Many environmental and social justice advocates in Marin – as well as hundreds more seeking redress and respect – have stories about their own personal relationship with Jimmy. That’s the power of his spirit as our community mourns his passing on March 27. Jim was everywhere that people were being sidelined, their voices squelched, their rights infringed….
On Tuesday, February 16, the San Rafael City Council took a final vote on updating its inclusionary zoning ordinance. In late 2020, City staff recommended that San Rafael decrease from 20% to 10% the percentage of units market rate developers are required to set aside as “affordable.” Research by city staff suggested that the 20%…
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The following is a recap of the last three months of meetings. October 2020, Tiscornia Marsh Restoration The October meeting was organized by the Marin Audubon Society and facilitated by District 4 Supervisor Dennis Rodoni. The principal watershed planner for the County of Marin provided an overview of sea level rise issues in the Canal,…
REACHING CALIFORNIA’S ADU POTENTIAL: PROGRESS TO DATE AND THE NEED FOR ADU FINANCE. Chapple, K, et al. August 2020. UC Berkeley Terner Center for Housing Innovation and Center for Community Innovation. https://ternercenter.berkeley.edu/news/reaching-adu-potential-california-finance This study looks at the tremendous growth in the permitting and developing of accessory dwelling units (ADUs) throughout California and the need for increased…
The COVID-19 pandemic is a calamity on top of a crisis here in California. It brings into sharp focus our society’s inability to ensure that most basic need — safe, stable shelter for everyone. This harms us all. The tens of thousands of people who are forced into crowded housing — or are unhoused due…
This winter, the Multicultural Center of Marin embarked on an initiative to build community leadership, creating and developing a Canal Community Resilience Council (CCRC). The Council’s mission is to identify resident-generated concerns around climate change, gentrification and other local issues and build capacity for seeking solutions. The project is funded by the Marin Community Foundation…
Connecting the dots… Affordable Housing, Sea Level Rise and Marin’s Big Oil Lawsuit Two major county initiatives – the Marin Shoreline Sea Level Rise Vulnerability Assessment (April 2017) and a lawsuit brought by Marin and San Mateo counties and the City of Imperial Beach against 37 oil, gas and coal companies – drive home the…
On, March 1, the Fairfax Town Council demonstrated the political will Marin needs. Council members pivoted to a new, less controversial path to getting to yes on Victory Village. Responding to overwhelming support from an overflow audience, the Council directed staff to: develop a new zoning district exclusively for senior housing, and process the Victory…
Speaking of political will, on March 14, the San Rafael Planning Commission upheld the Zoning Administrator’s decision to approve transitional housing at the Dominican Sisters’ Our Lady of Lourdes Convent. Rejecting an appeal from a few neighbors, the Commission approved conversion of 1,995 sq. ft. of existing space within the convent to a separate residential…