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Happy Holidays!
What a fun month it has been so far. There have been many wonderful events and happenings that have provided great opportunities for us to gather and connect. I’ve shared a few highlights in photos below.
Wishing you a holiday season filled with joy, peace, and the warmth of family, friends, and community. I look forward to continuing our work together in the coming year.
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Enjoyed another great Novato Tree Lighting Festival this year!
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It was a night of both celebration and reflection at the Sausalito Menorah Lighting.
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Celebrating Las Guitarras for receiving the Outstanding Business Diversity Award at the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Marin's La Posada Celebration.
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Hanging with Santa and my kids on the SMART Holiday Express Train.
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With the completion of the Marin Sonoma Narrows project and new High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane hours, many of you that commute on Highway 101 have experienced increased traffic congestion.
I have heard from many constituents who are frustrated with longer commute times. I share these concerns and have been working with our transportation partners to seek a reduction in hours – and I am happy to report that Caltrans has agreed to reduce HOV hours in early 2026 for both Marin and Sonoma counties.
Permanent, reduced HOV hours will be decided by the end of January 2026 and are scheduled to be changed in February 2026. The exact hours will be determined after Caltrans completes its traffic analysis along the corridor in January.
The new hours will continue to be consistent in Marin and Sonoma and will cover peak commute hours in both directions in both the morning and afternoon/evening. Signs will be updated along the entire length of the HOV lanes, stretching from Richardson Bay Bridge in Marin County and Windsor in Sonoma County.
Thank you to Caltrans for working with our community and regional transportation partners to find solutions that balance congestion relief, environmental sustainability, and the community’s need for a smoother, more reliable commute.
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At this week’s Board of Supervisors meeting, we approved a new Temporary Rent Support Program to help individuals transitioning out of the Binford Road RV encampment move into stable housing.
Many current individuals are eligible for Permanent Supportive Housing through Section 8, but voucher availability remains limited. To bridge this gap, our Health & Human Services team worked with the State to redirect funding from our Encampment Resolution Grant. This allows us to contract with the Marin Housing Authority to provide rental assistance for up to 23 individuals.
At its peak, the Binford Road Encampment included 134 individuals, 75 sites, and 150 vehicles. Today, that number has decreased to 45 individuals, 30 sites, and 66 vehicles.
We know there is more work ahead to resolve the encampment. The new Temporary Rent Support Program will be a critical tool in our efforts to help the remaining individuals residing on Binford Road to secure safe, long-term housing. By offering short-term rental assistance paired with ongoing supportive services, we can continue making meaningful progress toward housing stability for the individuals residing on Binford Road.
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This week, I had the pleasure of attending the Novato City Council meeting for the annual council re-organization. It provided an opportunity to celebrate new leadership and recognize the dedicated service of our councilmembers.
I want to extend congratulations to Rachel Farac who was chosen to serve as Mayor this coming year and Kevin Jacobs who will serve as Mayor Pro Tem. Thank you to outgoing Mayor Tim O’Connor for your leadership this past year. A warm welcome to Sandeep Karkal who was appointed earlier this month to fill the seat of the late Councilmember Milberg. And a noteworthy accomplishment of service, Councilmember Eklund has served for over 30 years on the Novato City Council!
We are fortunate to have a great team of councilmembers serving our city, and I look forward to working with them on issues important to the Novato community.
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Beginning January 2026, the Marin County Board of Supervisors will temporarily relocate our regular meetings to the Marin Center Showcase Theater to allow for major audio-visual upgrades in the Board Chamber. The Showcase Theater, located at 20 Avenue of the Flags, will host our Board of Supervisor meetings, as well as meetings of the Marin Housing Authority, the Open Space District, the Flood Control District, and the Planning Commission, through February (with the possibility of extension depending on construction progress).
Scheduled Board of Supervisors meeting dates at the Showcase Theater include January 20 (the first meeting of the year!), January 27, February 10, and February 24. Community members are encouraged to check each governing body’s website for the latest location information.
The relocation supports a comprehensive modernization of the County’s aging audio-visual system to meet new statewide standards for public access, transparency, and remote participation under Senate Bill 707. Upgrades will feature new monitors, microphones, enhanced livestream camera angles, and updated graphic display tools.
During the transition, the public will continue to have all existing options for participation: attending in person, joining remotely via Zoom, watching on Channels 27 (Comcast) and 99 (AT&T U-verse), or watching the livestream via the County website.
We appreciate your patience as we make these improvements to better serve the community. To learn more, visit the Temporary Board of Supervisors Meeting Relocation webpage.
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Are you interested in getting involved in women’s issues at the county level? District 5 has an opening on the Marin County Women’s Commission, and we are looking for a community-minded individual who is passionate about improving the lives of women and girls in Marin. The Marin County Women’s Commission is made up of 12 representatives appointed by the Board of Supervisors, two from each Supervisorial District and two that serve in an at-large role. For more information and to apply visit the county website.
A complete list of all Marin County Board and Commission openings and vacancies can be found on the Current & Upcoming Openings webpage.
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Join a free climate action workshop and learn how to reduce your carbon footprint! Resilient Neighborhoods offers workshops that combine personalized support with collaborative learning. Two separate online sessions will be offered: Thursday, January 8, 2026, at 6:30 PM or Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at 4:00 PM. Workshops are virtual, you will meet 5 times over 8 weeks, and meetings are 90 minutes each. Sign up and learn more at the Resilient Neighborhood's website.
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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. |
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