some other Marin districts: $30 per $100,000 of assessed valuation. It generates $517 million of revenue because of the large size of the district, not because of an outsized tax rate. Just as property tax assessments are based on the purchase price of a home and not the amount of money spent to pay off a mortgage, it is not standard practice to describe a bond by its interest over time in any industry.
Please vote yes on Measure A for a strong community.
— Ann Jaime, San Rafael
Brian Colbert is best for District 2 supervisor seat
As a parent, educator, former national park service ranger and current volunteer who serves on the Fairfax Park and Recreation Commission, I wholeheartedly recommend Brian Colbert for the District 2 seat on the Marin County Board of Supervisors in the March 5 primary election.
Colbert is the most qualified candidate. He is the right person at the right time for this job. I admire his work ethic, vision and ability to process (and lead) on tough issues, especially those that involve more than one community or town.
Colbert has extensive experience working collaboratively at a regional level (serving as president of Marin County Council of Mayors and Councilmembers; chair of the Transportation Authority of Marin; and president of the Marin Transit Board of Directors, to name a few). He cares about the future of Marin, our parks and our kids.
He listens well and brings people together to take important action.
Colbert would be the first African American supervisor to ever serve Marin County. He has the right combination of values, experience and leadership to best serve our district. Please join me in voting for him March 5. This county needs and benefits from Colbert’s expertise and his experience.
— Lisa Hillstrom, Fairfax
Watershed recreation plan should be equitable
I moved to Marin to be closer to our gorgeous nature and to make it easier to access one of my favorite hobbies: mountain biking. I was quickly discouraged to learn how poorly our public trails are managed and how limited access is for the biking community.
I have spent time in vibrant towns like San Luis Obispo, Nevada City and Tahoe, where mountain biking draws in thousands of visitors (who spend money in the local economy). Local officials there have done excellent jobs reducing conflict between hikers, horseback riders and bikers. There, everyone gets equitable access to the trails we all pay for with our tax dollars. Furthermore, the trails where mountain bikers manage the systems are more sustainably built. Wildlife and sensitive habitats are protected.
I’m really excited about the upcoming Marin Municipal Water District recreation management plan. It aims to ensure equitable access for all users. Mountain bikers make up a large constituent of the trail users. I’ve seen firsthand how groups do an excellent job building and maintaining trails on private land.
With extra steps like bell boxes, one-way trails and odd/even days for hikers and bikers, we can greatly reduce user conflict while providing equal access to open space in a safe and sustainable way.
— Joanna Jones, Mill Valley
