Corte Madera plan gambles taxpayer money
I am writing in regard to the article published Jan. 21 with the headline, “Corte Madera moves to refinance pension obligation.” Town Manager Todd Cusimano is incorrect by stating the issuance of pension obligation bonds is like refinancing a 20-year mortgage at 7% with a 3% rate and the difference being “savings.”
In substance, Corte Madera is gambling with taxpayer money in the stock market using margin (leverage). On Wall Street this is called the “carry trade” and is a rudimentary form of arbitrage. On Main Street, it is akin to taking out a home equity line of credit and buying stocks.
The entire reason Corte Madera has an unfunded pension liability is because CalPERS uses extremely aggressive assumed plan returns. If CalPERS fails to earn 7% going forward, then Corte Madera’s debt will grow and the forecast “savings” will evaporate.
Until citizens force pension reform, debt will continue to accumulate quietly in the background and encumber the next generation.
The past is literally devouring the future.
— Ken Broad, Mill Valley
Keep a close eye on changing justice system
I find it difficult to understand how our local criminal justice systems operate. There have been ballot measures passed to ease up on prosecuting less serious crimes, newly elected prosecutors who believe that the current system is too harsh and often unfair on low-income citizens and criminal justice reforms that aim to aid and rehabilitate offenders.
After all these changes, how do we characterize the current system?
Recently the IJ published a story about a man with a troubled past who drove through a red light and killed Dawn Ritter (“Marin sex offender accused of DUI homicide,” Jan. 21). The article stated that Dominik Oshay Cash has a lengthy criminal record, including lewd behavior in a Corte Madera Rite Aid store in 2019, stealing alcohol from other stores in Mill Valley and Corte Madera, felony burglary convictions that were reduced to misdemeanors, vehicle theft, soliciting a lewd act and carrying a loaded firearm in public.
Perhaps we are experiencing an adjustment period to find and implement the right mix of penalties, compassion and rehabilitation. But the current system certainly was not fair to Ritter, her family, friends and law enforcement personnel who have had to deal with Cash repeatedly.
The apparent turnstile justice makes me nervous.
— Mark Hall, Novato
Apparent criminalization of homeless a bad idea
The Marin County Board of Supervisors recently dropped plans to house more members of the homeless community and now several homeless camps have been “cleared” by authorities.
My question is, where are all these homeless people supposed to move?
Sooner or later, hopefully, we as a community must come up with solutions other than criminalizing our most vulnerable and throwing them aside like trash. We treat stray dogs better than we treat our homeless.
— Sandra Macleod White, San Rafael
County creates clear vaccination plan
After being silent on how Marin residents who are not online with one of the major health plans could get vaccinated, on Jan. 21 the county team posted a vaccination “interest form” at coronavirus.marinhhs.org/vaccine. Complete this form and you will be notified when you are eligible and how to get vaccinated.
Those enrolled online with Kaiser, Sutter or MarinHealth clinics will be notified by their system and will get their vaccination from that organization when they are eligible. I believe that this is a change for those providers. They had been emailing members saying essentially “don’t contact us, we’ll contact you” and “don’t call your doctor.”
Those who are not members of those organizations will be notified by the county when they are eligible.
— Lee Kirkpatrick, Mill Valley
3 steps to establishing a smarter America
In order to end the abysmal ignorance of the American people, I suggest that the government give every household a subscription to their local newspaper. Second, give every person a public library card. And last, but not least, ban the so-called social media.
Problem solved.
— Deanna Spake, Novato
