Marin IJ Readers’ Forum for Nov. 24, 2023
Push for bioretentive infrastructure in Marin
As a member of the San Anselmo Flood Commission, I enjoyed the recently published article in the Home & Garden section by P.J. Bremier about the Red Hill Avenue median (“San Anselmo’s medians get a makeover,” Nov. 18).
They are artfully planted with native trees, shrubs and grasses. They employ bioretention design to reduce local flooding and auto-derived water pollution. Before it was planned and built, a process the article describes, I advocated for many years for the Red Hill Avenue “Miracle Mile” median specifically as a major bioretention opportunity for San Anselmo. I also pushed for other successful much lower-cost projects in Fairfax (including the Pavilion parking lot and Parkade), as well as with county officials for climate-change resilience. I even wrote a Marin Voice commentary published Dec. 14, 2015 with the headline “Greener solutions for Ross Valley’s flooding.”
With San Anselmo facing a ballot measure to leave Marin County Flood Control and Water Conservation District Flood Control Zone 9 (“San Anselmo moves forward on ballot initiative to quit flood district,” Nov. 19), it behooves Marin officials and citizens to plan more similar “green” infrastructure. It should collectively reduce flooding, clean stormwater runoff and provide natural beauty and wildlife habitat.
Let’s not waste more taxpayer money exclusively on massive engineering studies for baffling baffles and big-dig boondoggles that will never get built.
— Warren Karlenzig, San Anselmo
Newsom should step in before PG&E rates rise
It is shocking that the California Public Utilities Commission has once again granted Pacific Gas and Electric Co. another substantial customer rate increase to take effect Jan. 1 (“Skyrocketing PG&E bills will soar higher after state ruling,” Nov. 17).
The CPUC commissioners are appointed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, who, other than calling on federal regulators “to investigate,” has never seriously stepped in to stop what I think is blatant corruption.
Instead, PG&E contributed to Newsom-related political campaigns, ballot initiatives, inauguration festivities and his wife’s foundation. The total comes to nearly $700,000. Earlier this year, PG&E pleaded guilty to 84 counts of involuntary manslaughter for causing the Camp Fire, just one of 30 wildfires it has been blamed for in California.
PG&E customers have been called on to pay for its mistakes ever since. While solar power can be a good alternative for some, this option is not feasible for everyone, including renters and property owners who live in prefabricated or mobile homes.
I think Newsom has his own interests at heart. Considering that, who can we take our concerns to as our rates continue to increase, becoming prohibitively expensive for so many?
— Christine Clayworth, Novato
Biden has accomplished during his time in office
Looking at the perilous state of the world today, we are in dire need of leaders. Leaders get things done for the betterment of society. President Joe Biden has been able to accomplish many things in his short time in office.
More people are working than at any time in our history. We are manufacturing more goods in America than has been done in recent history. He rescued the economy and changed the course of the pandemic.
He led the rebuilding of our infrastructure. He led the passage of the first meaningful gun violence reduction legislation in 30 years. He led the delivery of the most aggressive climate and environmental justice agenda in American history.
He led the push resulting in more people with health insurance than ever before. He led a successful counter terrorism mission against the leaders of Al Qaeda and ISIS. He traveled to the war zone in Israel and met with both sides.
He was able to accomplish all these things while being constantly harassed by the Republican Party, which includes members opposing every one of these solutions. I wish there was a younger person who could do all these things, but as we celebrate Thanksgiving, I am thankful Biden has dedicated his life to ensuring that our democracy works for the people.
Nobody in the current list of candidates comes close to being the leader that is Joe Biden.
— Jim Libien, San Rafael