Marin IJ Readers’ Forum for Nov. 3, 2019

Costco will drop gas station for approval

I came away with set beliefs after attending the two recent San Rafael planning meetings regarding a proposal to bring Costco to Northgate mall. First, it’s obvious that a vast majority of Terra Linda residents think it’s a terrible idea to build a Costco at the Northgate.

Second, I do think Costco will be moving into that mall. The mall owners want Costco to be there and Costco wants to be there. I don’t think the Planning Commission or other leaders have the power to stop the marriage. Costco representatives stated that the Northgate Costco had to include a 30-pump, 85-car queuing area gas station. They said that without the gas station the project wouldn’t go forward. So Costco is saying that without the gas station their new Costco wouldn’t be profitable enough to stand alone. I guess the Novato Costco without a gas station must just barely being able to make ends meet.

See, I think the proposed Northgate gas station is Costco’s ace in the whole. Company representatives always knew a Northgate mall gas station would be a very hard sell to the public. The mall already has four gas stations within a stone’s throw, do we really need another one? Costco is going to keep saying that it needs to have the gas station to make the project feasible, while the Terra Linda residents and the Planning Commission says no to the idea.

Third, I think, at the end of the day, after a hard fought battle between both sides, Costco will give in and use their ace and remove the gas station from the overall design. By making this concession they then will get a green light to build. Maybe I’m wrong, but I think this was their game plan from the very start. In the end they got exactly what they really wanted a Costco at the Northgate mall.

— Jim McClelland, San Rafael

Climate change is real threat in wildfire fight

During the recent power outages in Northern California, there’s been a lot of criticism and complaint aimed at Pacific Gas and Electric Co. And yes, better advance notification, preparation and updating is always desirable — as is better power line maintenance.

But the real outrage should actually be directed at ourselves.

We are the ones fundamentally causing these horrific, increasingly frequent and extreme wildfires — because of the food we eat and waste; the big petrol-powered cars and SUVs we drive; the gas stoves, water heaters and fireplaces we hang on to; the trees we cut down to build our big beautiful homes; the landscapes we pave over for yet another big shopping mall or housing development; and the non-essential airline trips we take to distant destinations.

Unless we change our personal habits and lifestyles, and unless we demand that our political and business leaders address climate change in bold, effective ways, we won’t have any more forests to burn and cut down, clean air to breathe and water to drink, nutrient-rich food to eat, wildlife to marvel at, or safe healthy planet to inhabit and bequeath to our children and grandchildren. We only have ourselves to blame.

Living on Mount Tamalpais, with the Golden Gate National Recreation Area as our closest neighbor, my family is particularly vulnerable to wildfires and very grateful for our vigilant, courageous fire-fighters. But even so, true and lasting wildfire prevention means addressing its fundamental causes and doing whatever it takes to stop and reverse global warming.

— Sanna Thomas, Mill Valley

94-year-old suffers through PG&E shutdown

What PG&E has done with the four-day blackout is disastrous, dangerous and unnecessary. No monopoly should have so much power over thousands of people. San Rafael was been a ghost town. Some businesses will not be able to open again because of lost revenue. Employees will not be able to pay their bills because of lost hours of work. What did dairy farms to with their milk if the stores are not able to get all refrigerator units going in time for deliveries?

Many people have suffered as a result of this blackout. I know I am not alone, but I am 94 years old and was not able to have any hot food for those four days — I had to have cold fruit, veggies, and nuts. As a result I am now weak. Two wonderful people came to my rescue with hot soup.

I had no phone service and my medic alert system went out due to no power. It will not do any good to sue the utility company — only the attorneys will get richer. It is up to our governor to use his power to do something and do it now. We need to revolt.

— Della Holloway, San Rafael