Mill Valley School District needs better plan for TK

The Mill Valley School District’s transitional kindergarten program will survive for another school year (“Mill Valley School District extends transitional kindergarten,” March 26). The $2.2 million cost of the program will be funded with $1.5 million raised by the parents and $700,000 in cost-cutting by MVSD.

So, how can MVSD fund TK on a sustainable basis? There are several options. The first one is to add a parcel tax. This needs a 66.7% majority. The second one is to add a parcel tax through a voter initiative. This needs an approval of over 50%, but it needs signatures representing 5% of the voters. The third one is issuing a school bond repaid by a parcel tax. This would need a 55% majority. However, the scale of the funding may be too small for a school bond.

If MVSD wants to maintain the TK program, officials should select a funding path. They also should increase transparency. I found no financial information on the district website. To convince voters, they will have to open their books.

— Gaetan Lion, Mill Valley

Bus observations reveal very few passengers

I am writing in support of the recent letter from Angelo Siracusa about the Marin Transit bus system. While driving in various local areas, I noticed several of the large Marin Transit and Golden Gate Transit buses were either empty of passengers or carrying just a few passengers.

Starting in July 2024, I jotted down bus route numbers and approximately how many (if any) passengers were on the bus. The buses were near the Marin Civic Center, on the freeway, in downtown San Rafael or near College of Marin. While I could not write while driving, I wrote down the information when I pulled over.

I noted the day, time, bus number and approximate rider count. Based on my observations, it seems that the bus system is serving relatively few patrons and, more often than you might expect, no patrons.

I don’t consider this a good use of taxpayer money.

— Ellen Goldman, Greenbrae

Legislature needs to rethink housing mandates

After reading the recently published Marin Voice commentary by Amos Klausner (“State housing mandates for Marin don’t add up,” March 25), my response is that this is tyranny by the state Legislature. It is also insane.

As a Marin resident for over 70 years and a lifelong Democrat, I am shocked and dismayed at how our lawmakers feel empowered to dictate a massive overbuild of housing units, without regard to space available, environmental consideration, traffic, soil liquefaction and community character — as elegantly described by Klausner. Just who are our representatives representing?

— Thomas Murray, Belvedere

Hopeful about Trump’s early months in office

I am enjoying President Donald Trump’s second tour in office. Since he was inaugurated, I appreciate that he appears ready to speak directly to Americans each day. From my perspective, Trump is fulfilling his campaign promises by addressing issues at the border, with taxes, tariffs and peace. It’s exciting.

I suspect Trump will help bring peace to the Middle East and he will help Ukraine be saved from annihilation by Russia. I think our enemies will be deterred by our newfound strength once our border is finally secure.

— Richard Cairns, San Rafael

Don’t let Newsom change state’s solar agreement

According to reports, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration is considering changes to Net Energy Metering 2.0 contracted agreements, under which people who installed solar panels prior to 2023 are charged, at retail, for their net energy usage.

Those who have followed this issue already know that NEM 2.0, while currently grandfathered for 15 years, no longer applies to new solar installations. Instead, NEM 3.0 credits newly installed solar systems for the wholesale cost of the power they produce but charges them at retail for any power that they use.

Retail being nearly eight times the price of wholesale results in it being uneconomical for nearly all people who would otherwise install solar. I invested over $17,000 in solar about three years ago. If I lost the guaranteed benefit of NEM 2.0, my investment would become worthless.

I voted for Newsom twice and against his recall once. If he doesn’t prevent the breaking of my NEM 2.0 contract, I will never vote for him again. If you agree, let Assemblymember Damon Connolly know.

— Chet Seligman, Point Reyes Station