Marin IJ Readers’ Forum for Aug. 31, 2024

Brian Colbert best for District 2 supervisor seat

After watching “hope making a comeback” at the Democratic National Convention earlier this month, I was inspired to publicly express my support for our DNC delegate, San Anselmo Councilmember Brian Colbert, for the Marin County Board of Supervisors District 2 seat. Even now, the excitement of that big week in Chicago continues to build momentum. It’s a reminder that every vote and every election (at every level) matters.

As a Fairfax resident and business owner celebrating my 10th anniversary, I am honored to endorse Colbert. My company is dedicated to connecting organizations with the most talented, mission-driven individuals. Colbert embodies the same qualities we seek in exceptional leaders.

Colbert is the most qualified candidate for this position and possesses an incredible work ethic. His passion for bringing people together is inspiring, and he shares my deep-rooted values surrounding good stewardship of our beautiful land here in Marin County, access, sustainability and focus on the crucial issue of wildfire prevention.

Colbert’s impressive resume speaks for itself. He has a proven track record of accomplishment in the public and private spheres. He’s a strategic thinker and a collaborative problem-solver, demonstrated by his ability to build consensus and forge meaningful partnerships across diverse groups, which we need on the Marin Board of Supervisors.

Colbert’s existing relationships at the county level and in Sacramento are invaluable assets that will enable him to hit the ground running.

The DNC message, “everyone belongs,” still reverberates. It perfectly aligns with Colbert’s values and mission of fostering opportunity and access for everyone in Marin County. I urge my fellow residents to join me in joyfully supporting Brian Colbert. We can all do something to create a thriving community where everyone belongs and has the chance to succeed, regardless of their background or circumstances.

— Jennie Jackson, Fairfax

Holli Thier best for Tiburon Town Council

I am writing to express my enthusiastic support for Vice Mayor Holli Thier in her bid for a second elected term on the Tiburon City Council. I had the privilege of working alongside her on Tiburon’s Diversity Inclusion Task Force for the past four years, where she served as chairperson as well as past mayor of Tiburon.

Thier’s leadership and dedication were instrumental in integrating diversity and inclusion into Tiburon’s 20-year plan, a milestone for any Marin community.

Under her guidance, we successfully brought in a welcoming new police chief and organized numerous cultural celebrations for our Marin brothers and sisters. These celebrations included several Juneteenth events, Nowruz celebrations and Asian American, as well as Diwali, festivals. Each of these events fostered a sense of community, pride and inclusivity that has made Tiburon a more welcoming place for all.

Thier’s commitment to representing all residents and her ability to turn vision into action is unmatched. She has proven time and time again that she is dedicated to making Tiburon a thriving, inclusive and forward-thinking town.

I am confident that with her continued leadership, Tiburon will remain on a positive path of growth and inclusivity and serve as a beacon of hope for Marin

I encourage all Tiburon residents to vote for Holli Thier for Town Council and continue supporting the progress we have made together.

— Dr. Ruben Kalra, Belvedere

Pass Proposition 5 to address housing crisis

We live in a time of deep division within our political parties and ideologies, which makes it difficult to solve many of our most pressing problems. Along with great division is aggressive, sometimes strident, competition for our attention and for our votes. In recent elections, garnering 51% of the vote, as President Joe Biden did in 2020, can seem like a landslide.

It is within this context that Proposition 5 on the November ballot must be considered. It sets the threshold for approving bonds for affordable housing and infrastructure at 55%, just like school bonds.

We face many challenges, and none more critical than responding to our affordable housing crisis with a combination of political will, good public policy and significant financial resources. Passing Proposition 5 will lay the groundwork for future bond measures that would fund affordable housing and related infrastructure.

To argue against it is to claim that 55% of the electorate does not reflect the will of the governed, as if there could never be an issue affecting our community important enough to justify adding a few more dollars to our annual property tax bill.

The lack of affordable housing in Marin is at a crisis stage. Our neighbors and would-be neighbors most impacted are pleading for our help. Passing Proposition 5 is the next step in our efforts to respond with care and compassion.

— Jeff Bialik, San Rafael

Lawns can no longer be a symbol of wealth

During the Civil War, people showed their wealth by having window coverings that draped on the floor. The bigger the drape, the more money someone had. After World War II, when people could finally afford a house in the suburbs, lawns performed the same display of wealth. But now, for the sake of our rapidly diminishing water supply and environmental losses, it’s time for that mentality to end.

This doesn’t mean anyone should cover their property in “hardscape” — that’s not good for the planet either. If you have a lot of concrete on your land, it should have spaces so it drains down into the soil, not into the gutter or sewer system. After all, our aquifers are diminishing across the world due to overbuilding and excessive water use.

There are grasses that can be planted that are initially expensive but need no water after the first year. Buffalo grass is one that’s available and used to cover the Great Plains. There are others.

We are lucky to live in one of the most beautiful places on Earth and we need to do more. There are states that are bringing back beavers to build dams so the natural waterways will come back. That’s a good idea. We need to do more, not less.

While the various water districts are trying, it’s not up to them, it’s up to us and each of us have to learn to reduce, reuse and recycle. Less is more in the long run.

One would hope that having wealth has some responsibilities. Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.

— Marie Salerno, Greenbrae

Harris economic plan will be too expensive

After reading about Vice President Kamala Harris’ economic program, I am concerned that she is asking the government to pay for everything, including more child care, more housing down payments, more health care and other benefits too numerous to mention.

Given our already high deficits, where is the money going to come from? Harris proposes substantial tax increases on high-income individuals and corporations, but I don’t think there will be enough money from those sources to pay for it all. Even worse, demands on corporations like that could greatly hurt our country’s production potential. It could ultimately reduce the means of innovation and even current manufacturing. Those are big potential consequences just to make a tiny dent in what looks to me like a lot of additional government spending.

When I took my degree in economics from Yale many years ago, I learned that the effect of having the government pay for an increasing amount (via deficit spending) led to higher inflation. In my opinion, President Joe Biden and Harris have already given us an object lesson showing that is true. Harris’ proposals, if enacted, would give us a similar lesson, but on steroids.

— Peter H. Behr Jr., San Anselmo