Marin IJ Readers’ Forum for April 3, 2024

Marin Women’s PAC has a worthy mission

I recently learned about the Marin Women’s Political Action Committee while running a successful campaign for a seat on the Larkspur City Council. Through MWPAC, I met many accomplished people eager to support the election of women to public office. MWPAC creates an environment where supporters champion women in pursuit of equality and economic parity, including reproductive freedom.

I joined immediately. Several members from MWPAC helped guide me through the campaign process. I am grateful for the relationships that have formed as a result.

On International Women’s Day, MWPAC hosted a luncheon for elected women. It celebrated the contributions of women in our community. Over 100 attendees gathered to show support for the progress of women.

The event recognized 30 elected officials, 22 of whom are women. It also honored 31 women student leaders representing high schools and universities in Marin. It was moving. Retired Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey recounted the origins of Women’s History Month, tracing back to Sonoma County in the late-1970s. Betty Yee, the former state controller, spoke about her path to public service.

It was invigorating to be in a roomful of female trailblazers and the next generation of female leaders. There is power when people come together to support women. While we have made immense strides, there is more to be done.

I hope more women in Marin consider public service. I encourage anyone interested in advancing women’s causes and connecting with like-minded, talented people to get involved.

— Stephanie Andre, Larkspur

Coast needs protection despite the housing crisis

I was grateful to read the article by CalMatters in the Marin IJ (“California pro-housing bills clash with coastal protections — again,” March 26). It is important to inform residents of state Sen. Scott Wiener’s challenge to California’s Proposition 20 (enacted in 1972) and the Coastal Act of 1976.

I worked with the Coastal Alliance nonprofit to pass Prop. 20. As mayor of Fairfax, I became the first appointed member of the California Coastal Commission. Reappointed following the approval of the Coastal Act, I served through 1981.

I had recommended California Attorney General Evelle J. Younger’s environmental unit as counsel. It defended the commission through 1981. It prevailed in 94% of cases upholding the Coastal Act — the highest win-loss ratio of any public or private law firm in the United States.

During the campaign, a “Dennis the Menace” cartoon addressed the topic. Dennis, with his swimsuit and beach towel, walked down a street lined with high-rise buildings asking, “Where’s the beach?”

The stated purpose of Proposition 20 is to “preserve, protect and restore the California Coast.” The Coastal Act cites several general provisions. One states that the California coastal zone is a distinct and valuable natural resource of vital and enduring interest to all the people. It exists as a delicately balanced ecosystem. The permanent protection of the state’s natural and scenic resources is a paramount concern to present and future residents.

Legislators who oppose the basics of Proposition 20 and the Coastal Act have worked to overturn the purpose and intent. Wiener leads that effort.

The California Coastal Commission is the “thin green line” serving to preserve, protect and restore the coast. Don’t let Wiener destroy 52 years of coastal protections.

— Frank Egger, Fairfax

Don’t blame housing crisis on issues of permitting

I am writing in response to the recently published article by CalMatters (“California pro-housing bills clash with coastal protections — again,” March 26). I consider this to be another attack by the building industry on local control and protections of the environment.

Under the guise of a housing crisis of their own making, builders and investors have taken aim at democratic institutions and laws protecting our natural environment.

Saying that building permits are difficult to get and that’s why we have a housing crisis is ridiculous. A recent economic study by Matthew Famiglietti for the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis shows little relation between housing costs and permit release. Permits are just one element in the process of investing in building. Others include land acquisition; analysis for pollution and flood risks; labor and financing costs (including mortgage rates); and availability of construction materials.

If permits were the only problem, or if environmental laws were central, then we would not see an international housing crisis. What links all the problems in housing across the globe is its financialization, along with the involvement of hedge funds and other large investors.

Housing is an “asset class.” Building and managing housing is a business where profit is a necessary goal. Keeping demand high and supply low is a time-honored means of achieving this goal. Where we see housing affordability we find the government playing a major role in both building housing, maintaining it and managing the protection of low cost housing.

If state or county officials want to be proactive and successfully attack our housing crisis, they should follow the lead of Paris and build new housing, buy housing and protect affordable units from destruction and replacement with market rate and luxury units.

— Niccolo Caldararo, Fairfax

Consider impacts of climate change on coast

Marincello was originally conceived as a development in the Headlands. It would have housed as many as 30,000 people in 50 apartment towers, as well as hundreds of homes and townhouses. There would also have been a mall and a grand hotel at the ridge’s highest points.

Marincello was approved in 1965. It faced almost immediate opposition and various lawsuits. Finally, in 1972, the land was sold to The Nature Conservancy and transferred to the newly formed Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Other coastal Marin communities have also pushed back on new developments over the years.

We all recognize that there is a need for more housing. But pushing to build near the Pacific Ocean as climate change contributes to strong storms and sea level rise makes no sense. At least Marincello was high on a hill.

Beach communities seem to flood frequently and residents get evacuated. Mudslides close roads. Summer visitors cause massive traffic jams. Earthquakes are a threat.

We must remember that coastal real estate is all very temporary.

— Jessica Fullerton, Mill Valley

Trump impeachments were political theater

I found aspects of the recently published letter by John Brooks regarding Donald Trump’s presidency to be wildly blind to the reality of the situation.

In my opinion, the impeachments of Trump were complete political theater with no merit. On the world stage, I think respect for the United States improved dramatically during his time in office and we stayed out of endless worthless foreign wars that military industrial complex Democrats now seem to love.

According to the U.S. Department of Defense, the decision to pull our troops from Afghanistan meant leaving behind $7 million in military equipment. That decision to pull out — rendering the billions already spent on that war to be mostly meaningless — is on President Joe Biden.

From my perspective, the court cases against Trump should be an illustration to the American people of how the power of the state is being used to crush Trump’s campaign. I suspect that many people do not like what they are seeing in Biden.

In my experience,Trump does not change his views to make someone happy. That’s an asset, not a liability. Considering our high inflation rate, the massive debt load and signs of a recession on the horizon, I wonder why Trump would even try to save this country.

— Tim Peterson, San Anselmo