Tam Union District ethnic studies will be scrutinized

As a Tamalpais High School alum (class of 1977), I recall something our social studies teacher, Mr. Philbrook, once said to our school: “You can gauge how the rest of the country will be in five years by looking at Tam High.” He said we were, “the meter for the rest of the country.”

Now, after following recent discussions at the school board meetings (“Tam Union parents scrutinize ethnic studies plan,” Dec. 19), I look forward to watching Tam High (and the rest of the Tamalpais Union High School District) take the local lead in (hopefully) rolling back the ill-conceived ideas of ethnic studies classes (previously from elements of critical race theory and the DEI movement) that do far more harm than good.

— Tim Amyx, Novato

US should stop subsidizing the fossil-fuel industry

Contrary to sentiments expressed in the recently published Another View commentary by Ryan M. Yonk (“Time to get real about renewables,” Dec. 16), the energy transition to clean renewable energy sources is well underway, especially here in California.

I believe the main reason that only 17% of U.S. energy comes from sources that do not emit greenhouse gases today is that the fossil-fuel industry uses its vast wealth to slow this necessary transition.

Not only do fossil-fuel companies get our money directly at the gas pump, they’re heavily subsidized with tax credits, sub-market federal royalties, and the like. More significantly, they bear little to no financial liability for selling products that damage our atmosphere.

Who pays for that damage? We do, the ones whose home insurance has gone up or gone away, whose houses are destroyed by climate-driven wildfires, floods and hurricanes, whose health is degraded from smokestack and tailpipe emissions. The International Monetary Fund says that, in 2023, the world paid $7 trillion in direct and indirect fossil fuel subsidies.

The fossil fuel lobby’s opposition has made the situation urgent. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recently announced that the Arctic has flipped from being a carbon sink to a carbon emitter. I expect that will only accelerate wildfires, droughts and flooding.

Yes, there will be costs to develop 24/7, greenhouse-gas-free resources — just as there were costs to build today’s fossil-fuel system, and there are costs to run it now.

Transitioning responsibly to greenhouse-gas-free energy is far cheaper than continuing reverse-Robin Hood subsidies that result in accelerating climate change.

— Ray Welch, Marinwood

Hard to see pedestrians at night this time of year

I submit this letter as a public service announcement to everyone walking at dusk or after dark in Marin.

It’s the darkest time of year — we just passed 2024’s shortest day and its earliest sunset. The early darkness makes it harder to see people walking.

So, if you are walking — possibly in all dark clothing with a black dog — do not expect to be seen by passing or turning cars. Nobody wants to hit you or your dog (or your kid in a stroller, for that matter).

Would it be so hard to wear something reflective? Or maybe use a flashlight? Thanks for reading.

— AR Danielson, San Rafael

Sausalito council should not declare a surplus

I am responding to former Sausalito Mayor Ron Albert’s letter published Dec. 14 regarding the letter critical of Sausalito City Council spending that I had published in November. I think Albert misunderstood my point.

As a former council member, I believe that, much like a homeowners association can’t transfer funds from its reserve account to the operating account (and then declare a budget surplus), a city shouldn’t be allowed to transfer funds from its designated reserve accounts to the general operating account and declare a budget surplus. That is why I called the members of the City Council ‘”wishful thinkers.”

If the council doesn’t focus on fixing the infrastructure instead of costly special interest projects, I think Sausalito (with its $500,000 insurance deductible) is headed toward bankruptcy. Considering that it’s mostly the same people on the City Council as before the election, and that they are pushing the same projects, I am worried.

I think Albert is misguided about the role of city staff in these actions. From my perspective, the City Council sets policies and the city manager carries them out. Responsibility lies at these levels.

— Carolyn Ford, Sausalito