Marin IJ Readers’ Forum for Nov. 7, 2023

Hijacking of environmental laws must come to an end

IJ political columnist Dick Spotwood’s recent commentary (“Marin tired of waiting for needed 101-580 connector in San Rafael,” Oct. 29) is right on target.

The process is broken. Both the National Environmental Policy Act and the California Environmental Quality Act were passed in 1970. Each was initially supposed to look at the cumulative impacts of a project, something that was not required by those laws which addressed particular pollutants or actions.

These are good ideas. Unfortunately, both laws were “hijacked.” They have been used for many different purposes, most of which don’t improve the environment.

For example, unions have challenged major capital projects because companies plan to do those projects without union workers. But as soon as a company, intent to go forward, announces that it will make it a union project, the union’s position turns 180 degrees. Similarly, as seen in the attempt to build a high-speed rail system, an individual city can block the project by objecting via CEQA.

I have been to China numerous times from 2010 to 2019. I observed major changes there in terms of high-speed rail, new roads and major solar projects, as well as wind energy projects. There is no equivalent to NEPA or CEQA in China. Though I would not advocate for moving in that direction, I do think we need to move our projects along faster than we do now.

The costs and time preparing CEQA assessments, as well as having to address issues, hold hearings and deal with lawsuits for projects that would have an overall beneficial impact will only get worse.

The process has to be revised to get back to what was originally intended. Of course, each project still must meet the permit requirements under the applicable individual environmental laws.

— Steve Ziman, San Rafael

Though heartbreaking, Israel must keep up attack

The massacre of Israeli civilians on Oct. 7 will reverberate throughout all of time. The beheading of children, the killing of lovingly euphoric concertgoers and many other unspeakable atrocities will never be forgotten.

There is a section of the Yom Kippur service called Eleh Ezkerah that recalls attempts to extinguish Jewish life throughout history, from the Roman conquest of Judaea through the Nazi Holocaust. I suspect the terrorist attacks of Oct. 7 will be added to that prayer.

I recently watched an interview of Jordan’s Queen Rania on CNN. She movingly described how Palestinian mothers mourn for their children just as Israeli mothers mourn for theirs. That is so true. The loss of civilian life in Gaza is a devastating tragedy.

Rania said there is a double standard. She believes that, in the western world, Israeli civilian lives lost mean more than those of Palestinians. I do not agree.

Disturbingly, I worry that the Hamas terrorists are winning the public relations battle right now. The horrible hate being directed toward Jews across the world is evidence. However, I believe that Hamas does not represent the aspirations of the Palestinian people.

I think the geopolitical power vacuum in Iraq — once upon a time an adversary to Iran — has only fueled Iran’s influence in the region and their support for terror groups dedicated to annihilating Israel. Unfortunately, I believe Israel must fight Hamas to survive. And that is a deep tragedy.

— Bruce Farrell Rosen, San Francisco

Democrats wield power in some dangerous ways

The endless prosecution of former President Donald Trump has to stop. I think it is nothing more than election interference as he tries to run for president in 2024.

The current fraud case in New York is a case in point. It seems frivolous to me.

I consider the messaging that the Republican Party is “lawless” to be propaganda. I consider the district attorneys and judges prosecuting Trump to be the ones having trouble following the Constitution.

I worry that the laws aren’t being followed by several prominently elected Democrats. The allegations of corruption against President Joe Biden should be investigated further. Actions by Gov. Gavin Newsom and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton should also be scrutinized. In smearing Trump as a fascist for years, I think Democrats are merely projecting.

I was a registered Democrat until last year. But now, after watching recent authoritarian actions, I think the Democrats should be a concern to all Americans.

Our government has been weaponized against Republicans.

— Alice Liddell, Larkspur