In 2004, I pledged to work on a number of key issues for our District and the County. I’m happy to report progress in all areas.
Protecting the Environment
Protecting Marin’s Natural Undeveloped Lands
- Helped to preserve St. Vincent’s and Silveira -- two of the largest tracts of undeveloped land in the county -- from excess development in proposing an owner-supported compromise which included new long overdue affordable housing for seniors and strict limits on land and vehicle use
- Protected Tam Valley, an area suffering from weekend gridlock, from excess development in the Countywide Plan and through the Muir Woods Shuttle which has led to 20,000 fewer cars driving through the valley
Sustainability as the Basis for County Decision-making
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Outspoken advocate for all species, sponsoring resolutions for ocean mammal protection, animal welfare, and strengthening of the Endangered Species Act
- Leader in strengthening sustainability principles in the Countywide Plan, in County work programs and in budgeting
- Leader in green building proposals and protection of habitat
Reduced the use of Resources, Toxic Chemicals and Fossil Fuels
- Advocate for plastics reduction, leading a countywide effort to reduce or eliminate use of single use shopping bags, plastic water bottles and food carryout items; converted the County cafe to bioplastics
- Strengthened the County’s commitment to precautionary purchasing, bio fleet fuels, and leading the use of biodiesel and light vehicles at the Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit district.
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Aggressively fighting efforts by the State of California to prevent aerial spraying of pesticides over southern Marin and supports alternative methods to eradicate the light brown apple moth.
Development of Renewable Energy
- Introduced numerous resolutions for solar finances, initiatives, and youth energy auditing programs for job skills and energy efficiency
- Co-Chair of the Countywide energy aggregation initiative Marin Clean Energy that will yield vastly improved use and generation of renewable energy
- Leader in Board efforts to ensure use of solar panels on top of the Throckmorton Fire Station and in the achievement of LEED Gold certification
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Transportation
- Co-Chair of the Marin County Bicycle & Pedestrian Non-motorized Program, building bike paths, steps, lanes and paths for a better bike and pedestrian future in Marin
- Promotion of local shuttles countywide that run on alternative fuels
- Launched the extraordinarily successful Muir Woods Shuttle, removing over 20,000 cars from the road and proving that transit to Marin’s natural attractions can be a success
- Worked on a Tam Valley Shuttle survey to analyze a possible new hillside pilot shuttle (with future shuttles being considered for Mill Valley and Sausalito as well)
- Strong supporter of the Corridors of Marin trolley proposal
- Secured funding for paths and safe routes to schools in Mill Valley and Tam Valley
- Fighting the unfair and discriminatory "Marin Commuter Tax" which would punish Marin commuters by making them the first commuters in state history to have to pay for the reconstruction of their own state-owned roadway, Doyle Drive.
- Chair of SMART Train and leader of the 2006 and 2008 efforts to secure funding for the regional rail proposal
- Stood up for congestion pricing on the Golden Gate Bridge in lieu of across-the-board toll hikes, which will help to ease rush hour congestion and encourage increased use of public transit.
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Housing
- Secured State and local funding for the sustainably developed Fireside project
- Co-founder and leading advocate for funding the Marin Environmental Housing Collaborative
- Strong advocate for in-fill mixed use affordable housing and leader in adding non-building strategies into the General Plan, such as vouchers and apartment conversion to address the problem without relying on market rate building
- Saved St. Vincent's & Silveira from excess development while ensuring hundreds of units of senior affordable housing in a tight area with strict limits on car trips
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Vital Economy
- Leader in reducing retirement healthcare and pension costs through new disability case review, early set-aside for liability coverage, and new employee benefit program for new County employees, which resulted in nearly 50% reduction in potential liability for future taxpayers
- Leader for Marin City Town Center visioning process with the local community board and advocate for new health clinic
- Lead in hiring the County’s new economic development team, tasked with targeting those companies uniquely suited for Marin’s villages and strict land use policies
- Leading Locavore and support for local, environmentally responsible agricultural operations, such as cheeses, organic meat, produce and Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)
- Developing carbon credit card for a “green buyers” network for Certified Green Businesses
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Health Care
- Leader in establishing new smoking rules to protect children and patrons from second-hand smoke in retail and public areas
- Leader in analysis of Marin's medical safety-net and in promoting viable strategies for Marin General Hospital and the new Community Clinics
- Partnered with Marin City leaders to launch a new Health & Wellness Clinic
- Intense focus on a new community center for Marin City and preservation of needed public housing and Section 8 Vouchers
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Climate Change
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Leader in Bay Area wide Joint Policy Committee for Climate Change, developing regional policy and guidelines for local government
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Leader in developing programs addressing climate change in the General Plan update
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Contributed to the development of the "Fossil Free by ’33" plan
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Leader in climate gas reduction efforts at the County
Investing in our Infrastructure
- Co-lead in development of the County Roads Program to repair our aging infrastructure, the first investment in over 30 years
- Leading advocate for road repair, drain cleanup, flood mitigation, emergency response, wildland maintenance for fire safety
- Advocate for citizen work on streets, for cisterns, and maintenance for storm safety
Emergency Response
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Worked closely with emergency responders in wake of the Cosco Busan oil spill to alert the public and mobilize volunteers
Leading efforts to ensure accountability for the January 2008 releases of partially treated sewage water into Richardson Bay and to improve communication and rapid response
- Leading efforts to promote and expand Get Ready Marin, which provides free mini-course emergency preparedness training, for 800 residents already in Southern Marin (2,000+ County-wide)
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Leading efforts to expand emergency response capabilities and planning regionally in preparation for effects of climate change
For additional information on Issues I care about, please visit my county website newsletters archive.