Enforce rules for public EV chargers in Marin

Kudos to Corte Madera officials for taking steps to ensure that drivers who park in front of electric vehicle charging stations are actually charging their cars (“Corte Madera targets misuse of EV charger parking spots,” July 10). It makes it much harder to drive an EV when you find charging spaces occupied by cars that are not actively charging.

Now, if only Marin County officials would do the same. Every Sunday morning during the Civic Center Farmers Market, I can usually count dozens of noncharging vehicles (including some gasoline-powered cars) occupying spaces marked for EV charging only. It appears that many EV drivers think they are entitled to use the spaces even if they don’t bother to plug in their cars. All of this occurs within 100 yards from the entrance to the Marin County Jail, yet the scofflaws act with impunity.

County officials have done a great job of deploying a large number of very reasonably priced chargers near county facilities, but its failure to enforce the law makes those chargers far less useful to those who really need them.

— David L. Fiol, Novato

Rejected money for Tam team could be put to use

I read where there’s a major difference of opinion on the $250,000 payments to contractors working on the Black Students Support Team at Tamalpais High School (“Tempers flare at Tam Union school board meeting on consulting controversy,” July 8).

Without getting into the politics involved or voicing an opinion, I’d like to weigh in. My youngest daughter graduated in 2015. One thing I recall vividly was that she would attend the LifeWorks Learning Center next door to Tam High on a fairly regular basis to improve her grades and academic achievement. It wasn’t free.

So I’m wondering if the $250,000 that the article mentions was promised through private funding (and rejected by the school board) could be put in a separate fund for the BSST for after-school study at LifeWorks. As a disclosure, I will say I have no connection to LifeWorks.

I know the after-school program helped my daughter significantly. I’m positive that $250,000 could be put to good use.

— Bob Bowen, Tam Valley

Some TUHSD trustees don’t uphold our values

For weeks, hundreds of Tamalpais High School students, parents, teachers and community members pleaded with elected school district trustees to save a program that has brought what I consider to be unprecedented improvements in achievement and belonging for the school’s Black students. The Black Student Success Team was developed in the midst of an escalating crisis of racist student behavior to address the long-standing social isolation and serious educational disparities suffered by Black students at Tam High.

I am disappointed that Tamalpais Union High School Board of Trustees members Cynthia Roenisch, Kevin Saavedra and Jenny Holden defied the recommendation of previous TUHSD Superintendent Tara Taupier and the consensus of Tam professional educators to end two consulting contracts.

The community responded with an offer to develop private funding. The Friends of Tam District said it would raise the money for the consultants by working with the BSST. The offer to help, however, was not met with gratitude or cooperation by a majority of the trustees. It was rejected.

I believe the views of these trustees are inconsistent with our community’s values, as well as with racial equity laws and policies that the trustees should feel obligated to uphold.

— Tammy Edmonson, Mill Valley

Death of friend inspires a safety call to action

My heart breaks for the family and community of Chris Brignetti, tragically killed cycling on June 28 in a collision with a vehicle (“San Rafael cycling coach dies after bike crash,” July 4).

Thirty years ago, Mr. Brignetti (who I call Chris) taught me and my siblings to sail. He was a patient and charismatic role model. He ate oatmeal by the bushel and sang goofy songs. His cycling feats were legendary — one afternoon he rode to San Francisco to catch a movie. To Chris, the 100-mile round trip from Inverness was no big deal. He seemed superhuman. I was proud to tell him when I rode up Mount Vision.

His obituary shows that he carried his energy, warmth and passion to all he knew. May his memory live on.

Two days before Chris was killed, I was hit while cycling home from the Larkspur Ferry Terminal. I was on the bike path with the right of way. I saw the driver a split-second before the collision. I don’t think he ever saw me; I suspect his eyes were locked on traffic coming from the other direction. Despite a stop sign and a sign warning drivers to “Be Alert! Watch For Bicycle And Pedestrian Traffic,” the vehicle did not stop.

The impact launched me into Sir Francis Drake Boulevard. Miraculously, I walked away. My wife collected me and my busted bike, and I went home to hug my four young kids. Chris and his family were not so lucky.

My bruises and scrapes are healing, but my sense of peace is still shattered.

As vice chair of San Rafael’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, I urge everyone to be patient and alert when driving. A moment of inattention can take the life of a parent or, God forbid, a child. We must also improve infrastructure for all who use our roads and paths. Marin is a magical place to live. We must make it safe as well.

— Sean Callagy, San Rafael

Questions about ICE raids raise concerns

Immigration has always been an issue in the U.S., whether our government was led by a Republican or Democrat. It’s a difficult topic to discuss because of the continuous divide between parties on how to resolve it. I think that’s the whole problem.

I can remember when former President Joe Biden encouraged immigrants to come to our country. My eyes rolled when I heard this. My eyes are rolling again as I observe and listen to how the present administration is handling the immigration problem.

What bothers me the most is seeing immigrants being aggressively rounded up and housed behind bars, after being arrested without probable cause. What about the people who were born here, who are American citizens, have American passports and some of whom have served our country by defending it? Some of them, too, have been arrested.

I am concerned that some of these people who say they are U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers aren’t actually officers. When I see coverage on the news of them capturing immigrants while wearing face coverings, slapping handcuffs on them, forcing them into unmarked vehicles and speeding off (possibly so no one can capture license plate numbers), I am led to wonder if they are legitimate.

We know where some immigrants are housed, such as in El Salvador, but we do not know their names. There are some immigrants detained in local prisons. Others have simply disappeared after being captured.

What is going on right now is cruel and inhumane. This is not how democracy works. This is not America. Look at it this way: It could be you or me next.

— Sue Curran, San Rafael

Approval of budget should bring a feeling of shame

I don’t even know what to write on a protest sign. No three- or five-word message is right for holding my grief following the approval of the Trump administration’s budget.

Maybe the message is this: Shame on Congress. Shame on all of us for allowing the slow creep of power that stains us as we stand around and pretend it is OK.

More than 16 million people on Medicaid are expected to lose their health care, including disabled people and seniors. Millions of schoolchildren, seniors, veterans and others will lose the food aid they rely on to stay alive, let alone healthy.

Shame on Congress for passing this budget. Shame on us all for allowing them to pass it.

— Geneviève Duboscq, Novato