Marin Ij Readers' Forum for May 7, 2022

credit: Flickr

Voters in Marin County, Calif., will decide June 7 whether to extend a half-cent tax for parks, open space, and agriculture that's been in place since 2008, the Marin Independent Journal reports.

According to the San Francisco Chronicle, 65% of the money raised by the tax goes to parks, while 15% goes to cities, towns, and special districts with parks, and 20% goes to the county's Resource Conservation District, which helps train ranchers for carbon sequestration and improves water quality and soil health.

But not everyone is in favor of the tax.

"The parks were large enough to keep our social distance, but still be together," says a college student who supports the tax.

"It has been an honor to discover and explore Marin County parks outside our usual habitats."

Others, however, say the money doesn't go far enough.

"The vast majority of the funds going to county parks and open space and 15% going to cities, towns, and special districts with parks, the vast majority of the money is going to those important needs," says a rep for the Marin County Farm and Ranch Association, which opposes the tax.

Some say the money could be better spent on schools and transit, the Independent Journal reports.

Others, however, say the tax

Read the Entire Article

How's Your Community Doing?
Check Out it's
Community Vital Signs

Explore the
Social Progress Index
for the
Marin Community Foundation

Momentus Capital Closes $171 Million Equitable Prosperity Fund
Foundation: Marguerite Casey Foundation, Marguerite Casey Foundation, Kresge Foundation

Stephen Stephens' father died of cancer when he was 53, and his message to young people has stayed with him. "Always do the right thing son," he tells Fast Company. "That message has always...more

6 Things to Know When Building an Authentic Green Brand

When it comes to sustainability, Entrepreneur says, "it takes more than just lip service." That's because it takes a "thorough commitment to evaluate every aspect of your operation to develop...more

Who Serves Humanity &Amp; Strives to Make the World a Better Place?
Foundation: Indianapolis Foundation

Lynne Arriale's new album, Being Human, is all about "people who exemplify Passion, courage, love, curiosity, and other human qualities," the Florida pianist tells Rita Kohn of the Indianapolis...more

Unoma Okorafor, Co-Founder, Fairview Data Technologies

When Unoma Okorafor started working on her master's degree in computer science at the African University of Science and Technology in Abuja, Nigeria, in the mid-'90s, she had no idea she'd end up in...more

As Some Question Higher Ed'S Value, Colleges Work To Fix The 'Time Trap'

"Time-trap thinking seems logical," writes Lori Carrell in the Los Angeles Times, "but it's short-sighted: Degrees mean real earning power and career growth, and many students do work during...more

How Philanthropy Can Help to Accelerate Sustainable Development Goals

"If the class register were anything to go by, education would be one of modern civilization's greatest success stories." That's what Peter Wilson, a member of the UBS Accelerate Collective, had...more

As Melinda French Gates Leaves the Gates Foundation, Many Hope She'Ll ...
Foundation: Gates Foundation

Melinda French Gates is stepping down as co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which she founded with her ex-husband Bill Gates more than 20 years ago. As part of an agreement made...more

Nada Show Attend

If you're in the market for a new car, the NADA Show in New Orleans in January is your best chance to see what's out there. Here's a look at some of the buzzy new offerings, courtesy of Jalopnik,...more

Potato Power: Ongoing Philanthropic Collaboration Elevates Research in Sustainable Agriculture

Ahmad Al-Mallahi is a professor of agricultural engineering and sensing technologies at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Canada, and he's spent the past five years developing technology that could...more

Microschools Offer Montana Families Creative, Learner-Centered Education Options

When Christa Hayes' kids shut down their public schools in 2020, the Montana math professor started hearing from parents seeking help for their children's schoolwork and wanting to find a way for...more