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Hello -
June provided many opportunities to celebrate diversity, equity, and inclusion.
I’m proud to be part of a community that acknowledged and celebrated two very significant events this month.
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Juneteenth
Earlier this month the Marin County Board of Supervisors adopted a proclamation recognizing June 19, 2024, as Juneteenth Independence Day in Marin County. Juneteenth celebrates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the United States. It specifically commemorates June 19, 1865, when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, and informed enslaved African Americans that they were free, over two years after the Emancipation Proclamation had been issued. County Employee Affinity Group COMAEA (County of Marin African American Employees Association) provided invaluable comments about the significance of the holiday and the importance of our shared responsibility to create change. I am committed to being intentional in my work and through my actions to create a brighter and more equitable future for all.
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Pride
I kicked off the month with fellow community members at Pride Flag Raising Ceremonies at North Marin Community Services and then the City of Novato. What an amazing, supportive crowd at both events! I wrapped up the month with the Marin County Board of Supervisors proclaiming June as LGBTQIA+ Pride Month. At our Board of Supervisors meeting, we were fortunate to be joined by two amazing Marin County Youth Commissioners, Walt Novasardian and Graham Wood, who helped present this proclamation and educated us on the importance of this recognition. I think our resolution summed it up nicely: Let it be a time for celebration, reflection, and solidarity, as we honor the diversity and resilience of the LGBTQIA+ community and strive towards a future of equality and acceptance for all.
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The Board of Supervisors wrapped up three days of public hearings this week on the county budget, and unanimously approved a $815 million budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year on Wednesday, June 26.
The budget is balanced over the two-year planning period. Across all funds, one-time and ongoing expenditure will increase by 4% over the previous fiscal year, and 4% within the General Fund. A year ago, the approved budget for 2023-24 was $783.7 million.
The final budget maintains existing services and utilizes $21 million in projected savings in fiscal year 2023-24 for one-time budget allocations to address emerging needs and priority investments.
With the County’s mission at the forefront, the budget prioritizes:
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building a racially equitable community
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investing in County infrastructure
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preserving and increasing affordable housing choices and addressing homelessness
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addressing County workforce recruitment and retention
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reducing carbon emissions and adapting to climate change
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enhancing disaster preparedness
In putting this budget together, our departments did a great job ensuring a commitment to providing critical services while remaining fiscally sound - particularly being mindful of potential state funding losses in the years to come due to anticipated state funding shortfalls.
The County has a long history of sound fiscal management throughout both strong and weak economic periods. All three independent bond rating agencies have affirmed Marin County’s AAA for nearly 30 years, citing Marin’s stable local economy – and the County’s strong fiscal management policies and practices, commitment to reducing retiree liabilities, including pensions, retiree healthcare and the County’s pension obligation bond, and our long-established practice of matching one-time revenues with one-time expenses.
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You know it’s summertime when the annual Marin County Fair returns! For five days, July 3 - July 7, attendees will enjoy food, exhibits, music, rides, art, spectacular nightly fireworks, and much more.
New attractions this year include Pedal Puller races for the kids and the Butterfly Kingdom. The Marin County Fair International Film Festival is back in its 50th year. Check out the full schedule to plan your day and be sure to purchase your tickets ahead of time. Fair tickets are only sold online, they will not be sold at entrance gates.
Getting to the Fair has never been easier and guests are encouraged to leave their cars at home and consider alternative modes of transportation:
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Take the SMART train directly to the fairgrounds. In addition to its regular schedule, SMART will provide late-night service after the fireworks. Trains will depart Civic Center Station southbound at 9:55 PM and northbound at 10:05 PM and 10:35 PM. SMART will also add extra capacity on the regular schedule to accommodate the crowds going to the fair earlier in the day but will run the Sunday/Holiday schedule on the Fourth of July.
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Marin County Bicycle Coalition will offer free bike valet service from 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM each day of the fair. You will find the bike lot near the main gate in front of the Veterans’ Memorial Auditorium.
I hope to see you at the fair!
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Headquartered in Novato, Homeward Bound is the primary provider of homeless shelters and services for homeless individuals and families in Marin County. Co-Chief Executive Officers Mary Kay Sweeney and Paul Fordham are an unbeatable duo leading an incredible team with enthusiasm, energy, and perseverance. Their work will leave a long-lasting impact on our community for years to come.
Their accomplishments are many, but I want to highlight the latest: the completion of 24 new homes for homeless veterans in Marin County. We have identified 28 veterans in Marin who are unhoused. With these 24-units that are coming onboard right now, we will have almost completely solved veteran’s homelessness in Marin to a functional zero. Let’s keep going!
The new housing, called Puett Place, is named after Homeward Bound’s board president, Bob Puett, whose son Beau served as a U.S. Navy Seal. Each apartment at Puett Place includes a furnished bedroom, kitchen, and living room. Thanks to our local Rotarians, these apartments are also equipped with housewares, linens, and other necessities. The first residents will begin moving into their new homes in August.
But wait, there’s more! Homeward Bound has 26 additional apartments currently under construction for individuals and families transitioning out of homelessness. In addition, they plan to build a manufacturing bakery, along with teaching and office space for their culinary team – all at their headquarters in Novato.
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It was an honor to join Vivian Gordan and Joann Bales’ 100-year birthday celebration at Deer Park in Novato. Their energy, enthusiasm and zest for live was infectious. If you missed it, they were featured in a KTVU news segment that is worth the watch. Happy Birthday Vivian and Joann!
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As your Supervisor, I welcome and encourage you to connect, share your concerns, and your ideas. We want to hear from you! Please use the contact information below to reach out to the District 5 Team. A reply to this email doesn’t come directly to my office, and I’d like to respond to you in a timely manner.
**Please note, our email addresses have changed**
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