With regard to the recent post entitled, Measure A funds should promote equity, not entrench disparities, let's please keep in mind nearly EVERY tax has a regressive element to it. Starting with the bottom line: Every resident wins by voting yes on Measure A.
A real concern is when East Marin residents begin to call ranchers and farmers the so-called “wealthy elite,” as if they know about ranching. The anti-ranch element critical of the agriculture community likely never stepped foot on a working ranch, nor understand that is a 24/7 commitment with no time off.
Marin residents living in multi-million-dollar homes should be the last ones to be critical. Calling ranchers “wealthy families” might be accurate in land holdings but it misrepresents those holdings. These are among the hardest working folks anyone will ever know. I had the honor and opportunity of working on a family farm as a young person and know from first-hand experience it is not an easy life. It is tough.
As Rick Holland points out (in his comment on the article), 75% of these funds are focused on park lands. Out of the 100%, 25% directly helps those of us who are among those in East Marin reduce fire danger in the WUI and protect our homes, lives and property.
15% goes to parks, directly benefiting under-served communities. What the author ignores are the wonderful benefits this has brought to Pickleweed park as a major example. And the soccer fields at McInnis Park were an improvement that directly benefited people of color and our under-served communities. It is misleading to suggest funding was directed to golfing. It was not.
Of particular note, of the 15% going to Agriculture, only 5% goes toward land easements.
In terms of real dollars, for every $100 only $0.015 or one-and-a-half cents goes to land acquisition. What is being overlooked is the tremendous benefit Marin is and has been receiving by preserving west Marin land from development interests.
The author notes, "Instead, let’s create new parks that people of all races and income levels might enjoy.” What does the author mean by "instead?" A modicum of research shows that Measure A funds have and will continue in fact to do exactly what he is calling for.