Marin IJ Readers’ Forum for Feb. 25, 2025

MMWD’s focus on lawns is a real disappointment

After reading the article published Feb. 17 with the headline, “Water agency offers bigger rebates for removing grass,” it is clear to me that Marin Municipal Water District officials (and perhaps many of their customers) are content to live in a new reality of letting droughts negatively change our standard of living.

It’s as if MMWD is bribing people to remove their lawns. I suspect that means the district does not intend to create enough water supply going forward. I have no doubt that, as water use declines, rates will go up.

Lawns are good. Each little plant consumes carbon dioxide and releases oxygen. Replacing a lawn with pavers or flagstones with water permeable joints is allowed to receive a rebate. Those materials reflect light and create heat, unlike a lawn.

If homeowners are inspired by the lawn-removal trend but do not care about a rebate, they might choose to install an impermeable concrete or mortared brick patio. They could build a larger driveway or a pool. All that just sends water into the storm drain.

Children and animals love a green lawn, as do many adults. Lawns require mowing, which is exercise. They do not need as much care as many types of bushes. Lawns make a home or building look better. Home buyers often want a lawn.

I firmly believe Marin residents will pay for these rebates (with funding via taxpayer dollars or higher rates). And, without a bigger increase in supply, I suspect more punitive rationing will come with the next big drought.

Increasing storage and importing more water from Sonoma County will help. But these ideas require rain somewhere. If there is insufficient rain, the ultimate solution is desalination. MMWD should create an unlimited backup to nature and, when not needed, idle the plant to save money or sell water to other counties.

— John Neuenburg, San Rafael

Mill Valley housing plan could impact evacuations

I am writing in response to the recent Marin Voice commentary by former Mill Valley Mayor John McCauley (“California growth mandates in fire hazard zones must stop,” Feb. 8). McCauley argues for an exemption from state housing mandates for the Cascade, Summit and Warner Canyon hillside neighborhoods of Mill Valley. The argument is based on an evacuation study spearheaded by McCauley and conducted by Google.

I am concerned about the impact of the One Hamilton housing project, which McCauley cites as a proud accomplishment of his time in office. The four-story building with 45 units and 65 parking spaces is slated to be built on the parking lot currently serving visitors to Hauke Park.

The project is along Hamilton Drive — one of the emergency evacuation routes designated in the Google study to assist with the safe evacuation of all residents in the case of fire. I worry about increased traffic there during an emergency. Additionally, it is next door to the Southern Marin Fire District station and in close proximity to the power substation. Citing fire risk, Pacific Gas and Electric Co. removed many trees around the substation.

The call for exemptions for Mill Valley’s hillside neighborhoods is too limited in my view. The proximity of a dense housing project next to key emergency landmarks on one of the few evacuation routes raises a host of concerns which were overlooked.

— Paula Weaver, Mill Valley

Trump’s language on social media is concerning

In a recent post on social media, President Donald Trump wrote, “He who saves his Country does not violate any Law.” I take that to mean he is stating that he is essentially above the law. That’s not too different from Nazi, Germany, where it was understood that Adolf Hitler’s word “was above written law.”

When Hitler became Germany’s chancellor in 1933, the country had a republican form of government. Office holders were required to pledge to follow the country’s constitution. In 1934, the German oath of office was changed to pledge adherence to Hitler.

I worry that if the majority of Republicans in Congress, who appear to have almost completely abdicated their power, were honest, they would no longer pledge loyalty to the Constitution, but to Trump and Elon Musk, Trump’s adviser. Republicans seem to be ignoring apparent illegal acts by the pair and they have confirmed people who appear to be incompetent and dangerous to important Cabinet positions. Recently, a discussion about impeaching federal judges who have ruled against Trump came up. This is not how our democracy is supposed to work.

— Ruth Dell, Tiburon