Wildfire authority needs to make some changes

The annual allocation of $19 million in Measure C funds for wildfire prevention, managed by Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority, raises significant concerns. Despite the purported focus on safeguarding Marin residents, the substantial budget appears to disproportionately prioritize vegetation management over crucial home hardening, allocating a mere 20% of the funds to this vital aspect of wildfire protection.

This resource allocation imbalance is particularly troubling in light of onsite studies, like those stemming from the 2018 Paradise Fire, highlighting the paramount importance of home hardening in areas where urban and wildland environments intersect. The potential compromise of Marin residents’ safety becomes evident as the majority of funds are directed toward vegetation management on both private and public land.

Further exacerbating concerns is the continued use of the highly toxic Garlon 4 herbicide in public spaces throughout the county. Despite proven nontoxic alternatives used in the watershed, MWPA continues to use herbicides, prompting questions about their cumulative impact on human health and the environment.

In addition to the unease surrounding MWPA’s practices, plans for logging in a 10-acre pilot area as part of the San Rafael-San Anselmo Fuel Reduction Project may begin this month. Concerned neighbors, expressing reservations, highlighted potential harm to nesting birds during the primary bird nesting season.

This scheduling conflict starkly contradicts MWPA’s plan, which emphasizes avoiding the active nesting season of birds and raptors, aligning with state requirements and protection under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and California Fish and Game Code.

Despite months of voiced concerns from the Sierra Club and vigilant individuals, it appears to me that MWPA officials have been dismissive. I oppose this allocation of tax dollars and believe Marin residents deserve comprehensive information about these behind-the-scenes issues affecting their safety and well-being.

— Jinesse Reynolds, San Anselmo

Encourage tolerance for all types of trail users

I am writing in support of biking in Marin, be it commuting, road riding or mountain biking.

My family moved to Mill Valley in 1960. We spent weekends hiking on Mount Tamalpais in the days when, if you saw another person on the mountain, it was an anomaly to be celebrated (after all, you had just encountered a kindred spirit). Things have certainly changed since then.

In the late 1960s, my father got into road riding. That led to my entire family’s lifelong love affair with cycling. I gave up road riding when the roads got too crowded and dangerous. I now have an electric-assist bike for errands, a gravel bike for adventure riding and both an analog and e-mountain bike for enjoying the outdoors.

Change and evolution is part of the world we live in. As a lifelong local resident, it has been disheartening to see various user groups fighting to limit other user groups from access to the mountain.

It is important for all user groups to be good stewards who are willing to accommodate others’ reasonable use of our limited natural resources. As a long-term member of the local bike advocacy groups, I will continue to fight for a safe, sustainable and inclusive watershed.

— Chris Urban, Kentfield

Prioritize paying teachers in Ross Valley right now

I am writing in regard to the article published March 8 with the headline, “Ross Valley teachers picket over contract impasse.”

The Ross Valley School District must adequately pay teachers so we don’t keep losing excellent people to higher-paying districts. Our students and community suffer the consequences of high turnover.

I know that budgeting times are tough, but I also question the spending priorities of RVSD over the last several years. How much money has gone to high-priced attorneys when the district has chosen to fight rather than bridge differences with people with diverse ideas about education and priorities? It would have been much better to mediate conflict in a way that preserves resources and goodwill.

It is also maddening to think of the money that went into building and landscaping new administrative offices just across the parking lot from perfectly adequate headquarters newly constructed less than 20 years before.

Budgets are a reflection of our values. Let’s put teachers and children first so they can get the resources they need and deserve.

— Lorrie Goldin, San Anselmo

Golden Gate barrier would create many issues

I am writing in response to Dr. Kenneth Olshansky’s letter published March 8. His suggestion that we should plan for catastrophic sea level rise in the Bay Area by limiting water flow into San Francisco Bay from the Pacific Ocean seems, at face value, a sensible approach to this looming problem.

Certainly, an adjustable barrier across the Golden Gate could function like the Thames Retractable Barrier system in England. It protects most of Greater London from very high tides, a problem we already have here on occasion.

The major problem is the practicality of building a movable barrier to a depth of over 100 meters. Moreover, when the sea level eventually rises to the point that, even at low tides, protection becomes necessary, a permanent barrier would be required, similar to the Dutch Afsluitdijk, a dyke closing off a sea inlet creating a lake.

However, doing this would abolish all shipping in or out of San Francisco Bay and Sacramento. Moreover, as runoff from rivers accumulated in the bay, a pumping system would be required. Yet this runoff could convert the bay gradually into a freshwater reservoir for agriculture and household water supply, eventually obviating some or all of the need for pumping to the ocean.

There are many scenarios that have to be considered.

— Ernest B. Hook, San Rafael

Joe Biden is still the right choice for US president

It is clear to me that former President Donald Trump is only out for himself. I think he is ignorant and is not a good candidate for president in November. Meanwhile, President Joe Biden is a stable politician and has been so his entire career.

Set aside all your party affiliations, think about that and make the right choice.

— Joel Schwartz, San Rafael

Death of nonbinary youth in Oklahoma was tragic

On Feb. 8, Nex Benedict, a 16-year-old nonbinary teenager in Oklahoma, died not long after reportedly being beaten by students at school.

In the wake of Benedict’s tragic death, I am compelled to question the path forward in Oklahoma. I believe that the passage of two bills under Gov. Kevin Stitt has contributed to an environment where hatred and fear thrive over the safety and dignity of vulnerable children.

This moment demands a recognition of how leadership influences societal norms. The governor’s decision, though perhaps meant to protect certain values, has nevertheless endangered lives. It’s a stark reminder of the responsibility that comes with power.

Benedict’s death is heart-wrenching. It was a consequence of Oklahoma law that none of us, including the governor, could have intended. Yet it underscores the urgent need for reflection and action.

We must pivot toward compassion and protection, especially for transgender and nonbinary youth who look to us for safety and acceptance. I urge Stitt to reconsider the direction of the legislation and to foster a culture of understanding and support rather than division.

It’s time to champion laws that safeguard all children and ensure a future where fear, as well as hatred, have no place. Let Benedict’s memory guide us toward making choices that affirm the value of every young life.

— Tatian Greenleaf, Novato