Marin water rate spike could have been avoided

Regarding “Marin County water rates to see huge jump under newly approved plan” (Bay Area, SFChronicle.com, May 16): First, all consumers are urged to conserve as much water as possible, which the residents did in spades during the drought “emergency.”

Then, they are rewarded for this exemplary behavior with a 58% rate increase over four years.

All without regard to those on fixed incomes or those in need. Shame on them.

The Marin Municipal Water District business model, which is based on encouraging consumption, has been broken for more than 30 years.

Rates should have been incrementally increased over time to allow for replacing “aging infrastructure” and other needs — the arguments the district is using to justify this sudden outrageous increase.

The district’s lack of foresight and planning would be rewarded in the real world with failure or bankruptcy.

Someone (the state Public Utilities Commission?) needs to rein in these quasi-municipalities. They simply do what

they want without regard for their customers and with reckless impunity. Their mistakes become their customer’s problems.

This rate hike is unconscionable and should be reversed.

And the Marin water district should be put under state scrutiny for malfeasance and mismanagement.

Accept immigrants

Regarding “Undocumented immigrants boost our economy and help society. My story is proof ” (Open Forum, SFChronicle.com, May 16): Florida Gov. Rob DeSantis just signed some of the strongest anti-immigration legislation in the country. There is an increasing sense of fear among

Florida’s essential workers that is forcing some to leave their jobs (and even the state). I have heard the arguments in the defense of immigrants: that they are the economic backbone of society. I think those on the anti-immigrant side recognize this, but they continue to ignore it because, frankly, they do not care.

We should stop appealing to others with arguments that frame immigrants merely as important economic factors. The human right to freedom of movement should not be dependent on one’s monetary benefit.

The U.S. should take in immigrants fleeing their devastated countries because it’s morally the right thing to do (especially since the U.S. likes to self-proclaim itself as a beacon). Immigrants should not have to prove their worth.

Stimulus doesn’t last

In June 2022, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a $308 billion state budget that provided tax refunds for 23 million Californians that totaled $9.2 billion. Now, California projects a $31.5 billion budget deficit. And Gov. Newsom doesn’t want to use the rainy day or reserve fund to close the budget deficit.

I appreciated the stimulus checks, but what will we now lose as the state tries to close the budget gap — giving with one hand and taking back with the other? This is a heck of a way to run things.

Terray Sylvester/The Chronicle 2015 A synthetic lawn is seen at a home in Tiburon in 2015. Water rates in parts of Marin will go up about 20% this summer and 58% over four years.