Nicasio spillway project a smart, affordable solution

The proposed Nicasio Reservoir spillway modification project is a clear win for Marin’s long-term water security. It would install a 280-foot-long, 4.4-foot-high inflatable rubber gate on the crest of Seeger Dam, increasing reservoir capacity by approximately 3,700 acre-feet.

To put that in perspective, Marin Municipal Water District customers use about 21,000 acre-feet of water annually. The added storage would therefore represent nearly 18% of the district’s yearly consumption — a major boost to supply resilience.

The project delivers unmatched value. Its estimated cost is just $15 million — far lower than any other proposed long-term supply solution. For comparison, the second lowest cost proposal, the “atmospheric river” capture project for Russian River water, provides a similar volume (3,800 acre-feet) but carries a capital cost of $168 million, not including ongoing water purchases from Sonoma County.

Some Nicasio residents oppose the project, citing concerns about increased flood risk. However, it will undergo a full environmental-impact report under the California Environmental Quality Act. If it passes this rigorous review, those concerns should be addressed and mitigated.

Given its scale, cost-efficiency and potential to improve water reliability for 191,000 residents, I think it deserves broad public support. It’s a rare opportunity to strengthen our water future at a fraction of the cost of alternatives.

— Gaetan Lion, Mill Valley

Appeal kick-started resistance in Fairfax

In April, the Fairfax officials were shown plans for a seven-story mixed-use structure proposed at School Street Plaza. It consists of 243 residential units and 5,750 square feet of commercial space. It is grossly out of place in a residential neighborhood consisting of one and two-story buildings.

At the time, it appeared to me that the Fairfax Town Council was going along with the determination that, based on state laws, it had no local control. I think the council changed its tune when former Mayor Lew Tremaine attempted to file an appeal opposing the town’s approval. It brought attention to the fact that the application was incomplete and did not meet the requirements for ministerial approval.

I was impressed that Jeffery Beiswenger, Fairfax’s planning director, with the support of the Town Council, submitted two letters to the developer, Mill Creek Residential, pointing out the application discrepancies.

A recent IJ editorial (“Appeal of proposed Fairfax development worthy of attention,” June 8) stated, “There is a great deal of local public interest in the proposal and the town’s process. The appeal is evidence of that. Town Hall should make responding to that interest with transparency and clarity a top priority.”

I couldn’t agree more. This is the right direction for Fairfax. Many will be watching.

With massive housing developments being proposed all over Marin County and California, there is broad public interest. Our success will encourage others to question new laws that have steadily removed zoning and planning powers from locally elected government.

Our message is clear: We don’t “pre-obey.” We don’t make deals that upend our legal rights.

— Teliha Draheim, Fairfax

Infrastructure for bikes costs too much

I have noticed three words that get used a lot these days. The words are “accountability,” “transparency” and “bullying.” When they are used, what, if any, action comes about? Not much, I’m afraid.

Time and again, we’re told that our local governments want to provide transparency and accountability around actions and decisions. If that is so, I would like a detailed account of the money being spent on excessive infrastructure for cyclists in Marin County.

While I’m all for bike safety, creating massive double lanes barricaded with bollards on Grand Avenue in San Rafael, for example, is excessive. It all leads to cyclists riding too fast. It’s one thing to ride safely, another to speed along as though it’s a race.

Meanwhile, nearby roads are full of potholes.

Then there’s the debacle of the failed bike lane on the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge. I think bullying from the “bicycle lobby” is impacting thousands of workers and other travelers trying to access Marin County. Weak excuses and bullying have extended a four-year failure into six years. School kids are taught how to stand up to bullies. Maybe our decision-makers need to do the same.

At the time this debacle was being installed, I worked in the East Bay. On the east side of the bridge, a new retaining wall had just been installed over the entire hillside to prevent landslides. In order to accommodate the bicycles, the huge, new wall was torn down, the hill was scraped back several feet and an entire new wall was built at great cost.

I was pleased to see businesses finally speaking out about the impact the backup on the bridge has caused for their workers.

— Elaine Reichert, Santa Venetia

US is isolating itself from world’s expertise

I am writing in regard to the article by the Associated Press published in the IJ on June 4 with the headline “Hegseth might cancel Harvey Milk as honorary name for Navy vessel.”

It appears to me that, in seeking to remove the names of naval vessels honoring prominent civil rights figures like Harvey Milk, Thurgood Marshall, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Harriet Tubman, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is joining the roster of officials working for President Donald Trump who are willing to make military and government service as unbearable as possible for anyone who isn’t a White, straight, Christian male.

Combine that with the Trump administration’s attacks on foreign students, scientists and researchers; the belligerence aimed at our former democratic allies; and new travel bans. Through that lens, I think the U.S. is poised to be effectively isolated from the rest of the world and lose a generation of talent, expertise and goodwill.

— John Redfield Brooks, Fairfax

Need a better plan to pay for big tax cuts

For as long as I can remember, Democrats were considered to be wild spenders, while Republicans were considered the party of restraint. But I now believe that this has not been true for a long time, if ever.

Now, we have a situation where the GOP is planning big tax cuts. My head is spinning with the possible results if they succeed. I would expect that deficits would increase, which would require more borrowing. Interest rates will increase at a time when treasuries are no longer a safe haven.

I think the consequences of cuts would be compounded by the actions of a president whose overriding instinct appears to be to destroy. Financing the tax cuts with deep slashing of Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security is not the right move.

— Henri Lese, San Rafael

Cartoon about protests in LA missed the mark

I am writing in response to the editorial cartoon by Lisa Benson of Counterpoint Media published in the IJ on June 12. It suggests that damage from recent protests in Los Angeles was extensive and that only Democrats are criticizing President Donald Trump’s actions with respect to immigration raids and the protests.

I disagree with all those assertions. I consider the damage during the protests to have been minimal, and all sorts of officials have criticized Trump’s actions (not just Democrats).

I suspect many more Republicans disapprove of Trump’s actions, they just don’t want to criticize him because they are afraid. I think Trump’s use of masked, warrantless U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents is legally highly questionable.

Trump’s use of military force in L.A. was unnecessary. It inflamed the situation. Trump is a perfect example of someone who sets a fire in order to get credit for putting it out.

— John Martin, Novato