›› LETTERS Drake bikers create Haro-ing experience I’m writing in response to Dan Freeman’s letter regarding the Drake High School mountain bike team [“Arms Against a Sea of Torkers,” June 10]. I have written to and discussed the Drake team with Marin Municipal Water District staff on several occasions. It is my understanding I am not Go Pirates! alone. As a frequent mountain biker, I am very familiar with each of the teams. Drake is by far the least disciplined. I am on record to MMWD on several occasions praising the other teams. However, I also documented issues with Drake. On one occasion I was almost hit twice within seconds having to come to a complete stop to avoid collisions at Phoenix Lake because the kids were having an unsupervised, spurof-the-moment race while there were many other users at the lake. The coaches were far at the back. I have also spoken with the coaches on several occasions about their front-runners on the team going all-out and making no attempt to slow down when passing others. Unfortunately this has been a pattern contrary to Mr. Freeman’s statement. When I have spoken to the coaches on the trail they have kindly confirmed they need to work on this issue. Most of the kids on the Drake team are
very well behaved and are talented riders. I congratulate them on their winning record. I do not fault the individuals and am not attempting to paint the team with a broad brush. I fault the coaches for lack of discipline, especially when compared to our other local high school teams. If Mr. Freeman is noticing “that a significant number of adult trail users choose to share their scorn for [his] bikers...” maybe the problem does not rest with the significant numbers of other users. It would be interesting to hear from the other teams if this has been their experience. Bet not! I also spoke with watershed management reporting that on at least two recent occasions the Drake group was far in excess of the 19-20 claimed, so Sabrina might very well have encountered a large group. High school teams should not be practicing on the multi-use side of Lake Lagunitas. It is not necessary as there is the other side of the lake to ride on the fire road. It is one thing when a hiker encounters small groups of riders, but it is not compatible or safe to have team practice on that narrow trail. This is something for watershed management to consider addressing. It is no wonder Sabrina threw her hands up in frustration. It is understandable. I am really happy that these young men and women are out in nature doing something positive. I support these activities provided they are always being conducted in an environmentally sound, socially responsible manner. I hope the coaches are instilling a sense of stewardship along with mountain biking technique. These are good kids. A few need to practice better self-control and show more respect for other users. The Drake coaches need to
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Your soapbox is waiting at ›› pacificsun.com tighten up their team, perhaps using the other teams as examples. Happy riding to all! Larry Minikes, President, Tamalpais Conservation Club
The path not taken When Sonoma and Marin voters were asked to approve SMART, the understanding had been that when the track bed was restored for rail operations, a bike path would be included. Now we hear freight service is to start on stretches to the north soon, but no bike path is mentioned. Looks like the corporate entities have screwed the public again. The freight haulers can use the tracks that SMART improved to make their money, while the public gets no passenger service, and any bicycle upgrade must involve revisiting the track bed. Such as each culvert crossed having to be lengthened to accommodate the trackside bike path. Why wasn’t this in the original work order? Bet we never see passenger service or a bike-path on that right-of-way. That is, until the freight operations prove unviable, as in the recent past, and the Northwestern Pacific Railroad Network becomes a “rail to trail” success, finally. Hobart Bartshire, Fairfax
With all that debt, we’ll need the cheap energy and trains more than ever! The Marin County and San Rafael politicians have been using the Target controversy to blow a smoke screen over much bigger issues. While the public argues over Target, we taxpayers are getting sucked into a financial whirlpool of cronyism and eternal indebtedness. The energy authority that creates no actual energy and the so-called SMART train that has no passengers both have enormous budgets with no likely return on investment. The budgets are getting higher every day, as a result of great salary obligations to people who have never done anything, and have no performance standard to maintain. All these debts will be ours for years and years. David Weinstock, Fairfax
Sewage customers cry foul By unanimously approving a sewer rate increase, the Mill Valley Council raised annual fees from $297 per household this year to $600 in 2012. Within four years, the annual fee increases to $685 for each homeowner. The council is also debating a second rate hike within six months for Mill Valley Refuse. These rate hikes will impact Mill Valley homeowners $40-plus per month in 2012—perhaps minor to wealthy councilmembers, but a significant burden to many. At minimum, it’s blatantly unfair. Why should single-person households pay the same sewage hike as families of six? No one disputes that sewer updating is required to meet Sewage Agency of Southern Marin costs. But our struggling economy demands creative solutions. Can work be phased in slower stages? Can costs be borrowed from the General Fund—even if less urgent projects are delayed? Opponents to these rate hikes propose valid options: Can we open bidding to eliminate monopolies? Develop tiered systems where households producing less sewage and trash waste are rewarded with lower rates? These options were largely tabled, notably by Mayor Ken Wachtel—up for re-election this year. Have current dire economic conditions even touched councilmembers’ lives? Mill Valley citizens deserve equal representation, regardless of financial status. The council’s actions are woefully negligent of their constituents. Lisa Edson, Mill Valley
We’re still trying to imagine what he was possibly thinking... When this is no longer your most publicly embarrassing photo, then it’s time to resign from Congress...
In a time when there is much lamenting the lack of transparency in government, former Rep. Weiner is at least to be complimented for leaving nothing to the imagination, if you like that sort of thing. Kimberly Clark, Greenbrae
Put your stamp on the letters to the editor at ›› pacificsun.com JUNE 24 - JUNE 30, 2011 PACIFIC SUN 7