Services await homeless veterans in Marin County

I am writing in response to the recent Marin Voice by Alison Owings (“All can help homeless people struggling in our neighborhoods,” Feb. 26). I found it to be both poignant and well-written.

A number of the homeless people on the streets are veterans, often disabled with physical ailments and/or post-traumatic stress disorder. They can often get apartments through Section 8 vouchers provided through U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing programs. Social workers from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs operate in Marin County (in cooperation) with Sean Stephens, the county’s veterans service officer.

As homeless veterans get placed in apartments, they can access donated furniture and kitchen supplies through the San Rafael Elks 1108 community service organization, where I serve as veterans chairman (contact me at 415-453-4321). We have what may be the most aggressive such program in the country. We are happy to help veterans, who generally kept us safe by putting themselves at risk.

We can also provide referrals for veterans to people who can assist them with education and employment. The Marin County Veterans Services Office can help them with benefits, as well.

— Peter H. Behr Jr., San Rafael

Plans for big buildings in San Rafael misguided

Thanks to newly passed state housing laws, San Rafael is mandated to build 3,220 new units of housing by 2031. Several new housing developments have already been proposed for the downtown area. Monahan Pacific Corp. is seeking approval to build a 13-story, 189-unit apartment building at 1230 Fifth Ave. — across the street from the AC Hotel that it opened in 2023 (“San Rafael site proposed for 13-floor apartment building,” Jan. 1).

It will tower over everything else in downtown San Rafael, including the other newly proposed developments. If it is built as proposed, it will set a precedent for tall buildings that will dwarf Mission San Rafael and entirely change our city’s historic character.

I worry how all this new housing will stress the city’s infrastructure. The new building will provide parking for less than one vehicle per unit. Renters will be forced to seek street parking and downtown San Rafael will be left dealing with the parking woes that east San Rafael communities are dealing with now. The same developer is doing the same thing for a second building proposed four blocks away.

Mission Avenue and Fifth Avenue are already gridlocked during rush hour. What will happen with so many new residents on the roads?

The city’s power and water resources will be stretched to accommodate so many new homes. I am concerned about fire safety. The developer’s designs appear to cut off any decent access to the east side of the building, where fire engines now have access. I worry that residents on that side would not be protected. What will happen to neighboring structures if a big one strikes?

I wish our city leadership put up more of a fight. We must let our voices be heard and preserve the nature of our city.

— Darla Nagle, San Rafael

Thirsty Marin lawns do nothing for pollinators

Lawns are ecological dead spots. They evolved in Europe, where, in many parts, it rains in the summer and hungry livestock used to take care of the “mowing” and “fertilizing.” Lawns are not appropriate in our dry part of the world. They need lots of water, fertilizers, weed-killers (aka poison) and maintenance — all very expensive.

Most importantly, lawns offer nothing to our pollinators, who are already on the decline. A lawn might as well be concrete as far as a butterfly is concerned.

We should support the Marin Municipal Water District lawn-removal water conservation plan, because it is far better to replace a water-guzzling lawn with native ground cover than to keep them and be forced to increase storage by raising a reservoir level (possibly flooding out family ranches that have been held for more than 100 years). That option, which is also on MMWD’s list, is cruel to ranch families.

A homeowner can plant many lawn substitutes, such as our native Lippia or Carex. Both can be mowed and looks like a lawn, but are far less water needy. Children can play on these flat surfaces easily.

Other low-spreading plants can offer habitat (aka “food and lodging”) for our pollinators and showcase the front of the house with blooms and gracious forms. Pathways throughout can create a sense of wonder as we stroll and admire the birds, bees and butterflies that hover around nutritional native flowers and berries. A front yard planted in this way can come alive with color and life itself as wildlife visitors will abound.

— Hilde Simon, Corte Madera

‘Preserve Ross Valley’ group represents few

I am writing in response to an article published Feb. 25 with the headline “Residents sue county over Marin Catholic field lighting plan.” The group filing the lawsuit says bright bulbs will cause light pollution and night events will bring increased evening noise.

It calls itself, “Preserve Ross Valley.” As a long-time resident of San Anselmo (which we all know is part of the Ross Valley), I am flummoxed by how this group could possibly be working on my behalf. I live 4.3 miles from the school.

By my reckoning, there are some 38,000 residents in Ross Valley (which includes Greenbrae, Kentfield, Ross, San Anselmo and Fairfax). According to the IJ, the group consists of some 40 litigants. This infinitesimal percentage does not represent me.

I suspect a more apt name would be, “Preserve 40 Residences Above Marin Catholic.”

— Mary Jane Baird, San Anselmo

Criminal justice system is not a lever of force

In the arguments about the motion to dismiss the criminal charges against New York Mayor Eric Adams, there has been much debate about whether or not Adams offered or otherwise agreed to an explicit quid pro quo. Specifically, did Adams agree to enforce immigration policies if charges against him were dismissed.

But deciding whether there was an explicit quid pro quo misses the point. Whether or not Adams agreed to enforce the immigration policies in exchange for the dismissal, he clearly knows what is expected of him. He knows that if he fails to please President Donald Trump, the charges could likely be refiled at any time.

Use of the criminal justice system as a lever to force the obedience of a governmental official can not be sanctioned. All motions to dismiss without prejudice must be denied.

— Christopher Costin, Corte Madera

A quick study in fascism reveals disturbing trends

Many political science experts view fascism as a mass political movement centered around extreme nationalism, militarism and the elevation of national interests above those of the individual.

Fascist regimes often promote the overthrow of institutions that they view as “liberal decay” while simultaneously promoting traditional values. They believe in the supremacy of certain people and use it to justify the persecution of other groups. Racism was a key feature of German fascism, for which the Holocaust was a high priority.

Common factors of fascism have included the “cleansing” of all those deemed not to belong — foreigners, ethnic minorities and “undesirables” — and the belief in its own nation’s superiority. Recent global events, including the COVID-19 pandemic and racial unrest in the U.S., have substantiated the concern about how fascist rhetoric is showing up in politics and policies around the world.

Fascism can be defined as a cult of the leader who promises national restoration in the face of shame brought on by supposed communists, Marxists, minorities and immigrants who are supposedly posing a threat to the character and the history of a nation. The leader proposes that only he can solve it and all of his political opponents are enemies or traitors.

— Dennis Kostecki, Sausalito