Marin IJ Readers Forum October 15, 2022 – Marin Independent Journal

Samson is the best choice for the MMWD Division 1 seat

After reading the IJ news article regarding the Division 1 race for a seat on the Marin Municipal Water District Board of Directors between Matt Samson and Jack Gibson (“veteran member of the MMWD Directors, Firefighter Faces Board Seat,” Oct. 2), I came away thinking the two candidates were running the same race, namely regional solutions that increase our water supply.

A friend reminded me that this was the same Jack Gibson who advocated for a pipeline on the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge in September 2021. Why didn’t he focus on regional solutions then?

Gibson is trying to reinvent itself, but the record speaks differently. This is the same person who did not give genuine support to regional solutions for nearly 30 years and now only champions them when his seat is in jeopardy. Forget it, I’m not fooled and no voter should be fooled either. The only candidate with a real new approach to tackling climate change, including the effects of wildfires and the impacts on our regional water supply is Samson.

Vote for Matt Samson in November.

—Joe Fraiman, San Rafael

Vote James Andrews for the Corte Madera Council

Former Corte Madera City Council member James Andrews is running for re-election. We wholeheartedly support him based on his past efforts and look forward to his return.

Andrews has proven to be an engaged learner. He works with residents and city departments to understand what the community wants and needs. He then helped apply the financial “best practices” he learned as a seasoned finance and management executive. He is a longtime resident of Corte Madera. He served us well as mayor during his time on city council from 2015 to 2020.

I have seen Andrews research, listen and analyze, and then act and respond to the needs of the community. He has taken a leadership position in promoting a community resilience agenda for our city by improving our disaster preparedness. The plan included neighborhood-focused grind days, evacuation planning, mitigating road obstacles, supporting community first aid courses, equipping our community with caches of emergency supplies and security awareness. Andrews has brought the above together ensuring funds are specifically set aside to support these important initiatives using sales tax revenue.

Andrews’ stated belief is to improve our infrastructure to prepare for disasters – rather than reacting as an afterthought – in wildfire areas (wildfire risk) and lowlands prone to flooding and scouring. sea ​​level rise (flooding and loss of infrastructure). Disasters in these areas could jeopardize our entire community.

We are safer thanks to Andrews’ efforts and his ongoing commitment to neighborhood protection and community resilience.

— Kathy Dennison and Michael Dennison, Corte Madera

Experienced Bentley adapts to Novato Health District

I am writing to urge the residents of Novato to elect Dennis Bentley to the Novato Health District Board of Directors.

I know Bentley. I can think of no better person, and no one with better qualifications, to serve on the Novato health board. Bentley has decades of experience in wastewater treatment. He has worked all over the world to set up water treatment systems.

Bentley would replace one of only two engineers currently on the five-member board. From what I know, Bentley’s opponent has little hands-on experience with the health district. Wouldn’t you rather vote for someone who has decades of hands-on experience with the issues and systems facing the Novato District?

The current health district of Novato has been rated “triple A” – the highest rating – for some time by the S&P index. This testifies to the good functioning of the district. Adding Bentley to Novato’s board would complement its current expertise and management strength. Novato needs Dennis Bentley.

—Hunter Freeman, Corte Madera

Former Russian leader deserves Nobel Prize

I read in the news about recent Nobel laureates. I think it would be appropriate to honor Russian leader Nikita Khrushchev posthumously. He was a politician who sacrificed his position to avoid a possible nuclear war that could have changed the world as we know it.

When the Cuban Missile Crisis reached its most dangerous phase, Khrushchev negotiated concessions with President John F. Kennedy to avoid nuclear war. The concessions included removing the missiles from Cuba, a politically unpopular act that later allowed his rivals to move him. Our counter-concessions were much less restrictive.

Despite his past unruly behavior, Khrushchev took steps to avert this potential nuclear disaster, even though it later cost him his job.

We might have been less fortunate if a less rational member of the political bureau had been in charge.

—Robert Settgast, San Rafael

A smaller government works better for the United States

I am disappointed that once again the editorial board did not endorse a Republican for regional or national office.

When elected, Republicans generally do not expand government but generally try to shrink it. We need less interference in our lives, not more. Democrats don’t believe it. They think government should and can do anything. Why do we think a few officials can come to better conclusions than 360 million Americans?

It is only when he reduces some of the government activity that our country has a chance to breathe again; such as when deregulation is carried out or taxes are reduced.

The United States did very well from 1789 to 1913 – before President Woodrow Wilson expanded the government under cover of world war. Before that, the country functioned on its own, as optimally designed by our founders. We had the fastest growing country in the history of the world, the highest standard of living and the most freedom the world had ever known.

Unfortunately, since 1913, we’ve attributed dumber things to government. Well, things seem to be getting worse.

—Roland Underhill, Novato

Carbon sequestered and money in the bank

Today, designers, architects, builders and government talk a lot about best practices for reducing greenhouse gas emissions associated with new construction, demolition, waste and reuse. Here is my personal take on this subject.

“When you save matters, what you build matters; what you don’t build matters more,” said architect Larry Strain. He wrote in “The Value of Carbon” on the University of Washington’s Carbon Leadership Forum: “When we evaluate emission reduction strategies, there are two things to keep in mind: the amount of reduction and when this happens. Because emissions are cumulative and because we have a limited time to reduce them, carbon reductions now are more valuable than carbon reductions in the future.

The French writer and philosopher Voltaire asked about time in one of his writings and concluded that time is man’s most precious possession. I agree because there is no better time than today to do all we can, no matter the cost or the magnitude of the effort, for the good of our children.

In times of climate crisis, we need to think of trees and wood as carbon time capsules. The longer they, the trees and the wood survive, the better. Their sequestered carbon equals money in the bank. And as long as it remains sequestered, its vital value (interest) is paid forward. Today is therefore not a better time to “lose nothing”, having the potential and the capacity to make our planet healthier and more equitable. Future generations will be so grateful for our love and caring.

—Bill Callahan, San Rafael