Marin IJ Readers’ Forum for April 6, 2024

Senior residents should help pay for good schools

Ross Valley School District teachers are currently advocating for well-deserved and essential pay increases. Unfortunately, RVSD is projecting a multi-year deficit. How can the median home price in San Anselmo be $1.6 million, yet schools struggle to pay teachers?

Nationally, districts rely on property taxes for funding, often resulting in well-equipped schools in affluent areas. However, Proposition 13 in California restricts annual property tax growth to 2%, limiting school funding even during periods of booming values.

Additionally, senior tax exemptions in counties like Marin tighten budgets by exempting individuals from some school taxes based solely on age.

While laws shield homeowners from excessive tax burdens, school parcel taxes in Marin remain relatively modest. Most Marin school districts charge between $200 and $500 per year, whereas the average Marin Municipal Water District household pays over $800 annually for water.

According to 2023 data from RVSD’s business office, there are 9,348 parcels within its boundaries and 6,805 parcels pay the tax. That means 27% of parcels in the footprint exploit exemptions, depriving local schools of $1.5 million annually. Extrapolating this to the rest of the county’s districts amounts to tens of millions for students and schools.

Imagine if a third of the people didn’t pay for ambulances or hospitals because they primarily benefit seniors, or people without cars didn’t need to pay for roads. We should operate for mutual benefit as a community, Schools are crucial in this pursuit. The quality of the schools and teachers is a significant reason people choose to move, invest and stay here.

In the simplest terms, Marin County residents need the help of our seniors who benefited from previous generations’ generosity. If you’re able, please donate or consider giving up your senior tax exemption to support schools in our community and the children who call it home.

— Massimo Pacchione, San Anselmo

Archie Williams High needs equal funding

I was one of several people who actively canvassed in opposition to the Tamalpais Union High School District’s Measure A proposal on the March 5 ballot. My motivation was Archie Williams High School.

Archie Williams is in my neighborhood. It is a great center of community. I initially learned about the bond’s inequality of funding for Archie Williams versus Redwood and Tamalpais high schools in a column by Dick Spotswood in the IJ. That information moved me to work to help defeat Measure A. Archie Williams should not be the “poor cousin” for the next 30 years.

Some who spoke at the recent district meeting were out of line (“Tam Union Measure A supporters blame poor turnout, ‘untruths’ in loss,” March 28). But the facts are that this was an overly costly proposal that did not, by law, have the ability to carve out a senior discount. The public needed to know that information.

All the teachers and retired teachers that I talked to, except one, told me that they would like the district to hire more teachers, reduce the size of the classes and concentrate on student academics.

Older citizens, who have contributed to the welfare of their communities for years, did not want the financial burden of this bond. On fixed incomes, it is more important to be able to afford to stay in their homes.

If the district is really looking for the reason why this bond failed, it should look at what Measure A offered the public. Could the bond amount have been smaller, could the duration have been shorter and could the funding distribution have been split equally?

Informed voters make their own decisions.

— Roseann Dal Bello, San Anselmo

Richmond Bridge should be closed to bikes for now

IJ political columnist Dick Spotswood recently wrote about the bike lane on the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge (“Closing Richmond Bridge bike lanes during week does not go far enough,” March 27). He said the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and Caltrans are considering a move in the right direction, but it is a half measure that won’t relieve the span’s traffic congestion. I agree, but I think Spotswood did not go far enough with his criticism and solution.

I understand the idea behind keeping the path open Fridays through Sundays and removing it to be used for emergencies and maintenance workers the rest of the week. But I am concerned about the width of the lanes. It could result in slowed traffic. Inevitably, slow cars would be traveling next to fast ones, which could lead to unsafe conditions.

Spotswood correctly pointed out that the bike lane is being underutilized. However, I think there should be no bicycle and pedestrian lane on the bridge any day. There should be no moveable wall and no zipper truck, with its associated costs.

We obviously need three vehicle traffic lanes during commute hours. The upper deck should be set up like the lower deck, with electronic signs telling us when the right lane can be used, and when it should be left as an emergency lane for stalled vehicles.

This is an important feature regardless of the day or hour. As the westbound deck is set up now, if a vehicle stops, it clogs one of two usable lanes. That’s unacceptable. Additionally, I think the process of a vehicle stopping in a right “emergency” lane is also very dangerous.

— John Neuenburg, San Rafael

Trump does not deserve another chance in office

We are living in a very critical time and we all must come together to see that our country does not lead to a civil war.

In my opinion, Donald Trump’s example shows people that it is OK to bully and spew hateful words toward others. Meanwhile, I have seen local acts of antisemitism increase. Those recent incidents force many to relive a very painful time in history.

I want the kind of leadership and representation that actively opposes this behavior as an example for our children and grandchildren.

It appears that there are many, including me, with deep concern about our upcoming presidential election in November. I find some of the things Trump says in public to be confusing. Some things he says can be interpreted as threatening. In addition, he wants to do away with the Affordable Care Act. But, right now, that law helps provide health insurance for millions of people. It should not be repealed.

Trump supporters should think about our needs in retirement. I am concerned that, if Trump wins, the future of Social Security could be jeopardized. We all had those funds withheld during our time of employment.

We have a very decent and honest person presently leading our country in President Joe Biden. We must see that he remains in office.

— Jacqueline Louis, Greenbrae

Listen to those who turned on Donald Trump

It is not often that I get involved with commenting on politics. However I grew up in a much better world and I’ve seen it slowly crumble and gain speed like a boulder running down a hill.

I know President Joe Biden’s age of 81 is a concern, but what I find concerning is Donald Trump’s integrity, age and an inability to exhibit every other part of what we value in a presidential candidate. Our democracy is on trial, along with all the court cases that people like Trump’s supporters seem to discount.

There are so many reasons Trump should not be elected. Conversely, I haven’t heard of any of Biden’s Cabinet members, or any of his supporters, turning on him and accusing him of wrongdoing.

I would be ashamed to be associated with the Trump family. In my opinion, it is clear that he is trying to start a dynasty. I suspect he will never let go. I worry he may try to start a civil war if he loses the election. So many of his former associates have turned against him. They are the intelligent people that know him better than anyone.

— Jim Glover, Novato