Tomales Bay State Park needs serious attention

While there are legitimate environmental concerns about California’s ecological restoration plan for Tomales Bay State Park (“Tomales Bay State Park managers plan tree-cutting, burns,” Feb. 19), the overall intent of the plan is meritorious.

The condition of the bishop pine trees in the park is dire. Reproduction has been suppressed by the lack of fire and by a huge buildup of dead material, resulting from sudden oak death syndrome and pitch canker disease. This has made it impossible for young bishop pines to sprout.

In addition, the fuel buildup threatens a disastrous “mega” fire, which would kill bishop pines, bake the soil and prevent sprouting. Also, a fire spreading from the park could burn homes on Inverness Ridge. We should all remember the disastrous 1991 Oakland Hills fire, when many ridge-top homes burned.

If carried out correctly, the state’s plan will restore the ecosystem and greatly reduce fire danger.

— Jerry Meral, Inverness

MMWD must focus effort to protect its watershed

The Marin Municipal Water District is in the process of seeking input from the community through a series of workshops as it prepares its watershed recreation management plan. I have a few thoughts.

MMWD’s primary job is to supply ratepayers with clean drinking water and preserve the natural resources of the watershed, not to provide citizens of Marin with the ultimate recreational playground through the construction of narrow multi-use trails intended to accommodate both the slower and faster moving visitors.

There are 18 miles of trails in the watershed, plus hundreds of miles in Marin’s other public lands. This is more than enough to satisfy the recreational needs of all. Adding more trails would only serve to damage sensitive plant habitat and to displace the wild animals who call it home.

Before considering new trails, I think the more productive approach would be to first focus on watershed areas in need of attention.

MMWD should decommission “social” trails. These contribute to erosion, compromise water quality and damage sensitive habitat for plants and animals. It should beef up awareness and enforce regulations through expansion of the ambassador program, creation of a robust volunteer patrol and the issuance of citations by rangers. The district should encourage awareness of our shared responsibility to protect habitats of sensitive plants and wildlife through signs, educational field trips and volunteer activities, such as removal of invasive plants.

The next workshop is April 12. Go to marinwater.org for information.

— Amory Willis, Sausalito

Move against community plans very disappointing

I am writing in regard to the recently published letter about the Marin County Board of Supervisors and concerns that changing the language of how it receives community plans will lead to a “one size fits all” countywide plan (“Marin supervisors faulted over ‘community plan’ dilution,” Feb. 21).

From my perspective, it appears that supervisors are working to appease their staff to the detriment of the citizens who voted them into office. This is not surprising, but it is very disappointing. The approval of these changes negates the dedication and work of those residents who wrote and updated the 24 community plans existing across Marin County’s unincorporated neighborhoods.

Each one of these plans took countless hours of work and study by a committee of residents dedicated to making their neighborhoods safer, better suited to the topography of the land and more beautiful for those who live in the area.

Rather than counting on the expertise of the Planning Commission, the supervisors ignored the vote to not recommend adoption of the new housing element and then moved forward to reject the influence of community plans, an action which was advised by staff but not by the state or the citizens of Marin — many of whom wrote advising the supervisors not to reject community plans. Those plans are the documents by which we govern the areas where we live.

It is clear that our supervisors do not work for us any longer.

— Linda Rames, Mill Valley

Susan Gladwin best for Mill Valley Council

In the March 7 special election in Mill Valley, Susan Gladwin is the Mill Valley City Council candidate to elect for our time.

We elect council members to do more than steward decision-making within our borders. We also elect a council member to serve on county and regional boards and commissions. These assignments are key to getting results on the real and present threats of climate change and wildfire, protecting our homes, communities, infrastructure and health and safety needs in our water- and resource-challenged future.

Gladwin works as the senior consultant for outreach and business development with the U.S. Department of Energy. She’s a founder of an equitable energy transition startup business. Gladwin led global teams advising entrepreneurs, investors and boards of directors. She’s been endorsed by thoughtful leadership organizations and community-involved individuals.

If the only thing you did before voting was to read the candidates’ ballot statements, you can read differences in their commitments. Gladwin is running “because she is passionate about leaving a better world for our children.”

In 2021, Gladwin stepped up to do the work and was appointed to Mill Valley’s climate action plan taskforce, chairing the buildings and energy subcommittee. Gladwin “wants to ensure that we address critical issues such as housing, wildfire, equity and traffic — while confronting climate change and enhancing our quality of life.”

Gladwin promises to “lead our community toward a healthier, safer, just future.” She will deepen community connections.

With flooding, road closures, heat emergencies, tree die-off and more “red flag” days, Mill Valley is not immune to these growing and unanticipated challenges. We need a good steward of city policies, programs and services. We also need a leader with vision and experience to achieve results. Susan Gladwin is ready to do the work.

— Maureen Brown Parton, Mill Valley

Deliver SMART riders to Larkspur ferry via gondola

In his recently published letter, Mark Schatz correctly identifies the design flaw in the distance from the Larkspur commuter train station to the Larkspur Ferry Terminal. The problem was not helped by the installation of a multimillion dollar pedestrian bridge. It’s too far to walk for some people and very difficult in bad weather for all people.

Here’s the solution: an overhead tram (aka gondola) from where the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit train line terminates to the upper level of the ferry terminal. It should be built in partnership between Larkspur officials and the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District.

There are no overhead power lines in the way, and both ends of the line are already elevated. My only request is that the first gondola cars be named after my granddaughters.

— J. Patrick Burke, Kentfield

Politicians continue to be major disappointment

I am angry at decisions by our elected officials and other career politicians. I am very suspicious of their actions.

Most recently, my ire is directed at the federal government’s lack of response to the dangerous chemical spill following a train derailment in Ohio.

I am disappointed that President Joe Biden made a trip to Ukraine and warned the Chinese government not to give weapons to Russia. I find this hypocritical of Biden, considering the U.S.’s issue with unsecured borders.

More locally, I can’t find a bill authored by Rep. Jared Huffman that I care about.

We should all be angry at the billions spent by our federal government with little our citizens need in return. I believe all politicians are phonies. They say one thing, do another and then smile.

— Rich Cairns, San Rafael