MMWD needs to focus on expanding capacity

In early December, Gaetan Lion, a resident of Mill Valley, wrote an important letter published in the Marin IJ. It illustrated the Marin Municipal Water District’s inability to develop (and then implement) even a short-term plan to improve the supply of water for residents by increasing the rain capture and storage capabilities of our existing reservoirs.

Over the past several decades, MMWD commissioned studies on building cutting-edge costly desalination plants to increase our water supply. Building an expensive Richmond-San Rafael Bridge water supply pipeline to Marin has also been studied. Negotiating with alternative suppliers of their costly water has been studied. Yet, from my perspective, not nearly enough has been done to increase and store an expanded supply of residential water.

Many residents hoped that the new members of the MMWD Board of Directors would prioritize the development of an action plan to increase rainfall storage. I think some directors focused on expanded bike access to the watershed instead.

As February approaches, MMWD, in its time-honored tradition, will likely donate all the rainfall that its at-capacity reservoirs cannot store to the Pacific Ocean.

Why is the expansion of the storage capability of our reservoir system not being prioritized? I don’t care if the process of excavating new reservoirs feels too low-tech or if the idea of building new reservoirs is not cool. It may not be the most creative solution, but it is the most obvious.

— Norma Rusbar, Mill Valley

There are strong aspects to Trump deportation plan

I have seen several authors in various publications attack President-elect Donald Trump about his plan to deport undocumented immigrants. His first target is immigrants who are members of gangs and/or who have committed crimes. I support him 100% on that goal, as I want to be safe from those individuals.

I also want to make sure that no undocumented immigrants take benefits that might otherwise go to American citizens — especially disabled veterans. As Trump has indicated, that group, who served our country and kept us safe, needs to be prioritized first.

On the other hand, I totally disagree with Trump on his stated desire to end birthright citizenship. This is wrong, and it would take a constitutional amendment to make that change.

For some law-abiding undocumented immigrants, I would favor giving them a chance to work and pay taxes. Those who contribute to our society should be given an opportunity to bid for citizenship.

Those who seem content to take from our country (without giving enough back) must exit our country. We should encourage immigrants who want to come here to work and accept our laws, as most of our ancestors did in the past, but reject those who want to sneak in. Breaking laws while demanding goods and services should not be allowed.

— Peter H. Behr Jr., San Anselmo

New water-rate structure creates an unfair burden

Our neighbors are, like us, completely aghast at the exorbitant water rates that appear to be permanently in place with the new rate structure introduced by the Marin Municipal Water District earlier this year.

As a retired couple who own a home on a small quarter acre lot, we find the bills to be prohibitively high. If the reason for the massive increase is infrastructure upgrades, there should be an end.

If that’s the plan, MMWD should explain that to its customers. In the meantime, something really needs to be done about getting these costs in line.

— Doug Shaw, Kentfield

Theft shows why limited public funding is better

I am writing in regard to the article published Nov. 30 with the headline, “Marin Housing Authority reports $950K theft by hackers.”

I found this news extremely disappointing. I think it is an example of why limited government is not a bad idea.

From reading the article, it appeared to me that Kimberly Carroll, director of the Marin Housing Authority, seemed more concerned about replacing the lost money (with more public funding) than catching the bad actors and getting the $950,000 back.

— Roland Underhill, Novato

Phillips’ commentaries filled with hope, optimism

I feel uplifted every time I read a Marin Voice piece by Mark Phillips on the IJ Opinion page.

He did it again in his commentary published Dec. 9 with the headline “Encouraging adolescent exploration of political heroes.”

As an emeritus educator, Phillips shares his wise and judicious insights about issues such as ethics, learning and mental health as they affect people across the age spectrum.

His columns encourage all of us to value and contribute to the common good.

Phillips is extraordinarily affirmative and optimistic as he outlines constructive ways in which we can all strive to be our best selves, while bolstering the well-being of our schools, our government and the physical contours of our cities.

His columns are especially powerful when he offers all of us inspiring ways in which we can — as parents, educators or allies — encourage young people to think critically, and to see themselves as creators, innovators and civic leaders (now and in the future).

I want to thank Phillips for infusing these pages with hope and optimism.

— Shirl Buss, San Rafael

Flaws in state housing laws exposed in Fairfax

I was pleased to read Fairfax Mayor Lisel Blash’s comments regarding a recent housing proposal for downtown (“Fairfax housing proposal calls for 243 apartments,” Dec. 13). Blash was right when she said that the proposal came as a surprise and that community members are riled.

The main problem is its size. We need to make sure developers actually deliver on the affordable units they promise. If affordable housing was a goal or a value for the housing industry, we would not have a lack of it.

From what I can tell, the central goal for the developers is still to make a profit (which is certainly reasonable).

I put the blame on flawed state laws forcing towns to promote affordable construction. The laws ignore some basic facts of capitalism. Towns are not businesses and generally do not build housing.

The proponents of massive housing construction also miss the fact that the most affordable units would be smaller for one or two people. The state has done little to promote these units.

Rather, it appears that housing advocates seem to believe that, by forcing certain kinds of housing projects on some people already living in the community (likely reducing their quality of life), they can somehow enhance the lives of some others. That is a very wrong-headed idea.

— Niccolo Caldararo, Fairfax

United States must stop sending support to Israel

I support the Marin Voice commentary by Norman Solomon published on Dec. 13 with the headline “Huffman should not support sending US weapons to Israel” regarding Rep. Jared Huffman, Marin’s elected official in Washington, D.C.

As a Jewish American whose grandparents survived the Holocaust, the refrain of “never again” is deeply ingrained. It must apply to everyone.

After more than a year of our tax dollars funding what some organizations call “genocide” in Gaza (while Huffman sits in Congress voting to continue to supply weapons), I think it is time for more officials to step forward and continue the cry for the U.S. to stop arming Israel.

Many of us have wondered during our lifetimes how we would act in the face of a genocide. This is an opportunity to make a difference right now.

— Alison Hamburg, Lagunitas