Marin IJ Readers’ Forum for Nov. 18, 2022

Construction site gas generators problematic

As an architectural designer and former building contractor with more than 40 years of experience, I am baffled by what is going on in Marin County with Pacific Gas and Electric Co.

County officials have embraced “green” building measures, which is a good thing, but PG&E’s ineptitude appears to be defeating that goal. Many contractors are forced to use gasoline-powered generators on their job sites for months because PG&E won’t (or is so far behind they can’t) hook up temporary electricity for these job sites. The pollution in both air and noise is tremendous, with generators running eight to 10 hours per day, five days a week.

I believe that Marin County leaders should be able to do something about this. It defeats the purpose of being green and creates a public nuisance of air and noise pollution. County building officials should contact PG&E and force it to get power hooked up to new job sites as soon as possible.

With the state mandate to build accessible dwelling units, as well as new housing, this problem is only going to get worse. It’s bad enough that PG&E appears to be fighting to reduce the benefits of residential solar power in many ways, but for it to add to air and noise pollution is a needless waste of resources and an unnecessary cost to homeowners.

Someone needs to stand up to PG&E. I hope it’s Marin.

— Paul Bartolini, Santa Rosa

Dense Northgate plan reveals county inequity

While San Rafael’s Terra Linda neighborhood faces a proposed housing development at the Northgate mall that will lead to dense population in that area, Tiburon is fielding complaints about two mini cows (plus provisions for offspring) on 10 acres of land (“Tiburon residents divided over cow controversy,” Oct. 11).

Hey Tiburon, can I swap our problems for yours? Clearly, there is something wrong with this picture.

I worry that plans for housing at Northgate are moving forward without considering future demands on water (we will need to count on more rain) and sewage systems. We must also factor in noxious emissions from new vehicles, as well as fire, police and security issues. What will happen to traffic on Northgate Drive? And, once the live-work-shop center is established at Northgate, we will need to find parking for everyone’s cars.

I suggest that attorneys, looking for a client to oppose the project, continue to focus on the adjacent cemetery. That property’s peace and tranquility, previously promised and paid for, is surely doomed.

— C. Claxon, San Rafael

Corte Madera Council must work with residents

I find it interesting that none of the five candidates for three seats on the Corte Madera Town Council in their candidate’s statements in the Voter Guide ahead of the Nov. 8 election made any real mention of working with their constituents. The oversight was interesting, but not surprising.

It is those little things —like dealing with town planning, building or other departments — that is so important in getting to “yes.” Meeting the needs of the residents should definitely be a priority.

— George Topor, Corte Madera

Toxic laundry fragrance concerns are legitimate

I’m writing in response to a recently published letter to the editor from Roberta Anthes on the topic of toxic laundry fragrances. This is an under reported and serious issue.

Living in the Bay Area for more than 30 years and evolving with regard to all the products I bring into my home, I came to believe that laundry products are heinously dangerous. When I bought my first home, before I spent even one night there, I hired a contractor to remove the walls and ceiling in the laundry room and rebuild it from scratch. The toxic smells of fragrant laundry products make me feel sick and my body tenses up immediately.

We live in a time when we are all constantly assaulted with chemicals, some of which are put on our clothes and are with us all day long. It’s a discussion among many neighbors here in Fairfax. Several have complained at Town Council meetings. Some have issues at their homes downwind from the various laundromats in town. I think the business owners should mitigate the off-gas.

It’s not about being too sensitive. It’s about educating our neighbors and protecting the community. These products with fake fragrance chemicals are designed to cling and persist. I encourage the media to investigate and poll the public. I suspect the findings out there would be that there are a lot more people like myself and Anthes — people who work hard to avoid exposure and are impacted greatly.

— Richard Appelbaum, Fairfax