Marin IJ Readers’ Forum for March 4, 2026

Conditions of SCAAP appear to be focused on criminals

I am writing in response to the IJ editorial published Feb. 22 with the headline “Marin must pull out of immigrant information program.” I appreciate the board tackling the issue of immigration enforcement and the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program.

The editorial states that this program “requires the county to submit to the U.S. Department of Justice the names of jail inmates … who have been incarcerated for at least four consecutive days.” I think the editorial should have also mentioned that the grant program applies to immigrants who have at least one felony or two misdemeanor convictions.

In my view, these requirements show that SCAAP is designed to gather information about incarcerated undocumented migrants who have serious criminal records, not people who are generally law abiding, but are in jail for more than four days after an arrest.

It seems likely to me that a person with a serious criminal record who is again arrested and in custody for more than four days should be reported to SCAAP for potential deportation. Given these requirements, I think it would significantly enhance public safety for the Marin County Board of Supervisors to continue to allow the sheriff to participate in the program and to include SCAAP funding in the budget it will be considering.

— Henry Renton Rolph, Novato

MCE’s work shows up in the community many ways

As a San Rafael resident and a staff member with MCE (formerly Marin Clean Energy), I was disheartened to see the column published Feb. 15 with the headline “MCE appears to be in mess of own making.” IJ political columnist Dick Spotwood appears to reduce the multifaceted work that this agency’s staff does to mere commodity trading.

That characterization demonstrates an incomplete understanding of MCE’s efforts to not only bring more renewable energy to the grid, but also to ensure that the four counties served by the agency – Marin, Napa, Solano and Contra Costa – are as well positioned for the energy transition as possible.

This work shows up in the community in many ways – from expanded access to public charging for electric vehicles; working with Homeward Bound of Marin to complete energy efficiency and electrification upgrades at two local shelters; and having energy advisers work with local businesses to strategically manage their energy use and reduce costs. These are just a few examples.

As a program manager, my work is focused on preparing the local workforce to meet the growing need for skills related to energy efficiency and electrification.

A few of the initiatives I am working on include helping to educate local contractors about heat pump rebates; collaborating with partners to provide San Rafael High School students with hands-on training that will give them a leg up in pursuit of careers in the skilled trades; and teaming up with the Emerald Cities Collaborative to provide minority-, women- and veteran-owned contracting firms with no-cost professional services like estimation coaching and certification support.

I take great pride in this work and know that our partners appreciate the collaboration they get from MCE. In the future, I would encourage a more complete picture of the impact MCE is having in our community.

— Javier Montalbo, San Rafael

Van Morrison’s performance seemed inspired by Marin

I am writing to spread the word about the strong Marin ties throughout Van Morrison’s recent album titled “Somebody Tried To Sell Me A Bridge.” He is performing that music on tour now.

I attended the show Feb. 19 at San Francisco’s Palace of Fine Arts. That night, it felt as if artist, audience and setting had locked into the same wavelength. Built in 1915, the Palace remains one of the Bay Area’s most evocative venues — intimate, elegant and perfectly suited for music that draws listeners “into the mystic.”

The evening opened with his daughter, Shana Morrison, and her band. She delivered a relaxed, soulful set of originals and well-chosen covers. Far more than a warm-up act, her performance added a sense of continuity and place, particularly meaningful given her longtime ties to Marin County.

Van Morrison’s recent album was recorded at Studio D in Sausalito. The project marks another chapter in his long relationship with Marin, stretching back decades to sessions at the Record Plant. Whether recording in the county, performing nearby or simply spending time in the area, Marin has long been part of his creative orbit.

Backed by a superb blues ensemble featuring Elvin Bishop, Morrison guided the band with subtle authority. Songs stretched and reshaped in real time, with improvisations in “Ain’t That a Shame” and “Madame Butterfly Blues” unfolding as living conversations.

The night closed with an extended instrumental version of “Gloria.” As the guitars circled and the rhythm section drove forward, the energy built until it was unmistakably “too late to stop now.”

— Dave Bartlett, Ladera Ranch (Orange County)

When avalanche report is complete, we must learn

The recent avalanche in the Sierra Nevada near Castle Peak, which claimed nine lives, has left many saddened and asking themselves how this terrible tragedy could have been avoided. Myriad questions exist. A complete investigation is warranted. The final report will provide important information on how the risk of future avalanche tragedies can be avoided.

My first thought was to worry that, like the tragedies that killed Kobe Bryant and John F. Kennedy Jr. — along with those traveling with them, this could have been a case of “get-there-itis,” where unnecessary risks took place for convenience.

According to reports, the tragic death of Bryant and his party occurred when the helicopter pilot made the flight in foggy weather under deteriorating visibility conditions in order to get to a scheduled basketball camp. Similarly, JFK Jr., his wife and sister-in-law all sadly perished when they were delayed in their departure from New York to attend a wedding. Kennedy found himself attempting to fly in hazy, twilight conditions requiring “instrument flight rules,” where he was only qualified to fly under “visual flight rule” conditions.

I will wait for the report about that day near Castle Peak. In the meantime, the families of those who perished remain in my thoughts and heart.

— Bill Ramsey, San Rafael

PBS series on Black, Jewish Americans hit the mark

I applaud Henry Louis Gates Jr. for his PBS special “Black and Jewish America: An Interwoven History.” I found the four-part series to be scholarly and informative.

In describing a long and complicated relationship, Gates brings a voice of reason to a world that is often sadly deaf to others’ stories and/or unaware of historical facts. It gives me hope that there are still reasonable voices out there who are not driven by fear, anger or hatred.

— Sharon Malone, Mill Valley

‘Big Beautiful Bill’ and billionaire tax are related

On a recent day, two letters in the Readers’ Forum section of the Opinion page caught my attention. It might not seem like it, but they are closely related in my view.

First, author Peter Behr Jr. decried the idea of a one-time billionaire tax in California. He claimed it would cause an exodus of that class and destroy the state’s tax base. The second, by John Oda, pointed out the probable devastating effect of the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program that many Californians depend on for adequate food for their households.

Interestingly, that bill provided $119 billion in tax cuts for the top 1% in 2026 alone. Considering those savings, it sure seems like California’s billionaires would have plenty of funding to cover a one-time billionaire tax. Those funds would be of huge benefit to their fellow Californians.

I also think that it may be time to find out if increased taxes really drives billionaires out of our state. I spend a significant amount of time visiting relatives in Texas and you couldn’t pay me enough to put up with 110-degree heat and still be caught on clogged freeways. My son lives in Florida and has the added benefit of 90% humidity. Where are our billionaires going to go and still find our Mediterranean climate?

— Michael Sillman, Larkspur