Not all investors got their money back from Woodson

I am writing in response to the report about Michael Woodson (“Marin embezzler receives full pardon from governor,” April 7). The article states, “Woodson contends that the reason (Gov. Gavin) Newsom granted him the pardon is that all 2,000 of the investors in the Woodson Co., a licensed mortgage broker, eventually recovered what they invested in the firm.” That’s not true.

I am one of the investors. I never recovered 95% of the money I invested. I know of many people, some who were senior citizens at the time, who similarly lost their life savings as a result of Woodson’s criminal actions.

The article doesn’t depict Woodson as showing any remorse or acknowledgment for the harm and damage his criminal behavior inflicted. We were unsuspecting people who trusted in the family name built by his father in Marin County.

Many of his statements in the article are not consistent with the facts he pleaded guilty to, seemingly geared more toward rewriting and downplaying the narrative of his criminal conduct. He should be responsible.

In the article, he says he is not the “Michael Milken of Marin.” Actually, I think he may be the “Bernie Madoff of Marin.”

Yes, Woodson served his time. However, he has yet to offer his apology or complete restitution to the many victims and their families damaged by his choices and behavior. It is time to correct the record and call Woodson’s criminal behavior for what it was, without normalizing, trivializing or watering it down — pardon or no pardon.

— Jeff Morley, Fairfax

Key issues face officials at North Marin Water District

I would like to add details about some basic concepts that North Marin Water District customers need in order to understand the recent expansion proposal (“Marin water reservoirs spilling as summer nears,” April 8).

First, as utilities get to their last options for expanding supplies, unit costs (per gallon) will rise. This means that existing customers will then pay more for their water, so the utility can grow. Those costs will be in addition to the higher costs that will come from long-term system maintenance.

Second, as a utility approaches its supply limits it should reduce its service area, so it can’t be forced to serve longtime customers who haven’t been hooked up yet. That could require higher prices to reduce consumption per customer. Or increasing stepped pricing could be used. Pacific Gas and Electric Co. does this.

Since I moved here in 2010, I’ve asked the NMWD staff three times to pull in the boundary on the east shore of Tomales Bay, where large ranches are in the district. They have yet to respond.

Many other growth issues should be discussed by officials with the county, the cities, the utilities and other agencies as we approach our water limits and other constraints. We are lucky to have natural limits to our water supplies. Other areas will have to fight over how much more growth to allow. Those battles can be endless.

Climate change is making growth management even more difficult.

— Bob Johnston, Inverness

Biden must do more to push for cease-fire

For the past six months, we have listened to President Joe Biden and his spokespeople constantly say how concerned they are about the high numbers of innocent Palestinians, particularly children, being killed by the Israeli army during the war between Israel and Hamas following the terrorist attacks on Oct. 7.

Throughout it all, the United States has used our tax dollars to continue to send arms and military aid. As a sitting member of the United Nations Security Council, the U.S. vetoed a cease-fire three times before abstaining in the last one. It passed last month and was ignored by Israel.

The death toll in Gaza is over 31,000. Now, a man-made famine is happening. According to reports, Israel has prevented some aid, including food, from entering Gaza. Biden could put a stop to this catastrophe. He could stop delivering weapons to Israel.

Instead, it appears to me that Biden says what he thinks the electorate wants to hear while enabling Israel to commit what amounts to war crimes. I think he is sacrificing his presidential legacy for the sake of a foreign country.

— C. Gannon, Fairfax