Marin IJ Readers’ Forum for Jan. 7, 2026

MCE can achieve its goals while being above board

I’d like to thank the Marin Independent Journal for the revealing series and continuing coverage on issues at MCE (formerly Marin Clean Energy). The remit from the consumer choice aggregator is clear and valuable. But, as I think the articles have shown, the operation raises questions.

Recently, I read several letters to the editor lauding MCE for community cooperation and education. Despite that, I suspect it is worthwhile for the IJ and its readers to continue to inspect how MCE is run.

I believe the IJ’s articles have shown that there is a lack of transparency and accountability from MCE management. There appears to be a long-term commitment to high, fixed rates for power, as well as high staff costs. Pricing seems to be greater than service from the Pacific Gas and Electric Co. and infighting on the board continues.

It all suggests that, as customers, we must examine whether it is better to switch back to PG&E. I agree with the goals MCE is striving for, but I want it to be above board as it tries to achieve them.

— Chuck Jones, Larkspur

For benefit of Warriors, Green needs to control his temper

Golden State Warriors standout Draymond Green is an exceptional basketball player. However, his anger outbursts put the welfare of his team at risk. Fans appreciate his energy and enthusiasm, but every time he gets a technical foul (and especially an ejection), I think he sends a message that his emotions take priority over winning. It’s unfortunate.

Green is an adult and he has a long history of not controlling his anger. It’s time to concentrate on winning. We Warriors fans need and want him on the court.

— Dr. Kenneth Olshansky, San Rafael

Marin campuses need to be safe from mass shooters

Following the tragic shooting that killed two last month at Brown University in Rhode Island, the question of safety at campuses in Marin County is crossing my mind.

I worry there isn’t enough security on Marin campuses. Does another tragedy need to take place before a significant change?

I think school superintendents and principals, along with members of law enforcement, fire department leaders and parents or guardians need to do more to act now. We just can’t be lax and put it off for a later time.

— Ron Naso, Kentfield

Mass shooting in Australia is a reminder for Marin

The tragedy of the Bondi Beach massacre in Australia on Dec. 15 is not an isolated incident; rather, it is part of a disturbing trend of assaults on Jewish residents in English-speaking countries that are becoming increasingly common. Many in our Marin community may be surprised to learn that every Jewish institution in our county now implements security measures that other organizations do not deem necessary. This is not paranoia.

According to a Bay Area survey conducted in December 2023, over 60% of Bay Area Jews reported feeling less safe in their daily lives since the start of the Israel-Hamas war. Additionally, a study by the University of California at Davis using data from 2024-25 found that more than 60% of Jewish parents surveyed in Northern California reported experiencing some form of antisemitic event. A majority of participants (56%) expressed being either “very” or “extremely” concerned about antisemitism.

In the broader context of California, the state’s Department of Justice reported a 53% increase in antisemitic hate crimes between 2022 and 2023.

The violence and intimidation faced by Jews should not be viewed solely as a Jewish issue; it is a societal challenge. I hope our neighbors of goodwill understand this and demonstrate their concern for the safety of Jewish residents in Marin.

Quality of life and civic pride have long been hallmarks of life in Marin. We must work to ensure these values are upheld for everyone.

— Jeff Saperstein, Mill Valley

Marin school enrollment does not appear to be on the rise

Marin public schools are being told by some that falling enrollment is a temporary blip and that student numbers will soon rebound. Unfortunately, the best available demographic evidence suggests the opposite. State demographic projections from the Department of Finance for students from kindergarten through high school show California’s overall enrollment declining sharply in coming decades.

Some portray Marin as an exception that will somehow experience growth. Yet when looking beyond public-school enrollment alone and examining the full school-age population (ages 5-19), I think the outlook is far less reassuring. The state’s own data show Marin’s school-age population falling steeply through the early 2040s, followed by an implausible “bounce” that drives the optimistic enrollment story. That bounce depends on the assumption that Marin’s birth rate, historically well below the state’s, will suddenly surge and remain far above California’s for decades — an assumption out of step with observed trends in aging, low-fertility communities.

When the artificial bump is removed, an “optimistic” scenario still shows Marin’s school-age population declining by roughly a third by 2042 and more than 40% by 2070. These trends are consistent with Marin’s aging profile and slow population growth and resemble patterns seen in older societies such as Italy and Japan.

Go to bit.ly/3YdvUwE to learn more.

— Gaetan Lion, Mill Valley

Parent made mistake by watching violent movie

In LZ Granderson’s California Voice published Dec. 23 with the headline “AI or no AI, don’t fear making mistakes as a parent,” the author asks a ridiculous question while making a reasonable case for not being overly cautious when raising a child. He asks if he was mistaken in allowing his 9-year-old son to watch a movie that featured a character who kills “everything in front of her for five hours.”

To me, enabling anyone, at any age, to watch a simulated killing of another human for any amount of time is a grievous crossing of the line of acceptable behavior. And that applies especially when the enabler is a parent.

In asking that ridiculous question, I believe Granderson invalidated any point he might have made in his otherwise worthwhile commentary.

— Jim Wood, Tiburon

Misguided commentary used limited metrics to rank states

I think the Another View commentary by Matthew D. Mitchell published Dec. 22 with the headline “Fueled by federalism, America’s economically freest states come out on top” was seriously misleading.

Mitchell wrote that states with high levels of economic freedom — which I believe means lower taxes, less government and fewer labor regulations — tend to see higher incomes and more entrepreneurial activity. His “winners” were New Hampshire, Tennessee and South Dakota. Considering that Tennessee and South Dakota are so relatively poor that they pay less in federal taxes than they get back from the government, I think he is making an unserious argument.

California pays $83 billion more in federal taxes than it receives in federal funding. Forty percent of Tennessee’s state budget comes from the federal government. Recent reports show that California is the fourth-largest economy in the world. Despite that, Mitchell does not consider our state an economic winner.

Californians live in the wealthiest state in the union, with significant “entrepreneurial” activity. It includes Silicon Valley (still a global hub for tech) and Hollywood (still a global center of the film industry). Median household income is a significant indicator of a state’s wealth — California and New Hampshire are among the top-10 states in median household income. Tennessee and South Dakota are not. In fact, Tennessee is in the bottom 10. I think it is significant that data shows nine of the 10 poorest states in America are traditionally represented by Republicans.

I do not believe the facts support Mitchell’s assertion that states with less regulation and lower taxes tend to see higher incomes, more entrepreneurial activity and more net-in migration. California certainly has its problems, but the metrics used by Mitchell to define economic success are ridiculous.

— Ruth Dell, Tiburon