Marin IJ Readers’ Forum for Aug. 31, 2022

Fire protection valuable for historic buildings

As a former longtime San Rafael resident, as well as the co-founder and president emerita of the preservation group San Rafael Heritage, I want to thank the IJ for the recently published article about mitigating fire danger around some of San Rafael’s most important historic buildings (“San Rafael project targets fire hazards near historic buildings,” Aug. 23).

The venerable (and vulnerable) Falkirk Cultural Center and the San Rafael Elks Lodge, as well as the beautiful Boyd Gate House, are all bordered by open space on the south slope of San Rafael Hill. They are in danger from fire every summer, but now that drought and heat conditions are so much worse, the threat is even more serious.

Each of these buildings are architectural gems. They are living examples of the “gilded age” in San Rafael history, and they contain the stories of prominent families who had a deep impact on the history and development of our community. Best of all, these beloved houses play vital social and educational roles in San Rafael’s present day. Their loss would be devastating to the sense of identity and community in San Rafael.

Kudos to the San Rafael Fire Department and Kate Anderson, the hazard mitigation coordinator, as well as to the Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority, which is funding this effort. And thanks again, IJ, for keeping us informed.

— Cynthia Landecker, Santa Rosa

Bragman is a good choice for MMWD board

I am becoming alarmed by the rhetoric that is getting pushed regarding the Marin Water Municipal Water District ahead of the November election. The narrative that we need more water by any means necessary is concerning.

A huge project like desalination will cost our little district about $300 million, not to mention the environmental disaster of high energy consumption, air pollution with the emission of greenhouse gases and entrapment of marine life. I have done my part and conserved water. Local water consumption has been steadily decreasing as most of us adapt to reality. And, according to the statistics, more than 70% of us never even go past Tier 1 water use, including before the drought.

Why should our bills go up to subsidize the water wasters? What about the fact that there will be even more pressure to increase development if we have these new water sources?

I received a flyer from MMWD Director Larry Bragman. It seems that the district has already expanded our water supply considerably — just in the last year — with cost effective and supply effective pre-existing projects. For example, MMWD finished an upgrade to quadruple our nonpotable recycled water for landscapes and toilets via “purple pipe” recycled water. That is the kind of project I support. I like the pristine water from our local sources.

Let’s continue with the progress we’ve made. I am skeptical of anyone campaigning to be on the MMWD Board of Directors who is pushing these expensive projects. They don’t appear to be equitable for the large majority of us.

I have always trusted Bragman and I encourage people to keep him in office.

— Deirdra Rogers, Fairfax

Jury report about MMWD provides specific failures

In John Reed’s letter published Aug. 24, there are statements attributed to me that are wrong. Reed claims that, in my letter dated Aug. 13, I made particular reference to specific recommendations of the Marin County Civil Grand Jury. That’s not true. I referred to the report as a “must read” for those concerned with our water situation.

I wrote that the Grand Jury had 16 findings, all of which were critical of MMWD and their handling of our water supply. Anyone reading the Grand Jury report will see it makes specific recommendations that should be taken. Reed has cherry-picked a few points to support the campaign of incumbent MMWD Director Larry Bragman, none of which I mentioned in my letter.

Any objective reading of the Grand Jury report (available on the Marin County Civil Grand Jury website), will show that Bragman and the other current board members have failed us. They haven’t done the job for decades and don’t deserve to be rehired.

— Steve Isaacs, Greenbrae

Bragman a big part of MMWD’s recent success

I noticed the upcoming election includes seats on the water board. Marin Municipal Water District incumbent Director Larry Bragman is throwing his hat in the ring again to continue to be an excellent steward for our water district and supply.

Bragman has proven to serve our district well. He followed through with his promise to ban carcinogenic glyphosate from our watershed. The implementation of more environmentally benign methods (such as goats) to control invasive species is imperative to our health and is also a smart way to decrease fire danger.

Bragman’s commitment to fire safety is one of my main reasons I support his candidacy. I am happy that as of now we have 10 full-time wildland firefighters working in the watershed. In addition, there was a recent increase of rangers who are also certified for firefighting to six.

Aside from his work on the water district board, Bragman demonstrated great leadership on Fairfax the Town Council for 12 years. He was visionary in his participation in starting Marin Clean Energy (now called MCE). According to what I read, during his tenure on the water board, the district switched to being powered by 100% renewable energy from MCE. That’s huge.

Climate disruption has wreaked havoc worldwide. Anyone who says we haven’t planned well enough is ignoring something my research shows — Marin is in better shape with our water than almost any other vulnerable jurisdiction in California and beyond. Our reservoirs are filled to above normal levels right now. The district has acquired a 25% increase in new water sources just since last year’s drought.

Bragman is carrying on the vision of the populist movement more than 100 years ago in Marin to provide clean water ongoing while protecting the Mount Tamalpais watershed — an area most of us consider to be the jewel of Marin.

— Patty Bredt, Fairfax

No seat belt a factor in death of Princess Diana

Recently, the former senior officer in the Paris Metropolitan Police who headed a special inquiry into Princess Diana’s death in 1997 said that she likely would have survived the crash that killed her if she had been wearing a seat belt. This fact cannot be emphasized enough.

However, other significant factors at work that night include her employing a driver who had been drinking alcohol and who was driving at twice the speed limit. Not wearing a seat belt should just be considered one of several factors that sealed her fate.

— Frank Ridley, San Rafael

Letters with differing opinion are valued here

I am writing in regard to Alex Schafran’s recently published letter to the editor. In it, Schafran criticizes the IJ for publishing a letter opposed to the name change from Sir Francis Drake High School to Archie Williams. I find that scary.

It’s as though Schafran was advocating for censorship of a letter that he disagreed with. I think the point of the Readers’ Forum section of the Opinion page is to provide a platform for differing opinions, not to decide which opinion is valid.

The IJ should keep publishing well-written letters with strong opinions.

— Nick Clark, San Rafael