Marin IJ Readers’ Forum for May 6, 2023

Magnolia Village condo plan deserves support

As a member of the Marin Environmental Housing Collaborative Board of Directors, I am disappointed to see members of our community fight the Magnolia Village project (“Larkspur housing project approval draws 5 appeals,” April 5). It represents the type of mixed-use redevelopment project Marin should embrace to both solve our housing crisis and increase environmental sustainability.

Condominiums are a rare and highly desirable housing option in Marin. They offer the financial and lifestyle benefits of homeownership, but with a smaller environmental footprint and lower cost than the equivalent single-family detached home. Magnolia Village is exceptional in that four of the units — 20% — will be affordable to lower-income households. Homeownership should not be an almost impossible dream for many families in our market.

Converting commercial properties to “mixed use” is an important strategy in Marin for building more housing. It is environmentally friendly. Infill housing prevents sprawl and the associated traffic and emissions. The traffic impact is less than would be for equivalent single-family detached housing. The reuse of an already developed property avoids the environmental impacts of raw land conversion. A side benefit of the project will be repair of the adjacent slide-prone slope.

There have been concerns about the height of the project. In California, “inclusionary housing” (requiring affordable units in market rate buildings) is our primary method of funding affordable housing. It requires market rate units in the building to subsidize the affordable units. There is no questioning that larger units with outdoor space are going to be more valuable than smaller units without outdoor space.

It is time for Marin to embrace more height in its housing developments. It is the only way to produce affordable units while protecting the open space that is a defining feature of Marin. We should embrace, not fight, Magnolia Village.

— Robert Pendoley, San Rafael

Studies, regulations make it hard to get things done

If all the consultants’ reports were laid end to end, how much of Marin County would they cover?

In thinking about this topic, I would like to ponder two adages: “Too many cooks spoil the broth” and “a camel is a horse that was designed by a committee.” In my experience, no matter if the issue is large or small, public officials are quick to say it warrants hiring a high-priced consultant to study it.

It appears to me that many of the consultant contracts for these studies (some of which are repetitive) never result in actual blueprints. If so, do any of these blueprints lead to actual implementation or construction?

Maybe the problem lies with one of the many committees empowered to raise objections. Or maybe there are groups ready to file a lawsuit against any approval. There seem to be innumerable bureaucratic hurdles to satisfy local, state and federal regulations.

I would use the issue of problematic silt in Gallinas Creek in Santa Venetia as an example. It seems that it takes at least five separate agencies to come up with an acceptable plan to remove it. The result appears to be inaction. Meanwhile, water backs up into the marsh because it can’t get up the creek.

Indeed, there are too many cooks. They are ruining the broth and wasting our tax dollars.

— Elaine Reichert, Santa Venetia

Volunteer supports vision of San Quentin’s future

As a psychologist and longtime volunteer at San Quentin State Prison, I have seen what goes on inside the prison up close and personal. I have seen the power and value of rehabilitation programs to transform the men inside from inmates to returning citizens. That’s what has kept me coming back after 12 years.

In the recently published California Voice commentary (“San Quentin rehabilitation plans reveals complexity of new model,” May 2), authors Shervin Aazami and Emiliano Lopez clearly point out that the U.S. criminal justice system is burdened by complex historical and structural impediments, especially when compared to a forward-looking progressive country like Norway.

We are not Norway, so when Gov. Gavin Newsom initially announced his plan to transform San Quentin into a “rehabilitation center,” I was skeptical. There are so many obstacles within the prison. But now, I commend Newsom for stepping forward with this bold effort.

Gladly, I can say that there are already major reforms in place: San Quentin has an “honor” cellblock reserved for men who are programming and have no offenses. Those men have private cells, as well as a calm and quiet atmosphere. They are treated with kindness and respect by the correctional officers who work there. This is revolutionary and the ripple effects are huge.

More good news: By June, all men in San Quentin will have their own tablets which will allow them to make calls to their families for pennies — no more waiting in line to make family calls at an exorbitant cost. San Quentin has hundreds of dedicated volunteers who have been working on rehabilitation efforts for a long time. Newsom’s vanguard plan for the prison is already having an impact.

San Quentin is on its way to becoming “the preeminent restorative justice facility in the U.S.” It will be exciting to see what comes next.

— Diana Kronstadt, San Rafael

Richmond Bridge needs fewer solo commuters

I am writing to thank Assemblymember Damon Connolly and Tom Butt, the former Richmond mayor, for addressing the question of congestion on the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge. My main issue is how we will address the problem of traffic congestion on or near the bridge over the long term.

I believe it is time to be creative and bold in the search for solutions that reduce, rather than increase, the appeal of individual transport. Any solution that keeps the model of individual cars is just more of the same. It will contribute to more traffic, pollution and individual stress, with all the consequences for personal, community and environmental health. It is urgent that we think outside the box if we want to face the global environmental crisis and leave a better world for future generations.

We need a system that can provide an affordable, good and comfortable experience of commuting using public transportation. I would support a possible extension of the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit train or a system of articulated electric buses linking Marin to the East Bay via the bridge.

By connecting Marin County public transportation to Richmond’s Bay Area Rapid Transit train station, It would provide a complete circle around the bay. I believe that it is time to make a big jump to the future and out of Henry Ford’s era of one person — one car.

— Maria Alice Garcia, Larkspur

San Rafael police need authority to fight crime

In his recently published letter to the editor, Timothy Carroll suggests that San Rafael commit to “community policing” as part of its response to protests against the police department following an arrest that injured a man last year. I am not in favor of community policing for several reasons,

First off, as a whole, the community has little or no experience in overseeing police work. I am concerned that the community will only be able to offer anecdotal opinions rather than data-based suggestions.

Additionally, I think it is unwise to use a single interaction to create change of any kind. Some will say this incident is just the tip of the iceberg, but I believe that the overwhelming majority of San Rafael Police Department officers are a dedicated group of brave men and women who have historically defended and protected our city. In my opinion, we need to give police more authority to combat the rising crime rate that threatens us all.

Lastly, we have strong, smart and experienced elected professionals running our city. Let’s leave it to them.

— Thomas A Tucker, San Rafael