Juneteenth Independence Day commemorates the emancipation of those enslaved in the United States. A resolution will be brought to the Board of Supervisors by the County of Marin African American Employees Association (COMAEA) at the June 13th Board of Supervisors meeting.

News of the end of slavery did not reach the frontier areas of the United States until months after the conclusion of the Civil War, more than 2½ years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. On June 19, 1865, Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, arrived in Galveston, Texas, with news that the Civil War had ended and the enslaved were free. African Americans from the Southwest have continued the tradition of observing Juneteenth Independence Day for more than 150 years. Juneteenth Independence Day began as a holiday in the State of Texas and is now celebrated in 46 States and the District of Columbia as a special day of observance in recognition of the emancipation of all enslaved people in the United States. During this time, the nation celebrates the freedom, accomplishments, inventions, triumphs, and resiliency of African American, African, and Black peoples in this country. READ RESOLUTION

The County of Marin recognizes and proclaims the month of June 2023 as "Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer+ (LGBTQ+) Pride Month" as a resolution will be brought forward to the Board of Supervisors in conjunction with Behavioral Health Recovery Services, Marin SAGA and The Spahr Center on Tuesday, June 13. The County of Marin observes June as a time to celebrate our dynamic LGBTQ+ community, raise awareness of quality services, and foster a dialogue to promote healthy, safe, and prosperous school climates and communities for all, especially our young transgender, non-binary, and gender nonconforming family members, friends, neighbors, and loved ones. READ RESOLUTION

Marin County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services will host a Pride and Anti-Prejudice Forum on June 23 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. featuring keynote speaker, Dr. Lori A. Watson, a trailblazer in the spheres of education and racial equity.   READ MORE

Bridge the Gap is proud to announce it has been selected as a 2023 California Nonprofit of the Year by Assemblymember Damon Connolly.

Bridge the Gap is one of more than one hundred nonprofits that will be honored by their state senators and assemblymembers for their outstanding contributions to the communities they serve.

Bridge the Gap provides comprehensive educational, social and emotional resources to underserved students in Marin City and Southern Marin. Their goal is to ensure that all students graduate high school, and achieve their greatest potential through college completion or other pathways to economic sustainability and independence.

Annually, more than 400 young people receive essential academic services during school, after school, and the summer. So far this year, 75% of the first graders they are working with have advanced from below to grade level reading. In addition, all of the 23 Tamalpais High School seniors in the program have committed to colleges and other post-secondary education programs. Bridge the Gap also engages in strategic partnerships with schools and districts to move the needle toward educational equity. READ MORE

Marin Municipal Water District has been awarded a $6.4 million state grant to address the issues of aging and leak-prone water pipes in Marin County. The grant will be utilized to replace approximately half of the water mains in Marin City and around 17% of those in the Canal neighborhood of San Rafael. 

This funding, spearheaded by Terrie Green (pictured), Executive Director of  Marin City Climate Resilience and Health Justice, marks a significant achievement and is the first of its kind for the district, obtained through a Proposition 1 program designed to finance water upgrades in disadvantaged communities. Proposition 1 was a bond measure of $7.5 billion approved by voters in 2014 to support environmental restoration and water projects. The district will contribute a matching amount of $1.3 million to the project. Ms. Green has been instrumental in making positive change in Marin City. This grant is the  latest example of her deep commitment to community health and well being. 

“We all share in this victory, together, yet, we cannot stop here,” Green said. “We need 100% of new pipes in the lower watershed area of Marin City, and we will continue to fight until environmental justice takes place all throughout the community of Marin City.”

Commencing in January, the district plans to replace 3.5 miles of water pipes and 275 service lateral connections, which are responsible for linking the water mains to residential and commercial properties. The replacement work will not disrupt water service since the new pipes will be installed alongside the existing ones.

To ensure effective communication and community involvement, two local organizations, namely the Marin City Climate Resilience and Health Justice and Multicultural Center of Marin, are partnering on the project. These organizations will engage with residents to provide information about the plan and address any concerns. The district plans to initiate the replacement work in Marin City in 2024, followed by the Canal area in 2026, with an estimated completion date before the end of June 2027. 

Support for the grant application was received from U.S. Representative Jared Huffman and Marin County Supervisor Stephanie Moulton-Peters. 

“Congressman Huffman and District Director Jenny Callaway were instrumental in obtaining the grant, convening a multi-agency effort with the community to assess infrastructure needs in Marin City, and working with Marin Water on the successful grant application," said Moulton-Peters.  READ MORE

LEARN ABOUT NEWLY FORMED MARIN CLIMATE JUSTICE COLLABORATIVE

Jim Malcolm, the Harbor Master for the Richardson Bay Regional Agency (RBRA) has been named Harbor Master of the Year by the California Association of Harbor Masters and Port Captains (CAHMPC), a statewide trade organization.

“It is an honor to serve the Richardson Bay community and I feel fortunate to work in a place with such a vibrant history and amazing natural resources,” said Malcolm. “I am humbled to be recognized by my peers for my work. This is a great honor and I’m excited to continue our mission of making Richardson Bay safe, accessible and enjoyable for all.”

Malcolm received the honor at the CAHMPC’s annual awards ceremony, held  in late May in Sacramento. Malcolm was nominated by one of his peers and was awarded the honor among a field of his contemporaries in California.

As part of his nomination, Malcolm was recognized for his work “to drive policy resulting in the adoption of an updated Transition Plan for the anchorage that included a functional housing plan (in cooperation with Marin Housing Authority) and a boat buyback program.”

Malcolm was also noted for being “successful in managing efforts to update regulations for anchoring in Richardson Bay, including the implementation of improved vessel and marine debris disposal process.” READ MORE

Join us for an Evolving Shorelines Coffee Hour!
Friday, June 30
9:30 a.m.-11 am  
Good Earth patio, Tam Valley. 

This is an open invitation to the community to share a coffee or tea with our Evolving Shorelines Project team, Marin County Supervisor Stephanie Moulton-Peters, and Marin County Parks Director Max Korten and talk about One Tam's project to restore marsh resilience and protect the Bay Trail. Learn more about the Evolving Shorelines project at Bothin Marsh here. 

Evolving Shorelines tour of Bothin Marsh! 
Come walk the trails at Bothin Marsh and learn about the historical ecology of the wetlands, and proposed plans for enhancing the marsh's resilience to sea level rise and elevating the Bay Trail through south Bothin Marsh. Please RSVP.
Friday, June 30, 2023
11:30 am-1:00 pm. 
Meets along the McGlashen Pathway near the Holiday Inn

This year, the Transportation Authority of Marin honored Alice Yan as Crossing Guard of the Year. Alice Yan is a dedicated crossing guard and much-loved community member of Mill Valley. Alice has been a Crossing Guard at Throckmorton and Old Mill near the front of Old Mill School since 2016 and has never missed any of her shifts for the last six plus years. Alice came to the United State in 1991 and has been a Mill Valley resident since then. I am pleased also to note the school is near and dear to my heart as my children attended Old Mill School.

On behalf of the TAM Board, our community, our teachers, staff and our school children I would like to express our deepest appreciation for your profound dedication to keeping our school kids safe! Thank you for your dedicated service to the Children of Marin. Your work as a Crossing Guard has made a difference to countless students and families in the community. We appreciate your commitment to safety, your caring manner and your welcoming smile!

EDENS, a leading national retail real estate owner, operator and developer, is pleased to announce that renovations will begin at Strawberry Village. 

Upgrades of the 175,385 square-foot retail property include a bright, contemporary color palette, new lighting, landscaping, outdoor seating areas, public art and
refreshed signage. For completion by early 2024, plans include a reimagined central plaza with outdoor seating, live music and other community-driven events.

The first EDENS-driven activation to launch at Strawberry Village will be a new weekly farmers market, held every Tuesday from 10 a.m. -2:30pm, starting June 13.  MORE INFO

Creekside Fridays are just around the corner - Mark your calendars!

The bands are booked and the BBQs are shined up and ready to roll! Mark your calendars and come down to the Tam Valley Community Center for food, fun, music and neighborhood cheer! This free event begins at 5:30 p.m. and bands go on at 6 p.m. so come down and get settled before the show starts and enjoy a relaxing evening!  MORE INFO


Creekside Fridays at  Tam Valley Community Center
5:30-8 p.m. - Bands go on at 6 p.m.
Featuring Musical Guests: 
June 16 - Cole Tate Band
June 30 - Juke Joint
July 14 - Fog City Swampers
July 28 - Void Where Prohibited
August 11 - Marble Party (Sponsored by County of Marin - see you there!) 

The 2023 season of Jazz and Blues by the Bay concerts in Gabrielson Park continues throughout the summer. Food and beverages will be on sale at every concert to raise funds for local organizations. The grass seating area fills up quickly, so come down early to save a spot!
MORE INFO 

June 9 - August 25 @ 6:30 – 8 p.m.
September 1, 8, and 15 @ 6 – 7:30 p.m.
Featuring Musical Guests: 
June 9: Craig Caffall (rock)
June 16: IDEATEAM (funk/soul/r&b)
June 23: Darryl Rowe & Fuzzy Slippers (r&b/jazz)*
June 30: Banda Sin Nombre(folk)- Kickoff to Sausalito PRIDE Weekend
July 7: San Francisco Medicine Ball Band (Americana/jazz/r&b)
July 14: Ron Rosson & Music for the Soul Band (r&b)*
July 21: Tom Rigney (zydeco)
July 28: Howell Devine (blues)
August 4: Vernon Ice Black (fusion)*
August 11: Blues is a Woman (jazz/blues)
August 18: Mangobus (funk/soul)
August 25: Eugene Huggins (blues)
September 1: Alvon Johnson Blues Band (blues)*
September 8: Juan Escovedo (latin)*
September 15: Nate' the Soulsanger (soul)*

*Band roster was compiled in conjunction with Performing Stars of Marin City

2023 will be the 26th year of bringing free summer concerts to the community. Concerts are FREE and sponsored by individual and community tax deductible donations. The event relies on donations from ALL music lovers. Please consider supporting our free concerts with a donation so we can continue our wonderful concerts.

The concerts community thanks the City of Belvedere and the Belvedere Community Foundation for their support for the last 25 years. MORE INFO

Each event begins at 4 p.m.
Featuring Musical Guests: 
Sunday, June 18 (Father's Day and Juneteenth) - Pride and Joy
Sunday, July 16 - The Traveling Wilburys Revue 
Sunday, August 13 - Steelin' Chicago
Sunday, September 3  - Neon Velvet

The Mill Valley Arts Commission's Comedy in the Plaza returns to downtown Mill Valley on Thursday, January 15th. Join friends and neighbors for a hilarious evening featuring the comedy stylings of Dennis Gaxiola, Phil Johnson, Al Ducharme, Kellen Erskine and the MC for the evening, Bernadette Pauley.

Grab a lawn chair, blankets and some snacks and settle in for a night of laughter and fun!  MORE INFO

June 15, 2023
6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Mill Valley Plaza, Admission is FREE

The County of Marin is pleased to present the FY 2023-24 Proposed Budget at a series of meetings, June 20-22 at the Board of Supervisors Chambers beginning at 1:30 p.m. on June 20.

The budget strives to address our top community priorities and prepares us for future economic uncertainty. The operating budget is balanced and largely consistent with the adopted second-year budget plan. It maintains current services and makes a few high-priority ongoing enhancements to address emerging needs.

In the second year of the two-year budget, the County is focusing on continuous
improvement, including applying a racial equity lens to the delivery of services, and
making thoughtful one-time investments. Historic levels of one-time funding over the
past few years provides a unique opportunity to make significant investments to
address the deferred maintenance of County facilities. 

The County Administrator’s Office strives to prepare the Proposed Budget with
fiscally responsible recommendations that reflect our mission and our community’s
top priorities. The challenges we face as a county require a responsive government
that looks ahead, adapts to changing conditions, and builds upon past efforts to
continuously improve our services.

The fiscal recommendations and Department Workplans presented in this budget
address your Board’s highest priorities, which include:

• Increasing affordable housing and addressing homelessness
• Building a racially equitable community
• Reducing carbon emissions and adapting to climate change
• Enhancing disaster preparedness
• Investing in county infrastructure
• Addressing recruitment and retention
  
  

For a more detailed overview of the FY 2023-2024 Proposed Budget, READ MORE. 

As we exit the pandemic, the world has changed in ways that affect travel in the Golden Gate Corridor. While recreational and tourist travel have mostly returned, commute travel has not.

Not surprisingly, the absence of commute travel creates fiscal challenges for the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District (District). Revenues from tolls and fares are still down an average of about $1 million each week, and expenses continue to exceed revenues. Fortunately, expenses are down, due to the District offering less commute bus and ferry service.

STRATEGIC PLANNING EFFORT
The District’s Board of Directors recently launched a strategic planning process to create a path forward regarding the District’s future activities and finances. Board leadership embarked on this critical process in order to prioritize financial and operational commitments that would provide resources and services for the communities we serve, while ensuring the District’s long-term financial sustainability.

As a member of the GGBHTD Board  Directors, we believe that public input is vitally important to this process.We want to hear your ideas, suggestions and recommendations as they relate to the District’s future and strategic focus. We know there may be possible overlaps among the topics and that some ideas may be grand, others small, some visionary, others pragmatic; we openly welcome and request any and all input and feedback in this process. WAYS TO COMMENT