State Legislature should reject dangerous SB 607

As executive director of the Environmental Action Committee of West Marin, I know many Californians are alarmed by the Trump administration’s aggressive approach to stripping back environmental regulations. President Donald Trump’s efforts to dramatically weaken the Clean Water Act, undermine protections for public lands and loosen requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act have left many reeling.

But if you believe that California is largely insulated from these changes given our own strong environmental laws, think again. There is a bill in the California Legislature right now that, if passed, would leave our communities vulnerable to wildfire risk and toxic pollution in ways that haven’t been true since before 1970.

Senate Bill 607 is being promoted as a housing bill, but that’s disingenuous. This dangerous bill would drastically curtail environmental review for a wide range of projects that would then be allowed to pollute our air, water and soil, as well as causing all kinds of other public health problems, especially for the most disadvantaged communities around the state. It could lead to new factories, dams, freeways, ports, shopping centers and airports being built with no meaningful environmental review.

SB 607 will not serve the public. Senate Pro-Tempore Mike McGuire has the power to kill this anti-environment bill. I hope McGuire steps up for his constituents and for all Californians to stop SB 607.

— Ashley Eagle-Gibbs, Fairfax

Marin resident’s project in Ghana is very inspiring

Recently, I attended a fundraiser for my friend Michael Tabb’s inspiring community project in Elmina, a historic town just outside Accra, Ghana. I’ve known Tabb for 25 years — since I first moved to Marin — and though his dreadlocks are gone, his earnest dedication to uplifting others remains as strong as ever. Years ago, he poured that energy into community development in Marin City. Today, he’s addressing a quieter but profound need halfway across the world: ensuring children in Elmina start their day nourished and supported.

It began with a simple, heartbreaking exchange. One morning, a group of students asked Tubbs for money. When he asked why, their answer was straightforward: “To eat.”

He learned they hadn’t had breakfast at home — nor would they receive a meal at school. So, he started feeding a handful of them. Now, his program serves breakfast to nearly 100 students daily. He runs an after-school art initiative sustained by a small group of helpers and a humble kitchen. The videos of the program’s impact are deeply moving.

At the fundraiser, I pledged to sponsor a child for a year — an amount less than a splurge dinner for two or half the cost of premium concert tickets. I think this program changes lives in ways that matter far beyond the classroom.

— Everett Brandon, Sausalito

Letter ignores that real damage is being done now

I am writing in response to Francis Drouillard’s recently published letter calling out critics of President Donald Trump. I believe that real damage has already been done to important organizations including the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Education, the National Weather Service and the IRS, as well as to the American public.

I expect that these decisions are already impacting (or will impact soon) you and I.

For example, decisions made by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who was nominated by Trump, are already hindering our ability to further research into numerous vital areas that increase our knowledge of diseases, as well as development of new ways to reduce morbidity and mortality.

Elimination of any research on climate, much less application of those findings to develop better ways to reduce or mitigate the impact of climate change, will lead to more death and destruction within the U.S. and across the world.

Deleting U.S. Agency for International Development support and all that it has done to help developing nations deal with famine, disease and people fleeing their countries destabilizes the world. I think it provides opportunities for China to step in and take over that role.

Reducing the IRS, much less not upgrading its computer systems, means less revenue collection, especially from the wealthy and businesses — entities that know how to play the system.

I could go on, but the question is are we “better off” for all of this? I think not.

— Stephen Ziman, San Rafael