Lowering of speed limits avoids city’s true issue

I am writing in response to the article published Feb. 24 with the headline “San Rafael set to lower speed limits on 24 street segments.”

City officials appear eager to drop speed limits for major downtown streets from 25 mph to 20 mph, because they are “seeking to improve public health, livability and safety outcomes,” according to Joanna Kwok, assistant director of public works. Costly consultants are involved.

Before the Mission City turns into what I believe will be a massive speed trap for unsuspecting motorists, I suggest civic leaders look up the definition of pettifoggery. It means giving too much attention to unimportant small details.

Almost all downtown speed limits in California are rated at a uniform 25 mph. Motorists should not be forced to be on the lookout for a new speed limit every few blocks. Law enforcement has better things to do than write citations to outraged motorists who miss an unexpected sign. Large numbers of pedestrians’ lives are not going to be saved by a miniscule reduction in speed limits.

The real, unfixed problem is our lousy roads. People in my neighborhood have been imploring the city for over 25 years to repave Lincoln Avenue. Its pavement condition index three years ago was 32 (25 to 50 is rated as “poor”). Promised improvements are years away and only if grants are received.

If you take a spin down Lincoln, with all its past street cuts and potholes, you might think you are in a developing nation. If you make it all the way through, you probably need a new wheel alignment. I ask San Rafael officials to please stop pettifogging and start paving.

— Kingston Cole, San Rafael

Marin needs better plan to prevent future flooding

In 2003, the Netherlands began to plan for future flooding, and Germany followed. Now they are completely prepared for flooding sooner than other counties in Europe, if not the world.

Ten years ago, while serving on the Marin County Civil Grand Jury, I asked a member of the Marin Board of Supervisors if the county had a plan for future flooding — citing the Netherlands and Germany’s early planning —and her answer was that, yes, Marin is working on it and that officials want to learn from those two countries. Unfortunately, since then, I haven’t heard nearly enough about solutions for future flooding along Marin’s coasts.

And here we are: Areas around Marin waterfronts are sinking at an alarming rate. Roads are flooding regularly and even Highway 101 is at risk along the Sausalito and Mill Valley exits. A recent IJ article revealed that parts of Corte Madera and San Rafael are sinking faster than the sea is rising (“Study: Marin’s sinking areas exacerbate sea-rise threat,” March 2).

Why are we still waiting to create solutions for the flooding in our near future when the future is here and flooding is actually happening now?

— Sandra Macleod White, San Rafael

Musk’s methods wrong for these kinds of cuts

I watched the news report of Elon Musk wielding a chain saw at a recent gathering of conservatives near Washington, D.C. (“Musk waves a chain saw and charms conservatives talking up Trump’s cost-cutting efforts,” Feb. 22). Musk, who is playing a role in the administration as President Donald Trump’s “efficiency czar,” is like an inept surgeon who mistakenly amputated the wrong limb.

Surely there is waste and inefficiency in some areas of government, but the wholesale closure and elimination of congressionally formed departments appears to be illegal and is definitely unwarranted.

For true efficiency, look first and foremost at several long-running Pentagon projects that consume trillions of dollars attempting to build a radical form of fighter jet that is unlikely to ever work properly. But Pentagon programs have a sacrosanct protective barrier.

Instead, the most vulnerable workforce is being slashed, putting vital programs like maintaining our fabled national parks in jeopardy.

Thoughtful, careful audits could find true areas of redundancy to cut. Instead, fired workers are being traumatized with abrupt loss of income and health insurance. There will be a domino effect as these folks are forced into bankruptcy, mortgage defaults and stop spending even on basics (think about the impacts on restaurants, grocery stores and retail outlets). How far will this economic decline cascade?

I am glad to know some agencies are organizing to resist. We all need to speak up, write our congressional representatives and call out this unlawful assault on Democracy.

— Elaine Reichert, Santa Venetia

Protests at Marin’s Tesla office making difference

I was part of a group of more than 100 people who demonstrated on Feb. 23 at the Tesla auto company sales office in Corte Madera. We were protesting against the actions of Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who is at the forefront of President Donald Trump’s chain-saw-style dismantling of our federal government.

Protesters’ signs asked prospective buyers to look elsewhere for their new cars. We also asked Tesla owners to sell their vehicles in protest.

We are planning ongoing demonstrations at this local dealership. Others are doing the same around the country. An article by the Associated Press published March 3 with the headline “Musk’s embrace of right-wing politics risks turning off car buyers and sinking Tesla’s stock” shows we are having an impact.

— Stephen Bingham, San Rafael

Administration has little regard for next generation

Based on recent decisions by the current presidential administration, it is quite clear to us that it has little regard for their grandchildren or ours, and that the quality of life that our grandkids will have as a result of their agenda is of no concern to them.

We believe President Donald Trump’s plans will result in the abandonment of efforts to curb global warming, thereby jeopardizing the survival of all living creatures. He is allowing the undermining of health education, including nutrition and exercise, mental and emotional health, and sexuality. His plans could lead to the further proliferation of guns, putting all people in harm’s way.

We are concerned he will allow the dismantling of the availability of vaccines against contagious diseases. Trump appears ready to dismantle the working elements of a democratic society, including health care, education, police protection and the judicial system.

We worry his behavior is leading to an acceptance of attacks by some on people different from them — teaching intolerance and hate. I am concerned he is allowing the undermining of civic education, the understanding of how democracy works and, especially, the importance of voting.

Trump is showing the next generation that lying and cheating is a way to get through life. He employs name-calling and demeans those who disagree with him.

If we care about our grandkids, it’s time to get into some “good trouble.” Let’s fight for their lives and for the principles of equality and justice upon which our country was founded.

— Edward Dale and Françoise Brunette, San Rafael

Both US, Ukraine in a fight to save democracy

We had our 9/11 war that demolished the two World Trade Center buildings, but it did not destroy New York City. Meanwhile, Russia’s war against Ukraine has caused destruction to many cities, with some totally obliterated into rubble.

During the recent press meeting between President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodmyr Zelenskyy and Vice President JD Vance (“Trump, Vance call Zelenskyy ‘disrespectful’ in Oval Office meeting,” March 1), something Zelenskyy said stood out to me.

“I am a president of war,” he said. “You have a nice ocean and don’t feel it now, but you will feel it in the future.”

Right now, Ukraine and the United States share a commonality. We are both fighting to save our democracy and to save our Constitution.

— Sue Curran, San Rafael