Measure A needs rewrite to focus on public lands

As a former Marin resident who lived in Novato for 25 years, I voted for the Measure A tax in 2012. But, since then, I have seen millions of our tax dollars go to ranchers instead of to our public parks and playgrounds. I believe those landowners are wealthy enough.

Public money should go to public parks, not to politically powerful ranchers who exclude the taxpaying public from their subsidized ranches. Marin County zoning rules already prohibit the development of more than one home for every 60 acres on ranchlands. Also, it is common knowledge that cows are a major source of water pollution and greenhouse gasses.

I have additional concerns about the newly proposed allocation of wildfire mitigation funds in the updated measure. In my opinion, “fire management” is an excuse for the reintroduction of logging in Marin.

The proposed Measure A tax extension on Marin's June 7 ballot should be modified to only fund protection of land that allows public access, or land that has cattle removed permanently with the goal of “rewilding” West Marin.

— Robert Raven, Petaluma