Marin IJ Readers’ Forum for July 26, 2023

Mill Valley commitment must cover city’s 2 sides

If Mill Valley leaders approve the proposed 1 Hamilton Drive affordable housing complex, the Friends of Hauke Park group believe they will have failed to meet the challenge required by law to affirmatively further fair housing throughout the community to overcome historic patterns of segregation (“Mill Valley sued over affordable housing project,” July 5).

City officials have yet to reject the plan for a massive hotel-like structure on the city’s east side. That part of the city already hosts all six of Mill Valley’s existing affordable housing developments. This proposal will further concentrate affordable housing on the margins of the city, the very opposite of affirmatively furthering fair housing throughout the community.

The city’s housing consultant identified potentially suitable sites for affordable housing in other neighborhoods. In a housing workshop report from February 2021, the consultant mentioned a city-owned site close to downtown, identifying it as superior to 1 Hamilton. Yet, it appears those sites identified by the consultant are omitted from the city’s site inventory. In the crisis created by the state’s draconian housing laws, no eligible site should be off the table.

The proposed project will dwarf the houses and condos in the neighborhood. Nearby residents do not oppose development at the site and would support a smaller project that would fit well in its context. The city and its chosen developer contend that a smaller development would be financially infeasible, but I feel they have failed to provide evidence to support this contention despite requests by neighborhood residents.

This action makes it appear that city officials regard the eastern portion of Mill Valley as less important than the elite areas of the city. A lawsuit should always be the last result, but the city’s stubborn refusal to listen to the concerns of residents has left them with no alternative.

— Kevin McGrath, Mill Valley

State law really only stops the gouging of our renters

As a member of the team in support of Housing Is a Human Right, the housing advocacy division of AIDS Healthcare Foundation, I believe Marin IJ political columnist Dick Spotswood misled readers about the Tenant Protections Act of 2019 in his recently published commentary (“Marin communities should be careful with renter protections, rent control,” July 9).

First, I do not consider the existing law to be statewide rent control. It is an anti-rent-gouging law. There’s a difference. Second, the University of California at Berkeley’s Terner Center for Housing Innovation released a study in September 2022 that found the Tenant Protections Act to be seriously flawed and in need of major reforms.

In the end, we must repeal statewide rent control restrictions in California, allowing local officials to pass updated rent control policies. Rent control is the only way to rein in the greed of predatory landlords.

— Patrick Range McDonald, West Hollywood

MMWD employees deserve fair treatment

Thanks to Marin IJ reporter Will Houston for the informative article about the Marin Municipal Water District’s employee protest on behalf of a fair contract (“Marin water supplier, union at odds over wage, benefit proposals,” July 13).

Of course, a successful negotiation is preferable to a strike. But, from the article, it seems the district employees feel the proposals being offered are not acceptable thus far. I consider General Manager Ben Horenstein’s remarks telling.

“I don’t feel it’s beneficial or appropriate to negotiate via the press,” he said.

Would he rather the public not know what is going on? I’m sure that most of us believe in the workers and their needs, and appreciate the union advocating for a fair deal. I hope that their efforts succeed and that the district respects the worker demands.

Journalism like this provides daylight on such matters and enables change for the better.

— Ruth Britton, Greenbrae

Off-leash dogs should be allowed at Millerton Point

If you and your dog visit Point Reyes National Seashore or Tomales Bay State Park, you probably know your furry friend must be on leash at all times. You also probably know that managing a leashed dog can lead to human falls, limits freedom to focus on nature and minimizes the benefits of the outing for dogs because running is essential to their overall health.

I am part of a group of West Marin locals working to secure a rule change from the California Department of Parks and Recreation to allow for an off-leash area at Millerton Point in Tomales Bay Park.

We chose this spot because there is no documentation of damage to wildlife or habitat caused by dogs, though locals have walked dogs off leash there for decades. There are few cyclists. Millerton is not a seal-pupping area or seal resting point, not a deer site and most bird life is offshore or in wetland where people don’t walk. It is flat, with little tall growth so dogs can be seen and leashed if necessary. Two beaches (out of three) are infrequently used.

We believe the needs of wildlife, habitat, hikers and dogs can safely be better balanced. We are talking with park officials, our elected representatives and rangers, researching parks where dogs run free, getting advice from dog advocacy groups and writing safety rules to accompany an off-leash regulation.

If you want your dogs to have a place to run free in West Marin parks, please write a letter and email me at judyspelman@att.net. Strong public support makes it more comfortable for officials to consider a change and, hopefully, other parks will follow our lead.

— Judy Spelman, Inverness

Busy San Anselmo store can’t keep up the pace

I have been shopping at the Red Hill Safeway supermarket in San Anselmo for years. I feel there is a chronic shortage of employees at checkout counters at busy shopping periods.

Based on the responses I’ve gotten from different employees, I think the store is lacking a clear policy about opening additional checkout counters. Management needs to get its program together.

I feel for the overworked Safeway staff, especially the overworked checkers.

— John Torrey, Lagunitas

Not all bridges use tolls to pay for maintenance

After reading Immo Gunzerodt’s recently published letter about bridge tolls and maintenance costs, I must point out that there are plenty of bridges like San Diego’s Coronado Bridge that don’t have tolls and are paid for by state funds.

I think all bridge officials should consider paying their own maintenance instead of charging commuters a toll.

— Bill McNicholas, Marinwood

Private club plan would ruin inclusive Mill Valley

The true soul of Mill Valley was reflected in the spirit of Jeannie Patterson when she was owner of the original Sweetwater music venue. Anyone could attend. There were seats for all of us. The Mill Valley Block Party and our annual Mill Valley Memorial Day parade are other bona fides of the original spirit of the inclusive Mill Valley that I moved to almost 34 years ago.

I agree that Mill Valley has lacked in including people of color, yet I feel that is slowly starting to improve. The real nature of our city has mainly consisted of an inclusive community.

Now, business-minded investors want to turn the historic Bank of America building downtown into a private club (“Mill Valley bank landmark proposed as private club,” July 8). I believe that would destroy our city’s foundation. Creating a private club in the middle of downtown that caters to only the wealthy and privileged is not a good idea.

Not only that, but it appears that the group doesn’t have a plan to provide enough parking spaces for the expected daily attendance of 95 to 220 people. Downtown already has too few parking spots for customers of other businesses. This venture simply does not belong in the center of downtown. Those proposing the club simply don’t understand that Mill Valley is an inclusive town, not an exclusive one.

— Joan Steidinger, Mill Valley